McLean County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 5 of 42)

In common with this portion of the Mississippi Valley, the surface inclination and the drainage of this county are toward the southwest. It is moderately rolling, comparing favorably with its adjoining counties, being free from extreme flatness, and from abrupt changes, [ts summit elevation is about 220 feet above Lake Michigan, 545 feet above the water at the junction of the Ohio and the Mississippi at Cairo, and 795 above the ocean. That it is more elevated than the surrounding country is evident from the fact that it is well supplied with running water by the incipient streams that contribute to the formation of the Vermilion, Sugar Creek, the Mackinaw, the Kickapoo and the Sangamon River, running south, southwest, west, northwest and northeast. Good water is found in all parts of the county by digging, and in the northeastern portion there are many natural springs of excellent water. Such are the physical features of its surface, and the happy location of its large and small groves that, in the leafy season of the year, it presents many scenes of quiet and picturesque beauty which are scarcely surpassed in any country.

While the most of its surface is available as arable land, much of it is, happily, adapted to stock-raising, and is largely devoted to that business. Belleflower, in the southeastern corner of the county, is probably the finest township of land in the State ; and, perhaps, the finest in any State. Much of its natural turf has been broken with a team of two horses, while in other portions of the county a team of four and even of six oxen has been required for the purpose. Its deep, rich soil is mixed with black sand, rendering it sensitive to the influences of the sun, very easy of cultivation, and largely productive. Much of that portion of it that was sold as swamp lands at prices varying from $4.50 to $5.50 per acre, on being properly drained, proves to be the most valuable in the country, as at some feet below the rich surface there is a substratum of pebbles, which retains moisture in dry seasons, and receives the excess of water in wet seasons.

This county may also challenge comparison with any one in the State as to the character of its inhabitants for energy, enterprise, public spirit, industry and liberality, especially of its early settlers. These qualities have chiefly contributed to place the county in its present highly prosperous and influential position. It has furnished many members of the State Legislature, Circuit Judges, Representatives to Congress, a State Superintendent of Instruction, a State Treasurer, a Territorial Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, a Judge of the Supreme Court of the State, and a Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as several Generals, and numerous other officers of distinction ; but what is vastly better, it has furnished many thousands of excellent citizens, male and female, in all the walks of life.

This is not the appropriate place for a discussion of various theories on the origin of the prairies, yet a brief reference to the subject may not be improper to show why this section of the country is now, and will permanently remain, among the most desirable and important in the whole Union.

" One theory is that the soil resulted from the decomposition of vegetable matter under water, and that the attending conditions were incompatible with the growth of timber." Another theory is that the prairies are the results of the scarcity of moisture in the atmosphere of the interior of continents. It is well known that the quantity of water which annually falls in this country diminishes as the center of the continent is approached from the Atlantic and the Pacific, and that the amount of timber-lands diminishes in about the same ratio, resulting in a wide central waste. But be this as it may, the fact remains the same, that we are here located in the midst of happy surroundings, made up of lovely vales, gentle slopes, wide fields^and grateful forest groves.

It is well known that the pioneers of Illinois suffered much less in opening up its soil than did those of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, from malarious diseases. This is undoubtedly owing to the sparseness of forests and large groves. The changeableness of our climate, and the great difference of temperature between our winters and our summers, have been made the grounds of objection to this section of the country. But these very extremes contribute very largely to the productiveness of the country. Our rich, deep, heavy soil is mellowed up by the frosts of winter, and so quickened by the heats of summer as to produce a greater variety and richness of vegetable productions than any other country within the same extent of surface. This result is greatly attributable to the effects of the very cold north winds from the regions of the great lakes, and the hot winds coming up the Mississippi Valley, about which some are disposed to complain.

Tradition says that our great staple production, Indian corn, was brought from the South, where it originally grew very tall and slim, but produced very little grain. But its excessive growth of stalk was checked by our cool climate, and yet its grain brought to perfection by our short hot summers, and the productiveness greatly increased. Owing to the same influences, we can successfully produce here the hardy vegetables of a northern climate, and many of the delicious productions of a semi-tropical one Being rhus located in the very center of the corn-producing region, as surely as effects fallow causes, we are in the midst of animal development - having near us the greatest grain, beef and pork market in the world. This fortunate state of things is simply the result of natural and permanent causes. One of our geologists says, in speaking of our soil : " This splendid soil-forming deposit is destined to make Illinois the great center of American wealth and population. Perhaps no other country of the same extent on the face of the globe can boast a soil so ubiquitous in its distribution, and so universally productive. Enriched by all the minerals in the crust of the earth, it necessarily contains a great variety of constituents. Since plants differ so widely in the elements of which they are composed, this multiplicity of composition is the means of growing a great diversity of crops, and the amount produced is correspondingly large."

This paragraph, in a few words, states with much felicity the character of our soil, and suggests possible improvements in the direction of the introduction of new and valuable vegetables and fruits, of which we at present have no adequate idea. The soil is here, and the climate is here, and the necessary science and skill will develop this section of the West into the richest agricultural country in the world. Other countries have their specialties ; bub here we can have in great perfection and in wonderful profusion all the essentials and many of the luxuries of life.

When to these facts and considerations we add that this county is in the midst of the most magnificent coal-measures known to the world - extending over no less than thirty-seven thousand square miles - sufficient to supply fuel for economical and manufacturing purposes for all time to come ; that our railroad connections are excellent ; that our educational facilities, our social, moral and religious privileges are inferior to none in the country, we may well be proud of old McLean.

Not much needs here to be said of the geology of this county. Its features, in this respect, are so similar to those of much of the surrounding country, and now so well known to the general reader, that we shall notice only a very few of them.

Speaking in reference to this county, the State Geologist says : " The soil is generally a rich, brown mold, varying somewhat, in different localities, in the proportion of clay, etc., which it contains, some portions being more argillaceous than others. In the timber, however, the soil is of somewhat different character ; the lighter colored and more argillaceous subsoil, appearing at or near the surface. The geological formations appearing at the surface, consist almost entirely of the Drift and later formations. The underlying rock, as far as can be ascertained, consists entirely of the different beds of the coal-measure series.

The two shafts at Bloomington afford us the most satisfactory section of any of the excavations in the district, enabling us to identify the two seams of coal which they penetrate, with Nos. 4 and 6 of the general Illinois Kiver section. The following section, made up from records afforded by both shafts, illustrates well the variation of the strata of the middle coal-measures in this region. This section commences at the base of the Drift, and its upper portion, from 1 to 4 inclusive, was afforded by the Bloomington Coal Company's shaft, and the remainder by that of the McLean County Coal- Mining Company, which has struck a lower coal at the depth of 513 feet 8 inches below the surface.

When this section of the State began to be settled by the white people, the Kickapoo and the Pottawatomie Indians were in possession of the country between the Wabash and the Illinois Rivers. The two tribes seemed to be so promiscuously intermixed with each other, and with the fragments of some other tribes, as scarcely to be distinguishable, on the part of the early settlers. Although they had confessedly disposed of their title to the country to the United States Government, they manifested some hostility of feeling when the pioneers came to take actual possession of their former hunting-grounds, and of the homes of themselves and of their fathers. They seemed to feel that their leaving the country was yielding to an inevitable necessity, brought upon them by the unwelcome encroachments of the white man, rather than complying with the terms of a voluntary cession of the territory. The old Kickapoo chief, Machina, even threatened unpleasant consequences to the first installment of settlers in this county if they did not leave. But there were no evil results. In fact, the intercourse between these Indians and the early settlers, was, in this section of the country, of the most friendly character, as a general thing. They would sometimes steal necessaries from those whom they hated ; but the lives and the property of those who treated them kindly, and with whom they were on friendly terms, were as safe as among any other people. If they wanted a pig, or something of the kind, from a white neighbor, they were told to help themselves, and, on the other hand, if a friendly housewife wanted some game for food, it would soon be forthcoming from the red man. There is no record, nor yet tradition, that any white person was ever killed by the Indians within the limits of this county, unless, perchance during the war of 1812.

These Indians had their headquarters near Old Town Timber, near the center of the county, their fort covering several acres, surrounded by a palisade and an embankment on each side of it. Pleasant Hill, another of their stations, a few miles north, was with them a favorite place for the cultivation of the few vegetables which they raised. In the summer, many of them liked to stay about the southeast end of Blooming Grove, the scene of the earliest settlements in this county.

This section of the country was evidently a great favorite with the Indians. Here game of all kinds was abundant, wild fruits were plenty and excellent, the climate was genial, the range for their ponies was inexhaustible, the groves and the streams were conveniently frequent, and the scenery was unsurpassable in its quiet beauty. Here were the graves of their fathers, and here were the scenes of their own exploits and their homes. But they seemed to feel that they were a doomed people, and to anticipate their fate. Some of them were very intelligent people ; and in their intimate intercourse with friendly whites, they would sometimes indulge in sad rehearsals of the many wrongs which their tribes had suffered from the hands of the white man, as they had been successively crowded from one portion of the country to another, westward, ever westward !

The Indians remained in this section of the country until the Black Hawk war ; and during that conflict, they seemed to flit about, equally desirous of avoiding contact with the whites and the Indians engaged therein. These Indians afterward emigrated to Northwestern Iowa, to fade from the memory of the early settlers in this State, and, eventually, from the face of the earth.

Origin

In 1781, Virginia ceded to the United States the territory northwest of the Ohio River, which was deeded to the United States in 1784, the deed being signed on the part of Virginia by her illustrious citizens, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee and James Monroe. In 1787, Congress passed an act establishing the Northwestern Territory and authorizing the organization of a territorial government, the Territory embracing all northwest of the Ohio River to which Virginia held any claim. In 1789, Congress passed another act, putting the government of said Territory in operation. In 1800, by another act of Congress, the said Territory was divided ; the western portion of it, embracing all west of a line beginning at the Ohio, opposite the mouth of the Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery ; and thence north until intersecting the territorial line between the United States and Canada, which was to be called the Territory of Indiana.

