Full text of "History of Knox County, Illinois [microform] : its cities, towns and people"

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ILLINOIS

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HISTORY OF

'. '.1 -:

KNOX COUNTY

ILLINOIS

ITS CITIES, TOWNS AND PEOPLE

By ALBERT J. PERRY

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME I

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THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY

1912 ;.

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PREFACE

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Already three histories of Knox county have been written prior to the pres-
ent work. In each of those volumes considerable time has been spent in writ-
ing up the early history of the county and especially of the first settlers. This
is true of every township within the county and pretty full accounts of the cities
and villages have been given. It seems that but little more can be said along
that line. Galesburg is admittedly somewhat unique in its origin. A colony
composed of refined and educated people came here for the avowed purpose of
establishing a college and surrounding it with good influences from the start and
I the history of this movement has been written and can be found not only in the
: former county histories but also in quite a variety of publications especially
: the Semi-Centennial of the Old First church of the city of Galesburg. That
V little volimie states fully the persons interested in the Galesburg-Knox-college
f. movement. The difficulties of their journey have been fully set out and there is
; no doubt that that feature of history pertaining to central Illinois will be pre-
r served and will continue to be the subject of pleasing fireside conversation.
' But little of this side of the question has been indulged in by the author of
V this volume. It occurred to him in the start that to the present generation the
" accomplishments of these early settlers and their descendants should be the
principal subject of investigation. ' He therefore conceived the idea of present-
ing to the people a careful and thorough statement of what had been actually
done in this county, without particularizing very much who the actors were. It
v^will be discovered that the principal points selected by the author are the public
p(buildings; and the public, social and economic movements of the people have
Mormed the basis of that portion of the work prepared by him personally. To
^make this feature of the work still more prominent, he arranged with certain in-
^dividuals, who are in every way qualified, to present various topics in a thorough
interesting manner along the lines which he himself has pursued. The
earnestly hopes, for he fully believes, that this feature will be of great

and of very general interest to the reading people of this county. To be

wnore specific he would call especial attention to the articles upon the various
denominations of the county. It will be found that the following out-
has been pretty generally followed. First, a full statement of belief ; second,
organization of individuals sharing that belief; and third, the extent to
I their hopes, based upon their belief and their church organization, have
realized. So far as this form is applicable, the secular articles have been

somewhat in the same way.

It has been the writer's earnest endeavor to spend but little time upon the
side of life, but rather to consider carefully everything that seems
while and everything that could make reasonable answer to the questions,

PREFACE

"What are you ^here for?" and "What are you accomplishing for the better-
ment of life?"

The writer takes a justifiable pride in the illustrations which he has secured for
this work for they have served a double purpose. They are not only beautiful
and add a peculiarly pleasing effect to the appearance of the work, but in no
other way could he show the development of the cities and villages of the county
from a primative condition to one of prosperity and really intelligent refine-
ment, in fulfillment of the highest hopes of the founders. It is very difficult to
arrive at a just word picture of the progress of Knox county. The time required
to discover and collate the facts necessary to show such progress is altogether too
great, and even if accomplished, it would then not be visible as is shown by these
illustrations. ;

To those who have assisted in this matter, the writer hereby offers his sin-
cere thanks and confesses in truth that without their assistance this volume
would lack its greatest charm and a very large part of its interest and benefit.

A. J. P.

GALESBURG, Illinois, July lo, 1912. v - ^;Xv

^. ;. -.

.-^'' .'. -

History of Knox County Illinois

: ;''}:;;' ' ^ -:: TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION ' ; :\o';;.^^ ^

V: It is believed by persons best informed upon the archaeology of Knox county
that prior to 1828 it had been the home of at least three distinct races of men.

The first is known from fossils found with the bones of extinct animals and
fragments of tropical wood from a few to fifty feet below the surface, where
the race seemed to have existed for a long time and are now completely covered
by the drift. They left no traces than are found as above stated, some of which
indicate their handiwork.

The next race was the mound builders, who here, as elsewhere, was probably
an agricultural and semi-civilized people. Traces of their occupancy are found
in various parts of the county. They too disappeared without leaving anything
of their history.

The Indian with his bow and arrow followed the mound builders, at what
time we do not know, but he was the undisputed owner of the country for a long
period of time. Whatever record of history he made was of such transitory
character that nothing is left and nothing is known beyond some few things that
may be gathered from tradition and what transpired after the advent of thfc white
people. At the time of the discovery of America, he was the occupant of the
soil but has now passed away from most of his old haunts and his power is gone
as surely as his predecessors'. j < ,.

The revival of learning in the fifteenth century stimulated the desire for ex-
ploration. Spain was the first to move in a far westerly course and the West
Indies were discovered by Columbus. -The reports of his meager success were
circulated in Europe when Portugal, Erance and England joined in the search
for a new world. As early as the year looo, Scandinavian explorers had pre-
viously occupied places on the western shore of Greenland, planted a colony
which has been supposed by many to have been near the coast of New England,
but this was unsuccessful and passed out of existence. Several unsuccessful
attempts were made to establish colonies in this country at different periods
along the Atlantic coast by the Erench, Spaniards, Portuguese and English. Eer-
nando de Soto, a Spanish chevalier, explored this country in 1541 as a part of
Elorida, but it was never taken possession of by the Spanish. We are interested
only in the settlements which were finally effected, one in Virginia in 1607 by the
English, and one made by Erance in Canada at Quebec in 1608, and at Montreal

2 '\v;v;vr HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^v> :.;:;'

in i6ii. On April lo, 1606, King James of England granted the first charter
to Virginia, providing for the establishment of two companies, the southern
branch of London Company to have authority to occupy lands between the thirty-
fourth degree and forty-first degree of north latitude. The second branch, or
Plymouth Company was to occupy lands between the thirty-eighth degree and
forty-fifth degree. These two grants overlapped each other, but it was provided
in the charter that each should occupy the overlapping territory under certain
restrictions. These two grants were supposed to cover that part of Illinois
which includes Knox county. This charter left the colony subject practically to
the domination of the King. The Virginia charter was enlarged in 1609 and
granted many rights and powers to the people, so that the colony became prac-
tically a corporation, with pretty full powers looking towards self government.
The territory described in the second charter was to extend two hundred miles
north and two hundred miles south of Point Comfort, "all that space and circuit
of land from sea to sea, and west and northwest." This somewhat vague de- .
scription and questionable power of the king to grant, forms the basis of Vir-
ginia's claim to what was afterwards known as the North West Territory. Noth-
ing was known of the west at that time. The Appalachian range of mountains
extending in a somewhat broken chain from eastern Canada southwest to Ala-
bama, and the almost impenetrable forests, formed a great barrier to the advance
of English settlement to the westward, and at the same time there was a strip
of sea-board between the mountains and the Atlantic from one hundred to two
hundred miles wide, which for many years gave abundant room for the constantly
increasing English settlements.

Not so with the French settlements of Canada. There was easy communica-
tion by lake and river between them and that portion of the country west of the
mountains and of the English settlements. The French eagerly availed them-
selves of this advantage and established settlements at Detroit, Fort Miami,
Vincennes, Cahokia, Kaskaskia and along the east side of the Mississippi river
to Mobile, Biloxi, etc. This came to be known as New France and was claimed
by France by right of discovery and occupation. It would seem, in all good con-
science, that the French claim to this territory was superior to that of England's
claim, being founded upon a substantial basis, while the English claim was prob-
ably founded upon the mere declaration of the discoverer of the coast from
which he declared that all lands to the west were subject to his sovereign. The
presence of the French to the west of the English made the English feel very
uncomfortable. There were continually irritating circumstances arising. The
Indians were enlisted on both sides and finally war was declared between the.
two nations, and in America this war took the name of the French and Indian ;
war. The English were victorious and by the Peace of Paris in 1763, the north-
west territory was ceded by France to England, together with Canada, and from
that time France had no jurisdiction over territory east of the Mississippi river.
By this cession of territory, the claims of Virginia to the northwest territory by
virtue of her charter of 1609, reading "from sea to sea," became operative as.
far west as the Mississippi river. ;/'. ^:; ::C ''/..;.>.:;' ^-;;:. .

The next scene in the American drama was the War of the Revolution, which
began in 1776. General George Rogers Clark, (then Colonel Clark) a citizen of
the Virginia colony, formed a scheme of wresting this territory from England

vl; V:;H ^^^: HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : : ;.w,j 8

and thereby preserving it to the use of his colony, and at the Peace of 1783,
England relinquished all claim to this territory which she had taken from France,
and Illinois was made a county of Virginia.

An explanation of this statement ought to be given. The word Illinois was
used by the French to designate a confederacy of the North American Indians
occupying the present area of the state of Illinois and the adjacent parts of Wis-
consin, Iowa and Missouri. This confederacy was composed of the Peoria,
Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Tamaroa and Michagamia Indians. In the language of this
confederacy, the word "Illini" meant "a man." The plural of this word was
"Illinuk." The French substituted their terminal for the plural "ois" for the
Indian plural "uk," and thus the name becanie Illinois. In speaking generally
of the country between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, it was called the "Illinois
country," because of the Indian confederacy occupying such a large portion of it.
The Virginia legislature therefore chose that name as the name of the county
created. The act establishing the county of Illinois, which was for the more
effectual protection and defense thereof, passed both houses of the Virginia legis-
lature on December 9, 1778. At this time Virginia knew almost nothing of the
boundary of the county which she proposed to establish. She wanted to incor-
porate within this county all that she owned of the Northwest Territory. There-
fore "the new county was to include the inhabitants of Virginia north of the
Ohio river," but its location was not more definitely prescribed.

It stood without a question that the Northwest Territory now belonged tcy
the United States subject to such rights as Virginia might have therein by virtue
of her colonial charter, subject also to the rights of the Indians.

On July 9, 1778, the several colonies which had joined in the revolutionary
struggle for independence from England, formed a confederacy which, under
articles of confederation, was known as the United States, having a president
and congress the same as at the present time. : . * . '. \

On the 6th day of September, 1780, congress recommended to the several
states in the union having claims to waste and unappropriated lands in the west-
ern country, a liberal cession to the United States of a portion of their respective
claims for the common benefit of the Union. In conformity with that recommen-
dation, the state of Virginia appointed Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur
Lee and James Monroe, commissioners to execute a deed to the United States,
in congress assembled, for the benefit of the said states, all rights, title, claim
as well of soil as jurisdiction, which this commonwealth hath to the territory or
tract of country within the limits of the Virginia charter, situate, lying, and be-
ing to the northwest of the River Ohio, upon condition that the territory so ceded
shall be laid out and formed into states containing suitable extent of territory
not less than one hundred, nor more than one hundred and fifty miles square, or
as near thereto as circumstances will admit. These instructions contained quite
specific conditions as to the rights of the people and the states to be so formed.
It provided further that the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers
of the Kaskaskies, St. Vincents and the neighboring villages who have professed
themselves citizens of Virginia, shall have their possessions confirmed to them
and be protected in the enjoyment of their rights and liberties. It provided fur-
ther that a quantity of land, not exceeding 150.000 acres, promised by this state
shall be allowed and granted by them to the then colonel, now General George

4 ;:--:' HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY K^.;' >: '

Rogers Clark and to the officers and soldiers of his regiment who marched with
him, etc., in subduing this territory. The deed, in accordance with those instruc-
tions, was executed to the United States of America on March i, 1784, and
thereby all interests of the state of Virginia in and to the lands of the state of
Illinois and Knox county were extinguished and transferred to the government
of the United States. See Plate I.

On the 3Oth day of December, 1788, the state of Virginia modified the con-
ditions of grant to the United States and authorized the formation of five states
out of the Northwest Territory, if deemed advisable by congress. ";.. . ,^ I-

On the 7th day of August, 1789, congress passed an act for the government
of the territory northwest of the Ohio river, but made no division of the same.

On May 7, 1800, congress divided the territory of the United States north-
west of the Ohio into two separate governments providing that all that part of
the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river which lies westward
of the line beginning at the Ohio opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river and
running thence to Fort Recovery and thence north until it shall intersect the ter-
ritorial line between the United States and Canada, shall for the purpose of tem-
porary government, constitute a separate territory and be called the Indiana Ter-
ritory. See Plate II.

On February 3, 1809, congress again provided that from and after the first
day of March next, all that part of the Indiana Territory which lies west of the
Wabash river and a direct line drawn from the said Wabash river and Post Vin-
cennes due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada,
shall for the purpose of temporary government constitute a separate territory
and be called Illinois. See Plate III.

On April i8, i8i8, congress took further action authorizing the inhabitants
of the Territory of Illinois to form for themselves a constitution and state gov-
ernment and to assume such name as they shall deem proper; and the said state
when formed shall be admitted to the Union upon the same footing with the
original states in all respects whatever. The boundary line of the territory to be
thus admitted is described as beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river, thence
up the same and with the line of Indiana to the northwest corner of said state,
thence east with the line of same state to the middle of Lake Michigan, thence
north along the middle line of said lake to north latitude 42 degrees, 30 minutes,
thence west to the middle of the Mississippi river and thence down along the
middle of that river to its confluence with the Ohio river and thence up the latter
river along its northwestern shore to the beginning. See Plate IV.

A constitutional convention was called at Kaskaskia, August 26, i8i8, which
adopted a constitution of the state to be submitted to congress for adoption and
under which Illinois became a state of the United States of America.

The question of extinguishing the Indian titles to the lands in the Northwest
Territory had been taken up by the United States government. There was con-
siderable tardiness on the part of the government in relation to this question.
Settlers were coming in from the east and squatting upon the public lands with-
out any authority of law and there was much uneasiness on their part lest they
might make improvements more or less valuable, and in the end lose their entire
time and investment because no arrangement for a permanent purchase of the
land had been made. Numerous petitions setting up these facts were sent to

;:/:;;::::: HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^ v.!^-- 5

congress and congress failed to act upon them. The territory on the west side of
the Mississippi river belonged to Spain, and at one time there was a strong feeling
among the American settlers that they would be better off to go over into Spanish
territory and deal with the Spanish government than to remain within the juris-
diction of the United States and be so long in an uncertain condition. Neverthe-
less, the population continued to increase and petitions for relief were continually
circulated, until finally in the year 1804 a treaty was made at St. Louis on the
third day of November, with the Sauks and Foxes, whereby that part of Illinois
west of the Illinois and Fox rivers was ceded to the United States. Black Hawk,
the principal chief of the Sauk Indians, did not sign this treaty, but it is claimed
that he confirmed it on several subsequent occasions. This treaty contained an
article which wrought great mischief as it led to the Black Hawk War of 1832.
By Article VII of that treaty, it was provided that "as long as the lands which
are now ceded to the United States remain their property, the Indians belonging
to the said tribes shall enjoy the privilege of living or hunting upon them." It
was expected by that clause that until the government made survey and sold these
lands, the Indians should remain unmolested by the white people, but this did not
follow. The principal Indian village of these tribes was situated within the ceded
territory near where the city of Rock Island now stands. The Indians cultivated
quite an area of land as best they knew how and produced very good crops. This
fact was a continual temptation to the white people coming into the ceded area,
and after awhile the white people made demonstrations calculated to either drive
the Indians out of their home and across the Mississippi river into what is now
Iowa, or to excite their anger and lead to war. The Indians were in the habit
of going north in the winter time to hunt, returning in the spring with their cured
meats and furs to cultivate their ground and raise their grain and vegetables.
During the absence of the Indians the white people would commit depredations
by burning their homes, and one year they went upon the ground and plowed up
their national cemetery. This proved unendurable to the Indians, and the Black
Hawk war followed. The Indians offered to retire, cross the Mississippi and
never again come upon the ceded territory for the sum of six thousand dollars.
This offer was laughed at and its refusal shut out all opportunity to avoid the
war which followed and which cost the lives of many white men and a treasure
of over two millions of dollars, and practically exterminated the Indians who
had fought in defense of their homes and the resting place of their dead. As a
matter of course, the result of this war was the complete forfeiture by the Indians
of the lands ceded by the treaty of 1804. There was left, however, an indelible
mark of shame upon the white man. See Plate V. .

From the foregoing account, it will appear that the land comprising the county
of Knox has been under ten territorial jurisdictions, two of them being extinct
races, one Indian race, one under France, one under England, one under Vir-
ginia, one a territory of the United States, one the territory of Indiana, one the
territory of Illinois, and lastly the state of Illinois.

Although Knox county is not especially concerned with the matter, it will be
interesting to add that at the time of the Enabling Act passed by congress for the
adoption of a constitution for the state of Illinois, Judge Nathaniel Pope, father
of Major General John Pope of the Union army during the War of the Rebellion,
was a delegate in congress from the territory of Illinois. It was proposed to fix

6 -"'::;': HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY " . x T - , 7

the northern boundary at a line running westward from the southern extremity
of Lake Michigan to the center of the Mississippi river. Judge Pope urged that
the northern boundary of Illinois be set far enough north to give Illinois a liberal
frontage on the west side of Lake Michigan. His argument for that change was
that the southern point of the state of Illinois extended far into the south. It
will be seen from a map of the United States that it reaches nearly to the south-
ern boundary of the states of Kentucky and Virginia and the northern
boundary of the state of Tennessee, which is nearly one hundred and fifty
miles south of the city of Washington. If the northern boundary of the state
could be pushed far enough north to give a good frontage upon Lake Michigan,
it would make Illinois a most potent factor in tying together the two sections of
the Union, the north and the south. On the north there would be easy communi-
cation with the east by way of the great lakes, and on the south with the entire
south by way of the Mississippi river, and in case any difficulty should arise be-
tween the two sections of the country, the geographical position of the state of
Illinois would be a most peculiar and powerful one. The arguments of Judge
Pope convinced congress, and the boundary line was fixed as we now have it,
quite well up on the west side of Lake Michigan. That act gave to Illinois the
city of Qiicago, and during the War of the Rebellion, Illinois fully performed all
the duties devolving upon it and foretold by the able judge.

Knox county, of course, shares in whatever honor and pride there may be in
being a part of a state so situated, and which has now become so influential in
all governmental matters. ' - ' ' :

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY = .

The division of Illinois into counties began in 1790. More than the east
half of that part of the state south of the Illinois river constituted one county, and
was called Knox county. Changes and further subdivisions were made in 1793,
i8oi, 1803 and 1809. In 1809 the name of Knox county drops out. In the sub-
division of 1790 that portion between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers was un-
touched. In the subdivisions of iSoi, 1803 and 1809, it was included within the
limits of St. Clair county, which comprised about four-fifths of the entire area
of the state, Randolph county occupying the other one-fifth in the southern por-
tion of the state. In the subdivisions of 1812 and 1813, about the same amount
of territory and similarly located, was called Madison county. The territory now
occupied by Knox county remained a part of Madison county until 1821, when
that portion of the state lying between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers was
called Pike county. See Plate VI.

On the 28th day of January, 1823, a further subdivision was made, and Pike
county was cut down to a very small part of what it once was. Fulton county
was laid out and covered the south four townships of what is now Knox county.
The balance of the land now comprising Knox county and the territory north
and east was attached to Fulton county for judicial purposes. This will be shown
by Plate VII.

On the 1 3th day of January, 1825. Knox county was formed by an act of the

' - : HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^:-> 7 .

legislature, and it covered the same territory that it covers today, with the excep-
tion of four townships on the north, the four townships on the south previously -
included in Fulton county being given to Knox, and four townships on the north
being given to Henry county, giving to Knox county sixteen townships only. See
Plate VIH. ... '

The county remained the same until 1831, when on January 13, the boundary :':-
of the county was changed by adding a row of townships on the north and two ; , . \
townships. Numbers 12 and 13 in Range 5 East, on the east as shown by Plate v , -

IX. ^''^''-

Another change was made March 2, 1839, whereby the two townships,' ',
Numbers 12 and 13 North in Range 5 East, were taken from Knox and given :' .! :
to Stark county. This is shown by Plate X. Since that time there has been no v :;
' change in the area of Knox county. : v T .

Thus it is shown that the territory comprising the county of Knox today, has
been a part of St. Clair, Madison and Pike counties, and that a part of the terri-
tory of Knox county has heretofore formed a part of Fulton and Henry counties. -
The inhabitants of the county at different points were obliged to go to Lewistown, ' '
Rushville, Pittsfield, Edwardsville and Kaskaskia to secure an abstract of title ' ' /
to their lands. After the formation of Knox county in its present shape, the rec- >
ords pertaining to lands in Knox county were carefully copied from the above ;

places and now constitute a part of the records of Knox county. It is supposed, .
however, that the records of Knox county today as kept at Galesburg, are com- - : > >
plete, and that there is no reason for visiting other county seats for information -'
concerning Knox county lands. V . : '

During the progress of fixing the territory, state and county boundaries, a , .
systematic plan of survey had been pursued. The plan of congress consisted in ;V
running a base line east and west through some point having a natural witness, if ;:':.,..
possible, and running a meridian line north and south from this base line. Then
beginning in the angle formed by those base and meridian lies, lay out the town- .
ships six miles square. The north and south rows of townships were called
ranges, and the ranges were numbered one, two, three, etc., east or west of the ..-,..
meridian as the case might be. ^ ^ ;

'. The description of the lands in Knox county is arrived at in the following ; . ;-
way: the city of Beardstown in Cass county, Illinois, is on the Illinois river, and > \ .
is taken as the starting point for all descriptions of land west of the Illinois river. :: '
A line running due north from Beardstown is known as the fourth principal me- -
ridian. This meridian forms the western boundary of Knox county. All lands
east of that meridian and controlled by it, are described as east of the fourth prin- ;.
cipal meridian. Another line passing through Beardstown runs west from here ^ -
to the Mississippi river, and is known as the base line. If you take a township ' .;
map of the state of Illinois, and start at Beardstown and count the townships V^ h-'
northward until you reach Knox county, you will find that the southwest town- : ' ;
ship of Knox county is the ninth township north of the base line running through ; ;
Beardstown. It is also east of the fourth principal meridian. Therefore, the ' .
southwest township of Knox county would be described as township 9, north of .:.. .
the base line, and in range i, east of the fourth principal meridian. This town- v; '
ship is also known as Indian Point. The southeast township of the county is ' ...
known as Salem township, and under congressional description would be known > .

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

as township 9, north of the base line, and in range 4, east of the fourth principal
meridian. Each township is divided into sections ^each one mile square, and each
township therefore has thirty-six sections. They are numbered beginning at the
northeast corner of the township for number one, running westward six miles,
then drop one mile south and you have section number seven, then you run east-
ward six miles and you have section twelve, then drop southward one mile and
run west six miles and you have section eighteen, and so on until you have num-
bered all sections in the township, giving you thirty-six sections in all. Knox
county has twenty townships which would make 720 sections, making approxi-
mately 450,800 acres. ^ ' :" ^ .: ^ '.'-;: .:[-;:;.;.:^

It is a simple matter from the above congressional rule to describe any frac-
tion of any section in the county. If you are purchasing the northeast quarter of
section i, township ii north, in range i, east of the fourth principal meridian,
you know that it is one hundred and sixty acres of land in the northeast corner of
Galesburg township.

The following table shows a complete description of each township in tiic
county of Knox as at present existing :

Indian Point

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

M. -;

Cedar

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

Galesburg

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

Henderson

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

Rio

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

Chestnut

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

Orange

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

Knox

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

Sparta

Twp.

N..

the

4th

M. ; :.

Ontario

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

M. :'

Maquon

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

Haw Creek

Twp.

N..

the

4th

Persifer

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

Copley

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

Walnut Grov(

; Twp.

N.,

the

4th

M. ;

Salem

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

M. '"-

Elba

Twp.

X.,

the

4th

M. .: . ;

Truro

Twp.

N..

the

4th

Victoria

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

M. ;

Lynn

Twp.

N.,

the

4th

It is now proper to consider the governmental organization of the county. The
writer once knew an intelligent, educated young Russian who remarked that the
most noticeable thing he saw when he first came to America was the ease with
which a new movement, society or party could be started. In Europe all social
organizations began with the preacher or some ministerial officer. If he ap-
proved, he called the meeting, called it to order, was its chairman, appointed its
secretary and conducted the whole proceedings. In America when public action
was considered necessary on any question, a self-appointed committee called a
mass meeting, the people assembled and some one stated the object of the meeting.
A resolution approving the object of the meeting would be offered, discussed and
passed if approved, or a committee would be appointed and an adjournment taken

Plate I Outline of Northwest Territoiy ceded to the United States by Virginia, Connecticut and
Massachusetts.

Plate II Division of Northwest Territory into Indiana and Ohio Territories. , :-. .....

^^.

Plate III Division of Northwest Territory into State of Ohio and Illinois, Indiana and Michigan

Territories.

Plate I\' Division of Northwest Territory into States of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio and Territory of

Michigan. , . . . . , . . . .^. . . .

^ ^)/ -^^^i;; ';;;'^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ' "

to enable the committee to give the matter more careful consideration and present
it in better shape to the adjourned meeting. The thing especially noticeable to
the young Russian was the absence of the preacher, whereas in Europe he was
the whole thing, while here the people originated and carried through their own
measures. The preacher is welcome on such occasions, but he comes in citizens'
clothing and not in ministerial robes or vestments.

Township, county and state governments originate in very much the same -
way. There is a little more formality in the start. They all possess a certain leg- .;
islative, judicial and executive capacity which has to be recognized by other com-
monwealths and it is necessary that such organizations have a definite starting, usu- '
ally by proclamation or notice from the proper constituted authority. When once
set in motion the whole thing becomes a government by the people. i

7; It has been shown that on January 13, 1825, the legislature fixed the boundary ;
of Knox county, not as it is today, but giving to it sixteen townships. By the
year 1830 it was believed that Knox county had 350 inhabitants, and it was so
made to appear to the Hon. Richard M. Young, judge of the 5th judicial circuit
of the state of Illinois, and on the tenth day of June, 1830, he issued his order
for the organization of Knox county by the election of three county commission-
ers, one sheriff and one coroner to serve in and for said county of Knox until
superseded by the persons elected at the general election to be held the first Mon-
day of August next. . i.

The organization of Knox county is of such interest and importance to the
people that all orders pertaining to the same are given in full, and no more fitting
tribute of respect to the memory of John G. Sanborn, under whose skill and
ability this organization was effected, than the publication of such orders in this
history. The accuracy of these orders, written at such an early date, will be ob-
served and appreciated by every attorney in this county.

The following are ^the orders in the circuit court of said county held on the
first Monday in October, 1830, which was the first day of the first term of said
court ever held in Knox county. ;/;. . :' . -;

.. .. \ ';; : /^x OCTOBER TERM, 1830 i^^' ^ ; .'-';'.> V"

.') PLEAS, before the Honorable Richard M. Young, judge of the fifth judicial
circuit of the state of Illinois, at a circuit court, began and holden in and for the
county of Knox and state aforesaid, at the house of John B. Gum, Esq., in
said county, on Eriday, the first day of October, it being the last Eriday before
the first Monday in the said month of October, in the year of Our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and thirty, and of the independence of the United States -
the fifty-fifth : ' . '.

Present, The Hon. Richa.rd M. Young, circuit judge ; John G. Sanborn, clerk ; ,:
Stephen Osborn, sheriff ; James M. Strode, Esq., state's atty. pro tem.

ORDERED : That the order heretofore made on the tenth day of June in the .
year of Our Lord, 1830, for the organization of the said county of Knox. tbgether
with the order, made on the 5th day of July, A. D., 1830, regulating the times of
holding the circuit court in said county, be spread upon the records of this court ;
which said orders are in the words, and figures following, to wit :

10 : HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^^-^

State of Illinois, ) ^, , \ ;.. - ;;. ; ;

Fifth Judicial Circuit : j

The People of the State of Illinois, to all who shall see these Presents:
Greeting:

Whereas, by the ninth and eleventh sections of the act entitled "An Act
forming new Counties out of the Counties of Pike and Fulton, and the attached
parts thereof" approved i3th January, 1825, it is made the duty of the presiding
judge of the fifth judicial circuit of the state of Illinois, whenever it shall be
made appear, to his satisfaction, that either of the counties of Hancock, Warren,
Mercer, Henry, Putnam or Knox contain three hundred and fifty inhabitants, to
proceed to organize the same, and to grant an order for the election of officers,
preparatory thereto; and whereas, it has been made appear to my satisfaction,
that the said county of Knox contains three hundred and fifty inhabitants and up-
wards, and inasmuch as the greater part of the qualified voters of the said county,
have requested by petition, that the same should be organized with as little delay
as possible ; I do therefore in pursuance of the power vested in me by virtue of
the 9th and nth sections of the above recited act, ORDER and DIRECT, that an elec-
tion be held in and for the said county of Knox at the house of John B. Gum, on
Saturday, the third day of July, A. D., 1830, for the election of three county com-
missioners, one sheriff and one coroner, to serve, when elected and qualified, in
and for the said county of Knox, respectively, until they shall be superseded, by
the persons who may be elected at the general election, to be held on the first Mon-
day in August next ; and for the purpose of having this order carried into execu-
tion, I do hereby appoint Jacob Gum, Stephen Osborn and Nicholas Voiles of
said county, judges of the said election, whose duty it shall be to set up written or
printed advertisements, or notices of said election, in at least six of the most
public places in said county inclusive of the place at which said election is hereby
directed to be held, having regard to the situation and population of the different
settlements within said county at least ten days previous to the said election, to
the end that all persons concerned may have timely notice thereof. The election
to be VIVA VOCE, between the hours of lo o'clock in the morning and 7 o'clock
in the evening of said day and conducted, as /ar as may be practicable, in con-
formity with the act entitled "An act regulating elections," approved January loth,
1829. And lastly, the said judges are to certify the result of said election to the
secretary of state as soon as thereafter may be convenient, in order that the per-
sons who may be elected may be commissioned and qualified with as little delay
as possible. And after the election of the said county officers, I do hereby de-
clare the said county of Knox, to be organized, and entitled to the same rights
and privileges, as the other counties in this state.

Given under my hand and seal, at Lewistown, this loth day of June, in the
year of Our Lord, 1830, and of the independence of the United States the fifty-
fourth. .

-..-, -A 1

.; RICHARD M. YOUNG, '

'-''-

\. :;.'.;,.: Judge Fifth Judicial Circuit, State of Illinois. ",

JOHN G. SANBORN produced in court his appointment as clerk of said court,
which was ordered to be entered of record, and is in the words and figures fol-
lowing, to-wit :

' > - ^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ."xV^/ H

State of Illinois,

I Set.

Fifth Judicial Circuit.

; The People of the State of Illinois, to all who shall see these presents;
Greeting:

Know ye, that I, Richard M. Young, judge of the fifth judicial circuit of the
state of Illinois, north of the Illinois river, and presiding judge of the circuit
court, in and for, the county of Knox, and state aforesaid (whenever the same
shall be organized), reposing especial trust and confidence in the integrity and
capacity of John G. Sanborn, Esq., have, and by these presents do, for and in
behalf of the people of the state of Illinois, appoint him clerk of the circuit
court in and for the said county of Knox, and state aforesaid. And I do hereby
authorize and empower him, to have and to exercise all the powers and duties,
legally appertaining to the said office, and to collect and receive all the emolu-
ments therefrom arising, during good behaviour.

Given under my hand and seal, at Lewistown this loth day of June A. D.,
1830, and of the independence of the United States the fifty-fourth. -..-'<
(SEAL) , , . - RICHARD M. YOUNG. -^

Judge Fifth Judicial Circuit, Illinois.

Pursuant to the order of the Hon. Richard M. Young, judge of the fifth
judicial circuit of the state of Illinois, for the holding of an election for the
election of county commissioners, it will appear from the following that said
election was held on the third day of July. 1830, and the action of the commis-
sioners in pursuance thereof is herein entered in full.

--' ' ' :.'- '

, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ^SPECIAL TERM JULY 7TH, 1830^ :.

At a special term of a county commissioners court began and held at the
house of John B. Gum, Esq., in and for the county of Knox in the state of Illi-
nois on this seventh day of July A. D. 1830 (pursuant to notice of Riggs Pen-
nington, Philip Hash and Charles Hansford, commissioners elect for said county ;

Present, Riggs Pennington, Philip Hash and Charles Hansford, who, at an
election, held in and for the said county of Knox, on the 3rd day of July A. D.
1830, in pursuance of an order of the Honorable Richard M. Young, judge of
the fifth judicial circuit, in the state of Illinois, were duly elected to the office of
county commissioners for said county of Knox ; and the said county commis-
sioners being duly sworn into office, the said court was declared duly organized
for the transaction of business by Stephen Osborn the sheriff elect for said
county.

John B. Gum was appointed by the judges of this court as a clerk of said
court.

ORDERED: That this court be adjourned to meet at the same place on the
9th day of July instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of said day.

The appointment of John B. Gum as clerk of the county commissioners
court for some reason proved unsuccessful and he declined to serve, probably
because he preferred to be county treasurer, to which office he was appointed
July 9th. Whereupon John G. Sanborn was appointed. By this appointment

12 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY >^-;:.:

Mr. Sanborn became clerk of both courts in the county. The following orders
of court will fully show this appointment: . . . . .

. :^; ': SPECIAL TERM JULY 9, 1830 ./:' :/;.-'

At a special term of the county commissioners court, began and held at the
house of John B. Gum, Esq., in and for the county of Knox in the state of Illi-
nois pursuant to adjournment, this pth day of July A. D. 1830.

Present, Riggs Pennington, Philip Hash, Charles Hansford, county
commissioners.

John B. Gum who, at the last special term of this court, was appointed clerk
of said court, having declined the acceptance of said appointment, John G. San-
bom was thereupon appointed clerk of this court. t ;; .

John G. Sanborn produced in court his appointment as clerk of the county
commissioners court for the county of Knox, and was sworn into office by Philip
Hash one of the commissioners of said court ; which appointment and oath is in
the words and figures following, to wit:

Knox County, | c .. : , ' -

State of Illinois, j ' ,- ...

To all who shall see these presents, Greeting:

Know ye, that we the undersigned county commissioners in and for the
said county of Knox and state of Illinois, reposing special trust and confidence
in the integrity and capacity of John G. Sanborn, have, and by these presents do,
in behalf of the people of the said county of Knox, appoint the said John G.
Sanborn clerk of the county commissioners court in and for the said county of
Knox and state of Illinois. And we do hereby authorize and empower the said
John G. Sanborn, to have and to exercise all the powers and duties legally
appertaining to the said office, and to collect and receive all the emoluments,
arising therefrom, during good behavior.

Given under our hands and seals this ninth day of July in the year of Our
Lord 1830, and of the independence of the United States the fifty- fourth,]

..... , CHARLES HANSFORD, ..... (SEAL) .

.^ . . . RIGGS PENNINGTON, ';";';, (SEAL) -I,

': PHILIP HASH, ' - ^' (SEAL)

ORDERED: That the temporary seat of justice for Knox county shall be at
the house of John B. Gum, Esq.. in said county.

ORDERED : That for the purpose of holding the next general election, to be
held on the first Monday of August next, the said county of Knox shall be one
precinct and that the said election shall be held at the house of John B. Gum,
Esq.

ORDERED: That Jacob Gum. Nicholas V^oiles and Thomas Maxwell be ap-
pointed to act as judges of election in the district composed of the county of
Knox. :.::-.-; 1: -V

ORDERED: That t.he clerk be authorized to procure a suitable seal for this
court, and also a suitable seal for the circuit court ; and also all necessary and
suitable books, for the circuit and county commissioners courts, for said county,

ORDERED : That the sum of seventy-five cents be allowed to each of the

/:^; ;;:;:'; ..:-;-f HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ; V - :K: 18

judges and clerks of an election held on the 3rd day of July ; and that the clerk
issue an order on the treasurer in favor of each, viz., . . . ,j,

No. I Jacob Gum, for seventy-five cents. v . :.

; ' No. 2 Nicholas Voiles, for seventy-five cents. ,- . , '. ' -; ''^-. ;

; .; No. 3 Stephen Osborn, for seventy-five cents. ^ r : ':> v-i V, ^ ^' v :

No. 4 William McMurtry for seventy-five cents. /--'^ '''' '^

;. :' No. 5 Jonathan C. Reed for seventy-five cents.

John B. Gum was appointed by the Commissioners of this Court, Treasurer
for the county of Knox, and it was . C

OIIDERED: That the clerk deliver to him his appointment, and request him
to file his bond, for the penal sum of five hundred dollars with the clerk of this
court before the next term thereof.

ORDERED: That the clerk issue a license for retailing spirituous liquors for
the term of one year from the date thereof, to Samuel S. White in said county,
on his paying into the county treasury the sum of two dollars, and to the clerk
his fees for issuing the same ; and that the following tavern rates be established,
for the regulation of the said Samuel S. White, viz :

For a half pint of whiskey 12^ cents

- For a half pint of brandy i8^ cents V;

For a half pint of wine ' 25 cents '

For a meal of victuals 25 cents

; . For lodging for one person one night 12^ cents :.;:

: For a feed of corn or oats for a horse 12^ cents .;' .

For feed and stabling for a horse one night 25 cents

We have now traced the territorial jurisdiction and the organization of the
county of Knox to a point where everything may proceed with orderly sequence.
We are now leaving that part of our subject to take up the general business of
the county at a point where we have the circuit and county commissioners courts
fully established and all the county officers properly inducted into office.

It is interesting to notice, however, that the first act of the county after its full
preparation to do business was the granting of a license to sell intoxicating liq-
uor, a thing which could not be done today under any circumstances whatever.
The board of supervisors have at different times been petitioned for the grant-
ing of such a license and have always refused to do so by an overwhelming vote.
We may learn one thing, however, from this record, that the drinking of liquor
in all probability was not carried on in the tippling house proper but was pur-
chased and taken home in small quantities for home consumption, which much
minimizes the evil of the traffic. The tippling house with its attendant evils was
reserved for the time when the business became differentiated from all other
businesses and when the fight for profits was concentrated upon the sale of liq-
uor alone.

It will be our duty to take up in the next and succeeding chapters a considera-
tion of the more important transactions of the county of Knox.

14 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

:. MINOR COURTS AND PERMANENT SEAT OF JUSTICE '> '
:/ : .:- .^^::.VV..:-..>..-:X;- :-/ ::..rv-:v:-:<;^. .

After placing the county machinery in good working order, the commissioners
undertook the work of providing minor courts for the people, and to get posses-
sion of such funds as were coming from the county of Fulton from taxes levied
on Knox county property while Knox county was under judicial control of Fulton
county as shown in previous pages of this history. The orders on these matters
are given in full for the purpose of showing methods of transacting business in
those days.

