Mercer County, Illinois - Chapter 6: Proceedings of the County Board, 1914

Chapter 6: Proceedings of the County Board

The act of organizing the county passed the Legislature January 31, 1835, and by it an election was ordered for the first Monday in April, 1835, in the Town of New Boston, at the house of Eli Reynolds, and at the house of George Miller. New Boston was designated as the temporary county seat. The act of organization was completed April 6th by the election of the officers prescribed by law. At the election in New Boston precinct there were 31; votes cast for Edward Willits for coroner; 25 and 12 votes, respectivelv, for Silas Drury and John Long for sheriff'; 24, 33, 16 and 30 votes, respectively, for Isaac Drury, Abraham Miller, Joseph Noble and Erastus Denison for countv commissioners. At the Miller precinct Edward Willits received 13 votes for coroner; Isaac Drurv, Joseph Noble, Erastus Denison and Abraham Miller received 5, 9, 13 and 12 votes respectively for commissioners. John Long received 6 and Silas Drurv 7 for sheriff. The men who voted at this election were as follows: Jesse Willits, Samuel Piper, Benjamin Vannatta, Hamilton Christie, Newton Willits, John Long, Silas Drurv, Lewis Noble, William Drurv, George Fisher, Joseph Leonard, William Jackson, William Willits, John Hall, Elias Fisher, William Wilson, John Kester, James H. Barnes, William J. Nevius, Joseph Denison, William Poll, Adam W. Richie, John Richardson, W. Denison, John Reynolds, Edward Willits, William Denison, Joseph Noble, Joseph Glancey, Isaac Drury, M. Leeper, Jesse Kester, Robert Reynolds, E. S. Denison, Ephraim Gilmore, William Townsend. Second precinct - John W. Denison, David Shaunce, Eli Reynolds, Isaac Dawson, John Farlow, John Shaunce, George Miller, Ebenezer Creswell, Abraham Miller, Sr., John Miller, A. Miller, Jr., Harrison W. Riggs, George Miller, Jr.

One week, after this election the Commissioner's Court, as it was then called, but now known as the board of supervisors, met at New Boston for the transaction of public business. They appointed William C. Townsend, clerk; Ephraim Gilmore, treasurer; John Long, school commissioner; Harrison W. Riggs, judge of election in the first precinct, and Isaac Miller, judge of election in the second precinct. They granted William Denison a license to run a ferry across the Mississippi at New Boston. He was taxed $4 for this privilege. He was permitted to charge $1.50 for each four-horse wagon; $1 for each two-horse wagon; 18^4 cents for each horse; 50 cents for man and horse; 18^4 cents for each head of cattle; 6' 4 cents for each head of sheep and hogs; 18^4 cents for each footman.

Thev laid the county off into four road districts and appointed Abraham Miller, Lewis Noble, Jesse Kester and James H. Bane commissioners of the districts. They ordered a tax of $1.20 to be levied on each quarter section of taxable land in the county. This concluded the business of the first day.

On the following day they selected the grand jurors for the first term of the Circuit Court. They were as follows: George Miller, Isaac Miller, John Farlow, Jesse Willits, John Hill, Mark Willits, David Shaunce, Lewis Noble, Daniel Pinkley, John W. Denison, William Willits, Joseph Glancey, John Reynolds, George Blake, Benjamin Vannatta, John Long, James Irvin, Wesley Wicks, Ephraim Gilmore, John Kester, Thomas Morgan and John Bates. For petit jurors: John Miller, Isaac Miller, George Miller, Abraham Miller, Isaac Dawson, William W. Wilson, John Shaunce, Isaac Drury, William H. Denison, Joseph Noble, Joseph A. Denison, William Drury, Harrison W. Riggs, William Jackson, Robert Reynolds, Newton Willits, Joseph Leonard, Joshua Willits, James H. Bane, Eli Reynolds, John P. Reynolds, Drury Reynolds, Christopher Shuck, John Rankins.

At the first regular term of court in June it was found that the clerk had failed to give bond and, being apparently unable to do so, William Drury was appointed in his place. The amount of the bond was $1,000. The first minute book of the board was manufactured by Mr. Drury. It consists of about one hundred pages of foolscap paper, ruled by the clerk himself, and bound with what appears to have been a fishing line. The sides of the book are thin pieces of oak boards, dressed down with a draw shave. After being thus prepared they were covered with paper. The backs and corners are of buckskin, doubtless from some deer that had been shot down by the clerk himself. In many other ways this book is a memento which should be preserved. Recorded therein are the earmarks of animals and the names of those who recorded their particular ear crops.

required to pay Byj4 cents. The first road was ordered at this term and was projected from New Boston toward Rock Island, and was designated by stakes driven in the prairie and trees blazed in the woods. The viewers were Ephraim Gilmore, Harrison W. Riggs and Lewis Noble. For their services they were paid $8. The county was laid off into justice districts. The New Boston precinct constituted all west of the middle Township 4 and the remainder of the county constituted what was called the Sugar Grove District. The state road from Knoxville to New Boston was approved, and in fact much of this session was taken up with the consideration of various roads extending from the river back throughout the county and to leading cities in Western Illinois.