Again, in 1809, Congress passed an act dividing Indiana Territory into two separate governments, and constituting the portion of it lying west of the Wabash River and a direct line drawn from the said Wabash River and Post Vincennes, due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, a Territory, thus separated, and to be called Illinois. In 1818, an act of Congress enabled the people of Illinois to form a Constitution and a State Government, the State being admitted into the Union the same year, and the boundaries being thus defined : Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash River; thence up the same, and with the line of Indiana to the northwest corner of said State ; thence east with the line of the same State to the middle of Lake Michigan; thence north, along the middle of said lake, to north latitude forty-two degrees and thirty minutes ; thence west to the middle of the Mississippi River ; and thence down along the middle of that river to its confluence with the Ohio River ; and thence up the latter river along its northwestern shore to the beginning.

Under the territorial government, the State was divided into fourteen counties, a» follows: Bond, Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Jackson, Johnson, Pope, Gallatin, White, Edwards, Crawford, Union, Washington and Franklin. In 1809, the territory now embraced in McLean County was included in St. Clair County ; the Territory of Illinois being divided into two counties, Randolph and St. Clair, the former embracing all the southern portion of the Territory, and the latter all the northern portion. In 1812, McLean County was embraced in Madison County. In 1814, McLean formed part of the counties of Madison and Edwards ; that portion of it lying west of the Third Principal Meridian being in Madison ; and that portion lying east of it being in Edwards. In 1817, it formed part of Bond and Crawford Counties ; that portion of it lying west of said Meridian being in Bond County ; and that east of it in Crawford. In 1819, McLean County formed part of Clark and Bond Counties; that portion of it west of the Meridian being in Bond, and the eastern portion in Clark. In 1821, the portion of McLean County west of the Meridian was included in Sangamon County, and the eastern portion in Fayette County. In 1826, Vermilion County was created, and all that portion of what is now McLean County, formerly part of Fayette, was attached to Vermilion for county purposes ; the western portion remaining in Sangamon. In 1827, that portion of McLean west of the Meridian belonged to Tazewell County ; the eastern portion remaining in Vermilion. In 1829, the boundaries of Tazewell County were re-adjusted, but McLean remained as before, divided between Tazewell and Vermilion.

In 1830, McLean County was created with the following boundaries : Beginning at the southwest corner of Township 21 north, Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian ; thence north between Ranges 1 and 2 west of said Meridian, to the northwest corner of Township 28 north ; thence east between Ranges 28 and 29, to the northeast corner of Township 28, Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian ; thence south between Ranges 6 and 7 east of said Meridian, to the southeast corner of Township 21 north, Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian ; thence west to the place of beginning. This territory lay wholly within the counties of Tazewell and Vermilion ; the latter not within the county proper, but lands attached for county purposes. The original boundaries of McLean County, as will be seen by the above description, comprised eight townships north and south, and seven ranges east and west, being in extent 42 by 48 miles, and in regular form - a perfect rectangle - containing fifty-six townships.

In 1837, Livingston County was created, and 9 J townships were taken from the northeast corner of McLean. In 1839, De Witt County was created, taking 4f townships from the south end of McLean ; and in 1841, Woodford County was created, taking, in a zigzag direction, from west to northeast about 9 townships from the northwest corner of McLean, and reducing it to its present shape and dimensions, but still leaving it the largest county in the State.

Representation

At the time McLean County was organized, Tazewell and McLean were together entitled to one Representative and one Senator in the State Legislature ; and the Clerks of the County Commissioners' Courts of the two counties were required to meet at Bloomington to compare the election returns of Senator and Representative. At the same time, the counties of Peoria, Jo Daviess, Putnam, La Salle and Cook were entitled to one Senator and one Representative. This indicates a remarkable change in the relative population in the middle and the northern portion of the State, though the increase here has itself been remarkable for its steadiness and rapidity.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That all that tract of country lying within the following boundaries, to wit : Beginning at the southwest corner of township numbered twenty-one north, of range numbered one, west of the third principal meridian, thence north between ranges numbered one and two, west of said meridian, to the northwest corner of township numbered twenty-eight north ; thence east, between townships numbered twentyeight and twenty-nine, to the northeast corner of township numbered twenty-eight, of range numbered six, east of the third principal meridian ; thence south, between ranges numbered six and seven, east of said meridian, to the southeast corner of township numbered twenty-one north, of range numbered six, east of said meridian ; thence west to the place of beginning, shall constitute a new county, to be called McLean.

Sec. 2. For the purpose of fixing the- permanent seat of justice of said county, the following-named persons are appointed Commissioners, viz. : Lemuel Lee, of Fayette County ; Isaac Pugh and Elisha Freeman, of Macon County, which Commissioners, or a majority of them, shall meet at the house of James Allen, in said county, on the second Monday of February next, or within five days thereafter, and, being first duly sworn by some Justice of the Peace of the State, faithfully and impartially to take into view the convenience of the people, the situation of the present settlement, with a strict view to the population and settlements which will hereafter be made, and the eligibility of the place, shall proceed to explore and carefully examine the country, determine on and designate the place for the permanent seat of justice of the same ; provided, that the proprietor or proprietors of the land shall give and convey, by deed of general warranty, for the purpose of erecting public buildings, a quantity of land, in a square form, or not more than twice as long as wide, not less than twenty acres ; but should the proprietor or proprietors of the land refuse or neglect to make the donation aforesaid, then said Commissioners shall fix the said county seat (having in view the interest of the county) upon the land of some person who will make the donation aforesaid. If the Commissioners shall be of opinion that the proper place for the seat of justice is, or ought to be, on lands belonging to Government, they shall so report, and the County Commissioners shall purchase one-half quarter section, the tract set forth, in their name, for the use of said county. The Commissioners aforesaid, so soon as they decide on a place, shall make a clear report to the County Commissioners' Court, and the same shall be recorded at length in their record-book. The land donated, or purchased, shall be laid out into lots and sold by the County Commissioners to the best advantage, and the proceeds applied to the erection of public buildings and such other purposes as the Commissioners shall direct, and good and sufficient deeds shall be made for the lots sold.

Sec. 3. An election shall be held at the several places of holding elections as now laid off by Tazewell County, in the said county of McLean, on the second Monday of March next, for one Sheriff, one Coroner and three County Commissioners, who shall hold their offices until the next general election, and until their successors be qualified ; and the Justices of the Peace and Constables who are now in office and residing within the limits of said county of McLean, shall continue in office until the next quadrennial election for Justices of the Peace and Constables, and until their successors be qualified. And it shall be the duty of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of said county, and if there be none acting, then the Recorder or Judge of Probate, shall give at least fifteen days' notice previous to said election, and who shall appoint the judges and clerks of said election, who shall be legal voters ; and the returns of the election shall be made to the Clerk, Recorder, or Judge of Probate Court, as the case may be, who gave the notice aforesaid, and by him, in the presence of one or more Justices of the Peace, shall be opened and examined, and they jointly shalL-give to the persons elected Commissioners, certificates of their election, and like certificates to the persons elected Sheriff and Coroner, to forward to the Governor ; which election shall in all other respects be conformable to law.

Sec. 4. All courts for said county shall be held at the house of James Allen until public buildings are erected, unless changed to some other place by order of the County Commissioners' Court, who shall make the same a matter of record.

Sec. 5. The Commissioners herein appointed to locate the county seat shall be allowed two dollars per day each, for every day by them necessarily employed in making said location, to be paid by said county.

Official Iiistory

After the creation of McLean County, as herein previously stated, by act of the State Legislature, in 1831, the First Judicial Circuit of the State consisted of Pike, Calhoun, Greene, Morgan, Sangamon, Tazewell, Macon, McLean and Macoupin Counties ; and the first term was to be legally held in this county at the house of Mr. James Allen, in Bloomington, on the first Thursday after the first Monday after the fourth Monday in April in 1831. The Circuit Courts were then presided over by the Judges of the Supreme Court of the State, and the Circuit Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The Hon. Samuel D. Lockwood presided in the court, in this circuit, from 1831 till 1835 ; Hon. Stephen T. Logan presided from 1835 till 1837 ; Hon. Jesse B. Thomas, from 1837 till 1839; Hon. William Thomas, from 1839 till 1840; Hon. Samuel H. Treat, from 1840 till 1849.

The Circuit Judges then becoming elective, Hon. Djavid Davis was elected, and presided in this circuit from 1849 till 1863; then Hon. John M. Scott, from 1863 till 1870; Hon. Thomas F. Tipton, from 1870 till 1877, and then Hon. Owen T. Reeves, the present incumbent7"became his successor. ""* ~~ *

At the first term of the Court in this county, Mr. James Allen was the Clerk pro tempore. In September, 1832, Gen. Meritt L. Covell was appointed Clerk, who held the office till 1845 ; then Mr. James T. Gildersleeve held it till 1849 ; then Mr. William H. Allen was elected to the office, and held it till 1853 ; then Mr. William McCullough, till 1863; then Dr. E. R, Roe, till 1868; then Rev. Robert E. Guttoke, till 1872 ; then Mr. Samuel F. Dolliff, till 1876, who was succeeded by Mr. James C. McFarland, the present incumbent.

Grand Jurors

The first grand jury summoned together in this county, in 1832, was composed of the following-named persons : John Houchins, Robert Turner, Thomas Glenn, Gardner Randolph, Jesse Funk, John Buckles, James Merrifield, AsahdGridley, Nathan Low, Ephraim Myers, John Hendrix, John Cox, Reuben Carlock, William Herford, Henry Buckner, Ephraim Stout, Jr., John Doudy, William Patrick, Elbert Dickerson, Aaron Foster, Benjamin Downey and Jacob Ellis.

Relative Population

It may be of interest to some of our readers to learn that when this, the First Judicial Circuit, in 1832, was composed of nine counties, including McLean, the other eight all lying south of it, except Tazewell, the Fifth Circuit was composed of fifteen counties, as follows : Cook, La Salle, Putnam, Peoria, Fulton, Schuyler, Adams, Hancock, McDonough, Knox, Warren, Jo Daviess, Mercer, Rock Island and Henry. This shows very plainly from what direction came mostly the early settlers of the State, and in what direction the incoming population moved. Now, the relative population is reversed, the then insignificant county of Cook at present containing something like one-sixth of the entire population of the State.