ORDERED: That for the election of justices of the peace and constables, the '
county of Knox shall be and hereby is divided into two districts, bounded and
defined as follows: The first of said districts shall include all that part of the .v , ' -
said county lying north of the township line between townships number ten and .;
eleven north, and shall be called the "Henderson" district. And the second of
said districts, shall include all that part of said county lying south of the town-
ship line between townships number ten and eleven north, and shall be called the .;;
."Spoon River" district. i:

ORDERED: That J^cob Gum, Nicholas Voiles and Thomas Maxwell be, and 'VV.:
hereby are, appointed judges of elections for justices of the peace and consta- . 'v'
bles, in the "Henderson" district in the county of Knox, and that elections in : ' .'
said district be held at the house of John B. Gum, Esq., and that an election be
held in said district on the 7th day of August next, for three justices of the j I'',-
peace and two constables. ' ;/.,

ORDERED: That Abraham Swarts, Hiram Palmer and Parnack Owen, be, and .,
are hereby, appointed judges of elections for justices of the peace and consta- ; :-
bles in the "Spoon River" district in the county of Knox, and that elections in ; .
said district be held at the house of Abraham Swarts, Esq., and that an election '..-.''^
be held in said district on Saturday the 7th day of August next, for two justices ' 1 .

of the peace and two constables. :. : 'V .^'^-.?.'^ '':':'. '':-"?! '-rV;-.^'-;

To the County Commissioners of Fulton County :

We the undersigned county commissioners of Knox county do hereby peti-
tion your honorable court to grant an order of said court, to furnish to the
clerk of the county commissioners court of Knox county a list of the property
in said county of Knox, assessed for taxation by the county of Fulton for the ,\ ..
present year, and to relinquish to the said county of Knox, the right of collect- v
ing said taxes. And should the above petition be granted, we do hereby agree to
account to your honorable court, for all taxes on lands in said county of ?
Knox, with which the county of Fulton may have become chargeable by the -
auditor of public accounts; and further, to account for expenses legally in-,
curred in taking the assessment of said county of Knox. ;.;..;

Dated Knox county, this I7th day of July, 1830. \^ ' .. u'^-,^ V I .- ^ ^ !V^^^,
V >^.;!:-.. . . . .' ^ ''.'''': CHARLES HANSFORD, ', 'f^

- -.^^ ;X- ;,.,'.' ..,- ' '':' ^']- ..-''.'.;;' RiGGs PEXNINGTON, , ./;';v!.y

PHILIP HASH. V^'

ORDERED: That the clerk of this court leave the above recited memorial, -:''v.
with the clerk of the county commissioners court of Fulton county, and re-
quest him to lay the same before said court, at their next regular or special term.

- .; V. : / "f HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^ ^ 16

' It will be remembered that Riggs Pennington, Philip Hash and Charles Hans-
ford were elected members of county commissioners court on July 3, 1830, to
organize the county; that they met on the 7th of July and adjourned to July gth;
that on said July gth they ordered a new election to be held at the house of John
B. Gum on the first Monday in August following at the time of the general
election; that election was held as provided and Pennington, Hash and Alexan-
der Frakes were elected to the first commissioners court under the general
election in the county. At the December term 1830 of the court was reported
upon what conditions the county commissioners of Fulton county would turn
over to Knox county the collection of taxes which had been levied by Fulton
county on Knox county property. The order of approval is as follows :

ORDERED: That the conditions proposed by county commissioners of Ful-
ton county at their special term on the 26th of August, as certified by the clerk
of said court on file be accepted, and that the clerk of this court issue an order for
the sum of eight dollars and twenty-five cents, and cause the said amount to be
paid into the county treasury of Fulton county on or before the first Monday of
March, 1831.

It seems from the above that the work of assessing and extending the taxes
on Knox county property at that time could be done for $8.25. The assessment
of taxes at that time was a very simple matter. The following order was entered
at the March term 1831 of said court.

ORDERED: That a tax of one-half per centum be assessed on all personal
property liable to taxation by law, in the county of Knox for the year 1831.
':' John B. Gum, treasurer of Knox county, produced in court a statement of
his account with the said county as follows: ,.

The county of Knox in a/c with John B. Gum ................... ..... Cr.

By Specie received of Sam'I S. White for tavern license ............ .\$ 2.OO

By amount of the revenue received from the state treasury for the -;

year 1830 being Jhe specie rec'd in exchange for the same ........ 320.00

By amount rec'd from the sheriff of Knox county being the amount

collected by him for taxes on personal property for the year 1830 as .
; follows, viz : ................................................. ; ;t -ix '

- - State Paper ................................. $ 5.00 , v;-V; .';' A>:;

; ;'* ' County Orders .............................. 10.75 ' -

''''''^-^ Specie ..................................... . 3-57 19-32

The county of Knox Dr. To paid county orders as follows, viz :

: . ; No. I Jacob Gum ................................. 75 v -. ' , ;

,; No. 2 Nicholas Voiles ............................. 75 :^'V -:-;:''. :K;

'... No. 3 Stephen Osborn ............................. 75 .;P,':':''V^

No. 4 Wm. McMurtry ............................. 75 -. .

. No. 7 Nicholas Voiles ............................. 75 ;'.; } . v ^

." No. 8 Charles Hansford ........................... 75 -:^'-/,: '^1

. No. lO Wm. McMurtry ............................. 75 . ?; x, ' 7-' '

. No. 13 Charles Hansford .......................... 1.50 T

> ; No. 19 John B. Gum .............................. 4.00 -^ 10.75

Balance remaining in the county treasury this 7th day of March, 1831 . .$330.57
. , JOHN B. GUM, Treasurer of Knox County,

16 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

ORDERED: That the above account be accepted, and that the treasurer be al-
lowed two per cent on the amount paid out of the county treasury as per the
above account.

ORDERED: That John B. Guni^be reappointed treasurer of Knox county and
that he be required to give a new bond for the penal sum of five hundred dollars,
and file the same in this court.

The money received from the state was the greatest part of the revenue of
the county as shown by the above report of the county treasurer. Five hundred
dollars was the amount of the treasurer's bond for that year.

The temporary seat of justice was at the house of John B. Gum, Esq., located
on section 32, Henderson township. In the very nature of things, this arrange-
ment could not last long. Accordingly on the I2th day of March, 1831, the
county commissioners ordered the construction of a court house upon specifica-
tions which are entered below. The contract for the building was let in two
parts and was divided according to the following orders:

ORDERED: That a contract be entered into with the lowest bidder for the
erection of a court house as follows: To be built of logs hewed on the ground
and raised two stories high, the first story to be nine feet high between the
sleepers and joists, the second story to be eight feet between the joists and top
of the wall plates; the size of the building to be twenty-eight feet long and
twenty feet wide, the corners to be sawed down after the building is raised.
Thirteen sleepers to be delivered on the ground; and thirteen joists to be nine
inches by three inches in size to be hewed straight and planed smooth and placed
in the building at equal distances apart, level and ready for the reception of a
floor; said building to be erected on such part of the quarter section designated
by law, for the seat of justice for said county as may be selected by the county
commissioners on or before the loth day of April^ and said job to be completed
on or before the 2Oth day of May next; said building to be placed on a solid and
permanent foundation of pillars of stone, one at each corner and one at the
center of each side, to be raised one foot above the surface of the ground. The
sills are to be hewed square, ten by twelve inches in size and to be laid level and
so as to leave four inches clear inside the logs, and to be made of good sound
over cup* or white oak timber the first round of logs above the sills also to be
over cup or white oak; the wall plates are to be hewed square, lo by 8 inches in
size and to be delivered on the ground two plates 28 feet long, and two plates
20 feet long.

ORDERED: That a contract be entered into with the lowest bidder, for com-
pleting and finishing the court house in the following manner, viz : The plates
are to be raised and laid level and a good substantial roof to be put on, made of
good black walnut shingles i8 inches in length, jointed and well put on; thirteen
sleepers to be hewed on one side and laid level in a workmanlike manner, and a
floor of good white oak or ash plank one and one- fourth inch thick and 7 by 9
inches wide to be laid close but not jointed or laid down tight; two windows and
one door to be cut out and cased and faced with plank, the windows to be of
suitable size to receive the sash for 12 lights of glass 8 by lO inches, the door to
be of good large suitable size, and to be made of good plank and made to fit the

*burr oak.

Plate V That part of Illinois ceded by the Indians Nov. 3rd, 180*.
covering Knox County.

Plate VI Pike County, Illinois, covering what is now Knox County. . ;..

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ? ; ^ 17

casing, and well hung in a workmanlike manner. The windows and door to be
placed in such part of the building as the commissioners may direct on or before
the 2oth day of May next, and the whole work to be completed before the first
Monday in June next.

At this time there was no town in which, and no land belonging to the county,
on which to build this court house. Nevertheless, on the same day the court
entered the following orders:

ORDERED: That a contract be entered into with the lowest bidder for posts
and stakes for laying out a town at the seat of justice for said county as follows:
Four posts for the corners of the public square to be seven feet in length, 12
inches squari, to be hewed and planed for four feet in length and a suitable head
cut or turned, the head to be painted white and the remainder of the four feet
to be painted red or black three feet at the lower end of said posts to be left
the full size of the timber, and to be the butt ends of white oak or over cup trees.
Three hundred stakes three feet in length, to be shaved four inches square for
one foot in length at the upper end' the lower end to be hewed or shaved to a
point and the remainder to be hewed or shaved square to be delivered at or
near the center of the quarter section designated for the seat of justice for said
county on or before the ist day of April next. The posts may be painted after
they shall be placed in the ground at any time before the 2Oth day of May next,
the stakes to be made of large over cup timber suitable for board timber.

ORDERED: That the foregoing jobs of work be offered to be let to the lowest
bidder upon the following terms, viz: One-third part of the amount of each
contract to be paid out of the county treasury on taking the contract and upon
the contractor's giving bond with security approved by the court for the per-
formance of the contract ; and the other two-thirds of the amount of edch con-
tract to be paid out of the first money arising from the sale of lots in said town,
or out of the revenue which may be due from the state treasury to said county
for the year 1831, whenever it shall come into the county treasury. Every per-
son taking a contract, shall within two days after taking a contract, enter into
a bond with sufficient security in a penalty of double the aniount of said con-
tract for the faithful performance of the same. . /

William Lewis, having offered to take the first contract for the erection of a
court house for the sum of seventy-eight dollars, and being the lowest bidder for
same it is therefore ORDERED: That a contract be entered into for the same.

Parnach Owen, having offered to take the second contract for completing and
finishing the court house, for the sum of one hundred dollars, and he being the
lowest bidder, it is ORDERED : That a contract be entered into with him for same.

Andrew Osborn, having offered to take the third contract for posts and
stakes, for the sum of fifteen dollars, and he being the lowest bidder for the
same it is therefore ORDERED: That a contract be made with him for the same.

On the i4th day of March it was concluded that six more windows were
needed in the court house and we find the following entry.

Parnach Owen, having offered to make six additional windows in the court
house of the same description as those mentioned in his contract, for the sum of
six dollars, ORDERED: That the same be added to his contract.

Provision having been made for a court house, the county commissioners
took steps to acquire land on which to build and for laying out a town which

Vol. I 1

18 " HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

should constitute a permanent seat of justice. On March 24th the following
proceedings were had in said matter:

ORDERED : That some suitable person be employed to proceed on to the land
offices in Springfield, as agent for the county of Knox, to secure the title to said
county by pre-emption for the S. W. 28 ii N. 2 E., being the land designated
by law as the permanent seat of justice, for said county; and for this purpose
that the same be offered to the lowest bidder upon his giving bond in a penalty
of double the amount of money entrusted to him, with sufficient securties to be
approved by the court, conditioned that the person so employed and empowered
shall proceed to go to the land offices in Springfield as soon as practicable, and
make application for said land in the name of the county commissioners of said
county, and make return of the certificate he may receive for said land, on or
before the loth day of April next, to the said commissioners or to the clerk of
said court.

Rees Jones, having offered to go on to the land offices at Springfield as agent
as before mentioned, for the sum of eight dollars, and having offered a bond
for the faithful performance of said commission as above specified, it is
ORDERED: That the said offer and bond be accepted and that the bond be filed
in the clerk's office.

ORDERED: That Rees Jones be and he hereby is employed and authorized as
agent for the county commissioners of Knox county, to proceed on to the land
offices at Springfield and make application in the name of the said county com-
missioners for the use of said county, for the southwest quarter of section twen-
ty-eight, in township eleven north, in range two east, of the fourth principal
meridian, being the quarter section designated by law for the seat of justice for
said county, and to which the said commissioners are entitled to the right of
pre-emption, according to the laws of the United States, and that the clerk of
this court furnish them with a certified copy of this order, and also a certified
copy of the act passed at the last session of the general assembly of this state,
entitled "An act to establish a permanent seat of justice for Knox county and
for other purposes," approved January 15, 1831. And for the purposes afore-
said, the clerk is hereby authorized to issue an order on the treasurer in favor of
Rees Jones, agent for said commissioners, as aforesaid for the sum of two hun-
dred and five dollars. r -'-,: ^ -.::-'.''' h - ' 'V . ;

ORDERED : That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Rees
Jones for eight dollars, his compensation for going to Springfield as agent for
the county commissioners of Knox county.

Having arranged for the purchase of land on which to build a town and a
court house, the committee on the first day of April, 1831, entered into a con-
tract with Parnach Owen for dividing the same into lots and blocks according
to the following plan.

ORDERED: That a contract be made with Parnach Owen for laying out the
town of Henderson, the minutes of which contract are as follows: The said
Owen agrees to survey and establish the exterior lines and corners of the south-
west quarter of section twenty-eight in township eleven north, in range two
east, and to lay off the streets of said town as follows: Main street to be six
rods wide, the north side of said street to be 54 rods south of, and parallel with
the north line of the said quarter section ; two other streets 4 rods wide to be laid

fla^j; ^

Plate \'II Fulton County, Illinois, covering the south four townships of what is now Knox County.

Plate \'III Knox County, Illinois, as formed Jan. 13, 18i5. The north four townships of Knox
County of to-day, then covered by Henry County.

Plate IX Knox County, Illinois, as formed Jan. 15, 1831, being the same as to-day, with two town-
ships added on the northeast.

Plat. V k'nnv rniintM

:' V-- .; ; ' ^: :; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY . 19

' " \ '

out at a distance of 20 rods one on each side of and parallel with Main street;
two other streets 4 rods wide to be laid out from South to North across said quar-
ter section 40 rods distant from and parallel with the east and west lines of said
quarter section ; and two other cross streets 4 rods wide extending from the
south to North street, and crossing Main street and 20 rods from and parallel
with the east and west streets and bounding the public square on the east and
west sides ; the public square to be laid out and bounded east and west by the two
last mentioned cross streets and extending lo rods north and south of Main
street; all the blocks between north and south street to be laid out in lots to
contain one quarter of an acre of land and to be lo rods in length by 40 rods in
width fronting north and south upon one of the streets running east and west;
the remainder of the quarter section to be laid off into out lots as follows : The
land on the north side of North street to be divided into 4 lots and the land on
the south side of South street to be divided into 8 lots as nearly equal in size as
may be thought advisable, said Owen to stick and drive and number the stakes
at the corners of the lots and set 4 posts and the said Owen is to be paid twelve
and a half cents for each large and small lot, in said town as a full compensation
for laying out and surveying said town ; to be paid and discharged in lots in said
town at the same prices and rates as may be obtained for the same at the first
sale of lots for cash or prompt payment.

On the 9th day of April, 1831, there was another meeting of the county com-
missioners at which was presented the following receipt showing the purchase
of land which had been set apart by law for the seat of justice of Knox county.

.'.:-:/;''::':..";; "''.' .;{:r'^ RECEIVER'S OFFICE. '/.J.'- /-:.: . ' ^.'^'V:-' '.'':';:"

No. 4793. (Duplicate) ;;V ' . ;" ^' : ' ' :'_::.'.::: - -v , . .-;

' ;-'';;>..>: : -, SPRINGFIELD, April ist, 1831.

Received from Alexander C. Frakes and Riggs Penning^on, (county commis-
sioners of Knox county. 111.) the sum of two hundred dollars, being in full for
S. W. qr. of section No. 28, township No. ii North, Range No. 2 east, 4th pi.
md. containing one hundred and sixty acres at the rate of $1.25 per acre. $200.

/: V'-'V;.'xV. --^ -''':' ';---^'-;;-v^ JOHN TAYLOR, Receiver.

And now having acquired perfect title to the land by purchase from the gov-
ernment and having subdivided the same into lots and blocks, a day was fixed
for the sale of such lots and blocks as it was deemed advisable to offer at the
time. .:'.>>;.:-:;;:".';;''; '' ^.'- ..;','';-

ORDERED : That a sale of lots in the town of Henderson be made on the 23rd
day of April, 1831, as follows: The lots which may be offered for sale will be
sold to the highest bidder, and immediately after the sale of the lots, the pur-
chasers will be required to give a note or obligation with approved security for
the amount for which each lot shall be sold, payable in three equal installments ;
one-third part of said amount payable in 12 months, one-third part in i8 months,
and one-third part in 24 months from the day of sale; subject, however, to a
deduction of eight per centum per annum, for the payment of the said amount
at the time of sale, or at the same rate for the payment of any of the said in-
stallments, at any time before the same shall become due; and the purchasers
will receive from the county commissioners a bond for a deed to be made on

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

the full payment of the amount for which each lot may be sold; and the clerk V
is required to prepare blank bonds and notes for said sale. j-;

A plat of the ground as surveyed was made and acknowledged by the ,/,
county commissioners before William McMurtry, a justice of the peace of said .
county, being the town of Henderson, and was delivered to the recorder of the
county according to law on the 23rd day of April, 1831, being the day on which'
certain lots were sold at auction. At that sale seventy-nine lots were sold for ^
$1,256 or an average price of practically $15.90 per lot. The lots varied in price
from $4 up to $6i each. For making the survey Parnach Owen was paid the
sum of $18.25 ^"d it was ordered that the court house be located on the south-
west corner of lot lo, in block 5, so as to front on Main street 28 feet. It was .
ordered that a further sale of lots be made on Monday the i3th day of June, * .
1831. Upon that day a second sale was made which resulted in disposing of .:' v
eighteen lots for a gross sum of $233.50. Upon the same day the work per-
formed by William Lewis on the court house was examined and approved and ''
Mr. Lewis was discharged from the contract and was paid $52, also Parnach ;-:^.'
Owen appeared and was discharged from the contract and he was allowed $6 :; ' '
in addition for extra work and paid $76.66. Upon the same day Andrew Os- ;
born appeared with his contract for stakes and posts which was declared satis- . .
fied and he was discharged from further work and the clerk was directed to - ' .
issue an order on the treasurer in the sum of $io in payment of said contract.

On the 6th day of September, 1831, the county commissioners court con- -'V'
vened and entered the following order in regard to further work upon the ,; ^
court house. .:;'

ORDERED: That notice be given that on Saturday the I7th day of Septem- :;;
ber inst. at the court house in the town of Henderson, the following jobs of '
work will severally be let to the lowest bidder, to-wit: For underpinning the ' '
walls of the court house and for finishing the walls of the court house by chink- ' \'
ing and daubing the same, and nailing boards on the outside over the cracks v;;.
and daubing. For furnishing oak or ash plank and laying loose the upper floor ,-
in the court house. For furnishing sash, glass, putty, etc., and finishing the win-
dows of the court house; making a suitable seat for the judge, table for the
clerk and seats for the court, the particulars respecting the same to be made f .
known at the time they are let out. ;. ' . > vV; ^j ' v.v' / ' - ;^':'

ORDERED : That John G. Sanborn be authorized to procure a suitable stove
and stove pipe for the court house, and also a lock and key for the same.

ORDERED: That no family be permitted to reside in the court house, and
that as soon as the same shall be finished it shall be kept locked, and the key
thereof deposited with the clerk of this court. .;

On the 1 7th day of September, 1831, the commissioners proceeded to let the
contract for completing the court house according to the notice previously given
and the reading of the contract and specifications are so quaint and full of in- ;
structions that they are given in full below. It is certainly a matter of educa-
tion to the people of today and will continue to be such more and more as time
passes on. They are as follows:

The commissioners proceeded agreeably to notice given to let out the jobs
of work for finishing the court house as follows : A contract was entered into by
the commissioners with Robert K. Hendricks for underpinning the court house

;y>f:;. ; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY . . yt 21

with good sound rock to be laid to face on the outside and laid tight and in a
workmanlike manner. Also to chink the cracks of the walls on the inside with
blocks of suitable size to fill the cracks and of convenient lengths to be laid in
lengthwise so as to fill up the cracks full and plum with the wall and fastened
with pins well drove into the logs and the pins sawed off close: The cracks to
be filled full and plum with the outside of the logs with clay mortar well worked
and tempered and mixed with straw or hay and rough boards of sufficient width
to cover the cracks and daubing to be nailed on the outside over the daubing
to be completed on or before the 22nd day of October next, and for which the
said commissioners agreed to pay to the said Hendricks the sum of thirty-
seven dollars and a half, of which one dollar and forty-nine cents is to be paid
out of the treasury upon entering contract as above, and the remaining sum of
thirty-six to be allowed to the said Hendricks in payment of any town lots
sold at any former sale : it was

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of the said
Robert K. Hendricks for the sum of one dollar and forty-nine cents on the
above named contract.

Calvin Glass having offered to furnish oak or ash plank i ^ inches thick and
eight or nine inches wide for the upper floor in the court house, and to lay the
same loose, on or before the 22nd day of October next, for the sum of eighteen
dollars, which offer was accepted by the commissioners one-half of the said
sum to be paid by an order on treasurer on the ensealing hereof, and the other
half to be paid on the completion of the same : Whereupon it was

ORDERED : That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Calvin
Glass for the sum of nine dollars on the above contract.

Calvin Glass offered to finish and complete eight windows in the court house
and to furnish glass, putty and other materials requisite for the same each win-
dow to contain two sash, each of six lights of 8 by lo glass (12 lights to each
window), the glass to be set with putty and the sash to be primed, fitted and put
in in a workmanlike manner. Also to erect a seat or stand for the judges as fol-
lows: a platform to be erected seven feet long, three and a half feet wide and
eighteen inches high, with a step or stair at each end of the same; standards to
be inserted and framed in, and the front and back to be closed up with plank
neatly jointed and matched, the front to be two feet nine inches above the top
of the platform, and an inclined writing shelf about fifteen inches broad placed
on the top, projecting over the front about one-third part of the width of it.
The platform to be framed and put together so as to stand independent of the
walls of the building the whole to be made of good suitable plank in a work-
manlike manner. Also a table two feet and ten inches high, seven feet long and
three and a half feet wide, the legs to be framed together at the top and bottom,
and to be made strong and finished in a neat, substantial, and workmanlike man-
ner. Also six seats or benches of- suitable height, nine or ten feet long and at least
twelve inches wide, to be made of suitable plank, the l^s to be of plank and
braced with strips on each side, and to be planed smooth and made strong and
substantial ; to furnish all the materials requisite and suitable for the whole of
the above work and to complete the same on or before the 22nd of October next,
for the sum of forty-three dollars, to be paid out of the county treasury on the
completion of said work ; and the said offer having been accepted.

22 ' : HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

ORDERED: That the clerk prepare written contracts for the above work with
Calvin Glass and execute the same on part of the commissioners upon his enter-
ing into contract and giving security for the performance of the same.

On September 7th, 1831, the following orders were given:

ORDERED : That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Robert
K. Hendricks for the sum of five dollars and fifty cents in part on his contract
for completing the court house.

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Calvin
Glass for the siun of fifteen dollars in part on his contract for windows, etc., for
the court house. . ,

September 15, 1832, we find the following orders:

Upon the request of the court, George A. Charles and John B. Gum having
taken into consideration the contract of Robert K. Hendricks, and having ex-
amined the work performed under said contract, gave it as their opinion to the
court, that the said Robert K. Hendricks is not entitled to full compensation for
said work, but that the sum of two dollars and fifty cents be deducted from the
amount of said contract. Whereupon it is

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Robert
K. Hendricks, or bearer, for the sum of twenty-eight dollars, receivable in pay-
ment of any town lots sold at any sale previous to the ijth day of October, 1831,
as a full compensation for the work done on said contract, and that the said con-
tract and bond be endorsed satisfied, and the said Robert K. Hendricks and his
security be released from said contract and bond.

ORDERED : That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer for the sum of
thirty-three dollars in favor of Calvin Glass or bearer, being in full compensation
for a certain contract entered into by the said Glass for finishing the court house
by putting in windows, making seats, table and judge's stand, and the above in-
cluding five dollars additional compensation for extra work done on the judge's
stand, etc., and that the said contract and bond be endorsed satisfied.

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Calvin
Glass or bearer, for the sum of nine dollars in full, compensation for his con-
tract for furnishing plank and laying loose the upper fioor of the court house;
and that the said Calvin Glass be held on his contract accountable for any de-
ficiency of plank which may be required to lay said floor agreeably to contract.

THE TOPOGRAPHY AiND GEOLOGY OF KNOX COUNTY

BY FREDERICK R. JELLIFF

The topography of Knox county is determined by the watershed between
the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. This elevation diagonally traverses the
northwest part of the county and creates two main drainage districts, the one to
the south and southeast with Spoon river as its main channel, and the other to
the northwest, with branches of Pope and Henderson creeks furnishing the
outlet. By much the larger part of the county is drained by Spoon river and
its net work of creeks with their brooks and rivulets. These run south and
east on the north and west side of the river and north and northwest and west

^ ^^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ' > ; ' 28

on the east and south side of the river. This ridge varies from a quarter to a
mile in width and is part of the watershed extending from nearly the north
boundary of the State to the south and west.

Knox county is thus by no means a uniform surface, a level prairie, but
is diversified, with its rich prairie uplands, its long slopes to the streams, its
rounded hills, its often broad valleys and occasionally abrupt bluffs.

There is a remarkable ramification of streams as a glance at the map will
show. Counting the mapped contributary streams. Spoon river has a total
of 352 tributaries in this county, not including those of Walnut creek, that afford
drainage to every mile of its basin. On the north it has twelve main streams and
twelve on the south and east. Court creek, running east from east of Galesburg
to the river gets to be a fine stream often with wide and picturesque valley,
with high, rounded hills for a border; and emptying into it are nine main
branches, some of which extend far north into the adjacent territory. Haw
creek is another handsome stream, with Brush as one of its main assets, and with
a total of eleven main tributaries, including those of Brush. French creek
which flows from the east brings to Spoon river the waters of ten main tribu-
taries, while Willow creek in the extreme south part of the county conveys the
waters of five more. The laterals of all these creeks have their subdivisions,
their sloughs and their draws, extending into seemingly level uplands, and all
charged with water during times of heavy rainfalls. In all are 352 recognizable
and mapped Spoon river streams, little and big, reticulated like veins, conveying
water, sculpturing the land, often filled with precious humus, and gradually
planing down the level of the county. Every hill is the result of this process,
and every valley represents the work of a stream.

Walnut creek, which drains the northeast part of the county, has no less
than sixty-seven tributaries little and big, including the subdivisions of its main
branches, and is a Spoon river auxiliary. To the northwest are Pope creek
with twenty-five tributaries, and Henderson with forty-seven, and including
Cedar Fork with fifteen, all flowing west into the Mississippi river, while in
the extreme southwest part of the county is Cedar creek with twenty-four
tributaries emptying into Spoon river.

. 1>-^', ..;'--:i';'^v>.' /'/' ^v. V THE STREAM SYSTEM ' ', ^:'l. ''-''

To recapitulate the stream system of the county, including all mapped
streams, is as follows:

Spoon river, unnamed 21

Walnut creek 67

Court creek 64

Brush creek ; 43

Haw creek , . v\r /;- 45

Willow creek 22

French creek 51

Cedar creek 24

Miscellaneous 15

Pope creek 25

24 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

Henderson creek 48

Cedar Fork 15

Total 440

Of this total, eighty-eight find their way to the Mississippi, while the remainder
belong to the Spoon river system.

Thus all told on the 720 square miles of territory in this county there are
440 streams, agencies in shaping the surface and giving it its present contour and
character. These are fed by the thirty-six to forty-eight inches of annual rain-
fall, either by direct flow from the surface, or from seepage or springs. It
should also be remembered that every stream has for its feeders its rills and
rivulets. It is indeed amazing how large a work is accomplished by a mere
streamlet during a heavy rain, as it excavates a ravine in the soft hill side, or
plows its way down a cultivated incline, bearing soil away to the bottom land.

A Knox county hill represents the labor usually of two small streams that
in descending from the upland gradually excavate more and more deeply until
the bottom is reached through which they meander to the main channel, the hill
sides meanwhile being rounded into agreeable proportions by the washing away
of the material and the action of frost and atmosphere. As one walks along a
creek like Court he can see hill after hill, between each two of which comes
tumbling and singing a rivulet. The four hundred and forty streams mean there-
fore more than this number of hills, indicating that the areas of level land are
never more than a few square miles in extent and that the whole territory is
magnificently drained.

;.., ; - ;; THE DRAINAGE AREA ;;

When one comes to the drainage areas he finds that they are approximately
distributed as follows:

Spoon river drainage area 430 square miles.

Walnut creek drainage area ii8 square miles.

Pope creek drainage area 30 square miles.

Henderson creek drainage area 62 square miles.

Cedar Fork drainage area 28 square miles. -/[/I

; : ; .V THE ALTITUDES '

The highest altitude on record in the county is that at Wataga, 835 feet above
the sea level; the lowest, 532 feet, that at the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
bridge at London Mills. The river bed is some distance below the bridge, so
that the elevation of the river itself is less than the figure shown for the bridge.
Then the 835 feet is not the highest altitude. Wataga is about a mile south of
the watershed and on its southern slope. The elevation of the ridge is higher
than Wataga. Northwest of Oneida is Pilot Knob, a conspicuous landmark and
in the early day serving as a guide to travelers. From this the land slopes in
all directions and the altitude at its summit must be considerably greater than that
of Wataga. It is judging from the altitude of Oneida not far from 870 feet.

Thus there is between the highest point in the county and the lowest a dif-

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY - 25

ference of at least 350 feet. In going from Spoon river bridge near London Mills
to Pilot Knob, one would ascend about this distance.

Following is a list of the altitudes at important points in the county:

Wataga 835

Oneida 815

Galesburg 788, 756

Rio 782

Knoxville 778

Saluda 770

, .... Altona 760

' ' H Abingdon 753

Williamsfield 711

Gilson 689

Belong 685

Rapatee 684

^ Knox 678

Yates City 674

Hermon ...>;w;,..:Vv.,>,.>. Vs-^i:ii 653

. , Douglas 652

-V,,'' St. Augustine 647

. . Maquon 630

^^^^j Appleton ^i-.:*'i^ .W.i,rf>-;^.; 604

^ :--\ Dahinda 597

Maquon railroad Spoon river bridge 571

C. B. & Q. bridge at London Mills 532

Some altitudes of towns just outside the county throw some light on the gen-
eral trend of elevations: .

Woodhull .824

Galva 850

Kewanee 854

London Mills 543

It will be noticed that the higher altitudes belong to the towns on the water-
shed or near it, such as Oneida, Wataga and Galesburg, while as one goes toward
Spoon river or toward Walnut creek or Henderson or Pope creeks, the altitudes
fall. .;^;:^..

This is illustrated by the altitudes from Galesburg to Spoon river via the Chi-
cago, Burlington and Quincy railroad as follows :

Galesburg 788

Knoxville ; ; i 778

Gilson 689

Maquon 630

Spoon river ,' 571

Douglas 652

Yates City 674

In these figures one can almost see the Spoon river valley.

Equally interesting is the showing from Galesburg along the line of the Santa
Fe:

26 ; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

^- ; , : Galesburg 788

: :.',' ( Knox 678

. : : Appleton 604

f ; Dahinda 597

.. , . , .- , Williamsfield 711

." "; Pilot Knob is a point from which descents radiate; Victoria is another; Knoxville
' ,. I :/ in a measure another, with streams flowing into Haw creek south of it and streams
...',:. ''flowing into Court creek north of it. Abingdon and Yates City occupy high points
> -' - from which streams flow. .

':'" ' ' ,j. . -

" :; IMMENSITY OF EROSION ' ^' '

'.: ' / ' If, then, one takes his stand on Pilot Knob, he is in a position to comprehend

V the enormous amount of erosion accomplished by Spoon river and its branches

; ; since the day when the accumulation of drift ceased, and also the work done in

. , ' '. this same way by Pope and Henderson creeks. This removed mass at the London

., .; Mills bridge would have a thickness of more than three hundred feet. East and

{ , . west of the Knob a large thickness has also been removed. When the floods

; ' following the glacier disappeared it is likely that there were no such surface in-

' .. equalities as now exist. Possibly the surface may have been something like that

.. ;.. of southern Texas, practically level, with sluggish streams. There is evidence

that since the glacial epoch ended there has been a slow elevation of the land, so

;. that greater velocity was given to the streams, their number was multiplied and

. . their capacity for erosion was increased. The removal of an irregular layer over

' ., three hundred feet in thickness at the south end, a hundred or more at the east

. ''; end and as much at the west, covering all but a few miles of the surface of the

. . county, and thinning as the watershed is approached, represents the work of the

.- tributaries of the county, since the period of elevation began, and accounts for

' V the variety noticed in the topography of the county.

;' . The significance of this discussion of erosion as a topographical factor lies in

; this, that with all the numerous stream agencies and slopes, the soil is being

V ; slowly carried away toward the valleys and the seas. The period of soil deposi-

: : : tion seems in large measure to have ceased. If the present soil covering is re-
moved, there appears no present agency to renew it. There are already many

^' ;. bare hills and slopes, the soil on which is scanty. The farther back the waters

j. ' eat their way, the less the upland. The present denudation of soil must be much

; . ; greater than it was during the days when the ground was covered with dense

\ growths of prairie grass, and then the slough and creek bottoms were heavy with

". : coarse sedges or other soil protecting plants. Now the plow of the farmer leaves

> j \ the earth friable, an easy mark for heavy rains. The bare field soft, unprotected,

'. is easily cut into by the small streams and the soil is quickly conveyed away.

;; Single heavy rains often make deep ravines in such areas. Then with the soil

.:; ' ploughed, harrowed, pulverized, the winds sweep away clouds of it in dust, and

'^s. scatter it far and wide. These leveling agencies may through the removal of

, the soil render unproductive in the distant future the now fertile acres of this

". , county. The Knox county soil map published by the State Geological department

. shows large areas adjacent to the streams stripped of the black soil, characteristic

V of the uplands. . -

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ' 27

The topography of Lake Rice east of Galesburg, a beautiful sheet of water,
affords an illustration. It is surrounded by these deep ravines, especially along
its eastern shore, and some of these extend far up into the ploughed fields. North
of Knoxville one can follow a little stream and find that in the course of a mile
and a half it has dug a deep valley for itself, while extending down the sandstone
and clay shales to its valley are deep crevasses, affording an excellent opportunity
to study the formations.

....:;;.' SOIL, THE GREATEST ASSET ' \'

The greatest asset of Knox county is its soil. Several varieties are mentioned,
according to the clay and sand and humus elements. Judging from the recent
census report, this surface is worth nearly forty-eight million dollars at the
present time, with promise of a larger valuation in the future, if properly con-
served. On the upland prairies is found the dark, fertile stratum with its under-
lying subsoil. It thins out on the hills, and there the covering is more clayey,
while in the bottom lands is the often thick deposit of alluvium. The upland sub-
soil is underlain by a deposit of drift, thirty to sixty feet in depth, and this drift
rests on the coal measure rocks. Immediately under the subsoil is a stratum of
yellow clay, eight to fifteen feet in thickness, and often containing beds of sand.
Frequently about eight feet below the surface is found a second soil from six
inches to a foot in depth and of a chocolate color. Below the yellow clay is the
blue clay, at the base of which there is usually a deposit of gravel and sand, while
scattered through the entire deposit are boulders, some of which are of large pro-
portions.

Thus a section of a boring through any of the prairie uplands would pass
through the following materials:

Soil two to three feet. - . '':^ '^;

Subsoil twelve to twenty-four inches. ' -Iv: ';

Yellow clay five feet. . ';.>!

Second soil eight to twelve inches, . . V^

Yellow clay ^three to ten feet. . :. '. : ;

. ..-''''.'. .,'- '.

Blue clay twenty-five to forty feet. ' '^-:;' .' :

Coal measure rocks. . . -."v

.: ;^ THE WATER RESERVOIR '; ' -':: v

The yellow clays with their sand deposits are the great underlying water reser-
voir. The blue clay will not allow the passage of water through it; that is, it
is impervious. The rain passes through the porous soil and subsoil and is gradu-
ally diffused through the yellow clays where it is held, because it cannot sink
through the blue clay. It is thus kept within reach of the roots of vegetation.
Where streams cut through the yellow clays, as along the hill sides, there are
springs and seepage that maintain the streams. This retention of water in the
yellow clays is a magnificent provision, as all can readily see. .: ;

28 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

A section would disclose something like this:

soil -'

subsoil

yellow clay water reservoir

second soil

yellow clay water reservoir

blue clay Impervious f

sand and gravel j

coal measure rocks '

Wells are usually sunk into the yellow clays and perhaps a short distance into
the blue clay, but the water flows into the well from the yellow clays, impregnated
with the lime, magnesia, iron and other minerals dissolved out on the way.

This interesting arrangement of the deposits is a vital factor in agriculture.
If in place of the blue clay there were sand or other porous material the water
would sink beyond the reach of plants, there might be no streams and a desert
like condition might result. If the blue day extended to the surface, as water
could not sink, the tendency would be to form swamps. As it is, the great under-
ground water supply so near to the surface and maintained there is a most bene-
ficent and magnificent treasure for maintaining the streams and for supplying
all life with needed moisture.

The drift contains at some points in the county beds of sand and also of gravel.
At one time gravel was extensively mined in the hills along the northwest shore of
Lake Rice east of Galesburg, and also in Maquon township.

The surface formations of the county thus include the soils, the water stratum
of yellow clays, the blue clay, the coal hieasure shales, sandstones, and limestones,
and the coal veins, six in number, all here and there exposed in the county.

DISTRIBUTION OF SOILS

The soil survey of the county shows that the surface formation approximately
consists of 468 square miles of black loam, which is the superior soil of the
county ; ten square miles of black clay soil, almost like gumbo in its tenacious
qualities;' 185 square miles of clay soil, and 55 miles of bottom land. In Ontario
township nearly all the surface formation is set down as black loam, and in this
respect it leads the county. Galesburg township also has a large preponderance
of this soil. On the other hand, such townships as Copley and Victoria have
much clay loam, not however, lacking in fertility, while Maquon township has
the largest area of bottom lands.

The largest areas of black clay loam are found northwest of Galesburg.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : 29

THE COAL RESOURCES ..

At one time there extended all over the county six veins of coal and their in-
termediate strata of limestone, sandstone, and clay shales. They are nearly hori-
zontal with a slight dip to the southeast, toward the center of the Illinois coal
field. The sixth and fifth veins are now found only in the north part of the
county and a small section in Salem and Elba townships. These two veins have
been mined in Walnut Grove, Sparta, Ontario, Victoria and Copley townships
north of Spoon river and in Elba and Salem townships south of the river. In the
vicinity of Spoon river valley they are not found simply because they have been
with all their strata eroded.

As one therefore goes down the incline toward Spoon river he gets below the
horizon of these two veins and is in that of No. 4, and as he goes still farther
he passes below the horizon of No. 4 and reaches the horizon of No. 3, which is
found in the banks of the river in places in Truro township, while still farther
south one passes into the horizon of No. 2. Thus the river and its tributaries
before the south limit of the county is reached have washed away the strata of
four veins.

There is a fine illustration of this along Brush creek south of Knoxville, the
sandstone hills making a very picturesque valley and the slate and coal appearing
at the base of the sandstone a few feet above the bank of the creek.

The same erosion of coal veins is noticed going west from Wataga down the
slopes of Henderson creek. Vein No. 6 has been mined just west of that village
and starting from this point one descends past successive veins until in one place
in Henderson township he is on the horizon of No. i. In walking west from
Oneida, the horizon of No. 6, mined there years ago, he comes to the horizon
of No. 3, in the vicinity of Pope creek.

