McLean County, Illinois - Chapter 24: County and Other Officers, 1924

CIRCUIT JUDGES - CIRCUIT CLERKS - SHERIFFS - SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTSSTATE'S ATTORNEYS - COUNTY JUDGES - PROBATE JUDGE AND CLERK - COUNTY CLERK - TREASURERS - RECORDERS - SURVEYORS - CORONERS - STATE SENATORS - STATE REPRESENTATIVES - OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICERS FROM McLEAN COUNTY.

A long list of distinguished names are found in the roster of the men who have occupied county offices in McLean County from the earliest times to the present. Here is the list:

Circuit Judges - Samuel D. Lockwood, to and including May term, 1834; Stephen T. Logan, April term, 1835; Thomas Ford, September term, 1835; Stephen T. Ford, April and September terms, 1836; William Brown, April and September terms, 1837 ; John Pearson, September term, 1837 ; Jesse B. Thomas, May term, 1838; Daniel Stone, September term, 1838; William Thomas, October term, 1839; Samuel Treat, May, 1845, to September, 1848 ; Theophilus L. Dickey, April term, 1849 ; David Davis, October, 1849, to September, 1862; Charles Emerson, September, 1860, to December, 1861; Oliver L. Davis, March term, 1862; John M. Scott, December term, 1862, to March, 1870 ; Charles Emerson, June, 1864 ; Thomas F. Tipton, September, 1870, to February, 1877 ; Owen T. Reeves, March, 1877, to April, 1890; John Burnes, March, 1877; Nathaniel J. Pillsbury, November, 1879; Franklin Blades, February, 1881; Alfred Sample, .November, 1886; February, 1887; September, 1889, and April, 1890; Thomas F. Tipton, September, 1891, to April, 1897; Alfred Sample, April term,

School Superintendents - The head of the school system of the county was first called school commissioner. Those who served in that capacity were: William D.urley, 1834; Jesse W. Fell, 1836; Cheney Thomas, 1841; William H. Hodge, 1841 ; James B. Price, 1849 ; John M. Scott, 1852 ; C. P. Merriman, 1857; Daniel Wilkin, 1858; C. P. Merriman, 1863. The position was changed to superintendent of schools about 1865 and the incumbent elected. Those who have been elected as superintendent of schools were: Daniel Wilkin, 1863-69; John Hull, 1869-75; William Hawley Smith, 1875-81 ; John A. Miller, 1881-94 ; John S. Wren, 1894-06 ; Benjamin C. Moore, 1906-1922 ; Mrs. Nettie B. Dement, 1922.

State's Attorneys. - Until 1870, the state's attorney was elected for the judicial district. The records of the circuit court with few exceptions

County Judges. - Amasa J. Merriman from date of township organization in 1858 to 1873; Reuben M. Benjamin from 1873 to 1886; Colostin D. Myers, 1886; Roland A. Russell, 1897-1902; 1897-1910; Homer W. Hall, 1910-1914; James C. Riley, 1914-1921; William C. Radliff, 1921-24. Judge Radliff was appointed by the governor to succeed Judge Riley in 1921 when the latter was appointed master in chancery, and Radliff was elected to the position for a full term in 1922.

Probate Judge. - Under the census of 1920, McLean County had more than 70,000 population, permitting the election of a probate judge in addition to a county judge. The first election for this office was in 1922, when Jesse E. Hoffman was elected to the position.

Probate Clerk. - When the probate court was established, the first election for a probate clerk in 1922 resulted in the election of W. Scott Rodman to that position.

County Clerks. - Isaac Baker was appointed in 1831 as clerk of the county commissioners' court and served to September, 1839, when Bailey H. Coffey succeded him, serving to 1849. In 1849 the county court was organized with Coffey as clerk, serving to 1853. E. H. Rood elected in November, 1853, served to 1857, when township organization was effected. The clerks of the county since that time were : William C. Hobbs, to 1860 ; R. L. Davis, to 1864 ; R. S. Mclntyre to 1869 ; J. W. Straight, to 1873; R. L. Davis, to 1878; Charles W. Atkinson, to 1886; Robert Maxton, to 1894 ; M. H. Newton, to 1898 ; R. L. Carlock, to 1902 ; C. C. Hassler, to 1910 ; Parmeno A. Guthrie, to 1924.

The following is the list of citizens of McLean County who have held offices of more or less importance in the national and state governments:

Representatives in Congress - John McNulta, Republican, 1873-75; Adlai E. Stevenson, Democrat, 1875-77 ; Thomas F. Tipton, Republican, 1877-79; Adlai E. Stevenson, Democrat, 1879-81; Jonathan H. Rowell, Republican, 1881-91 ; Owen Scott, Democrat, 1891-93 ; Benjamin F. Funk, Republican, 1893-95; John A. Sterling, 1903-13; Louis FitzHenry, Democrat, 1913-15; John A. Sterling, Republican, 1915-18; Frank H. Funk, 1921-25. John A. Sterling met accidental death in October, 1918, and Frank L. Smith of Dwight was appointed to succeed him, serving until 1921.

United States Judiciary - David Davis, Republican, justice Supreme Court, 1861-77; Lawrence Welson, Republican, judge of U. S. Court of Claims, 1883-1905; district judge of Southern Illinois Federal District, Louis FitzHenry, 1918 to the present time.

Hamilton, governor, 1883-85; Joseph W. Fifer, governor, 1888-92; John Moore, Democrat, state treasurer, 1848-57 ; James Miller, Republican, state treasurer, 1857-59 ; Richard Edwards, state superintendent public instruction, 1887-91; John M. Scott, judge Supreme Court, 1870-88; Owen T. Reeves, judge appellate court, 1888-91 ; Colostin D. Myers, judge appellate court, 1903-07 ; Lewis G. Stevenson, secretary of state, 1914-17.

Supreme Court Reporter - Isaac N. Phillips, Republican, October 24, 1894, to his death in 1910; Samuel P. Irwin, from Oct. 21, 1910, to the present time.