Petit Jurors

The first petit jury called together in this county, in the spring of 1832, was composed as follows : Andrew Brock, Gabriel Watt, Thomas Cuppy, John Moore, Esq., David Noble, Silas Waters, Amos Conaway, Henry Ball, Eli Frankerberger, Benjamin Hains, John Kimler, John H. S. Rhodes, John Maxwell, Sr., James Canada, Henry Hains, John Durley, Lewis Soward, Patrick Hopkins, Jacob Spawr, Absalom Funk, John Dixon, David Wheeler, James Toliver, Mathew Robb.

County Court

The first Commissioners of the County Court, for the transaction of county business, Hons. Jonathan CJieney, Timothy B. Hoblitt and Jesse Havens, held the first session of their court in Bloomington, May 16, 1831.

Their successors in office have been, in 1832, Mr. Seth Baker and Mr. Andrew McMillan; in 1838, William Qr^niorff, Esq.; in 1839, Mr. James R. Dawson; in 1840, Mr. Henry R. Clark; in 1841, Messrs. Nathan Low and William Conaway; in 1842, Mr. Israel W. Hall ; in 1843, Mr. Jesse Funk ; in 1844, Mr. William Bishop ; in 1845, Mr. Henry Vansickle ; in 1847, Mr. Ezekiel Arrowsmith ; in 1848, Mr. James Vandolah.

At the December term, 1849, the form of the Court was changed, the county business being transacted by a Presiding Judge and two Associate Judges, and the probate business by the Presiding Judge. Hon. John E. McClun had been elected Presiding Judge, and Messrs. Silas Waters and Joseph H. Moore, Associate Judges. In 1853, Hon. John M. Scott became Presiding Judge, and Hiram Buck, Esq., Associate Judge, Associate Moore being re-elected. In 1854, Hon. B. H. Coffey became Presiding Judge, and Milton Smith, Esq., became Associate in 1855. In 1856, Hon. A. J. Merriman was elected County Judge, and, by re-elections, held the office sixteen years, till 1872. The jurisdiction of the Court was then greatly extended, and Hon. R. M. Benjamin, the present incumbent, was elected to that office.

At the organization of the Commissioners' Court, in 1831, Dr. Isaac Baker was Clerk, and he acted also as Surveyor. In 1839, B. H. Coffey became County Clerk, and served till 1854. His successor, E. H. Rood, served till 1857, and he was succeeded by Dr. W. C. Hobbs, who served till 1861 ; then Reuben L. Davis was Clerk till 1866, and then Robert S. Mclntyre till 1870. His successor was Johnson W. Straight, till 1874 ; then Reuben L. Davis was again Clerk till 1878, when Charles W. Atkinson, the present incumbent, was elected to that office.

The first County Treasurer was Mr. Thomas Orondorff, in 1831. In 1833, Mr. David Wheeler was appointed Treasurer. In 1836, James Rains became Treasurer, and Richard Edwards in 1837. In 1838, G. B. Larrison was appointed Treasurer pro tern., and Gen. Asahel Gridley was appointed to that office in 1839. In 1841, Gen. Gridley resigned the Treasurership, and was succeeded by W. P. Brown, Esq. In 1842, William H. Temple was elected Treasurer, and became Assessor in 1845, and the two offices were held by the same person for several terms. In 1853, Mr. William Thomas became Treasurer and Assessor, and served till 1858, in both capacities, when the Supervisors' Court was established, and Township Assessors were employed ; but Mr. Thomas served as County Treasurer till 1862. He was succeeded by Mr. Thomas Fell, who was Treasurer till 1866; then Col. John L. Routt served till 1870; then Mr. Lewis E. Ijams, till 1872 ; then Mr. Joseph Dennison, till 1876 ; then Mr. Isaac Stroud, till 1878 ; then Mr. Dennison, who is the present incumbent, again became Treasurer.

Cheney Thomas, Esq., appears to have been, in 1832, the first Sheriff and County Collector in this county. In 1835, Mr. Martin Scott became his successor, and served till 1840, when Mr. G. B. Larison succeeded to the office of Sheriff. In 1842, Mr. Richard Edwards was Sheriff. In 1844, Mr. William McCullough was elected Sheriff and Collector, and served till 1850, and was then succeeded by Mr. Jonathan Glimpse in 1851 and 1852 ; by Mr. George Parke in 1853 and 1854 ; by Mr. John J. Price in 1855 and 1856 ; by J. H. Moore, Esq., in 1857 and 1858 ; by Mr. William P. Withers in 1859 till 1862 ; then by Mr. Normal Dixon in 1863 and 1864 ; by Henry A. Ewing, Esq., in 1865 and 1866; by Mr. Edward M. Pike in 1867 and 1868 ; by Mr. Richard Osborn in 1869 and 1870 ; by Mr. Gustave Lange in 1871 and 1872 ; by Mr. Henry Honscheitin 1873 and 1875 ; by James Goodheart in 1875 till 1878; then by Mr. Joseph Ator, the present incumbent.

In 1832, James Latta, Esq., was appointed Commissioner of School Lands, and was succeeded by Jesse W. Fell, Esq., in 1834. In 1836, Mr. Cheney Thomas was elected School Commissioner. In 1844, Mr. James B. Price became School Commissioner, and was succeeded in 1850 and 1851 by John M. Scott, Esq., and he was succeeded by Mr. C. P. Merriman in 1852 till 1858; then by Mr. Daniel Wilkins in 1859 till 1862; then by Mr. C. P. Merriman again in 1862 and 1863; and by Mr. Daniel Wilkins again in 1864 till 1868 ; then by Mr. John Hull from 1869 till 1875, and then by Mr. William H. Smith, the present incumbent.

In 1831, Samuel Durley, Esq., was appointed Assessor and Recorder. In 1835, Dr. Isaac Baker became County Assessor. In 1839, Mr. William H. Hodge was appointed County Collector, and again in 1840, Mr. R. C. Cowden being Assessor. In

1841, Zera Patterson, Esq., became County Assessor, and again in 1842. In 1843, Mr. Isaac Smalley became Assessor, and Mr. William Creel, Collector. The offices of Sheriff and Collector, and those of Treasurer and Assessor were then united till 1858, when the Supervisors' Court came into the control of the county business.

In 1831, Dr. Isaac Baker seems to have been appointed Surveyor, by the County Commissioners' Court, or, at least, to have been employed as such, till 1835, when Mr. Elbert Dickason was Surveyor, who served till 1839 ; then Dr. Harrison Noble till 1847; then Mr. Nelson Buck till 1849; then Mr. James T. Swartz till 1851 ; then Mr. Peter Folsome till 1857 ; then Mr. William T. Horr till 1859 ; then Mr. Peter Folsome again till 1861 ; then Mr. John P. Hely till 1863; then Mr. J. M. Spaulding till 1865; then Mr. George P. Ela till 1869 ; then Mr. William P. Anderson till 1875; then Mr. George P. Ela, the present incumbent, was again elected.

Probate Justices

Samuel Durley, Esq., was appointed Probate Justice, and held the office from 1831 till 1835 ; Cheney Thomas, Esq., succeeded him, and served till 1837 ; then W. P. Brown, Esq., served till 1839 ; then Wells Colton, Esq., till 1843 ; then Zera Patterson, Esq., till 1850, when the form of the Commissioners' Court was changed, and the Probate business passed into the hands of the County Judge.

In 1836, Mr. Elijah Rockhold was elected Coroner. Mr. William Matthews served several terms. In 1868 and 1869, Mr. Mark Ross was Coroner; then Mr. Luke Nevin till 1872 ; then Mr. William H. Hendrix till 1878, and then Dr. D. M. Foster, the present incumbent, came into office.

supervisors' court. At the first meeting of the Supervisors' Court, May 17, 1858, the members present were as follows : From Mount Hope, Daniel Winsor ; Mosquito Grove, Presley T. Brooks ; Danvers, James Wilson ; Funk's Grove, William S. Allin ; Dale, Richard Rowell ; Dry Grove, Elias Yoder ; White Oak, Benjamin F. Rowell ; Randolph, Alfred M. Stringfield ; Bloomington, David Simmons and Hon. John E. McClun ; Normal, William G. Thompson ; Hudson, James H. Cox ; Savanna, Sylvester Peasley ; Old Town, Scammon Rodman; Towanda, N. S. Sunderland; Money Creek, William F. Johnson ; Gridley, Taylor Loving ; Lee, Josiah Horr ; Blue Mound, James A. Doyle ; Lexington, Jacob C. Mahan ; Chenoa, J. B. Graham ; Kickapoo, Henry West ; Pleasant, Ezekiel Arrowsmith. Hon. John E. McClun was chosen Chairman, and the Court proceeded to business.

Circuit Courts

In 1839, the Eighth Judicial Circuit of the State was composed of Sangamon, Tazewell, McLean, Livingston, Macon, Dane, Logan and Menard Counties.

In 1841, the circuit consisted of Menard, Sangamon, Christian, Logan, Shelby Macon, DeWitt, McLean, Champaign, Tazewell, Mason, Piatt and Livingston.

In 1850, the circuit consisted of Piatt, Sangamon, Tazewell, Woodford, Logan, McLean, DeWitt, Champaign, Vermilion, Edgar, Shelby, Moultrie, Macon and Christian Counties.

Apportionment

In 1831, at its creation, McLean County was entitled, conjointly with Tazewell, to one Representative and one Senator in the State Legislature.

In 1841, the State being redistricted, McLean County was entitled to one Representative by itself, and one conjointly with Livingston, and to one Senator conjointly with Livingston, Piatt, DeWitt and Macon.

In 1848, Tazewell, McLean, Logan, DeWitt and Macon Counties constituted the Eleventh Senatorial District and it was entitled to one Senator ; and McLean and DeWitt constituted the Twenty-ninth Representative District, and it was entitled to one Representative.

In 1861, McLean and DeWitt constituted the Thirty-eighth Representative District and were entitled to two Representatives ; and McLean, DeWitt, Piatt, Moultrie and Macon constituted the Tenth Senatorial District and were entitled to one State Senator.