That streams have cut, down through coal veins and their strata, leaving
them exposed on each side of the valley, explains why drift mines are so com-
monly met in the hills facing the bottom lands. As the veins are nearly horizon-
tal it is easy to trace them in the hillsides. That just above the bottom of Court
creek east of Knox station can be followed clear to Spoon river, and there it is
found just below the bed of the river. In Henderson township five miles north-
west of Galesburg a seam can be traced along the hillsides a short distance above
the bottom lands.

In Henderson township it is believed that all six of the veins of coal are either
exposed or mined. In section 26 the streams have cut deeply into the shales.
High in the bluflfs in the eastern part of the township are found fossils associated
with vein No. 6. In the shafts penetrating the creek bottom farther west three
veins were gone through. Still farther down the valley is a vein thought to be
the equivalent of No. i, the lowest of the series.

THE INTERMEDIATE ROCKS . : ;

Each coal vein is separated from the one below by a series of rocks, some-
times solid, sometimes shaly; the distance between the veins varying, and the
veins not always appearing to be continuous. From thirty to sixty feet of rock
usually separate one vein from that below it, although occasionally a vein is split

80 ^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

up into two or three seams. The rock is ordinarily sandstone or a clay shale,
that passes easily and naturally into sandstone. In the case of vein No. 3 found
along several streams running into Spoon river, there is a very interesting series
of formations extending twenty feet above the vein, comprising a friable black
shale, with lines of concretions, deposited in parallel lines, and often containing
shells and other marine animals. Above this black shale is a very valuable clay
shale deposit, from which are made the Galesburg paving brick. Bluffs of this
clay surround Lake Rice, and Glenwood Lake and extend along Court creek for
miles to Spoon river. Streams running from the north and south to Court creek
cut through this shale. It is thus the surface coal measure formation over a
number of square miles along Court creek. The same condition is noticeable
along Haw creek and its branches, although there the shale is more likely lo
pass into sandstone than farther north. Indeed even along Court creek and
its laterals there are stretches of sandstone, and often great concretions of sand-
stone and ironstone abound in the formation, even where the layers are consistent
enough for brick making. All along the drift lies on top of the formation and
must be stripped oflf. Then come forty to sixty feet of bluish white brick shale,
which when the sandstone is absent, is wonderfully fine grained. .

As one approaches its base, he finds the remains of coal measure vegetation
in the shape of fern leaves and the stems of coal measure plants ; then he passes
into the black shale with its layers of concretions often filled with sea shells ; then
he strikes the slate, which reflects a vast variety of ancient life, ranging from
large sharks and gigantic water fleas to the beautiful shells of the nautilus family;
then comes the coal seam, formerly mined along the creek. The region thus gives
the scientist as well as the manufacturer something worth considering.

In the hills south and north of this wonderful deposit is a coal vein presumed
to be No. 4.

'.':.'._ ' . - '' GEOLOGIC LIFE

All along Court creek to Spoon river is one traveling between bluffs of this
clay shale and sandstone. A few feet above the creek juts out a ferruginous
limestone rock that abounds in ancient snails and bivalves. As one nears Spoon
river, the bluffs along the creek are rounded and picturesque. From the sand-
stone concretions one may obtain fine specimens of fern fronds. Then as the
river is reached the slate is found at the base of the bluffs, with its relics of
ancient sea life, while in the waters of the river itself are the modern fish and
mollusks.

A section of a Spoon river bluff in Haw creek township affords the following,
illustrative of what has been said. .;,

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 31

Imcr portion oontuiw fo

ana >tl or 00*1 nniro pint*.

lorioa or oonervtiana and claar nala
altamatiiv, tM Mncntiona con.
tatlOitc Bariiw nalli <ith ooc-
atoial nattili, ana ttm Ktim
iiondinc into tlaek
portion or ttua ii
itn nat aitalla.
eonerotiana ara iron

T3Sr

v .. .

Pate contalniim raini or '~ anoiant abarKa ana nanoa.

Coal, ana Balow it tuo firo clay ropraaantijn
tiw loii on ihioii tno TO(otttoB i

There is scarcely a rock in the county that does not speak of life and forces,
of the sea, of elevation, of depression and of elevation again. C--' V. ;

In Henderson township there are fine bluffs of shale that some day may be
utilized. The same is true of shales over No. 6 in Sparta township, although
there a strong tendency to concretionary structure is shown. All along Spoon
river one sees shale bluff structure. In Cedar township there are large accumula-
tions of shale.

The day may come when even the masses of ironstone formations found above
some of the veins may be utilized. In Victoria township the shale was once
used in the manufacture of tile, and in Cedar township for making brick. When
processes are better understood more of these may be serviceable, for such is the
topography of the county that there are frequent exposures. , :. :

'';-' THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY I . - '

There is not much data regarding the history of mining in this county. Mines
are known to have been operated in Sparta township as early as 1850 and for
twenty years thereafter assumed an importance that they have not since attained.
Sparta township was for a long time a leader in production owing to its proxi-
mity to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy main line. The earliest mine of
which there is specific record is that opened by E. F. Ranney in 1850 in section
23, Sparta township. H. H. May was operating a mine in the same township
as early as 1854. It is known that scores of mines have been opened in that
township, have been worked out and abandoned. Over a half century ago coal
was mined in the south part of Maquon township and has been since. One of
the oldest mines was on the David Masters' farm and was run by a man named
I-opeman. During the civil war coal was taken from the J. K. Lane farm in
the same township and from the F. M. Davis farm. The Cope farm also has
yielded considerable coal.

In Copley township there has been at times considerable mining and one in
traversing the streams of that township finds many evidences of former mining

32 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

operations. Two of the oldest -mines are those operated on the James McGovern
and Charles Morgan farms, and we believe that they are still yielding coal of
an excellent quality.

One of the earliest shaft mines in the county was that operated near Oneida
by Messrs. Camp and Powell, and it was perhaps the only extensive mine ever run
in that township.

When the Illinois geological survey of the county was made, just prior to
1870, it listed a large number of mines. Nearly every township in the county
was represented. Much valuable information was given. It is to be doubted
if there are today in operation a half dozen mines that were then running, and of
which sections are given in the works of the survey. This indicates that there
are melancholy features connected with Knox county mining, and that more than
one man has failed to make money operating a mine. Some large mines have
flourished for a few years only to be closed because either of inability to cope
with the water or because of the imperfections of the veins and the abundance of
the clay intrusions.

For years in the early days there was much stripping of coal done in the
creek bottoms where the veins were very near the surface. All that had to be
done was to remove the thin superficial covering of soil or of slate and the coal
was within reach, and was then very easily removed. This method has been
abandoned with the exhaustion of this accessible supply.

While there is coal in nearly every township of the county, if not all, there
are but few extensive workings. For years a conspicuous sight in the seventies,
and perhaps before, was the large colliery just southwest of Wataga, near the
railroad track. Among those that operated from time to time large mines in the
county were R. M. Campbell, east of Wataga, the Essexes in Henderson town-
ship, the Cliffords in the western part of Walnut Grove township, Alex Baird in
Henderson township, the Eppersons in Rio township, and the Etherly Company,
whose plant was abandoned in recent years. The cheapness at which outside
coals can be placed at the larger centers of the county is the real occasion of the
decline in mining, notwithstanding the large coal acreage.

The last available statistics of mining in the county are those of 1910, pub-
lished by the State. These show 27 mines in the county producing that year
38,673 tons, and employing 122 miners and sixteen other hands. The largest
mines were those of the Pendergast Brothers at Soperville, Rodell & Mitchell of
Wataga, and Thomas H. Mellan of Soperville. The total for the county is but
a fraction of that produced a half century ago.

Of the six veins of coal. No. 6 has been most extensively mined, owing to
the thickness of the vein and the ease with which it can be removed. It is usually
four and a half feet in thickness and has a clay seam two inches in width that
serves as a parting between the upper and lower parts of the vein. No. 4 is not
so shaly, seems more dense and compact. No. 3 is not a thick vein, usually about
thirty inches to three feet. No. 2 is also a thin vein but of very excellent quality.
No. I if correctly enumerated, is a thick vein, four to seven feet. Some of the
veins of the county are difficult to place because of peculiar conditions surround-
ing them.

' , '- '''-'*: ; ' if .' ' . ^* , I '- '.''- . *'**'. -^ '-- 't -,-- .' J,

'.'.-' .'"' ... ' -'-'', ' ' '.''"'' . - ' '. -' ''':.- ''^< *" ' ' ' , ' .-'-,'* ''''

-. .- - '. , ' - ; .' . '-, - . ' ''^ '.'.''- ' ' *- ' * ' ' '- '' ''. '-^ - .- ''- ^

','.'... :- j, - " ' ' . .*:-.- '.'I ''' . ' '. . '.'.i, ' V .-j .' - , . '''''-'. -. ,'- '''' ' '' ' '.' ' .

Map of Knox County, Illinois, showing streams, watersheds and drainage areas The fiffures with
each municipality give the altit.de. The numbers of coal veins are also indicated. The dotted lines along

streams indicate width of bottom.

:. -Tr'- '''^"'''^ "i--'''-

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 88

THE STONE QUARRIES

In the early day there was considerable stone quarried in Knox County but
at the present time there is but very little, owing to the better quality of stone that
can be procured elsewhere. The early quarries were situated not far from
Knoxville. North of that city, along the bank of a small stream that runs into
Court creek can be seen the site of a quarry in a sandstone bluflf. This stone is
in large blocks and hardens on exposure. It was used in the construction of
some of the buildings in ICnoxville and elsewhere in the county. Farther north
in section sixteen in the same township is still another quarry relic. From this
were taken blocks of conglomerate, that were hard and very durable, composed
of limestone pebbles, cemented solidly together. This stone was used in the con-
struction of the foundation of the Old First Church of Galesburg. This indi-
cates that stone was quarried there as early as 1846. The Hope Cemetery wall,
Galesburg, is made of this same enduring material. Stone was also quarried in
the sandstone beds along Haw creek south of Knoxville. Over vein No. 6 of
coal there is often a heavy seam of limestone that has been used for foundation
and other purposes. In the north part of the county a bastard limestone was
formerly quarried. As a rule outside of the conglomerate the rock of the county
is likely to shale and split under the influence of the weather.

, --. ' r

A SECOND SOIL :

A few feet below the surface in some parts of the county is found a second
soil, or perhaps it might be better termed a first soil, as it antedates the present.
In passing, it might be remarked that each coal vein indicates that under it was a
soil on which flourished the dense vegetable growth that was subsequently, when
the land was again submerged, compressed into coal. This soil is usually termed
fireclay, and traversing it in' all directions are the roots of coal measure plants.
Thus there were six soils for coal making plants and subsequently six periods
when the land was under the surface of the sea, as the presence of so much
marine life in the rocks between the coal veins clearly shows.

The second soil is of course of recent formation. There lie above it four to
six feet of the yellow clay, and yellow clay below it. It denotes a period above
the level of the waters and conditions suited to vegetable growth. It is in associa-
tion with this soil that the remains of elephants and mastodons are found. The
parts most often discovered are the teeth, because their enamel resists best the
processes of decay. A number of fine specimens have been exhumed in this
county. In the Galesburg waterworks excavation in Cedar Fork valley, three
well preserved teeth and parts of the hip bone of an elephant were found.
Around thfem were fragments of cedars of considerable thickness. In the same
trench was found the long, handsome tusk of some member of tlie swine family.
In a brick yard pit near Oneida in the second soil were found numerous bones
of a mastodon, while in a marshy place near the same city was found a great
tusk. From a Spoon river bluff was taken a well preserved tooth of a mastodon,
and on a gravel bank in the river was discovered a mighty tusk. Recently near
Woodhull several gigantic teeth have been unearthed, and still more recently in
excavating at Galva immense molars of some species of elephant were found.

VoLI

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

During the period when elephants, mastodon and great swine roamed over Knox
county, probably many other mammalian species lived.

This is mentioned simply to show the variations in the topography of the
county during the ages, and the life to which each variation gave subsistence.
The present configuration is the outcome of the slow elevation of the land, per-
mitting the deposition of the subsoil and the soil, and the incessant operations of
water, air, temf>eratures and life, since the deposition of the clays in the glacial
epoch. ^ ^ . : ' ': -" ': .';:'^ "

-'-:'''_ ;';' - , SPOON RIVER NOTES ,;-, ;.<:,''''"''''""' '""':'

From the topographical and scienic view, main interest centers around Spoon
river. It enters Truro township on the east side of the county and takes a ser-
pentine southwesterly course through Truro, Haw Creek, Maquon and Chestnut
townships. On the way it touches Persifer and Elba townships. Its northern
part is marked by narrow valleys and in a few places the river runs between
bluflfs. From where French creek enters to the junction with Haw creek, the
river runs through a broad and fertile bottom. This is one and a half miles
in width at the French creek juncture, broadens to two miles at the Pease creek
juncture, and from there to the mouth of Haw creek varies from three quarters
to one and a half miles in width. Standing on the shore opposite Haw creek
entrance, one can look along four miles of bottom land.

\\'here Court creek enters the river there is a bottom of a mile and a half
in width, but it is not long continued.

Eight square miles of bottom land are included in Spoon river valley between
the mouths of French and Willow creeks, and in places it seems to be from six
to ten feet in thickness. All this represents what the streams have in part
brought down from the hills and uplands.

The topography of Spoon river valley can be seen to good advantage from the
bridge southeast of Maquon. The valley broadens and the bottom is nearly
three quarters of a mile in width. The river flows in a channel cut in the allu-
vium and the banks show this deposit to be eight to ten feet in thickness. The
highlands are well back. The broad bottom extends north and south as far as
the eye can see. It seems to be all under cultivation and as the soil is so deep
and rich ought to bear magnificent crops. The view from the hills above down
the valley is a charming one.

THE HILL STRUCTURE

The hill structure of the county is well shown in a ride west from Maquon
past that curiosity. Horseshoe Lake or Bend, an isolated body of water in the
south part of Orange township, and having some fame as a fishing resort. On
the north side of this lake are high hills, between which and from springs comes
the water that feeds the lake. This natural reservoir occupies a part of the basin
between Pig and Haw creeks. To the south and southeast there is bottom land.
Judging from the natural features, this lake may occupy what was once the chanf
nel of Pig creek, or perhaps even Haw, and its ends for some reason having
become filled, the stream was forced to cut its way farther south. It is said that.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ' 35

during times of flood Haw creek backs into it, and this indicates that the level
of the two are not far from identical. At the time of the visit the reservoir
ranged from two to five rods in width, but it was said that its beauty had been
marred by the attempts to drain its waters. An early tradition is that the lake
was made by dams formed by the beavers.

Before one gets to this lake, there is a fine series of hills descending from
the higher level, and so facing the road that one can discern the rounded hollows
down which the water descends between each pair of hills. '. ;

All these facts indicate how well adapted this county is to be the home of
civilized man and what a variety of life it can support. Verily, it is one of the
choice garden spots of the earth.

INDIANS. "

BY EVA CHAPIN MAPLE, MAQUON, ILL. r-. A >'.";;

The knowledge of man does not extend back far enough, to tell us what
manner of people the very first inhabitants of Knox county were. When the
white men came, they found this country inhabited by the Red Men. But who
were here before the Indians? One historian says that "the entire valley of the
Illinois river from Starved Rock to the Mississippi was, unknown ages ago, the
home of a still different race from any yet enumerated. Time can scarcely be
reckoned in considering the ages in which human life has found existence along
the rivers of this state. Again and again has this land been trodden by different
races, cities have risen and fallen, and great people have vanished utterly, leav-
ing behind them no record of existence, except their voiceless graves."

::.",.' .-^\:-^^-v ;-'"-;':'-. -.**... MOUND BUILDERS :^/':'c'v;-..A-v . . ;' ;-::^'-',-'V- V;

The earliest race of people, which left us any trace of their existence in our
land, we call the Mound Builders. Whether these strange builders of mounds
were the ancient ancestors of the Red Men whom Qjlumbus found in America,
or were an entirely different race of beings, scientists are not agreed.

Mounds of different sizes, shapes and kinds are to be found along the banks
of certain streams, notably the Illinois and some of its tributaries. Spoon river
is quite rich in these relics. There are three types of mounds existing : the ossu-
ary, the sacrificial and the altar. The first named type is the most common, being
found in many parts of the county. Whether all the burial mounds commonly
called "Indian graves" are graves of Indians or are part of Mound Builders'
ossuary mounds, is not known to the writer.

The only sacrificial mound which could be located, is situated on the N. E.
quarter of N. E. quarter. Section 12, Truro township. One writer, in speaking
of it, says "on a well prepared earthen altar, four men and one woman were
burned, so that the bones were charred, and the soil was impregnated to a con-
siderable depth with the oleaginous matter. In an excavation beneath this altar
were the skeletons of two men."

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

The "altar" or "temple" mounds are the largest and perhaps most note-
worthy, their age is still an unsolved problem.

The Ataerican Indian knew nothing of their origin or use, and had no tra-
ditions concerning them. But in later years, the Indians sometimes used them
;/ for burial purposes, by digging into one side of the mound and placing their
' ': dead therein.

It is evident that the Mound Builders were sun worshipers, as their altar
. mounds invariably faced the east.

; ,' ...... ALTAR OR TEMPLE MOUNDS )^ ; ^;v; 'i;-' '^ ' ^i ;

Before the ruthless hand of civilization had destroyed these land marks, many

: of these Mound Builder mounds or, as they are generally called, "Indian

. ; mounds," might have been seen along the banks of Spoon river. There is

one fine specimen of the altar mound in Maquon township. It is situated on the

. S. E. quarter of Section 4, just a short distance south of the town of Maquon. It

: is spoken of, locally, as "The Mound," or "The Indian Mound." This mound

.. rises from the bottom land, about sixty rods from the north bank of Spoon river.

. It is now covered with timber, but the oldest settlers tell us, that when the first

':":- white people came, there was not a tree upon the mound. The mound is of natural

origin, largely composed of sand and gravel, but is covered many feet deep with

a clay unlike any found in that vicinity. Originally, its shape was clearly de-

.. fined, but the effect of the elements, and the tread of the feet of cattle for ages

have rendered it less distinct. The general outline is diamond shaped, with the

'. corners pointing toward the four points of the compass. At the eastern point

was a rude elevation forming an altar. The mound is 164 rods long and 60

rods at the widest part. The clay was evidently used to prevent the growth of

; vegetation, and to preserve the outline of the mound.

''-''''";-;''.'' V' "' '-' ... TRAjLS ^ ''.-/':'-, ---^ -''":': ,:'':i'''-

The plungfing buffalo, keen of instinct, and very practical, broke great roads
; across the continent in search of food, water and salt. These "traces" or paths,
lead from timber groves, to timber groves, always seeking the shortest and best
: route descending and crossing the streams, usually at the bars formed at the
mouth of some smaller stream. These roads were swept clear of debris in
. summer and snow in winter. The wild Indian, having the same instinct as the
wild animal, followed the same trails and wore them smooth by frequent use.
The earliest white explorers were dependent on the buffalo and the Indian for
ways of getting about. And later came the first settlers to travel over these
same trails, in looking for a home. Many of these trails became public high-
ways continuing until this day, monuments of the past. Thus we may mention
: the great Galena trail from Peoria, passing through Knox county, where it
V forms in two branches and goes to Galena, one branch going by way of Rock
: Island. One of the earliest roads in Illinois was one of these trails from Dan-
; ville, Illinois, near the famous Vermillion salt springs on the south-eastern
border of Illinois to Peoria. This became the "Danville and Fort Clark road,"
over which came the earliest settlers to the military tract. This trail became a

^,.";.\;^ 7 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY . : : ' 87

well traveled road about 1815. This part of the state being settled earlier than
the more eastern parts, owing to the fact of the allotment by the government
of this territory, to the soldiers of the War of 1812, thus it will be seen that
the stream of earliest immigrants came from the eastern states, usually by the
Ohio river, disembarking and following these two trails mentioned, into and
through Knox county at a very early date. / ;;

It will be seen, by the accompanying map, that Indian trails extended over
the greater part of Knox county, several of these being important thorough-
fares. One in the northern part of the county, that takes an easterly course,
became the main road to Chicago. The one taking a diagonal course from
Indian Point township to Truro township, is probably the oldest known trail in
the county. It was used by the Indians and French as early as. 1673, it being
in a direct course from La Salle, on the Illinois, to the Mississippi river. It
was quite largely used by Indian trading parties, and formed a part of a direct
line of Savage communication between the Chicago portage and the Mississippi
river. During the French occupancy, it was used by the French missionary and
the fur trader. This path is believed, by many, to be the identical one used by
Father Marquette and Joliet on their return eastward on their voyage of dis-
covery. This old trail held its course through Hancock, Warren, Knox, Stark
and Bureau counties.

Several points within the state appear to have been the favorite meeting
places, not of one tribe alone, but of many tribes, and thus diverging trails led
thereto. Peoria, Rock Island and Chicago river were important places. Thus
Maquon became quite a center of Indian population, situated as it is at the
crossing of two main trails.

"History holds in her iron hand, no more picturesque story than these trails
could reveal, were their guarded secrets known. Here met the nations of the
Old World and the New- Indian and White, Spaniard, Frenchman, Briton and
American ; priest and nun, soldier and adventurer, settler and outlaw, fair pa-
trician women, and the outpouring from the Saltpetriere and other hospitals
of Paris."

- ;-::-,'J-;- ';';.' ;V '';./;;;. ,V/;..V- INDIAN TRIBES -^K:^ ';/'--_^^-^' ''' - V - ' ';'' -/'V; V^-'-'

When Father Marquette and his companions, with their two Indian guides
were floating down the "Father of Waters," they noticed an Indian trail.
Mooring their canoes, they followed the trail about six miles, where they came
to an Indian village. The inhabitants came out to meet him, and after smok-
ing the calumet, they addressed him thus: "We are the Illini. How beautiful
is the sun, oh Frenchman, when thou comest to see us. Our village awaits
thee. Thou shalt enter in peace all our dwellings."

.'^^-'.'!vx-v':''v-' :.--^/ ..''};;-.'.;: THE ILLINI '','.--'''':' -'^'-r .'':' . .';'"^^- '.. >

The first authentic history we have of the Indians of the Mississippi valley
reached us through preserved records of La Salle, the French fur trader and
explorer, who spent the winter of 1679-80, at what is now Peoria. We know
that he and his companions were within twenty miles of Knox county and it is
more than probable that they traversed her soil also.

W - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

'. The Indian word "Illini," means in their language, "superior men." This
Illini, or Illinois confederacy was composed of five tribes : Michigamies, Caho-
kias, Kaskaskias, Peorias and Tamaoras. They were intensely warlike, being
almost constantly in conflict with other tribes. They were migratory and de-
pended largely upon the summer and winter hunts. In their wars with the
Sacs and Foxes, they suffered severely. About 1722 they were overpowered
by the Sacs and Foxes, with the aid of other tribes. .--.,.

SACS AND FOXES .-

From that time the Sacs and Foxes held, for many years, the supremacy of
the land between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. But the Kickapoos and
the Pottawatomies contended with them, each holding certain portions. Upon
the arrival of the white people these different tribes were in the vicinity of
Knox county.

The Foxes called themselves Musk-wah-ha-kee, a name composed of two
words, meaning "those of red earth." The French called them On-ta-ga-mies,
that being their spelling of the name given them by other tribes, the meaning be-
ing "Foxes," and was bestowed upon them because their totem (or armorial
device, as it might be called), was a fox.

. The name of their allied brethren, the Sacs, is variously spelled, in Indian
dialects, Ou-sa-kies, sauks, etc. Black Hawk was of this tribe. Black Hawk's
Indian name was Ma-ka-bai-mis-he-kia-kiak, meaning black sparrow hawk.
Both Sacs and Foxes were of Canadian origin. They were a courageous peo-
ple: shrewd, politic and enterprising.

^ A PECULIAR CUSTOM .;:v' '

The Sacs and Foxes had a peculiar custom unnoticed in other Indian tribes.
Each male child, at birth, was marked with either black or white paint, the
mother being extremely careful to apply the colors alternately, so that each fam-
ily, and the entire nation, might be thus divided into two nearly equal clans,
the blacks and the whites, the object of these marks being to keep alive a con-
stant spirit of emulation in the tribe. In their games, hunts and public cere-
monies, the blacks always contended with the whites, while in war each party
was ambitious to take more scalps than the other.

. POTTAWATOMIES .

The Pottawatomies were among the most energetic and powerful of the
Indian tribes of the northwest. They came to Illinois from Wisconsin. For
a long period of years they were a power in the Illinois country, and were the
last tribe to leave its borders upon the encroachment of the whites. They were
the ones found in Knox county, by its first white settlers. The name Potta-
watomie, means "we are making a fire."

' INDIAN LAW MAKING '

Their general councils were composed of the chiefs and old men. When in
council, they usually sat in concentric circles around the speaker, and each in-

- -'-^-'v HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ' - I 39

^^' ' "- ''-^v , I : ' ' .~::'.^--

dividual, notwithstanding the fiery passions that ranked within, preserved an
exterior as immovable as if cast in bronze. Before commencing business, a
person appeared with the sacred pipe, and another with fire to kindle it. After
being lighted, it was first presented to heaven, secondly to earth, thirdly to the
presiding spirit, and lastly to the several councilors, each of whom took a whiff.
These formalities were observed with scrupulous exactness. { ../.;;..;?

\^; V^.; .-.':' ?;.'^' POTTAWATOMIE CHIEF SHAUBENA .^ ^ ^ ^ ''/v '; . '-^ ;*

Shaubena was a faithful friend of the white men, and often his life was en-
dangered because of it. After the death of the chiefs. Black Patridge and Sen-
achwine, no chief ever exerted so much infiuence over his nation as did Shau-
bena. He often prevented the tribe from going to war. The Sacs and Foxes
were always trying to kill him, and he was hunted down as a wild beast. They
killed his son, Pypeogee and his nephew, Pyps, to enrage him. Black Hawk, be-
ing aware of Shaubena's infiuence, twice visited him to enlist him in his cause,
but was unsuccessful. While Black Hawk was a prisoner at Jefferson barracks,
he said, "Had it not been for Shaubena, the whole Pottawatomie nation would
have joined his standard, and he could have continued the war for years." -v ;.

Many early settlers of Knox county owe their lives to Shaubena, as he was
ever on the alert to save the whites. He frequently visited the settlers in the
northern part of the county. It is said that at one time he visited the settlers
at Fraker's Grove, in Lynn township, warning them to leave, that they would
be killed if they didn't. David Cooper, John Essex, Thomas Essex, Sr., Thomas
Essex, Jr., with their families, fled to the fort near Pekin, Illinois. All but
the last named returned later,

Shaubena often went to the home of John Essex. He was always kind
to them, once bringing them a quarter of a deer that he had killed. .;;' .-v^.

iV .' ^:V:::^: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EARLY INDIANS - ;' ; ;-'^ -

In an interview given Mr. Fred R. Jelliff, Major Thomas McKee, of Gales-
burg, said : "The Indians most frequently seen in this locality were Foxes, Sacs,
Kickapoos and Pottawatomies. They were alike in many particulars. The
Kickapoos and Foxes were often in the vicinity of Henderson Grove, which
was a favorite sugar camp. They were as kind a people as you ever saw. They
were considerate. For instance, if you were in a wigwam talking, the rest would
keep quiet and give you respectful attention. They did not interrupt you. They
made their children act with deference in the presence of strangers. They did
not hunt, perhaps as extensively as do some other tribes. They lived on com
and beans, on berries and other fruits gathered in the woods, while a favorite
dish was the wild potato, or penyon, as it was called. This they found in the
bottom lands. It was formerly quite abundant but of late I have not noticed it.
They speared and caught fish, not small game, and now and then secured a deer.
The squaws did the work, such as gathering the penyon and cultivating their
ample crops." Their life was one of simplicity, and if was not until they were
aroused by injustice and unkindness, that they became cruel and warlike. The
Pottawatomies retained their identity as a tribe better than the others.

40 . HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

< >; POTTAWATOMIE LANGUAGE : : ^^

The language of these Illinois natives was simple, consisting of but a few
words made plain by the most significant of gestures. Their names were long
and full of vowels. The following are some of the words used by the Potta-

watomies: .. .

horse Nan-ka-toka-shaw cow ,...'......!!.;.'.... Nan-noose

dog Co-co-sh hog N,emoose

gun Pos-ka-soogan tomahawk Quimesockin

knife Co-mone water Bish

fire Sco-ti whisky Sco-ti-o-pe

drink Tela-ma-cool food Wau-a-net

mean Mean-net white men Che-mo-ko-man

the future Mon-a-to small Pe-tete

baby Pap-poose potato Pen-yon

nothing left Chocaco you are a liar Kiwa-lis-ki

pumpkin Wam-pa-cum beans Ko-kees

corn Ta-min melons Esh-kos-si-min

hominy Do-min-a-bo

'''/ r-/ ":'''': ' . ; ' . ' HOME LIFE ''''"--';,.': '"..^; '

The Pottawatomie summer camps were near the fishing points, and the winter
camps in the timber where the birds and wild animals sought shelter from the
cold. '

The Pottawatomie wigwam was from six to ten feet in diameter a circle
of poles meeting in center at top, and bound together with buckskin thongs.
This frame was wrapped on the outside to the top with mats made of bull-
rushes woven together, lattice style, with long fibers of rushes and grasses, or
sometimes it was covered with strips of bark. In winter, the wigwam was
banked with ashes around its base. Inside there was a hole about two feet deep
in the center of the wigwam for the fire, the smoke finding its way out the
best it could through a small opening at the top of the wigwam. The earth
floor of the wigwam was covered with the skins of wild animals, killed when
the fur was long and thick. In winter, the Indian men sat most of the time on
the rugs smoking and playing cards, while the squaws did the work. The men
killed the game and the squaws prepared the meat for future use by jerking it.
The squaws made the gardens usually on a rich piece of ground. They pre-
pared the ground by breaking it in a rude way, and planted pumpkins, beans,
potatoes and melons. The garden spot was fenced with Jack oak trees. The
small trees were .cut down and dragged to the garden spot. Forked sticks were
driven into the ground for the trees to rest upon. These were arranged so
closely as to make a fence that was impregnable to the wild hog or other small
wild animals. The ripened com was shelled and broken to pieces by pounding
it in a hollowed-out log with a wooden club. This corn was boiled with water
and a piece of pork, making the favorite hog and hominy. Pumpkins were cut
in strips and dried in the sun for winter use. The men were dressed in buck-
skin breech-clout moccasins and leggins, and a blanket fastened about the

MAP SHOWING INDIAN TRAILS THROUGH THE COUNTY

. /, HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ; 41

waist with a skin belt. When ready to sleep, they curled down among the fur
rugs and pulled the blankets close about their heads. Every Pottawatomie In-
dian man carried, swinging to his belt, a skunk skin, with head, teeth, claws and
tail intact. In this skunk skin he carried his tobacco, and in an opening just
back of the fore legs, he tucked his pipe. Then he had a flat piece of stone or
mud that he used for painting his face. His meth9d was to paint this flat piece
with blood root (called by the early settlers Indian paint), in designs of lines
and crosses; and when he had the figure finished to his taste, he pressed it with
the paint still moist, to his face. The Pottawatomie women never smoked, and
never painted, except a line down the center of the head from forehead to back
of neck, where the hair was parted.

It is interesting to note the way the squaws cared for their babies. The
Pottawatomies never had large families, and regarded, with disgust, the many
children of the white people's houses. The Indian mother devoted her whole
time to the care of her pappoose. The baby was laid upon a flat piece of linn
bark, called by the Pottawatomies a chimote. The baby was fastened to the
chimote by wrapping with cloth from feet to chest. And at the chest, the ends
were tied in front and to them was tied a string of beads or something bright

:; for the baby to play with. The arms were left free, and another strip of cloth
was bound across the forehead and was tied to the back of the board. \\'hen
the mother traveled, she swung the baby on the chimote to her back, and when
she worked, she stood the chimote against a tree. The Pottawatomie babies

; were often pretty and seldom cried. 4? %'

:''V' -Xv -V ; - ; .; LOCAL ITEMS OF HISTOWT ::>:

Knox county has been the home, for a longer and shorter period of time,
of many tribes of Indians. From past historians and from people now living,
it is learned that sixteen and possibly all of the twenty townships of the county
have been inhabited by them. The following local items have been gleaned
from accounts of the aborigines and of the relics found in various places :

^ Rio Township ' ' ' '

In 1832 John Cresswell settled on the S. W. Quarter of Section 27. During
that year, a fort was made on his land, it was named Fort A^ie in honor of
Mrs. Cresswell. In 1836 the fort was torn down by Joseph Hahn, who built a
barn of the logs and which he used for tramping out wheat with horses. Other
thrashing machines were unknown. Another fort was built, it is said, on Sec-
tion 33. These forts were built to protect the white settlers during the Black
Hawk war.

-?.-/;:v^;;: : ; V A Ontario Township :- ^: :;/:;:'

The only hill in the township of any size is Pilot Knob, having an eighty acre
grove upon it. In this vicinity many Indian arrows have been found. ..;;:...-

' ..... Walnut Grove Township

During the year 1836-57, a band of Indians about thirty in number, camped
for a short time, just west of John Thompson's residence, and near the present

:^ .,v.; :. . HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^A/V^; :';'>;'

Altona high school building. An old Indian and his squaw remained long after !
the rest of the Indians had gone. This pair were considered good neighbors. ;.:>;;

Lynn Township ^ . : :

Mr. Michael Fraker, in 1828, while still living in Kentucky, purchased a
farm from the government in Lynn township. Upon his arrival, he found a
band of Indians located on his land on Section 23. There was quite a contro-
versy as to whom the land belonged, the Indians claiming they received their
title directly from their god. Mr. Fraker used considerable diplomacy. He, be-
ing a blacksmith, mended their guns, and did other favors for them. They in'
turn, helped him build his cabin. They could see no reason why he put in so
much chinking between the logs to make them tight. They finally decided to
move. They went seven miles east and built a village on Indian creek. They
always remained friendly to Mr. Fraker, coming back every spring to make
maple sugar, and to raise sugar corn and vegetables, leaving in the fall for their
hunting grounds. Near Frakers, there is a fine spring, trails leading in all di-
rections from this spring. ; . r . . ; .;;. -' ^v^; ;

Henderson Township

Indians had corn fields on Sections 23 and 26 and cultivated the soil for
years. In an early day, a well was dug on Section 30 near the creek. At a
depth of 60 feet, the workmen found what seemed to be an Indian camping
ground. Ashes, stumps and general rubbish fresh as if the fire had just gone
out ; a cedar log was also found.

The Indians lived in wigwams, helped the settlers make maple sugar and
were friendly till the war broke out. Anticipating an Indian outbreak, the
white settlers built two forts. One fort on Section 33, was named Lewis Fort.
A description of this fort is given elsewhere in this article. The other on Sec-
tion lo, was unnamed. This township furnished a company of "Minute Rang-
ers" in the Black Hawk war.

, , , :' Copley Township ; : : ;::: ;;i;'

At Foreman's Grove, on Foreman creek, near the northern limits of the
township, a small tribe of Indians were located when the first settlers arrived.

Knox Township '' ' - ' .1^

On Section 32 are several Indian graves, and several trails pass through
the township.

' Persifer Township -v ... I

One branch of the Gelena trail passes through the township from north to
south, crossing Court creek where Appleton bridge now stands. The north end.
of the bridge stands in the Indian ford. There was an Indian village on the
present site of Dahinda (lodge poles were still standing in 1830). On the
bluffs nearby are 25 or 30 mounds, supposed to be Indian graves. Many arrows,
stone axes and bullets have been found in the township. Sections 35 and 36 be-

.V ;S ':;;':::;; ;J HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : ; <;< .. 43

ing particularly rich in these relics. Indian ladders were found in the woods
by the early settlers. They were made by cutting a small tree having many
limbs, then cutting the limbs off so as to leave enough of a stump on each limb
to make a step. The last Indians seen were on Section 14, N. E. quarter. There
is every evidence that a fierce battle was once fought on the north and east
quarter of Section 14, about two. miles north and west of where Court creek
empties into Spoon river. Within an area of a few acres, large numbers of bul-
lets have been plowed up, and have been picked up by handfuls. They are of
the old-fashioned kind of bullets, such as were used in the smooth bore Queen
Anne muskets of two centuries ago. This would indicate revolutionary times,
or before. .;';,: -V..v';r;./--v.-'--;\ :/: ^.'-: .-''',':-

Maple sugar was made in this township annually. There were several tra-
ditions of hidden wealth buried by the Indians. A cellar was dug on the Taylor
farm in 1841, when at the depth of four feet, three bars of copper were found,
which had been hand forged out. In digging a well, at the depth of twenty-two
feet, remains of a camp-fire, charcoal and rubbish were found. '. .. : .

'' ( .'^\- ''. "^' ,''''.-'' -\ --. Truro Township '-''' v"^'-'":. ' ; ' . -.^'v^iy .:-''

On the S. W. quarter of Section 31, on land owned by Charles Bradford, a
number of Indian graves were found, when the first white settlers came. The
corpses had been buried in the forks of the trees, ten to fifteen feet above the
ground. Logs had been split in halves and hollowed out, the forks of the trees
were cut away with their tomahawks sufficient to let them in, and the rude cof-
fins there rested with their skeleton contents until about 1836, when the whites
took them down and buried them in the earth. One sacrificial mound is located
on the e^st quarter of Section 12 of Truro township.

,;'.."''.-''' ': '-.'".;,: :/' .' ' 'V Cedar Township ''^-/:'---:'. ;:;;. -V'. ' x'".;'-:-.-- -^'

Mrs. John Reed settled on Section 17, in 1836, on the very ground where the
Indians had camped, and used water from the same spring. 'V". ;^

. ;--;^',:-' -^ :'-;'./" ',^' .^'' Orange Township . ' :-''-:--vV , ^ . ''':-''-:':'.'
;,;> -v::- V- -..V.^-.. '/ -.Ki^.-'; A-.;--V'. ;:'. r' . -. ^-v :-':;/;--^-^ ^

.- There were many Indians in the township when the whites came. In early
times there was a small grove on the N. E. quarter of Section i6. Orange town-
ship. This was a favorite camping place for the roving bands of Indians on
their way from Spoon river to the Mississippi. Numerous fine specimens of ar-
row points were found here on Mr. Myers Eiker's farm.

The last appearance of any considerable number of Indians in Orange town-
ship was in 1843, when several hundred Sacs and Foxes camped on the north-
west quarter of Section 5, while on their way to the reservation in Indian Ter-
ritory. A block house was built on the southwest quarter of Section 3. It was
called McCallister's fort. The land is now owned by Mrs. J. M. Nisley. One
man was killed by Indians near this fort. r -, . .--..'/.

44 HISTORY 'OF KNOX COUNTY ^v-':

' 5^"'- Haw Creek Township ^ ' ^ ^

In this township was an arrow-maker's workshop. On Red Chalk hill, vast
numbers of arrows in all stages of completeness, and flint chips are found,
showing that here arrows were made. . ".::

Indian Point Toivnship '

There was but one grove of timber in the township, and that extended into
a point. Along the edge of this timber, which extended from Cedar Fork to
Section i6, many Indian remains were found. Remains of bark wigwams. Hint
arrows, axes, hatchets and domestic utensils were found. Hence the name of
the township. Indian creek empties into Cedar Fork, and that into Spoon river.

