Pike County, Illinois - Chapter 4: Important Labors of the County Commissioners' Court, 1880 (part 1 of 2)

First Meeting

The first meeting of the County Commissioners' Court of Pike county was held April 24, 1821. There were present Leonard Ross, John Shaw, and William "Ward, the three Commissioners. After the Court was organized, Stephen Dewey was appointed Clerk 'pro tern, in the absence of James "VV. Whitney, the Clerk. The records give but little information in regard to the organization of the county. They begin with unqualified statements, and record the acts of the honored Court with greatest simplicity.

The first business before the Court was an application for a license to sell spirituous liquors made by Belus and Egbert Jones. The license was granted upon the payment of $3 into the newly made treasury by the Joneses.

Belus Jones was then appointed Constable for the county of Pike. The liquor trafiic evidently was not great enough to employ the entire time of the two gentlemen, and as the newly organized county needed a Constable, Mr. Jones' services were solicited in that capacity.

The county must needs have a Treasurer; accordingly Nathaniel Shaw was appointed to this important oflice. The Court then adjourned to meet at 7 o'clock a. m., April 25.

According to adjournment the Commissioners assembled upon the morning of the 25th. The first business presented to the consideration of the Court was an application for license to sell liquors presented by Thomas Ferguson. The Court seemed to possess a willingness to encourage the liquor business within the newly made county, as the}' granted Mr. Ferguson license for $2.50. Why they should grant him a license for 50 cents less than they charged the Joneses, we can not tell. Perhaps an increase of business and flattering prospects enabled them to reduce the "tax."

Ebenezer Smith and Stephen Dewey were then recommended " as fit and suitable persons for the Governor to commission Justices of the Peace." The Court then adjourned until June.

Second Mektino

Monday, June 4, 1S21, the date set for the corivenini^ of the Court, John Shaw appeared and opened Court, hut there not being a (juoruni present the Court was kept open until 4 o'ck)ck in the afternoon, when all of the ('otninissioners apjteared and took their seats. Upon the followiti«^ day James W. \\ hitney, w1k» had heen aj)pointed Clerk of the Court, although we fnul no record of his aj)j)ointnient, "upj»eared in open Court and took the several oaths rcijuired by law, and ^ive bond in the penal sum of $1,000, and tendered Levi Roberts and llij^^don C. teuton his securities, who were a(!cej)tetl and aj>provc'<l by the Court."

Tavern License

A tavern in those days was u combimition of an inn and a Baloon. The propriet4)r, however, did not expect to derive any great revenue from the hotel, but looked to his lirjuors for an income. Alany of these *' tavrrns " were the smallest of log cjibins. Here and there all over the country, sometimes miles from any other cabin, they might be found. Some of them were indicated to be such by signs nailed to a post, tree, or to the side of the cabin. These wore of the rudest make and design. Some simply had the word "entertainment" scrawled u}K»n them, while others, more explicit, read "entcrtainmeni for man and beast." 8«»me were still more delinite and said simply '* whisky and oat«. " The storms of a half century, the advancement of civilization, the culture of the age, have all e4>njbined to transform these rudest of signs, scribbled by an uncultured pioneer u|»on hewn boards, into gilded and glittering letters artisticjilly traced u|M»n French-j)late ghws.

The name by which the place was known where licjuor was vended was shortly after this change<l tVoin " tavern " to " grocery " or *'groggery, "and subsequently lissumwi the apj)ellation of'" saloon; " and tinaliy, that coming into disrepute, many have ado])ted the more modern title of ** sample room," "hall," " garden," etc.

Justice of the Peace for Pike county. This gentleman was the well-known lirst settler of Chicago, and at that time resided there, it then being in this county. It must be remembered that Pike county at that time spread over a vast territory, and embraced all of the northern part of the State. Yes, though unlearned in law and unacquainted with science and literature, the Commissioners held jurisdiction over a large district; and that they conducted the public aft'airs rightly, and built a lirm and solid foundation upon which the future prosperity and greatness of this portion of our beloved State should rest, can not be gainsaid. This is plainly evident from the unparalleled strides made in agricultural and mechanical progress; from the hundreds of thousands of busy inhabitants now dwelling within this territory; and from the vast stores of wealth accumulated solely from resources within it. Those great and unconcealed wonders reflect honor and credit each day upon their founders; and as days and years multiply, when the same territory over which they presided shall be teeming with millions of earnest and energetic people, thfen will great honors and more exultant praise and adoration be expressed for the brave, sturdy pioneers who explored and opened up a region so proliiic, and founded a community that for genius, enterprise and wealth will in the near future out-rank many older settled countries, and indeed will vie with many kingdoms of the earth. Then these vast prairies will be cultivated as a garden. Every forest tree and woodland will be utilized, and populous cities with numerous factories and vast stores of commerce may be numbered by the score. Then will the modes of travel be superior to the remarkable railroad facilities of to-day, and transport the increased products with greater facility. Indeed, everything will then be as different and as superior to what they are at present as the things of to-day are as compared with those of fifty years ago. Our readers may regard this as wild and unreasonable speculation, as wholly visiouarv;buttliev are onlv the conclusions deduced from a careful study of history, of a comparison of what has been accomplished, with certain advantaires, with the results that the superior advantages now enjoyed will as certainly accomplish,

The Pook

One of the first acts of the noble-hearted Commissioners was to make provisions for their poor. The pioneers were generous and liberal to a fault when it came to provide the necessities of life to those more unfortunate in their midst. June 5, 1821, Baxter Bradwell and Joel Bacon were appointed overseers of the poor.

Record Book

A record book was then ordered to be purchased, for which $3.00 was given. This is a common paper-covered blank book of about 200 pages, and at the present time the price would be considered high if the book were sold at half that amount.

Laying Out Koads

For many years the petitions for iDads uccn])iecl a very lar^e proportion of the Court's time and attention, and consumed more spaco to record tlian all other proceedings. They are simihir in construction, and it wouhi l»e usek'ss, and worse, to speak A them as often as they occur. We will only give a sj>ecimen of these applications and the mode of dealing with them. Tlie records read as follows: "A petition of sundry inhabitants of this county was presented praying that a road may he laid out from McDonald's Ferry on the Missi.>«fei|»j»i river, the nearest and l-e^t course to the Illinois river to meet a road that may he laid out from thence to V'andalia." The prayer wa^j granted, and Daniel Shinn, CMaremhui lloss and Ebenezer Franklin w«rr appointed a committee to vitw and ascertain where said road should he located.

Upon the 3d of July of the same year the committee reported and their re|>ort was: "Accept as far ah the north line of section 27 of townshij» (> south, in range 5 we^t [Athih township], that heing as far as said Commissionerh were ahle to proceed, owing to the excessive growth of vegetation; and it is furthn ordered that the time for viewing and laying out the renniinder of said road shall be extended until after the vegetation shall l)e dchtroyed by frost."

Five thiys' work upon this r«»ad was require*! of each .man who lived witliin two and »»ne half miles of it. This rule also ajtplied to other ruads laid out in those primitive times. One dollar was allowed for cjich day a man labored more than that.

A ])etition was also presciite«i for a ruad fn»m Ferguson's Ferry on the Illinois river, to Fort Kdwards, upon the Mississij)pi river. Again we find "a',>etition presented by sundry citizens, Oct. 4, 1821, for a road from Fort (Mark (now reoria) to the mouth <tf the Illinois river." Acconlingly .lames Ni.xon, John Shaw and El>enezer Smith were app«»inted a committee to view the road from the house of Ebenezer Smith to Fort Clark.

Fkrky I.Icknse

June 6, 1821, a license was grante<l James McDonald "to keep a ferry upon the east bank of the Mis8issi])pi river, opposite to the town of Louisianaville, on condition of his paying a tax of one dollar, besides C'lerk's fee, and on his entering into bonds according to law, and that the following rates of ferriage be established, to wit : "

Militia Precincts

Among the pioneers "training" or " muster day" was one wliicli was looked forward to with feelings of pleasure. It was necessary to have a well organized militia to repel any invasions of the Indians which at that time were numerous thi'ough this section of the country. The Commissioners' Court, in itsofHcial capacity, took note of this, and accordingly, June 6, they "ordered that the militia of this county be organized into a regiment, and all that ]iart of the county lying south of the township line between townships 8 and 9 compose the lirst company district; and all north of that line to the base line compose the second company district ; and all north of the base line be and compose the third com])any district. Baxter Broadwell, Wm. Metz and Rigdon C. Fenton were appointed Judges of election in the first company district; Wm. Keyes, Peter D. Moyer and Clarendon Kosswere appointed judges of election in the second company district; Ossian M. Ross, Dr. Davison and Amos Eveland, as judges of election in the third company district. An election was then called for June 30, 1821, to select officers for the various companies. The baseline, which runs east and west upon a parallel with Beardstown, was made the dividing line between the two militia battalions of the regiment of Pike county. The battalion south of the base line was the first, and the one north the second, battalion.

Indian Trails

A sum not to exceed ten dollars was appropriated " to defray the expenses of opening and clearing out the old trace from the head or upper end of Salt Prairie to the lower end of Sni Carte Prairie, and five dollars for opening and cleaning out the old trace from the lower end of Sni Carte Prairie to Ross settlement." Further on in the records we fitid^these orders rescinded, and at the same time Joel Bacon and James Levin were ordered credited with the amount of their road tax for having opened the said " trace." These traces were old Indian trails, but having been deserted for newer ones were unfit for travel.

Sundry Acts

John Shaw was paid $5.00 for his services as an interpreter at the October term of the Circuit Court during the trial of two Indians for murder. These 'were Shouwennekek and Pemesan, who are spoken of in connection with this trial more fully in the chapter upon the criminal record.

Ossian M. Ross was then recommended to the Governor as a suitable person for Justice of the Peace in Pike county. Mr. Ross at this time lived where Lewistown, Fulton county, now stands. lie was with one exception the first settler of that county, and was the founder of Lewistown.

There was no jail in tlie county at tljis time, and at tlie October term, 18'Jl, "Nathan Sliaw wan <^ivt'M $22.00 tor ^^uartling Indian pri8oner8." These, we preeunie, were the two Indians referred to above, and who were on trial tor murder. The same amount, and for the same |»ur|)osi', was ;jiven to Christoj»her Loni,'.

Jan. 10, 1822, " AbiuT Eads, of IVoria, made uj>plication for license to keen a Uivern in the house where he now resides,'which is granted (»n him ]>ayin^ $1.50.''

Jan. 12, 1S22, the SheritV was j>ai<l $50 for hie sahiry for'the year. Mr. AVhitiu'V was ^ivt-n $30 tor ius services as Circuit Clerk, and $30 im Clerk of the Ct)mmissioner8' ('ourt, and $50 for his sahiry as Jud^ of Probate. HW

Abraham Utck, .1 udge of Probate, dit'ti, and Jan. 12, 1822, tl>o administrator of his estate was paid $10.60 as salary while he was Jjidgc.