The first financial report of the commissioners made March 9, 1837, showed that the revenue from the state was $400; tax on personal property, $58.61; road tax, $922.38; tax for license, $35; and interest on notes, $12.25. The amount paid out on county orders for county purposes was $439.51 '_., leaving a balance in the treasury of $993.20; but this balance included notes to the amount of $950, leaving cash on hand, $43.20.

The rapid settlement of the county required the formation of other election districts in 1836. In September that portion of the county lying east of a line extending due north and south one mile east of the line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 west, was set apart as a new precinct. It embraced what is now Richland Grove, Rivoli and North Henderson townships and nearly all of Preemption, Greene and Suez townships. The name of Richland was given to this new precinct. One of the county commissioners, Hiram Hardy, resided in this district. At that time there were only about a dozen voters in that portion of the county. In September, 1837, Richland Precinct was subdivided and a new location and justice district was formed of that portion lying south of the line, separating Townships 14 and 15, thus providing for the new settlements on Pope Creek and the new district was given that name. A year later another district was formed from all that part of Sugar Grove lying south of an east and west line equally dividing Township 14. It was called Ohio Precinct. In 1839 Edwards Precinct was formed from what is now Preemption, the north half of Greene, northeast quarter of Mercer and the southeast half of Perryton. At the same meeting Eliza Precinct was formed and embraced what is now Eliza Township. In June, 1840, Keithsburg Precinct was set off and at that time embraced Abington Township also. Thus as time passed and

During the '40s the county commissioners spent much of their time in the consideration of road problems. It was during those years that all the leading roads of the present day were established and partially worked. Taxation at all times was an important subject and was duly considered by the county board. Late in the '40s various railway projects served to stir up the people. Western Illinois was traversed by the projected lines and very often each county was threatened therewith by a half dozen at one time. It was not until the early '50s, however, that railway projects began to take definite form in this county.

In the spring of 1853 tne county board was obliged to order the purchase of a poor farm, but before this the care of paupers was under the direct orders of the board and poor persons were usually farmed out to farmers who were willing to take them. This was found both expensive and unsatisfactory. Accordingly the board at the above date bought the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 33 in Perryton Township. The total cost was about seventeen hundred dollars. Immediately other small tracts were added until the total purchase amounted to about one hundred and twentyfour acres. The larger part of the tract was prairie land, but a belt of timber occupied a portion. At once a building was erected, two stories high, with sixteen rooms, ten bedrooms and a hall in each story. Farm and house together all told, cost in round numbers $5,000. By 1857 about eighty-two acres of the farm were under cultivation.

pounds of wool sold was 24,393. I" December, 1855, a man named Dorse and his wife, who had charge of a child of Mr. Dorse by a former wife, so abused it that it died. Reports concerning this affair coming to the authorities, the body was exhumed by the coroner and was found to be covered with terrible bruises and evidences that death had resulted, in all probability, from blows and exposures. They were arrested, taken to the jail at Monmouth and in due time were punished for the crime.

In 1856 the board of equalization, which had done some business before, was thoroughly organized and met all complaints from taxpayers thereafter. The existence of this board was a necessity, owing to the great divergence in assessment of schedules. At this time the county board rented for $100 per year rooms for the county offices in a building owned bv Levi Willits on Block 94, Aledo.

In April, 1855, the county voted on the question for and against township organization, and the vote generally favored the plan, which was duly adopted. At that time the county had no jail and was obliged to send prisoners to other counties, for which service they were required to pay. Likewise it was necessary to pay for jury rooms while the court was still at Keithsburg and after it was removed to /\ledo. At Keithsburg rooms were secured of B. P. Mc- Conaha and the schoolhouse there was occupied by the Circuit Court for the use of which $50 was paid in December, 1856. The grand jury likewise met in a room in the schoolhouse.