-:"'- Chestnut Township .v:v.'..v :.;.:' 1 \;

On Section 12, were many graves, on the bank of Haw creek near the iron
bridge. On land belonging to Carl Burnside, on the southwest quarter of Sec-
tion 15, Chestnut township, are four mounds about three feet high and forty-
five feet in circumference. Some interesting things were once found in them
when opened some ten years ago. On Section 33 are a group of three graves.

On Mr. Charles Burnside's farm. Chestnut township. Section 14, northeast
quarter, the hills and valleys back of his house were covered with arrows and
implements of war, many yet remaining. Across the road on land belonging to
Mr. William Swigart, Section ii, southeast quarter, there is a valley north of
the house where the ground was covered with arrows, as were the hills surround-
ing it. If we only knew what mighty tribes contended here. y|* '

At the beginning of the Black Hawk war, all the Pottawatomie Indians dis-
apf>eared forever from this locality, none of the whites knowing when or where
they went.

'''^t Maquon Township - ;: ':;^ ^>::. -;.''- I

Along the banks of Spoon river the Red Men found their Paradise. Its wa-
ters were filled with fish and mussels, while wild fowls haunted its banks, and
deer and small game abounded in its woodland and prairie. It was called, in
the Algonquin tongue, the language used by the Pottawatomie Indians, A-ma-
quon-sip-pi, A-ma-quon meaning mussel, or mussel shell. The Indians used the
shell as we do spoons for dipping up food. The word sip-pi means river, thus
A-ma-quon-sip-pi meant Spoon river. Because of the Indians' manner of pro-
nouncing the first syllable of a word very short, it was difficult for the white
man's ear to catch the sound, and thus it was an easy step from A-ma-quon-
sip-pi to Maquon. In a government report, in 1813, Brigadier General Howard
speaks of several encampments on the "Maquonie" as the river was known at
that time.

Amaquon village was situated on the S. E. quarter of Section 4, Maquon
township. It was located near a hill, and near a fine spring of water ; there was
a garden and orchard on the hill north and a garden east of it. These gardens
were fenced with jack oak trees. The trees of this orchard furnished fruit for
Mr. Wm. Palmer, the first white man to build a house in Knox county. It was
built on the top of the hill just beside where the main trails crossed.

, V A .^- : , ': ,': HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ''- - : 45

Village No. 2 was situated about. a half mile distant to the north on the
northeast quarter of Section 4, on the spot where later Mr. Nelson Selby, the
first land owner in Maquon township, settled. The tent poles of this village
were still standing in 1850. Mr. Selby's daughter, Mrs. Mahala Benson, used
to play, when a child with the buckskin thongs with which the tent poles had
been tied. This village had its garden northeast of it, on a small flat of very
.{. rich soil one quarter of an acre in size. For many years, the kettle sticks re-:
mained in this garden. Where the Indians held their annual green corn feasts
and dances, south of the garden, were three Indian graves. Northeast of this
garden, at the foot of the hill, is the famous Selby spring, which the Indians
opened and used. In the year 1850, a white man brought an Indian troop to
give a show in Maquon. When they camped at the south edge of town, these
Indians went straight to the Selby spring for water, showing that they were
familiar with the place.

V Village No. 3 was on the southeast quarter. Section 2, Maquon township.
j It was in a valley on the north of the bluff on French creek.

Village No. 4 was located on the Mrs. Lodema McGirr farm on the north-
:' west quarter of Section 12, Maquon township. Tent poles, maple sugar troughs
.;' and wat^r boxes were there many years after white settlers came.

(Village No. 5 was on Mr. Menzo Morse's farm, northeast quarter of Sec-
'tion 35, Maquon township. It was on a depression surrounded by hills and near
a large spring. Indians spent the winter of 1829 here. Old settlers remember
that there were about lOO inhabitants in this village of which the larger num-
ber were men. '. ';';'/;; -; :
Several burial grounds were found in Maquon township. One of consider-

able size was on the bluff or mound at the mouth of French creek, a short dis-
tance southeast of Maquon, on the southeast quarter, Section 2. The builders
of the C. B. & Q. railroad cut through a large number of graves in the year
1856. On the southwest quarter of Section 5, during the childhood of the older
settlers, there were more than a dozen burial mounds from 35 to 40 feet in
circumference.

u, . : ^_- ,^-;. v.'/ . , ' :^ Salem Township

In the eastern part of Salem township on the farm of Mr. Avery Dalton,
Knox county's oldest inhabitant, was held annually, Pottawatqmie green corn
feasts and dances ; also, councils were held. .. : ,.,...

-'/'> ;. -.'^ '../:'.,. V'-:'- ' 'u...^'"-. v'- Lt;w Fort '.'-;>';'...'''-'' ^; ^ .: ^''.''

Lewis Fort, in Henderson township, was built by Wm. Lewis and sixteen
others in the short time of four weeks. It was near the woods, was 210 feet
square, and was built of oak timbers, twelve feet each in length, set close to-
gether in the ground, forming a piece fence or palisade eight feet in height.
This was lined with chunks of sod two feet wide, four feet thick, and two feet
in length. Portholes were made every four feet. Block houses were erected
on two of the corners, at which each of the four sides of the fort could be
guarded. These houses were i6 x 20 feet, and projected slightly beyond the
fence to prevent the approach of incendiaries. A shed extended all the way

^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

around the inside. The only place of entry was a doorway, twelve feet wide,
closed with a heavy puncheon door. A sham cannon of basswood gave the fort
a deadly look. The other forts were of the same general plan.

' '^'-'. ".' '-''"

' X/^- . INDIANS OF THE REVOLUTION / U V : ' !: . \

It is little known that this portion of Illinois took any part in the revolution-
ary war, but the American army marched through Knox county on their way
from Peoria to Rock Island. Colonel (afterwards General) George Rogers
Clark, received twenty volunteers from Kentucky, under Captain John Mont-
gomery, which was an important addition to his army. Captain Montgomery,
is described as one of the "Long Hunters of Kentucky, Irishman full of Fight."
In 1778 he was made lieutenant colonel and given the title "Commander in
chief of the X'irginia Troops in the County of Illinois." |

The condition of the American army may be judged from an extract of a
letter he wrote in September, 1779, to General Clark: "I would be glad if it
is in your power to send to me a Relefe to me for the soldiers, if it is only as
much as will make them a little Jump Jacote and a pair of overalls, I think
they might scuffle through."

On May 26, 1779, the British and Indians attacked the Americans at Caho-
kia, Illinois. The command was under a Mr. Hess, and was composed of 750
men. including servants and Indians. These were Menominies, Sioux and Sacs
and Foxes. General Clark and his men made so brave a resistance at Cahokia,
that the British retreated northward, one part going by the Mississippi river,
and the other going by the Illinois river. Colonel Montgomery was ordered to
follow the enemy up the Illinois river to the lake (Peoria), and then cross the
country and attack the Sacs and Foxes on Rock river near its mouth. This at-
tack during the fore part of June, I78o,"by the American army upon the Rock
river town of the Sacs and Foxes, is the only event in the Revolutionary war
that brought the American army so far north. And notice : Knox county is in
a direct line between Peoria and Rock Island, and that the well traveled Galena
trail passes from one to the other, therefore, the army must have marched
through Knox county. The Indian villages of Maquonia were on the well worn
trail from Peoria to Rock river (Indian village), hence it is no stretch of im-
agination to presume that they passed through the present village of Maquon.
Another evidence is this : there are, within the confines of Knox county, abundant
evidence that there were, at least, three heavy battles fought on her soil and
neither battlefield is ten miles away from Maquon.

This American army, under Colonel Montgomery, consisted of 350 men,
according to his letter written February 22, 1783, to the Honorable, the board
of commissioners for the settlement of western accounts. Among other things
he says, after speaking of General Clark's movements and commands: "After
giving me instructions he (General Gark) left Cohos (Cohokia) the fourth of
June with a small escort for the mouth of the Ohio river, on his route to Ken-
tucky. I immediately proceeded to the business I was ordered, and marched
three hundred and fifty men to the lake open on the Illinois river, and from
thence to the Rock river, destroying the towns and crops proposed." Colonel
Montgomery gives no detailed account of the march from Cahokia, or of the

,^ /;,:/::;: HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ;^^ 47

engagement at Rock river. It was probably only a minor matter to this "Fight-
ing Irishman." No mention is made how the Montgomery army returned, but
it is safe to presume that they went as they came, by land. .,-.,- .x-

.^'^ '.'''' -^--yy '.'.V-.'':'V..^. .;";'., INDIAN TREATIES ,V'.:M:''-V;- .' ' , .. .vKv-'r'; :'-^'

; There were, at Iea:st, three Indian treaties that effected the Indians of Knox
county. Th first one being a treaty made at St. Lx)uis, on November 3, 1804,
between William Henry Harrison, governor of Indian Territory, and of the Dis-
trict of Louisiana, with the chief and the head men of the United Sacs and
Foxes, tribes of Indians. It is as follows :

For this land, the Indians were to have goods to the value of $2,234.50, and
an annuity of $i,ooo per year. By a treaty at Fort Madison, April, 1809, and
renewed during different years, they were allowed to remain on the lands until
they were surveyed. 'A\ ; ^;- '^^^

;::: It seems that the Ottawas, Chippewas and the Pottawatomies also claimed
rights in these lands. On August 24, i8i6, a treaty was entered into between
the United States and these Indians, under which the Indians relinquished all
claims on these lands, as follows : The head chiefs and warriors for themselves
and the tribes they represent, agree to relinquish, and hereby do relinquish, to
the United States, all their rights, claims and title to the land contained in the
before mentioned session of the Sacs and Foxes, which lies south of a due west
line, from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river.
And they, moreover, cede to the United States all the land contained in the fol-
lowing bounds, to-wit: Beginning at the left bank of the Fox river of Illinois,
ten miles above the mouth of said Fox river, thence running so as to cross Sandy
Creek, ten miles above its mouth ; thence in a direct line to a point ten miles
north of the west end of Portage, between Chicago Creek, which empties into
Lake Michigan. The general boundary line between the lands of the United
States and the said Indian tribes shall be as follows, to-wit : Beginning at a point
on the Missouri river opposite of the mouth of the Gasconade river, thence in
a direct course so as to strike the river Jefferson (in Iowa), at the distance of
thirty miles from its mouth, and down the said Jefferson to the Mississippi,
thence up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Onisconsing river, and up the
same which shall be thirty-six miles in a direct line to the point where the Fox
river (a branch of the Illinois) leaves the small lake Sakaegan, then down the
Fox river to the Illinois river and down the same to the Mississippi. The
treaty (Aug. 24, i8i6) was attended by twenty-eight chief Pottawatomies, Otta-
was, Sacs and Foxes, and Kickapoos. .: -.,,.. ,, V . '

''-'''-":.-'.:,:>: ;-X , - . ^ ;,;,'; ;';V.

;.-;-'.;"-.'. -V';''';- ''' '^' ' /'f'^^^-/.-.. LANDS SI;RVEYED ''''' '\ "';'.' "^ ' : '' ' v .:'-:':-x

^ ''-'."/;: ':.\^'\^:- :'-' :>- ^_:x '::..

From i8i6 to 1823, the land between the Illinois and the Mississippi rivers

was surveyed, by congressional enactment. May 6, 1812, and subsequently the
military tract of Illinois was created consisting, as we know, of the land between
the Illinois and Mississippi rivers south of the north line of what is now Bureau
and Henry counties.

Black Hawk, chief of the Sacs and Foxes, who fought for the British in the

48 , . HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

War of 1812, declared these treaties were not binding, and that they would not
abide by them. Many whites moved upon the land of the Indian. In 1831,
Black Hawk and a band of warriors established themselves on the disputed ter-
ritory, ordering the whites to leave at once. '-''./

; . , *' - ' - ^, V '

' : '. . j- ; j- V ILLINOIS INDIANS IN THE WAR OF l8l2 . ^ > ;

Upon the declaration of war in June, 1812, the Pottawatomies and most other
tribes of Indians in the territory of Illinois, strongly sympathized with England.
Just prior to the War of 1812, Tecumseh, the great Indian chieftain, endeav-
ored to arouse the western Indians against the whites. For this purpose, he
visited Illinois and perhaps Knox county. Long years afterwards the Potta-
watomie chief, Shabbona ( who then lived in Bureau county) stated that Te-
cumseh came to him personally to get him and his tribe to join with him against
the whites.

It is not generally known that Illinois took any important part in the War
of 1812, but the record, though incomplete, shows that at least four regiments
and a number of rangers were enlisted and in active service, and had it not
been for the bravery and vigilance of these rangers, the other settlements of
Illinois would have met the sad fate of Fort Dearborn.

'','^-' i:";;-^j^' . MAQUONIA INDIANS ^ '."'-'/ i.; ''

In September, 1812, an expedition was fitted out at Camp Russell, near Ed-
wardsville, not far from St. Louis, to march to capture Peoria, as the white
settlers there were supposed to be in sympathy with the Indians, and was to take
the Indian tribes in that vicinity. During the expedition. Major Boone, was sent
with one hundred from Peoria in the direction of Rock river, to look out for
war parties of Indians. When he went back, he reported that he had penetrated
the country northwesterly and within forty-five miles of Rock river, he said
there were several encampments of Indians of the Maquonia, which seemed
to be deserted about the time the army arrived at Peoria. This is from records
of the adjutant general of Illinois, and to my mind is conclusive evidence that
the army marched to Spoon river, which was known by that name at that time,
and crossed it at Maquon, Knox county, Illinois. I can not otherwise account
for the name as there is not another town in America by that name.

Another expedition during the War of 1812 marched from Edwardsville to
Quincy, where was a large Sacs and Fox village, thence across what is now
Schuyler and Fulton counties, to the mouth of Spoon river, near where Havana
now is, and thence to Peoria and destroyed the Pottawatomie village of Chief
Gomo, near Chillicothe. Peoria was burned and the inhabitants carried away
in 1813. .

;: '- " ' \ ':^ . BLACK HAWK WAR - ;

Black Hawk war seems to be a blot upon the fair name of Illinois because
of the greed of some of the white people who were determined to have the land.

V^-':: .-^ V ; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY / ' 49

.;iV-':.;-^. '-;: ^- - .'-

regardless of the Indian rights and claims. The following speech, by the famous
Black Hawk, explains the Indian's idea in the matter: ......, ..

;'-: ^';'.; r.'-^ ,' BLACK HAWK TO GENERAL STREET ' , .'

"You have taken me prisoner with all my warriors. I am much grieved,
for I expected, if I did not defeat you, to hold out much longer, and give you
much trouble, before I surrendered. I tried hard to bring you into ambush, but
your last general understood Indian fighting. I determined to rush on you and
fight you face to face. I fought hard, but your guns were well aimed. The bul-
lets flew like birds through the air and whizzed by our ears like the wind through
the trees in winter. My warriors fell around me. It began to look dismal.

"I saw my evil day at hand. The sun rose dim upon us in the morning and at
night it sank in a dark cloud and looked like a ball of fire. That was the last sun
that shone on Black Hawk. His heart is dead and no longer beats quick in his
bosom. He is now a prisoner of the white men: they will do with him as they
wish, but he can stand torture, and is not afraid of death. He is no coward.
Black Hawk is an Indian. He has done nothing for which an Indian ought to
be ashamed. He has fought for his countrymen, against the white men who
came, year after year, to cheat them and take away their land.

"You know the cause of our making war. It is known to all white men.
They ought to be ashamed of it. The white men despise the Indians and drive
them from their homes. They smile in the face of the poor Indian, to cheat
him; they shake him by the hand, to gain his confidence, to make him drunk,
and to deceive him. We told them to let us alone and keep away from us, but
they followed on and beset our paths and they coiled themselves among us like
a snake. They poisoned us by their touch. We were not safe. We lived in
danger. We looked up to the Great Spirit. We went to our Father. We were
encouraged. His great council gave us fair words and big promises, but we got
no satisfaction; things were growing worse. There were no deer in the forests.
The oppossum and beaver were fled. The springs were drying up, and our
squaws and pappooses were without food to keep them from starving.

"We called a great council and built a large fire. The spirit of our fathers
arose, and spoke to us to avenge our wrongs or die. We set up the war-whoop,
and dug up the tomahawk ; our knives were ready, and the heart of Black Hawk
swelled high in his bosom, when he led his warriors to the battle. He is satis-
fied. He will go to the world of Spirits contended. He has done his duty.
His father will meet him there and commend him.

"Black Hawk is a true Indian, and he disdains to cry like a woman. He
feels for his wife, for his children, for his friends, but he does not care for him-
self. He cares for the nation and the Indian. They will suffer. He laments
their fate. Farewell, my nation. Black Hawk tried to save you and avenge
your wrongs. He drank the blood of some of the whites. He has been taken
prisoner, and his plans are crushed. He can do no more. He is near his end.
His sun is setting, and he will rise no more. Farewell to Black Hawk."

I wish to acknowledge my obligation for local history to Major Thomas
McKee's Reminiscences of old days in Illinois, Miss J. H. McKenney, Mrs. El-
sie D. Hartsook, Mr. J. W. Miles, Captain C. C. Craig, J. W. Adams, and others.

Vol. I-

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

The following authorities have been consulted: -'-;'-;'>-

Chapman's History of Knox County. - -;.:.. ;

Bateman and Selby History of Knox County. .'- . _.

Momette's Mississippi Valley, Vol. II, p. loi. :i

Butterfield Conquest of 111., p. 270. ' ' ; '':'.' ^- /

Draper Mss., 49, 147. ; '

Canadian Archives, Series B., Vol. 97, pt. 2, p. 349. . f

Treaty Nov. 3, 1804, U. S. Statutes at Large, Vol. 7, p. 84. .

Treaty Aug. 24, i8i6, U. S. Statutes at Large, Vol. 7, p. 146. .

Calendar Virginia State Papers, Vol. Ill, Page 441, as searched by Wm. A.
Meese, of Rock Island. - .. - ... . . ;

COURTS THEIR JURISDICTION AND SUITS OF PUBLIC IMPOR-
TANCE

, BY HON. GEORGE W. THOMPSON, JUDGE CIRCUIT AND APPELLATE COURTS.

The legal history of Knox county in detail would include a review of the
acts of the legislature from the admission of the state of Illinois into the Union,
the records of the courts which had jurisdiction over the territory now within the
county, a biography of the judges who have presided over the courts having such
jurisdiction and of the leading lawyers who have conducted litigation concerning
public matters in the county and a review of the more important cases tried
within the county. This history of the county, in the appropriate departments,
will contain biographical sketches of the lawyers who have practiced and are
now practicing before the bar and of the judges who have presided over the
courts of record in the county. It is intended in this sketch to review only topics
of general interest concerning legal matters within the county. The statutes of
the state required that the territory within the limits of the county should have
three hundred inhabitants before it could be organized as a county, and there
was included within the county when first organized the territory now within its
boundaries with the two townships that are now the west townships of Stark
county and which were detached from Knox county in 1839, when Stark county
was organized.

An order was entered in the circuit court at Lewistown in Fulton county, of
which Knox was then a part, on the 5th of July, 1830, that a term of the circuit
court be held in Knox county on the Friday before the first Monday in October,
1830.

When this county was organized the statutes of the state provided, that the
county commissioners court in each county should divide the county into districts,
in each of which two justices of the peace should be elected, except in the district
in which the county seat was situated and in that district three justices of the
peace should be elected. Justices of the peace had substantially the same juris-
diction in criminal and in civil matters that they have at the present time, with
the exception that in civil matters their jurisdiction was limited to the sum of
$ioo. The statute then in force is very similar to the present statute except that
justices have been given additional jurisdiction in a few other special matters;

.;--; .;.>;.- HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^ :::- 51

there has been very little change in the practice in such courts. In 1874 their
jurisdiction was enlarged to controversies not exceeding $200,

The statutes in force in 1830 also provided that a court of record styled
"the court of probate" should be established and held at the several county seats,
and that the judges of probate should be appointed by the general assembly to
be paid a reasonable compensation to be allowed them out of the county treasury
by the county commissioners' court. They were required to hold terms on the
first Monday in every month and had jurisdiction over estates of deceased per-
sons. The only jurisdiction that the court of probate had when first established
was in the matter of estates of deceased persons, the appointment of guardians
and matters relating to apprentices. They had no jurisdiction in the allowance of
claims against estates if the claim exceeded $IOCXD or in proceedings to sell real
estate to pay debts.

In 1837 the legislature changed the name from probate judge to probate jus-
tice, and made the office elective by the voters for the term of four years. The
probate justice was also given the same jurisdiction in civil matters as justices
of the peace, and in cases of debt or assumpsit where an administrator or executor
was a party, they had civil jurisdiction to the extent of $1000. In 1845 the
style of ihe probate justice was changed by the legislature to "probate justice of
the peace;" the term of office was reduced to two years, but their jurisdiction
remained substantially the same as under the act of 1837. ;

The constitution of 1848 provided that a county court should be established
and that a county judge should be elected in each county. By the statute of 1849
county courts were given full jurisdiction in the settlement of estates, including
the power to sell real estates of decedents to pay debts, with the same jurisdiction
as justices of the peace in civil suits, where the amount involved did not exceed
$ioo. In 1872, under the constitution of 1870, the jurisdiction of county courts
in civil suits was enlarged, giving them jurisdiction in all matters over which
justices of the peace had jurisdiction, when the amount involved did not exceed
$500 with jurisdiction, concurrent with the circuit court, over appeals from jus-
tices of the peace, but appeals from the county court when sitting as a justice of
the peace, were to be taken to the circuit court. They were also given jurisdic-
tion over criminal cases, where the punishment was not imprisonment in the peni-
tentiary or death, and the circuit court was authorized to certify indictments in
such matters to the county court for trial. In 1877 the jurisdiction of the county
courts was extended in civil suits to $1000; law terms were established for that
court, and appeals in common law cases directed to be taken to the appellate
court and in proceedings for the sale of real estate to pay debts of decedents to
the supreme court.

There was also a court of record for the government of counties, established
when the state was organized, called "the county commissioners' court." It was
composed of three county commissioners elected in each county ; they had power
to appoint a clerk. The jurisdiction of this court was limited to matters concern-
ing the county revenue, the imposing of county taxes, granting licenses for ferries
and "taverns" and anything that brought in revenue to the county. It also had
jurisdiction in all cases of public roads, canals, turnpike roads and toll bridges.
While styled a court, it was simply the means of county government. This court
continued until 1849, when an act was passed authorizing counties to adopt town-

52 HISTORY OF KNox COUNTY ' ^^'.-:f^:---::'^:'^--::\^: -.^^.^''^

ship organization by a vote of the people. 'While it is styled a court, yet it had
no jurisdiction in civil matters, between third parties or in criminal matters, its
jurisdiction being limited to county business.

The circuit court in Illinois has always been a court having general jurisdic-
tion over all legal matters except in the probate of wills and the settlement of
estates. The first term of the circuit court was opened in Knox county in a ''
"temporary seat of justice" on the first day of October, 1830, at the home of
John B. Gum, which was a log cabin on section thirty-two in Henderson township. .^ ':''

The first judicial order, made in the circuit court of Knox county on that :;"
day, directed the recording of an order made at Lewistown on June lO, 1830, that /; !
an election be held at the house of John B. Gum for the election of three county ';.
commissioners, a sheriff and coroner, to be held on the 3rd of July, 1830. There
was a grand and petit jury in attendance. On the first day of court the grand
jury made a report concerning the condition of the jail and that there was no '' ';
business for their consideration. The court adjourned until the next day when - ,
the court was adjourned for the term. The only business transacted by the court - -
at that term, other than directing the recording of the orders concerning the v
organization of the county, the approval of the bonds of John G. Sanborn, as
clerk of the court, of Stephen Osburn as sheriff, ordering such bonds recorded, ^
the appointing of a temporary states attorney and the empanelling and discharging . .-'X
of grand and petit juries was to certify to the county commissioners court, that .'^ :
the sheriff had attended court two days. ' .

On January 15, 1831, the legislature passed an act providing, "that the seat ;
of justice for the county of Knox is hereby permanently established on the south- S."
west quarter of section twenty-eight in township eleven north, of range two east" . ,
and authorizing the county commissioners of the county to purchase said quarter 'v !
of land of the United States "and to lay off on the same a town which shall be . ..-.
called Henderson." (Laws of 1831, page 62.) On December 22nd, 1832, the >; ;/
legislature enacted: "That the county seat of Knox, hitherto known by the name :-';
of Henderson, shall from and after the passage of this act be known and desig- ;
nated by the name of Knoxville." Knoxville remained a town until 1853, when :'
it was incorporated as a city by an act of the legislature. - -':

In March, 1831, the county commissioners made a contract with William - ;
Lewis for the building of a court house in the town of Henderson to which the .';..
legislature had transferred the seat of justice. A two story court house twenty- :^
eight feet long by twenty feet wide built of hewed logs was completed in 1833, at - ;
a cost when furnished of less than $40x5, which served all the purposes of a court \y
house until 1840, when a two story brick court house was erected at a cost of '';.
$15,450 on the public square in Knoxville. That building still stands and is now - ;;
used by the city of Knoxville as an office building. In 1854 a two room fireproof
brick building was erected near the court house for the use of the clerks and for . ,V
the safe keeping of the records. :",;

In 1873 the county seat was changed from' Knoxville to Galesburg, where -l.t r
court was held in the opera house on the south side of the square until October ;-
term 1883. The records of the county were kept, and the clerk's offices were ; ;
located in a one story fireproof building on South Cherry street, which had been . ;
built by the city of Galesburg for the use of the county, where the city hall of
Galesburg now stands. That building was also used as a county court room.

:;C; ;;-^:;;^; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY :< -^ 68

In 1882 the county began the erection of a second story over the clerk's offices
which was reached by an outside stairway. The circuit court was held in the
second story of this building from October, 1883, until the present court house
was completed in 1886 at a cost, when furnished, of about $150,000.

In 1860 the question of the removal of the county seat from Knoxville to
Galesburg was raised. From that time the location of the county seat figured
much in the official affairs and in the politics of the county. Dennis Clark who
resided in Abingdon was elected county judge in November, 1865, and held that
office five successive terms and until the election in 1886. The fact that the city
of his residence was favorable to the change of the county seat to Galesburg was
long used as an argument why the citizens of Galesburg should vote for him for
county judge. In 1862 in a constitutional convention, propositions were offered,
contended for and resisted, the ultimate motive of which was the removal of the
county seat of Knox county from Knoxville to Galesburg. In 1865 an act was
passed by the legislature providing for a change from Knoxville to Galesburg if
the people of the county should by a vote of its citizens favor such removal.. In
March, 1869, an act was passed authorizing the supervisors to appoint commis-
sioners to contract with the city of Galesburg or persons offering gifts to the
county as an inducement for the removal of the county seat to Galesburg. An
election was held on the question of the removal of the county seat to Galesburg
on April 6, 1869. On the face of the returns the vote was against the removal.
That election was contested, and on a trial in the circuit court of McDonough
county, where the case was transferred, by a change of venue, it was held. Judge
Higby of Pike county presiding, that the majority of the vote on the location of
the county seat was in favor of Galesburg. The case was one of the most impor-
tant and closely contested civil cases that have arisen in this county. The ablest
lawyers that could be found in the state were employed in the case. The law firm
of Craig and Harvey, composed of Judge A. M. Craig, who at that time lived
midway between Galesburg and Knoxville, and later was elected to the supreme
bench of the state, and his brother-in-law, Curtis K. Harvey, a very promising
young lawyer, were the leading counsel for the city of Knoxville. They were
assisted by G. L. Hannaman and P. H. Sanford, who resided in Knoxville and
who afterwards from 1886 to 1898 presided as judge of the county court after
the removal of the county seat to Galesburg, but who lived and died in Knox-
ville, and by Eagan and Temple and H. M. Weed of Peoria, and Beckwith, Ayer
& Kales of Chicago. The case for the city of Galesburg was presented by Mc-
Kenzie and Williams, Frost & Tunnicliff and Kitchell and Arnold. E. P. Will-
iams of McKenzie and Williams is entitled to much credit for the great care
and freedom from error with which the case was presented in the circuit court,
and the ultimate success of Galesburg at the end of the case in the supreme
court.

At the time of the county seat contest all that was required in favor of a re-
moval was a majority of the votes cast. Prior to that contest there was no gen-
eral legislation in such matters, but special acts were passed by the general as-
sembly concerning different counties. The constitution of 1870 contains a pro-
vision that a vote to change a county seat shall not be taken oftener than once in
ten years, and that if the new location is further from the center of the county
than the old one, then a vote of three-fifths of the votes of the county in favor

iN- ! - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^ :^ ':- "^

of the removal is required to move it, but if the new location is nearer the center
of the county, then a majority vote only shall be necessary. The contest in Knox
county was the cause of the foregoing provision.

On June ii, 1832, court was opened in the new log court house just finished
in Knoxville, then called Henderson. The grand jury empanelled at that term
reported that there were no violations of law, and the records show that there
was no business before the court either of a criminal or civil nature. The first
bill in chancery filed in this county was a bill for divorce, at that time called a
libel for divorce, filed to the October term, 1832, entitled Tanner vs. Tanner.
At that term, there being no general statute concerning notice of suit to non-resi-
dent defendants by publication, an order was made for the publication of notice
to the defendant in a public newspaper published in the state. The libellant,
Rhoda Tanner, upon a showing as to her poverty, not only procured an order that
she be permitted to prosecute her suit as a poor person without the payment of
any costs, but also secured an order directing and requiring James W. Whitney,
an attorney, to prosecute her suit without any compensation or fee. The only
other business at that term was the issuing of attachments against persons sum-
moned for jury service who have failed to appear.

At the June term 1833, in Knoxville the first entry on the records of the
county was made in a criminal case. That case came on a change of venue from
McDonough county. The only common law case upon the docket at that term,
in which any order was made, was an appeal from the judgment of a justice of
the peace, which had been obtained on a note dated in May, 1830, "payable in
young cattle." O. H. Browning, a lawyer from Quincy, a leader of the bar in the
state in his day, appeared as the attorney for the defendant. The defendant pro-
cured a continuance and the case was not disposed of until 1834, when, the de-
fendant being unable to obtain any further postponement, the appeal was dis-
missed and judgment for $21.15 rendered against the defendant. . 1
: . ; The second and third chancery suits, begun within the county, were also bills
for divorce. A decree was entered in April, 1834, granting a divorce to the
libellant, in the bill for divorce filed to the October term, 1832. The first indict-
ment returned by a grand jury, for an offence committed within the county, was
returned at the April term, 1834. At that term two indictments were returned,
one charging certain defendants with riot, and another charging the defendant
with selling intoxicating liquor without a license. The cases were tried before a
petit jury and the defendants were acquitted.

Under the constitution of i8i8 the judicial power of the state was vested in a
supreme court and such inferior courts as the general assembly might establish.
It provided that the justices of the supreme court and of the inferior courts
should be appointed by a joint ballot of both branches of the general assembly
and be commissioned by the governor and hold their offices during good be-
havior, until the end of the first session of the legislature after January i, 1824.

Richard M. Young, one of the judges of the supreme court who received a
salary of $1000 each, presided over the circuit court in Knox county from its
organization until the May term, 1837, when he was succeeded by James H. Rals-
ton. Stephen A. Douglas was one of the judges of the supreme court from 1841
to 1843 and presided over the circuit court of Knox county during that time.
In 1848 a new constitution was adopted by the state which declared that the

>-^^te V:'^;-"^v ; ' HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY :':".:-- 56

judicial power of the state should be vested in a supreme court consisting of
three judges, in circuit courts, county courts and in justices of the peace, all of
whom should be elected by the people of fixed and definite terms. The consti-
tution of 1848 fixed the salaries of judges of the supreme court at $1200 per
annum and of the judges of the circuit court at $icxx> per annum.

The constitution of 1870 increased the number of judges of the supreme court
to seven and the salary of such judges to $4Co until otherwise provided by law.
It also made provision for the creation of inferior appellate courts by the general
assembly, which provision was acted on in 1877, and the appellate courts estab-
lished. It fixed the salaries of circuit judges at $3000 per annum until otherwise
provided by law. V-.':'^^ ". ^..,.

The appellate courts were formed by an act dividing the state into a certain
number of circuits, each circuit being composed of several counties, and electing
three circuit judges in each. The state was divided into four appellate districts.
The supreme court assigns three circuit judges to each district, who do appellate
duty as well as circuit court duty, however without any additional pecuniary com-
pensation, but are recompensed by the honor of the appointment.

In the constitutions of i8i8 and 1848 there was no restriction against special
legislation, and much of the time of the general assembly was occupied with legis-
lation, concerning matters of local interest only, in which the public at large was
not interested. The constitution of 1870 contains a provision against special
legislation concerning certain enumerated things, and provides generally that in
all cases where a general law can be made applicable no special law shall be
enacted. Section 42 of an act passed by the legislature and approved March 2,
1839, provides : "That Turner Roundtree, Thomas Gilbert and z\grippa L. Mar-
tin, of the county of Knox, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to
review, survey and relocate that part of the state road leading from Knoxville
in Knox county to New Boston, in Mercer county, which lies in the said county
of Knox, so that said road, as relocated, may run through the town of Gales-
burg in said county of Knox, and strike the present state road at some point
between Galesburg and Alfred Brown's." In 1841 an act was passed requiring
an election to be held in Cherry Grove precinct, in Knox county, for the election
of an additional justice of the peace and constable who shall reside within the
limits of the town of Abingdon.

Some of the special charters created by acts passed under the old constitutions
of the state are cherished as very valuable, while the rights secured by others have
been abandoned. The Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Galesburg is incorpo-
rated and exercises its corporate rights as a bank under a special charter obtained
from the legislature. The cities of Galesburg, Abingdon, and Oneida, each, were
incorporated under special charters. The original charters obtained from the leg-
islature by these cities continued many specially valuable provisions, amongst
others may be mentioned the prohibition against licensing the sale of intoxicating
liquors as a beverage. Abingdon and Oneida still cling to their original charters,
with the result that no intoxicating liquor has ever been legally sold as a beverage
within their boundaries. In 1876 the city of Galesburg, by a vote of its inhabit-
ants, became incorporated under the general incorporation act concerning the
incorporation of cities and villages passed in 1872, and relinquished its charter
prohibition against the sale of intoxicating liquor. The public school system of

56 ' HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

:^|:--
Galesburg is still acting under the provisions of a special school charter adopted

in 1859.

The public school system of the city of Galesburg, while existing under a
special act, is controlled by the general school law in the conduct of some of its
business and in some matters by its special charter. In 1882 there appeared in the
public newspapers of the city articles written by a prominent lawyer contending
that the board of education of the city was not controlled by the general school
law, and that it was unnecessary for the teachers employed in the city schools to
go to the expense and trouble of procuring certificates of their fitness to teach
from the county superintendent of schools. The result of the newspaper articles
was that a citizen of the same political persuasion as the author of the articles
employed a lawyer who occupied offices near those of the author of the articles
to bring a suit to enjoin the payment of the salary of a teacher of penmanship,
who, teaching a special subject only, did not have a certificate from the county
superintendent licensing to teach. The writer of the newspaper articles was
employed to defend the school board against the injunction suit and show that
his published articles laid down correct legal principles. The circuit court held
that no teacher in the public schools was entitled to be paid out of the school
fund, unless he held a proper certificate from the county superintendent of
schools. The case was appealed to the supreme court, where it was expected,
that as the briefs for the citizens who brought the suit, only perfunctorily stated
his contention and the defendant's brief was an able one, that the case would be
reversed and the school board exempted- from the provisions of the general
school law. Another leading lawyer of the city, James A. McKenzie, who was
regarded as one of the best common law pleaders that ever practiced in the county,
and who had a state wide reputation, quietly filed a brief as a friend of the court
and for the public good, and the decree of the trial court was affirmed in an
opinion published in 112 111. Supreme Court Reports at page ii, much to the dis-
comfiture of the lawyer, who had instigated the suit by his published letters and
who apparently had his choice of sides in the case.

A comparison of the judicial records of the first few years of the county with
those of later years demonstrates that the inhabitants of the county were neither
different in their characteristics nor distinctly better or worse than its citizens of
the present time. The first action usually taken by a defendant in court was to
move for a continuance. The proportion of divorces compared with other chan-
cery suits was then apparently as great as at present, and the court compelled
attorneys to prosecute suits for divorce in behalf of poor persons without re-
ward, a proceeding unknown at the present time in civil suits between parties.
Now there is an outcry for the defense against such sirits by the public, instead
of assistance to complainants therein. Selling intoxicating liquor, without a
license, was in the early years of the county a frequent offense, and there was
the same difficulty in procuring convictions that now exists. A large proportion
of the judicial records of the circuit court, in its earlier years, is made up of or-
ders for attachments for contempt against parties summoned for jury service,
who had failed to appear. The parties on the hearing of the attachments were
usually discharged, occasionally, however, being taxed with the costs of the at-
tachment. Serving on juries, especially on grand juries was a service rendered
at that time apparently more unwillingly than at present, for which there was

THE CITY HALL

Located on South Cherry Street, between Simmons and Tompkins Streets. Erected 1905-6. Value,

$45,000.

S6 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY .

Galesburg is still acting under the provisions of a special school charter adopted
in 1859.

The public school system of the city of Galesburg, while existing under a
special act, is controlled by the general school law in the conduct of some of its
business and in some matters by its special charter. In 1882 there appeared in the
public newspapers of the city articles written by a prominent lawyer contending
that the board of education of the city was not controlled by the general school
law, and that it was unnecessary for the teachers employed in the city schools to
go to the expense and trouble of procuring certificates of their fitness to teach
from the county superintendent of schools. The result of the newspaper articles
was that a citizen of the same political persuasion as the author of the articles
employed a lawyer who occupied offices near those of the author of the articles
to bring a suit to enjoin the payment of the salary of a teacher of penmanship,
who, teaching a special subject only, did not have a certificate from the county
superintendent licensing to teach. The writer of the newspaper articles was
employed to defend the school board against the injunction suit and show that
his published articles laid down correct legal principles. The circuit court held
that no teacher in the public schools was entitled to be paid out of the school
fund, unless he held a proper certificate from the county superintendent of
schools. The case was appealed to the supreme court, where it was expected,
that as the briefs for the citizens who brought the suit, only perfunctorily stated
his contention and the defendant's brief was an able one, that the case would be
reversed and the school board exempted from the provisions of the general
school law. Another leading lawyer of the city, James A. McKenzie, who was
regarded as one of the best common law pleaders that ever practiced in the county,
and who had a state wide reputation, quietly filed a brief as a friend of the court
and for the public good, and the decree of the trial court was affirmed in an
opinion published in 112 111. Supreme Court Reports at page ii, much to the dis-
comfiture of the lawyer, who had instigated the suit by his published letters and
who apparently had his choice of sides in the case.

A comparison of the judicial records of the first few years of the county with
those of later years demonstrates that the inhabitants of the county were neither
different in their characteristics nor distinctly better or worse than its citizens of
the present time. The first action usually taken by a defendant in court was to
move for a continuance. The proportion of divorces compared with other chan-
cery suits was then apparently as great as at present, and the court compelled
attorneys to prosecute suits for divorce in behalf of poor persons without re-
ward, a proceeding unknown at the present time in civil suits between parties.
Now there is an outcry for the defense against such suits by the public, instead
of assistance to complainants therein. Selling intoxicating liquor, without a
license, was in the early years of the county a frequent oflfense, and there was
the same difficulty in procuring convictions that now exists. A large proportion
of the judicial records of the circuit court, in its earlier years, is made up of or-
ders for attachments for contempt against parties summoned for jury service,
who had failed to appear. The parties on the hearing of the attachments were
usually discharged, occasionally, however, being taxed with the costs of the at-
tachment. Serving on juries, especially on grand juries was a service rendered
at that time apparently more unwillingly than at present, for which there was

:'/.T- . . ^ . \ -^

THE CITY HALL -

Located on South Cherry Street, between Simmons and Tompkins Streets. Erected 1905-C. \'aluc,
$45,110(1.