The official i>aj'ti> of thr iiitjiH'st held over the lK)dy of James ^IchotuiUl were orderLHJ tiled. McDonald ran a ferry across the Mi^^issinpi river at Louisiana. It is supi>osed ho was murdered at his landing durinj^ the winter. He was tuund lyin;;<lead upon'the ice one day by tw(» men on their wa> to Lt>uisiana. They went to Ins ferry, i»ut fouml him dead, and evidences of a long and severe scuttle all around him, a^ if he hail been struggling for life in a hand-to-hand combat. The tracks of two men led from this place across U> Louisiana, and it wa^ generally supposed they were the men who kiUed McDomild, although nothing in a legal way was ever done with them.

Eoss' Tavkrn

Ossian M. Ross wjvs then granted a license to keep a tavern at his house. Ue lived where the city of Ixjwistown now is. The same schedule which regulated other " Public Inns" or "Tavern-Keepers" were adopted to regulate him.

Election Precincts

June 5, 1822, the comity was divided into three election precincts. All that part of the county lying north of the township lines, between towns 4 and 5 south and west of the Illinois bluffs, and all north of the base line, was the first precinct. Election was ordered in this precinct at the house of O. M. Ross, and that gentleman was appointed judge of election. All that part of the county lying north of township lines between towns 9 and 10 south, and west of Illinois bluffs and north of the 'base line, was made another precinct, and the " polls ordered opened at the house of Rufus Brown and Daniel Whipple, Leonard Ross and Wm. Ross, judges." '' The remainder of the county was made another precinct, and election held at county-seat, and John Shaw, Stephen Dewey and Amos Bancroft, judges."

June 6, 1822, it was ordered that a license to keep a tavern at or near Fort Armstrong, he granted to George Davenport for $3.00. This place was on the lower end of Rock Island. Mr. Davenport was the man who kept the trading post at Fort Armstrong, and in honor of him Davenport, Iowa, was named. The generous Commissioners permitted Davenport to charge higher rates for " entertainment " than they did those nearer to the borders of civilization.

New Commissioners

An election was held in August, 1822, for selecting three new Commissioners. Those chosen were David Dutton, James M. Seeley and Ossian M. Ross. Much trouble appears to have grown out of this election, as we find the election of the three honorable gentlemen was contested, and evidently very strongly, too. The contestants were Ebenezer Smith, James Nixon and William Metz. The case was appealed to the Circuit Court, Judge John Reynolds presiding. He decided in favor of the contestants. We cannot tell upon what grounds they contested the rights of Dutton, Seeley and Ross to take their seats as Commissioners, but from what we can glean from the indefinite records they did not comply with the law in taking the oath of office, as the contestants claimed. These were merely technical grounds, but the law must be complied with to the letter. Smith, Nixon and Metz held a term of Court Sept. 3 and 4, 1822, but transacted no business of importance. The other gentlemen called Court for Oct. 10, but no quorum was present. Another session was held Oct. 24. Commissioners Dutton and Seeley being present. We find recorded upon the following day " a certificate of the Hon. John Reynolds setting forth

"State of Illinois, ss: - Upon a second and full examination of the documents transmitted to me in relation to the contested election of the Shcritl', Coronerand County Commissioners for the county of Pike; and l)L'in>i; satistioil that the certiticates hert't<»fore -^ivon by me of the election of Riirdon C Kenton as Sheriti', Joel Bacon jisCyoroner and Ebenezer Smith, William Mrtz and James Nixon as County Commissioners, was ^^iven without sutiicient ct>:isid*'ration, I do hereby revi)ke the said certiticates. and do tiow certify that Leonard Iloss was duly elected Sheriff, Daniel Whi|>j)le, Ct»roner, and James M. Seeley, David Dutttin and Ossian M. Ross County Commissioners for Pike coutjtv in said State.

We find tlie followiuif (|uaint item on rec<:)rd, which ig in reference to rentinjf an otfioe for tlie County and Circuit clerks . "John Shaw, haviu'j pr«»posed to lease the coimty the buildinjr in Coles* Grove, adjuinini^ the one n(»w occupie<i bv Ri^don ('. Kenton, for the term of <»ne year, to be occupied ha a Clerk's office, for the .-um of C)^ cents, and to Ik; rejmired ))y the county, under the direction of said Shaw, and to suit his convenience."

Counti'-Seat Moved To Atlas

Evidently a little rivalry had sprunp up between the settlements at Atlas and Coles' Grove, the latter of which had been the countyseat up to this time (^1S23V Atlas wa.s the most im|)ortant town in the county, and it became ambitious to have the county buildings located there, which it finally secured. Pursuant to an act of the Legislature, aj>pn»ved Dec. 30. 1>>22, "to fix upon and locate the permanent seat of justice for Pike county," the c^>mmi88ion appointed made their re|>ort at the March term of the Commissioners' Court. 1823, and jiresented a deed from William Il«jss and Rufus Brown for one acre of land, which was given as an inducement for the county to locate its seat of justice there. The report reads as follows :

*' The Commissioners appointed to fix upon and locate the permanent seat of justice of Pike county have attended to the services assigned them, and do report that they have fixed the permanent fieat of justice of said county upon section 27, town 6 south, ransje 5 west, and have taken a deed of the proprietor of one acre of land on which to erect the public liuildini^s, which is particularly described in said deed, and that they have named tlie seat of justice Atlas.

An election was held March IS, 1S23, to select a County Commissioner to till vacancy occasioned by O. M. Ross, resii^ning. The county of Fulton, where Mr. Ross lived, having just been formed, and he chosen Slierift", Amos Bancroft was elected to till the vacancv.

It appears that some dissatisfaction arose from the selection made by the Commissioners for a county-seat. We presume that the feelinor was then as now in this and all other counties. More than one place, settlement or town, think it is the most suitable and proper place for the county-seat. In relation to the difficulty at this time we find the followinf' statement on record : "Nicholas Hanson and Leonard Ross presented a report of certain persons appointed by an act of the Legislature as Commissioners to locate the permanent seat of justice for Pike county, and moved to have said report tiled and recorded, which said motion for the reasons following : 1st, The authority given by the act aforesaid was a special joint authority and should liave been strictly pursued ; 2d, It happens that but three out of five Commissioners acted in the location of the county-seat, when the law gave no power to a majority to act ; 3d, That said Commissioners did not return and present their report at or before the time presci'ibed by law for the return of said report ; 4th, Th-it the legal and qualified County Commissioners were in session at the time prescribed by law for the return of said report. And for the reasons aforesaid this Court does adjudge and decide that the proceedings of said Commissioners to locate the permanent county-seat of Pike county are void, and that the temporary seat of justice of said county still remains at Coles' Grove."

This decision was finally reversed, as seen from the following order made at the June term of the Court in 1S24: " The doings of this Court at a special term held on 2(», 27 and 2S of January last, and also doings of this Court at last March term be, and the same are hereby, confirmed and established, except a contract entered into with John Shaw for the purpose of leasing a house, the rent of which was 6^ cents, in Coles' Grove, which contract is by mutual consent released and dissolved; and also an order of adjudication respecting the county-seat, which order is revoked and rescinded."

Thus, accuriliij«; to the selection imide by tlie coinmiseion apj)ointed tor that jmrpose, tlie county-Beat whb moved Ironi Coles* Grove, now in Calhoun county, to Atlas,

Upon the 28th of January, 1S24, the county of Pike was divided into three townships hy the Court, as follows: That part coinnieucin^ at the mouth of the Illinois river, thence up the said river to the north line of the lir>t tier of sections above the north line of town 8 south, thence running on said line west to the Mibsissijtpi river, thence down said river to ))laco of bet;innin^, constituted Coles' Grove lowtiship. That part embraced within the boumhiry be^finnin;? at the northeast corner of section 3(5 oj township 7 south, ran<^e line north to the north lino of the county, thence west to the Mississippi river, thence down said river to a |K>int directly west of the place of bei^innin;;, thence to the place of be^inninj;. which comp»)sed AtUb town^hip. That part o! the county within the followin«; limits was known ius Franklin township: Commencint; on the Illinois river one mile north of the north line of township 8 south, thence up the said river to the base line, thence alonj^ said line to tiie ranjije line l»etween ranges 4 and 5 webt, thence south ruuninjj on the said ranije line to the northwest corner of section 31,' of town 7 south, and rau;^> 4 west, thence alon^ the north line of said 31, and said first tier of sections north of town S south, to lii« jM.i.e of be^innin;;. together with all of the atlacii'd part of I'ikc County lyiiij; north of the a^ore^aid boundaries.

Thus it will be seen that these wereexcee«lin|;ly lar«^ townships. They embraced several counties, and extended over «»ne (»f the fairest portions of this jjreat State. These divisions were nuide for tiie convenience of the settlers in voting, niakini^ roads, etc., 3'ct from tlie extended size of each townshi|> we can see that many of the early voters had to travel many miles to cast his ballot.

Kkaki.Es6 Commission Kk8

During the year the Commissioners ]tursued the even tenor of their way, gmntinij }»etitions for roads, ferries, tavern licenses and election precincts; ap|K>inting and removinij <»fficer6 with an inflexilulity of purpose that is really amusing. When they investigated a matter there were no palliating circumfitances to screen the delinquent, but the judicial guillotine cut off olKeial heads with a refre>hing impartiality. Negligent officers feared the power of the *' triple C" more than Damocles feared the hair-suspended sword. They sim]>ly and j»Iainlv said "(io," and the official hesitated not but went at once, and that was the end of it.

"It appearing to tliis Court that the Clerk for some time past has not resided at the county-seat, nor kept the records and papers beloncrinir to the county at this i>hice: and the Court liavino: considered the facts and the law arising u})on the case, does adjudge and determine that the said office of Clerk is now vacant, and that for the aforesaid cause James W. Whitney, the Clerk, be and is hereby removed from office."

We suppose that Whitney remained at Coles' Grove after the county-seat had been removed to Atlas, and the inconveniences of having the county offices and officials scattered over the country in that wise would not be endured longer by the strict, law-abiding Court.

The Court assembled upon the following day, and not yet having selected a clerk, appointed Mr. Whitney Clerk pro tern. It appears that the Commissioners had nothing personally against Mr. Whitney, for the very next act of the Court was to recommend him to the Governor as a fit and proper person to be appointed County Surveyor, to fill the vacancy having occurred by the removal of Stephen Dewey out of the county. This man Dewey, the first Surveyor of Pike county, laid out the town of Lewistown, Fulton county, where he shortly afterward removed and served for many years as Circuit and County Clerk, and did efficient work in the organization and establishment of that county.

