McLean County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 6 of 42)

District No. 8, commencing at Isaac Harrold's, thence westwardly so as to include all the inhabitants living on the north side of the Vermilion, within the limits of the county as far west as the county line crosses the south fork of the river Vermilion ; thence up said stream, including all the inhabitants to the southeast end of the timber called Epperd's Point, the inhabitants as before mentioned to work on the road now located, running from Frederick Rook's to Bloomington as far as the ten-mile post on said road. Frederick Rook appointed Supervisor.

District No. 9, commencing at the southeast end of Indian Grove, near Martin Darnell's, thence northeastwardly, following the said grove or creek, so as to include all the inhabitants east of where Isaac Jordan now lives, on the north side of the Vermilion River, and to include all the inhabitants living east of the two mentioned points. Martin Darnell appointed Supervisor.

District No. 10, commencing at the west end of the claim or farm of Isaac Jordan, where he now lives, on the Vermilion River, so as to include all the inhabitants on both sides of the grove of timber on said river as far west as where Isaac Harrold now lives on the said river. Uriah Blue appointed Supervisor.

District No. 11 shall comprehend all the road, and inhabitants to work the same, from the ten-mile post, north of William Evans', southerly to the prairie south of Mr. Young's, extending east to the center of Towns 24, 25 and 26 in Range 4, and east to the junction of Mackinaw and Money Creek Timber. William Young, Supervisor.

District No. 12, comprehending the inhabitants and roads commencing at the edge of the prairie a little south of Mr. Young's, in Mackinaw Timber, thence southerly through the Money Creek Timber to the center of Town 24 north, in Range 2 east, and extending east so as to include the grove of Mr. Smith, and west to the junction of Mackinaw and Money Creek Timber, thence southerly to the center ot Town 24 north, in Range 1 east. Jacob Spawr appointed Supervisor.

District No. 13, comprehending all the inhabitants in Painter Creek Timber and Walnut Grove within the county to work on the roads running through their settlements. William McCord, Supervisor.

District No. 14, comprehending; all that territory in the county west of the following line, to wit : Beginning at the center of Town 24 north, in Range 1 east, northerly to the junction of Mackinaw and Money Creek Timber. Isaac Allen appointed Supervisor.

District No. 15, comprehending all the inhabitants in Stout's Grove within the county, to labor on the road from Mackinawtown to Bloomington, from the. west line of the county extending to Dry Grove. Robert McClure, Supervisor.

District No. 16, comprehending all the inhabitants of Dry Grove, Harbert's Grove, Brown's Grove and Mosquito Grove, if in the county, to work the road from the Third Principal Meridian eastwardly through Dry Grove, and on toward Bloomington to the west bank of Sugar Creek. Elijah Dixon appointed Supervisor.

District No. 17, shall comprehend all the inhabitants of Long Point and Short Point, to near Jesse Funk's, to labor on the roads leading south from the north part of Town 21, running southerly to the county line. John P. Glenn appointed Supervisor.

District No. 18, comprehending Town 22 north, Range 2 east, including Jesse Funk, and to labor on roads from north part of Town 21, to the north of Town 22, in Range 2 east. David Noble appointed Supervisor.

District No. 20, comprehending all the inhabitants in Buckles' Grove on the north and south forks of Salt Creek, in the county, to work the road from Town 22 north, Range 3 east, to the county line near Osburn's Grove. Silas Waters appointed Supervisor.

District No. 21, comprehending all the inhabitants in Old Town Timber, east of Range 3, except south side within a mile of road from Merrifield's to Dawson's, to work the road from Range 3 east, eastward to four miles east of John Dawson's. Jeremiah Greenman, Supervisor.

District No. 22. All the inhabitants in Cheney's Grove to work the road from county line east of Jonathan Cheney's ; thence westerly to within four miles of John Dawson's. Benjamin Thomas, Supervisor.

At the same session, on application, the Court granted license to Greenbury Larison to keep tavern in the town of Bloomington one year, for the sum of $5. The Court granted also the petition for a road round the southwest side of Bloomington ; a petition for a road through Big Grove ; and a petition for the alteration of a road southerly through Randolph Grove. A tax of one-half of one per cent was levied on stock, animals, personal property and distilleries. The Court, acting as overseers of the poor, bound Maryann King, a poor girl of eight years, to Gervis Gaylord, as apprentice in housewifery until she should be eighteen years of age. This is the first instance of the kind in the county. License was granted to Benjamin Haines to vend goods, wares and merchandise.

At the June term, on request of John Recob and others, the Court set off the following territory into a separate election precinct, to be called Vermilion Precinct, to wit : Comprehending all the inhabitants and territory north of a line extending from the southeasterly part of Indian Grove, westerly to Epperd's Point on Rook's Creek ; thence northwestwardly, including all the inhabitants on said creek and timber to the county line, shall constitute said precinct ; and the place of holding elections shall be at Uriah

Edward F. Patrick and Charles Moore made application for the privilege of proving themselves Revolutionary soldiers, in order to obtain pensions. Application granted, and their representations believed to be genuine. At the September term, the Court executed a deed for Lots 13 and 14, to David Trimmer, being town lots in the town of Bloomington. At the December term, William Vincent made application for the privilege of proving himself a Revolutionary soldier. Application granted, and his representations believed to be genuine.

At the March term, 1834. an application by Charles Maltby for license to keep a grocery in the town of Waynesville, McLean County, for one year, was granted. A petition was presented for the location of a road, beginning at the termination of a road leading from Shelbyville to the south boundary of this county, near Charles McCord's ; thence, by the nearest and best route to the head of Mackinaw Timber ; thence to the Vermilion Timber ; thence to the north boundary of the county, pursuing the nearest and best route from the head of Mackinaw Timber in the direction of Chicago. John W. Dawson, Daniel Crumbaugh and William McDowell, appointed Viewers. William Durley, Esq., presented his report of the sale of Section 16, in Town 24 north, Range 1 west, accompanied by his resignation as School Commissioner of the county; and and the Court thereupon appointed Jesse W. Fell, Esq., School Commissioner in his stead.

A petition signed by M. L. Covell, Jonathan Hodge and others, for a road from Bloomington, on the State road, through Dry Grove ; thence past Ephraim Stout's mill, Jonathan Hodge's, to the county line, to intersect a road laid out in Tazewell County, to the county line near Isaac Williams'. Petition granted, and Viewers ordered to report. William Covell was granted license to keep a grocery in the town of Bloomington, one year ; charge for license, $5.

John Toliday applied for the privilege of proving himself a Revolutionary soldier. Application granted, and his proofs admitted as good and true.

A petition was received, signed by Moses Baldwin and others, for a road, beginning at a point in the prairie north of Randolph's Grove ; thence through said grove, by way of Gardner Randolph's, to Frederick Barnard's, in Short Point ; thence to Baker's mill, on Kickapoo ; thence to Waynesville ; thence to meet a county road that is laid out from Decatur, in Macon County, at the south line of McLean County. The Court granted the petition, and appointed Jesse Sutton, Gardner Randolph and F. Barnard to view and locate the road to Jesse Sutton's, where it may intersect a road to Waynesville, and southwesterly to the county line, and established the road at forty feet in width. Isaac Baker, Clerk of the Court, reports that the amount of sales of lots in the town of Bloomington was $963. 92£. A petition, signed by James Weed and others, for a road to be located from Bloomington to F. Trimmer's, Coonrod Flesher's, to Epperd's Point, to Uriah Blue's, on the Vermilion ; thence to the county line in the direction to Chicago. Petition granted, and Viewers appointed.

A petition, signed by Mathew Robb and others, was presented for a view of a road from the ford on the Mackinaw where the old Fort Clark trail crosses, known by the name of Hugh's Ford ; thence to Samuel McClure's ; thence to intersect the State road leading from Dry Grove to Mackinawtown. Petition granted, and Samuel McClure, Samuel McDaniel and Levi Danley appointed Viewers.

A petition signed by Alexander W. Breckenridge and others, praying for the alteration of a county road from William Young's, on the road from Rook's Creek, to Bloomington, by way of Benjamin Ogden's and Isaac Strowd's ; thence, along the main leading road until intersecting the State road near Sugar Creek. Petition granted, and George W. Wallis, Benjamin Ogden and Levi Strowd appointed Viewers, to make report next term.

At the March term, 1835, Harrison Noble and others petition for an election precinct, composed of Towns 21 and 22 north, Range 2 ease. The Court grant the petition, organize the precinct under the name of Middle Precinct, order the elections to be held at the house of Hiram Buck, and appoint David Noble, John P. Glenn and -George Hand Judges of Elections. Amount of revenue for the year 1833, besides incidentals, reported to be $712.03.

The Court granted to George W. Wallis permission to erect, under proper restrictions, a mill-dam and mills on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 11 , in Town 25 north, Range 3 east ; and to Tebulan G. Cantrill, and to Matthew McElhiney, each to build a dam and mill, at different points, on the waters of the Kickapoo. The Court authorize the Sheriff to rent the Court House, under specified restrictions, as a schooihouse, for $3 per mouth.