,'*

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : 57

then more reason than now, in addition to the lack of transportation facilities, as
grand jurors in the earlier years of the county received no mileage or compensa-
tion of any kind, and petit jurors received 25c a day for each civil case in which
they served, and no compensation whatever in criminal cases.

The territory within the state of Illinois was originally with other territory
northwest of the Ohio river, within the state of Virginia and was in 1778 organ-
ized into the county of Illinois. In 1783 it was ceded to the United States by
the state of Virginia, and by the ordinance of the i3th day of July, 1787, was
erected into a territorial government. That ordinance contains certain articles
of compact, between the original states and the people in that territory, which
articles it is declared shall forever remain unalterable unless by common con-
sent. The ordinance provides, among other things, that the inhabitants of said
territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of judicial proceedings according
to the course of common law. There is still in the statutes of Illinois an act
which provides, "That the common law of England so far as the same is ap-
plicable and of a general nature, and all statutes or acts of the British parliament
made in aid of, and to supply the defects of the common law, prior to the fourth
year of, James the First, excepting the second section of the sixth chapter of
43d Elizabeth, the eighth chapter of the I3th Elizabeth, and the ninth chapter
of 37th Henry Eighth and which are of a general nature and not local to that
kingdom shall be the rule of decisions and shall be considered as of full force
until repealed by legislative authority." The legislature fixed the law as it was
in England in 1607, the fourth year of James the First, as the period at which
the law of England should be made applicable to this country instead of the year
of the Declaration of Independence, for the reason that was the time of the in-
stitution of the first territorial government in America. The adoption of the
common law, as it was in 1607, has been construed as only applicable in cases
where that law is applicable to the habits and conditions of our society and in
harmony with the genius, spirit and objects of American institutions. By the
common law is meant those maxims, principles and forms of procedure that have
no written law to warrant them, but are founded on the laws of nature and the
dictates of reason and have by usage and custom become interwoven with the
written laws. This law is found in the records of the courts, and writings of
men skilled in the profession, whose statements of the law are deductions and
conclusions gathered from the decisions of the courts.

The practice and procedure in the trial courts, in our times, are but little dif-
. ferent from the practice at the time the county was organized or as it was in
1607. The pleadings, in courts were then written by the attorneys, now they are
usually dictated to stenographers, are typewritten and are more verbose. By the
change in office methods, the conciseness and precision that governed in earlier
times has been lost. The procedure in the courts both in civil and criminal
matters has not advanced and has not kept pace with the improvements in other
sciences, but clings to the rule of precedent. Several attempts have been made
by the judiciary and the leading lawyers of the state to simplify and expedite
the methods of court procedure, but the recommendations of practice commissions,
the last of which was made in 1907, have been practically ignored by the legisla-
ture. While the statutes of the state make a large volume, that part of them
applicable to practice in courts of record is contained within less than forty

58 r HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY V "^ ; .v .'Iw ;^;''.

pages of the present statute. The most important statute modifying the old -; ;
common law practice is the statute of amendments, which permits any process '.'.'-
or pleading in a civil suit to be amended by leave of the court for the furtherance ; ..
of justice at any time even after judgment. ;-

Knox county is in the military tract of Illinois: the land in it was set apart .-
by the federal government for the soldiers of the War of 1812 to be located upon ' '^
by them. The warrants issued to the soldiers were in great part bought up by ..:
speculators, who located the warrants on land the title to which was in the gov- *;-
ernment. Many of the soldiers who themselves located their warrants and re- :;'
ceived the patents for their land, either sold the land, or the land being so far .;; -
from the settled parts of the country, it was regarded by the owners of so little ; \
value that they paid no attention to their property and permitted it to be sold '
for taxes. The result was that after a patent had been issued to a soldier and " '
the land remained vacant and unoccupied, or it was occupied by squatters with- J
out any claim of title, speculators would secure some kind of a title, either a tax '
title or a deed, either from the soldier, or some one of the same name. It did '
not seem to be important, whether the maker of the deed was the soldier or a V. '
descendant, if he could make a deed in the name of the patentee. Titles to land
were very uncertain. Many fraudulent titles were recorded, and frequently there
were several titles of record to the same tract of land. The result was, that in ' '..
1839 statutes were enacted by the legislature for the purpose of quieting titles.
One of these statutes provided that whenever any person, having claim and color ; ''
of title made in good faith to vacant and unoccupied land, shall pay all taxes :..
legally assessed thereon for seven successive years, he shall be adjudged the legal ; ;
owner of such vacant land, according to the purport of his paper title. Another . >
section provided that every person in the actual possession of land under claim .
and color of title, made in good faith, and who shall for seven successive years
continue in possession and shall during said time pay all taxes legally assessed ;.
against such land, shall be adjudged the owner to the extent and purport of his '
paper title. The purpose of the passage of these statutes was to perfect and give . , '
good title to land, which parties had in good faith bought from others, who had :'.
no title or only a fraudulent title, and to put an end to the very general litigation . -
concerning land titles. The courts held that while these statutes purported to be ,. .'
statutes making title, yet they could only be used as a shield to defend the title ...:'
of the party in possession and could not be used as a sword to destroy the title of ;
others. The case of Hale vs. Gladfelter, which was tried in the circuit court of V i
Knox county before Hon. A. A. Smith of Galesburg, judge presiding, and taken
by appeal to the supreme court involved the title to a quarter section of land in
Victoria township in this county, secured a construction of the statutes referred V. .
to. It was one of the most important civil cases tried in this county and had
very able lawyers opposed to each other ; Leander Douglas represented T. J. Hale,
who was ultimately successful, and Frost and Tunnicliff, P. H. Sanford and ;;.
Martin Shallenberger of Toulon, represented Levi Gladfelter. > .

In 1882 Edgar A. Bancroft, then starting in the practice of law, began in - ;
Knox county a case of great public importance entitled Jones vs. the Chicago & '':
Burlington Railroad Co., to recover penalties for overcharges on shipment .'. -
of stocks. F. A. Willoughby and F. S. Murphy were subsequently associated ' '.
with Bancroft for the plaintiff and O. F. Price and Williams and Lawrence of :';;^

''':,;: HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY .; - 59

Galesburg, with Chicago attorneys represented the railroad company. In this
cause was tested the validity of an act of the legislature passed in 1873, entitled
an act to prevent extortion and unjust discrimination in the rates charged for
the transportation of passengers and freight. The act authorized the railroad
and warehouse commissioners to make schedules of reasonable and maximum
rates for the transportation of passengers and freight, and gave to persons who
were injured by any violation of the act, a right of recovery for three times the
amount of the damages sustained and attorneys fees. The case was tried in the
circuit court of Knox county. Judge Glenn of -Monmouth presiding, and a judg-
ment rendered in favor of the plaintiff for $2,868.60 and $1,200 attorneys fees.
The case was not finally disposed of in the supreme court of Illinois until 1894
because of transfers back and forth between the state and federal courts, when
the judgment was affirmed in an opinion by the supreme court of this state es-
tablishing the validity of the statute and the control of the state over common
carriers.

A history of the trial of judicial matters in Knox county would be incom-
plete without reference to two judges of the supreme court of the state and a
circuit judge who resided in Knox county during their terms of offices. In 1864
Charles 'B. Lawrence, then a judge of the circuit court of Knox county, was
elected to the supreme bench. His record as a nisi prius judge has not been ex-
celled in the state for wisdom and accuracy. His opinions in the supreme court
are contained in volumes 36 to 67 and are very concise models of legal literature
and learning. They leave no doubt as to the law therein laid down.

In 1873 he was succeeded by Alfred M. Craig, who held a seat on that bench
until 1900. His opinions are found in volumes 67 to i86 inclusive and are noted
for their clearness and hard common sense. He displayed g^eat legal acumen
in adapting judicial principles to new and changing conditions, without being
chargeable with judicial legislation. In a case involving the question of the right
of school directors to provide separate schools for colored children, in which the
supreme court judges were divided in opinion. Judge Craig held with the ma-
jority, that while school directors had large discretionary powers, yet they had
no right to discriminate between children on account of color or social condition.
He wrote the opinion in the famous Illinois Central Railroad case, involving the
right of the railroad company under its charter to submerged lands along the lake
front in Chicago, in which it was decided that the state held the title to the lands
within its boundaries covered by the waters of Lake Michigan, in trust for the
people and that the state had no right to sell such lands.

Arthur A. Smith, judge of the circuit court from 1867 to 1894, was born in
Batavia, Ohio. He graduated from Knox College in 1853. He studied law for a
while in New York and afterwards in Peoria and was admitted to the bar and
opened a law office in Galesburg in 1855. At the breaking out of the Civil war
he helped to organize the 83rd Regiment of Illinois Infantry, of which he was
elected lieutenant colonel. He served his country well until the close of the war,
when he was mustered out with the rank of brigadier general. For a short time
after the close of the war. General Smith remained at Clarksville, but returned
to Galesburg in 1866, where he resumed the practice of law. In the early part
of 1867, he was appointed circuit judge to fill the vacancy created by the resigna-
tion of Judge John S. Thompson of Mercer county. ' . - v ;' -

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY r ^-o ;,

Judge Smith was succeeded by Judge Hiram Bigelow of Galva, in Henry
county, who served out the remainder of Judge Smith's term, ,\ I ...: '

Judge Bigelow was succeeded by the writer of this article, who is now serving
his third term as circuit judge.

V:?// COURTHOUSES ' ' ;^\" -^^

In pursuance of the policy announced in the preface of this history, it is
now our intention to write up the several matters of interest to the people of
this county in such detail as to present them as they really occurred.

In our third chapter it seemed natural and convenient to attach an account
of the construction of the first court house and jail to the account of the final
organization of the courts and the election of the county and township or dis-
trict officers. We were explicit in everything pertaining to the construction of
the court house, but the jail does not appear in so much detail on the record.
In fact, it does not seem to have been fully paid for until the year 1838.

Since that time two court houses and two jails have been erected in Knox
county. All of these buildings were fine structures for the times in which they
were built, and it will be seen from the account here given, that they were all
thoroughly well built, and that there was never the slightest evidence or sus-
picion of fraud or dishonesty in the work. It was the writer's pleasure and
honor to have been county clerk during the construction of the present court
house, and he wishes here' to state that during all that period the men comprising
the county board of Knox county were men of honor and ability and would
have been a credit to any state legislature of any state of the Union.

We will now proceed with our account of Knox county court house con-
struction.

In December, 1836, it appears from the records that the county commis-
sioners were moved to consider the question of again building a court house.
The log structure which was erected at the start, and costing less than $400,
was in the very nature of things temporary and designed only to meet the then
pressing needs of the county. It does 'not appear from the records that there
had been any previous discussion upon this subject on the part of the people,
but we find a simple order directing the preparation of plans with the provision
for advertising the same and placing those plans where they would be acces-
sible to such architects as might be found in the then new cities of the state.
The following orders appear of record :

ORDERED: That Henry J. Runkle (or some other person whom he may em-
ploy) be requested to furnish three copies of a suitable draft for a court house
to be erected in the town of Knoxville, of the following description: The main
building to be 40 feet wide by 50 feet in length with a portico in front of suit-
able proportion, supported by stone pillars. The basement story to be of stone
and to be divided in the middle lengthwise by a hall or passage and one side
divided into three apartments, and the other side in four apartments, and the
main building to be of brick, the whole to be of suitable proportion.

ORDERED : That the clerk make out an advertisement and cause the same to

. ;: ;: -> ^ ' :_ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : , . , 61

be inserted in the newspapers printed at Peoria and Quincy. That sealed pro-
posals will be received at the office of the clerk of this court until the March
term of this court for said building in separate contracts : one for the walls and
outside of said building, and the other for the inside work of said building, hav-
ing reference, to the said drafts for particular information, the said drafts to
be deposited with the clerks of the county commissioners courts of the counties
of Knox, Peoria and Adams.

It appears further that the foregoing advertisements did not result in the
production of any plans or at least any plans that were satisfactory, for we find
the following order entered of record at the March term, to which term of court
plans were to be returned.

ORDERED: That Eldert Runkle, one of the commissioners of this court, be
and he is hereby appointed and authorized on the behalf of said court to pro-
cure a suitable draft or drafts of a court house for said county, previous to the
next regular term of this court. . : . j : - J^ ^ ' ^

The county commissioners' record does not make any statement in regard to
plans and specifications for court house filed pursuant to notice given at the
September term of court. Plans and specifications were, however, filed with
the clerk of the court, but were probably too elaborate and were therefore not
entered of record ; but we find a contract for the building of a new court house
for the sum of $15,450, made and entered into with Alvah Wheeler and Zelotes
Cooley, who at that time lived in Hancock county, Illinois. This contract is
given below as it is made for the erection of the building which now stands in
the public square at Knoxville, and is therefore of sufficient interest to the peo-
pie of this county to copy it from the records which are scarcely ever seen,
and make it a matter of historic value by including it in this history of Knox
county. The following is the contract :

Alvah Wheeler and Zelotes Cooley have entered into contract with the com-
missioners of Knox county in articles of agreement as follows: This agree-
ment made and entered into this tenth day of March, A. D., 1838, between AJ-
vah Wheeler and Zelotes Cooley of Hancock county, in the state of Illinois of
the first part, and Jos Rowe, James Ferguson and Eldert Runkle, county com-
missioners of the said county of Knox in said state of Illinois on behalf of said
county of Knox of the second part, Witnesseth: That the said party of the first
part for and in consideration of the covenants on the part of the said party of
the second part hereinafter mentioned, hereby covenants and agrees to and
with the said party of the second part and their successors in office to furnish
the materials for and to erect and build a court house in the town of Knoxville,
in said county of Knox (upon such site as shall be designated by the said party
of the second part) agreeably to certain plans and specifications by them filed
with the clerk of the county commissioners' court of said county of Knox (to
which plans and specifications reference is herein had, and they are made a
part of this agreement), the said court house to be fully completed and finished
(agreeably to said plans and specifications), on or before the first day of May,
A. D., 1840.

In consideration whereof, the said party of the second part for themselves
and their successors in office hereby covenant and agree to and with the said
party of the first part to pay to the said party of the first part, the sum of fifteen

|i|;;;'4^-- HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY V-'^^^J

thousand, four hundred and fifty dollars at the times and in the manner fol-
lowing, to-wit: To advance to the said party of the first part (when this agree-
ment is executed), the sum of one thousand, four hundred and fifty dollars
(which sum is to be secured to the said party of the second part by good per-
sonal security to be by them approved), and tb make further payments from
time to time (as often as once per month as required by the said party of the
first part) as the work progresses proportioned to the progress thereof, so that
the last payment shall be made when the said court house is completed. And
it is mutually understood and agreed by and between the parties that in estimat-
ing the progress of said building reference shall be had to the value of the mate-
rials provided therefor and of the labor bestowed thereon, so that the said party
of the first part may (whenever an estimate is made) be paid a sum proportioned
to the advancement of the work, and it is further mutually agreed by and be-
tween the parties that if at any time they shall not agree upon the amounts which
should then be paid, that then each party shall nominate one person who to-
gether shall estimate the progress of said work and fix the amount which is at
that time to be paid to the said party of the first part and if the two persons
thus nominated shall disagree they two shall appoint a third person to act as
umpire, whose decision shall be final in the premises, and the said party of the
second part shall thereupon pay to the said party of the first part the sum fixed
by said umpire.

And the said party of the first part further covenants and agrees to and
with the said party of the second part, that whenever any materials by them pro-
vided for said court house shall have been estimated, and they shall have received
the payment based upon such estimate, that then the materials so estimated shall
be considered and shall be the absolute property of the said party of the second
part, subject however to be used in and about the building of said court house by
the said party of the first part. It is 'further mutually understood and agreed
by and between the parties aforesaid that if the said party of the second part
shall deem it expedient to make any change or alteration in the plans or specifi-
cations that then such change or alteration shall be made in such building and if
such change or alteration increases the expense of said court house, that then the
said party of the second part shall pay the said party of the first part (in addition
to the gross sum above mentioned) a reasonable compensation, proportioned to
such increased expense, and on the other hand, if any such change or changes
shall diminish the expense of said building, that then the said parties of the first
part shall make a reasonable deduction from said gross sum, proportioned to
such diminished expense. In witness of which said several premises the said
parties have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals the day and year
first above written.

Witness, S. H. LITTLE. :;..;;:-- ./ :;v'' -I

...,-. (Signed) ALVAH WHEELER, (SE.^L) .

,:. ' ZELOTES COOLEY. (SEAL)

' Messrs. Wheeler and Cooley entered into bond in the penal sum of $28,000
with the county commissioners with Moses Stevens, Sidney H. Little, Wesley
Williams, David W. Matthews, Thos. L. Barnes and Jesse B. Winn of Hancock
county, state of Illinois as sureties and John G. Sanborn. Parnach Owen, Her-
man Knox, Enos Pomeroy, Robert L. Hannaman, Geo. A. Charles and George

'':; f ;; V HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : ; 68

Newman of the county of Knox and state of Illinois also as sureties. The county
commissioners at this time were Joseph Rowe, James Ferguson and Eldert
Runkle. This court house was completed in good shape by the contractors but it
is a little interesting to know that at the start they proceeded to borrow from
Knox county the sum of $1,450 and gave a note therefor signed by nearly all
of the men who were upon their bond as sureties. The following is a copy of
the note.

Alvah Wheeler and Zelotes Cooley presented in court a note in words as
follows, to-wit: "?;', . '. ^;. <::' .\ /r= . .\S'-v :

$1,450 On or before the first day of July next, we jointly and severally
promise to pay to Joseph Rowe, James Ferguson and Eldert Ruukle, county
commissioners of Knox county, or to their successors in office, the sum of one
thousand, four hundred and fifty dollars for value received. .V'. . ' ; V > x

Dated March loth, 1838. ,.;;>;: : : ^'i ^ . ;;. ;

,; (Signed) ALVAH WHEELER, ':\-: 1 . THOS. L. BARNES, '.;.;-

;; ZELOTES COOLEY, >' . J- B. WINN, ' v^>:/

\.;;{.;^::;;;- MOSES STEVENS, -:; ;. ^ i JOHN G. SANBORN, .' . :,;::'

:/..' ';-!,. ^.;';;.S. H. LITTLE, '::.';'''''.':..--''''! PARNACH OWEN, ;-:\. . :.'\^' 'f-\:/'>'' "'!?

:';':'':"'.':/ "^'' WESLEY WILLIAMS, :;';>;;.; HERMAN KNOX, ':;..;.''-: r.'-\^'-;.'^;5,;X;-:;

0:> D.W.MATTHEWS, GEORGE A. CHARLES. r ;! ,.; ^^i

' ' ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Alvah ;.: ;^. ?

Wheeler and Zelotes Cooley for the sum of one thousand, four hundred and fifty -v Vv.' ,

dollars, on above note. ^^ 'r.? '.:;''

This contract for the new court house placed the county where it had to raise :V ' .;' 'x'
money to meet the payments on the same. Accordingly on the same day in which ; V; v. . .;
the contract was entered into, the county commissioners entered the following vvv.;.. V
order for the collection of a part of the money which had been loaned out from :.;;:' '.v'^
time to time. i ; . ;

ORDERED : That the treasurer notify all persons (owing money due the county) .. ';.
to pay to said treasurer the twenty-four percentum, as ordered by the commis- A '.;'.
sioners court at March term and interest, and that he notify Lester J. Gillett, Geo. , ./; .,^''.;
Losey and Gilbert Buckingham, to pay in (as required above) and to renew their .. ..: * ' .;
bonds with approved securities. "^^ '. : j;

And that the treasurer is hereby authorized to put in suit all notes, that are \;'. '
not paid as above specified and to employ an attorney for that purpose. - ' ?' :

The court house plans as originally drawn did not provide for a cupola. It ' ':' ' ' r.
.was afterwards concluded that it better have one for then as now a court house .'-' :.4 .>
without a cupola or a dome did not seem quite in keeping with the architecture -V?-';:-'
of public buildings. Accordingly at the January special term 1839 the following .: .'
order was entered pursuant to the agreement with the contractors. Wheeler and ,.'-:?> -
Cooley. ..'.-

ORDERED: That the plan and specifications for a cupola on the court house, -"' .>
be filed, plan marked letter A., specifications marked B., and the same be con- "'; ;'
sidered a contract in accordance with said plan and specifications, and is made "^ ^
a part of the original contract, for building the court house, with \Vheeler and i; >
Cooley. The consideration for building said cupola as per specifications to be :: . . -
seven hundred and twenty-five dollars. '"'

A further change was made in the plans and specifications of the building

64 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY \

at that time which it is doubtful would be made at the present time considering
that the brick then burned were so soft and porous. This order is also given:
ORDERED: That Wheeler and Cooley be and they are hereby requested to
alter so much of the court-house contract as requires the furrowing and lathing
of the inside walls of the house, and the same be plastered on the brick work,
the difference of expense to be deducted from original contract.
. By the March term of the county commissioners court 1839 the court house
was sufficiently advanced to consider the question of painting the exterior of
the building. The following order will show the color agreed upon. Some of
our older citizens may remember the first color given the building, which was

yellow. .' /''^': .-'":!-:. 'A'. . '/"'^ :''

ORDERED: That Wheeler and Cooley be and they are hereby authorized to
paint the outside of the court house cream color, the difference of expense of
paint to be allowed on their contract.

. Again in the June term 1839 the county commissioners decided to add to
the plans and specifications with which the contract was originally made. This
addition is fully described in the following order:

ORDERED : That Wheeler and Cooley are to be allowed four hundred dollars
for putting on the court house Venetian blinds for all the windows, except the
lower side lights to be finished complete, in proportion to the rest of the build-
ing. Also sixty dollars for deafening the court room fioor and the stairs, also
fi'fteen dollars for putting in folding doors between the two first offices on the
west side, the whole to be finished in a good and substantial manner. An al-
lowance has been made in the above contract for not putting in the two doors
in the two north offices as specified in the original contract.

Also at the same term of court it was decided to put a lightning rod upon
the building:

ORDERED : That John Eads be and is hereby authorized to furnish a light-
ning rod for the court house, out of ^ of an inch iron, at 19 cents per pound,
the silver plating of the points to be allowed for at cost.

At the December term 1839 of the county commissioners court of Knox
county on the 4th day of December a final settlement was had with Wheeler and
Cooley for the construction of the court house and the following orders were
entered :

ORDERED: That at the settlement with Wheeler and Cooley for building the
court house in Knoxville, the sum of one thousand three hundred and two dol-
lars is due to Zelotes Cooley on the same and that he be allowed interest on the
same at the rate of twelve per centum per annum.

ORDERED: That at the settlement with Wheeler and Cooley for building the
court house in Knoxville the sum of one thousand, three hundred and two dol-
lars is due to Alvah Wheeler and that he be allowed interest on the same at
the rate of twelve per centum per annum.

At the March term 1840 further action was taken in regard to the court house.
A table for the bar in the court room to be covered was ordered at a cost of
$12 without the cover. At the same term it was deemed advisable to get some
income from the court house and the following orders were entered:

ORDERED: That the clerk of the court rent the two upper jury rooms at
one dollar and twenty five cents per month each subject to the use of the jurors

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64 ,:'.:-:::': HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

at that time which it is doubtful would be made at the present time considering
that the brick then burned were so soft and porous. This order is also given:

ORDERED: That Wheeler and Cooley be and they are hereby requested to
alter so much of the court-house contract as requires the furrowing and lathing
of the inside walls of the house, and the same be plastered on the brick work,
the difference of expense to be deducted from original contract. )

By the March term of the county commissioners court 1839 the court house
was sufficiently advanced to consider the question of painting the exterior of
the building. The following order will show the color agreed upon. Some of
our older citizens may remember the first color given the building, which was
yellow.

ORDERED: That Wheeler and Cooley be and they are hereby authorized to
paint the outside of the court house cream color, the difference of expense of
paint to be allowed on their contract. ' I

Again in the June term 1839 the county commissioners decided to add to
the plans and specifications with which the contract was originally made. This
addition is fully described in the following order:

ORDERED : That Wheeler and Cooley are to be allowed four hundred dollars
for putting on the court house Venetian blinds for all the windows, except the
lower side lights to be finished complete, in proportion to the rest of the build-
ing. Also sixty dollars for deafening the court room floor and the stairs, also
fifteen dollars for putting in folding doors between the two first offices on the
west side, the whole to be finished in a good and substantial manner. An al-
lowance has been made in the above contract for not putting in the two doors
in the two north offices as specified in the original contract.

Also at the same term of court it was decided to put a lightning rod upon
the building:

ORDERED: That John Eads be and is hereby authorized to furnish a light-
ning rod for the court house, out of -% of an inch iron, at 19 cents per pound,
the silver plating of the points to be allowed for at cost.

ORDERED: That the clerk of the court rent the two upper jury rooms at
one dollar and twenty five cents per month each subject to the use of the jurors

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:^V ;;.,::. HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^ : 65

and the lower north west corner room at two dollars and eight and a half cents,
and if the lessees will put in good cylinder coal stoves, they can relinquish the
same to the county at cost in rent if any one wishes to rent the same for office, etc.
ORDERED: That the north east room in court house, lower floor, be rented
to Walker L. Bean for twenty-five dollars, and a lease given for the same.

ORDERED: That the middle room in court house lower floor east side be
' rented to Julius Manning for forty dollars and lease given for the same.

ORDERED: That the middle room in the court house lower floor west side
be rented to C. K. Harvey and John Jackson for twenty five dollars subject for
the use of the commissioners court for court purposes.

"^ On the 7th day of March of the same year it was decided to sell the old
court house independent of the lot. / i'-s:- '.

ORDERED : That the clerk put up notices to sell the old court house without
the lot, to be sold to the highest bidder on the ist day of April, and also the
letting of a fence round the court house to be let at the same time, specifications
for fence and terms for the sale of the court house will be made known at day
; . of sale.

Upon the first day of April 1840 the sale of the court house was entered of
:.;. record a's follows:

.,' . The old court house is hereby sold to Alvah Wheeler for the sum of eighty
;. nine dollars and fifty cents, for which a note is filed, said Wheeler is to have
. -, two years use of the lots it now stands on.

An entry is made in the June term 1840 of settlement in part with Wheeler

;Vv and Cooley for the construction of the court house as follows:

. - '. ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Alvah

' :' ' Wheeler for four hundred and fifty three dollars and eighty five cents in full of

:,^ settlement as specified on the record of this court at December term 1839.

' ORDERED : That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Wheeler

and Cooley for two hundred and thirty seven dollars and fifty cents for con-

/ tract for blinds, etc. ; ' . i v

V-. At the December term 1840 the county commissioners made final settlement

" with Zelotes Cooley for his share of the contract for construction of the new

court house as appears from the following entry upon our record.
;.:;vv ; -: Zelotes Cooley stated an account due him from county of Knox as follows:

;,;;:;.. Dec. 4, 1839 Amt. as per order Dec. term of this court $1,302.00

., ' - Mch. 7, 1840 Interest on same 12% 40.36

';-:V"-^ :^ ':--\.^^ ; - :. ' ..:: v;:^ ;;"/-- ':'. / >''::^,'. / -^' ^'-'-^.^- 1,342.36

/y Mch. 7, 1840 Amt. paid March term 1840 900.00

v-'v;:?-.- -r-- . '"'' " .:.'- ''-'--. ^'-- :':-'-^: :'. -' , :"'/'..'( Z :''.'''' A:. "V , . -

^,. - ... . 442-36

: } Dec. lo, 1840 9 3/30 months interest at 12% 40.25

$482.61

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasury in favor of Zelotes
Cooley for four hundred and eighty two dollars and sixty one cents for account
as above stated. '^ A :'';:-.':' - ' ' -V V

It is interesting to note the care with which every proposition to expend

TtLl-

et^ :Vi^5c/ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNT Y . //;-.^"> v^.:

money was formerly considered by the board of supervisors and if a little care
be taken to examine the ayes and nays it will be found that the division in the
^ board was shown in a singular uniformity.

At the January meeting, 1858, supervisor Charles offered the following reso-
lution for making certain changes in the court house. '.-';:.;'.' .1 V

Resolved, that the board deem it expedient to repair and enlarge the court
room, by taking out all partition walls in the upper story, and make it one room,
and that we appoint an agent to contract and superintend the work and have
it done as soon as convenient and render an account to this board.
. Resolved, That the chair appoint a committee of three to take into considera-
tion the property or expediency of enlarging, improving or repairing the court
house; to take into consideration the different ways of making such alteration
or improvement, with the probable expense of such different alterations, and to
report to next meeting of this board. ; . ' -^ /' ; ' ;-'^V' .;/]:'

Supervisor Miles read report of committee appointed at last meeting of the
board to make estimates of the expense of alterations and repairs to the court
house and present plans for such alterations, when on motion of supervisor
Charles the report was received and the committee discharged. . -' I " -'

Supervisor Charles brought up the matter of enlargement of the court room
and repairs to court house, when supervisor Martin offered the following reso-
lution :

Resolved, That it is inexpedient to make any repairs to the court house at
present. Which was discussed at length when Supervisor Charles offered a reso-
lution to postpone action on said motion until tomorrow morning carried.

Supervisor Charles offered the following substitute, for resolution of Super-
visor Martin in relation to improvement of the court house.

: Resolved, That this board appoint Z. Cooley to have the court room enlarged

. and repaired according to plans presented to this board, by the committee ap-
; pointed at previous meeting and in such manner as not to cost over five hundred
dollars, and present bill at next meeting of the board.

The yeas and nays being demanded, resulted. Yeas, Messrs. Routh, Charles,
LeBaron, Godfrey, Miles, McCornack, Stuckey, Knable, Jarnagin, Shinn and
Tucker, ii. Nays, Messrs. Meek, Kelly, Gale, Brown, Titus, Martin, Holyoke
and Gibbs, 8. Resolution substituted.

Supervisor Brown offered the following resolution as a substitute for that of
supervisor Charles : . :. , ';:^-:- . :-; I

Resolved, That it is inexpedient to make the repairs on the court house con-
templated in the report of the committee on that subject.

The yeas and nays being called for, the vote resulted Yeas, Messrs. Kelly,
Gale, Brown, Martin, Holyoke and Gibbs, 6. Nays, Messrs. Routh, Charles,
LeBaron, Godfrey, Miles, McCornack, Stuckey, Knable, Shinn, Tucker, Jarna-
gin, II, so the substitute was lost.

Supervisor Gale then offered the following substitute for Supervisor Charles'
substitute :

Resolved, That the subject of repairs and alterations be referred to a com-
mittee to report in full at the next meeting, full specifications and estimates of
' the cost of repairs and alterations according to the plan presented by the com-
. mittee of the last meeting.

f; ;-;.:>; "; ^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ; :f ' ^ '. -^

Yeas and nays were demanded on adoption of substitute, resulting as follows :
Yeas, .Messrs. Meek, Kelly, Gale, Brown, Titus, Martin, LeBaron and Gibbs 8.
Nays, Messrs. Routh. Charles, Holyoke, Godfrey, Miles, McCornack, Stuckey,
Knable, Shinn, Tucker and Jarnagin ii. So the substitute was lost.

Supervisor Miles then offered the following resolution as a substitute for
the resolution of supervisor Charles, which substitute was accepted by super-
visor Charles, as follows, to-wit:

Resolved, That Z. Cooley be appointed to have the court room enlarged and
repaired according to the plan presented to this board by the committee appointed
by a former board. Provided the same can be done in a good and workmanlike
manner, according to said plan, and Provided, said repairs and alterations can
be done at a cost to the county, not exceeding four hundred and fifty dollars;
and if the said Cooley cannot contract for or do the work and have the same
completed for that sum, he is not to commence the job.

The previous question being demanded, and the yeas and nays called, the
resolution was adopted.

Yeas, Messrs. Routh, Charles, LeBaron, Godfrey, Miles, McCornack, Stuckey,
Knable, .Shinn, Tucker and Jarnagin ii. Nays, .Messrs. Meek, Kelly, Gale,
Brown, Titus, Martin, Holyoke and Gibbs 8.

These repairs were made by Mr. Cooley and he was paid $265.77 ^t the
September meeting, 1858, which covered all cost except painting, papering and
: whitewashing. V - -" V'.vv^;--.y--::r .;-.:;'';">: '"-.'I

September 1866. The committee appointed at the April meeting of the
board to complete repairs and paint halls of court house and offices, made the
following report.
To the Board of Supervisors: . ;'"'-...;"> ^r :-:-...; :^.r --;>.-

Your committee appointed at the April meeting 1866, to complete repairs
and painting of the court house halls, sheriff's and jury rooms, would report,
That they engaged one Kellar to do the work, that after cleaning the work and
puttying up, no painting having been done for some 28 years, and the wood work
very much out of repair; they found the work of Mr. Kellar not such as they
could approve; and therefore procured other and competent painters, engaging
Mr. Ball of Galesburg, to do a job similar to that done in the court room, at
the rate of $3.50 per day, which was the lowest we could obtain a competent
^::' hand for. '':' ^/.^'''''..^-^/O -iv;"^ '"'::.'' . ; ' : ,-.f/ ./>V :

We would therefore recommend the allowance of the following bills, con-
/v-nected with the repairs and painting, amounting to $404.85.

This seems to be the last expenditure ever made on the Knoxville court house
by the county. An election for the removal of the county seat to Galesburg was
: ; held eleven years later which resulted in removal to that place in February, 1873.

The city of Galesburg was obligated to furnish fire proof county offices,
court and jury rooms for ten years after removal so nothing appears on record
in regard to court house matters until about the time this ten-year period had
expired. There we find the following at the ' ~'j ;'. '

April meeting, 1878. Mr. Gale offered the following resolution, which was
adopted :

Resolved, That the judiciary committee be directed to inquire and report at
the next meeting of the board, whether any measures must be taken during the

96 ;:^;y; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY / //':;;.

current year to secure adequate provisions for court and jury rooms for the
use of the county, and to make to the board such recommendations as the case
seems to require.

July meeting, 1878. Mr. Temple, from committee on judiciary and clerk's
offices, to whom was referred the resolution of Mr. Gale adopted at the last
April meeting of the board in regard to court house, presented the following
report: , ; . ... .^;>..v ;, . i

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

Your committee would respectfully report in regard to the resolution of Mr.
Gale, at the April meeting, under which the committee were instructed to inquire
into the necessity of taking action during the coming year, towards securing
rooms for circuit court, that the committee met at the county clerk's office and
examined papers on file relating to the removal of the county seat; and while
it may be an open question as to the expiration of the term of ten years for which
the city of Galesburg is bound to furnish buildings for court house purposes,
the committee conferred with owners of the present rooms occupied for such
purposes, and other proprietors of rooms in the city, and received offers as
follows :

From the proprietors of the opera house, they received an offer of the use
of the present court room at $i,ooo per year. From !Mr. John Johnston, pro-
prietor of Caledonia Hall, received an offer of his rooms at $400 per year, the
county to be at the expense of any changes required for heating, ventilating, etc.
And would respectfully leave it to the board to judge from these offers whether
any immediate action is necessary.

On motion of Mr. Hale, the report was accepted, and Mr. Sellon offered the
following resolution, which was adopted:

Whereas, It seems to be an open question as to when the lease of the opera
house for county purposes expires under the contract ; therefore ; .' ; . j

Resolved, That the judiciary committee be directed to examine the papers and
investigate the matter, and that said committee report to the board at the Sep-
tember meeting, 1878.

September meeting, 1878. The following is taken from the report of Mr.
Temple, from committee on judiciary and clerk's offices :

Your committee would further report, that in relation to the resolution of
Mr. Sellon, referring the subject of providing court rooms, etc., for the circut
court, that they have met and discussed the question, and would recommend that
in view of the uncertainty and difference of opinion, as to the obligation of the
city of Galesburg to furnish buildings beyond the coming spring, a contract
be executed between the board and the proprietors of the rooms at present occu-
pied, provided the rooms be furnished on the same terms as at present, said
contract to take effect from and after the expiration of the time for which the
city of Galesburg is bound to furnish the same.

The committee have decided to present to the board the contract and other
papers bearing upon the subject, believing that the information desired can be
better supplied by the reading of these documents, than by an expression of

-V V : HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : ; \ 69

opinion by the committee on a matter which is at best a doubtful question of
V. law and equity. ','.' '.;;;..:- ' ^ ,. ; ', ';'"^ '^'. :^'^' ,-:-,\;C"'\?;-'\r .--;:"';'

.'? " r / . ' , ;'^ ' '' Respectfully submitted, .V

:'''\-''^''-'-''-'^''^-.''----^ .-....-. : ,.-^ J- W. TEMPLE, /v,;

C.;;:; -'V./ ' ' " :^ '/ '; ^/ '-.-''';- '::;v;^;:v^-^'..^:^5/^ L. W. BENSON, '"';
^"[''. .''''' ' '" - :- ''v\:>^v-;'- '-'';-;.' /.'':'^-vs';/''- W. SELDEN GALE,

''-'.:^';^y':'^. -',.;,'''.; .' ..':./--.'/; -I- ;"'-;. v' '^-^ - r '^C'.f - :"^ '- TnOS. McKEE. -'-.-:;/;

On motion th^ report of the committee was accepted and adopted (except as
to report in relation to rooms for circuit court), and orders directed to issue in
accordance with recommendations of committee.

Mr. Gale made a statement in regard to present contract and obligations on
the part of the city, leasing rooms, now occupied for court purposes, and offered
the following resolution :

Resolved, That the chairman and clerk of this board be authorized to con-
tract with the owners of the opera house in Galesburg, for use of court rooms
at the rates now paid by the city of Galesburg and with like conditions, for a
term to .commence at the end of the term of lease to the city, and to terminate
on six months' notice.

' ' Mr. Sellon, wishing to offer a minority report, Mr. Gale withdrew his reso-
lutions, when Mr. Sellon made the following minority report: ' :
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Board:

Your committee appointed for the purpose of investigating the papers and
facts as to the extent of the lease of court rooms and offices, having carefully
examined all the papers bearing upon the lease of the opera house for county
purposes, including the lease and stipulations, find the following indisputable
facts to exist :

First. The city of Galesburg is bound by stipulations to furnish, free of cost
to the county, suitable rooms for county and court purposes for a term of years
not to exceed ten. ^. ' -v- ^ i:^^.- ::^ :-

Second. A lease was obtained by the city from Messrs. Bfechwald & Co.
for the use of the opera house for court and county purposes, during the term
as specified in the above named stipulations, viz., ten years.

Third. Said lease dated from January 29, 1873, and the county has occu-
pied said opera house for said purpose from that date to the present.

In view of these facts a minority, and perhaps a majority of your commit-
tee, are of the opinion that the obligation of the city to the county is not can-
celled, and will not be under the contract until January, 1883, and we would
respectfully recommend that this board be governed in their action by the facts
in the case.

We would further state, that we have had no official communication with
the city authorities as to the terms of termination of said lease, and we have
reason to believe that the city will, in good faith, fulfill her obligations to the
county in this regard.