It appears that the Court could find no suitable person to take charge of the Clerk's office, for upon July 30, two days after Mr. Whitney was so summarily' removed from office, he was i-e-instated. Perhaps a compromise was made between the Court and Mr. AVhitney. It is more than likely that he was compelled to move to the county-seat in order to receive again the patronage of the Court. He served until April 27, 1825, when he resigned and George W. Britton was a))pointed in his stead. Whitney was indicted for malfeasance in office, and the suit was withdrawn on condition he would resign.

New Justices Of The Peace

At the September term, 1824, in compliance with a petition from the citizens on and near Fever river (now Galena) and the lead mines, John Connelly, Moses Meeker and John S. Miller were recommended as proper persons for the Governor to commission Justices of the Peace of Pike county. These men M'ere the very earliest settlers in northern Illinois, and of whom we speak more fully in a former chapter. April 27 of the following year Chas. D. St. Traine was recommended for the same office.

Court-House

b<- liti<l with biick or tile, lire pincea and partitiont, except the pitrlition of the j^rand jury room, to be done with a plain wimhIiu cornice. The ('omnii!««ionrrs reserve one bill fur the county. IMaoM to lie iihown and further parlicularH made known lit t

The Contract for fiirnibhin<; Bttnie nnd mortar was blrutk otf lo Daniel Shinn and Joseph Petty for ^200. The main contract was given to LconurtI and William ItosA at ij«l,'J(>0.

It ajtpear^, however, that tho htiihling of this fine htriicliire was never cjirried to completion. The linildini; rose in it« ma^jnificeiit propurtions oidy in the visions of the honorable ('oinmiKhioners. It was evidently too fine and extensive for the times. They rented an office for the l.'oiinty and Circuit Clerks, which in the winter of 183<» '.">! hiirmd down.

Nothiii^f further was done, accoriliiii; to the records, toward the huildin*^ of a new ciMirt-honsc until April 7, 182J>, when the huhject was atjain U'fore the ('ouri for its considenition. The (^-tlrt then onh-reti the contraet for the erection of a hiiilding of the following; dimensions and «lehcrii)tion to l>e let: "Said htttise to be 30 feet long by 18 feet wide, to be two j»tt»rie8 high, - the lower one niue feet and the upper one eight feet high. To Ihj covered and enclosfd in a goo«l. workmanlike manner. To leave and e!i.se two iiuti^ide dotirs in the lower story, and abo si.x windows in the same, and six windows in the up|>er story. To put in joists and sleepers for the nnper and lower rt<K»rs, putting them down loose 6o as to serve a> lioors. To bo underpinne<J with si.x j)illars, to l>e substantially made of stone, placing one at each corner of the hotise and one under each siile in the middle; all to be <lone in a good, w »rkmanlike manner. The undertaker to give Ixnid with good and sutlieient security in double the sum at which the same shall l>e stricken off for prompt atid faithful performance of his contract. The contractor shall receive his pay out of the first mon» y.-; wliidi shall come into the treasijry not otherwise appropriated.''

The records continue as follows: "The court next proccethxl to sell the building of said courthouse to the lowest bid<ler. ami after sutfieient notice Wiis given thereof, and the same for a loiiij time exposed, it was stricken oti* to James Rice for the sum of $493, that being the lowest sum bid therefor."

performance of his contract, and accordingly June 1, 1829, the Sheriff was ordered to again " put up at public auction and sell the building of the same to the lowest bidder, with the addition to the former })lan of six feet in lengtii and six feet in breadth." They further altered the plans upon the Gth of June, upon which day they met for the purpose of letting the contract ft)r building it. They made the following alterations: "There shall be ten stone pillars, 18 inches al)ove the surface of the ground, six windows in the lower story with IG lights in each window, S by 10, and 8 windows in upper story with VI lights in each window, 8 by 10."

The contract was "struck off" to Elisha Petty for $600. William Ross went upon his bond for $1,200. Mr, Petty was sub(»ecjuently allowed §42.28 for extra work.

County-Seat Re-Located

It appears that the location of the county-seat at Atlas was not entirely satisfactory to every person, as we hud an election was held in March, 1827, to select commissioners to re-locate the county-seat, David Dutton, Joel Meacham and William Meredith were chosen for this work. That any definite move was made by these gentlemen toward selectinor another site for the countv-seat we are not aware; the records are silent as to anything done by these gentlemen. By the year 1832 the subject of changing the county-seat from Atlas, however, was freely discussed. It was desired to have it more centrally located. The Legislature of lS32-'3 appointed a commission to re-locate the county-seat, Tiiese gentlemen made their report in April 13, 1833, which is as follows:

"We, the undersigned, having been appointed commissioners to change and relocate the seat of justice of the county of Pii<.e b}* the Legishiture of the State of Illinois, by an act approved Feb. 22, 1833, beg leave to report to your honorable body now in session, that after being duly sworn in conformity with said act, did, on the 0th day of A])ril, 1833, enter upon the duties assi>i;ned us by said act, by examination of said county of Pike, having a due regard to the present as well as the future settlement and prospective growth of said county, have selected and located the southeast quarter of section 24, in township ") south, and range 4 west of the fourth principal meridian, as the count) -seat of the county of Pike, said county-seat to be known and designated by the name of Pittsfield. "April 17, 1833.

Each of these gentlemen was paid $3G for his services. The town was platted and a sale of lots held April 15, 1833. The records proceed as follows: "The amount of notes and cash, after paying Win, Ross, Esq., $200 borrowed of him to enter the quarter section on which the town of Pittsfield is located; the exj")ense8 to Alexander Peirce and Sterne >^I08, for locating said seat of justice; also, for advertising sale of lots, paying for the survey of the same, making plat and all the expenses of the Commissioners'

Court, which have accrucHl in ami about the h)Ciitiou, sale of lots, laying otr the town, etc., leaves the amount of iJ^IXU .Ss, which sum is delivered over to the Treasurer as a special fund for the purpose of erectin<^ public huildinirs." Thus it will l>e seen that thecouiity purchased the land upoti which the business and much of the residence portion of the t(twn of I*ittstield now stands for the sum of $200. Tiio new town havin<; l)een surveyed, larfjje hard- wood stakes were driven, desi«^natin<; the corner of each lot, and bein^ also the only ^ui(h' to the location of streets,

April 15 was the day appointinl f«»r the first sale of lots at public auction. The settlers assembled from all parts t»f the county upon the site of the proposed village, each an.xious to become the owner of a town lot. This atid suitsecpH'nt salrs were held, and lots seem to have met with a ready sale at fair prices, which is the best evidence that the pioneers were not only enthusiastic in sentiment in relation to the bri;:;lit prosj>ects and future j;reatness of the town they were buildinij, but were also williijij to lend all the material aid in their power to the «-« iisummation of the <lesirrd cml.

The tollowing document apj>ears upon pages 121 and 122 of 2d volume of County Commissioners' C<Mirt records. It is tiie resignation of William Ross, as Clerk. lie had served the cnunty in that capacity faithfully and ably for a decntle, ami now as he is al>out to leave he writes his old associates the following resiL'mition:

In doing thi.s. I Ix-g of you to »lo me the justice to Ik* assure<I that in pres<'ntinjr myself as a candidate at the late election, which has tem)inate<l in the nwcssity of my withdrawiuL' my services from you. it is not without a strict reg;ml to all the coii>iiler;ilions which 1 conceive Mnd a dutiful ( itizen to his rf)Uiitry. I have Ix-eii inlluenced Ity no aml>:' itives or selfairprandizemcnt ; but my

Permit me here to rem irk that it isa source of <rn*at pleasure to me that during Rperioil of al)out ten years which I have had the honor to serve this county in flcvend importJint oIlic«'s, I have U-en >o fortunate as to discharge those duties to the sa'irfaetion of my i" "v liope andftrust that I may be be permitted to retain that continuation of confidence which lias bren so recently manifested toward nic until my latest breath. \Vllh sentiments of great personal consideration,

Ad Quod Damnum

This was a process to secure a mill site. In those early times tlie millinii^ of the country was of no little importance. ^Fills were of t^iicli i^roat public necessity that they were })ermitted to he located upon any person's land, if the miller thoui^^ht the site desirable. Sites along the streams were selected for water-power. A person looking for a mill-site would follow up and down the stream for tlie desired location, and when found he would go before tlie Commissioners' Court and secure a writ of ad quod darnmnn. This would enable the miller to liave the adjoining land officially examined and the amount of damage for making the dam was secured.

" On application of Wm. Ross, and previous notice having been given of his intention, by publication on the door of the court-house for four weeks preceding the sitting of the Court, it is ordered that a writ oi ad quod damnum issue, directed to the Sherift of the county, commanding him to summon twelve good and liwful men of his county to meet on the southeast quarter of section 18, in township 6 south, and range 5 west, to locate and set apart by metes and bounds so much of the said (quarter section, not exceeding three acres, as they shall think necesary for the purpose of erecting a dam across the Sny Carte for a water grist and

First Court-Iiouse At Pittsfield

The county-seat having been re-located, a town laid out, lots sold, business houses and dwellings being erected, it became the duty of the Court to have a court-house built in the new town. Accordingly, Tuesday, Jun'e 4, 1833, the contract for building a court-house at Pittsfield was let to Israel N. Burtt, he afrreeins: to erect the structure for 81,01)5. This he speedily did, and the old huilding still stands upon the street at the corner of the alley, facing and just north of the Pu!)lic Square. It is a frame building, in a good state of j)reservation, and is occupied by Mr. Ileck as a bakery and grocery.

Present Court-House

Two years had scarcely rolled by ere the building of a new courthouse was liegun to be agitated. Some of the more aristocratic thought the count}' should have a finer court edifice, one more in keeping with the wealth and progress of the county. It is true the county had grown ra})idly in population and wealth. Notice, therefore, was given by the Court that ]iliins for a new building would be received. Upon the 5th day of February, 1830, the (-ourt accepted the plans tluit were ])resented by Benjamin L. Osborne, and gave him a premium of $20 for the plans.

At the September term, 1S30, AVm. Uoss, Uriah Ihown and James Johnsi>n were appointed a^'ents upon the part of the county to contract for the erection of a courthouse, "said buibling to be T>lace<l in the center of the Public Sjuarc, and not to cost over !|^ir>. (>(»(»." These gentlemen entered into c«»ntract with iSenjamin T. ( )sbornc, (it'orge I). Foot and Jud^on (Memcnt for llu- "n-ction of the court-house for the sum of $15,0(tO. Daniel 1 >. White, Henry Caswell and Lyman lieeman were ajipointed a comuuttco to superintend its erection.

The construction of the court-liouse was pushe«l rapidly on, and Dec, 8, lS3vS, it was delivcretl over to the Sherirt', tli«>u<;h in an unfinished conditioji. It was used for court purposes in tiiis way for a time before completion. I!y June, 1M51», it was complete*!, and Foot, Clement and Ooborne were ]»ai<l the balance due them in county orders, upon wliich the ci»unty paid 1*J per cent, interest.