The act for calling an election to decide the question of removal of the county seat was approved by the governor in February, 1857, and an election was ordered for the first Monday in August. It was an important question and the whole county was on the anxious seat until the question was settled. Of course, Keithsburg strenuously opposed the removal, but sufficient influence was brought to secure an election on the question. The citizens of Aledo, at the demands of the county board, subscribed $8,000 to cover expenses of erecting buildings should the county seat be removed and the town proprietors of Aledo bound themselves to give certain lots and' blocks in the city for the occupation of the county buildings. Enough money was pledged by Aledo for the construction of all necessary buildings at that time. An additional sum, it was realized, could be secured by the sale of the old county property at Keithsburg. The people were told that they would not be taxed a cent for the buildings or grounds. As it transpired, Millersburg opposed the removal, because the county seat being located at Aledo, would undoubtedly injure that village.

On the other hand, New Boston favored the removal, perhaps, as a stroke against Keithsburg, its rival town on the Mississippi. The following is the result of the vote for the change of the county seat from Keithsburg to Aledo, held August 3, 1857:

When the county seat was removed to Aledo in the fall of 1857, there were no buildings that belonged to the county for the officers nor for holding court. For the purpose of holding court, however, the county procured the use of a building that was constructed for a schoolhouse, and the upper story was used at the time for school purposes. Court was held in this building, which subsequently was purchased by the county and was used until the erection of a new courthouse, which is stated more in detail hereafter. The first jail building, as hereinafter shown, has been given by the county to William and Vashti College, and the part of it which contained the cells has been demolished and rebuilt, and it is now used as the girls' dormitory in connection with William and Vashti College. The building erected by the county for county officers is also now transferred to William and Vashti College, and is situated on the block known as North Park or Monument Park in Aledo.

Vote

Upon the removal of the county seat and the vacation of the old county buildings at Keithsburg, they were immediately occupied by men there who apparently had claims upon them. These men at first refused to surrender possession, but the buildings were ordered to be sold by the county board. The offer of L. W. Thompson to furnish temporary rooms in his two-story brick were accepted by the county board. In September, 1857, the board ordered all records of the county removed from Keithsburg to Aledo. H. S. Scott was the authorized agent of the county to effect this removal. The board accepted the block donated by Thompson and Willits as the site of the courthouse. I. N. Bassett was authorized to negotiate the sale of the old courthouse at Keithsburg. At that time a motion to take immediate steps to build a new courthouse was lost in the county board, but a vote to build a jail was carried and a committee accordingly was appointed to prepare plans for a jail alone and for a combined jail and courthouse. At that time the county paid out for paupers for the year ending September, 1857, $939.12 and paid for assessing the county, $495.75. They paid $5 for the rent of grand jury rooms and a temporary "calaboose." At this session the county board directed a special committee to secure a competent man to take charge of the poor house. Tyler Mc- Whorter was recommended and was appointed superintendent. He was authorized to borrow $500 with which to commence operations. The name of the Township of Madura was changed to Preemption at this session. The old courthouse at Keithsburg had been left in possession of Nevius and Calhoun, who were to have free the use of the two lower offices upon consideration of taking care of the whole building. These men and others later refused to give up for a time possession of the buildings upon the order of the county board. The lots owned by the county at Keithsburg were ordered sold, one-fourth cash and the balance in six, twelve and eighteen months.

At that time a public road was projected from Aledo to McB ride's Mill on Pope Creek and was viewed and in the end built. In the great storms during the spring of 1858 almost all the bridges in the county were washed away. They had entailed much expense during the '40s, probably not less than ten thousand dollars and all had to be replaced now at a time when the countv needed money for other purposes. The poor house was built by R. Grow, who likewise did the mason work on the Methodist College in Aledo. The total assessment of the county in 1857 was $3,963,554.67. No sooner had the county board begun the work of constructing new bridges in place of those that had been washed away than other storms equally severe came and washed away the new ones and prevented for some time the construction of others. Many buildings were blown down during the heavy storms, which in some instances approached almost the magnitude of tornadoes. The Record of May, 1858, spoke of one of these storms as the severest it had ever witnessed. Still another storm came in June, and in Henderson and Warren counties was a tornado, destroying large amounts of property and killing many persons. The fall of 1858 saw a change and the work of rebuilding the bridges and repairing the roads went rapidly on. A large bridge across Edwards River, just north of Aledo, was projected and built at this time.

For the year ending July 10, 1858, the receipts of the county were $21,002.37, less $9,616.02 in cash and $42.50 in notes on hand at the beginning of the year. Among the receipts was $130 from Willits and Thompson to pay the expenses of the county seat election. The total disbursements amounted to $14,619.29. Among the disbursements were $4,480 interest on county bonds, $1,401.71 for pauper expenses and $100 damages allowed the contractor of the poor house for failure to pay as per agreement.