Therefore, we advise to let the whole matter rest where it is, and respect-
fully ask the acceptance and adoption of this report as a substitute for the
majority report, ."''yy.v, :;;. ',., :, - -.fc;;.-;' '/:, ^ ; ..;.,;:->::;'-'>.'/, ^.'^~'^ '>::''-- ,' ''-^' ':

All of which is respectfully submitted. '/:'!.:''
. . /'v'r.rX EDWARD SELLON.

-'-' - .- ' ' j '.'**' ' * '' '.''-','' ' ''"' . ' ' ' ' " . '"'

'\ : -.',' ' ''i'-f:' ' - ; - - _,

: TO /^^SV HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ;';:- ^ ; ; : : 1 ; ,

; Mr. Gale moved that the report of the minority of the committee be ac-

cepted and adopted. Carried. ^^ -^

Mr. Gale then renewed the resolution for the adoption of his resolution last
before offered, and the resolution of Mr. Gale was also adopted.
; January meeting, 1879. The clerk presented report of special committee,
.' appointed at last meeting of the board, in relation to renting opera house for
court purposes; which report -was referred to committee on judiciary and clerks'
offices.

April meeting, 1879. Mr. Gale (W. S.) presented the following report of
the city council of the city of Galesburg, in regard to furnishing court and jury
rooms for the county:
To His Honor the Mayor and City Council:

In regard to the matter of furnishing to the county court and jury rooms,
your committee beg leave to report:

By special statute, authority was given the city to contract with commis-
sioners appointed by the county board, upon certain terms and conditions. Un-
der that authority, the city, in March, 1869, contracted with the commissioners
to furnish a site for a court house, a site for a jail, a lot for clerks' offices, and to
. erect on such lot a suitable building; to pay to the county $20,000, to be applied
in the erection of a jail, and to furnish the county with suitable court and jury
- rooms until a court house should be erected, but not to exceed a period of ten
years. The contract to be void in case the majority of votes cast at the county
seat election in April, 1869, should be against removal to Galesburg; else in full
force.

At such April election a majority of the votes cast were for removal; and
the city did fully perform every condition except the last named, and did tender
to the circuit court at its first term held thereafter, suitable rooms.

The expense to the city of the performance of this contract was about
, $40,000, all of which was paid immediately after the said election. .;.,-. I
; But the advantage expected to result from this expenditure was not realized
for four years thereafter, owing to the fact that the canvassing board declared
the result otherwise than in favor of removal ; and until the action of the board
was pronounced erroneous in the circuit court, and the decision of the supreme
court affirming such decision in the circuit court was published, the county of-
ficers refused to recognize Galesburg as the county seat.

During all this time the city of Galesburg was paying interest on its public
debt, $40,000 larger than it would have been but for the expenditure above re-

ferred to, without receiving any benefit therefrom. The city was ready, willing

- and anxious to secure the expected advantage at the further cost of providing
court and jury rooms. In February, 1873, the county offices were removed to

Galesburg, and since that time the city has provided court and jury rooms.
:. ' Next month, ten years will have expired since the contract spoken of be-
came in force, and since the city has, so far as it was permitted to, performed
its part of the contract; and since that time there has been no default on the part
of the city.

If the city has, during that time, in point of fact, supplied court and jury

rooms for only six years, it has been because the county, to the great prejudice

. of the city, refused to occupy such rooms. . . . .. , , .1 ,

-::\-v^:; ;,^-;;; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY .v 7i

Your committee are of opinion ''-'.- -; :'j ':-.. - . . .

First, That the city has fully performed its contract, and is not liable to the
county to furnish rooms for any greater length of time. -

Second, That the power of the city to contract, depending entirely upon the
special statute, is exhausted and no new contract can be made.

Your committee have no means of knowing the views that will prevail in
the county board, and are of the opinion that if possible all collision with the
county board likely to result in expense or inconvenience to the public should
be carefully avoided, and recommend,

That the finance committee be authorized and directed to communicate with
the county board; to inform the board that the opinion of the council is that the
city is not under obligation to further furnish court and jury rooms; and in
case the county board shall not concur in such opinion the finance committee be
authorized to arrange with the county board for a speedy reference to the
courts of the questions in dispute. i ^^ ' ^: ' " . ' "

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true transcript of a report of the
finance- committee, adopted by the city council of the city of Galesburg at a
meeting held on March 8, 1879.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the
official seal of said city, this eleventh day of April, 1879. . : .;;.:

(SEAL) W. A. RYAN, City Clerk. -

Upon the reading of such report, Mr. Gale offered the following resolutions,
which were adopted:

Resolved, That a committee, to consist of Messrs. Aldrich, Benson, Corey,
Robson and Harden be appointed to confer with committee of the city council
of Galesburg, and arrange for a prompt reference of the question named in the
communication of the city council to the courts.

Resolved, That the judiciary committee be authorized, if necessary, to make
temporary arrangements for court and jury rooms until the next meeting of
this board.

April meeting, 1879. Mr. Aldrich offered the following resolution, which
was adopted: .r

Resolved, That the committee to whom was referred the question concern-.'
ing court and jury rooms, be authorized to employ counsel to assist the state's
attorney, if in their judgment they deem it necessary.

April meeting, 1880. Mr. Robson, from special committee in regard to the
suit between the city of Galesburg and the county, involving the rent of court
and jury rooms, presented the following report: ,';:.; '?.,= rv..;:.. - '

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

Your committee to whom was referred the communication of the mayor
and city council of Galesburg, in regard to the matter of furnishing to the
county, court and jury rooms, beg leave to report that they have employed J. J. .-
Tunnicliff, state's attorney, and P. H. Sanford, Esq., as attorneys for the county
In said matter, and that they have got an agreed case with Mr. Leach, the city
attorney for Galesburg, and that they have agreed to submit said case as agreed
to Judge Pleasants for his opinion. ^-'^ - '

:-:.>,'.-.;.:' v--f^ ",:;.';;>..>;-. D. W. ALDRICH, Chairman. /

72 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY . .| ,

.V ' . '.:.- : ', \ . '' '.''

On tnutiun of Mr. Gale the report of the committee was accei>ted, and the
committee, so far as the same are still members of this 1x>ard, be continued.

January meeting, 1881. Mr. Gale (W. S.J, from special committee, pre-
sented the following report:

Your special committee to whom was referred the questions of removing
the court room, and the future provision for court and jury rooms, Ijeg leave
to report

That while it is the duty of the city of Galesburg to supply the county with
court and jury rooms for two years, it is not advisable for the county to make
any other provision for that purpose at present, but they recommend that this
board authorize the committee to consent to any change in location which the
city council may desire to make, which shall be approved by the judges, and,
in the opinion of the committee, afford increased conveniences to the people of
, the county. ' ' '':;-;:'..;; '. ''^'\ '';-''';'>,::' ,:^'~ '';- 'l:l;^->'j :-':'.;-:-'-^

In reference to permanent possession, they have to say that the present
scattered accommodations for court rooms and offices have nothing but economy
to recommend them. That they are, and always will be, in many ways un-
satisfactory, that they have already become in some respects quite insufficient,
and are gradually becoming more so, and they should at some time give way to
suitable and permanent provision in building specially adapted to the purpose,
and owned by the county.

That the present time is in some respects a favorable one for building by the
county. .-.^ > V..:.;^ :'.'. "v /-"''J '''.'''i:/.^it''- ;/'- \^^->v-v|- ';;'''-^

The cost of labor and materials is much less than it has been, the county
is fairly prosperous, owes no corporate debt, and is in good credit, the rate of
taxation for county purposes being but about one-half of what it was a few
years ago. ; - ..' ; ' : ' ,U--v.'."';'-"-.--';./..'-; -C I -'^'' '^"

Should it be thought best to extend the time of payment over a term of
years, it would be easy to secure the money at a rate of interest not more than
half of what the county has within a short time paid.

They believe the bonds of the county can be disposed of at par. bearing a
rate of interest not exceeding 5 per cent; that a series of bonds having from i
to 20 years to run, can be so negotiated that an annual payment not exceeding
8 per cent will keep down the interest and extinguish the principal within 20
years.

Your committee are further of the opinion that there should be no undue
haste in the erection of buildings designed to be permanent ; that no expense,
except for preliminary examinations, should be incurred until plans and esti-
mates are fully matured and proved to be acceptable to the county ; that in build-
ing once for all, great care should be taken to provide buildings creditable in their
appearance to the taste and good sense of the people of the county, thoroughly
substantial, constructed economically, not beyond the real wants of the county,
but so as amply to provide sufficient and suitable room for everj' department.

To procure the necessary information and advice, and to properly mature
such plans, will require time and the careful attention of somebody, and, until
such time has been taken and improved, the county will not be in a situation to
commence building, however favorable the situation may otherwise be.

We recommend that the subject be placed in the hands of a committee, to

STEPHEN .V DOUGLAS .- .

Lincoln's appearance in lSo8\

Lincoln a^ a law student . ' .

72x0:,^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY :

On motion of Mr. Gale the report of the committee was accepted, and the
committee, so far as the same are still members of this board, be continued.

January meeting, i88i. Mr. Gale (W. S.), from special committee, pre-
sented the following report :

Your special committee to whom was referred the questions of removing
the court room, and the future provision for court and jury rooms, beg leave
to report

That the present time is in some respects a favorable one for building by the
county. , . ' . 1

We recommend that the subject be placed in the hands of a committee, to

AUKA11.V.U ,,

STEPIIKN A. DOUGLAS

Lincoln's appearance in ISoS'V J^

'. Lincoln UN a law student

- HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY - 78

report to the next meeting of this board such progress as they may be able to
make in procuring information, plans and estimates.

On motion, the report of the committee was accepted. It was then moved
to adopt the report of the committee, and the yeas and nays being called for,
the motion was lost by the following vote:

Yeas Messrs. Gale (G. W.), Gale (W. S.), McKee, McFarland, Robson,
Andrews and Corey 8.

Nays Messrs. Boydston, Kimball, Dieterich, Rankin, May, Reynolds, Simp-
son, Woodmansee, Benson, Rebstock, Wyman, Leighton, Mathews, Tucker,
Sansbury and Todd 16.

April meeting, i88i. Mr. May offered the following resolution, which was
adopted: - .V; ^^.^ ;). '^.; . : ,:^;-^;.. ,

Resolved, That a committee, consisting of Messrs. Dieterich, Mathews and
Charles, be authorized to confer with owners of rooms in Galesburg suitable
for court rooms, and obtain of them written proposals for rent of said rooms,
to be furnished the county for a term of five years next ensuing after the ex-
piration of the present lease of court rooms from the city of Galesburg to the
county, and to report said offers of rates at the next meeting of the board in
such shape that acceptance by the board shall close the contract for lease.

Mr. Robson offered the following resolution: -: ^.

X Resolved, That the chairman of the board of supervisors appoint a special
committee of three to report at the next meeting of the board on the expense
of building another story on the clerk's office, or building another room on the
north side of said office for the use of the county court, treasurer's office and
state's attorney. Lost.

The chairman announced the following committee under resolutions of the
board:

On resolution in matter of fire-proof offices Messrs. Mathews, Charles and
Wertman.

July adjourned meeting, i88i. Mr. Deiterich, from special committee in re-
lation to court room, reported: - . ;- i . .

GALESBURG, August i, i88i. ; -
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

Your committee, authorized by a resolution passed by this board, to consult
the owners of rooms in Galesburg suitable for court rooms, and obtain from
them written proposals for rent of said rooms for county purposes, for a term
of five years, next ensuing after the present lease for court rooms shall expire,
and report said offers to the next meeting of the board.

In accordance with the spirit of the resolution, we called first to see the
owners of the opera hall building, but finding but one of them in, we could ac-
complish nothing. Our call, however, was the means of assembling them to-
gether subsequently for consultation. At that meeting the subject was fully
discussed, and the conclusion reached, that as they have no competition in the
premises, they would submit the case to the decision of the board, and in order
that all the difficulty of obtaining a conference with all the owners of the build-
ing might be removed, they authorized Chas. Brechwald to act as their agent in
negotiating with the board of supervisors, and whatever agreement the parties
may determine upon, shall be binding on their part. .; ;;:-

74 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY >

Upon reaching this conclusion, Mr. Brechwald, in the capacity of agent for
all interested, submitted in writing, with his name thereto appended, the propo-
sition thus: "\\'e will lease to the county of Knox the needed rooms for county
purposes in the opera house building for a term of five years, or less, at the
option of the county, at a price of rent per annum that the board of supervisors
in its discretion may fix. The rent to cease at any time during the period stated
should the people of the county in the meantime build a court house."

I made three efforts to see John Johnston, Esq., owner of Caledonia Hall,
but failed to find him, and finally I asked Mr. Greenleaf to send him to see me,
which he did not do, but before leaving home, he wrote a letter and addressed
it to the committee, which was sent to me, and in which he made the following
proposition : "I will rent to the county of Knox, Caledonia Hall for a term of
years (not less than five) at an annual rent of $500." Signed John Johnston.

As your committee have not agreed upon any special advantages of either
of the rooms in question, we submit that matter to the discriminating judgment
of the board, and ask that we be discharged from any further special duty in
the premises.

, / G. V. DiETERICH, V

>, : ' ' R. G. MATHEWS,

A. G. CHARLES.

On motion the report of the committee was accepted.

Mr. Mathews was called upon for report of the special committee, having
the matter of adding a second story to the fireproof offices under consideration,
so that the board might consider both matters at the same time. j

Mr. 'Mathews reported as follows :

GALESBURG, Aug. ist. i88i.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Board:

Your committee appointed at our last April meeting to look into the feasi-
bility and probable cost of adding a second story to the present county office build-
ing, would, after investigation and consultation with architects report as follows:
The probable cost would not exceed $i,8cK), and in their opinion would not im-
pair the safety of said building. - . - ^ ^' " , : i ] ;. ; ,

, ,v.,.;.:.^:.. . . , , ' :''' '; R. G. MATHEWS/ ;'''";,

/,.'.>'':'.'' ' . ' . , ' '.'./ A. G. CHARLES, - '/.'\ v'

,.^^;;>;.^ '; - ' ' . ". -; ' ' . ' -. L. F. WERTMAN, ' ':;:

, '/ .'.':;' ' /;' ' - '- ':_' -'^J.. -:''-'-.'-. Committee. -'

On motion the report of the committee was accepted. ; .

Mr. May moved that the proposition of Mr. Johnston for the lease of Cale-
donia Hall, now known as the "Academy of Music" for five years from the
expiration of the present lease of the "Opera House" be accepted.

Mr. Gale offered the following substitute for Mr. May's motion: \ , .

Resolred, That there be a committee of five appointed, who shall report to
the next meeting of this board plans and estimates for the proposed enlarge-
ment of the clerks' offices ; such improvement to be made in such manner as
not to impair the fire proof character of the rooms; ^' ' .V I v- V.. '

And also to receive definite propositions from the owners of halls, and
estimates of the necessary cost to the county of fitting up such rooms ;

And to report upon the relative advantages of each of such rooms.

';'::; V : :, : ''' HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY . ;: ; / 75

Mr. May moved to amend the substitute of Mr. Gale by referring the resolu-
tion to a committee consisting of the same members of the lx)ard as constituted
the committee in relation to addition to fire-proof building and rental of half
for court room. . '.

After some discussion, Mr. Gale suggested the ajjpointment of 'Messrs,
Robson, Todd, Charles, Mathews, and the chairman, as the committee under
his substitute; which was acceptable to Mr. May, and the resolution, as so ;
amended, was accepted by Mr. May, and adopted by the lx>ard. / .

September meeting, i88l. The special order being the report of special .- ;
committee on renting court rooms and building addition to clerks' offices.
' Mr. Robson presented the following report: ;'.'."<." ;.'-:...

Board of Supervisors September Meeting, i88i. ' : ;:

Your special committee, to whom was referred the matter of receiving defi- '
nite propositions from the owners of halls suitable for court house purposes, ;- :
and estimates of the cost of the county of fitting up such rooms and other /
duties, would respectfully report. -.

Th'at your committee has examined the opera house, which has been cleaned
and improved since our last meeting and of its convenience this board is cog-
nizant. We find we can rent said room and necessary jury rooms, for the
sum of $940 per annum (not including treasurer's office), or at the same rate
of rent paid by the city of Galesburg therefor. The lease to terminate at the ;
will of the county.

That we examined the academy of music, and are offered it by Mr. Johnston
for the sum of $500 per annum for a term of not less than five years from the
first day of February, 1883 ; with authority to make such alterations therein
as may be deemed necessary. That we have estimates of the cost of such
changes as we thought necessary to accommodate the court and find they can
be made for about $400, and we estimate that an additional $100 %vill be needed
for heating purposes, which would be an average rental of $600 per annum .
for the five years.

That we examined the commercial college room, and are offered the same.
together with three rooms on the second fioor for jury rooms, by the owner, .'.
Mr. Allen, for the sum of $500 per annum for the term of five years. The . '-
cost of fitting up said rooms would be about the same as the academy of music.

At the prices named your committee think the academy of music preferable . ';
to the other rooms. :

Your committee would further report, that they have had plans for the -
second story addition to the clerks' office, together with plans for iron roof and .
iron stairs for said building, drawn, thus providing for maintaining the fire- -,:;
proof character of the building, and from estimates received from several /
parties as to cost, we find the expense will be not exceeding 5,000, one estimate
being less than $4,000. :. .

That the estimates for said addition with tin roof and wooden stairs, covered ^ .'
with tin roof, are from $i,ooo to $1,200 less. . . , ;

Respectfully submitted, '' v'^- . ;

;; WM. ROBSON, y R. G. MATHEWS, ' \f T. J. HALE, ^ v f^- >^ ;
^' A.G.CHARLES, ^. .<."''::.'/ W. B. TODD, . -i',:^v- . ^.vV':'--"' - -^ /-:' v..-::;^''."- .; '
;...,-' - '..^. . ;.-:''';: -'-;, ....,., .-...'-."".';-''' '"'-^ -^':'- -; Committee. O-''

76 -ry';- -' HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ;; ^^ ' ;^

Your committee would further report that since preparing the foregoing,
they have received another offer from the owners of the opera house, as
follows: , . - , ;

GALESBURG, Sept. 21, i88i.

The undersigned, representing the proprietors of the opera house building,
in the city of Galesburg, hereby offers to the county of Knox to extend the same
occupancy and use that the county now has in said opera house building, for
court house and court room purposes, beyond the termination of the present
lease, for such period as the said county may wish to occupy the same for court
house and court room purposes, for the annual rental of five hundred ($500)
dollars. C. Brechwald.

Which they now deem the most advantageous offer. ...

Respectfully submitted,
, ' . WM. RoBSON,

, ;- , . . A. G. CHARLES,

., . .,-_, . , , '

Y R- G. MATHEW.S,

,. . -v' , . W. B. ToDD,

; ..^; T. J. HALE,

'''' ;^.'.-\ ' '' : ' . ': : Committee.

On motion of Mr. Dieterich the report of the committee was received. ,
' Mr. May offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That so much of the report relates to the improvement to be made
on the record building, and as relates to the rental of the opera house build-
ing for five years, be adopted; and that the same committee be continued, and
instructed to carry out the plans and provisions of the report and close the
contract of lease mentioned.

Mr. Gale offered the following substitute: ' r. ' - .1

Resolved. That the offer of the owners of the opera house be accepted,
and that the committee be instructed to procure from said owners a contract
for the use of the rooms now occupied by the courts for court and jury rooms,
for a term beginning with the close of the present term of occupancy by the
county, and terminating at the pleasure of the board. . " I .

The yeas and nays being demanded on the substitute, resulted :

Yeas Messrs. Boydstun, Latimer, Gale, Dieterich, McKee, Robson, Boyn-
ton, Leighton and Fredricks 9.

Nays .Messrs. Patch, Smith, May, McCallister. Charles, Montgomery, Sum-
ner, Rebstock, Wyman, Wertman, Mathews, Shaffer, Sansbury and Todd 14.
Substitute lost.

And the question recurring on the resolution of Mr. May, on motion of Mr.
Gale, the resolution was ordered to lie over and be made the special order for
two o'clock tomorrow afternoon. ,', ' , ,;.:.: ^^:"'^'''.' ^- i '

At two o'clock the board was called to order, the special business being the
consideration of the resolution of Mr. May.

Mr. Dieterich called for a division of the question. Objection being made,
the question was voted upon and the division ordered. '.- .; ' . .

Mr. McKee was called to the chair. ;. '. '

Mr. Hale then obtained the fioor, and presented the following as a substitute

: P . V^ ;; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : ;

for that portion of the resolution of Mr. May relating to the enlargement of
the county offices: i';':;^^^^^-/::^ :-':; ;.."::'.'-.-'-.

Resolved, That the present committee be continued, and be instructed to
procure necessary plans and specifications and proceed to make contracts with
the lowest and best bidder for the enlargement of the county offices by the erec-
tion of a second story and the necessary approaches thereto to be erected and
completed in such manner as shall be satisfactory to said committee, and at a
total cost not exceeding five thousand dollars.

Mr. May accepted the substitute, and the resolution was adopted.
''' Yeas Messrs. Latimer, Patch, Smith, May, McCallister, Charles, Mont-
gomery, Robson, Sumner, Boynton, Rebstock, Wyman, Leighton, Fredricks,
Wertman, Mathews, Shaffer, Sansbury, Todd and Hale 20. .,,_,.

Nays 'Messrs. Boydstun, Gale, Dieterich, McKee and Chambers 5.

Mr. Hale off^ered the following substitute for the second clause of resolu-
tion of Mr. May: :'. ':^:."- V ''^^-r: '::' x"'--;;'/-'; /:.-'. V>^; (:.'".; ^ -

Resolved, That this board accept the proposal of the proprietors of the
opera house building, dated Sept. 2ist, and that the committee be instructed
to close up a contract with said proprietors of the opera house building for
the occupancy of the same for court house purposes, for a period of not ex-
ceeding five years from the termination of present lease, '.v; ...

Mr. May moved to amend the substitute by striking out the words "not ex-
ceeding." Carried.

Yeas Messrs. Patch, McKee, Smith, May, McCallister, Charles, Mont-
gomery, Rebstock, Wyman, Wertman, Mathews, Shaffer, Sansbury and Todd 14,

Nays Messrs. Boydstun, Latimer, Dieterich, Gale, Chambers, Robson, Sum-
ner, Leighton, Fredericks and Hale lo.

And the substitute as amended was adopted, by the following vote: Yeas
Messrs. Boydstun, Patch, Dieterich, Smith, May, McCallister, Charles, Mont-
gomery, Robson, Sumner, Rebstock, Wyman, Wertman, Mathews, Shaffer, Sans-
bury and Todd 17.

Nays Messrs. Latimer, Gale, McKee, Chambers, Hale, Leighton, and Fred-
ricks 7. V' ' ?:,'
>^ Mr. Gale offered the following resolution: .. i /:;/ :,^ ;.;;;;' .;.::.;

Resolved, That in the judgment of this board the erection of a court house
in Knox county should be undertaken at the proper time, with a view to com-
pletion six years from the present time.

That no expense should be incurred in such building except upon thoroughly
matured plans, which will secure to the county suitable accommodations at
reasonable expense.

That we recommend to succeeding board the levy of an ani\ual tax of one
mill on the dollar valuation, the fund so raised to be kept invested in govern-
ment bonds or other suitable securities, and that at a suitable time plans should be
procured and fully matured, such plans to be canvassed and acted on by at
least two successive boards.

The yeas and nays being called was adopted: . .r . .- .;'

Yeas Messrs, Boydstun, Latimer, Patch, Gale, Dieterich, McKee, Chambers,
Smith, May, McCallister, Robson, Sumner, Fredricks, Todd and Hale 15.

78 :. HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^^"/v:,.

Nays Messrs. Charles, Montgomery, Rebstock, Wyman, Leighton, Wert-
man, Mathews, ShaflFer and Sansbury 9. /.....':: | . !' ;

December meeting, i88i. Mr. Todd, from special committee on court house
and clerk's office reported contract made with the owners of the opera house
for court and jury rooms at a rental of $500 per annum when .Mr. Mathews
moved that the lease be accepted at the original proposition, and that the chair-
man of the board be authorized to execute contract therefor.

The yeas and nays being called for on Mr. Mathews' motion, it was adopted :
' Yeas Messrs. Boydstun, Latimer, Patch, Chambers, Smith, Townsend, Mc-
Callister, Charles, Montgomery, Sumner, Boynton, Rebstock, Wyman, Leighton,
Fredricks, Wertman, Mathews, Sansbury and Todd 19. :. 1 :

Nays -Messrs. Gale and McKee 2.

January meeting, 1882. Mr. Robson, from special committee on county
buildings, made the following report:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors: . :' , -, . - -I , '

Your special committee on county buildings, etc., would respectfully report
that all matters referred them have been attended to, and recommend that the
clerk be directed to issue orders in payment of allowances made.
. Your committee report that the addition to the county building has been
accepted by them, the same being as nearly completed as the weather would
permit ; that of the contract price therefor $4,933.00, the sum of $2,000 was paid
by clerk's orders, we recommend that an order now issue to Frost Manufactur-
ing Company, the contractors, for $2,900, and that the remainder of contract
price, $33 be retained until the work is completed.

Your committee would further report, that the following extra expenses
were incurred in and about said improvements :
Frost Manufacturing Company, for plumbing, gas fixtures, repairing and

painting old shutters $52.18

A. S. Anderson, repairing brick work of lower story and extra stone work 12.62
Babcock & Pierpont, guttering, and conductors for building, and other

incidental repairs for offices 46.78

Parry & Stevens, expenses to Chicago and return, and labor on plans and :

specifications for building iS.OO

A. J. Perry, 5 days work on plans and specifications for addition to

clerks' offices 20.00

; Respectfully submitted, : .',>--

;':;' . : . .. WM. ROBSON,

;'/* ' R. G. MATHEWS,

;/ . W. B. TODD,

; '"V;^ . . -. A. G. CHARLES,

'::.::::-^^'^:&' . . . . .../' v\, ';".:/-.' t. J. HALE. ;:;.>

On motion, the report of the committee was accepted, approved and its
reconfmendations concurred in.

The chairman, as special committee to complete contract for renting the
opera house for court purposes, reported that duty performed, and presented
the contract.

On motion of Mr. .Mathews, the report was accepted and approved, and the
clerk directed to have said contract of lease recorded.

.v::;/: '/-:':; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY .'.V i;/;. . 79

April meeting, 1883. Mr. Gale offered the following resolution and asked
that it be referred to the committee on judiciary and clerks' offices.

Resolved, That the chairman of the committee on judiciary and clerk's offices
be authorized to allow the city council of Galesburg to hold their meetings in
the county court room on such terms as will indemnify the county for any in-
creased expense in case of lighting or heating the room, and in no case to in-
terfere with the use of the room for county purposes, such permission to be
only until the further pleasure of the board, and at all times revocable.

The resolution was so referred. .:;', ; :'- s' .

The following is taken from a report of the committee on judiciary and
clerks' offices:

We recommend the passage of the resolution referred to as authorizing
the use of the court room by the city of Galesburg.

; September meeting, 1883. Mr. Gale moved that a tax of one mill on the
dollar valuation be levied on all taxable property in Knox county in accordance
with the following resolution, passed at the September meeting, i88i, of the
board of supervisors, viz:

Resolved, That in the judgment of this board the erection of a court house
in Knox county should be undertaken at the proper time with a view to com-,
pletion six years from the present time ; that no expense should be incurred in
such building except upon thoroughly matured plans which will secure to the
county suitable accommodations at reasonable expense; that we recommend to
succeeding boards the levy of an annual tax of one mill on the dollar valuation,
the fund so raised to be kept invested in government bonds or other suitable
securities, and that at a suitable time plans should be procured and fully matured,
such plans to be canvassed and acted on by at least two successive boards.

The ayes and nays being called the vote stood: : :-.-;'..

Ayes Latimer, Paden, Gale, Boydstun, Greenleaf , Hawkinson 6.

Nays Harden, Rankin, May, Eiker, Charles, Montgomery, Allen, Boyn-
ton, Rebstock, Wyman, Leighton, Fredricks, Sloan, Mathews, Wilder, Sans--
bury, Todd 17. The motion was declared lost. ' '.::;i"''^

The final resolution in relation to the construction of a new court house for
the county of Knox offered at the September meeting, 1883 by Mr. W. S. Gale, '
seemed a reasonable one and was offered with the full expectation that it
would pass. The use of the opera house for court purposes was never con-
venient, nor was it ever considered safe. At the September 1881 meeting of the
board, a committee was instructed to procure necessary plans and specifications
and proceed to make contracts with the lowest and best bidder for the enlarge-
ment of the county offices by the erection of a second story and the approaches
thereto etc., at a cost not exceeding five thousand dollars. This work was
substantially completed by the January meeting of 1882. A committee of the
board had canvassed the city for suitable rooms and conveniences for holding
court for five years, which resulted in a new contract with the opera house
people, ordered at the September meeting i88i. (It is well to remember that ,
the opera house burned in the fall of 1883.) It was not contemplated that the
circuit court would be held in the so-called fire proof building for there were ^
no jury rooms. It could not be otherwise, therefore, but apparent to every
one that a court house was much needed and must soon be built. Neverthe-

80 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

': county supervisors cared to act in opposition to that feeling. This was well
known to the county officers and they believed that a movement for a new court
house originating somewhere in the country would at once be popular and suc-
ceed. Acting upon this belief two of the county officers interviewed Mr,
Charles P. Sansbury, supervisor of Victoria township, at the close of the Janu-

. ary meeting 1884, urging him as coming from a distant township, to head such
a movement. Mr. Sansbury went home, called a meeting of his constituents,
explained to them the full situation and by a unanimous vote, strong resolu-
tions were passed endorsing the movement for a new court house, calling upon
the board to proceed to build and authorizing Mr. Sansbury to use his in-
fluence to aid the accomplishment of the same. This action was approved and

! confirmed by the voters of Victoria township at the April election and he was
re-elected to the county board and had the pleasure of aiding in the success of
the plan to build, as shown by the following action taken at the April meeting
1884.

April meeting, 1884. Dr. Foote offered the following resolution, and moved
its adoption:

Resolved, That Messrs. Sloan, Robson and Gale be appointed a committee
to report to the board a resolution for the appointment of a committee on public
buildings, whose duty it shall be to take into consideration the propriety of pre-
paring plans for the building of a court house, or to consider and report to
the board plans for such building. ^^ : '.

, Mr. May moved to amend by adding "and that said committee be requested
' to report said resolution tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock." Carried. . , . ;
And thereupon the resolution as amended was adopted.
Thursday morning, April 17, 1884. Mr. Gale, in behalf of the committee

^ on resolutions in regard to building committee asked leave to report at once.

y. On motion, leave was granted.

' He thereupon reported the following report and resolution:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Knox County:
,. Your committee, appointed to draft a resolution appointing a committee on
buildings, beg leave to report for the consideration of the board the following
resolution. In drafting the resolution the committee have assumed that, how-
ever desirable it might be to proceed at an early date with the erection of a
court house, the board cannot be prepared to take definite action until after a
full and thorough investigation, ascertaining the wants of the county and the
best and most satisfactory way of meeting those wants.

They believe the board are unanimously of the opinion that no serious ex-
pense should be incurred and no irrevocable steps be taken until all questions
connected with building shall have been fully and freely discussed by the board
in full session and an intelligent understanding obtained; and that building
shall not begin until after full and complete plans are agreed by the board and
reliable estimates of the cost obtained.

Resolved, That there be appointed a committee on public buildings, whose

X COLLEGE FOR LINCO

SCENE OF THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE

The fifth of the seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas was held at Gales-

" , and was
ieth anni-

1 lie IIILII UI IIIC &CVCI1 UCUdlCa UCIWCCII ^n Ul ct Iliilll 1^III(.U1II dllu ^^ICCIICll .'A. L^UUKK^S W<aa IICIU

burg Oct. 7, 1858, on a platform erected on the eaft side of the main building of Knox College, and was
listened to by a great multitude of people, over a thousand of whom were still living at the fifti

versary celebration in 1908.

80 vV. HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ; : :.

. >^

less, the resolution was beaten by a vote of 6 to 17. The disappointment to
the friends of the resolution was great. The difficulty was the resolution orig-
inated with a Galesburg man whom the county feared. To the county people,
the court house was simply an ornament to Galesburg and not many of the
county supervisors cared to act in opposition to that feeling. This was well
known to the county officers and they believed that a movement for a new court
house originating somewhere in the country would at once be popular and suc-
ceed. Acting upon this belief two of the county officers interviewed Mr.
Charles P. Sansbury, supervisor of X'ictoria township, at the close of the Janu-
ary meeting 1884, urging him as coming from a distant township, to head such
a movement. 'Mr. Sansbury w'ent home, called a meeting of his constituents,
explained to them the full situation and by a unanimous vote, strong resolu-
tions were passed endorsing the movement for a new court house, calling upon
the board to proceed to build and authorizing Mr. Sansbury to use his in-
fluence to aid the accomplishment of the same. This action was approved and
confirmed by the voters of Mctoria township at the April election and he was
re-elected to the county board and had the pleasure of aiding in the success of
the plan to build, as shown by the following action taken at the April meeting
1884.

April meeting, 1884. Dr. Foote offered the following resolution, and moved
its adoption :

Rcsohed, That Messrs. Sloan, Robson and Gale be appointed a committee
to report to the board a resolution for the appointment of a committee on public
buildings, whose duty it shall be to take into consideration the propriety of pre-
paring plans for the building of a court house, or to consider and report to
the board plans for such building.

Mr. May moved to amend by adding "and that said committee be requested
to report said resolution tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock." Carried, i

And thereupon the resolution as amended was adopted.

Thursday morning, April 17, 1884. Mr. Gale, in behalf of the committee
on resolutions in regard to building committee asked leave to report at once.

On motion, leave was granted.

He thereupon reported the following report and resolution :
To the Honorable Board of Snpcn'isors of Knox County:

Your committee, appointed to draft a resolution appointing a committee on
buildings, beg leave to report for the consideration of the board the following
resolution. In drafting the resolution the committee have assumed that, how-
ever desirable it might be to proceed at an early date with the erection of a
court house, the board cannot be prepared to take definite action until after a
full and thorough investigation, ascertaining the wants of the county and the
best and most satisfactory way of meeting those wants.

They believe the board are unanimously of the opinion that no serious ex-
pense should be incurred and no irrevocable steps be taken until all questions
connected with building shall have been fully and freely discussed by the board
in full session and an intelligent understanding obtained ; and that building
shall not begin until after full and complete plans are agreed by the board and
reliable estimates of the cost obtained.

Resolved, That there be appointed a committee on public buildings, whose

ox COLLEGE FOR LINCOLF

SCKNE OF THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DKBATE

The fifth of the seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas was held at Gales-
burg Oct. 7. 1858. on a platform erected on the eart side of the main building of Knox College, and was
listened to by a great multitude of people, over a thousand of whom were still living at the fiftieth anni-
versary celebration in 1908.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY % 81

duty it shall be to take into consideration the propriety of preparing plans for
building a court house; to inquire into the requirements of the county for the
proper accommodation of courts and county officers; to inquire into the cost
and relative advantages of available materials for building; and if in the opinion
of the committee desirable, to procure plans and estimates of a suitable building,
which can be erected at a cost not exceeding $100,000, to ascertain what disposal
can be advantageously made of the building now occupied by the county offices,
by sale to the city or otherwise, leaving possession in the county until other
accommodations can be secured; to report to the board at its next regular
meeting, or at any meeting, which may be sooner called, whatever progress shall
have been made. That the committee be appointed by the chair with the
approval of the board, one member to be selected from each of the districts
as constituted by the resolution creating the committee on equalization.

/,.; '''-'v' ^.. v-.;;; :;'-'V;:>-'., JOHN SLOAN, ''\:.,^-'.':!..

' ' ''

W. SELDEN GALE. \ ..

-,..'<-,.

Mr. Latimer moved the adoption of the resolution. , ; . .-

Mr. May offered the following as a substitute: ; V 'v ;.

Resolved, That the question whether measures should not be adopted in-
volving expense to the county, for the purpose of beginning the erection of a
court house in this county, is a question properly belonging to the people of
Knox county to decide; and that a good and sufficient building can and ought
to be erected and finished, ready for use, for a sum not greater than $100,000,
and should by no means cost to exceed that amount. Therefore,

Resolved, That the supervisors are hereby instructed to give the proper notice
so that the several townships will, at the annual spring election next April, vote
for or against the erection of a new court house building, the cost of which,
when completed, shall not exceed $100,000. ' ; . : .''^

Mr. Gale objected to the substitute as not being germain to the subject

The chairman ruled that the substitute was in order, and thereupon thd ayes
and nays were called on the substitute with the following result.
: Ayes 'May, Clark, Charles, Montgomery, Rebstock, Wyman, Parker, Todd
8.

Nays Harden, Latimer, Paden, Gale, Cooke, Olson, McKee, Foote, Rankin,
Robson, Allen, Townsend, Boynton, Leighton, Andrews, Sloan, Sansbury 17.
The substitute was lost. . -, i

The ayes and nays were after a full discussion of the question called on the
resolution of Mr. Gale and resulted as follows:

Ayes Harden, Latimer, Paden, Gale, Cooke, Olson, McKee, Foote, Rankin,"*
Townsend, Robson, Allen, Boynton, Leighton, Andrews, Sloan, Sansbury 17.

Nays May, Clark, Charles, Montgomery, Rebstock, Wyman, Parker, Todd

..,

The resolution declared adopted.

In pursuance of the resolution adopted yesterday, the chairman announced
the following committee on public buildings: Messrs. Sloan, Robson, Gale,
Charles, Harden, Leighton.

The first point now to be considered was what shall be the plan of the new
building. Immediately after the adjournment of the board, -Mr. W. Selden Gale

82 . HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

called on the writer, who was then county clerk, and the arrangement of the
rooms thoroughly considered. It was agreed that the circuit clerk should have
two rooms, one as clerk and one as recorder, with door between and that the
sheriff's office should open into the office of the circuit clerk; that the county
. clerk should have a large office and a work room and that the office of the
county judge should be adjacent to and opening into the county clerk's office.
The office of the treasurer and superintendent of schools were also provided for
on the first floor. The county and circuit court rooms and state's attorneys'
office were provided for on the second floor. The supervisors' and jury rooms
put on the third floor. With these ideas as a starting point, Mr. Gale went
home and the next day returned to the county clerk with the plan worked out,
substantially as the building was erected. The committee was called together
and approved the plan. The committee thought it advisable to employ an
architect to come to Galesburg and develop a general design and work out the
details under their inspection and so called a Mr. Hackney of Des Moines, Iowa
to Galesburg, who undertook the work. This soon proved unsatisfactory. The
committee let Mr. Hackney go and at once advertised for plans, based on the
sketch made by Mr. Gale. This resulted in a number of designs from different
architects, which were submitted -at the July meeting 1884, and upon which
the following action was taken.

July meeting, 1884. Mr. Gale stated that the building committee had given
considerable attention to the matters referred to it, but were not ready to report;
that there were in attendance several architects with designs for court houses,
which the committee would like to examine, and he asked that the committee
might be excused from the board for a time, to further consider these plans and
other matters connected with building. . I ;:.''

On motion of Mr. Latimer the building committee was excused.

1:30 P. M. The building committee asked for further time in which to
examine plans and other matters connected with court house construction.

On motion of Mr. May the matter was referred back to the committee with
instructions to report to the board in two weeks. | ; ..

Adjourned meeting July 28, 1884. Mr. Gale in behalf of the building com-
mittee, asked that said committee be excused during the reading of the record
and of the bills, as they had some matters to arrange before making a report.