This structure still stands and is in use today. It is located in the center of a small s<|uare, which is set with many large and beautiful trees. The main upi»er ro<»m is used for circuit court purposes. I'esides this ro<»m tliere are two other smaller ones, one of which is occupied bv the State's Attorney, the other a jury room. l'|H>n the main lh>ur tliere is a hall-way running through the building from north to south. Fpon either side of this are ofhces for the ctuinty otlicials. I'pon the west bi«Ie are the Coimty .Iiidges, Sheriff's and School Su|>erintendent's offices, and upon the <)pj>osite side are the offices of the County Treasurer and Surveyor.

This building when erected was among the linest and largest court-houses in the ^Ve^t, and for many years it stood foremost among the public buildings of Illinois, and was pointed to with pride, not only by the citizens of I'ike county, but by those throughout Central Illinois. It stood as a monument <»f the enterprise of the pioneers of this section, and was one of the grandest evidences of the })rosi>erity of the newly settled State. It stands to-day as solid as when first built. Every stone and brick is in its ]>lace, and every timber has stood the storms of nearly lialf a century unshaken. Around this old building cluster pleasant recollections of the long-ago. Within its storm-l»eaten walls have lieen heard pleas as rich in eloo'sence as were ever presented to judge or jury. AVithin those old walls, made sacred by time and the memories of some of the e^randest characters and most gifted men known in tlie history of Illinois, many a scene full of historic interest has occurred, which, could we accurately picture, would be read more as a romance than prosaic history. What numbers of trembling and downcast prisoners have stood before the learned tribunal within the old upper room, to ]ilead "Guilt}'," or " Not Guilty ! " Then the long, hotly-contested trial came; witnesses examined and crussexanlined; the wrangle and wordy wars between the lawyers; the appeal to the jury and addresses, which for logic, eloquence, touching, sympathetic eloquence, have not been excelled in all the broad land. How many times have the twelve jurors, sworn to be impartial, liled into their little secret room, to consult and decide the iate of the prisoner at the bar! Then how often have the joyous words come forth, "Not Guilty!'' But, again, how very many have stood before the Judge to hear in measured tones their sentence! Sometimes it was thought Justice was outraged; that the Judge,. jury and Prosecuting Attorne}' had prostituted their high positions, violated their sworn duty, and made easy the escape for culprits; yet, taking it ail in all, the goddess of justice has shed no more tears over insults to her holy and righteous charge here than she has at any other judgment-bar in the State. Law and justice have almost always been vindicated, and the <.»ftender punished.

Could these old walls speak and tell us of the eloquent an<l effective pleadings of Linctjln, Baker, Ilichardson, McDougal, Browning, Bushnell, Manning, Walker and others, or of the learned decisions of Douglas, Young, Thomas and Walker, that the}' have listened to, how eagerly we would seel: them ! We do not forget that at the present time justice is as swiftly vindicated as ever before; that the Bike county Bar is at its maximum in point of legal ability. It takes the mazes of time to add the luster of fame to the laborsand character of most men. That which is of the past, or of the future, we are wont to believe possesses more merit than that which we have with us. Thus it is with the legal liMits of to-day.

Just west of the court-house and within the Court Square stands the "tire-proof." This building contains the offices of the Circuit and County Clei'ks, and was erected in ISS-t. It was first ordered built uj)on the northwest corner of the Square, but that order was rescinded and it was decided to erect it " near the west gate of the Public Square, upon the south side of the walk, the south side ranging N>ith the south side of the court-house, the west end 24 feet from the fence of the Public Square."

Fence Around The Square

Speaking of the fence around the Public Square calls to mind an order of the Court of June, 1S45, giving the President and Trustees of Pittslield ]>ermissiun to fence the Public S(|uare and plant within the enclosure ornamental or shade trees. Heretofore, we presume, there was neither fence nor shrubbery in the vicinity of the court-house, save the hazel-brush that stood in its native

We liiul in the records of tlie Board of Snnervisors that in April, 1854, that body appropriated $200, on condition that the town of Pittstield shttuld apj)ropriate a like amount, tohuild a fence around tlie I'uhlie S(|u;u-e, **ton feet inside of present fence, and put hitching post- wilt-re the fencf .-tood."

Necessarily, as faiithful historians, wo aro compelled to mar the pleasant proirress of this chapter by reference to j»rison bars. It poems as the cminty advanoetl in wealth and population the evil principle kept pace with it; and as immaculate and good as the pioneer fathers niuhuihtedly were, even among them there were wicked and vicious characters. The old log jail at Atlas never was a very strong or secure one, and prisoners were continually escaping. When the county-seat was moved tt) Pittstield. it was determined to build a g»»od, gubstantial jail. Accordingly the contract for building a jail was let to M. K. Rittan, .March 5, 1835, for a prison to cost $.S,sS9. The buihling was to be 2Sx30 in size, two stories high, and tt» be ma»le of stone. It appears that considerable time was employe*! in its erection, for we find it was not received by the county until June, 1831>, when Mr. iUttan was allowed J^IJOO for tlie cx^ra work performed.

IIeret«»fore the terms of office of all three of the ('ominifisioners had expiretl at the same time, being electeti for two years; but in 1838 a new rule was adopted, in compliance with an act of the Legislature. Now they were to bo elected fi»r three years and one retire every year, thus leaving two experience<i men in office. For the first terms, howi-ver, one of them should serve only one year, aiu»ther two, and the thinl three years. On convening at the fall term <»f this year they drew lots to decide the term each should serve. Three jiieees of paper, upon which were written "one year,'' "two years," ,*- three years," respectively, were thrown t(»gether, and each Commissioner drew one. John W, Burch drew " one year," Alfred Grubb, *' two years," and John Neeley '' three years."

Poor Farm

At the December term, 1843, the Court provided a farm for the poor of the county, and instead of " letting out" or " selling" the paupers as heretofore, they were obliged to go to tliat farm. The first pauj)er of whom we find mention on the records was Joseph Moore. He died in June, 1830. Green Street was the next one mentioned.

Last Meetings

The Commissioners' Court continued to manao;e the affairs of tlie county until 18-tO, when tlie new Constitution of the State went into elTect, wliich abolished this tin\e-honored Court. Before adjourning finally, however, it ordered a vote to be taken for or against township organization, and then adjourned till "court in course," but never re-assembled.

A liir:;e |>roj>ortion «»f tlie uplaiul of Pike county was ori^irmlly heavily tiiiibered, but there are several Hinall jtrairies in the central and northern }>«»rlionj<. It n a well-watered connty, and the valley of the Mis8issippi is from 8 to 12 miles wide, most of it lying on the Illinois side. More than one-tiftii of the area of the County lies in this vallfv. The iftMieral level of the u]dands may be ehtiinated at from 'JUO to 300 ieet above the great watercourses, with no very well-detined water-shed. The soil on the timbered land."* is generally a chocolate-coloreiJ clay loam, becoming lighter in color on the banks of the streams and in tl>e vicinitv of the river blutl's.

The geological structure of this county is somewhat j>eculiar, and the strata cx|>oseil within its limits comprise the upper part of tlie Niagara limestone, the whole series of I^ower Carboniferous limestoneri e,\cej»t the Chester group, and a limited tiiirknes.s of Coal Measures, with the usual surface derxtsit.'. of Loess and Drift. The most northerly outcrop of Devonian l>eds is in (.'alhoun county. The Loess and Drift measure 40 to 100 feet in thickness in Pike ct>unty. the Coal Measures L'o tt» 00, St. Louis limestone one to 30, Keokuk group lOo to 1l>5. l>iirlir»gton limestone 15o to 'JoO, Kinderhook lOO to 120, and the Niagara limestone one to 50.

The Niagara limestone is found only in the soutliwest part of the county, where its ntain outcrop is at the base of the bluffs between liockport and the south line of the county and for a short distance up Six-Mile creek. It contnins a few fossils at the outcrop near Pleasant Hill, among which are Trilobites and a few shells. At Mr. Well.-,' place, N. W. J sec, 17, Pleasant Hill township, the buff-colored magnesia beds of this group are exposed about 10 feet in thick nes.-., and the rock has been quarried for building-stone. On the S. E. | sec. 8 there is an exposure of about 22 feet of this limestone, the lower 10 feet Ijeing a gray, evenbedded limestone, and the uj»|>er 12 feet a buff-colored niagucsian rock, closely resembling the rock from the Grafton quarries. It is the prevailinf^ rock at Pleasant Hill, where it forms a limestone bench about 30 feet high, above the road, at the base of the bluffs. Two miles north of Pleasant Hill, on a branch of Six-Mile creek, the upper ])art of this limestone is exposed in the bed of the creek.

Kinderhook Group

One of the best exposures of this group in this county is just above Kinderhook: whence the name. It is at the point of the bluff, and comprises 2C feet of Loess, 15 of Burlington liniestone, 6 of thin-bedded, fine-grained limestone, 36 of thin-bedded sandstone and sandy shales, and 40 feet of clay and sandy shales, partly hidden. Fossil shells are found in the sandstone. This group is also well exposed at Rockport and two miles below Atlas, and somewhat exposed at the base of the Illinois river bluffs. Almost everywhere in the county the Burlington limestone overlies the group, which determines the topograpiiical features of the region also underlaid by the shales and gritstones of the group.

Burlington Limestone

This limestone forms the bed rock over fully one-half the uplands. It is from 50 to 100 feet in thickness, and its best exposures are among the river bluffs. It is a rather coarse-grained, gray stone, interspersed with brown layers, and is largely composed of the fossilized remains of crinoids and moUusks. In the Mississippi bluff, near the north line of the county, 40 feet or more of the lower portion of this limestone is exposed, forming the upper escarpment of the bluff, and consistingof alternate beds of gray and brown limestone, usually in regular and tolerably thick beds. It has fossils, and has been extensively quarried on Big Jilue creek for building purposes. On the eastern side of the county the most northerly outcrop of this limestone is near Griggsville Landing, where the cherty beds of the upper division of this rock are exposed at the l)ase of the bluff'. The outcrop here is about 50 feet thick. It appears about the same at Montezuma, and is seen exposed at points all along these bluffs. It is well exposed on Bay creek, forming the main portion of the bluffs along this stream from near Pittsfield to the southeast corner of the county. It is the most important of all the limestones exposed in this county, both as regards extent of exposure and its economical value. As a building stone it is not equal to the magnesiau beds of the IMiagara group, as found near Pleasant Hill, but is nevertheless very durable. It can be found over half the county.