In February, 1859, the commissioners were authorized by law to collect the swamp land fund for the purpose of distributing it to the townships. This was the first distribution of such a fund. It became a part of the school fund of the county. The year 1859 is characterized by the large number of tracts of land sold throughout the county at sheriff's sale. The panic of 1857, the poor crops for several years and the hard times generally made it extremely difficult for farmers to live, pay their taxes and keep up their farms. As high as thirty-two such sales were made in 1859. The county treasurer's report for the fiscal year 1859-60 showed total receipts, $12,903.51 ; and total expenses, $12,607.39. In i860 the personal property in the county was valued at $813,748; town lots, $317,864; realty. $2,012,- 645. The total county tax, all kinds, amounted to $57,577.84. The Keithsburg town lots were valued at $126,526; Aledo town lots, $83,182; New Boston town lots, $77,030.

At the June term, i860, the county board passed resolutions asking the next Legislature to authorize the levy of a special tax not exceeding twenty thousand dollars for the express purpose of erecting county buildings, the question to be submitted to the legal voters of the county. At the September term the clerk was directed by the board to send a copy of this resolution to the members of the Forty-

The report of the county treasurer, Warren Shedd, in February, 1 86 1, showed that the current expenses of the county for the year i860, including interest on the county bonds, were $14,721.65 and that the total income from all sources amounted to $13,239.25, leaving a deficit of $1,482.39, which the county had no means of paying. The same conditions had existed for several years until now the total deficit aggregated $7,079.62. This had gone on notwithstanding the county revenue tax for five vears had been at the rate of four mills on the dollar, the highest rate allowed by law. A resolution before the county board asking the Legislature to authorize the county to levy a special tax of two mills on the dollar to meet this deficit was lost by the vote of six yeas to seven nays. .Mr. Whitsitt estimated that the county deficit by November 30, 1861, would amount to $8,150. After some skirmishing the same question was again submitted to vote. An amendment to strike out the clause to submit the question to the voters was lost, six yeas, seven nays. On the original question the vote stood ten yeas, three nays. Thus the Legislature was asked to pass a two mill special law to meet the county deficit and H. S. Senter, clerk, was appointed to go to Springfield at once to urge its passage. It was provided that the question should be submitted to the voters the following June.

In i860 Humphrey Riddell was appointed superintendent of the county poor farm at a salary of $400 annually, to be paid quarterly. In February, 1861, he was reemployed and at that time there were twenty inmates at the farm. During i860 there had been received, 15 ; discharged, 8 ; died, 4. The total expenses of the farm from February 14, i860, to February 9, 1861, was $1,666.97. The receipts from produce sold amounted to $1,195.16.

At the February term of 1861, the county board attached to the Township of New Boston all that part of the Township of Keithsburg lying north of Edwards River. In April Warren Shedd, county treasurer, announced that he would no longer receive currency in payment for county taxes. At that time the county board were called in special session to carry into effect the act of the Legislature, authorizing them to levy a tax to raise a sum not to exceed twenty thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting county buildings or for the purpose of liquidating the county indebtedness. They called the election to be held the first Monday in June to determine the question.

of the county was defeated by the vote of 622 for and 944 against. The proposition to vote $20,000 for new county buildings was defeated by 39 for and 1,593 against. The latter defeat was not to be wondered at, but the defeat of the two mill tax was merely evading temporarily what the county would have to do at a subsequent date with additional sums added. It was the next step to repudiation. The townships of Rivoli, Greene, Mercer, Perryton, New Boston and Eliza voted for the two mill tax; all the others voted against it. Keithsburg voted heavily against it and Abington did not cast a vote in its favor. Every township gave a majority against the $20,000 tax.

In November, 1862, there were licensed in this county under the excise tax law, 17 lawyers, 24 physicians, 37 retail dealers, 11 hotels, 12 retail liquor dealers, 5 wholesale dealers, 42 carriages and 12 coal mines. The excise tax amounted to $1,600, exclusive of coal mines, butchers and ferries.

In the spring of 1863 Mathew Sheriff, county treasurer, died, whereupon S. C. Amberson was appointed to the position by the county board. The treasurer was permitted to sell all the specie in the treasury for the highest premium in legal tender he could get. At this time they authorized W. M. Hays to demand payment of the subscribers at Aledo to the county building fund and if they refused to pay to commence suit against them. Mr. Amberson found in the county treasury $1,000 in gold in 1863. A little later he was required to account for $410 premium which the gold was worth in the market. A little later the board authorized Mr. Hays to demand from the administrator of Mr. Sheriff, late county treasurer, the sum of $369. which was the premium on gold left in the treasury by the late treasurer.