On motion of Mr. McKee the request was granted. {-^ X.

Mr. May stated that the building committee at the meeting of July 14, re-
ported that they had not agreed upon a plan for court house, and asked that
they be authorized to select a plan and make the contracts, or that the board
grant them more time in which to report a plan to the board, whereas the record
simply shows that the committee asked for more time. He desired the record
to show the facts.

By agreement the matter was postponed until the building committee should
be present.

The building committee having entered, the matter of the correction of the
record suggested by Mr. May was brought up.

Mr. Gale having made an explanation of the matter, moved that the record
as written by the clerk stand approved. Carried.

Mr. Gale read the following report of the building committee: .,;

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

The building committee have received and considered the several plans sub-
mitted to them by architects in attendance.

Of these plans they recommend to the consideration of the board as their
preference the plan submitted by E. E. Myers, of Detroit, the character of the
building being fully described in the plans, sketches, estimates and statements
herewith submitted.

The estimated cost of the building (furniture and heating apparatus not
included) built of brick with trimmings of cut stone and terra cotta is about
$90,000. And in the opinion of the committee it can be built in the manner
described for a sum within, or not much exceeding the estimate.

The committee are of opinion that the same designs are with slight modifi-
cation well adapted to stone construction, and may be erected in stone, the
walls in rock-faced Gladstone stone, or Bedford stone with cut stone trimmings,
for an additional cost of .about six thousand dollars.

The committee are of opinion that the stone construction if stone from
Gladstone quarries can be obtained or equally satisfactory stone can be else-
where obtained at a reasonable cost, will give best satisfaction to the board and
to the public.

They recommend that the committee be authorized to employ Col. Myers
to prepare plans and specifications of the building, substantially as described
both in brick and stone construction, preparatory to advertising for contracts.

The employment to be upon the condition that in case the building cannot
be let after due advertisement to responsible parties who will promptly come
forward and secure the performance of their contracts to the satisfaction of
the board for the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or such sum not ex-
ceeding one hundred thousand dollars as the architect and committee may agree
on, such plan shall not be accepted or paid for, except at the option of the board.

And if the plans and specifications shall be in any way deficient or incom-
plete, the said Myers shall be liable for all loss or damage or extra expense oc-
casioned by such defect or omission.

And that the committee be authorized to advertise for bids for construction.

W. SELDEN GALE, A. G. CHARLES,

- ::^ ;;:/;;.' >:'^ WM. ROBSON, WM. H. LEIGHTON, '/^

V :;S\ '.' JOHN SLOAN, M. B. HARDEN. ';,-,.. i;;^

Mr. Gale 'also read the following letter from the architect in regard to the
character of the proposed building:

GALESBURG, ILL., July 25, 1884.
To the Hon. Board of Supervisors, Galesburg, III,: ;

GENTLEMEN : The design I have submitted for your new court house is for
a first-class fire-proof building, built of the best and most substantial materials
and workmanship, the foundation to be of stone, laid in hydraulic cement mortar.
The basement will contain all the water closets, wash basins, the steam heating
and ventilating apparatus. The plans of each story will contain the several
apartments for all the county offices, court rooms, etc., and to be of the several
sizes and forms as shown upon the plans. The exterior parts of the building
will be of pressed brick, terra cotta and cut stone for all the surfaces above
the basement or first floor line; the basement wall above the grade line will be

84 . HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY .

rock face work; all cornices, belt courses and sills will be cut stone, except
such portions thereof as are shown to be terra cotta. The floors of all apart-
ments in each story will be iron beams, with brick arches, to be turned between
the beams, and concreted up solid to receive either the wood or encaustic tile
floors. The entire frame work of the roof and tower will be wrought iron,
and have iron arches between the beams, and concreted up solid to receive the
slates of the roof. The entire roof will be covered with extra heavy slate;
all gutters and valleys to be lined with the best quality and grade of tin. The
stairs will be made of cast-iron. The galleries in the circuit court room will
be supported on wrought iron girders concealed within the gallery fronts. The
ceiling of this court room will be stained glass sky-light placed within a curved
dome, which will afford a direct vertical light either in day-time, or at night,
the light being placed over the sky-light. The outer sky-light will be made of
heavy hammered glass. The outside door sills will be granite surfaces, patent
axe-flnish. The steps should be by all means made of the same material, as
it is the best that can be used for such purposes, where the material is sub-
jected, not only to so great a wear and tear, but this material in so exposed a
surface is decidedly the best to resist not only the uses, but also the action of
the elements. All the interior finish of the basement will be long-leaf, best
quality, yellow pine. All the interior finish of the first and second stories will
be red oak. The finish of the third story will be long-leaf yellow pine, the surface
finished in oil and varnish. The glass used in all the windows will be the best
quality French plate-glass, full quarter inch thick. The floors of the corridors
will be encaustic tile. The floors of all offices, court rooms and galleries will
be long-leaf yellow pine, bedded solid on the concrete, and secured to the floor
strips with secret nailing. All the walls will be built of brick, laid in a mortar
composed of hydraulic lime and hydraulic cement mortar. Pressed brick should
be laid with what is termed a steel tucked joint, using glazier's black putty
for the tucking of the work ; all the backing of the pressed brick, will be brick
laid in cement mortar. All interior walls to be hard burned brick laid in cement
mortar. This building can be erected, using first class workmanship and mate-
rials for one hundred thousand dollars, ($100,000). Should you desire to use
in place of pressed brick for the outer walls, rock-faced stone work or scratch
mason-work, using either Sagetown marble, Indiana stone, from Elliottsville,
or Ohio blue sand stone, the cost of the structure will be increased about six
thousand dollars ($6,000), making a total cost of one hundred and six thousand
dollars. You can rely upon getting a structure of first-class character, and
of a style of architecture and finish that will not be in any respect inferior to
any of the first-class modern court houses erected in your state.

The building, either built of pressed brick or stone, will be one of the hand-
somest structures in your state, and in no wise be inferior either in style or
finish to any of such buildings.

Yours truly, E. E. MYERS.

Mr. Latimer moved that the report of the committee be adopted and its
recommendations concurred in. .- : , . - ;. i

' , -, I

Mr. May moved to amend that the report be accepted and the committee
discharged.

Amendment withdrawn. , .- : :. . , v ".^:; :>/;.;-;

., ,; :.: j . J- >'. HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : . 86

Mr. Rebstock moved that the report be accepted, except its recommendations.
Lost.

On motion of -Mr. McKee, the board adjourned until tomorrow morning at
lo o'clock.

/ Wednesday morning July 30, 1884. Board met pursuant to adjournment.
.- Present Hon. R. G. Mathews, chairman.

Supervisors Harden, Latimer, Paden, Gale, Cooke, Olson, McKee, Rankin,
May, Clark, Charles, Montgomery, Allen, Boynton, Rebstock, Wyman, Leigh-
ton, Andrews, Sloan, Parker, Sansbury, Todd.

; The chairman stated that the matter for consideration was the motion of Mr.
Latimer to adopt the report of the building committee and concur in its recom-
mendation.

After full discussion and explanation of the matter, the motion of Mr,
Latimer was carried. / , '

/; Mr. McKee offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:

Resolved, That the present building committee be constituted a permanent
building committee, whose duty it shall be to advertise for bids for building a
court house, which bids, when received, are to be opened when the board is in
session, for the consideration of the board, and to perform all other duties per-
taining to the building of a court house. ,.> , --.

Resolution adopted.
; ; Mr. Gale offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the chairman of the board be authorized to contract with the
city of Galesburg, or its authorized agent for the sale of the county building, and
lot occupied by clerks' offices and other uses for the sum of $10,000. The pos-
session to be retained by the county until the completion of the new court house,
allowing the city to make such use of the building as may not inconvenience the
county officers. The purchase money to be paid when called for, whenever the
contract for the completion of the court house shall be made, and $30,000 ex-
pended in the erection. The contract to be rescinded at the option of either
party, if no commencement shall be made of the building befbre the first day of
January next, and that the building committee be directed not to incur any con-
siderable expense in preparing to build until the completion of this contract.

The bill of Mr. W. F. Hackney amounting to $420.25, for preparing plans,
and other services for the building committee, was read and referred to the
committee on judiciary and clerks' offices. .

Mr. Gale requested to be excused from the committee while considering the
bill, and moved that Mr. Latimer be substituted in his place. Carried.

Mr. Todd read the following report of the judiciary committee on the bill of
Mr. Hackney. ?' '
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors: . -y

Your committee on judiciary and clerks' offices would respectfully report
that we have examined the bill of W. F. Hackney, and accompanying papers,
and we recommend that he be paid $120.25 in full of bill presented amounting
to $420.25. Respectfully submitted, ; .

., . ' /: ;v;, ..- J. W. At,LEN, J. S. LATIMER, J./V\,

. \ ; - ; V : I ^ ^ JAMES REBSTOCK, W. B. TODD. ;';"/:L

"^'- ':';'';';;: 'v;--t-'"'V/'U>.:-'-:.^'v- . M. D. COOKE, ,v., >~r-;;-'

^(lav;. HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY | y

On motion of Mr. Harden, the foregoing report was adopted, and its rec-
ommendations concurred in.

, September meeting, 1884. Mr, Gale offered the following resolution and
moved that it be referred to the miscellaneous committee:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of the board of supervisors, that it is for the
interest, comfort and convenience of the people of the county that the vicinity
of the court house and the usually traveled route from the depot to the court
house, and from the court house to the business portion of the city, should be
kept free from the presence of dram shops and their disagreeable accompani-
ments; that this board respectfully call the attention of the city council of
Galesburg to the subject, and ask the council to consider the propriety of tak-
ing immediate action, before vested interests opposed to such action intervene,
to prevent the establishment of dram shops in the vicinity of the court house
park, on Broad street between the park and the public square, and on either
route from the depot to the court house park by way of South street or Tomp-
kins street ; that the clerk of the board be directed to present a copy of this reso-
lution to the city council.

September meeting, 1884. Mr. Gale asked leave to submit the following
report of the building committee.
To the Honorable, the Board of Supervisors: ;

GENTLEMEN : The committee on buildings beg leave to report that they did
on the 1st day of August contract with E. E. Myers in accordance with the in-
structions of the board, passed at the last meeting; that since that time Col.
Myers has been employed in preparing plans and specifications. The committee
have not advertised for bids for material and construction for the reason that
the plans and specifications have not been completed. The committee are now
advised that the plans and specifications will be completed on the I5th day of
this month, and the committee recommend that they be directed to advertise at
once for bids for materials and construction, such bids to be examined by the
board on the 3d of October. ; ,

* ',; ' ^^ : ' W. SELDEN GALE,

'*;^. ..:',' '^.y. .' -' -^ ;":;':'''''''> W. H. LEIGHTON, ;;

'';^'".\--":^-:'''t:V '.;.: . ''..''..;''.''''.:''' JOHN SLOAN,

'':':,''.' ''.'', '' '.:"-:,';/':' u.'; A. G. CHARLES,

M. B. HARDEN.

: On motion, the report was adopted and its recommendations concurred in.
. On motion of Mr. Gale, it was ordered that when this board adjourn it
adjourns to meet October 3d, 1884.

Adjourned Meeting Oct. 3d, 1884. Board met pursuant to adjournment.
Called to order by clerk.

Present: Messrs. Harden, Latimer, Paden, Gale, Foote, Cooke, McKee,
Olson, Rankin, May, Townsend, Robson, Allen, Wyman, Leighton, Andrews,
Parker and Todd. . , -

On motion of Mr. Gale, Mr. Paden was elected temporary chairman.'
On motion of Mr. Gale, the time in which to file bids for the construction
of a new court house was extended to one-thirty P. M.
:^ On motion the board adjourned to one-thirty P. M.
: One-thirty P. -M. Board called to order by chairman Mathews.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : 87

Present same as this forenoon, with Messrs. Charles, Sloan, Clark, Mont-
gomery, Boynton, Rebstock and Sansbury.

The clerk read a portion of the minutes of the meeting of September lOth,
when, on motion, the reading was suspended, and, on motion, the clerk pro-
ceeded to open bids for the construction of a court house, which were as
follows :

The Young & Farrell Diamond Stone Sawing Co., Brick $183,804.97

Thomas & Hugh Caldwell, Stone 155,099.50

'. ' ; Same, Brick 152,459.00

Same, Brick, with Ohio Sand Stone Trimmings 148,059.00

Parry & Stevens, Stone 133,000.00

Same, Brick 128,000.00

Fire Proof Construction Co., Hollow Tile Arches 4,303.20

; Union Foundry and Pullman Car Wheel Works, Iron Work.. 26,600.00
-. A. Wallbaum & Co., Stone Work Complete 35,600.00

On motion of Dr. Foote the bids were referred to the building committee.

On motion said committee were permitted to retire for the purpose of re-
porting on said bids.

The building committee entered and Mr. Gale read the following report:

The committee have examined the bids referred to them, and are of opinion
that it is not for the interest of the county to accept either of the bids. They
recommend a further advertisement for bids to be opened on October 24th.
;.^' i^t Vi v- V ' -V V W. S. GALE, Chairman.

On motion the foregoing report was adopted and its recommendation con-
curred in.

Adjourned Sept. Meeting October 24, 1884. Board met pursuant to ad-
journment. Present: Hon. R. G. Mathews, chairman. . '

Supervisors: Messrs. Harden, Latimer, Paden, Gale, Foote, Cooke, McKee,
Olson, Rankin, May, Clark, Charles, Montgomery, Boynton, Wyman, Sloan,
Parker, Sansbury, Todd.

The minutes of the proceedings of October 3d were read and approved.

A recess was taken to await the arrival of absent supervisors.

Messrs. Robson, Allen, Leighton and Andrews having entered the board
was called to order, and on motion, the clerk proceeded to open and read the
bids for the construction of a new court house as follows:
Robert C. Greenlee, in best Ohio blue stone for exterior, with Joliet . . ,../ .-- ;
or lime stone for foundation, corrugated iron arches for ceilings,
except for corridors and court rooms, where hollow tile will

be used $ 1 19444

Charles Ballance, cut-stone trimmings of Bedford, Indiana, stone. . 13,900

Of Berea, Ohio, sand-stone delivered on cars at Galesburg 14,600

Will cut and deliver rubbed ashler at building at 45 cts.
per superficial foot, and will use ornamental stone in place
of terra cotta for $5,000 extra. V

Thos. & H. Colwell, using Sagetown marble 145,000

Ohio blue stone, band, pier and bearing blocks 150,000

Pressed brick and terra cotta 142,500

Wallbaum Stone and Mining Co. dressed stone for stone building. . 21,000

88 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY /j

Same for brick building 16,000

Bassett & Beaver, plumbing and gas fitting 1,200

Peter G. Straub & Co., all stone work for a stone building, using
-., Berea sand stone above grade line, and Joliet or Gladstone

; , below grade 44,800

Parry & Stevens, for brick building 120,000

For stone building 125,000

Will use Bedford stone trimmings and Ohio sand stone for ashler

... work ioT 128,000

. .7. Or, if the. county will furnish cut stone on cars at Galesburg,

c:u all .iron, in .place. in the .building, all brick on the ground, all
;'V. glass,, and .door and window trimmings, all tile for floors,

and .hollow tile in place in building, will do balance for. . . . 64,000

Dawson & Anderson, the exterior of building to be all of stone from

Bedford, Ind,, or Ohio blue stone, fire proof arches to be cor-

3J rugated iron except over court rooms, which will be hollow tiles,

:?': window sash to be hung with best silver lake braided cord, for

the sum of 114,311.52

Sagetown or Joliet stone 1 19,000.00

Press brick and terra cotta ; 1 1 1,000.00

John C. Allen, press brick, stone trimmings I28,633.oa

Stone, facings 131,000.00

'':. .''' Will furnish and set ashler work for 50 cents each super-
r.'... ficial foot, and use stone in place of terra cotta for $5,000

additional.
The Young and Farrell Diamond Stone Sawing Co., Salem, Ind.,

stone building 160,084.00

Ohio sand stone building 161,584.00

Brick building 154,840.00

Green Serpentine stone 173,084.00

On motion of Mr. Latimer, the foregoing bids were referred to the building
committee.

On motion, the board adjourned until half-past one o'clock. .;;

One-thirty P.M. Board called to order by the chairman. . : ;.C:: .
Present the same as this morning. \-

Mr. Gale read the following report of the building committee: '
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:
Your committee on buildings beg leave to report that they have examined the
several bids referred to them, and they find the bid of Dawson & Anderson the
lowest and best bid.

This bid being, in stone construction, $114,311.52, and in brick construction,
$111,000. '-v ;V I" ---:-- ^V:\

The next lowest and best bid is that of Robert C. Greenlee, $119,444 in
stone.

They recommend the acceptance and approval of the bid of Dawson &
Anderson for stone construction, and that the committee be directed to con-
clude a contract with Dawson & Anderson for the erection of the court house,
to be completed September ist, 1886. The committee are satisfied that these

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : 89

bids are as low as the board can expect for this building, and are satisfied that
the bidders are men of character and responsibility. They are further of the
opinion that the building, if completed according to the plans, will be a credit
to" the county, and they do not believe it is for the interest of the county to
reduce either the size or character of the building.

W. SELDEN GALE, W. H. .LEIGHTON,

:^;-'- .ti-?-:--V:-i -;.';:. ^ WM. ROBSON, A. G. CHARLES,

M. B. HARDEN, JOHN SLOAN.

Moved by Dr. Foote, that the foregoing report be accepted and its recom-
mendations concurred in.

Ayes and Nays demanded by Mr. McKee. . . .'. _:

The roll being called, resulted as follows :

Ayes Harden, Latimer, Paden, Gale, Foote, Cooke, Olson, Charles, Robson,
Allen, Boynton, Leighton, Andrews, Sloan, Sansbury and Todd, i6.

Nays McKee, Rankin, May, Clark, Montgomery, Wyman and Parker, 7.
Motion adopted.

And thereupon, said committee entered into a contract with Dawson &
Anderson of Toledo, Ohio, for the construction of the court house according to
the full plans and specifications prepared by said architect, E. E. Myers, of
Detroit, Michigan, and on file with the county clerk. ';:

Said contractors immediately made preparations to begin the work of con-
struction and in pursuance thereof, the ground for said building was broken
October 26, 1884, and before building preparations were suspended on account
of cold weather, the footings, and quite a portion of the foundation, were put in.
:, January Meeting, 1885. Mr. Gale read the following report of the building
committee :
To the Hon., the Board of Supervisors of Knox County, January Meeting,

GENTLEMEN : Your building committee beg leave to report that upon the
day after the close of the October meeting they proceeded to locate the court
house. That immediately after work was commenced by the contractor, and
between that time and the second Wednesday of December the excavation for
the building was made, the trenches for the outside walls and a portion of the
inside walls were dug and filled with concrete and covered with footing stone.

A considerable amouot of material for the foundation is collected upon the
ground. Since the date last mentioned^ no work has been done, it being thought
better for the interests of the county and the contractor to suspend operations
till settled weather in the spring. By the terms of the contract, the contractor
is entitled on the second Wednesday of each month to receive from the county
payment for the work done up to that time, less lo per cent, and less amounts
already paid. No provision was made by the board at the last meeting to meet
such payments, unless the very general authority given to the committee might
be considered as authorizing them to order payment.

It appears that the contractor had expended about $2,500 prior to the second
Wednesday of December. It was thought desirable to avoid the expense of a

90 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY L

special meeting of the board, and the committee took the responsibility of ad-
vising the issuing by the clerk and payment by the treasurer of orders to the
amount of $i,8oo to the contractors. They also procured the clerk to issue
to the chairman of the committee an order for $14.65 to cover the incidental
expenses incurred by the committee since its appointment.

The committee ask the approval of the board of their action in making pay-
tnents, and desire that some provision may be made to provide for payments
coming due during the interval of the meetings of the board. They recommend
the passage of a resolution that the clerk be authorized to issue to the contractor
on court house orders for such amounts as by the terms of the contract the
contractors are entitled to receive, upon the request of the building committee.

They also advise that the building committee be authorized to appoint a super-
intendent of the work. It is well understood that the work cannot be allowed to
proceed with safety to the county except under the constant supervision of a
capable and reliable builder. During the progress of the work already per-
formed, the committee requested Samuel J. Parry to take temporary charge and
it being from day to day doubtful how far the work would proceed without
interruption by winter weather, it was for the time found necessary, the price
named by Mr. Parry as satisfactory to him was 50 cents per hour for the time
actually spent. ; ,. '

. . W. SELDEN GALE, A. G. CHARLES,

V. WM. RoBSON, W. H. LEIGHTON,

M. B. HARDEN, JOHN SLOAN.

.; On motion of Mr. Latimer, the foregoing report was accepted and its recom-
mendations concurred in.

April Meeting, 1885. Mr. Gale offered the following resolution which was
adopted and its recommendation concurred in.

RESOLVED: That the building committee be directed to procure suitable
plans of the heating apparatus for the new court house and advertise for bids
for its construction, such bids to be opened and passed upon by the board at
the July meeting.

July Meeting, 1885. On motion of Mr. Gale, the building committee was
authorized to make such temporary arrangement for jury and circuit rooms as
may be necessary, and that the sheriff be directed to have the telephone now at
the opera house, moved to the county court room.

On motion of Mr. Gale the opening of the bids for steam heating at new
court house was made the special order for tomorrow at ii o'clock a. m. ^ I , ..

Mr. Gale read the following additional report of the building committee:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

The building committee desire to call the attention of the board to the neces-
sity of the construction of a cistern for rain water at the court house, and the
importance of undertaking it while the ground is comparatively free from water.
They have not given the subject the consideration necessary to express an
opinion as to the necessary capacity of the cistern, but recommend that the

:'";. X "''^''..'j', ;'.':./

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 91

committee be directed to procure the construction of a cistern of such size and
at such time as they may think best.

W. SELDEN GALE, JOHN SLOAN,

^ ; ; W. RoBSON, M. B. HARDEN,

R. W. MILES, WM. H. LEIGHTON.

On motion of Dr. Foote the foregoing report was accepted and its recom-
mendations concurred in.

The chairman called Mr. Harden to preside while he read the following
report: .; ; ;

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

The undersigned, who, by virtue of a resolution of your honorable body at
the July meeting, 1884, was made special committee to dispose of the county
building to the city of Galesburg, would beg leave to oflfer the following report :
That he conferred with the honorable mayor of the city of Galesburg, who was
empowered by the city council to act for the city, and that the city attorney at
our dictation drew a contract selling to the city the county's interest in said build-
ing and lot for a consideration of $10,000, the money to become due when $30,-
ooo was actually expended in the erection of the new court house, the county to
retain possession until the completion of the same, the city of Galesburg to have
such present use of said county building as would not inconvenience the county.
Said contract was duly signed and placed on record by Mayor Stewart for the
city of Galesburg, and by the undersigfned for Knox county, August 14, 1884.

R. G. MATHEWS.

On motion of Mr. Miles the foregoing report was accepted and the clerk
directed to place the same on record.

Mr. Gale read the following corrected report of the building committee on
steam heating : .

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

The building committee beg leave to report the following substitute on steam
heating: ivV

The lowest bid is that of Samuel I. Pope & Co., of Chicago, who propose to
furnish the entire heating and ventilating apparatus as specified for the sum of
$8,911.27, with privilege to the county to make any additions or deductions at
the rates named in the schedule accompanying the bid. The committee recom-
mend the acceptance of this bid, and that the committee be authorized to con-
tract with them on the terms of the bid, deducting from the amount above
named one gas engine, $1,400, two fans with belting, $657.56, as per schedule,
leaving cost $6,853.71. The omitted items are designed simply for ventilation.
We are advised that by a very simple and cheap expedient all that is surrendered
can be secured without that expense. Considering the fact that the building is
both by its location and mode of construction easily ventilated and a cool build-
ing in summer, we do not advise an outlay so great when so little necessity

exists. - -' ;:; , " '"V^' '!'V

;; V 7; ;. y V W. SELDEN GALE, W. H. LEIGHTON,

^ 'j;-:V;' ; ^;;- ; V WM. ROBSON, JOHN SLOAN, ,.;-,.

' - - R. W. MILES, M. B. HARDEN. -

On motion of Mr. Latimer, the foregoing report was accepted and its recom-
mendations concurred in.

Q2 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ; ,

Mr. Gale read report on contract for heating new court house:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

The building committee desire to report that they have, as directed by the
board, entered into a contract with Samuel I. Pope & Co., of Chicago, to put
in the apparatus for heating the court house, which contract they herewith
submit as follows: - ;:' ''.,'-.

Articles of agreement made and concluded at the city of Galesburg, in the
county of Knox, in the state of Illinois, this, the eighteenth day of August, A. D.,
1885, by and between W. Selden Gale, Wm. H. Robson, John Sloan, Rufus W.
Miles, Wm. H. Leighton and M. Harden, constituting the court house building
committee, appointed by the supervisors of Knox county, Illinois, said com- .. . .
mittee being hereinafter known as the party of the first part, and Samuel I.
Pope & Co., of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, second part as follows, to-wit:

The said party of the second part do hereby agree to, and with the said party
of the first part, or their successors in office; that they, the said party of the
second part shall, and will execute all the work and furnish all the materials of
every character required by the plans and specifications, to heat and ventilate
the Knox county court house, said building situated in the city of Galesburg,
within the county and state as first above written. Said plans and specifications
are hereby constituted as a part and parcel of this contract as much so as if each ,^ ,
and every part thereof was at length herein set forth and fully described. ; ' ;

The said party of the first part does hereby agree to, and will, in behalf of ;-, "'
the board of supervisors of said county, pay or cause to be paid unto the parties v; ->
of the second part, the sum of six thousand, eight hundred and forty-three, sev- '.,
enty-seven one-hundreths dollars for all of said work and material. Payments;/ .,
on said work shall be made on the several parts of the work and material in ac- < .'
cordance with the prices stated in the schedule hereto connected; said schedule ' ' ., -
being only for the purpose of setting forth the payments to be made to the con- ; :; I
tractor, and for no other consideration ; on each and every payment on work V.\;.
and material that twenty-five per cent, of the amount for all cost of work, labor;'' .:..-
and material, shall be retained until the final acceptance of the contract, subject '
to the conditions stated in the general instructions to bidders. Being understood ,;
that payments on all work and material shall be made once each month. Upon '
such payments being made unto the party of the second part for any work or '. . ^
material, then such material and work shall be deemed in the possession of the , ;.;
party of the first part, and shall be by them in their possession as part security j ;/
for moneys advanced, and in guarantee in addition to that required by bond. ..";.:

The said party of the second part does hereby agree to commence said work ;;' .."' '
in said building as soon as the condition of the building permit of, and not later ; '-"
than when the roof is completed on said building, and to finish the same as soon . -
thereafter as possible within the limited time named in the specifications and ; \
general instructions. The eliminations marked in the specifications of the omis-
sions of the gas engines and fans was made at schedule prices, before execution
of this contract. 'v V. - : '--j? -.:;'" v

In witness whereof, the parties hereinbefore named, in behalf of the board
of supervisors of said county, and the party of the second part, each have hereto
set their hands and seals the day and year first above written ; this contract only

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 93

to take effect when the said party of the second part has furnished his bond and
approved security.

Witness our hands and seals, = . ' , !^

v.--;^'; %,;;:'/; W. SELDEN GALE, M. B. HARDEN, v ;'/ ' .;^

iC'V; ' "vcW^-^v:;: .V R. W. MILES, JOHN SLOAN, ^:cV^'

; /o':-- . ^^:;. j W. H. LEIGHTON, SAM'L I. POPE & Co. ^i^i?

'J;V.;;...';.;.' ;.'..' yU{^;.;;-; WM. ROBSON, -;.

/:.;>': v-C.:- ; V (Witness) ALBERTA. PERRY, County Clerk.

Mr. Anderson, of Dawson & Anderson, contractors of new court house, ap-
peared and by permission addressed the board, asking assistance in procuring
water. On motion of Mr. Latimer, the matter was referred to the building com-
mittee with power to act.

September Meeting, 1885. Mr. Gale from the committee on building, stated
that no arrangement had yet been made for the construction of a cistern at the
court house. He read the proposition of A. P. Anderson to construct a cistern
13 feet 6 inches in diameter in the clear, 9 feet deep in the clear between inlet
and overflow pipes, walls and arch 8 inches thick, bottom 3 bricks thick laid flat-
wise, all of hard burned brick, thoroughly cemented inside and out, with 8 inch
overflow pipe connected with present sewer, stone and iron top at grade line,
for $285, to be constructed under the supervision of the superintendent at the
court house. , "v' . .

On motion of Mr. Latimer the proposition was accepted.

January Meeting, 1886. The following report of the building committee
was read and referred to the committee on revenue:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors: .

Gentlemen : The committee on building court house beg leave to report that
the cistern authorized by the board at its last meeting has been completed and
order issued by the clerk, by instructions of the committee, to A. P. An-
derson, contractor, for the sum of $301,50. Until within the last ninety days,
the progress has been satisfactory, but since that time much less has been done
than the committee had reason to expect would have been done sixty days ago.
The delay seems to have been caused by failure of the sub-contractors, who were
to put on the framework of the roof to use due diligence. There now seems
no prospect of doing more than to complete the framework of the roof before
the coming of warm weather. The committee have used all the means in their
power to hasten the operations of the iron contractors, and regret that their ef-
forts have not been more successful. The committee have authorized the clerk
to draw orders in favor of Dawson & Anderson to apply on contract, amount
aggregating $46,610.54. . .. ' ? j.. >; v.;-

,. Y... ... . . Respectfully submitted, < ;

,;;;. '.;:^ V'-'/'.:_;.;, :/"-/ ','!, W. SELDEN GALE, ' '"'H';

^ ^- ';>. ^ V V I ;. Vx . . = Chairman of Committee. -^

April Meeting, 1886. Thursday, April 22, one-thirty P. M. Board called to
order by chairman. Present same as this forenoon. -.

Mr. Gale called up the report of the building committee, and read that por-
tion of said report pertaining to the laying off and grading of the court house
grounds. On motion the recommendation in relation thereto was concurred in.

Mr. Gale then read that portion of said report pertaining to the advertisement

- HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ;

for bids for furniture. A motion by Mr. Boydstun to concur in the recommen-
dations, was withdrawn.

Mr. Gale then read that portion of said report pertaining to the assignment
of rooms. On motion the recommendations of the committee were concurred in.

Mr. Gale moved to strike out the recommendation of the committee in regard
to furniture, and insert the following: y I ' .;

That the committee be directed to advertise at once for bids for furniture,
the bidders to furnish the designs. That the bids be required to be made sub-
ject to the examination of the committee and the acceptance by the board. That
the committee be directed to examine and carefully compare the bids, and when
any shall be received, which the committee shall deem worthy of attention, they
shall notify the chairman of the board, who shall call the board together. That
when this board adjourn it shall adjourn subject to the call of the chairman.
. On motion of Mr. Rebstock, the foregoing resolution amendatory of said re-
port, was adopted. -

Moved by Mr. Sisson that said report as amended be adopted, and its recom-
mendations concurred in, and that it be spread upon the records of the bo^rd.

The ayes and nays being called for, the vote stood as follows : ^ - -

Ayes Messrs. Hunter, Mosser, Paden, Gale, Cooke, Boydstun, Olson, Mc-
Kee, Sisson, May, Townsend, Luther, Clark, Robson, Hurd, Miles, Leighton,
Andrews and Sloan 18.

Xays Messrs. Simpson, Glisson, Cooley, Rebstock, Parker, C. S. Clark and
Gibbs 7, \. ' . .;" ".-.' ;'-^'-'--'''v''.:'' .--'-.'' '-^'".'^^ :-'>';.'.,;>''''

The motion prevailed.

The report of the building committee, as amended, is as follows:'..-'

The committee on building beg leave to report :

The condition and progress of the building will be best understood by mem- .
bers of the board by actual inspection. While the progress made has been less
than was hoped for, they think the construction so far is fairly satisfactory, and
they are still of opinion that whether there be considered its substantial char-
acter, its convenience, its beauty or its cost, the "building will prove satisfactory
to those specially concerned in its erection, and to the citizens of the county.

Messrs. Dawson & Anderson sublet the contract for the iron construction to
other parties, who in turn sublet the construction of the frame work of the roof.
This work should have been completed early in November, which would have
enabled the work to go on all winter, and made the completion of the building
within the contract time, the ist of September, entirely within the power of the
contractor. The neglect to complete this work in time, has so far delayed the en-
tire work as to make its completion within that time no longer a possibility.

An effort should be made to secure the completion of the offices so as to permit
the clerks to remove before the pressure of fall work on their offices, and to secure
one court room for the October term. But we believe it better to suffer some in-
convenience from delay rather than hasten the completion at the risk of getting
anything but permanent work.

The time within which it may be expected to complete the building may be
estimated, by calculating the time necessary for the work of plastering, now just
beginning.

2nd. The time the work should stand to become sufficiently dry to receive the

' :o;.- HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY V -^ 05

woodwork, and 3rd, the time necessary to set up the woodwork then already pre-
pared.

The other portions of the work should be carried on simultaneously so as to
cause no delay. ' . .

It is perhaps hardly worth while to refer to various reports which have ob-
tained some currency, of danger to the county from failure on the part of the
contractors.

We have only to say that we have no reason to question the perfect good faith
of the contractors, or their ability to complete their undertaking. And that ad-
vanced as the work now is, it is not possible the county can suffer any disasterous
loss in any contingency.

The work already done is undoubtedly much more expensive, compared with
the originally estimated cost than that which is to be done. : ; v

The committee had hoped to find the plans so complete that no changes
whatever could be called for. But they cannot conceive it profitable to perpetuate
an error, and there is no time when a mistake or oversight can be so easily cor-
rected as in time of construction. When they consider the magnitude of the
work, the unusual and complicated plan and character of the building, the various
uses to which it is to be put, the difficulty, owing to distance, or consultation with
the architect, the fact that the plans were required to be made in a limited time
and in two different modes of construction, the committee thought they were
hardly warranted in expecting a realization of such hopes. They have thought
necessary, in process of construction, to require changes as follows: On the ist
floor a door To be made in the tower room, connecting it and permitting it to be
used in connection with the room next south of it. A double glass door in place
of the single one connecting the two rooms of the county clerk for the better
lighting of the inner room.

The filling up of space in the basement under the vault for greater security.
In the second story a change in the partition between the judge's room and the
library, and dispensing with the water closet, and substituting a wash bowl and
urinal in the judge's room.

In the third story another door connecting two jury rooms in south wing, to
be opened when necessary to secure better accommodations for a jury detained
all night, and providing one of the rooms with a wash bowl and urinal. A change
in partition at north end of corridor so as to shut off the stairway leading to the
attic.

These changes all told, will cost but little, but the cost will be an addition to
the contract price.

The committee also accepted the offer made by the contractor, believing it
to be advantageous to the county, to substitute red oak for -yellow pine, where
yellow pine is specified, in all doors above the basement, and all wood work in
second story corridor and smaller court room for $300.

In the exterior of the building, the contractor claimed the minarets and upper
cornice of the tower were to be of iron. The architect said they were to be of
stone. The committee thought to finish the most conspicuous part of the build-
ing with an inferior material would detract too much from the appearance, and
directed the contractor to use stone.

An examination of the specifications shows that in the original or brick con-

96 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

struction, iron was called for ; that in changing to a stone construction the same
specifications were used, substituting other language when necessary, that the sec-
tion affecting this work seemed to be overlooked in making the changes.

The contractor evidently made the estimates on which his bid was founded,
for iron work, the language misled him, if it did not justify him, and it does
not seem unreasonable for him to claim compensation for the difference.

The committee required the diamond shaped stones in the gable to be rubbed
stone ; the contractor claimed they were to be rockfaced. The committee thought
it would be as required, leaving the contractor to make his claim if the terms of
the specifications were not clearly in our favor.

Besides these changes ordered, the committee were called upon to settle the
terms of the contract as to the ceilings. In the original specifications the ceal-
ings in the basement were to be brick arches ; in the first, second and third stories
to be hollow tile, plastered. :. . ^-v-

The bid accepted, made by Dawson & Anderson, substituted iron arches for
all brick and hollow tile, except in the court room ; provided brick or hollow tile
might be substituted for the iron ones at the difference in price named in the
schedule. The committee determined to substitute brick arches, plastered, for
the iron mentioned in the bid and the hollow tile required in the original specifi-
cations, in the corridors in the first and second stories, at the additional expense
of $2.50 per square over the cost of iron.

The cost of all changes and additions made and proposed is small, and made
at the time the building is in progress, will add no more to the cost than if con-
tained 'in the original specifications. The difference in cost would have probably
appeared in the estimates of contractors on which the bids were founded.

It will be necessary to provide for laying off and grading the court house
grounds and paving the necessary walks. The committee have availed themselves
of an opportunity to purchase a small amount of earth, delivered on the grounds,
and other opportunities to purchase on favorable terms may appear. They rec-
ommend that the committee be authorized to prepare or procure plans for lay-
ing off the grounds, to be reported to the board for consideration, and in the
meantime they be authorized to purchase earth when they can do so to manifest
advantage.

The committee have not heretofore called the attention of the board to the
subject of furniture for the court house for the reason that the delay in the com-
pletion of the building justified a postponement of preparation for furnishing.
It is, however, desirable that the county should not be delayed in the occupancy
of the building when completed for want of furniture.

It is also desirable that time enough should be taken to settle carefully on
plans, to secure competition, and to give ample time to the contractor to furnish
perfect work.

We recommend that the committee be directed to advertise at once for bids
for furniture, the bidders to furnish the designs. That the bids be required to
be made subject to the examination of the committee and the acceptance by the
board. That the committee be directed to examine and carefully compare the
bids, and when any shall be received which the committee shall deem worthy of
attention, they shall notify the chairman of the board who shall call the board
together. That when this board adjourn it shall adjourn subject to the call of the-
chairman. . .

96 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ,;,,:'^

The cost of all changes and additions made and proposed is small, and made
at the time the building is in progress, will add no more to the cost than if con- .
tained in the original specifications. The difference in cost would have probably
appeared in the estimates of contractors on which the bids were founded.

The committee have not heretofore called the attention of the board to the
subject of furniture for the court house for the reason that the delay in the com-
pletion of the building justified a postponement of preparation for furnishing.
It is. however, desirable that the county should not be delayed in the occupancy
of the building when completed for want of furniture.

It is also desirable that time enough should be taken to settle carefully on
plans, to secure competition, and to give ample time to the contractor to furnish
perfect work.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 7

As a preliminary to calling for bids, we ask the board to assign the rooms to
their various uses, and we recommend :

That the three court rooms be arranged and furnished so that they may each
of them serve for either of the courts, for the meetings of the board of super-
visors and for such other assemblies of officers and citizens on county business,
as should be provided for.

That on the first floor, the room on the right of the east entrance be assigned
to the school superintendent.

The room on the right of the north entrance, to the county judge.

The room on the left, to the treasurer.

The room on the right of the west entrance, to the recorder.

The two rooms opposite, to the county clerk.

The large room in the south wing, to the circuit clerk.

That there be assigned to the sheriff either the room to the left of the east
entrance, or the adjoining room in the south wing, the other to remain for the
present unassigned.

The room in the tower, to the treasurer and school superintendent, the treas-
urer to have prior right of occupancy when necessary to his business.

That each county officer have a case in the vault for the storage of valuable
papers, or property requiring special security. -:'.

That in the second story, the room next south of the tower room, to the
master in chancery.