In 1871, McLean became, by itself, the Twenty-eighth Senatorial District of the State, and is entitled to one Senator and three Representatives.

Congressional

In 1831, the State was divided into three Congressional Districts, the Third District consisting of Greene, Morgan, Sangamon, Tazewell, Macon, McLean, La Salle, Cook, Putnam, Peoria, Henry, Knox, Jo Daviess, Mercer, Warren, Hancock, McDonough, Fulton, Schuyler, Adams, Pike and Calhoun Counties.

In 1841, the State was divided into seven districts, and the Fifth District consisted of Lake, McHehry, Boone, Cook, Kane, De Kalb, Du Page, Kendall, Grundy, La Salle, Will, Iroquois, Livingston, McLean, Champaign, Vermilion and Bureau Counties.

In 1852, the State was redistricted into nine districts, the Fourth District being composed of Will, Kendall, Grundy, La Salle, Putnam, Bureau, Livingston, Iroquois, Vermilion, Champaign, McLean and DeWitt Counties.

In the Constitutional Convention of 1847, McLean County was entitled alone to one member, and to one conjointly with Livingston County. Judge David Davis, now United States Senator, and Hon. Samuel Lander were the said members.

In the Constitutional Convention of 1869, McLean County, conjointly with DeWitt, was entitled to two members. Hon. R. M. Benjamin, of McLean, and Hon. C. H. Moore, of DeWitt, were those two members.

Swamp-Lands

McLean County obtained about twenty-seven thousand acres from the United States in virtue of the Swamp-lands act. These lands have been sold for about $130,000, and the proceeds have been devoted to educational purposes - $70,000 to the State Normal University, and the rest has been distributed to the townships, for the benefit of the common schools. The sale of these lands has been effected through the agency of Judge A. J. Merriman, under the sanction of the Supervisors' Court.

The State of Illinois, up till 1831, constituted one Congressional District, and was represented in Congress, from 1830, the year in which McLean County was created, until 1832, by Hon. Joseph Duncan ; and the Third District, including McLean County, was represented from 1832 till 1834 by the same gentleman.

From 1834 to 1838, the Third District was represented by Hon. William L. May. From 1838 to 1842, the Third District was represented by Hon. John T. Stuart.

In 1841, the State was divided into seven districts, and the Fifth District, including McLean County, was represented, from 1842 to 1850, by Hon. John Wentworth.

In 1852, the State was redistricted, and the Fourth District, including McLean County, was represented by Hon. Jesse 0. Norton, in 1853, 1854, 1855 and 1856.

In 1861, the District, including McLean County, was changed, taking effect at the November election in 1862. In 1863 and 1864, the new district was represented by Hon. John T. Stuart. In 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869 and 1870, it was represented by Hon. Shelby M. Cullom. In 1871 and 1872, it was represented by Hon. James C. Robinson.

In 1871, the State was again redistricted, to take effect at the November election in 1872, and McLean County was embraced in the Thirteenth Congressional District, which was represented, in 1873 and 1874, by Hon. John McNulta. In 1875 and 1876, it was represented by Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson. Inl877 and 1878, it was represented by Hon. Thomas F. Tipton. The district is again represented by Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson, the present incumbent. - - -

State Legislature

Until 1872, McLean County was represented in the State Legislature by Representative and Senatorial Districts ; since that date it has constituted a Senatorial District by itself - the Twenty-eighth. The Senators have been as follows :

County Bible Society

At a meeting held in the Presbyterian Church in this city in September, 1852, the McLean County Bible Society was re-organized, and the following Constitution adopted :

Constitution

Article 1. This Society shall be called the McLean County Bible Society, the object of which shall be to promote the circulation of the Scriptures without note or comment.

Art. 2. This Society shall be auxiliary to the American Bible Society, and, after supplying the destitute within its own limits, shall pay over its surplus funds to that Society to aid in supplying other places.

Art. 3. The payment of any sum annually shall constitute membership. Those contributing $5 at one time shall be members for life, and entitled to one common Bible annually for distribution.

Art. 4. The officers of this Society shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary,. Treasurer and Depositary, and three Directors who, together, shall constitute an Executive Committee, for the transaction of business ; and Pastors co-operating shall be Vice Presidents, and each Church shall be entitled to one Director.

Art. 5. It shall be the duty of this committee to meet as occasion may require, to appoint local and traveling agents, to see that funds are remitted and books procured, to make arrangements for raising funds and circulating books annually in all parts of the county, and to perform any other acts in accordance with this Constitution which they may deem calculated to promote the usefulness of the Society.

Art. 6. Any branch organization agreeing to purchase its books of this Society and place its surplus funds at its disposal shall be recognized as an auxiliary, and its members shall be considered as also members of the County Society.

Art. 7. There shall be an annual meeting of the Society on call of the officers, when an address shall be delivered, reports presented by the Secretary and the Treasurer, officerselected and such other business transacted as may be necessary. Immediately after this meeting, the Secretary shall transmit an account of it, together with an abstract of the reports, and the names and post offices of the officers to the Secretaries of the parent society at New York, and to the agent of said society for this State, and also offer the same for publication in the county newspapers.

At the annual meeting of the Society, September, 1853, very little business seems to have been done other than the election of officers and listening to addresses.

At the annual meeting, December 3, 1854, at the .Methodist Episcopal Church, the Society was addressed by Rev. Mr. Lord, State Agent, and by other gentlemen. The reports of the Secretary and the Treasurer are not attainable just at present ; but we learn, incidentally, that about $100 were raised and expended annually by the Society until 1857, when an agent was employed, and the Society commenced to employ more efficient means to effect its purposes. Substantially, the same officers were continued for the current year, except that Mr. Linas Graves was chosen Secretary. At a subsequent meeting of the Executive Committee, the same month, quite a number of local agents were appointed to solicit aid for the Society.

At the annual meeting, November 4, 1855, the usual devotional exercises were had, there were some interesting discussions, and about the same officers chosen, except that Mr. 0. T. Reeves was made Treasurer, who resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. O. Rugg before the close of the current year. At a subsequent meeting of the Executive Committee, June 9, held at the request of the State Agent, Rev. Mr. Lord, the Treasurer was authorized to procure a sufficient supply of Bibles and Testaments for the county, and Mr. Lord was authorized to procure an agent to canvass the county the next year.

At the annual meeting of the Society December 7, 1856, an eloquent address was delivered by Rev. A. Eddy, the Treasurer made his report, Hon. John E. McClun was chosen President, and the other officers were continued.

At the fifth anniversary of the Society, at the Methodist Church, December 7, 1857, Rev. F. N. Ewing presided in the absence of the President, Hon. J. E. McClun. The County Agent, Rev. Joseph Messer, made his report as follows : During the current year, he had labored eighty-five days, and held annual meetings of branch societies at Randolph Grove, LeRoy, Cheney's Grove, St. Clairville, Old Town Timber, Money Creek, Pleasant Hill, Lexington, Hudson, Concord, White Oak Grove and Johnson's Precinct. He had lectured 35 times, and visited 1,048 families. He had received from the county depository books to the amount of $157.08; had deposited with the branch societies, sold, donated and returned books to the same amount. He had received from the branch societies $412.66, and paid to the County Treasurer $250.62, and the balance paid his own wages and expenses. He had obtained new subscriptions to the amount of $228.71, there remaining $588.09 due on old subscriptions; books now in branch societies, $620.03; receipts of societies the past year, $466.72, and books circulated during the year, $249.34. He had found 40 families destitute of the Scriptures. The report of the agent was received with the thanks of the Society. The same officers were rechosen, except that Mr. John Magoun was made Treasurer. Twenty German Bibles were donated to Rev. Mr. Andre for the benefit of his Bible class ; the agent was instructed to forward the surplus funds to the parent society in New York, and measures taken to canvass more thoroughly the city of Bloomington.

At the annual meeting, in December, 1858, the weather was very severe, and but few were present. The reports of the Treasurer and Agent were adopted, and the officers of the Society retained.

The seventh anniversary was^held at the Methodist Church, December 18, 1859. The new Agent, Rev. Mr. Ansley, and the Treasurer, Mr. Magoun, made acceptable reports ; Mr. L. W. Capen was chosen President, and the other officers retained. The Society was addressed very interestingly by Rev. Mr. Price and Rev. Mr. Knowlton.

At the annual meeting, December 30, 1860, in the Presbyterian Church, the old officers were retained, the reports of the Agent and the Treasurer approved, and the Society ably addressed by Rev. Messrs. Pitner, Clark and Eddy. At a meeting of the Executive Committee, $30 were appropriated to each of the following individuals, to make them life-members of the American Bible Society : Rev. A. Eddy, Rev. H. R. Price, Rev. L. Taylor, Rev. S. W. Knowlton, Rev. Mr. Clark, Messrs. James C. McFarlandr Daniel Sill, Francis Smith and Miss Ann Gastman.

The County Agent, Rev. J. Ansley, reported that he had received during the year, from the County Society, $101, and from the branch societies, $484.46, making $585.46 ; and that the disbursements amounted to the same - $408.14 of it being sent to the American Bible Society at New York. During the year, 823 families had been visited; new subscriptions raised, $219.10; families found without the entire Bible, 38 ; children under sixteen years of age, able to read, without Testaments of their own, 70 ; books sold in the county, $177.14 ; books given and drawn in the county, $77.36 ; total, $254.50. Books now on hand in county and branch societies, $653.92. Three $30-pledges were also obtained to make life-members of the American Bible Society.

The ninth anniversary of the Society was held at the Methodist Church, December 17, 1861. Spirited addresses were made by Revs. G. R. Moore, Rucker and Price. The old officers were continued. The County Agent, Rev. J. Ansley, made his annual report substantially as follows : Cash received from the County Society,'$335.50 ; from the branch societies, $419.11 ; total, $754.61. Disbursements for the year, the same, of which $524.04 were sent to the American Bible Society, New York ; $224.04 in payment for books, and $300 donation. Families visited, 1,019; new subscriptions obtained, $202.38 ; books sold in the county, $237.67 ; books given in the county (largely to our soldiers), $132.51 ; total, $370.18. Books now on hand'in the county and branch societies, $756.38.