Preliminary steps to build a county jail were taken by the county board in 1864. Plans were called for and a premium was offered for the best designs. Still the movement seems to have died out, owing probably to the war conditions. In 1864 the assessment of the county showed a valuation of $3,311,834, with a total tax of $71,928.65.

Early in 186c; the board offered a bounty of $6 for the scalp of each black or gray wolf; $5 for the scalp of a common or prairie wolf, and $2.50 for the scalp of a whelp of either. At the

January session the county board paid nearly four thousand dollars from the military fund for the support of soldiers' families. Humphrey Riddell was continued as superintendent of the poor farm for many years. His salary in 1864 was $450. At the April term, 1865, the board authorized the purchase of eighty additional acres adjoining the poor farm. At this time they rented to outsiders a portion of the courthouse and appropriated $2,662 from the military fund for the support of soldiers' families. In March, 1866, the county farm had about ninety-five acres under cultivation, about twenty-five acres timber and waste land and the entire property was valued at $8,000. On the place was about twenty-two hundred dollars' worth of personal property. There were twenty-two paupers and the cost of keeping them per year was about eighty-one dollars and ninety cents each, or about one dollar and fifty-eight cents each per week. The County Infirmary, under the superintendence of Mr. Riddell was as well conducted as any in the state. During 1866 the average number of inmates was sixteen. The superintendent drew from the county treasury $900. Over five hundred dollars' worth of products were sold from the farm.

For the year 1866-7 William Clegg became superintendent of the poor farm, at a salary of $500. Mr. Riddell's final statement showed that there had been sold from the place produce to the value of $891.54 and that the personal property remaining on the place was worth $906; total, $1,797.54. The total expense for the year was $1,860.94. Thus the expense above the income was only $63.42. The institution was almost self-sustaining. However, this did not include the superintendent's salary, but was considered an excellent showing. It was hoped that the new superintendent would do as well. However, it transpired that Mr. Clegg could not serve, whereupon Mr. Riddell was prevailed upon to continue another year. His salary was fixed at $650. In 1868 he was succeeded by S. H. Darbyshire, who was allowed a salary of $500. Bids were called for at that time and eight applicants applied for the position, all wanting the same salary - $500. Mr. Darbyshire was given the contract. The following are the amounts drawn from the countv treasurv for the support of the poor house for a series of years: 1859, $1,564.76; i860, $1,564.81; 1861, $1,600.00; 1862, $1,735.00; 1863, $1,163.77; 1864, $1,950.00; 1865, $1,652.18; 1866, $1,500.00; 1867, $1,846.42; 1868, $1,450.00; 1869, $1,101.61.

Under the new superintendent the expenses of the poor farm ran much higher than ever before, while the income from the place depreciated. There was much complaint. It was shown that during the year 1870 about twenty-seven hundred dollars was paid out. It was also claimed by a faction that the office of county school superintendent was a useless burden upon the taxpayers and should be abolished. At the March session, 1871, the board ordered that each township should be liable for the payment of all temporary relief to paupers or poor persons within its borders, but added that permanently disabled persons might be removed to the county farm. The next day this order was rescinded on the ground that the county board had no authority to enforce it. They appropriated $30 to pay the expenses of William Evans, a disabled soldier, to Chicago, to attend the Eye and Ear Infirmary located there. It must be stated to the credit of the county board and to the county as a whole that the old soldiers were not permitted to suffer if their wants were made known to the public. In several instances at first they were treated like paupers, but this order of affairs was soon changed and the old soldiers were given the just treatment to which they were entitled.

At this time the board resolved that, whereas the physicians of this community had formed a society or combination to establish certain rates and charges in practice, and had determined that the county board should pay them at certain rates for doctoring poor persons, all claims and charges thereafter presented for payment for provisions, clothing or any other thing, including medicine, medical attendance supplied to paupers or poor persons should not be allowed in whole nor in part unless authorized by the proper supervisor and unless accompanied by proper evidence and unless itemized and sworn to.

At the April term, 1865, of the Circuit Court, the grand jury found twenty-five new indictments, and for the first time in the history of the county, several persons were indicted and punished for stealing timber. Four indictments were found for this offense and three convictions were had. Two indictments for larceny were found. John Volentine was indicted for the murder of Mrs. Collison. There were fifteen indictments for liquor selling. There was one case of assault with a deadly weapon.

At the September term, 1865, the county board appointed commissioners to survey, locate and establish the line between Mercer and Henderson counties, the same not being definitely known nor marked. At the same time they made provision for the better care of soldiers' families, requiring each supervisor to report any cases of want from that source within his district.