A novelty appears on the records of the Court at the October term, 1835, to the effect that the " Court directs that notice be given in the Illinois Republican that proposals will be received by said Court on the first Monday in December next for building a Court House in Bloomington, McLean County, forty feet square, of brick, and two stories high ; and order the expense to be paid out of the County Treasury for said notice." This is the first official recognition of the press in McLean County as a medium of communication between the people and their public servants ; and it contains the very sensible provision for paying therefor.

At the December term, 1835, the Court accepted the report of the Reviewers, and -established the road that lies between Little Kickapoo Creek and Blooming Grove, intersecting the road leading from Blooming Grove to Randolph Grove, near James B. Price's, at forty feet in width.

On the same day, Messrs. James Allen and Timothy B. Hoblitt presented the plat of the town of New Castle, which was approved and certified by the County Commissioners. Also, Messrs. A. Gridley and M. L. Covell presented a plat of the town of Le Roy, which the Commissioners approved and certified.

The appearance of a public newspaper in Bloomington, and the enterprise of laying out new towns in different portions of the county on the part of its citizens, mark a new era in the material development of the county, as well as of mental development. A great influx of immigrants, about those times, had an important influence in inspiring the former settlers with the idea that, to secure fortunes, all they had to do was to go in.

At the same session, Mr. John W. Baddely applied for license to sell goods, wares and merchandise at the town of Le Roy (to be), and also to keep a tavern at the same place ; also, Mr. David Duncan and Mr. R. Post make application to vend goods, wares and merchandise in the town of Waynesville. Messrs. Allen Withers & Co., and Messrs. Asahel Gridley, Ortagal Covell and Calvin Carpenter make application for license to vend goods, wares and merchandise in the county of McLean.

All these indications of very rapid development, at that time, are unmistakable. There was no lack of enterprise among early settlers in this county, whatever one may be disposed to say of their discretion.

At the same term, the Court appointed Thomas H. Haines their attorney, to effect a loan of $5,000, for a term of years, at a rate of interest not to exceed 8 per cent per annum. This was done preparatory to making arrangements to build a Court House.

At a special term of the County Commissioners' Court, January 20, 1836, the Court proceeded to make arrangements for contracting with Leander Munsell, of Edgar County, in said State, for building a Court House for the county of McLean; when, after taking the subject into careful examination, and hearing the proposition of the said Leander Munsell, a written contract was agreed upon for a brick building, 40x45 feet square, two stories high, finished in five rooms, the court-room on the lower floor, with a gallery and all other conveniences, particularly specified in said agreement, for the sum of $6,375, with interest on $5,375, after the completion of said job, at 8 per cent, until paid, and to be paid on or before the expiration of twenty years ; and other particulars specified in said article of agreement, reference thereto being had. On the next day, the articles of agreement were signed by the contracting parties.

At the March term, 1836, of the Commissioners' Court, there were numerous applications for license to carry on business by various parties, and petitions for new roads and amendments to old ones - all showing great activity. There were also several applications for writs of ad quod damnum, in reference to how much dam each applicant might employ in order sufficiently to raise the water to run a mill. Another unmistakable evidence of rapid improvement.

On settling with the County Treasurer, the amount coming into his hands during the previous current year was found to be $1,303.88. The Court levied the usual rate, one-half of one per cent tax on town lots, except in Bloomington, on cattle, carriages and other personal property.

At the June session of the Court, a plat of the town of Versailles, in McLean County, was presented, approved and certified. A. and I. M. Richardson make application for license to keep a grocery in said town of Versailles, and Hopkins & Beatty apply for license to sell goods, wares and merchandise in the said town. James O. Barnard presented the plat of the town of Wilkesborough, as laid out by him, together with the certificate accompanying the same, which was approved and certified by the Court.

The town of Lexington was laid off by Messrs. Gridley and Brown, and the town of Concord by Messrs. Isaac W. Hall and Mathew Robb. The town of Hudson was laid out the same year by a company in which Mr. John Magoun and Mr. S. P. Cox were interested. Mount Hope Colony, consisting of Rhode Island immigrants, entered lands and commenced, the following year, to make settlements. The Hudson company entered 12,600 acres, and the Mount Hope company 8,000 acres. Several additions were made to the town of Bloomington, and the immigration showed that the town and the surrounding country were appreciated.

It is believed by those who have reflected upon the subject that the population of the county, in the spring of 1832, was fully two thousand. From the incidental mention of names in the districting of the county as just given, it will be seen that settlements had been commenced in the near vicinity of most of the groves, and some of them were pretty well surrounded by farms. The county seemed now to be fairly set upon its feet, and to have nothing in its way to prevent its entering upon a course of prosperity. Though there was really no market for the agricultural productions of the farmers outside of the county, yet the people could raise plenty to eat, and their plain and simple manner of life did not subject them to much expense ; and the rapid ingress of immigrants consumed a portion of their surplus productions. When an excess of animal propensities, for the time being, ruled individuals or collections of persons, they had now places where they could get on a bender, plenty of room to fight, and no police to interfere ; but they had Justices to assess fines upon them, when they chose to indulge in such little pastimes, and Constables to collect them, and a Commissioners' Court, through which such fines, if they should happen to be paid, would reach the county treasury, where they would do the most good. But most persons were then too busy, and had too much good sense to indulge in such luxuries.

In 1836, the population of Bloomington had increased from 150, in 1833, to 450 j and that of the county had increased, in the same time, from 2,000 to 5,000. The town of Lytleville came into existence, also, this year, and an addition was made to it the following March, by Mr. John Baldwin. Like several of its kin, born in those days, it is still a littleville, though it has mills, churches, schools and worthy citizens.

The people came into the country on steamboats, flatboats, on horse-back, on wagons drawn by horses, mules, oxen and even cows ; and not a few patronized the foot and walker line.

In December, 1836, after a warm spell of weather, with occasional rain, turning the snow to slush, there came one evening the most sudden and severe change of weather ever known in this country. All at once, the icy breath of a northwestern storm, moving with fearful rapidity, swept over the country and almost instantly turned to ice the falling, the running and the standing water exposed to its touch. Its force and severity were irresistible ; and tradition tells of great and intolerable suffering to man and beast from its fearful visitation.

About these times, several men settled in Bloomington, some of them afterward removing into the country, who, with their hands as well as with their heads and their means, greatly helped to develop the capabilities of this county. Hon. John Moore, afterward in the State Legislature, Lieutenant Governor and State Treasurer, was, in those early times, the " wagon-maker ;' of Bloomington, and subsequently a successful farmer. Messrs. David Trimmer, Lewis Bunn, Joshua Fell and others plied the blacksmith art. Thomas Williams, Thomas Fell and William F. Flagg built generally, and Abraham Brokaw, then as now, incessantly built the plow.

The Court agreed with Leander Munsell to amend a former contract for his building a Court House, so that instead of a building 40x45 feet and 26 feet high, it shall be 42? feet square and 32 feet high, with other alterations; and for the said alterations, the Court promised to pay the said Leander Munsell the further sum of 81,680.

At the September term, 1836, the Court accepted t;he Court House as finished according to contract with Mr. Leander Munsell, and paid him the balance of 'the first payment, $1,000.

The Court established the tariff for license to vend goods, wares and merchandise in Bloomington, the ensuing year, at $15; to keep tavern, the same, and to keep a grocery, $12. In Waynesville, for similar license, $12 and $10; in all other towns in the county, $9 and $8, and at other places in the county, $6, irrespectively.

The closing terms of the Court for 1836, were marked by many applications for licenses to do business of various kinds, by petitions for new roads and alterations in formef ones, and for permission to construct dams and mills in all directions, in the county, all showing great activity and enterprise.

At the first term of the Court, for 1837, a tax of one-half of one per cent was levied on town lots, excepting Bloomington, and on cattle and other stock, wagons, carriages and personal property.

At the December term, the Court examined the condition of the County Jail, and finding it unfit for use or repair, ordered the Clerk to have notice given in the Bloomington Observer that proposals will be received at the March term, for the erection of a jail for the county.

At the June term, 1838, the Court settled with the County Collector, M. Scott, for the revenue for 1837, amounting to $1,863.82. During this year, there continued to be many applications for licenses to do business, petitions for roads, and for permission to construct dams and erect mills.

The tax levied by the Court in 1839 was one-fourth of one per cent. At the December term, 1839, the Jail which Dr. Isaac Baker had contracted to build for $290, to be completed by September, 1840, was so near completion, and such disposition shown to finish it up as soon as possible, that the Court accepted the same for immediate use.

At the June term, 1840, the Court appointed Jacob Spawr Commissioner to take the enumeration of the inhabitants of McLean County, for 1840. The taxes for the year 1839. amounted to $2,442.75. The amount of the taxes for the year 1840, for the county, was $3,492.78. The amount of the taxes in the county for the year 1841 was $4,657.10.