The tenth annual meeting of the Society was held in the Presbyterian Church, February 8, 1863. The old officers were retained. Interesting speeches were made by Rev. Mr. Button, Chaplain in the army, and Rev. Dr. Porter. Rev. J. Ansley, County Agent, reported : Cash received from the County Society, $443.88 ; from the branch societies, $645.45; total, $1,089.33. Disbursements amounting to the same, of which $829.66 were paid to the American Bible Society, $458.91 for books, and $370.75 donation. Families visited during the year, 1,174 ; new subscriptions obtained, $268.32 ; books sold in the county, $346.30 ; books given and drawn in the county, $152.13 ; embracing 853 volumes given to the soldiers. Books circulated in the county, $498.43 ; books on hand in County Society and branches, $748.20.

At a subsequent meeting of the Executive Committee, by a donation of $30 to each, the following gentlemen and ladies were made life-members of the American Bible Society : Revs. William T. Lowe, J. Gr. Evans ; Mrs. O. Rugg, Mrs. J. E. McClune, Mrs. Bradner, Mrs. Maxwell, Messrs. George Hill, Isaac S. Mahan, George Bradford, S. Conkling and Rev. Mr. Berry.

At the eleventh annual meeting of the Society, at the Methodist Church, January 10, 1864, Mr. Henry Richardson was chosen President. The Society was ably addressed by Judge John M. Scott, and also by Prof. Knowlton, H. H. Hatch, Esq., and the Agent. At a subsequent meeting of the Executive Committee, Rev. Mr. Andrus was employed as an agent of the Society, at $500 a year, and Revs. Elburk and Hayes,

At the twelfth annual meeting of the Society, January 5, 1865, at the Presbyterian Church, Mr. J. W. Maxwell was chosen Treasurer and Depositary of the Society ; the other officers were retained. The meeting was highly entertained by speeches from Revs. Dr. Porter, Bailey, Andrus and Price. The usual reports were not in readiness.

At the thirteenth annual meeting of the Society, the old officers were retained, except that Mr. 0. Rugg was chosen President, December 17, 1865, at the Methodist Church. The meeting was entertained by speeches from Revs. Rutledge, Lowe, Ellis and Bailey. Mr. J. W. Maxwell, Treasurer, made his report, which was referred to Auditing Committee. Rev. Mr. Mayers, County Agent, made a partial report.

The fourteenth annual meeting of the Society was held in Shroeder's Hall, December 23, 1866. The old officers were retained. Mr. J. W. Maxwell, Treasurer, and Mr. Ira Bristol, County Agent, made their reports. The meeting was entertained by addresses from Revs. Hartshorn, State Agent, Rabe, Ellis and Jacques.

The fifteenth aunual meeting of the Society was held in the Methodist Church, December 22, 1867. The old officers were retained. The Secretary's report covered those of the Treasurer and the Agent. Meeting addressed by Revs. McElroy, McDougal, -and the State Agent, Hartshorn.

The sixteenth annual meeting of the Society was held in the Presbyterian Church March 14, 1879. The old officers were re-elected. The reports of Mr. J. W. Maxwell, Treasurer, and of Mr. C. K. Daniels, County Agent, were read and referred to committee. Very interesting addresses were delivered by President Edwards, of the Normal University, and Judge Culver, of Pontiac.

The seventeenth anniversary of the Society was held in Schroeder's Opera-House, April 8, 1870. Mr. W. H. Winegardner was chosen President, and the other officers substantially retained. Mr. J. W. Maxwell, Treasurer, and Rev. Mr. Daniels, County Agent, presented their reports, which were read and approved. Rev. Dr. Reed delivered a very fine address, which was well appreciated by the audience.

The eighteenth anniversary of the Society was held in the Academy of Music, April 9, 1871. The old officers were rechosen. The audience was very large, and listened with much interest to the addressess delivered by Rev. Mr. Pilcher, R. R. Williams, Esq., and Mr. Jackman, Superintendent of machine shops, Chicago & Alton Railroad. From the report of the County Agent, Mr. C. K. Daniels, we select the following items. During the year, he had addressed 38 public meetings, obtained new subscriptions amounting to $819.82, collected on subscriptions and notes, $1,048.98, received from local agents and branch societies, $582.46, and from sale of books, $315.20, making the entire receipts $1,946.64. He had traveled 1,100 miles, visited, with assistance of local agents, 1,400 families. Number of books circulated, 1,400, to the value of about $900 ; number of branch societies, 27, having in their depositories books to the value of $716.81, and 8694.42 worth in the county depository, amounting to $1,411.23. There are 220 local agents, and 33 pastors co-operating in the county. The Treasurer's report shows receipts to be $1,946.64, and disbursements and $175.92 on hand, amounting to the same, $1,200 of which was sent to parent society, New York. Books left over and purchased during the year, $1,643.39 ; books on hand and distributed to the same amount.

The nineteenth anniversary of the Society was a very interesting occasion. The former officers were retained. The meeting, April 21, 1872, in Schroeder's Opera- House, was very large, and most ably addressed by Dr. E. 0. Haven, President of the Northwestern University, at Evanston. The substance of the reports was : Books in the depository at the commencement of the current year, and purchases, $1,621.65 ; books delivered to branch societies, sold, and on hand, the same. Cash received from sales and branch societies, $2,089.51 ; disbursements and balance in Treasury, the same, of which $1,106 were sent to parent society, New York. The resources of the Society amount to $1,816.02. The County Agent, Mr. C. K. Daniels, had delivered 47 addresses ; obtained by subscriptions, $ 1 ,430 ; secured 4 life-members to parent society; made cash collections, $1,739.04; traveled 2,700 miles; visited 2,179 families; circulated 1,600 Bibles and Testaments ; found 48 families destitute of the Bible ; supplied 24, and did much other labor in the cause.

The twentieth anniversary of the Society was held in the Opera-House, July 27, 1873. Rev. John Ansley was chosen President, and the other officers retained. The hall was packed, and many could not gain admittance. The meeting was eloquently addressed by Bev. Mr. Barnes. Measures were taken to supply the cars of the Chicago & Alton Bailroadwith Bibles and Testaments. The Treasurer's report shows $2,514.60 in books held over, in receipts from branches through agent, and sales at depository. The disbursements were the same, except $365.30 in treasury. Sent to parent society, $1,444.24. Books in the county depository, and in those of the branch societies r $1,370.20. The County Agent had addressed 32 public meetings, and obtained $725 in subscriptions ; had traveled 2,000 miles ; 2,324 families were visited, 39 found without Bibles and supplied ; about 180 books were circulated, and much other labor done.

The twenty-first anniversary of the Society was held at Durley Hall, June 7, 1874. The meeting was immense. The former officers were retained. The audience was addressed by Mrs. Jennie Willing, Dr. Edwards, of Normal, and Rev. Dr. Fallows. The Treasurer's report shows that $797.33 were received for books sold, and $829.45 for collections and donations. To the parent society, $1,066.77 were sent, the expenses paid, and $352.54 in the treasury. Value of books received during the year, $1,293.32 ; value of books donated to supply Chicago & Alton Railroad cars, $207.47 ; value of books in the chief and branch depositories, $1,317.37. Protestant Churches co-operating, 77 ; branch societies, 29; families visited, 1,696; destitute families supplied with Scriptures, 12.

The twenty-second anniversary of the Society was held in Durley Hall, May 16, 1875. Mr. William Bone was chosen President, and Mr. J. A. Willson, Secretary. The immense audience was addressed by Dr. Edwards, of Normal. From the Treasurer's report, we learn that the receipts from books sold were $674.55 ; from collections and donations, $775.60 ; paid to the parent society $1,222.16 ; and, after paying the expenses, $185.55 cash in the treasury. The value of books received during the year was $900.21 ; the value of books sold, $674.75 ; and the value of books remaining in the depositories, $1,441.14.

The twenty-third anniversary of the Society was held Aug. 27, 1876, at the Methodist Church. The audience was large, and was addressed very satisfactorily by Rev. A. I. Hobbs. The old officers were continued. At a previous meeting of the Executive

Committee, the following persons were constituted life-members of the County Society : Miss May Bedell, of Lawndale ; Mr. William Morris, of West ; Mr. William Baldridge, of White Oak, and Mr. J. M. Mitchell, of Gridley. As reported by the Treasurer, there had been received from the County Agent $892.32, from the branch societies, $221.75, and from sale of books in county depository, $570.40. The expenses were paid, $663.92 sent to the parent society, and $719.36 remained in the treasury. Books delivered to branches, $330.19 ; remaining in depository, $602.15. County Agent had spoken publicly 42 times; 1,736 families were visited ; 70 destitute families supplied with Bibles; 1,280 miles traveled; 2,000 books circulated, and much other labor was performed for the Society.

The twenty-fourth anniversary of the Society was held in the Presbyterian Church, September 16, 1877. The old officers were retained, and the meeting addressed by Dr. W. H. H. Adams. The Treasurer reported $1,933.72 receipts from all sources, with what was on hand at the previous report. Expenses were paid, $1,044.30 sent to parent society and $335.41 remained in treasury. Amount of books received from New York, $1,065.35 ; books sold at depository, $530.45 ; books on hand, $750.21. Rev. James Ferguson assisted the County Agent in canvassing. Families visited in the county, 4.000 ; number of destitute families and individuals supplied with Bibles, 183 ; miles traveled, 1,800 ; value of books donated, $164.07 ; value of books sold, $739.03 ; value of books on hand in the county, $1,600.

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Society was held at the Methodist Church, June 9, 1878. The old officers were retained. Meeting addressed by Revs. A. I. Hobbs, J. A. Kumler and J. M. Baugh. The report of the Treasurer shows : Cash from all sources, $1,127.07 ; disbursements show expenses paid, sent to American Bible Society, $491.47, and remaining in treasury, $391.61. Books sold, $398.82 ; books purchased, $314.60; books on hand, $641.64 in the county depository, and $818.98 in those of the branch societies. Miles traveled by the County Agent, 1,150; addresses delivered, 25; families visited, 1,000; local agents, 150; branch societies 32; value of books circulated, sold and donated, $448.42.