$i 1,901. The total receipts were $16,619.38; the total expenses were $15,343.24. Among the expense items were $3,621.80 paid out of the military fund; $1,102.10 paid for the support of the poor farm and house; $2,700 paid to John Dellett for an addition to the poor farm.

In the summer of 1866 the county board appropriated $1,500 each for two bridges over Edwards River in New Boston Township. Counsel at this time were employed to look after the claims of the county to the old courthouse at Keithsburg. At the December session (1866) of the county board the provisions of the act approved February 16, 1865, to provide for a board of health for each township in all counties which had adopted township organizations, were accepted and steps to effect such organizations were taken. The board appropriated $200 to defray the expense of certain suits in the Supreme Court of the United States. A bounty of $10 for wolf scalps was ordered paid. The county board in March, 1867, directed their attorney, John C. Pepper, to settle with the persons who had subscribed money for the erection of county buildings by taking notes payable to the county board on or before January 1, 1868. If they should refuse to thus settle they were to be sued for the amounts. The judgment which had been secured against Willits and Thompson on such subscription was excepted from the provisions of the resolution. The chairman of the board was authorized to employ an attorney at once to institute proceedings to recover possession of the old courthouse at Keithsburg. In June, 1867, a special committee on county buildings reported it advisable to proceed to the erection of a county jail as soon as practicable without oppression to the citizens of the county and recommended that plans be procured. W. M. Hays, Joseph McCoy and John T. McGinnis were appointed a committee to carry into effect these recommendations.

The jail committee reported in January in favor of a stone building and their report met the approval of the board. Accordingly the committee called for proposals to build the structure and offered a reward for the best plans. The committee were given full authoritv to carry on the work. The contract was finally awarded to B. F. Morey and Van Harriott at the stated price of $22,000. By September 1, 1868, the foundation of the building was completed. It was planned it would be finished before winter set in, but storms came on earlier than expected and work was suspended until the following spring. Work was resumed in April, 1869, and the jail committee in June were authorized by the county board to borrow on behalf of the county funds sufficient to comply with the contract entered into by the committee with the contractors. The terms were $5,000 to be paid in advance; $5,000 on July 1 ; $5,000 on October 1 ; and $7,000 when the jail was completed to the satisfaction of the building committee. The building was fully completed by January 1, 1870.

Early in 1869 the old courthouse at Keithsburg was offered for sale by the county board at public auction. This led to some complications, whereupon the board consented to accept the proposition of the attorney of the Keithsburg holders to sell the property and divide equally the proceeds between the claimants there and Mercer County after paying all costs. C. M. Kay was attorney for the county board in this transaction and J. C. Pepper was attorney for the Town of Keithsburg. Block 7, Keithsburg, upon which the courthouse stood, was finally sold, the president and trustees of the Town of Keithsburg being the purchasers and the price being $1,000, of which $500 was turned over to them, $167 being cash. They obligated themselves to pay the county $333 at 10 per cent interest in one year. Thus the matter which had been in dispute for so many years was finally settled.

Beginning about 1868 and continuing for many years, numerous ditches were dug in all parts of the county for the better drainage of the lower tracts of land. W. H. White was one of the men who made this his special business for many years. Usually the ditches were dug about four and a half feet deep and thousands of acres of choice land were thus reclaimed. Better roads were constructed in the '70s than had been used before in the county. New ones were laid out, old bridges were torn down and iron or steel structures erected and improvements were made generally to the roads and highways.

The final report on the county jail was made in September, 1870. It was a combined jail and jailer's house, and the total cost of all buildings and appurtenances was $23,573.46. The first payment of $5,000 had been borrowed from William Drury and at a later date was paid.

The vote on the new state constitution in Mercer County, July, 1870, was as follows: For the constitution, 938; against it, 230; for the railroad section, 1,119; against it, 46; for the article entitled "Counties," 1,135; against it, 30; for the article entitled "Warehouse," 990; against it, 91 ; for a three-fifths vote to remove county seats, 1,019; against it, 147; for the section relating to "Illinois Central Railroad," 1,155; against it, 13; for minority representation, 358; against it, 810; for the section relating to municipal subscriptions to railroad and private corporations, 1,061; against it, 104; for the section relating to the canal, 1,149; against it, 24.

For Against

/\t the December term ( 1870) of the county board it was ordered that the supervisors in the several townships should give all disabled soldiers under their charge whatever necessaries of life their wants might require without sending them to the county house. Five supervisors voted against this measure. The salary of the sheriff was fixed at $1,000 and $300 for clerk hire; and the salary of coroner was fixed at $100 per annum. At this session Judge Arthur A. Smith and B. C. Taliaferro, Amos F. Waterman, B. F. Brock, McCoy & Clokey, Pepper and Wilson and James Henderson, attorneys, petitioned the county board to supply the Circuit Court with the following comforts and accommodations: A new chair for the judge; new tables for members of the bar; procure the missing volumes of the Illinois Reports and provide a place in the court room for the safe keeping of the books during terms of court. These improvements were desired before the opening of the next term of court.