At the December term, 1842, the Court appointed Davis and Col ton to act as agents on behalf of the county of McLsan, to demand from and receive of the County Commissioners' Court of Woodford County the sum of $190, their portion of interest now due from said county of Woodford to the county of McLean on the debt of the McLean County Court House. It will be borne in mind that Woodford County was created in 1841, and took a portion of the territory formerly belonging to McLean County off the northwest corner thereof; hence, the ground for this demand. It may as well be mentioned here, perhaps, as in any other place, that the report formerly in circulation in reference to the peculiar form of the piece of territory in question, that it was so shaped for political purposes, is erroneous ; and the reason for the peculiarity must be sought in the provision that, in forming new counties, no county line shall be within twelve miles of the Court House of any county seat.

The development of the material resources of the county was, during these years, very slow ; in some respects it stood still, and even went backward. Violent changes in financial policy, with temporary and silly expedients, and general and rash speculative operations in real estate, had produced their inevitable results, and almost universal prostration was experienced in all parts of the country, beginning earlier in the East, and now falling upon the West with fearful effects. Credit was gone ; of money there was little or none. No market for agricultural productions, manufactures at ruinous prices, no adequate wages could be paid for labor, and continuous failures of business men, from the impossibility of collections, turned to folly the wisdom of the wise, greatly weakened the confidence of man in his fellow-men, and threatened the dissolution of the social relations of society. Compared with those times, the present gloomy times are as comparative prosperity. Although the state of affairs was improving in the East, and something like cheerfulness and moderate prosperity returning, so great were the difficulties and the expenses of getting the productions of the West into market, that there was very little or nothing left to the producer, and as immigration had come nearly to a stand-still, there was no home market.

That the county revenue for 1842 amounted to only $1,029.01 is a most conclusive evidence of the fearful condition of the material interests of the people. City lots in Bloomington were scarcely quotable at $5, and many of them were abandoned by Eastern owners, rather than to pay the taxes on them.

As the territory of the county had been much reduced by the creation of surrounding counties, the Court, at its March term (1543), reconstructed the county into the following precincts :

Bloomington Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 24, Township 24 north, Range 3 east, thence west to the northwest corner of Section 22, Township 24 north, Range 1 east; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 15, Township 23 north, Range 1 east; thence east one mile; thence south to the town line dividing 22 and 23 north ; thence east to range line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 east ; thence north to town line dividing Towns 23 and 24 north ; thence east to range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east ; thence north to the place of beginning ; and that elections are to be held at the town of Bloomington.

Middle Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southeast corner of Section 9, Township 21 north, Range 3 east; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 21, Township 22 north, Range 3 east ; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 east ; thence north to the town line dividing 22 and 23 north ; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 22 north, Range 1 east ; thence south to the county line ; thence east to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct be at the town of Lytleville, until otherwise altered by the Court.

Mackinaw Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Township 24 north, Range 4 east ; thence north to the north side of Money Creek ; thence down said Money Creek to Mackinaw Creek ; thence north to the middle of Township 26 north ; thence west to the county line of Woodford County ; thence along the county line of Woodford County to the northwest corner of Livingston County ; thence east to the northeast corner of Township 26 north, Range 5 east ; thence south nine miles ; thence east six miles to the county line ; thence south three miles to the southeast corner of Township 25 north, 6 east ; thence west to the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 32, Township 25 north, Range 4 east ; thence south to the town line dividing Towns 23 and 24 north ; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east ; thence north to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be in the town of Lexington, until otherwise altered by the Court.

St. Clairville Precinct to be composed of and include the territory - within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of Section 8, Township 22 north, Range 4 east ; thence east to the countv line ; thence north to the northeast corner of Township 24 north, Range 6 east ; thence west along the town line dividing Towns 24 and 25 north, to the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of Section 5, Township 24 north, Range 4 east ; thence south to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections shall be in the town of St. Clairville for said precinct, until otherwise altered by the Court.

Salt Creek Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing on the county line at the southwest corner of Section 10, Township 21 north, Range 3 east; thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of Section 12, Township 21 north, Range 6 east ; thence north to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 12, Township 22 north, Range 6 east ; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east ; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 18, Township 22 north, Range 4 east; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 22, Township 22 north, Range 3 east ; thence south to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at Le Roy, until otherwise altered by the Court.

Price's Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 18, Township 22 north, Range 3 east ; thence east to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east ; thence north to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 12, Township 22 north, Range 3 east ; thence east to the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 8, Township 22 north, Range 4 east ; thence north to the township line dividing 23 and 24 north ; thence west to the range lice dividing Ranges 2 and 3 east ; thence south to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at Price's Schoolhouse until otherwise altered by the Court.

Hudson Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit: Commencing at the southeast corner of Section 13, Township 24 north, Range 2 east ; thence north to Money Creek ; thence down said creek to Mackinaw Creek ; thence north to the middle of Town 26 north ; thence west to the county line of Woodford County ; thence in a southwesterly direction along the county line of Woodford County to the southwest corner of Section 20, Township 25 north, Range 1 east; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 21, Township 25 north, Range 1 east ; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 15, Township 23 north, Range 1 east ; thence east to the place of beginning ; and the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at Hudson, until altered by the Court.

Concord Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 18. Township 23 north, Range 1 west; thence north to county line of Woodford County ; thence east on the county line to the northwest corner of Section 29, Township 25 north, Range 1 east ; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 28, Township 25 north, Range 1 east; thence south to the southeast corner of Sectioa 16, Township 23 north, Range 1 east ; thence west to the place of beginning ; and the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be in Concord, until otherwise altered by the Court.

Johnston's Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 7, Township 21 north, Range 1 west; thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of Section 10, Township 21 north, Range 1 east; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 22 north, Range 1 east ; thence west to the county line ; thence south to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at the house of Lee Daniel, Esq., until otherwise altered by the Court.

The Court then appointed the following-named persons to serve as Judges of Elections in the several precincts, as follows: In Bloomington Precinct, James B. Price, Benjamin Depew and James Miller ; in Johnston's Precinct, James Murphy, Daniel Proctor and William Hougham ; in Concord Precinct, William Grilson, Jeremiah S. Hall and Israel D. Janes; in Hudson Precinct, James T. Gildersleeve. Samuel P. Cox and Isaac Hinthorn ; in Mackinaw Precinct, James Vandolah, James R. Dawson and William Popejoy ; in St. Clairsville Precinct, Jeremiah Greeninan, Thomas D. Gilmore and Ezekiel Arrowsmith ; in LeRoy Precinct, William Conaway, Silas Waters and Malan Bishop ; in Price's Precinct, William Bishop, Elias H. Wall and Jesse Adams ; in Middle Precinct, Samuel Turman, Thomas 0. Rutledge and Charles Leeper.

At the June term, 1843, the Court paid on the interest due to the bondholders of the Court House indebtedness, through Messrs. Davis & Colton, Agents, $1,100. A portion of it was in State Bank of Illinois bills, at 40 per cent discount. The Court levied for the current year a tax for county purposes of one-fifth of one per cent on the taxable property of the county. The county revenue for 1843 was 82,440.95.

At the March term of the County Commissioners' Court, 1844, a bounty ordered to be paid for each wolf killed in the county, known as the big wolf, was $2, and $1 for -each prairie wolf, of six months old. This was the first similar bounty offered in the county. At the June term, the Court ordered the County Treasurer to pay $401 » on the interest due on the Court House bonds. For the current year, the Court levied a tax of two-fifths of one per cent, for county purposes, on the taxable property in the The Court let out to the best bidders, the building of a bridge across Mackinaw Creek, near Lexington; one across Kickapoo Creek, on the road from Bloomington to Le Roy ; and one over Big Kickapoo Creek, in Randolph Grove, on the road from Bloomington to the south line of the county - the three bridges to cost $527.

At the March term, 1846, the Court awarded $50 to be paid to any person who should pursue and apprehend any person guilty of stealing a horse within McLean County, if apprehended outside of the county, upon his conviction. The Court levied a tax of three-tenths per cent for county revenue ; also, that every able-bodied man from twenty-one to fifty years of age, should work two days on the public roads for the year 1846. The Court contracted with Mr. William F. Flagg, to build a bridge according to specifications, across Sugar Creek, on the road leading from Bloomington to Peoria, for the sum of $250, to be completed in June of the current year.

The county revenue, for the year 1844, amounted to $4,966.60. At the June term, the Court ordered the Treasurer to pay the interest on the Court House bonds then due, to the amount of $1,641.34. At the special July term, the Court contracted with B. E. Dodson to build a bridge across Salt Creek, two miles east of Le Roy, on the road leading from Bloomington to Danville, for $240. The county revenue, for the year 1845, amounted to $3,766.56.

At the March term, 1847, the Court levied a tax, for county revenue, of threetenths per cent. The Court appropriated $50 for the building of a bridge on the road leading from Bloomington to John Bishop's old place.

At a special term of the Commissioners' Court, April 29, 1848, the Court contracted with Mr. William F. Flagg to build, according to specifications, a County Jail in Bloomington, for $2,065, with a dwelling for Sheriff included, said building to be completed by the 1st of December of the current year. The county revenue for the year 1846, amounted to $3,897.96; and for the year 1847, the county revenue amounted to $4,077.12.