The Society has been in operation twenty-five years. It has sent to the American Bible Society from $12,000 to $15,000, in payment for books or as donations, $1,000 having been recently transmitted to it from the estate of the late Mr. T. C. Humphrey, of this county. Many thousands of Bibles and Testaments have been put into the hands of the people of this county through its agency, and incalculable good done by its many incidental influences. The Society is in a healthy condition, and in hopeful spirits in reference to its future successes, when the present financial embarrassments shall have subsided.

Physical Features

As will be seen in another place, while speaking of its origin, McLean County assumed its present form and dimensions in 1841, on the formation of Woodford County. The main body of it is forty-two miles east and west, and thirty-two north and south, the northeast and the northwest corners having been cut off. There is no stream of water of any considerable size within its limits. In the northeastern portion of the county there are several creeks, as Bray's Creek, Henline Creek, Turkey Creek, Patton Branch, Money Creek, Crooked Creek and Buck Creek ; and in the northwestern portion, Denman's Creek, Rock Creek, Six-Mile Creek and many smaller ones all running northwest, and combining to form the Mackinaw, which runs west, leaving the county near the northwest corner of Township 25 north, Range 2 east, and passing into Tazewell County. In the northeast corner, Rock Creek and some other small creeks run north, into the Vermilion.

In the western portion of the county are several branches of Sugar Creek, running southwest, and leaving the county on the west side of Townships 22 and 23 north, Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian. In the southwestern portion is Kickpoo Creek, with its many branches, running southwest and leaving the county in the northeastern part of Township 21 north, Range 1 east, and entering De Witt County. In the southeastern portion are the branches of Salt Creek, running south into De Witt County, in Township 21 north, Ranges 4 and 5 east ; and in the eastern part of the county are the incipient waters of the Sangamon River, running east and south, and leaving the county near the the southeastern corner of Township 23 north, Range 6 east.

This all shows very clearly that the middle portion of McLean County is a gentle swell of country, higher than the surrounding counties ; it shows, also, how generally and impartially all parts are supplied with running water.

Nor are the distribution and the size of its forest groves less admirable. In the northwest is White Oak Grove ; in the north, Mackinaw Timber ; in the west, Stout's Grove ; in the center, Blooming Grove and Old Town Timber ; in the south, Funk's Grove, Randolph Grove and Buckle's Grove, and in the east, Cheney's Grove. As a whole, this distribution ot streams and groves could scarcely be improved for agricultural pursuits and for stock-raising, as well as for convenience, health and beauty. In the southeastern portion of the county, more timber-land may seem desirable ; but there is compensation in the fact that West and Belleflower are two as fine townships of land as the sun shines upon in his daily course.

Early Times

As will be seen elsewhere, the territory now comprising McLean County was, in 1821, embraced in two other counties, that portion of it lying west of the Third Principal Meridian being in Sangamon County, and the rest in Fayette, and the capital of the State was Vandalia, the county seat of the latter county.

At that time, there were no white settlers within the present limits of the county. Although the Indians had, sometime previously, bargained away- this section of the West to the United States Government, they were still in full possession of the country and roamed over it at will, enjoying all its advantages, as formerly.

The first surveying on the territory now composing this county was done in April, 1821, by Mr. John F. McCullum, who ran the Third Principal Meridian from the standard line, on the south side of Town 21, as far north as the north line of Town 25. The standard line on the south side was run also in April, 1821, by Mr. Joseph Borough ; and the line north of Town 25 was surveyed in March, 1822, by Mr. Enoch Stein. These lines were the bases of the survey of the county. Ranges 1 and 2 east were surveyed in October and November, 1823, by Messrs. A. M. and P. M. Hamtrameck. Range 3 east was surveyed in January and February, 1824, by Mr. Beal Greenup. Ranges 4 and 5 east were surveyed in April, 1824, by Mr. John Barcroft. Range 6 east was surveyed by Mr. B. Recton, probably in 1824; and Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian, by Mr. P. M. January, in June, 1823.

In their notes, these surveyors speak of there being a settlement of white people on Section 15, in Randolph Township, in 1823. There was a camp of Delaware Indians on the northwest quarter of Section 36, in Lexington Township, near which was their corn-field, consisting of a few acres. There was also a town of the Kickapoo Indians near the present village of Pleasant Hill. Their corn-field, of about twenty acres, was on the line between Sections 17 and 20. Mr. Patrick Hopkins, still living in the vicinity, saw corn growing- in that field, on the 25th of May, 1830, which the Indians had planted, and which was at that time twenty inches high - the biggest corn ever seen in this section of country so early in the year.

There was another noted Indian town at the head of Old Town Timber - hence the name - on the line between Sections 31 and 32, in Arrowsmith Township. At the time of the survey, this town was apparently abandoned. The outlines of their intrenchments were seen as late as in 1863. On breaking up the turf, in 1864, bullets, gun-barrels and many bones were thrown up; and numerous arrow-points are found, even unto the present day.

The main trail of the Indians through this section of the State was southeast and northwest, from Post Vincennes, on the Wabash, to Fort Clarke (Peoria), up the Wabash and the Vermilion, in the direction of Danville ; thence across to the Sangamon, to the northwest part of Champaign County ; thence to the east end of Old Town Timber ; thence northwest, to Smith's Grove, in Towanda Township ; thence to the south end of Haven's Grove, and thence westward, crossing the Mackinaw at Farnisville. From this route, it will be seen that the Indians in those times, like the early settlers, were very friendly to the groves, and liked to be as near them as practicable. Traces of this trail can still be seen in the hills near the Mackinaw, cut by the feet of the Indian ponies, in their passing to and fro. This was the main trail through the county, and other lighter trails were seen in different directions. Indians were quite common in the vicinity of Indian Grove, in Livingston County, as late as in 1835. In those times, the Indians, and the early settlers after them, made considerable quantities of sugar from the maple-trees in these groves, especially in Blooming Grove, Randolph Grove, Dry Grove and Stout's Grove, and some is still made in favorable seasons.

First Settlements

The first settlers in what is now McLean County were Mr. John W. Dawson and Mr. John Hendrix, who came with their families to Blooming Grove in the spring of 1822, and settled near its east end. They came from Sangamon County? which, at that time, included the portion of this county west of the Third Principal Meridian, and this portion of it, in which they settled, was in Fayette County. In the summer of the same year, Mr. John Dawson came to join his family in the new home. In the spring of 1823, the Orendorffs came to the Grove. In 1824, came the Rhodes family, and Mr. William H. Hodge, Mr. William R. Goodheart, Mr. William Evans and Mr. William Dimmitt in 1825. In 1826, came the Guthries, Mr. David Cox and Mr. William McCullough. In 1827, Dr. Isaac Baker, and, in 1829, the Allen family came to cast their lot with the pioneers. A fuller account of the early settlement of Blooming Grove will be found elsewhere in this work.

It is said that Mr. Gardner Randolph came to Randolph Grove in 1822, and Mr. Alfred M. Stringfield in 1823. In fact, the surveyors of the county, in their notes speak of there being a settlement in that Grove in 1823. In 1824, the Rutledges and Mr. Jesse Funk came there ; in 1830, the Passwaters family, Mr. Jacob Bishop and Mr. Coverdale ; in 1830, the Stewarts and the Nobles ; and, in 1834, the Rusts. In

1824, the Funks and the Stubblefields came to Funk's Grove and to Mount Hope and made settlements. In 1825, the Cheneys settled at Cheney's Grove, and the Dickersons at Le Roy, and Mr. E. B. Mitchell at Stout's Grove. In 1826, Mr. Jesse Trimmer settled at Money Creek; and, in 1827, Mr. Matthew Robb and the McClures and the Hodges settled in Stout's Grove. The Spawrs settled in Lexington in 1826 and 1827. In 1828, Mr. Robert H. Johnson came to Dale Township, and the Beelers in 1830. In 1829, Mr. Lawson Downs settled in Downs Township; and, in 1826, came Mr. Henry Vansickle to Dry Grove, followed by Mr. Stephen Webb and Mr. George M. Hinshaw in 1827. In 1827, Mr. William M. McCord settled in Gridley Township, and Mr. John B. Messer in 1829, followed by Mr. John Sloan and the Coons, in after years. In 1829, Mr. Joseph Messer and the Havenses settled in Hudson, followed, the next year, by Mr. Benjamin Wheeler and Mr. John Smith - the veritable John Smith. In 1828, the Henlines settled in Lawndale Township. In 1825, Mr. William Evans, Jr., settled in Padua, followed by Mr. Daniel Jackson in 1830, and Mr. Jeremiah Greenman iu 1831. In 1828, Mr. Jesse Walden settled in Towanda Township.

Such were the chief initial settlements in this county in former times. In 1821, the country between Blooming Grove and Lake Michigan was one of the grandest specimens of the "unshorn fields of God" ever presented to the human eye. The foot-prints of no white man contaminated its soil and tainted the air with his vicious breath, fragrant of whisky and tobacco. The sole tenant of this vast region, big with all the elements of future greatness, was one Mr. Lo. Even he was rather an erratic body, with no fixed habitation, following after his equally erratic food - the champion tramp of his day. -

In those early times, the style of living was quite primitive, and somewhat different from that of the present. Their dwellings were mostly of the composite style of architecture, being made up of such material as could be most easily obtained. They employed very little of the Corinthian style, but much of the Door-ic style. Their pillars were taken from "God's first temples - the forests." They constructed their buildings, so as to be adapted to a very economical system of self-ventilation and selfheating. Being rather a hearty sort of people, they could tolerate the prairie breezes and the sun's warm visitations. They were not of too delicate a mold to digest their own food, instead of employing the contents of a drug store to carry on that necessary process ; nor did they consider it disgraceful to gain their livelihood by personal industry and constant labor. Very little do the young people of the present day know about the privations and the hardships through which the first settlers in this county were obliged to pass. The first settlers were obliged, sometimes, to go to the Wabash, or to Fox River, to get their grinding done. It was not very uncommon to go a distance of fifty miles, on horse-back, to get their plow-irons sharpened. Sometimes they constructed sort of mills, with millstones, cut from the lost rocks found on the prairies. They contrived, by various means, to pound and crush the grain for their food. It is said that they also used wooden grindstones, with sand worked into the circumference, to sharpen their knives and implements. It was not infrequently, though game was plenty, that they were out of meat when the preacher came to their houses, and a coon had to be caught. But it was not always gloomy and sad with them. There was much of good feeling and sociability among them. Their loves and their hates were demonstrative; and the sparseness of the population, and the consequent mutual dependence upon each other, as well in serious occupations as in their amusements, rendered them more helpful and more hearty in their reciprocal deeds of kindness, and in their social intercourse. There were not a few, even in this section of the country, whose hearts would respond to the following, rather boisterous, but cheerful and expressive language of the poet:

The children, who cluster, like grapes, at the door. Then enter, boys ; cheerly, boys, enter and rest ; The land of the heart is the land of the West."