Keokuk Group

This group lies just above the Burlington limestone, and outcrops over a large ]K)rtion of the northern and northeastern parts of the county, where it is frecpiently found immediately beneath the Coal Measures. The St. Louis f^roiip, whieli slionld proj)crly intervene, was worn away before the coal epoch. It eoiititsts of li^^ht ":rav and hhiisli ijrav chert v liinet^tones at the base, which closely reseinhle the upper bedsof tiie nurlin<(ton limestone. Some ot" the limestone strata are as crinoiihil in their structure as the Jiurlin<;ton, hut they are usually more Muisii gray in color. Tiicre is usually a series of cherty beds, 10 to 30 feet in thickness, separatin*; the ujain limestones of the two groups, which nniy pro|)erly be regarded as tratisitioiuil. Tiic ujiper division consists oflime-chiy shales and thin bedded limestones, containing geodes lined with crystallized «juartz, chalcedony, calcite, dolomite, crystals of zinc blende an<i iron pyrites. The pyrites is usually in minute crystals imi)lanted on quartz.

This division may be seen a mileanda half southeast of Griggsville, and where it fir>t appears beneath the ('oal Measures the getujes are imbedded in a ferruginous sandstone, which perhaps represents the conglomerate usually lying at the base of the Coal Measures. This indicates that before or during the fornnition of this con<d(»mcrate the shales originally inclo>ing the get»des were swe|>t away, and the geodes were tiieu enclosed in sand which subse(juently harileiu'd. These geode-bearing limestones are exposed near Perry Springs, where the waters clerive their mineral ingredients from these beds. At Chamber^burg, the limestones of this group form the betl of Mc( tee's creek. Other prominent exjmsurert of these limestiuics are at (iriggsville Landing, on Iladley's creek, near Huntley's coal bunk, etc. From this stratum much good building stone has been <jiuirried.

On the Icinks (»f Mc(iee's creek only are itulications of the presence of this group. The l)eds exposed here consist of brown magnesian limestone and shale-i, 20 to 30 feet thick. A mile and a half northweet of Perry «juarries have been opened in these beds, and about three miles north <»f Perry Springs they are again expose<i, overlaid by shale, the whole being about 20 feet in thickness.

Com. Measures

The coal formation occupies but a limited area in tlie central and northern )»ortions of this county, underlying the whole of New Salem township, and a ]>ortion only of the four surrounding townships. The thickness does not probably exceed CO feet. The following are the j)rincipal ]>oiut8 where coal has been dug in Pike county:

Huntley's new bank, N.AV. ^ sec. 10, Hadley township; bed 0 feet thick, with a ])arting of clay shale in the middle, about 2 inches in thickness. The coal in the upper ]>art of this seam is rather soft, and contains considerable iron bisulphide. The lower division

Three miles east of Barrv coal has been dus' on a small branch south of the Piiiladeli)hia road; and a mile further south tliere is a blue chi}' shale 25 to 30 feet thick exposed along the creek which intersects the river bluffs near New Canton. It contains sej)taria and tuten-mergel, and closely resembles the shale over the coal at Huntley's mine.

From this point the western boundary of the Coal Measures trends sontheastwardly to llouseworth's coal bank, two miles and a half northwest of Pittsiield, on N.W. ^ sec. 16, Pittslield township. Coal about IS inches thick, overlaid by about three feet of dark blue shale, passing upward into sandy shale 10 feet more.

Four miles west of Griggsville, coal is found on Mr. Dunham's place. It is 14 to 20 inches thick, overlaid by about two feet of fossilif'erous black shale. This seam of coal outcrops on S. E. J sec. 11, same township, and in the ravines between Griggsville and Philadelphia, via Kew Salem.

On Lazarus Poss' place, a mile and a half northwest of Perry Springs, some indications of coal may be seen in the bluffs of the middle fork of McGce's creek.

Quaternary System

Abroad belt of alluvial bottom lands, 6 to 12 miles wide, skirts the whole western border of Pike county. The deposit consists of alternations of clay, sand and loam, in quite regular strata, but of variable thickness. The soil is exceedingly fei'tile, and where they are above high water, they constitute the most productive and valuable lauds in the county. A large proportion of this land was originally prairie, but now there are many belts of heavy timber skirtiny; the small streams intersect in"' these bottoms.

On the east side of the county there is very little bottom land from the south line of the county to the north line of Flint township, where it begins to widen, and thence to the north line of the county the Illinois bottoms are 2 to 5 miles wide; but they are too low and wet for cultivation. A portion of them are heavily timbered with Cottonwood, sycamore, soft maple, elm, ash, hackberry, honey locust, linden, black walnut, water oak, hickory, etc.

Loess

The river bluffs on both sides of the county are cajiped with this formation, which ranges from 10 to 60 feet or more. It alwa^^s overlies the Drift, where both are present, and lience is of more recent origin. It generally consists of buff or brown marly clays or sands, usually stratified, and often so coherent as to remain in vertical walls 20 or 30 feet hijjrh when cut throuij;h. From 75 to

SO per cent, of it is silica, 10 to 15 per cent, iihiniiiiii and iron peroxide, 3 to 4 i)er cent. lini«% untl 1 to 2 p«'r ceiit. uia^iiesia. In tiio vicinity of ('harnl)ersl)nr<; the I^oesi* is 00 to 70 feet tliick. Ever}*- wliero it fnrnislies a lijjlit, porous sub-soil, which is adnurably a(hij)ted to the growth of fruit trees, vines and small fruits. In some i)Iaces it contains a variety of fos.^il shells which present the usual bleached and water- worn apprarance of the dead shells of our ponds and bayous. It also atf(U*<ls a variety of chalky lumps and masses which assum<» many imitative forms, as of potatoes ami the disks cjdle<l *' clay-slones " in Nt'W Eii;;land. It also <;ivcs origin to the bald knobs so fntpiently mrt with along the river blutVs, and is often rounded into natural moumls which have been very generally usotl by the Indians as burial places. The bones of extinct animals are ofti-rj ftiuiid in the marly beds of this formation, along with land and frebh-watcr shells.

This deposit c»)nsists of variously colond clays C(»ntainini; gravfl and boulders. It underlies the Loess, ami hence is not visible along the bluffs. In the interior of the c«)unty it is often ]>cnetratcd by well-di^jiers. It thins out toward the Itlulfs. At tlio base of the Drift near I'.arry there is a l>eil of clean, yell(»w flint gravel, ]»artiallv cemented bv iron o.xidu into a ferruginous C'>iiL'I'»iiierate.

Tike county has an abundance of building stone. The Niagara liniestone near Pleasant llill furnishes a butf magnesian rock, in very regular beds, tully e<[ual in «juality to that of (Irafton and Joliet, Part <»f the stone in tlie public-school Imilding at Pittstiehl was brought from Joliet, while stone ju.st as good and l>eautiful was outcrojiping within ten miles of that town. "A want of the knowledge of this fact,'' says Mr. Worthen, "has probubly cost the citizens i»f Pike county far more than their prop«»rtion of the entire cost of tlie geological survey (»f Illinois."

The Purlington limestone, which outcrops over a wide area in this county, will t'urni.-h an uidimited supply of excellent bmhling stone. It is probably not less than 150 feet thick. The nutretlinty portions are the Ijest material ft»r macadamizing roads. Near Montezuma is a 10-foot bed of excellent dimension stone. Sijuilar beds are exposed on I>ig IJlue creek four miles southeast of Pitts- Held, where they are 40 feet thick, containing tnasses two to four feet in thickness. On the west side of the countv it forms an almost continuous outcrop, 10 to 40 feet thick, along the river bluti's; and on the east side of the county it also forms a continuous outcrop in the blutls from Griggsville Lan<ling south.

The lower portion <»f the Keokuk limestone is fully as u?eful as the preceding. Excellent qiuirrics are worked two miles north ot Griggsville on the south forlv of McGee's creek. The stone is com-

The St. Louis group, althougii limited in extent, furnishes some good building stone, mostly found in Perry township and vicinity, as already described.

The coal dej)Osits in this county are all, except at Huntley's place, too thin fur profitable working. Where surface " 6trij)ping," however, can be done, it j>aYS to mine the thinner deposits. Huntley's is })robably a local deposit, a " pocket," which will soon be exhausted.

The Burlington and Keokuk grouj^s furnish the best of material for quick-lime. The St. Louis group, which is generally preferred, is very limited.

F'ire clay, which usually underlies the coal, can be mined witli the coal to advantage. The brown clays of the Drift and the Loess fui-nish superior material for brick.

For marble the bed of oolitic conglomerate of the Kinderhook group at Hockport furnishes a stone capable of a line polish and makes a beautiful variegated marble ; but the bed, so far as examined, is rather thin for profitable working. Some of the subcrystalline beds of the Purlington limestone also receive a high ])olish and make a fine ornamental stone.

The Perry mineral springs, three in number, issue from the upper ])art of the Keokuk limestone which underlies the valley and outcrops along the bluffs. The princi])al ingredients of the water liere are the bi-carbonates of lime and magnesia, the silicate of potash and soda and the carbonate of potash. For further account of these springs see history of Perry township in this volume.

There are a few small caves in Pike count)', two near Barry, into one of which one can enter a distance of 550 feet and the other 400 feet. In early day panthers were known to inhabit these caves. In Pearl townshij), on land owned by Judge Atkinson, the railroad employees of the Chicago & Alton comjjany were blasting rock in 1871 or 1ST2, when they discovered a small cave in which were found lime carbonate drippings in the form of stalagmites and stalactites. Many of these are of imitative forms and can be imagined to be petrified human beings or animals. An exaggerated account of this cave was ])ublished in the Pittsfield ])a])ers at the time, which led many people to believe something wonderful was found at the place.

There still remain many of the different ppocie.-?, mostly inhahjtin;; the country adjacent to the Illinois and .Sli-si-hippi rivers and a few of the other I irger 8treaui8. These are, however, fast disaj»- pearin«;, and ere Ion;; will l>e known only in hi.story, as are the deer, the heaver, and the hison. Amon<; th(»se still to he found iiero are the i^ray wolf, which is numerous in §ome parts, the opossum, raccoon, mink, mu>ikrat, the common weasel, tlie small hrown weasel, skunk, woodclinck, or Maryland martnot, prairie mole, common shrew mole, meadow and <leer nuMise, an<l the ^ray ralthit Of squirrels there are the ^ray timher squirrel, the fox, chipmunk, the lar;;e gray prairie K(juirrel, the striped and the spotted prairie scjuirrel, and the huiutiful flying squirrel. The dark-brown and the reddish l»at ar«' common. Other small anim ils have been found here which have strayed from otiier lowilities.

(^f the 5,00) existing species of birds many have sojourned in this countv, some temporarilv and others for a considerable time. Many migratory species come otdy at long intervals, and therefore but little is known of them.