At the March term, 1849, the Court made appropriations for building bridges in McLean County, as follows : $150 for the building of a bridge across the Mackinaw at John Thompson's; $125 for repairing the bridge near Lexington across the Mackinaw ; $500 for building a bridge acrops the Mackinaw, on the road leading from Bloomington to Hennepin and Ottawa; $100 for a bridge across Money Creek, on the State road leading from Bloomington to Chicago; $150 for building a bridge across Sugar Creek, on the road leading from Bloomington to Hennepin ; $150 for building a bridge across the Kickapoo, on the road leading from Bloomington to Cheney's Grove ;. $1 50 for building a bridge across Sugar Creek, on the State road leading from Bloomington to Springfield ; $ 1 50 for building a bridge across Sugar Creek, in Johnston's Precinct ; and $150 for building a bridge across Little Kickapoo, on the road leading from Bloomington to Le Boy.

The Court ordered that every able-bodied man, from twenty-one to fifty years of age inclusive, shall work three days on the public roads in McLean County - the said men being residents thereof - for the year 1849; and appropriated $75 for the building of a bridge across the slough on the Waynesville road, near Martin L. Bishop's and Harrison Noble's. The records show that the actual cost of building the bridges above mentioned, owing to changes of conditions, plans, and other causes, to much more than the appropriations stated - from 25 to 100 per cent more.

At the December term, 1849, the County Commissioners' Court was succeeded by the County Court, consisting of one Presiding Judge and two Associate Justices. At the same term, the new Jail was accepted as far as finished, and $1,000 ordered to be paid to Messrs. Flagg & Ewing on their contract to build the said Jail and dwelling. The county revenue for the year 1849 amounted to $4,613.95. The county revenue for the year 1850 and 1851 was $9,270.28. In 1852, the revenue was $5,993.07.

In 184#, the California gold excitement was sufficiently strong to induce quite a number of the citizens of McLean County to seek the favors of fickle Fortune in that distant and wild country. The adventure was full of chances ; the journey was of great length, beset with many difficulties, and not a few dangers ; and the prospect of suddenly acquiring large amounts of the precious metal was very uncertain. But the recent Mexican war, and the spirit of adventure natural in a new and vast country,, together with the recent several years of hard times, were sufficient to outweigh all doubts and difficulties. Among the large number who went from this county, we remember Messrs. G. B. Larison, Seth H. Adams, Maj. W. Packard, Daniel Robinson, Dr. William Elder, Lyman Ferre, John H. Wickizer, John M. Loving and William H. Evans. Our recollection in the matter is, that our fellow-citizens brought back with them more experiences than they did gold ; and that none of them made fortunes. Be this as it may, the influence of the golden stream that soon began to flow East was sensibly felt, and helped to lift the gloom that pervaded the country.

But the railroad enterprise that had begun to revive among the active and energetic public men of the times contributed very largely to restore confidence among the citizens of Illinois ; and in no county in the State more than in McLean. There was a tradition among us that the Central Railroad, which had already an existence on paper, if revived, would pass through this county ; so. that when the new charter was obtained in 1850, and a strong company took hold of it, the feeling of coming prosperity and a general appreciation of the great inducements to capital and emigrants to locate in Illinois were no where more active than in McLean County. Within three years, the cars were running through Bloomington on the Central and on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroads. Real estate rose rapidly, building went on actively, business revived, markets were brought within reach, lumber was plenty, immigration set in again, and farmers began to venture out upon the ocean of fertile lands that everywhere surrounded the island-like groves.

Though the prices of agricultural products were not high, they would, at least, bring something, and that readily. When the farms on the prairies were comparatively new, and the soil light and fresh from the recently-decayed turf, fine crops of excellent wheat were raised, even white wheat of the best quality was quite common.

In procuring the charter of the Central Railroad - the father of several other roads in the State - the people of Illinois are greatly and lastingly under obligations to the able efforts of Senator Stephen A. Douglas, as well as in assisting to set it on its feet and put it in motion. So, in reference to locating the route of the road so as to pass through Bloomington, our citizens owe much to the efforts of Judge Davis, Gen. Gridley and Jesse W. Fell, Esq. There was a disposition to run the road through this county some seven or eight miles east of Bloomington, and to build up a rival business point to compete with Bloomington, and possibly, in time, to change the location of the county seat. But the efforts of the above-named gentlemen, assisted by others, prevented it. In fact, it would have required a pretty strong leaning in that direction to have resisted the ability and influence of Judge Davis, the ready talents and quick perception of Gen. Gridley, and the shrewdness and indefatigable efforts of Jesse W. Fell, Esq., who seems to have a universal genius for aiding all commendable enterprises. This latter gentleman took also a very active interest in the Chicago & Alton Railroad, which was not very far behind the Central in penetrating the territory of the county. Any county is fortunate in having among its citizens men of such abilities to labor in developing its natural capabilities and securing its rights.

A pretty good idea of the rapid improvement in the development of the material resources of McLean County may be formed from the great increase in the county revenue, and in the population. In 1852, the county revenue amounted to $5,993.07 ; but, in 1853, it amounted to $15,299.38. In 1840, the population of the county amounted to 6,565 ; in 1850, it was 10,163, an increase of something more than onehalf, while the people were staggering under and recovering from the financial storm and crash of the time. In 1860, the population of the county was 28,772, an increase of something more than twice and two-thirds times that of 1850. This was the era of railroad construction and of immigration consequent thereupon.

It may not be without interest to glance hastily at the different parts of the county in former times. In 1850, the population of Brooks' Grove was 135 ; of Bloomington, 2,560 ; of Buckles' Grove, 755 ; of Cheney's Grove, 251 ; of Harley's Grove, 42 ; of Twin Grove, 252 ; of Stout's Grove, 839 ; of Diamond Grove, 42 ; of Dry Grove, 294; of Le Roy, 210; of Funk's Grove, 210; of Hudson, 336; of Money Creek, 377; of Randolph Grove, 1,176; of White Oak Grove, 252. Several of these places, and others not then in existence, have now grown to considerable towns, with churches, schools, stores, offices and shops.

Normal School

Whereas, By acts of Congress approved March the 2d, 1849, and September 28. 1850, and the various other acts amendatory thereto, the " Swamp and Overflowed Lands" belonging to the Government of the United States were granted to the several States in which they were respect ively situated, under certain restrictions therein imposed, or, in lieu thereof, the proceeds arising from the sales of the same ; and

Whereas, By a further act of Congress, approved March 3, 1857, said swamp and overflowed lands selected under the acts aforesaid, so far as the same remain vacant and unappropriated, are confirmed to the several States in which they are situated ; and

Whereas, The Legislature of the State of Illinois has surrendered said lands or the proceeds arising from their sale to the counties, respectively, in which the same are situated, to be applied, under the direction of the County Courts or Supervisors' Courts, to educational or such other objects as they may deem proper; and

Whereas, also, In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly of said State, a State Normal University, endowed by a grant of the interest arising from the College and Seminary funds, is about to be located at some suitable point that may offer inducements thereto :

Therefore, Ordered, The County Court of McLean County, do hereby appropriate $50,000 of the first moneys received by this Court, under or by operation of the various acts above referred to, in aid of said University; said appropriation to be made upon the following restrictions only :

First - That the whole of said fund thus appropriated by said Court be expended in erecting the necessary building or buildings for said " Normal University," and to be paid over only as needed for the object before specified, to the " Board of Education of the State of Illinois," by orders signed by A. J. Merriman, or such other person or persons as this Court may thereafter designate.

Whereas, Many citizens of the county having made application to the Court for a further appropriation out of the "Swamp-Lands Fund," for the purpose of aiding in erecting suitable buildings for said " Normal University ; "

Therefore, Ordered, That we, the County Court of McLean County, do hereby appropriate $20,000 out of the first moneys received by this county from said Swamp-Lands Fund, in aid of said University ; said appropriation to be made upon the following restrictions only : i

First - That the whole of said fund thus appropriated by said county be expended in erecting the necessary building or buildings for said " Normal University," and to be paid over only as needed for the object before specified, to the " Board of Education of the State of Illinois," by orders signed by A. J. Merriman, or such other person or persons as this Court may hereafter designate.

The county revenue for the year 1856 amounted to $25,110.39. At the December term of the County Court, the report to the Court of the result of the vote on township organization, at the previous November election, was, that the majority in favor of such organization was 1,323 votes. At the same term, Messrs. James Gilmore, Sr., Hadley J. Short and Silas Waters were appointed a committee to divide the county into townships, according to law.