It may be true that the feelings and sentiments expressed in the above lines are not the prevailing ones here at the present time ; that they are fast fading from the hearts of the new population, and that their proper meridian is still moving west - ever west. Yet there are some among us whose hearts still respond to the echoes of the earlier and more demonstrative times of the past. Many of the early settlers, now rapidly passing away, still linger among us ; and to them, and to those who have already passed over, the present generation owes an immense debt of gratitude ; for bravely have they met the difficulties incident to settling a new country ; and broadly and well have they laid the foundations of future prosperity in the county.

Material Developments

As will be seen elsewhere in this work, Tazewell County was created by the State Legislature at its session of 1826 and 1827. An election was held in that county in the following spring for county officers, McLean County being substantially embraced therein. At that election, Messrs. James Latta. George Hittle and Benjamin Briggs were elected County Commissioners ; Mr. James Benson, of Blooming Grove, was elected County Treasurer, and Mr. William Orondorff and Mr. Absalom Funk were securities ; Mr. William Orondorff was elected Justice of the Peace ; Mr. William H. Hodge, Sheriff, and Mr. Thomas Orondorff, Coroner.

On the 10th of April, 1827, the County Commissioners held their first court at the house of Mr. William Orondorff. On April 25, of the same year, they held their court at the house of Mr. Ephraim Stout, in Stout's Grove, and continued to hold them there until the public buildings were finished at Mackinawtown, which had been chosen for the county seat. At the court of the same Commissioners, held June 25, 1827, all that part of Tazewell County east of the Third Principal Meridian and all north of Town 22 was formed into Blooming Grove Precinct; and all south of Town 23 and east of Third Principal Meridian, including one range west of said meridian, in Town 22, formed Kickapoo Precinct.

At the March term, 1829, a road was ordered to be laid out from Jonathan Cheney's, in Cheney's Grove to the mouth of the Little Vermilion, at the Illinois River, and the Road District Supervisor was ordered to make the road. The county revenue of Tazewell County, for 1829, was $1,061.89, and the expenses, $898.53.

At the first session of the County Commissioners' Court, held at the house of Hon. James Allen, in Bloomington, for McLean County proper, May 16, 1831, the report of Messrs. Lemuel Lee and Isaac C. Pugh, Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to locate the county seat, was received and ordered to be entered on record - said report locating the said county seat on the land of Mr. James Allen, on the north end of Blooming Grove. At the same session, Dr. Isaac Baker, Clerk of the Court, was instructed to give notice, by written advertisements, that a sale of town lots in the town of Bloomington, on the land donated by Mr. Allen for a county seat, would take place on the 4th of July, of the same year.

At the June term of the Court, same year, the Commissioners thinking the tax on land insufficient to defray the expenses of the county, ordered that a tax of one-half per cent be levied on all property owned in the county. The Court then proceeded to lay off and designate the election precincts, as follows : All that territory included in Townships 21 and 22 in Range 1 west, 21 and 22 in Range 1 east and 21 in Range 2 east shall constitute Kickapoo Precinct, and the place of holding elections shall be at William Murphey's mill; and James H. Scott, Walter McPherson and Frederick Barnett were appointed Judges of Elections.

Townships 21, 22, 23 and 24 in Ranges 4, 5 and 6 east shall constitute Salt Creek Precinct, and the place of holding elections shall be at the house of Nathan Britton, Esq., Jesse Frankerburger, Amos Conaway and Daniel Crumbaugh being appointed Judges of Elections.

Townships 23 in Range 1 west, 23 and 24 in Range 1 east, 22, 23 and 24 in Ranges 2 and 3 east, and Sections from 12 to 36 in Town 25, Range 2 east, and Sections from 16 to 36 in Town 25, Range 3 east shall constitute Bloomington Precinct, and the place of holding elections shall be in Bloomington; and the Court appointed Peter McCullough, David Wheeler and Seth Baker Judges of Elections.

Townships 26, 27 and 28 in Ranges 2 and 3 east, Towns 25, 26, 27 and 28 in Ranges 4, 5 and 6 east, and Sections from 1 to 12 in Town 25, Range 2 east, and Sections from 1 to 16 in Town 25, Range 3 east, constituted Mackinaw Precinct, and the place of holding elections was at John Patten's ; and John Haney, John Patten and Coonrod Flesher were appointed Judges of Elections.

Townships 24 to 28 north in Range 1 west, and Townships from 25 to 28 in Range 1 east, shall constitute Painter Creek Precinct, and the place of holding elections shall be at John Harbert's, and Mathew Robb, William Patrick and Mathew Bracken are appointed Judges of Elections.

The Court then laid off the Road Districts as follows: Townships 21 and 22 in Range 1 west shall be called District Number One, and Allen McCay is appointed Supervisor.

Township 21, Ranges 3 and 4, and west half of Range 5 east, the southwest quarter of Town 22, Range 5 east, and the south half of Town 22, Ranges 3 and 4 east, shall compose Road District Number Four, and James Merrifield is appointed Supervisor.

The north half of Town 22, Ranges 3 and 4 east, and the northwest quarter of Town 22, Range 5 east, the west half of Range 5, Town 23 east, and Town 23 in Ranges 3 and 4 shall compose Road District Number Five, and James Vanscoyc is appointed Supervisor.

The east half of Towns 21, 22 and 23 in Range 5 east, and Townships 21, 22 and 23 in Range 6 east shall compose Road District Number Six, and Robert Cunningham is appointed Supervisor.

Townships 23, 24 and 25 in Range 2 east, and Townships 24 and 25, Range 3 east, shall compose Road District Number Nine, and David Trimmer is appointed Supervisor.

The townships beginning at the southwest corner of Town 24 in Range 4 east, and extending east to the county line, shall compose Road District Number Ten, and John Haner is appointed Supervisor.

Beginning at the southeast corner of Township 26, Range 3 east, and extending north and west to the county line, shall compose Road District Number Eleven, and Young Billberry is appointed Supervisor.

These divisions give a tolerable idea of the relative number of inhabitants in those early times in different portions of the county, and show who many of them were. At the same session, William Orondorff, Esq., paid into court a fine of $6, officially collected by him from Thomas Wilson and Francis Evans, for assault and battery - the first transaction of the kind on record in the county. At the same session, Mr. Henry Miller applied for license to keep a tavern in Bloomington - the first application. The amount paid was $2. At the July session, Messrs. Frederick and Samuel Troxell applied for license to vend goods, wares and merchandise in the county of McLean for one year. License granted for $5 - the first on record.

At the December term, Mr. Robert H. Johnson made application to the Court for relief in behalf of Sarah Potter, an insane person In his care. Relief was granted - the first in the county.

At the same term, a petition was presented signed by Jacob Spawr and others, dated July 27. 1831, praying for a road to be located from Frederick Rook's, on the Vermilion, thence to William Evans', on the Mackinaw, thence to Jacob Spawr's, on Money Creek, thence south, crossing Sugar Creek at a point north of Bloomington, and below the fork, through Main street, Bloomington, south through Randolph Grove and Long Point, to the south line of the county. The petition was granted, and Isaac Baker, Elbert Dickason and Gardner Randolph appointed Viewers of the same. This was the first important move of the kind in McLean County proper.

The Court appointed William H. Hodge, John Hendrix and William Orondorff Trustees of school lands in Town 23 north, Range 2 east ; Ephraim Stout, Robert Drain and Isaac Sample in Town 24 north, Range 1 west ; John Moore, Gardner Randolph and Elijah Hedrick in Town 22 north, Range 2 east ; James Murphey, Andrew Biggs and Samuel Murphey in Town 22 north, Range 1 east ; Walter McPherson, Benjamin Day and John Glenn, Esq., in Town 21 north, Range 1 east ; and William Conaway, James Merrifield and Oflicer Rutledge in Town 22 north, Range 4 east.

At the January term, 1832, a petition was presented to the Court signed by David Maxwell and others, praying for a road to be established, commencing at the west end of Front street , in the town of Bloomington, thence to James Toliver's, John Maxwell's, Samuel Rhodes', Timothy M. Gates', Nathan Low's, John Houghain's. and thence to Funk's Grove. The petition was granted, and Isaac Baker, James Allen and James Latta were appointed to view the same and report.

At the March term, a petition was presented to the Court praying to have a road viewed and located leading from the east end of Front street, in the town of Bloomington, running in nearly a southeast course to Buckles' Grove, on Salt Creek, thence to the county line in a direction to intersect a road leading from Vermilion County to Osburn's Grove, on the Sangamon River. The petition was granted, and Isaac Baker, County Surveyor, Michael Dickerson and Reuben Clearwaters were appointed to view and locate the road and report.

A petition was presented, signed by Owen Cheney and others, praying for a road beginning at the county line opposite to a road leading through Vermilion County to Osburn's Grove, on the Sangamon River ; thence on the nearest and best route to the most suitable fording on Salt Creek, in the upper part of Buckles' Grove ; thence on the nearest and best route to intersect the road leading from the Vermilion Salt Works to Fort Clark, at William Maxwell's, on Kickapoo Creek ; thence with the said road to the town of Bloomington. Prayer granted, and Isaac Baker, John Dawson and Daniel Crumbaugh instructed to make report thereon ai the next term.

The Court levied a tax of one-half per cent on the following-described property : All horses, mules (and their male parents), neat cattle three years old and over, town lots, sheep one year old, pleasure carriages, wagons, household property, watches, and all distilleries.