There is not a more fascinating study than that afforded by our feathered friends. Their 0*cc movements through seemingly boundless space, the joyous songs of many, atid the characteristic ttmes of all. tlieir brilliant color.-, their livelv nianiior>. and tlioir wonderful instincts, liave tVom earliest aoes made a strung impression on tlie minds of men, and in tiie infancy of intellect gave rise to many peouiiar and mysterious associations. Hence the flight of birds was made the foundation of a })ecnliar art of divination. Ileligion borrowed many symbols from them, and poetry many of its ornaments. Birds avail themselves ot their powers of wing to seek situations ada])ted for them in res])ect to temperature and supply of f.»od. The arrival of summer birds is always a welcome sign of advancing sjiring, and is associated with all that is cheerful and delightful. Some birds come almost at the same date annually; others are more influenced by the character of the season, as mild or severe.

Pike county is highly favored, compared with any county north of it, as the Virginia red-bird and cedar-bird remain here during the winter, and the indigo-bird is here in its season. Parroquets also used to abound in this region.

PcrcJierfi. - This order of birds is by far the most numerous, and includes nearly all those which are attractive either in plumage or in song. The ruby-throated humming-bird, with its exquisite plumage and almost ethereal existence, is at the head of the list. This is the hummino:-bird which is alwavs the delight of the children, and is the only one found in Illinois. The chimney swallow, easily known from other swallows by its very long wings and forked tail, and which is a true swift, is quite numerous. Of the whippoorwill family there are two representatives. - the whippoorwill prt)pcr, whose note enlivens the forest at night, and the night-hawk. The Ijelted kingfisher, so well known to the school-boy, is the only member of its family in this region. At the head of the flycatchers is the king-bird, the crested fly-catcher and the wood pewee.

Sub-order of -S'iVjy^A? - Thrush f<(mih/. - Of this family are the robin, the wood thrush, AVilson's thrush, the blue-bird, the rubycrowned and the golden-crested wren, tit-lark, the black and the white creeper, blue yellow-backed warbler, yellow-breasted chat, worm-eatingr warbler, blue-winrred vellow- warbler. Tennessee warbier, and golden-crowned thrush. Shrike family. - This family is represented by the great northern shrike, red-eyed fly-catcher, white-eyed fly-catcher, the blue-headed and the yellow-throated flycatci'.er. Swallow fain ihj. - This family of birds are very numerous in Pike county. Among them are the l)arn swallow, white-bellied swallow, bank swallow, clifl" swallow, and purple martin. Waxwing fainily. - The cedar-bird is the representative of the wax-wing in America. Mocking -lArd famih/. - The genera of this family are the cat-bird, brown thrusli.thc house and winter wren. F'inch and Sparrow family. - The snow bunting and Smith's bunting / ap]>ear only in winter. The purple finch, the yellow-bird and the lark finch inhabit this county. Of the passerine genus of this^

Birdttof Pi'ty. - Thi- order of birds comprises all those, with few exceptions, which pursue and capture birds and other animals for ft>od. They are mostly of lurjje size, the females are laru^er than tho mide», they live in pairs, and choose their mates for liti*. Most raptorial birds have disajtpearcd. Amon^ them are the jjoldcn eui^le, which wais always rare but now no Ion<^*r seen here; the bald ca;^K', or )»roperly the white-headed ca;jle, once qtiite common, now sciircc. Some well-preserved specimens of this ^'eiius are in the County. T'is iMtrU. enjoys the honor of standing as (»ur national <3ml)lem. li uiamin Frauklin lumente*! the 8el<.'cti<»n of this bird as enibleinaticnl of the Uiiioii, for its j^reat cowardice. It has the ability of ascendin>; in circular sweeps without ui:y ajtparent motioi» i»f the win<;s or the tail, ami it often rises in this njanner tmtil it disappears from view; when at an immense hei<;ht. and as if observinir an object on the ;fr«»und, it sometimes closes its win^s and jflides t«»wnrd the earth with such vel«»city that the eye can scarcely ftdlow it, C4insin<r h Joud rustlini; sound liki* a violent ;;nst of wind among the branches of the forest. The JI<iirk ftiiully\\\\f, ei;^ht *»r nine species, some but seldom seen, others c«immoti. The turkeybuzzard has almost, if not rjtiite, disappeared. Of the owl genera are several species, though all are but seldom scfii because of their nocturnal habits. Among them are the barn owl, the screech owl, the long and the short eared owl, the barre<l owl, and the snowy (»wl, the latter being the rarest.

Climbers. - liut tew of this order remain in the county, the most common of wliich are the wood|K>ckers. Of the various kinds are the golden-winged, the pileated, tlie hairy, the downy, the yellowbellied, re<l-l>ellied and the red-headed. At an early day the Carolina parrot, generally cidled the " parrokeet," was often seen, but he has now entirely deserted this section. The yellow and blackbilled cuckoos are occasionally seen.

Scrntchers. - This order contains but few genera in this county. The wild turkey, the choicest of game, has almost entirely disap- ]>eared, and was the only one of its family that ever sojourned here. I 1 an early day they were in abundance. Groiise family. - The chiefest among this fUiuily is the prairie chicken, which, if not carefully ])rotected, must ere long follow the wild turkey, never to return. The ruliied grouse, wrongfully called " pheasant," has of late made its ajipeai'ance. It is quite fond of cultivated fields, and, if properly protected and encouraged until it becomes fairly settled, will make a line addition to the game, and till the place of the prairie chicken. Partridge family. - The fate of that excellent bird, the quail, is only a question of a short time. 'The Dove familij. - The wild ])igeons continue to make their semi-annual visits, but not in such vast numbers as vears aofo. Acres of forest were so often iilled at niijht with these birds that the l)reaking of bouirhs and the flying <if pigeons made a noise that could be heard for miles, and the shot of a sportsman's gun could not i)e heard at a distance often feet. Highly interesting is the description by Audubon of the enormous flights which he observed on the Ohio in the fall of 1S13; the}- obscured tlic daylight and lasted three days without interruption. According to a very moderate estimate of his, each flight coutained the stupendous number of one billion, one hundred and flfteen thousand million, one hundred and thirty-six thousand ]>igeons. These flights caused a general comnn^tion among the entire rural population. Desirous of booty and anxious lest their cro])S should be spoiled, the farmers, arming themselves with rifles, clubs, poles, torches and iron pots fllled with suljjhur, proceed to the resting places of the birds. The work of slaughteibeing accomplished everybody sat down among mountains of dead pigeons, plucking and salting the birds which they selected, abandoning the rest to the foxes, wolves, raccoons, opossums and hogs, wliole herds of which were driven to the battle-field. The ])laintive notes of the Carolina dove, commonly known as the turtle-dove, are still heard.

Swimmers. - This order of birds, wiiich formerly frequented this county in large numbers, have almost disappeared. They are migratory, and in their usual season would appear coming from the north or south, as winter passes into summer or summer into winter. Diver fam'd[j. - The great northern diver, or loon, sometimes visits this section, but inhabits the frigid zone. Gull family. - Of this family are Wilson's tern and silvery gull. Pelican family. - The rough-billed pelican was the only genus of this family that ever stopped in Pike count}', and it has now altogether ceased to make its visits here. Cormorant family. - The double-crested cormorant, or sea raven, has been seen here. Duck family. - This family of migratoi'y birds visited the ponds and streams of this county in large numbers before it became so thickly settled, both on their northern and southern passage, but now mostly conflne themselves to the Illinois and Mississip])i, where large numbers are found. This family furnishes most game for sportsmen and for the table. There are the wood-duck, the big black-headed duck, the ringnecked duck, the red-head, the canvas-back, the dipper, the shelldrake or goosander, the tish-duck, the red-breasted, and the hooded nieri^anser, the inalliird and tlie pintail, the <;reen- winded and the bhiL'-win^od tt-al. the sjMM»iihill and the {^adwall, tlie h:ild|)ate, the American swan, the trunjjieter swan and the white-tVonted ^uoee.

Wiidcrf<. - Probably less is known of this i>rder of birds than of auy other, because of tlieir shyness and solitary habits. They fre- (juenti'd the marshes, but cultivation has drained their favorite liaunts. Craut J'ainihj. - The wh(><»|»in^ crane, always rare, is now never seen. The sand-hill cranes stop on their journeys north and south. Ill ronfamili/. - The ^reat blue heron or crane, least bittern, the ;;reen heron, niijht heron and the Ainfiican bittern, compose those of this family visitin<r this re<;it)n. Ihix fatmlt/. - The "j^lossy ibis has bt^en seen here. J'luvirj'amify. - TUv «;oIdcn ph»ver. the killdecr and the kin;; plover comprise this family known liere. Phdia rope yamily. - Tlie Wilson's and the retl phalari»pe have fre- (juented the swamps of this county. SnijH' J'liinilij. - N'arious birds of this family have been common in and around the ^wamps of this county. Amon^ them were Wilson's snipe, grey or re<l-breasted snipe, the leaot and the semi-palmated san<lpi]>er, the willet, the tell-tale, the yclluw-lc^j, the solitary hanilpij>er, the spotted sandj)iper, the field plover, lon;;-billed curfew, rhi- comm<in rail, the clapper rail or mud hen, an<i the coot.

I!>ptilet<. - All of the speciesof this class that ever iidiabited this re^jioij are .-till to be foun<l here except the p<»i.-onous snakes. The rattk>nake, gfthe ;;enus Oolalus, is t)f a yellowish-brown color, and has a seriis of httrny joints at the end of the tail, which make a rattling; sound. Tla>e were the most venomous of all snakes found here, and were numenuis in the early settlement. There are two kinds, the bandy, or striped, and the ]»rairie rattlesnake, the latter being still occasionally found. The copperhead was always rare. Among the harmless snakes are the water-snake, the gartersnake, the bull-snake, the milk snake, the black-snake, and the blue racer.

Many reptiles found iiere are erroneously called lizards, but are salamanders and other like innocent creatures. Lizards are never fouiul in tliiscountv. Amon^f the tortoises or turtles are found the niaj) turtle, the sna]>ping and the st»ft-shellod turtle. Of the batrachian, or naketi reptiles, there are a few, and, though loathsome to sigiit ami touch, are harmless. Ti»e toad, the bull-frog, the leopard-fiog, the tree-toad, with some tailc<l batrachia, comprise the most of this onler. The Illinois river bull-frog is as large as a man's head, often much larger, and his deep bellowing can be heard for a mile or more.