Exactly how McLean County came to get the " Normal University," at the last moment, was known, at the time, to very few persons, and it is probably not known at present to many. At the meeting held in Peoria in May, 1857, at which the bids were to be opened, and the University was to be located where the largest and best inducements were offered, Peoria was the most formidable rival of Bloomington. As may be seen above, McLean County had offered, in addition to individual subscriptions, $50,000 toward the erection of the buildings. It seems that Peoria had prepared about equal inducements ; and, by an ungentlemanly betrayal of confidence, the Peoria committee had found out the amount of inducements proposed by the Bloomington committee, and forthwith there was a stir among the Peoria men to raise additional amounts ; and they intended to do so at any rate, even by putting in supposititious subscriptions. One of the Bloomington men, learning the game, telegraphed the case to the writer of this reminiscence. The circumstances were immediately communicated to A. J. Merriman, Esq., County Judge, and, as the time would not admit of calling together the Associate Justices of the county to take action, Judge Merriman, at his own personal risk, had himself called to hold a special term of the County Court. He assembled himself together, accordingly, and subscribed the additional $20,000. Meantime, the Bloomington men managed to have the decision put off, at Peoria, until afternoon ; and, when the proposals were finally announced from the different localities, the solid $70,000 of McLean County came down upon the astonished conspirators and carried off the prize.

Of course, the transaction would have involved Judge Merriman in severe financial embarrassment had his Associates repudiated his action ; but no such unpleasant consequences resulted. This will do for an illustration of the spirit of the citizens of McLean County, and of their confidence in each other ; and it will help to explain why McLean County has not allowed itself to be rivaled, in private and in public enterprises, -by its sister-counties.

At the March term of the Court, the Committee on Division of the County into Townships reported, and their report, afterward slightly changed as to names, was substantially abopted by the Supervisors' Court, and is as follows, to wit :

Town No. 1. Sections from 1 to 12 inclusive, in Township 21, and all of Township 22 north, of Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Mount Hope.

Town No. 3. All of Township 24, and the southwest half of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, together with all of Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in Township 25 north, of Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Danvers.

Town No. 4. Sections from 1 to 12, inclusive, in Township 21, and all of Township 22 north, of Range 1 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Funk's Grove.

Town No. 8. Sections from 1 to 12, inclusive of Township 21 and all of Township 22 north, of Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Randolph.

Town No. 12. Sections from 1 to 12, inclusive of Township 21, and all of Township 22 north, of Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Downs.

Town No. 16. All of Township 26 north, of Range 3 east together with the east half of Township 26 north, of Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Gridley.

Town No. 17. Sections from 1 to 12 inclusive, in Township 21, and all of Township 22 north, of Range 4 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Empire.

Town No. 22. Sections from 1 to 12 inclusive, in Township 21, and all of Township 22 north, of Range 5 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named West.

Town No. 27. Sections from 1 to 12 inclusive of Township 21, together with all of Township 22 north, of Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Belleflower.

Town No. 30. All that portion of Township 25 north, of Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian, belonging to McLean County, and named Cropsey.

In accordance with an act of the Legislature of Illinois, of April 1, 1851, and with the vote of the citizens of the county, on the previous November, the Supervisors' Court of McLean County met at the Court House in Bloomington, on May 17, 1858, and, after organizing, assumed the transaction of the county business.

On May 20, it was resolved by the Court that the surplus, if there should be any, arising out of the proceeds of the sales of the swamp-lands granted to the county, after the appropriation, previously made by the County Court, of $70,000 toward the buildof the State Normal University, should have been paid, together with all incidental expenses, be equally divided, geographically, among all the townships and fractional -townships, for the purpose of maintaining common schools, to be controlled in the same manner as moneys arising from the sixteenth section, appropriated to each township by the General Government. It may not be improper to remark that as the sales of the s>aid swamp-lands amounted to about $130,000, there was, eventually, quite a handsome sum distributed to the townships for said purposes.

In the mean time, as may well be supposed, the county was gradually filling up with active and industrious immigrants. New farms were opened on all the prairies, and the face of the country was generally assuming a cheerful and cultivated appearance. People were no longer afraid to sail out into the grassy sea before them, and cast anchor on a forty, an eighty, or a quarter-section of the finest lands in any country. Occasionally, a town would be born at some railroad station, or be christened, at least ; and,

In 1854, 'the town of Towanda was laid out on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, about ten miles northeast of Bloomington ; and the hard times of 1857 laid it out again. It still lies out on the prairie, a town of vast possibilities. In 1855r Heyworth took a name, and assumed to have a " local habitation" as well, on the line of the Central Railroad, not far from the southern line of the county, about thirteen miles from Bloomington. It has been a prosperous experiment from the start, growing in its growth and strengthening in its strength, gradually and securely, until it has become a nice town, with good prospects, as it has some excellent citizens and is surrounded by a magnificent country.

In the same year, the town of McLean was laid out, on the line of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, where it still stood, at the latest reports, about twelve miles southwest of Bloomington, well toward the southwest corner of the county. It*has prospered moderately, and is quite a business place. The only insuperable difficulty in its way to becoming a large town is its proximity to Shirley, on the same road and in the same direction. Though the surrounding country is very fine, it is not of sufficient breadth to sustain two large towns so near each other. In 1856, the town of Saybrook, at Cheney's Grove, sprang into existence, and, by 1870, it had become so large a town that the La Fayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad was constructed to connect New York and Bloomington with it. It is a good point, and has many very worthy citizens. Several other prospective towns are now in their cradles, on the routes of the different railroads in the county. Holder, Ellsworth and Arrowsmith, on the La Fayette & Bloomington Railroad, are good grain-stations, and Downs Station, on the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad, eight miles east of Bloomington, and Stanford, twelve miles west, on the Jacksonville Branch of the Chicago & Alton road, are doing well. Other towns will receive due attention in the appropriate places in this work.

During these years, new roads were laid out, old ones changed and improved, and bridges and culverts of a permanent character, too numerous to notice individually, were constructed over the creeks and sloughs in all parts of the county. Settlements were made very rapidly in the eastern part of the county, where the splendid soil, the low prices and the constantly-increasing facilities afforded by incoming railroads held out special inducements.

At the May term of the Supervisors' Court, the Committee on Public Buildings visited the new County Jail, and reported that they " found it to be one of the best and most substantial buildings of the kind they ever saw, and fully believed said Jail would answer the purposes for which it was designed." The Jail and dwelling for the Sheriff had been recently built, under contract with the County Court, at an expense of $12,000. They are still in use for the purposes of their construction. The county revenue for 1857 was $30,453.15.

' At the March term of the Court, A. J. Merriman, Agent of the County Court, reported that the sales of the swamp-lands, to date, amounted to $55,224.90. The amount of the bills presented to the Court for keeping the poor during the current year was, in round numbers, $1,100.

At the September term, 1859, the Court, upon the report and recommendation of a Special Committee on Poor-farm, resolved to purchase the farm of John Gr. Myers, lying about four miles south of Bloomington, and consisting of 220 acres, at $25 per acre, amounting to $5,500; and appropriated $1,000 for the erection of additional buildings, appointing a committee to superintend the same. These arrangements have since been carried out, the whole purchase and buildings paid for, and the Poor-farm, one of the best of its kind in the country, has since been running harmoniously and efficiently accomplishing its intended purpose. The expense of keeping the poor for the current year, 1859, is reported at 84,784.45.

At a called session of the Court on April 17, 1861, on the report and recommendation of a special committee, the Court appropriated, for the benefit of volunteers who had already gone, or who might thereafter go, into the United States service, the sum of $10,000, and appointed Messrs. Isaac Funk, Allen Withers aud John E. McClun a committee to superintend the distribution of the same.

On May 30, the above committee reported as follows : " They entered upon the discharge of the duties assigned them immediately on being notified of their appointment, and found the whole county in a state of most intense excitement. The proclamation of the President of the United States calling for volunteers had aroused our whole population. Party differences were forgotten, and one sentiment alone seemed to pervade the minds of the people ; and that was, that our G-overnment should be sustained, and that McLean County, if need be, would pour out her blood freely to attain that object." The subsequent action of the people of the county, on many tryingoccasions, proved the above statement to be literally true. The committee reported that they had already expended for the specified object in their appointment $4,076.72.

At the September term, same year, the Court adopted a resolution that, as Peter Folsome, Esq., acting for the county, procured from the General Government the amount of money to which the county is entitled on account of swamp-lands sold by the Government, he be authorized to settle with the Government as may seem fit, so the amount paid to the School Treasurers of the different towns does not fall below the sum of $11,040. The arrangement was made and the money distributed.

At the July term, 1862, the Court passed a resolution that, for the purpose of aiding in the enlistment of volunteers for the service of the United States in McLean County, there be assessed upon said county a tax of $22,500, and that the sum of $50 be paid out of said sum to each volunteer who may have enlisted in said service in said county, under the late call of the President of the United States, or who may enlist in the same prior to the first day of September next. On motion, Messrs. Reeder, Thomas and Funk were appointed a committee to negotiate the loan and disburse the fund provided for in said report.

At the next session, August 15, the Court passed another similar resolution, to raise $37,500 more, under like restrictions, and for the same purpose as the one above stated, to encourage volunteers to enlist in the service under another call by the President, and its distribution was intrusted to the same committee, making $70,000 in the three appropriations of the Court for similar purposes. In the resolution was a provision for raising the funds on better terms, by resolving that the $60,000 be charged upon the tax-lists of said county for the years 1862, 1863 and 1864. At the succeeding September term, the committee on distribution reported that they had negotiated loans to the amount of $55,775, and had paid the said bounty of $50 each to 939 volunteers, amounting to $46,950, and, after paying some necessary expenses, there remained in their hands $8,756.40.