The petition was referred to the committee on county property. Preliminary steps to safeguard the county records from fire were taken at this meeting.

In 1 871 a special committee of the county board recommended the construction at an early date of a good fireproof building for the safe keeping of the county records. There was paid out for the support of paupers in 1869, $3,055.60; in 1870, $2,252.42; in 1871, $1,235.41. This decrease was caused by the fight made against the large amount that had been previously paid for the support of paupers. The county board cut down the expenses enormously from 1868 to 1 87 1.

In June, 1872, the board offered $50 reward for horse thieves if the property stolen was in Mercer County and if a conviction was secured. Each supervisor was authorized to employ a doctor competent to take care of paupers in his district. In July, 1872, the board determined to erect fireproof buildings for the preservation of the county records. George P. Graham, J. A. Streeter and R. H. Day were appointed a committee to erect such buildings. They authorized the chairman of the county board and the county clerk to issue $15,000 in county bonds with which to raise funds sufficient for the purpose. The committee were authorized to select the grounds also. This building was duly erected and proved satisfactory. In 1874 the total county assessment was $8,491,938.

The '70s were noted for the large amount done by the county board on public highways, also for the reform made in the methods of assessment and taxation. The board of equalization did a great work in making uniform the assessments and rates of taxation. In 1878 the board contracted with the Aledo Banner, Aledo Record, Keithsburg News and Nationalist to publish their proceedings and allow each the sum of $6. At this time the county board leased to private persons the right to fish in Swan and Eliza lakes in the western part of the county. A committee of the county board in December, 1879, reported that the lakes in New Boston were owned by the Government.

In 1877-8 John W. Dihel was superintendent of the poor farm. At that time there were twenty-five inmates. Mr. Dihel, while in charge of the poor house, punished one of the inmates by whipping. The county board asked him to resign, the vote standing nine to four in favor of his dismissal. The result was the resignation of Mr. Dihel. His successor was J. M. Willis, who was paid a salary of $500 and took charge in 1880.

In July. 1880, the county board passed a resolution requesting B. F. Marsh, congressman, to introduce a bill in Congress praying the General Government to grant to the corporate authorities ot Mercer County for public use certain waters known as Eliza Lake and adjacent bayous, unsurveyed, situated in Mercer County. The countv board in September, 1880, resolved that, inasmuch as the old county farm was not suitable for the purposes for which it was used, a committee should be appointed to learn what the old farm could be sold for and to consider and report on the subject of buying a new farm. Township bonded debts, 1880: Abington, $10,000; Greene, $1,900; Keithsburg, $3^,000; Mercer, $7,700; City of New Boston, $30,000; Perryton, $2,600. The following amounts had been paid by 1880: Eliza, $5,000; Greene, $7,500; Millersburg, $92,000; Mercer, $4,300; New Boston, $10,000; Perryton, $3,200.

During the '8os the usual routine of the county board continued. Roads were looked after, paupers were taken care of, the assessment was reviewed and bonds of countv officers were placed at higher figures. Early in the '8os a new courthouse was demanded, but the people were not ready and the movement died out. The county board even went so far in 1882 as to send a committee to other counties to inspect courthouses, with a view of erecting one at a cost of about sixty thousand dollars. There was much trouble at first in the different townships over the question of how much each township should pay on the large steel bridges that were being built over the water courses. The county board took the position that the township should pay all the expense. Suits were accordingly instituted by New Boston and Keithsburg townships for a mandamus to compel the county board to pay half the cost of erecting such bridges. The attorneys for the county board took the position that inasmuch as the townships had commenced the bridges and incurred the obligation before asking the county board for assistance that they alone should be required to pay all expenses. The cases were taken to the upper courts and resulted in the success of the townships, whereupon the board paid its share of the expense.