Although fishes are the lowest class of vcrtebiates, their varied forms and colors, which often rival those of precious stones and liurnished gold, the wonderful power and velocity of some, the wholesome food furnithod by many, and the exciting sport of their t -ipture, combine to render fishes subjects of great interest to the casual observer, as well as to tlie amateur and professional naturalist. The nuniljer of known s])ecies of fishes is about ten tlujusand. The waters of this county are quite prolific of the finny tribe. The coninierce in fish has become cjuite extensive alouii; tlie Illinois and Mississippi. Slckle-hackcd family. - This family furnishes the orame fish, and are never cauij^iit larijer than four pounds in weight. The varous orenera found here are tlie black bass, lioggle-eye, the cr(_»ppy, ur big black sun-fish, and the two common sun-fish. Pike family. - There are but two species of this family, - the pickerel, weighing from five to twenty-five pounds, and the gar ])ike. Sucker family. - Ot' this tribe are the butlalo, red-horse, white-sucker, two species of black-suckers, mullet ranick. Fish of this family are found in all the streams of the county. They abound wlierever there is water. Cat-fish family. - Of this voracious family the channel cat-fish, the mud cat-fish and two species of the small catfish inhabit the waters of this countv, and are caui^ht ranijinu: in weight from one to thirty pounds.

Besides these varieties there are the chuV), silver-sides, and freshwater herring, and large numbers of other species denominated minnows, which are found in the smallest spring branches, as well as the laro^er streams.

Also the beautiful, clean-cut hills of our forests present a tiicteful view scarcely ever witnessed in the East. IJtit at the present day both our prairie and our timlR-r are tinder either cultivation or pasttira<;e, ami bltie i^rass. white clover ai.d a large number of introduci'd weeds from the Ea>t have taken llii' jdace of the original tiora. Indu^trially this ctiltivijtion is a gain, but poetically it is a loss. Only in the most retired situations can many interesting plants be fotind which tise<l to Ikj abutxlant. Several species of j)rairie clover, false wild imligt), rosin-weed, mountain mint, loosestrife, etc., have almost di6aj»j>eared with the <»riginal prairie, while a few of the modest strawl)errv, star-tjruss and bhie-eved grans remain with us as sweet reminiscences of the past.

Nearly all the j)lants growing Pj)')rjtancously in ctiltivatcd f»r waste grounds are " introduced ;" that is, thfy have been'br(Mi;,dit here by white settlers, - unintentionally, »»f course, with reference to most of the weeds. In the timl)ere<l sections no particular weed is on the increase in the present decade, but in the prairie section, the garden parsnip, common thistle, rich weed (in artiticial groves), toad flax, wiid lettuce, and oxybaplius (a four-o'clock plant) are increasing rapidly; and along the railroads several sand plants are making good headway, as s^and-bur, polanisia, ox-ej'e daisy, etc.

Before settlement by tiie whites the prairie was mostly covered by two or three kinds of grass. Several other kinds grew in patches here and there, notably the Indian grass and blue joint» which grew very tall. In wet places grew "slough" grass and many sedges, and along the channeled sloughs abounded several species of golden-rod, aster and wild sunflower, which in the latter part of summer and in autumn formed waving yellow stripes across the ])rairie, and were peculiarly charming. They seemed to have a sedative etlect upon the feelings.

About 2,300 species of plants are found within the United States, 1,600 of which can be found in Illinois, and about 950 in Pike county. We now give a list of all the common plants growing s])ontaneously in Pike county, and some of the most interesting rare ones, excepting mosses, mushrooms, etc.; and we name all the trees and shrubs, rare as well as common. We give the English names, following Gray's Manual, fifth edition, mainly, in respect to names, and altogether with respect to the order in which the families rani^^e. Pv the wav, we make a few corrections of popular errors as to riames. Some names, even in the books, are applied to two or more different plants, as sycamore, button sn^dvcroot, black snakeroot, goose-grass, hair-grass, loosestrife, etc. AIsd, every plant has several names, - communities differing widely in this regard. We endeavor to select the most common name as we can judge from Gray's Botan}'.

Crowfoots. - Common virgin's bower, a vine, and Pitcher's virgin's bower, a half vine, are occasionally found : the leather-flower, a cultivated vine bearing large, blue flowers, is of the same genus. The Pennsylvanian, Virginian and wood anemones occur here and there. Liver-!eaf ("liver-wort") is common on forest hillsides. Rue anemone, and the early, the purplish and the tall meadow-rues are common in the woods. The true buttercu|)S of the East are not found here, but the most common flower corresponding to them is the creeping crowfoot. The small-flowered, the hooked, the bristly and the early crowfoots also occur. Isopyrum grows in moist, shady places. Marsh marigold is common in eai-ly spring, growing in mud supplied with fresh water : in the East they are called " cowslips "and sonietimes used for greens. Water plantain spearwort, growing in mud, and yellow water crowfoot, growing in water and with the submersed leaves finely divided, are seen occasionally. ^Vild columbine, so easilj' recognized by its resemblance to the cultivated species, abounds in the margins of the woods ; so also two species of wild larkspur. Yellow ]»uccoon is very scarce. White baneberry is occasionally seen in the deep woods.

Custard-Apple I<\iinili/. - The papaw is common ali»iig the Illinois river. It fruits better in Calhoun county than Pike, being of a more modern growth here. This is a frai;ile bush, with larije:

Furdane Family. - Akin to the beaurifal portnlaea is omr luiirersal purslane, often called ~ parsley/' Spring beaatj b^ongs to this £unilv. It is one of our earliest spring floTers, and mar be distinguished } ~ -.lant's having but two leaves, lon^ and narrow and some-.^^ : The flower is a light r(»e oolor. wiih weed about our fields, with seed-vessels resembling- . .. j-^- ..-. Sida and bladder ketmia, or flower of an hour, are common. To tliis onier beloncr the boUjhoek and okra. in cultivation.

fences - some places al undanL T:.e .a::er is a coarse, wo«:«dy vise with innumerable rootlets, and has three leaflets to each leaf, with these leaf - ;---- - ; -^ - -_ .jividei. When the plant is young

*- bloc»m *' on the stem; and at all times it can be distinguished from Virginia creeper \ American ivy. an innocent plant > by the l:-.t:er h^v': y f t^ leaflets to each leaf, and the whole leaf in shape ii-cr .: :.ucx:cye.

n.t Family, that is, the grape-vine &mily. - Virginia creeper, just described, is as abundant as any weed. The winto-, or frost grape is c»jmraon, bot the s . ipe, a delicious fruit, is very

Stt/jf'-tret' F'linily. - The climl>in<^ bittersweet ami waaiio') arc all tlu-re are »»f this I'amily in (»ur limits. The former is a stuooth. Woody vine, common in the wooils, climbing by simply twining, and bearin<j «»ran<^e colored berries in clusters, often calle<l waxwork and usctl in «»rnanicntation. This vine is often called simply bittersweet, l»iit the true medical bitterswci-t is a very ilillVreiit plant, scarcely a vine at all, ami not ^rowini^ wild iti this county, i'lic waahoo, or burnini^bnsh, is a real bubh of about the si/.e and proj>ortions of »i plum-tree; its twiijs have four white linos, and its crimson fruit in autumn after the leaves have fallen are verv 8h(»w\ . The flowers are dark purple.

^Soaphtn'ij Onhr includes the Maple, Itladdernutand Soapberry (propir) families. Of the maples the niostcoininon are the eupiranu tne white. The latter is one of the ii«»ft maples, the red niaj»Ie «»f «)lher sections of the I'nited States beinij the tither. The red does not ;;row in this countv. H«>x-elder is sometimes calletl ash-leaved maple, anil l>elonp« to this family. Tho American bladdernut is a tree like shrub about |0 feet hijfh, produein;; lar^e three-hd»ed, in- Hated see^l )>ods. The Ohio buck-eye is common in the river hotlon)s.

Ptthf I'tituihj. - This larpe family is characterized Ity havinj^ wtnls in pods likebeans and |K»as, whi<di are menjl»ers of the tamily. The first in the list, acconling t(» the b«K»ks, are the clovers, - re»l aiul white. Twooiher species of this jjenus occur, in<lecd,buiare too rare to etiumeratehere. Then the white sweet clover, more recxjiitly esc.'ipi'd fnun cidtivatioii; the?» two hpeeies of prairie clover, almost extinct, (ioat's rue, false iiulip> (Amondui) and lead jdaiit abound on dry, sandy loam in river Imttoms. The common locust was introduce«l here, but thi.>« is too far north for it to Ikj hardy enough to withstand our wimU and the borer. A honey-locust occurs here and there. One milk vetch is fre«|uent. Six species of tick trefoil aUxind. Thesi' are thos*> plants in the woi>ds bearing " pods" of triangular, flat burs. Two s|H»cies of bush clover are found here. One vetch (^tare) and one marsh vetchling, gnmn<l-nut, kidnev bean, false indigo (Haptisia) and wild senna are found here and there. Ilog ])canut, called wild pea or beatj by some, aboun<ls everywhere in the woods. Ii«d-bud is an ugly little tree except in the spring before the leaves ai>j>(ar, when the wh<de top is of a beautiful purj>lishred from the blossoms. Partridge pea is abundant "in spots,*' grows like a weed in low places, 20 inches tt» 2 feet high, has leaves like a locust, and bears a very large yellow flower. The sensitive plant may be found within the bounds of this county^

Jiose Fiimly. - Most of our fruits come iVoni this family, as the apple, peach, plum, cherry, strawben-y, etc. The wild plum (yellow or red) is becomino: very scarce. The wild Ijlack cherry is abundant; the ch(jke-cherry is a shrub found occasionally. JSIine-bark, common meadow-sweet and oroat's-beard are s])ecies of sjjira'a frequently found. Ai;ri:7iony is a coarse lierb occasionally found, havini^ leaves resem hi in <^ those of the strawberry and bearinor a kind of drooping bur; plant al)out two feet hij^h. One species of avens is very common ; three other s])ecies are found. Common cinquefoil, or livc-tinger, resembles the strawberry verj' closely, and aljounds in dry soil. Norwcij^ian cincjuefoil has similar leaves, but the ])lant is coarse and grows three feet high; not common. Another species is also found. (3ne species of wild strawberry abounds in retired v-iituations; it was common over the original ]>rairie. The blackherry and the raspberry prevail here as elsewhere, but their sylvan territory is narrowed to close limits by the encroachments of man. Of the roses ])roper the dwarf wild rose is the most common, but its territory is also very lin)ited now-a-days. The early wild rose occurs. Three sj)ecies of red haw (hawthorn) occur, and two varieties of one species. Tiie black, or pear, thorn is the luost common, with two varieties, then the scai-let-fruited tiiorn, and lastly the cockspur thoi'n. The craba]')ple is well known.

Evening Primrose Family. - Common evening pi-imrose, enciianter's nightshade, and one species of willow-herb, are common; seed-box, water-purslane, sun-drops and two other species of false loosestrife occur occasionally.

Gourd Family. - Tiie wild balsam-apjile is a vigorous, herbaceous vine, bearing bui'-like fruit, about cultivated grounds, and the one-seeded star cucumber flourishes in the shaded river bottoms.