At the February term, 1863, the committee to pay bounty to volunteers reported satisfactorily, giving the amount received from the special war tax as $11,348.41, and the amount by them paid on county bonds as $11,105.23.

More Bounties

At the December term of the Court, 1863, the following gentlemen were appointed a committee to take into consideration the propriety of paying a bounty to volunteers in the army, to meet the new call for 300,000 more men, Messrs. Stringfield, Funk, Thomas, Bishop, Kellogg, McMahan, Coman, Phillips and Johnston. On the next day, the 23d, the committee reported ; and their report, after being amended, was adopted by the Court, and reads as follows :

Section 1. That we have examined said matter, and believe it expedient to pay such bounty, and, therefore, recommend the adoption of the following resolutions :

Sec. 2. Resolved, That this county will pay a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to each volunteer from this county who may regularly enlist ip the army of the United States for the term of three years, or during the war, up to the fifth day of January next, and the sum of fifty dollars to each volunteer from this county who has so enlisted in said army since the first day of September, A. D. 1862, up to this date.

Sec. 4. Resolved, That William Thomas, Isaac Fuuk and Samuel J. Reeder be and they are hereby appointed a War Fund Committee, to raise the sum of money required to pay such bounty, and that they be authorized and instructed to pay the same to all such persons as may be entitled to receive as above, as soon as they shall be satisfied that said volunteers have been regularly mustered into the service of the United States. That, in case any such volunteer has died since such enlistment, said bounty be paid to his widow or children, if any, and if not, then to his father or mother, if living ; and that said Committee be authorized to charge only for their necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

Sec. 6. That said Committee, in order to raise money to pay said bounty to volunteers as aforesaid, be and they are hereby authorized and empowered to borrow such sum or sums of money, from time to time, as may be necessary to meet the object of this appropriation, and that the Clerk of the County Court of this county issue and deliver to said Committee county orders or warrants in such sums and at such times as said Committee may direct and require for said purpose, not to exceed in all the sum of forty-five thousand dollars, all payable out of the revenue of the year A. D. 1865, and each bearing ten per cent interest, payable annually, from its date. That said order be countersigned by said committee, and sealed with the seal of said County Court, and express on their face that they are payable out of the revenue of the year 1865. ,

Sec 7. Resolved, That, in order to raise money to pay said orders or warrants, there shall be levied on the Collector's books or roll for the year 1865, on all the taxable property of this county, as a special war fund tax, a sufficient amount of tax to pay all the said orders or warrants issued in accordance with these resolutions, with the interest thereon. That said tax, when collected, be paid by the collectors thereof to the Committee named and appointed in this report, or their successors, and shall then be by said Committee paid on the said orders or warrants as herein directed.

Resolved, That it is the intention of this Board, as an act of justice, to pay a bounty of fifty dollars to each person from this county who has enlisted in the United States service for the term of three years since the beginning of this war, and who has not heretofore received a bounty from this county, and that they intend to make payment as soon as, in their judgment, the pecuniary condition of the county will permit. 0

Resolved, That the War Fund Committee be and they are hereby authorized to pay the bounty offered by this Board to the wives or families of volunteers entitled to the same, in cases where such volunteers cannot now be paid in person by the Committee, upon receiving from said wives or families a receipt, order or power of attorney from said soldier authorizing said Committee to pay such bounty to said wife or family.

At the March term, 1864, of the County Court, the Clerk reported that he had issued and delivered to the War Fund Committee orders or warrants to the amount of $203.70. At the June term, the Committee on Distribution of the Bounty Fund reported, with the names of the recipients thereof, that they had paid out in bounties, according to instructions, the sum of $31,273.07.

At the September term of the Supervisors' Court, on the 13th, a resolution was adopted pledging the county to pay a bounty of $150 to each of the volunteers who had enlisted since the 8th inst., or might hereafter enlist, and $50 to each volunteer who had enlisted from the 9th day of March to the 8th day of September of the year 1864.

At the December term, 1864, the Commissioner for the sale of swamp-lands, A. J. Merriman reported the receipts to amount to $97,251.31, and that the subscription of $70,000 to the State Board of Education had been paid.

At the January term, 1865, the Board of Supervisors passed another resolution, offering a bounty of $300 to each volunteer who should enlist under the last call of the President for 300,000 men in order to prevent the disgrace of a draft in the county. We speak of these resolutions of the Board of Supervisors to show the spirit of McLean County, and that its citizens are ever ready to meet any demand upon their patriotism, and to rise to the occasion, whatever it may be, on all subjects.

On January 31, 1865, the Board of Supervisors passed most honorable resolutions in reference to the recent death of Hon. Isaac Funk, for years a very active and efficient member of the Board, and also resolutions of sympathy with the family on the death of Mrs. Funk, which occurred on the same day as that of her husband.

At the September term, 1865, on the 11th thereof, the Court received communi-' from Col. Bloomfield and Col. McNulta to surrender to its care the colors of the Twenty-sixth and of the Ninety-fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, which they had respectively commanded. The communications were received and referred to special committee. At the same term, the war fund tax of the county amounted to $50,150.15 for the current year. Mr. William Thomas, agent of the war fund, reported that bonds to pay bounties to soldiers had been issued to the amount of $189,400.

At the December term, the Clerk reported the amount of property taxed in the county to be $8,443,165, and the amount of tax levied for the current year was $370,- 767.87.

The valuation of property for the year 1867 in McLean County amounted to $9,627,990, and the amount of tax levied thereon for the same year was $407,133.99.

At the March term of the Board of Supervisors, 1868, the report of the cost of ten iron bridges recently erected in the county was $27,095.50.

Court House

At the term of the Supervisors' Court for McLean County, March 3, 1868, Mr. O. M. Colman, Chairman of the Special Committee on new Court House, submitted the following Report : To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of McLean County.

Gentlemen : Your Committee appointed at the December term of your Court, to whom was referred the matter of building a Court House for the county, beg leave to submit the following report, to wit:

Having considered the pressing need of a Court House for the better accommodation of the public offices of the county, and the greater security of the public records, and also the general public feeling in favor of the erection of such a building, connected with the encouraging financial condition of our county, entirely out of debt, we would recommend the erection of a good, substantial fire-proof building, according to plans and specifications herewith submitted.

We have visited and examined some of the best buildings in the State, and have also been in consultation with a number of the most eminent architects in the Northwest, for the purpose of ascertaining the style, size and expense of building best suited to the present and future wants of the people of the county.

From among several beautiful designs that have been submitted for our adoption, we have selected that of Messrs. Cochran & Piquenard, of Chicago.

For carrying into effect the foregoing provisions, your committee would recommend the appointment of a Board of Commissioners to be styled Court House Commissioners; said Board to consist of five persons, whose duties shall be the employment of an Architect and Superintendent; the advertising for all bids; the awarding of all contracts, and the general supervision of the erection of said Court House ; said Board to keep a complete and full account of all expenditures on the same, and report them and the progress of the work at each meeting of the ' Board.

The committee would also recommend the issuing of County Bonds for the above purpose in accordance with an act of the last Legislature providing therefor.

Pending the question, Judge Scott, on invitation, addressed the Board on the main question, and after remarks from Messrs. Sears, Bishop and others, the question was put on the amendment to the amendment, which was decided in the negative. The vote was then taken on the amendment, which was also decided in the negative.

Resolved, That the question of building a Court House and issuing bonds in accordance with the designs, specifications, and bids, as set forth in the report of the Court House Committee, be submitted to the legal voters of McLean County, at their annual town meeting to be held in April next.

The Chair decided the resolution out of order, on the ground that there was no law for submitting the building of a Court House to a vote of the people. Mr. Colman moved the previous question, which was sustained ; and the main question was put. Whereupon Mr. Mahan called for the ayes and nays, which resulted in the adoption of the report by 14 ayes and 13 nays.

Those voting aye are as follows: Messrs. Bishop, Cuvelt, Colman, Elliott, Elijah Horr, Marquis, Newton, Rowell, George W. Stubblefield, Sears, Weaver, Weedman, Warford and Chairman Ives - 14.

Those voting nay are as follows: Messrs. Cox, Ewins, Josiah Horr, Karr, Langstaff, Mahan, John Stubblefield, Sutherland, Sailer, Jacob Smith, Shelton Smith, Vandolah and Wiley - 13.

The Board selected the following Supervisors to act as Court House Commissioners : O. M. Colman, Elijah Horr, Richard Rowell, Nathan L. Sears and John Stubblefield.

We have given the proceedings in full, by the Board, in passing the resolution upon the question of building a Court House, for several reasons. It was an important measure, considering the great expense, and the very heavy burdens to which the people had recently been subjected. There had been much discussion, and considerable feeling on the subject among the people, and the policy of erecting so expensive a building was questioned by many. The vote of the Board, as has been seen, was very close. But the result shows how ably the matter had been managed by a few resolute spirits ; and the history of the enterprise has shown that the movement was all right.