At the June term, 1832, the Court established the previously -proposed road from the Vermilion through Bloomington, on Main street, to the south line of the county at fifty feet wide ; also the one from the east end of Front street, Bloomington, in a southeasterly course to Buckles' Grove, at the same width.

The amount of the county revenue collected from taxes for the current year, as reported to the County Court at the June term, 1832, was $2,313; and the amount paid the County Assessor, Mr. Thomas Orondorff, was $40.

At the December term, 1832, of the Court, Mr. John Scott, Mr. Ebenezer Barnes, and Mr. William McGhee came into Court and made application for the privilege of proving themselves to have been Revolutionary soldiers. After due investigation, the Court confirmed their declarations as true. The same was done in the case of Mr. Thomas Sloan, and his declaration in the matter taken to be correct.

A petition was presented in Court, signed by John Benson and others, praying for a road to be located from Bloomington to Painter Creek Mill, and thence to Walnut Grove, near John Oatman's, in McLean County. Petition granted, and Isaac Baker, Robert McClure and Josiah Brown appointed as viewers of said road.

A petition was presented, also, signed by Lemuel Evans, Jesse Sutton, and others, praying a road to be located, beginning at John Funk's farm, in Funk's Grove; thence to the south to the crossing on Kickapoo, near A. Larison's ; thence through the town plat of Waynesville, to the county line near Pilot Grove. Petition granted, and Isaac Baker, Samuel Murphy and Runion Hougham appointed Viewers.

It will readily be inferred, from the districting of the county, the appointment of township officers, the location of so many roads, and the frequent mention of so many names in every direction, that the country, as well as Bloomington, was filling up rapidly with immigrants. Such was the case. In 1830 and 1831, the prairie turf had been broken in large quantities, and the decay of such masses of vegetable growth had filled the atmosphere with malaria, and the fever and ague were very common and severe. In the winter of 1831, occurred, also the great fall of snow, such as has never been witnessed since. It caused great loss of stock, covered under the snow, and from starvation. The inhabitants were themselves nearly buried in their dwellings, and intercourse between the distant neighbors was suspended for weeks. The abundant game in the country became worthless from starvation, and perished in great numbers from the severity of the weather. Yet such were the energy and the perseverance of the early settlers, and the goodly reports which they sent back to their friends of the fertility of the soil and the magnificent prospects for acquiring good homes and future independence, that immigration continued to pour in, and the material resources of the country were rapidly developed.

For some years, the style of building was mostly one story high, and the walls were of hewed logs, very substantial and comfortable. Some of such buildings are still in use in the city and in the county, in very tolerable condition, some of them from forty to fifty years old. The roofs were covered with long split shingles, and the chimneys made up of stone, or sticks and clay. As the early settlers nearly all stuck closely around the groves, that manner of building was tolerably convenient, and the immediate foresttrees supplied an abundance of excellent fuel and of rail timber. One of the most serious discouragements to be met in those days, in settling up this State, was the sickness -caused by malaria. Yet it was not nearly-as severe in Illinois as in Indiana and Michigan.

This was undoubtedly owing to the scarcity of forests. On this account, and owing to its fortunate location in reference to rivers, and its elevation, McLean County was then, as it is now, an exceptionally healthy one.

Later experiences show that the so-much-slighted open, wide prairies are more healthy than the immediate vicinity of the groves. But the abundance of fuel and the protection of the groves to man and beast decided the location of the early settlements. In those days, people ridiculed the idea that the broad prairie, would be settled up for generations. To obtain boards and piank, they were obliged to saw them by hand from forest logs, a slow and laborious process ; and when saw-mills were afterward erected, still the lumber was so expensive and heavy to handle that but little progress was made on the prairies, for several years. When Chicago began to assume the characteristics of a town, and became a lumber market, the process of transporting it on wagons a hundred and fifty miles, the teams hauling up grain and pork, and bringing back boards, was still too slow to encourage venturing out onto the grassy seas surrounding the groves. That movement waited the advent of the iron horse, breathing fire and steam.

Much timber was destroyed by the storm that passed across this county on the 23d of June, 1827. Though it visited Blooming Grove very roughly, Old Town Timber was the principal scene of destruction marking its pathway. The largest foresttrees of the most sturdy kinds, were but as playthings in its grasp, as it seized them in its might, hurling them headlong to the ground, and piling them in promiscuous heaps. This was far the fiercest storm that has visited this county within the knowledge of the white man. It is a subject of remark that this county has since been very fortunate in escaping similar visitations, though they have passed repeatedly over the country several times, quite near.

At the December terra of the Commissioners' Court, Messrs. James Allen and M. L. Covell, Messrs. John and Samuel Durley and Mr. Benjamin Haines made application for license to sell goods, wares and merchandise in the town of Bloomington. The style of doing business in those days was quite different from the present one. Each store was stocked with a miscellaneous assemblage of multitudinous articles then known and recognized as necessary to meet the few wants and satisfy the simple tastes of earnest and sensible people in a new country. The merchants and shopkeepers could not then, as now, send an order on the swift-winged lightning, and receive a bill of goods on the next day's train.

To replenish their miscellany of goods, wares and merchandise involved the necessity of shinning around among their customers for two or three weeks, to raise the necessary funds, sufficient at least to pay traveling expenses, and then a trip to Pekin, by horse-power, and thence by a tub of a steamer, when one was luckily encountered in its meanderings up and down the Illinois River, in search of sandbars, that were to be avoided. By this process a replenishment of goods and wares could be obtained from St. Louis in the short period of two or three weeks, involving, of course, the departure and return of the swift wagon-train of Mr. Benjamin Depew and his associates in that line. We say St. Louis, for Chicago, in those days, knew not itself. Or if any of the business men of the time were bold enough to undertake a pilgrimage to Philadelphia, for goods, their return was greeted with much welcome by those who still remembered them.

As we have before said, the Commissioners' Court was held at the residence of Mr. James Allen ; but at the January term, 1832, the Court resolved to have a Court House ; it accordingly (instructed its Clerk to give public notice that the erection of a building, which was to be one story high, and 18x30 feet, comfortably finished off in the then prevailing style, would be sold at public vendue, on the 6th day of March succeeding. The erection of the building was bid off by A. Gridley, Esq., for $339.75. The building was erected according to the contract, located on the west side of the public square, and accepted by the Court in December of the same year. The Jail was built about the same time, by Mr. William Dimmitt, at a cost of $321. So the Court House was not very much ahead; in fact, the Jail was the more substantial building of the two, as there seemed to be more anxiety about the stay of the prisoners than about that of the Court.

At the December term, 1832, and at the February term, 1833, the County Commissioners' Court granted deeds to the following-named gentlemen, who had bought town lots in Bloomington at the public sale of said lots on the 4th of July, 1831- The record of the sale appears not to be obtainable ; but the following are believed to be substantially the names of the purchasers: James Latta, Martin Scott, A. Gridley, Nathan Low, William 11. Roberson, John Maxwell, Ebenezer Rhodes, Cheney Thomas, Solomon Dodge, Caleb Kimler, Jesse Frankerberger, Jesse Havens, Frederick Trimmer, M. L. Covell, John W. Dawson, David Wheeler, Alvin Barnett, Jonathan Cheney, Joseph B. Harbert, Eli Frankerberger, Hezekiah A. Harbert, Richard Gross, William Harbert, Samuel Durley, Orman Roberson, Baily Kimler, Baily H. Coffey, Lewis Soward, John W. Harbert, Isaac Baker and Absalom Funk. The sale is said to have been quite lively and the bidding spirited - the lot on which the McLean County Bank now stands, bringing the highest price - $52.

At the March term, 1833, a petition was presented signed by Samuel Hoblitt and others for a road commencing at the county line of Mason and McLean County, near Long Point, thence to Waynesville, to Napp's mill, thence over the line between Samuel Hoblitt's and Shipley's, thence to intersect the road to be laid out in Tazewell County by way of Orondorff's mill to Pekin. Petition granted, and Isaac Baker, Andrew Brock and Benjamin Shipley appointed Viewers thereof.

So rapid had been the increase of population in the county that, at the same session, the Court redivided the county into road districts as follows, which will give a very good idea of the distribution of the population at that time, and also many of the names of the early settlers and their location : District No. 1, to commence at the line between the land of John Kimler and Benjamin Haines ; thence west to the west end of the causeway near J. Toliver's land ; also on the road from Bloomington south to the largest branch of Sugar Creek ; and also on the road from Bloomington north to the middle of Town 24, Range 2 east, and the streets and alleys in Bloomington. John Kimler was appointed Supervisor.

District No. 2, commencing at the west end of the causeway east of J. Toliver's, on the county road leading to Funk's Grove, including the inhabitants near said road as far as the northwest corner of Isaac Hougham's fence, and those on the west side of Blooming Grove as far south as Mr. Hinshaw's. James Toliver, Supervisor.

District No. 3, including all the inhabitants on the west side of Blooming Grove, from Mr. Hinshaw's to Kickapoo Creek, between Seth Baker's and Omen Olney's to labor on the road from Sugar Creek, near the north end of Section 16, south to Town 22 north, Range 2 east. J. B. Harbert appointed Supervisor.

District No. 4, to commence at Kickapoo Creek, between Seth Baker's and Omen Olney's, thence, including all the inhabitants to work on the roads on the east side of the grove in Town 23 north, as far as the north and west of Mr. Haines' land. William Orondorff appointed Supervisor.

District No. 5, the inhabitants of Funk's Grove, John Murphy's Grove, and of William Johnson's Grove, to work that part of the road leading from Bloomington to John Funk's, commencing at the northwest corner of Isaac Hougham's farm, thence to Funk's Grove. John Funk appointed Supervisor.

District No. 6, all the inhabitants of that part of the big grove lying west of the Third Principal Meridian, and thence west and south to the county line, to work on a road intended to be opened. Samuel Hoblitt, Supervisor.

District No. 7, to be composed of all of that part of big grove lying east of the Third Principal Meridian, including Town 21 north, Range 1 east. George Isham appointed Supervisor.