Parsley F.unily. - Thi^; family is cliaracterized by having their seed-bearing tops like those of ])arsnips. Most of the poisonous plants growing in this country belong to this family. Two species of black snakeroot prevail in this county. Parsnij^ itself is becoming a common weed in open but protected places; and there may be found here and there the cow parsnip, cowbane, meadow pHrsnip, spotted cowbane, rattlesnake master, two species of water parsnip, honewort, chervil, two species of sweet cicely, poison hemlock. Of the whole family the most poisonous are tlie spotted cowbane and poison hemlock.

J)t><jtr,>oi/«. -The nio-^t common (l"«;wood is the whitr-herried, or panicled cornel; next the roiigh-leaved, the alternate-leaved, the flowcriiiir, the silky, an«l lastly the red-osier.

Iloiuijuuckle Fiiinlh/.' Common elder is becomini; too abundant. Yellow honeysuckle is common. Horse ijentiati, or I'everwi>rt, is a foreet weetl bearing 5 to 10 yellow berries in a circle around the stem at everv place where the two i»pposite leaves are :iltache<l. The true black haw is scjirce, but slieepberry, which is generally called black haw, i^ common.

A/titi(/cr J'\ii)iily. Two species of the snmll bed-otraw are abundant, and the sweet-scented is common, while occasionally nuiy l>e found cleavers, or jfoose-jjrass. Wild liijuorici' <tccurs rarely. These herbs are all of a thi.\-like appearance, having several iH'autit'ul little leaves in a whorl at each joint. l>utton bush is common in wet ^'round.

Comjyositeti. - This onler is by far tin* lar;;eht of all. Its fl<iwers arc compound, that is, there are several, s«»metimes many, small th»wers crowded close together in a hea^l, as sunflower, lettuce, dandelion, aster, chrysanthemuin. May-weed, etc. Their time of flowering is penerally late in the season.

Iron-weed is common on flat gn»und: its summit in August is a l»eautifiil ri»yal purple. Fi»ur species of button snakeroot (one chilled also blazing star) are abundant on protected origimil prairie, and occur nowhere else. Five sjKJcies of thoroughwort grow here, that I'alled b«»neset being abunilant. The species ciilled trumpet, or Joe-Pve wcc'il,is a tall, intercbting weed, with 3 to 0 leaves in each whorl, that is, at each joint. Kuhnia is not rare; it resembles Injneset. Mist-fl4>wer grows in our limits. Of the asters tliere are about 30 species growing within this county, alK>ut half of them very com num. The flowers have a starry appearajice: hence the name. The most remarkable of them is the New Kngland aster, a large purple fl«)wer along the rojulsides in Sej»tenjber. Five specie** «»f tteabane, similar to the a.sters in ap]>carance, are comm«»n. namely, horse weed, which is abundant on waste and cnltivate«l grounds. Kubin's plantain, commcm fleabane. and two daisy fleabanes, one of them called also sweet scabious. About 18 species of golden -rod can be found in this county, only half of them common, however. The most abundant is the iS»Iidago Canadensis. Fr(»m these much honey is made by bees in Scjttember. Four species of rosin-wee»l used to prevail on the original prairie, but tiieir territory is very limite<l at the present day. The most noted of them has divided leaves, and is also called compass plant, or j)olar plant, the leaves having (mce been thought to j)oint north and south. Thdy do indeed stand with their faces somewhat parallel, but they are just as apt to have their edges toward other points of the compass. One species of rosin-weed has undivided leaves, large and rough, and is called prairie dock. This and the compass plant flourish on flat prairie soil whicii is not pastured. The species called cup-plant i^rows along the banks of channeled sloughs. The leaves join together at the base so as to form a cup. It is a very large weed. Partheniuin, a similar plant, is not rare, liagweed is the most common weed we have along the roadsides: called also hogwced, Roman wormwood, etc. Great ragweed is the largest weed that grows in this country. Common along fences. (Jocklebur is on the increase. We have a State law -' providing " for their destruction. Ox-eye, Lepachys and six species of cone-flower are almost common. Six species of wild sunflower flourish along fencesin unfro(]Ucnted situations. They are tall weeds, but not troublesome. One kind has tuberous roots and is really an artichoke. Three species of tickseed occur in this county. The true Spanish needle does not grow here, but three species of its genus abound here, especially during wet seasons, namely, common and swamp beggar-ticks and the larger bur-marigold. The smaller bur-marigold is found in shallow running water. Fetid marigold is abundant in dry situations along tiie wagon roads. When struck, even lightly, ityields a rank aromatic odor: called also false dog-fennel. Sneezeweed, which looks somewhat like a S})anish needle, is abundant during wet seasons and exceedingly scarce at other times. Mayweed, or dog-fennel, everv one is familiar with. So with varrow. The ox-eye daisy, or white-weed, a vexatious weed in the East, is just beginning to creep in along the railroads. Biennial wormwood is a common but harmless weed in waste places. Common and ])lantain-leaved everlasting are common. Fire-weed abundant. Golden rag- wort here and there in the spring. The famous Canada thistle is seldom seen: the common thistle abounds more and more. Two other species are common, growing very tall. ])urdock is a Composite. Dandelion belongs in this connection. Wild lettuce and talse or blue lettuce are common milky weeds, growing very tall. Two species of sow-thistle, comparatively harmless, are modestly on the increase.

Lohelias. - The celebrated medical lobelia, or Indian tobacco, flourishes along our garden fences. The great lobelia, or blue cardinal flower, is abundant in moist ground. The cardinal flower is the most showy, dazzling-red flower we have growing wild: found in wet ground and on tiie banks of sloughs. A small and slender species of lobelia is common in protected situations.

Campanula, or Belljlower JP'amily. - The tall bellflower is common. Venus's looking-glass is found here and there. "Bluebells" do not belong here: thev are the smooth lungwort, belonirins' to tlie Borage family.

Plantain Family. - The common ])lantain of our door-yarde. Four other species of this family may occur in this county, but they are exceedingly rare.

Vi:rra\n». -Verheiuis belong to this order. The most abundant jilant beldUging t.i this family, and growing wild, is the Imary vervain; next are tin- braetrd ( prttstnite). the white, or nettle-leaved, and the blue. They all prefer dry, waste grourjds, and are much inelined to hybriiHze. Fog-fruit ig abnntlant in sandy gmund along the river*.

Mint f'ltnihj. - Coinin«»n are wood sage-, or Ameriean germantler, wild mint, btigle-weed, Americjin j)ennyroyal, and hedge nettle, two sj>eeies. Motherwort, catnip, iieal-all, and wild mint are abundant. Here and there are water horehound, mountain mint, hortie-mint, blephilia (twt» n|>eeies), giant hvhSop (two hj»eeieii). false dragon-head, or lionV-heart, mad-<log ukulleap and one other species of skullcap. (ir«>und ivy, or gill-over-the-grtiund, is abundant about dwellingH. What is generally called "horse-mint" in the West is " wild brr:;amot" accrording to the book^, while wild mint is ofjen taken for peppi-rmint. True pe))permint, spearmint, and horehound are scarce within our limit;*. South of the Illinois river horehound t^ikes the place of catnip along the fences and roadsides. Salvia, sage and Mexican sage are cultivated plants belonging to this order.

lioragf Family. - Hairy and h»»ary pucc<x)n, smooth lungwort, stick-seed, beggar's lice and common hotuurstongue arc cotnmon; all other species rare. Comfrey i)elongs to this family. Smooth lungwort is often called '' blue-bellh." It iscomm m in early spring about door-yartls and ah*ng fences near dwellings. (ominon hound's-tonguc flourishes along the roads; flowers a dull |)urple, appearing in early summer. IJeggar'slice is a species of houtidjetongue.

Convolvulus, or M<>rningglory Family. - The most common plant of this order growing spontaneously l)eyond the bounds of cultivation is hedge bisidweed.or Kutland lK.'auty. Eight s]»eciesof dodderC* love-vine'') may be found, all rare excejit one. It aj»pears like orange colored thread growing on the tops of weeds.

Nightshade Family. - To this family belong Irish p<jtatoes, tomatoes, egg-plant, bitter-sweet, tobacco and Jerusalem cherry. The most common weeds of this familv are jim^ijn-weed, horse-nettle

("bull nettles"), common or black nightshade and two species of gronnd-cheri'}'. The white-flowered jimson-weed (Datura Stramonium) is called common stramonium or thornapple by Dr. Gray, while the purple-flowered he calls purple tiiorna])ple.

Gentians. - One beautiful species of American centaury, American Coiumbo and several species of gentian are found within our limits, but all of them are scarce. "Horse gentian " belongs to the Honeysuckle family.

Milkweeds. - Common milkweed, or silkvvecd, is common; has large, boat-shaped pods of glistening cotton. Swamp milkweed is also common. Butterfly weed, or pleurisy-root, whoi-led milkweed and two species of green milkweed occur not rarely.

Olive Family. - It would seem more natural to us Westerners to call this the Ash family, as we liave no members of this order about us except the five species of ash, - white, black, blue, red and green, the white being the most common. Some of these kinds are difficult for the beginner to distinguish.

Birthworts. - Wild ginger is common in deep, wooded ravines. The leaf is kidney-shaped, plant but tew inches high, and the root tastes like ginger.

Goosefoots. - Lamb's-quarters, or pigweed, a common weed in our gardens, is the type of this order. Beet and spinach belong liere. Next in abundance to lamb's-quarters are oak-leaved goosefoot, mai)le-leaved goosefoot, Jerusalem oak and Mexican tea. Wormseed is a fetid plant belonging to the genus goosefoot. Orache is becoming abundant in the towns and cities.

Amnrnntli^. - The cultivated coxcomb, globe amaranth and prince's feather (red, chaffy spikes) illustrate the characters of this family. Pigweed is one of the most common weeds in cultivated ground. The pigweed of the last paragraph siiould be called goosefoot only, or laml)'s-quarters. AVhite ])igweed, generally known in the We.->t as "tumble-weed," is abundant in someflelds. Amarantns blitoides has recently become very abundant in our towns. At a little distance it resembles common purslane. Acnida and Froelicliia are common in sandy soil near the rivers.

Buckwheat Family or Knotweeds. - Goose-grass is the most nbifpiitous member of this order, forming a car])et in every dooryard. A taller variety with wider leaves also abounds under the shade trees about the ])remises. Two species of smart-weed, mild water-pe])per, water Persicaria and two other species of knotwecd are all common. Out of 14 sj)ecies of what a])pears to be smartweed, only two are biting to the taste. Arrow-leaved tear-thumb, black bindweed and climbinfj false buckwheat are common vines.

Pie-plant, "yellow dock" Jitid sheep-sorrel represent another divisiidi of the kiiotwccd family. The most coiiuiion nu'inhtT of this divibion in I'ike coiuitv is curled, or "vellow" dock; then folli>w sheep-sorrel (ulxiinMiinw in (Jimdy soil), pale, water, swamp and bitter docks,