But the best of it is to come yet. Keeping in mind the divided state of feeling at the time, that a County Court House, with its surroundings, costing $420,000, should be completed according to contract, in a very unfavorable year for building, and entirely paid for, without a growl from any quarter, nor a single imputation of swindle by anybody, we believe to be an occurrence without a parallel in the history of similar transactions. Look at Chicago, for instance, a city claiming to have a population twenty times that of Bloomington, quarreling for two years or more over the building of a Court House, like dogs and cats. Scarcely a week passes but the papers of that city denounce their incomplete, would-be Court House as an abortion, and the builders of it as swindlers. Yet, according to the population of Cook County compared with that of McLean County, its Court Honse, at a cost of more than $4,000,000, should be complete, and the finest in the Union. We might refer to other counties; but such " comparisons are odious." We are too happy in the fortunate results in our own county to make invidious comparisons with others. The whole subject may be justly regarded as a happy illustration of the spirit, the enterprise, and the magnanimity of the citizens of McLean County. They invite emulation, but they acknowledge no superiors in these respects.

The resolution authorizing the erection of a new Court House passed the Board of Supervisors in March. In April, the old Court House was torn down, and as soon as the almost incessant rains would permit, the erection of a new one was commenced, and the magnificent structure, without a flaw, was pushed to completion. The amount of county orders issued in McLean County from September, 1867, to September, 1868, was $137,679.90.

The valuation of the property in McLean County, for county purposes, for the year 1868, was $10,235,918 ; and the amount of taxes levied for all purposes, the same year> was $441,876.93.

For the year 1869, the valuation of property in McLean County, for the purpose of taxation, was $10,703,695 ; and the amount of taxes levied for the same year was $578,805.41.

At the December term, the Board of Supervisors ordered the issue of County Bonds to the La Fayette. Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad Company, to pay a previous subscription to the stock of that Company, amounting to $20,000.

The valuation of property in McLean County as listed and assessed for 1873, amounted to $42,026,374 ; and the total amount of all taxes charged, $677,314.70.

But it is not our purpose here to give anything like a financial history of McLean County. A few disconnected items only are given, to indicate, in some degree, the extent of the material developments that have taken place in the county. When we commenced this hasty sketch, the county was almost uninhabited, and for some years the county revenue was about $1,000, more or less. The contract price for erecting the first Court House was three hundred and some odd dollars, and town lots in Bloomington were, for some years, nominally worth $5 a piece.

The county is now thickly settled in many parts, and land is worth from $25 to $50 per acre. In short, a county that has recently expended half a million of dollars in war expenses, and another half a million in the erection of public buildings, bridges, and other permanent improvements, besides heavy annual expenses paid, and yet is not in debt a single dollar ; whose valuation of property for taxation purposes g}es up into millions, and whose population can annually carry taxes amounting to more than half a million dollars, is an illustration of material development of which its citizens may well be proud.

Review

Thus have we taken a hasty glance at the material development of McLean County. In 1821, it was exclusively the home of the Indian, of the dwellers in prairie and grove, and* of the fowls of the air. No echo responded to the blows of the woodman's ax ; . no waving fields of ripening grain swayed in the morning breezes ; no glad shout of children just let loose from school ; no shout of harvest-home ; no grand and solemn organ's peal ; no sweet and joyous tones of prayer and song, were borne upon the wings of the wind to listening ears and responsive hearts. It was oppressive stillness all, save the howl of the wolf, the scream of the eagle, or the still fiercer war-whoop of the red savages.

The changes in fifty-eight years are very striking. McLean County, now the largest in the State, with a population of seventy thousand civilized inhabitants, presents very different features from those which prevailed at the former period. The following list of nativities, from the Census of 1870, will give a tolerably correct idea of the relative portions of the constituents in the composition of the present population :

The surface of McLean County is now cut by nine distinct railroads. Across the extreme southeast corner, runs the Chicago & Paducah Railroad, with Osman Station on it within the county. Farther north, in the same corner of the county, runs the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield road, in a northeasterly direction, cutting West Township in the southeast corner, and Belleflower Township centrally, having on its line Belleflower Station. Still farther north, and running in the same direction, is a narrow-gauge road, now under construction from Le Roy to Saybrook, and cutting Empire, West and Cheney's Grove Townships, with prospective stations on it. In the extreme northern part of the county, running directly east and west, and cutting Gridley, Chenoa and Yates Townships, is the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw road, with Weston, Chenoa, Meadows and Gridley Stations on it. Running diagonally through the county from southwest to northeast, is the Chicago & Alton road, cutting Mount Hope, Funk's Grove, Dale, Bloomington, Normal, Towanda, Money Creek, Lexington and Chenoa Townships, and having on its Jine McLean, Funk's Grove, Shirley, Bloomington, Normal, Towanda, Lexington and Chenoa Stations. Running nearly north and south through the county, is the Central Railroad, cutting Hudson, Normal, Bloomington and Randolph Townships, and having on its line Hudson, Normal, Bloomington, Randolph and Heyworth Stations. Running east and west from Bloomington to the eastern line of the county, is the La Fayette, Bloomington, Toledo, Wabash & Western road, cutting Bloomington, Old Town, Padua, Arrowsmith and Cheney's Grove Townships, and having on its line Bloomington, Holder, Ellsworth, Arrowsmith and Saybrook Stations. Running diagonally across the county, northwest and southeast, cutting Empire, narrowly missing West, then Downs, Old Town, Bloomington, Dale, Dry Grove and Danvers Townships, is the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western road, having on its line Le Roy, Downs, Bloomington, Twin Grove and Danvers Stations. Running west from Bloomington to the western line of the county, is the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago & Alton road, cutting Bloomington, Dale and Allen Townships, and having on its line Bloomington, Covell and Stanford Stations.

An inspection of the county map will show that these railroads, with their twentyfive stations, are admirably located to accommodate all parts of the county. They leave only five townships without railroad stations. A road, of which there has been some talk, running southeast and northwest, between Lexington and Saybrook, if properly located, would accommodate four of those townships - Blue Mound, Lawndale, Martin and Cropsey - with stations, leaving only one small fractional township - White Oak - without a station, and there are already two stations, one on each side of it, only about three miles distant from its limits.

Such a body of land, thus cut up by railroads, and dotted all over with stations, embracing a charming variety of prairie and grove, covered with cultivated farms, with comfortable homes, and thousands of domestic animals, is not to be surpassed in any country. In addition, it must be borne in mind that the county seat, Bloomington, has a population of over twenty thousand people, with one of the largest churches in the State and numerous smaller ones ; with the shops and station-buildings of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, covering forty acres ; with the finest paid-for Court House in the State ; with the Wesleyan University, accommodating several hundred students, and several very fine public schoolhouses within its limits, and the State Normal University, and the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, both stately buildings, in its near vicinity, and surrounded by several large towns and numerous small ones, and a magnificent country, dotted all over with churches, schoolhouses and mills - when one takes all these things into consideration, the changes that have come over the face of McLean County within the memory of many of its citizens are indeed wonderful, and they may well be the source of honest pride and self-complacency to those who have had an active hand in bringing them about. Other changes, too numerous to be mentioned, only heighten the wonder, and induce a hearty thankfulness in the beholder.

Political History

In early times in McLean County, there were only two distinctions in political sentiments - Jacksonism and Whiggism. Jacksonism, or Democracy, seemed to be the raw material of politics, and Whiggism the manufactured article ; and the raw material seems to have been more prevalent than the manufactured article. Many of the citizens then cared very little for education, and for current news and general information. They seemed to take their politics as they did their measles - in the natural way. Tradition was the chief source of their political preferences, and they were born into their political party as into their church.

In 1832, there were seven Whig votes in Bloomington Precinct, and Gen. Gridley cast one of them. A family tradition says that when, in 1828, Mr. John Dawson, then living twelve miles east of Bloomington, was about to start to go and vote in the fall election at Mackinawtown, then the county seat, Mrs. Dawson, who was for Jackson, persuaded her husband that it was going to rain, and not to expose himself to a two or three days' ride over the rough roads for the sake of casting a single vote for men that did not know him, nor would ever thank him for it ; and that, in the evening, when it was too late for Mr. Dawson to make the trip, with a mischievous smile, the old lady said she had gained one vote for Jackson by preventing an Adams vote being cast.

Gen. Gridley claims that the instrumentality of the Bloomington Observer turned a portion of the raw material of politics into the manufactured article, in its day, that being the first newspaper published in Bloomington, and that McLean remained a Whig county from that time. Be that as it may, it was a pretty close race in the county for quite a number of years - the result, either way, depending more, in many instances, upon personal influence than upon party majority.