The Bay Island Drainage District project was set on foot late in the '80s. In 1890 Judge J. H. Connell was empowered to select a jury of twelve to ascertain the cost of the work. Each owner of land adjoining was required to pay in proportion to the benefits he received. The project for a new courthouse was again taken up in 1890. The grand jury had investigated the subject and had reported that the conditions were so bad that the construction of a new build- ing was imperative. The assessed value of the county property at that time was $5,639,056. It was shown that the county indebtedness was so small that the board could well afford to construct a new courthouse. However, the board, before doing so, asked a subscription of $10,000 from the citizens of Aledo to be applied toward the purchase of grounds or the construction of the buildings. The amount actually subscribed by the people of Aledo was $12,292. Keithsburg offered to raise $25,000 and furnish a site for the buildings if the courthouse and county seat were removed to that town. The offer was not considered by the county board. Plans were prepared by M. E. Bell, of Chicago, and the contract for building the courthouse was awarded to L. Leach & Son. Considerable controversy arose as to the site of the new courthouse. The following tracts were proposed: By E. L. Wolff, called the Aledo House Block; a block on the north side, proposed by I. N. Bassett. In the end the Aledo House Block was chosen and the structure was erected thereon. The contract price was $49,996, but in the end the building and grounds cost a little over sixty thousand. In addition L. Leach & Son secured the contract for the construction of the boiler house for the courthouse at $2,189; also the contract for plumbing and electric fixtures, $5,400, and the contract for wiring at $387. Detwiler Brothers secured the contract for the heating apparatus, the amount being $4,393.

C. F. Sturdevant was the first superintendent of construction, but upon his resignation H. R. Ellett, of Keithsburg, was appointed in his place. The cornerstone of the new courthouse was laid April 19, 1894, Dut without ceremony. There were present about seventyfive to one hundred people, including several ladies. At the May term, 1894, the county board formally appropriated $60,000 for the new courthouse and for the block upon which it was to stand. They made arrangements to pay this amount in four annual installments of $15,000 each.

Late in the '90s many iron bridges were built throughout the county, several in Eliza, New Boston, Ohio Grove and other townships. Grading became a fad at this time and everywhere could be seen the split log drag in operation. Almost every neighborhood secured graders in order to better improve their highways. In 1896 the personal property of the county was valued at $7,784,780; the realty at $17,574,010; city lots at $2,662,691;. In 1895 Mr. Zentmire was county farm superintendent, at a salary of $700 a year.

In recent years the good roads project has taken possession of the people with the result that now nearly all roads are more or less graded and some of them are in excellent condition. The bridges will compare favorably with those of any other county in the state. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on highways and on splendid bridges which span the large streams. A Good Roads Convention was held in Aledo in 1899 and steps to still further improve the conditions of the highways were taken. The county taxation in 1900 amounted to $160,572.30. In 1901 the county board paid out in about four months $195 for wolf scalps - six old animals and fortyfive whelps. In 1901 the new poor house was projected and in the end built. The estimated cost at first was $25,000. The plans of J. Grant Beadle, architect, of Galesburg, were accepted. Harney Brothers were the contractors at $24,906. The total cost in the end was about thirty thousand dollars. The building is a credit to the county and a cut of the same appears in this work. It is made to accommodate sixty patients, heated with hot water, has two wings and a central structure, is fireproof, has dumb waiters and is built of pressed brick, with stone trimmings. In recent years electricity has been added as a lighting medium.

In 1906 the Bay Island Drainage and Levee District was set off and constructed at a large cost, much of the expense being borne by those whose lands were benefited. The total cost was estimated at two hundred and forty-five thousand dollars and the entire ditch was connected with one from Rock Island County, the two forming a long line, reclaiming 20,000 acres, valued at $2,000,000. At that time Congress passed an act declaring Sturgeon Bay not navigable. This bill was introduced by Hon. James McKinney. The Bay Island drainage excavation was divided into seven sections and was an immense undertaking. R. H. Roberts, D. S. Prentiss and M. F. Prouty were the commissioners to superintend the work.

In 1908-9, during nine months, over one thousand dollars was paid as bounty for groundhog and crow scalps. Several hundred dollars were paid at that time for wolf scalps. The latter animal seemed to be increasing rapidly in the county. A little later the bounty was increased. In the spring of 1908 the county voted to build a new jail, the vote standing nine to five in favor of the project. Three sites were considered: First, the Taliaferro property west of the courthouse; second, B. F. Tudor's place east of the courthouse; third, A. A. Rice's residence property. The county board decided upon the Taliaferro property, which was purchased at a cost of $2,500. Harney Brothers secured the contract at $28,874. Det- wiler Brothers supplied the heating plant and Bolton Brothers the electric wiring. The total cost in the end was about thirty thousand dollars.

The Keithsburg Drainage District, an important improvement, was projected a few years ago. Also the project to reclaim 12,000 acres on Edwards River, extending from Preemption Township down as far as Keithsburg.

From February, 191 1 , to February, 191 2, seventy-one wolves were killed in this county, of which fifty-one were whelps. The bounty was increased to $12 for old ones and to $5 for young ones.