For many years, Gen. Meritt L. Covell, a very clever gentleman, by the way, seemed to be the leading spirit and the embodiment of Democracy in McLean County. He was an active and able manager, and kept the politics of the county a good deal mixed for years. In 1840, the political whirlwind that carried Gen. Harrison into the Presidency passed over the country, and the Whigs elected Gen. Gridley to the State Legislature. In 1834 and 1836, the Democrats elected Hon. William L. May to Congress in this, then, Third District ; and in 1838 and 1840, the Whigs elected Hon. John T. Stuart, carrying the district, in 1838, by a majority of seventeen votes. From that time on, the Whigs were able, generally, by good management, to carry this county in general and in local elections, the majority being from fifty to a hundred votes. Sometimes the majority was very small, and occasionally a Whig candidate was beaten. This state of things continued for several years, the Whig majorities gradually increasing as the feeling became more and more antagonistic among the people on the subject of slavery. In those days, Illinois was always Democratic, and continued to be so, though with decreasing majorities ; but McLean stood always true to the Whig party. In 1855, in the county election, there was no opposition to the Whig ticket. In 1852, the nomination of Gen. Scott by the Whigs, for the Presidency, was not popular in McLean County ; but the Whig vote was out at the polls, yet with the expectation of being beaten.

In 1854, came the times to try men's political souls. The compromises between the two parties in Congress that year, in which it was agreed not to introduce any more discussion on the slavery question, and to ignore the subject, gave dissatisfaction to many people of both parties. Their attachment to party began to loosen, and there was uneasiness on all sides. The feeling that there was approaching a breaking of political ranks, and rallying on new issues and under new leaders, began to pervade the people of McLean County. Properly speaking, the people of this county have never been political Abolitionists. They were never in favor of disturbing the constitutional rights of the people of the South, nor of clandestinely assisting their slaves to escape. They were opposed to the violent and premature commotion that occasionally broke out on the subject, hoping that some peaceful and legal way out of the difficulty might be found.

But when the direct question of introducing slavery into the more northern and free Territories, either by law, by indifference, or by violence, the people of this county protested against such introduction.

In 1856, came the issue between allowing or preventing slavery in Nebraska, Kansas, and indefinitely west ; and through the dodge of so many behind what they were pleased to call Knownothingism, Americanism, or Fillmoreism, that political abortion, James Buchanan, was elected to the Presidency. His stolidity and cowardice, or something worse than either, assisted greatly to bring on the crisis of 1860. But through all the changes and turmoil, the people of McLean County stood firmly by the Republican party after it succeeded the Whig party, by larger and larger majorities. In proof of this statement, we need only to mention a few facts.

The first Republican State Convention ever held, took place in Bloomington. The first paper to run up the name of Mr. Lincoln for President was the Bloomington Pantagraph. The citizens of McLean County did more to bring him before the people as a candidate, and to secure his nomination at Chicago, than those of any other county in the country. Conclusive evidence on these points is easily procurable. Messrs. Jesse W. and Kersey H. Fell were the prime movers in getting Mr. Lincoln into the field, and Judge David Davis did more to secure his nomination than any other living Tnan.

In 1848, McLean County gave Gen. Taylor a moderate majority. In 1852, it gave Gen. Scott a respectable majority, though there was no enthusiasm on the subject. In 1856, it gave John C. Fremont a majority of 420. In 1860, it gave Abraham Lincoln a majority of 985. In 1864, it gave Mr. Lincoln a majority of 1,419. In 1868, it gave U. S. Grant a majority of 2,037. In 1872, it gave Grant a majority of 2,510. In 1876, it gave Rutherford B. Hayes a majority of 1,953.

For several years past, owing to difference in financial sentiments, and to personal influences, and inevitable disaffection at censurable uses of power and opportunities, the local issues have been somewhat mixed. But whenever there are straight issues and harmony in the party, McLean County is decidedly Republican.

Agricultural Society

Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That John E. McClun, Edward H. Didlake, William H. Allen, Isaac Funk, Edwin Poston and Samuel Lander, and such persons as are or may hereafter become members of the McLean County Agricultural Society, -from and after the passage of this act, shall be and they are hereby constituted a body corporate and politic, by the name and style aforesaid, and by that name they and their successors shall have succession, and shall, in law, be capable of contracting and being contracted with, of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, prosecuting and defending, in all manner of actions in law or in equity, in all courts and places whatever where legal proceedings are had ; and by that name and style be capable, in law, of purchasing and receiving, by gift or otherwise, holding and conveying real estate, for the benefit of said corporation : Provided, That said corporation shall not, at any one time, hold real estate more than the amount of 160 acres.

Sec. 2. Said corporation shall have power to loan money belonging to the same, and take promissory notes or other evidences for the money so loaned, which may be collected in their corporate name aforesaid, in all courts and places whatever where judicial proceedings are had ; and, in their corporate name, shall have power to sue for and collect all gratuitous subscriptions that are or may hereafter be made to said corporation.

Sec. 3. A meeting of the members of this corporation shall be held on the first Monday in March, 1853, and forever thereafter on said day annually, for the purpose of making such by-laws as may be necessary for the better government and regulation of the association, and also for the purpose of electing a President, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary and Treasurer, who shall respectively hold their office for one year and until their successors are elected ; and the said officers so elected be a standing Board of Directors, with full power and authority to do all acts and deeds necessary to promote the interest of the association, and to carry into effect the provisions and objects of this act.

Sec 4. The Treasurer shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, give bond to said corporation, to be kept by the Secretary of the same, with sufficient security for the faithful performance of his-duties.

An Amendment To Foregoino Charter

Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in General Assembly, That the third section of the act to which this is an amendment be so amended that a meeting of the members of said corporation, for the purpose therein mentioned, shall be annually held on the Fair Grounds of said Society, at 1 o'clock P. M., on the second day of the Annual Fair thereof.

General Laws

An act passed February 15, 1857, appropriating $100 to each County Agricultural Society, for the years 1857 and 1858, payable June 1, by State Treasurer, to the Treasurer or fiscal agent of each County Agricultural Society.

Object

Sec. 2. The object of this Society shall be the promotion of the improvement of science and art of agriculture, of stock, domestic manufactures, mechanic arts and horticulture.

Advisory Committee

Sec. 3. The President shall appoint an Advisory Committee of not less than four nor more than seven, who, together with the Board of Control, shall transact all business of the Society.

Additional Meetings

Sec. 4. There shall, in addition to the regular meetings of the Society, be one held of the Board and Advisory Committee on the first Monday of November, annually.

Duties Of President

Sec. 5. The duty of the President shall be to preside at the meetings of the Board or of the stockholders, have power to call special meetings of either, and perform all duties pertaining or usual to like offices, and in his absence one of the Vice Presidents shall perform said duties.

Duties Of The Secretary

Sec 6. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep in a book provided for that purpose, a true account of the doings of the Board at their meetings or those of the stockholders, keep a correct list of stockholders ; draw all orders or drafts on the Treasurer and keep an account of the same ; advertise by public notice in the newspapers of the county, the time of holding *be meetings of the Society and such other duties usually devolving on such officer or directed by the Board.

Duties Of The Treasurer

Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all moneys due or belonging to the Society, and disburse the same upon the order of the Secretary ; keep a correct account of all receipts and disbursements, and make report of the same at each annual meeting, or at such time as the Board may direct.

Duties Of The Board

Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Board, together with the Advisory Committee, to exercise a general supervision over all the interests of the Society; shall appoint all committees necessary for carrying out successfully, the objects of the Society ; they shall specify the articles for which premiums shall be awarded ; determine kind and value of the same ; fix the time of holding the annual fair, and do such acts as they may believe for the best interests of the Society.

Appointing Committees

Sec. 11. Appointing of Superintendents, Awarding Committees, and affixing premiumlists, shall be made at the regular meeting of the Board held on the first Monday of November of each year, or at an adjourned meeting for that purpose.

Rules And Regulations

Sec. 12. General rules and regulations shall be made at the regular meeting held in November, or at an adjourned meeting as above (Sec. 11), for the government of the following fair, which shall be published together with the premium-list.

Awarding Committee

Sec. 13. There shall be not less than three nor more than seven, of an Awarding Committee for each lot of stock or articles, none of whom shall act as such in any lot or articles in which he is an exhibitor. In case of disagreement of the Awarding Committee or failure to serve, the Board or Superintendents of respective departments shall appoint others.

in the ring. Sec. 14. At the time the Awarding Committee are examining the stock, or other articles, aio persons are permitted in the ring, except the Board, Superintendents and grooms. One of the Board, or Advisory Committee, or Superintendent of Department, shall accompany the Awarding Committee on examination of each class, and see that there is no violation of the rules of the Society.

Premium Badge

Sec. 15. A blue ribbon shall be attached to the stock or article which has been awarded the first premium, and red to that of the second premium.

Growing Crops

Sec 16. Entries of growing crops to be made as follows : Wheat and oats must be entered -on or before the first day of July ; and corn on or before the last day of the fair in each year. Persons entering wheat or oats or corn for exhibition are required to have the ground surveyed and produce accurately measured by two disinterested persons and their certificates of the same handed in to the Secretary ; for wheat and oats by the November meeting, and corn by December 25th following. All entries or returns must be accompanied with statement of the mode and manner of culture.