The tower room and room west, to the county attorney. - ; ''.

The other two north rooms to be ladies' waiting rooms. '.-.

The south wing for judges' room, consultation room and library.

The rooms in the third story to be used as jury and witness rooms. The
room next north of the smaller court room to be the grand jury room.

W. SELDEN GALE, R. W. MILES,

- ..: WM. RoBSON, JOHN SLOAN,

M. B. HARDEN, WM. H. LEIGHTON.

The building committee beg leave to report, that in reply to the resolution of
the board calling for information as to cost of changes in the building, ordered
by the committee, they have procured from the contractor the following estimates :

Expense of door in tower room $ 71.25

Double door in clerk's office 30.00

Door in third story 30.00

Change in partition 2d story

Extra wash basin and urinal 40.00

Change in attic stairs " 50.00

Substitution of oak for pine 300.00

800 feet concrete filling in vault, at 2oc 160.00

Cost of changes ordered by committee $681.25

Substituting for iron 3,450 feet brick arches, at $2.50 86.25

$767.50

Vet 17

98 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

Amount claimed for stone cornice and minarets in place of iron, difference
in cost:

4 stone minarets, $130 each $520.00

40 feet tower cornice 40.00

88 feet gable cornice, at $i.6o 140.80

4 carved finials 60.00

- ' ' ' " ' ' '" $760.80
Amount claimed for extra work on diamond shaped stones :

246 feet, at 5oc $123.00

io6 feet, at 7oc 74.20

'"-:!. ^ ; '. .^':'':'\-'-':-.^':''!^ ^ .''-' ;-vr''''''- $197.20

-':^':^ '"'-'. " ' '.:^- '^;^^^: ;;'-'. '^\^;.''" ^' ;.-.;; W. SELDEN GALE, ;-.;;v

Chairman.

Special May Meeting, 1886. The chairman stated that the meeting was
called at the request of the building committee for the purpose of examining
proposals and designs for furniture for the new court house, and considering
the report of the building committee thereon.

The clerk then read the proposals of A. H. Andrews & Co., of Chicago. Also
the proposal of Conant Bros., of Toledo, Ohio.

During the reading of the last named proposal, Mr. Chas. Ghsson, of Knox,
entered. :/

The clerk then read the proposals of the Phoenix Furniture Company, of
Grand Rapids, Mich., and of Thos. Kane & Co., of Chicago.

Each of said proposals were accompanied with schedules of furniture and
prices referring to the designs submitted, all of which were laid before the board.

The report of the building committee was then read as follows :

To the Honorable Board of Supennsors:

Your committee in compliance with the resolution of the board, advertised
for proposals for furniture, to be opened by the committee on the 4th inst. They
felt justified in fixing an early time from the fact that several of the best houses
in the country had visited the building in anticipation of such a call, and were
known to have prepared plans ; and it was thought no further delay need be
made to secure fair competition. Special notices were sent to all who had by
personal application or correspondence indicated an intention of giving attention
to the job.

The committee received a communication from the Mitchell Furniture Co.,
of Cincinnati, asking a postponement of the letting, on account of the labor troubles
and the consequent temporary closing of their works. Proposals were received
from Thos. Kane & Co., of Chicago ; the Phoenix Furniture Co., of Grand Rapids,
Mich. ; A. H. Andrews & Co., of Chicago, and Conant Bros., of Toledo, Ohio,
all of which proposals, with the accompanying samples and exhibits are submitted
to the board.

The bids, except the first named, were presented in person by a proprietor or
agent of the firm interested.

It was agreed that the bids should not be disclosed until presented to the
board, but that each party should have the fullest opportunity to explain his

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ;;,;;; 99

proposal to the committee, sitting with closed doors. There were present with
the committee, for advice and assistance, the architect of the building, the county
clerk and the circuit clerk.

The bid of Thomas Kane & Co. was accompanied by very few designs and
no samples. No gross amount is mentioned, but items are given and prices at-
tached with reference to the designs furnished and printed catalogue of goods
and prices published by the firm. The other bids are accompanied by schedules,
substantially alike in items, admitting of ready comparison.

The bid of the Phoenix Co. is exclusive of all seats, $7,765.40.

The bid of Andrews & Co. is in two forms. With one set of designs it is
$11,123.80; with plainer designs and cheaper work, $9,193.65. "u

The bid of Conant Bros, gives no gross amount, but affixes to each item in
the schedule from two to eight prices, according to design, workmanship and ma-
terial. Reviewing these schedules for comparison, and taking the items recom-
mended by the committee, as herinafter stated, we find them, as nearly as we
have been able to calculate, to compare as follows:

Phoenix Co., about $7,200. .

Andrews & Co., highest bid, $7,610. .; - '

Andrews & Co., lowest bid, $6,655. ' .: ^ .'-^' ~

Conant Bros., from less than $6,000 to over $8,000. '; ^^; . .:

It is at once evident that, taking medium prices in the bids of Andrews & Co.
and of Conant Bros, there is but very little- difference in the bids of the three
houses. The bids of Conant Bros, are both the highest and the lowest.

The bid of the Phoenix Co. is higher than one bid of Andrews & Co. and
lower than the other, and it is only by careful examination of the descriptions
and designs that it can be determined from which the most satisfactory selection
can be made, and it is perhaps proper here to say that it has been generally re-
marked by persons examining the building, with reference to bidding on the fur-
niture, that the building being architecturally different from all other court houses
(the Cincinnati court house is said to be of similar style), it could only be well
and tastefully furnished from designs specially prepared to conform to its peculiar
style.

The committee think Conant Bros, have had a better appreciation of the build-
ing or have been willing to take more pains than others. They believe the board
will find their designs finer and more in keeping with the building than any others
presented, and the committee believe that at same cost the best selection may be
made from their bid.

The committee recommend that the board authorize the committee to contract
with Conant Bros, for the articles of furniture in the list herewith presented, to
be selected by the committee in walnut, cherry and oak, in such proportions as
they may think best at a cost not exceeding $7,250.

In the matter of chairs, the committee are not satisfied that the best or most
economical selection can be made from these proposals. That unlike the other
furniture they will not be made expressly for the building, but that they can at
any time be bought in the market, and that plenty of time may safely be taken
to make selection and purchase.

The committee have received bids for file cases from Schlect & Field and from
Conant Bros. These are to contain the papers put into each pigeon hole. Both

100 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

their patterns are decided improvements on those in common use obtained from
stationers. But in judgment of the committee, the advantage to this county from
their use are by no means commensurate with the increased expense.

L. A. TowNSEND, WM. ROBSON,

./-- W. SELDEN GALE, W. H. LEIGHTON,

JOHN SLOAN, RUFUS W. MILES.

The foregoing report was placed before the board to be considered and exam-
ined in connection with the proposals and designs above submitted.

On motion the board took a recess until one-thirty P. M.

- One-thirty P. M. Board called to order by chairman. 1> ,

.; Present, same as this morning.

The board having examined and considered the several proposals and designs
for furniture submitted and the report of the building committee, it was moved
by Mr. Paden that the board accept said report and concur in its recommenda-
tions, and that said committee be authorized to purchase such chairs and seats
as may be needed in the new court house at a cost not to exceed $2,500, which
motion was adopted.

Thereupon, they entered into contract with Conant Brothers Furniture Com-
pany, on the I7th day of May, 1886.

July Meeting, 1886. Mr. Gale read the following report of the. building com-
mittee :
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

GENTLEMEN : The building committee beg leave to call the attention of the
board to the necessity of providing mantels and grates for the building; nineteen
are required. The committee have had proposals sent them from several parties.
They are of opinion that slate mantels may be obtained with grates, and all com-
plete and in place suitable for the situation, for from $700 to $800. The com-
mittee wish to be advised if any action in the case on their part is desired.

W. SELDEN GALE, Chairman.

On motion of Mr. Paden, the committee were authorized to contract for
grates and mantels on the best terms obtainable.

January Meeting, 1887. Mr. Gale made a verbal report in behalf of the build-
ing committee stating that it had been hoped that all contracts for matters con-
nected with the building could be closed up at the present meeting. This cannot
be done and the committee would recommend that when the board adjourns, it
adjourn for about two. weeks. It is desirable that Mr. Myers be present, and he
has informed the committee that he can be here at about that time. The com-
mittee were requested at the last meeting of the board to prepare a detailed state-
ment of orders drawn for all work connected with the court house. In conse-
quence of the unfinished condition of the work the committee are unable to com-
ply, but a verbal statement may be made which will give the board the informa-
tion necessary to enable the members to act understandingly upon any question
which may arise until such time as a full written statement can be made.

Mr. Gale then stated, to the board, the condition of the various contracts and
the amounts paid upon each, respectively, which he requested the supervisors to
take down each for himself.

Mr. Gale offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

RESOLVED: That there be a reception held at the court house, by the board

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 101

of supervisors, on the 26th inst., from lo o'clock A. M. until ten o'clock P. M.,
and that citizens of the county and their friends be respectfully invited to attend.

January Adjourned Meeting, 1887. On motion of Mr. Gale, the board took
a recess subject to the call of the chairman.

During recess, dedicatory exercises were held in the circuit court room, which
were attended by a large concourse of people. Brief addresses were made by
the architect. Col. E. E. Myers, the contractor; John Anderson; Hon. R. G.
Mathews, chairman of the board; Hon. Clark E. Carr; Judge J. J. Glenn; Judge
Sanford, and Messrs. E. P. Williams, W. Selden Gale, and R. W. Miles.

During the exercises, the following resolution was offered by Mr. F. Chris-
tianer, of Abingdon, which was unanimously adopted.

Resolved, That we, the people of Knox county, in mass meeting assembled,
do offer our thanks to the board of supervisors of the county of Knox for their
successful efforts in the erection of this court house, and for their thorough hon-
esty and integrity in the building of the same, and we ask that these resolutions
be spread upon the records of said board.

Mr. Gale stated that the building committee were ready to report on a portion
of the matters before them if the board desired. On motion of Mr. May the
building committee were requested to report.

Mr. Gale then reported a bill in favor of Col. E. E. Myers, of $i,ooo, balance
of architect's fees, and asked that it be referred with other matters pending.

The motion of Mr. Gale was adopted.

Mr. Gale then read the following additional report of the building committee :
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

. The building committee have rendered a partial settlement with Messrs. Daw-
son & Anderson, court house contractors.

The contract was originally taken at the sum of $114,311.52

To this was added by direction of the board, at the April meeting,

1886 1,725.50

Under the authority of the board to make some improvements in the

basement the committee have directed plastering and wainscoting

and places for washbowls and sinks, and have allowed Dawson

& Anderson 53-7O

The committee thought best to make some changes in the supports for

the gallery, involving the casing of supporting beams, for which

they allowed D. & A 88.00

The committee also allowed for work apparently not belonging to the

contract, but necessary to be done in fitting woodwork around

furniture 8.05

Around mantels 17-15

For putting up strips for hooks on the walls and bulletin boards, and

assisting in repairing and removing furniture from old building. . 83.03

For alteration in stone coping to steps 42.00

Making a total of .'. . .$116,328.94

In the matter of stained glass in the ceiling to main court room, the contrac-
tors proposed to put in plain cathedral glass. : . . ' '

The committee did not consider this arrangement suitable, and it appearing

102 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

on examination of the contract that it was stipulated that the glass should be of
such pattern as the architect should require, the committee applied to Col. Myers
to furnish f)atterns.

Under his direction patterns were sent, costing $960. The committee found
that the contractors had, in making the estimate on which their bid was based,
allowed themselves only $200. The committee were, considering that the real
cost of the building to the contractors was already far beyond the amount esti-
mated by them for the work at the bidding, very reluctant to require so large
additional cost. At the same time they believed the fulfillment of the contract
according to the views of the contractors would not be satisfactory to the public.

The conclusion of the committee was to contract with Geo. A. Misch for put-
ting in the light in less expensive patterns than those proposed for $506.

This amount, paid by county, might be deducted from the contract of Dawson
& Anderson. The committee are, however, prepared to recommend that only so
much be charged the contractors as the cost by them estimated at the bidding,
say $200.

At the meeting of April. 1886. the committee reported that Dawson & Ander-
son had proposed to substitute oak finish for pine throughout the building for
$500. or in the halls and one court room for $300; that the committee had ac-
cepted the last proposition. This action of the committee was approved by the
board and $300 added on that account to the contract. Dawson & Anderson have
substituted oak throughout the building, though without promise of extra pay
beyond the $300 already allowed.

They ask the board to allow $200 additional. That the change is worth that
amount to the building the committee believe, and recommend it be allowed.

Should the board concur in the recommendation as to glass and oak finish, it
will leave the amount due on the contract of Dawson & Anderson unchanged, at
$116.328.94 the county paying Misch $506.

.: This amount is subject to offset for want of completion within the contract
time, it being stipulated that the building should be completed by Sept. ist, 1886,
and a penalty of $20 per day for any delay.

The county began to have a very limited use of a small part of the building
about Nov. 1 5th. It was not till the last of December the clerks were able to
move into their not quite finished offices, and not till now that the county has
full use of the building.

Dawson & Anderson claim allowance for items of work required by the com-
mittee, which the committee claimed the right to require under the contract,
which the contractors insisted were not required by a fair construction of the
terms of the contract, and which were performed by them under protest.
For 15.000 brick required to be put in tower in excess of what appeared

to be shown in paper $255.00

For extra cost of hardware in door trimmings, committee requiring better

quality than contractors expected to furnish 424.50

For changes in window casings 292.00

... -3<^

.-^s to these items, the committee required them because they thought theyN-
ought to be done, even if at the cost of the county, and that the contract gave
them the right to require it.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 103

They are not, however, quite sure that the right to require the work is alto-
gether free from doubt, and are satisfied the cost was not included in the con-
tractor's estimate when he made the bid.

While the committee have not felt authorized to admit the claims, they think
it entirely proper that the board should consider the propriety of giving the con-
tractors the benefit of the doubt.

Dawson & Anderson have further stated to the committee, and the committee
have examined the schedule, on which the bid was made, and found the statement
correct, that in making the schedule important items were omitted, and while the
contract required the performance of the work and to have been done without
other compensation than the profits, if any, on the enumerated items.

First, a clerical error appeared by which their bid was unintentionally re-
duced $2,000.

The items of plastering were estimated at $4,200 and so appear in the sched-
ule, but the amount is carried into the general summary at $2,200.

The following items were overlooked and omitted entirely from the schedule:

2,825 fee concreting under inside walls $ 570.00

6,800 fee basement floor 682.50

3 extra granite steps 9O-75

154 feet gallery front at $5 770.00

4 clock dials in tower 120.00

I vault door of iron i lo.oo

Difference between lime and cement used in concreting floors 489.00

$2,831.25

In the estimate of the stone work very large under-estimate of items were
made, and some errors of calculation. ;. .

It is difficult and not perhaps profitable, to go over the whole calculation.

The work is so complicated that none but an expert, with plenty of time at
his disposal could correctly estimate it.

It is undoubtedly placed in the schedules at several thousand dollars less than
it was done for, or could be done for.

The committee has not felt authorized to do more than allow the contractors
for each item as the county was clearly under obligation to pay by the strict
terms of the contract.

How far it is proper for the board to go on giving liberal interpretation to the
terms of the contract, or in allowing extra compensation for work done, required
to be done by the contract, yet omitted from the contractor's estimate, each super-
visor should judge for himself. The committee desire only to present the facts
without recommendations, leaving each member of the committee as well as every
other supervisor to act independently.

Some facts in the case are as follows: While the work is not entirely free
from criticism, it is on the whole well done, much of it better than might have
been expected.

The contractors have been held to strict compliance, without the favors and
indulgences commonly, if not usually, given on public buildings by architects and
superintendents. While it cannot be said nothing has been lost by neglect or bad
management, on the whole, fewer mistakes than are usual on such buildings have

104 ; ; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

been made, and great care has been taken in procuring the best terms in sub-
contracts and purchase of supplies, and on the whole, such business has been
successfully done.

If held to the strict construction of the contract the contractors are heavy
losers on the job, even with all the allowance they suggest to the board, they will
not be indemnified.

The contract was made by both the county and contractors, in good faith,
with the expectation that it could be performed for the money stipulated.

The errors in the schedule were not discovered till the work was well under
way. Much allowance must be made for the seeming carelessness of the con-
tractors in this. The plan of the building is different from that of any similar
building. It is very complicated, and although the plans and specifications are
unusually complete, a careful and complete estimate of all its parts requires an
amount of care, skill and time very difficult for the contractors to give in the
time limited.

The next lowest bid, at the letting, to that of Dawson & Anderson, was $4,500
higher, and was made by a contractor of experience in building court houses, and
based on simple comparison of size of building with that of others erected by him.
It may be properly said that in offering to erect the building at the amount
named in the proposals (a lower figure than would represent the cost), the board
was misled, that while the board was willing to contract at that price for this
building, the plan might have been modified or abandoned if it had been shown
to cost any larger sum.

On the other hand, perhaps, the building is worth all it cost, with such addi-
lions as the board may make to the contractors' compensation, and no one would
wish to lose the building for the price.

; . Nobody offered to perform the contract for less than $4,500 more than these
contractors, and if to that party the contract had been let, the same questions
might have arisen with him.

If the proposition to build the house at less than what the county is ultimately
called upon to pay, induced the acceptance of the contract, and if no bid being
received for less than is now proposed to pay, the board would have refused to
go on with the plan. It may be fortunate that the board was deceived and led
into what has proved for the advantage of the county.

On motion of Mr. May, the clerk was directed to get the foregoing report
printed for the use of the board. ! -

Mr. Gale then read the following further report of the building committee:
To the Honorable Board of Supen'isors:

The building committee recommend that the committee be instructed to retain
the control of the building to such extent as they shall find necessary until the
next meeting of the board. That they be instructed to see that the erection and
finishing of the building be completed according to existing contracts and in com-
pliance with the instructions of the board, and to settle contracts made by them
in accordance with the instructions of the board and to order the issuing of county
orders when necessary to fulfill such contracts.

.;. They recommend the assignment of rooms as follows: ,,,. . . ..:

;i Rooms i, 2 and 3 to the county judge and county clerk. '^V- * - :

-.; Rooms 4 and 5 to the circuit clerk. .'^ ' - '

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY >; 106

Room 6 to the sheriff for an office. .

Room 8 to the school superintendent. .: .,

Room lo to the county treasurer.

Room 9 to the treasurer and school superintendent, the treasurer to have
precedence, so far as the duties of his office make it necessary.

Rooms 12 and 13 to the state's attorney, conditional that he occupy the same
in person, keeping his office open during the business hours the year around.

Room II to the master in chancery on like conditions.

Room 17 to the circuit judge as private room. -' v ..

Room i8 as a library and waiting room for the use of the bar.

Room 19 to be attached to i8 for like purposes.

That 14 be set apart for the exclusive use of ladies. 15 for a waiting room
for ladies and their attendants. 21 for the grand jury. 22 and 23 to be in con-
trol of grand jury when required. ; ;

That the court rooms i6, 20 and 30 be at the disposal of the circuit and county
courts, the circuit court to have precedence in i6 and the county court to have
precedence in 20 unless the circuit court be first in possession.

That the board of supervisors meet and organize at each regular or special
meeting, when no other provision has been made, in room 20; or if room 20
be occupied by one of the courts, then in room 30; or if both be so occupied, then
in room i6.

That the rooms assigned to the county officers be in the control of the officers
to whom they are severally assigned; that the other rooms be in the care of the
sheriff to be made ready and opened, when required for their proper uses ; that
the rooms not otherwise occupied be used as may be needed for witness, jury,
committee or consultation rooms, and by the county officers when needed for
work not conveniently done in their respective offices. ;::;/..

That the sheriff be directed to open the rooms in the court house, when not
in use for county purposes, for such public or political meetings as according to
the custom and practice of the county, may properly be held therein, such privi-
leges to be exercised under such conditions and limitations or extensions as the
board may from time to time provide, or as may, between the sessions of the
board, be ordered by the chairman of the board or the building committee.

They recommend that the desk formerly in use by the deputy county clerk
be given to the coroner and placed in the building as the coroner may, with the
approval of the building committee, designate.

W. SELDEN GALE, Chairman.

On motion of Mr. Simpson, the foregoing report was accepted and its recom-
mendations concurred in.

Moved by Mr. Luther Clark that Col. Myers be requested to state to the
board, if, in the items of extras claimed by the contractor on account of better
material having been furnished than is required by the contract, the material so
furnished is better than required.

Friday Morning, Jan. 28th, 1887. The board then proceeded to the consid-
eration of the report of the building committee in relation to a final settlement
with Messrs. Dawson & Anderson.

Pending the remarks of Mr. Anderson on said report. '.;;.'.

On hiotion the board adjourned to one-thirty this afternoon, -i v^;

V 106 ^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

'=' .' One-thirty P. M. Board called to order by the chairman.
: Present same as this forenoon.

The board then resumed the consideration of the report of the building com-
"' mittee, and Mr. Anderson proceeded in his remarks.

-. At the close of Mr. Anderson's remarks, Mr. Gale offered the following reso-
:'' lution and moved its adoption :

/' Resolved, That the building committee be authorized to settle with Dawson

& Anderson for the work done by them, and yet to be done by the terms of the

: contract, to make such allowance for extras and errors as they think just, and

:'.. to determine the amount to be charged them for delay in completion of the build-

: ing, but the entire amount allowed for work heretofore done on the building or

to be done on the contract as contracted by the committee shall not exceed the

.. amount of $121,328.90 in excess of the amount charged for damages by reason

. of delay.

Mr. May moved as a substitute that the matter of final settlement with Daw-
-; son & Anderson be postponed until the April meeting of the board.

Mr. Rebstock offered the following resolutions as an amendment to the mo-
tion of Mr. May :

> RESOLVED: ist. That the building committee is instructed to settle with Daw-
son & Anderson on the terms of the contract.

2nd, And if the committee find on examination of Mr. Anderson's claims for
extra work done on the court house (any portion of said claims are valid), that
f they settle with him as far as the county is liable for extra work done.
i (The words in brackets above are added by the clerk to express the full mean-
ing of the resolution.)

Moved by Mr. Gibbs that the items of extras claimed by Dawson & Anderson
be passed upon severally.

And thereupon the chairman ruled the action to be upon the motion of Mr.
May. ,.-..; - ( .

The votes by ayes and nays was as follows :
Ayes Hunter, Mosser, Paden, Boydstun, McKee, Sisson, May, Townsend,

Luther Clark, Simpson, Hurd, Parker and Chas S. Clark 13. -.:[.'

Nays Gale, Cooke, Olson, Glisson, Robson, Rebstock, Miles, Leighton, An-
drews, Sloan and Gibbs ii.

Motion was carried. '' v ;

. ..- . On motion of Mr. Gale the recommendation of the committee in relation to

the oak finish and the ornamental stained glass furnished by Geo. C. Misch was
adopted.

Mr. Gale stated that the building committee had expected to present a de-
tailed statement of expenditures on all matters connected with the court house,
: but owing to the unsettled condition of accounts, had been unable to do so. He
moved that the committee be directed to prepare such a statement as soon as
possible and cause the same to be published. Carried.

Moved by Mr. Paden that we reconsider the motion of Mr. May to postpone
: action on the report of the building committee in the matter of final settlement
with Dawson & Abderson until the April meeting. i

Ayes and nays were called as follows:
: : Ayes Paden, Gale, Boydstun, Cooke, Olson, McKee, Sisson, Townsen,d,

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY v^ 107

Simpson, Robson, Kurd, Rebstock, Miles, Leighton, Andrews, Sloan and Gibbs

17-

Nays Hunter, Mosser, May, Luther Clark, Glisson, Parker and Chas S.

Clark 7.

The motion prevailed and the report reconsidered. .'.;..

On motion of Mr. Paden, it was ordered that the board pass on the disputed
items severally, and that the building committee be authorized to settle with Daw-
son & Anderson, paying such claims as may be allowed by the board.

The clerk then read the first disputed claim for 15,000 brick placed in the
tower of the building, $255.00. ., :;;;;

Moved by Mr. Gale that the claim be allowed. Carried.

The next item was read, claim of $424.50, for extra cost of hardware in door
trimmings.

Moved by Mr. Cooke that the claim be allowed.' .

Ayes and nays were called as follows:

Ayes Messrs. Paden, Gale, Boydstun, Cooke, Olson, Townsend, Glisson,
Robson, Hurd, Miles, Leighton, Aindrews, Sloan 13.

Nays Messrs. Hunter, Mosser, McKee, Sisson, May, Luther Clark, Simp-
son, Rebstock, Parker, Chas. S. Clark and Gibbs ii. / .

The motion prevailed and the claim was allowed.

The next claim, $292, for change in window cases, was read. :;.-.;

Mr. Miles moved to allow $192 on the claim. '

Ayes and nays were called as follows: ? ;>

Ayes Messrs. Paden, Gale, Boydstun, Cooke, Olson, Townsend, Glisson,
Robson, Hurd, Miles, Leighton, Andrews and Sloan 13.

Nays Messrs. Hunter, Mosser, McKee, Sisson, May, Luther Clark, Simp-
son, Rebstock, Parker, Chas. S. Clark and Gibbs ii. 'V

The motion prevailed. , . ' -

The next item, $2.000 clerical error in addition, was read. ;' .

Mr. Olson moved to allow the item. ': ::

Ayes and nays were called as follows: .

Ayes Messrs. Gale, Cooke, Olson. Robson, Leighton and Sloan 6.

Nays Messrs. Hunter, Mosser, Paden, Boydstun, McKee, Sisson, May,
Townsend, Luther Qark, Simpson, Glisson, Hurd, Rebstock, Miles, Andrews,
Parker, Chas. S. Clark and Gibbs 18.

The motion was lost. -, - ' /'/

The next item, $570, for concpete under inside walls, was read. ; <'

Mr. Cooke moved that it be allowed. -' . . .

Ayes and nays were called as follows: . .- r-

Ayes Messrs. Gale, Cooke, Olson, Robson, Andrews and Sloan 6.

Nays Messrs. Hunter, Mosser, Paden, Boydstun, McKee, Sisson, May,
Townsend, Luther Clark, Simpson, Glisson, Hurd, Rebstock, Miles, Leighton,
Parker, Chas. S. Clark and Gibbs 18.

The motion was lost. :. .,;.

The next item, $682.50, for basement floor, was read. '';;:

Moved by Mr. Boydstun that $500 be allowed on same. v 't "

Ayes and nays were called as follows:

Ayes Messrs. Paden, Gale, Boydstun, Cooke, Olson, Townsend, Robson and
Sloan . ;

108 ?- HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ;^:|;;;

: Nays Messrs. Hunter, Mosser, McKee, Sisson, May, Luther Clark, Simp-
son, Glisson, Hurd, Rebstock, Miles, Leighton, Andrews, Parker, C. S. Clark and
Gibbs 16. ... . . . - .

The motion was lost. ^ ^\ ^';?'. :?'. ''J/^. ; :

The next item, $770.00 for gallery front, was read. >/... = '
Moved by Mr. Gale that the claim be allowed. .;.'-' ' .

.. Ayes and nays were called as follows: >'..-

Ayes Messrs. Gale. Cooke, Olson, Robson and Sloan 5.

Nays Messrs. Hunter, Mosser, Paden, Boydstun, McKee, Sisson, May,
Townsend, Luther Gark, Simpson, Glisson, Hurd, Rebstock, Miles, Leighton,
Andrews, Parker, Chas. S. Gark and Gibbs 19. . -.,.:,-.,.--.

The motion was lost. ' . , : '

The next item $120.00 for 4 clock dials in tower, was read. -'; ' , ;
; Moved by Mr. Cooke that the claim be allowed. Lost. .;' '; . .
':- The next item $iio.oo, for vault door was read. ; ., .- : ,'-

Moved by Mr. Miles, that the item be allowed. ' - V ". :'

: Ayes and nays were called as follows : "'

Ayes Messrs. Paden. Gale. Boydstun. Cooke, Olson, Townsend, Glisson,
Robson, Miles. Andrews and Sloan ii. j . :. '"-

Xays Messrs. Hunter. Mosser. McKee, Sisson, May, Luther Clark, Sittipson,
Hurd. Rebstock. Leighton, Parker, C. S. dark and Gibbs 13.

The motion was lost. " ' I -

The last item. $489.00. difference between lime and cement mortar for floors.

Mr. Paden moved to allow $300.00 on this item. The motion was lost.

January Meeting, 1887. The following are the duties assigned to the janitor
by the committee and adopted by the board :

It shall be the duty of the janitor: ' r ^ ' ' . r ' . 1 :;;'

To receive and store the fuel.

Take charge of the heating apparatus and grates, and to keep each room in the
house suitably warm, and heat turned off when not needed.

To attend to the water supply and take care of all closets and wash-bowls.

To keep all offices, corridors, court rooms and jury rooms well cleaned and in
good order, and to keep in order the basement and attic.

To light the corridors and public rooms when needed, and turn off the lights
at proper time, the work to be done at proper hours so as not to interfere with
the use of the rooms ; to remain in the building all night to guard the same, or to
employ for the purpose a suitable person capable of taking charge of the heating
apparatus.

To keep the walks and lawns, when constructed, in proper condition, to em-
ploy at his own expense so much help as may be needed to properly perform the
whole work. ' . j . .

It shall be a condition of the agreement that he shall not leave the employment
on his own motion, except on thirty days' notice to the board in session, but shall
be liable to removal by the board at anytime.

: And your comhiittee would recommend that the compensation be $1,200 per
year.

On motion of Mr. Gale, the building committee was authorized to allow on the
disputed claims of Dawson & Anderson a sum not exceeding the amount of dam-

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY \ ..

ages which may be claimed by the county, of Dawson & Anderson, by reason of
delay in the completion of the building.

July Meeting, 1887. Mr. Gale read the report of the building committee on
walks, which was also laid over for future consideration.

Mr. Gale presented a list of all orders drawn on the treasurer on account of
construction of court house and all matters pertaining to the same, including heat-
ing, architect's fees, advertising, cistern, furniture, superintendent's salary, ex-
penses of building committee, grading, gas fixtures, mantels and sundries, which
was laid over for the inspection of the board and future action.

The report of the building committee in relation to walks being called up, was
read by the clerk as follows : . ... ,

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

Your committee have made inquiry as to cost of various materials for pave-
ment of walks on court house grounds. ;. .;

They find the cost of hard burned brick, such as is used in the city, will not :
exceed lo cents per square foot. That the cost of Berea stone flagging laid, will
not exceed 27 cents.

That the competing propositions, something may be saved on the brick and pos-
sibly on the stone.

That the cost of asphalt concrete is not far from that of brick, and that con-
crete of Portland cement is about the same as stone.

The area of walks, exclusive of sidewalk on outside of the grounds, will be
12,000 to 16,000 feet, according to the plans to be adopted and width of walks.

The committee consider the concrete walks out of the question. ;

' That the preference should be given to stone, except for the excess of cost.

That on grounds of economy, the committee recommend the use of brick for
material. = ;i;\.>' \ ;

They recommend the plan of walks heretofore proposed and now presented, be
adopted, subject to such modification as the committee may find expedient, not
materially increasing expense.

That the committee be authorized to contract for the materials and work on
the best terms practicable, by Advertisement or otherwise.

That the committee be authorized to build one-half the walks through the
centeriof the park and to agree with the city for the construction of sidewalks and
street curbing, the county paying the proportion of such expense paid by other
proprietors of frontage in like cases. - ? -''.?;

W. SELDEN GALE, Chairman.

On motion of Mr. Mathews, the report was accepted, and its recommenda-
tions concurred in, and the committee was instructed to contract and complete
the walks in accordance with the plans submitted, said walks to be made of good
hard burned brick, and to be completed as soon as possible.

A list of all orders to date on the county treasurer on account of labor and
material used in the construction of the new court house was presented, aggre-
gating $146,453.51.

Court house $113,631.16

Miscellaneous items 503.40 ' .'

Steam heating 7,072.67 '.;-

Architect 4,120.25 ;'.

110 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY - .

Advertising 81.50

' Cistern 3O375

Furniture 10,280.45

' Superintendent 2,853.50

Building committee 2,736.75

Sundry expenses of building committee 50-58

, Grading 2,146.56

. Mantels 706.00

Sundries 327-55

Gas fixtures 908.06

Sundry expenses and furnishings 722.33

Total $146,453.51

September Meeting, 1887. The clerk read the report of the building com-
mittee showing claims amounting to $684.53. | "

On motion of Mr. Gale the report was accepted and its recommendations con-
curred in.

Mr. Sisson stated that Prof. Richards, of the city council of the city of Gales-
burg, was present and desired to present a matter to the board in regard to the
walks to be built in the city park and bordering on the court house grounds.

By consent Prof. Richards addressed the board, stating that it had at one
time been contemplated that a walk 12 feet wide would be built on the center
line of Broad street continued through the park ; that it was not probable that a '
street would be opened through the park and be paved between the elm trees,
making a driveway of about i6 or i8 feet wide and a walk laid on each side of
this driveway outside of the elms. He asked that the county board waive the
formality of a special assessment proceeding in court and arrange with the city
to bear the expense of this improvement equally.

And thereupon, on motion of Mr. Gale, the following resolution was adopted:

That the building committee be authorized to confer with the representative
of the city and agree on such division of the management and care of the park
and court house grounds as may seem to be most advantageous, and on a equi-
table division of the cost thereof.

(In offering the above resolution, Mr. Gale stated that the title to the ground
to be occupied by the proposed street or driveway, was somewhat doubtful, it
not being certain just where it rested, and before definite action on the proposi-
tion of Prof. Richards, the matter should be investigated. Clerk.)

January Meeting, 1888. ^ Your committee to whom was referred sundry
bills for labor and material in construction at court house and grounds would
beg leave to submit the following report on the matters before them. They have
examined the bills, and finding them correct, they recommend that orders issue
for their payment, aggregating $1,104.26.

On motion of Mr. Gale the report was accepted and its recommendations con-
curred in.

Mr. Gale read a further report of the same committee on other matters re-
ferred to them for consideration and action during vacation. , ... . ;. .

', "' '^.:'' . / |. - ' . ',

To the Hon. Chairman and Gentlemen:

The building committee beg leave to report as to their proceedings in vacation.

,^;;v^v" ;: HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY , ; ; : . 'ill

They have caused to be built of brick the walks on the grounds heretofore con-V; ;.
templated by the action of the board, except the walk in the center of the park;
they have furnished brick for sidewalks on the three sides of the county grounds
which have been laid by authority of the city. In this the rule usually adopted
in the construction of brick pavements in the city is followed, the practice in such
case being for the city to build the sidewalks and the proprietors furnishing either
in part or wholly the brick. Upon constructing the pavements, it was found
that additional filling was necessary for proper grades. This was increased by
some changes made by the city in the grade of the city's portion of the park.
They have made such additional filling and grading as seemed necessary. . .

As directed by the board, the committee have sought to make some agree- V
ment with the city government for such division and management of the park
and court house grounds as might seem advantageous, and for an equitable
division of the cost. - .

The park and court house grounds consist of what appears on the original
plat of the town in blocks 38 and 39 and a strip of land 6 rods in width appear-
ing as a street and separating the blocks. - ' ''..
This street seems to never have been worked as a street, but the two blocks
and intervening space have been for more than thirty years inclosed together for
a park, most of the ground previous to that time being always open and in a ^-'^
state of nature. At the time of the vote on the removal of the county seat, the C .
city as authorized by law, pledged to the county in case of removal, the east half ;;;<.
of the park grounds as a court house site, the title and occupancy then being in ^.jr
Knox college. The city procured from the college a deed to the county of block :
39, conditioned on its occupancy by a court house, and afterwards secured from
the college a deed of blocks 38 and 39, subject to the county's claim, to be used
exclusively as a park. '^ V^ . , , ;' ^-'^. '.^-'''~.':

The location of the court house has been made with regard to the situation - .
as supposed to be secured by these proceedings. .v,

As seemed to the committee equitable, the proposition was made to the city -^; ' '
council that the county and city should each care for one-half of the grounds, :.
the county building, .all necessary walks to accommodate persons approaching .^
the court house or crossing the grounds in any direction on the east half and join- V
ing the city equally in the cost of such walk as might be convenient on the divid- . :v
ing line. No direct answer has been received to the proposition. .'

^ The committee learned through the newspapers that the city council had or- :.'..
dered the opening of Broad street through the park, and the paving of the street
and sidewalks on each side of the street, the entire cost to be assessed against the
property abutting on the street. v ,;

The committee were advised that the right of the council to open Broad street. '
through the park was at most doubtful. It seemed to the committee that so far
as the interests and convenience of the county at large was concerned, it was
very undesirable. They failed to see the justice and propriety of compelling the
taxpayers of the county outside the city limits to contribute to the expense of
such construction, of no use whatever for the purpose of approach to the county
buildings. The injustice seemed greater in the fact that the universal rule in .
the city in like improvements has been to charge only one-half the cost of im-
provements against the abutting property. They found the cost assessed against

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ":^

the county would amount to about one thousand dollars. Under these circum-
stances the committee thought it their duty to ask for an injunction, which would
at least delay the matter until the meeting of the board. An injunction was
asked for and obtained. The committee desire to refer the question to the board
to consider what further action should be taken. The committee made request
of the council to curb Cherry street on the east side of the grounds according to
the plans adopted two years ago, and for which the county paid an assessment.
They also asked that Tompkins and South streets be curbed, the county paying
the proportion of expense usually paid by holders of frontage for like improve-
ments. So far as is known to the committee, no action has been taken by the city.

In carrying out the instructions of the board, there has been expended on
the grounds by the committee:
Allowed and paid by the board at the September meeting to Neeley I

C. Woods for brick $ 304.02

Sundry bills for sand, cinders, earth and labor 386.51

Orders have been issued by the clerk since last meeting by direction of

the committee for items of earth delivered, for grading and work
' ' on court house grounds, as shown by clerk's report of orders issued,

to the amount of 511-85

There have been also presented at this meeting bills the the payment

of which the committee has recommended 1,113.46

'". ^' ^:'f.:: . ; $2,315-84

. . , .V, ' \ W. SELDEN GALE,

' '- '.::-:;;'';:. ^ -' .>...-, . ' R. w. MILES,

!:; . L. A. TowNSEND,

, ' ',";-''- ' . - '.- ' J.W.ANDREWS, ','':

JAMES PADEN.

On motion of Mr. McKee the foregoing report was accepted and the action
of the committee in relation to the matters therein contained approved.

Mr. Gale offered the following resolution which was adopted. -.!''.: {

That the building committee be instructed to purchase suitable beds and bed-
dings to lodge a jury in the court house.

Mr. Gale offered the following resolution in regard to the enlargement of the
jury box, which was adopted.

' That the building committee be directed to secure a proper enlargement of the
jury box in the circuit court room.

April Meeting, 1888. Mr. Gale moved that the standing committees of the
board be the same in number, name and duties as last year.

Mr. May moved to amend by adding, except the building committee, and that
that committee be dispensed with. I

The ayes and nays being called for were taken with the following result:

Ayes ^Messrs. Hunter, George, Boydstun, Rearick, Cooke, Sisson, May,
Clark, Simpson, Sipherd, Stephenson, Allen, Rebstock, Becker, Mason, Baird,
Shaffer, McCrea and Barlow 19.

Nays Messrs. Latimer, Gale, McKee. Townsend, Robson, Andrews 6.
Carried.

And thereupon Mr. Gale's motion as amended was adopted. - >.

;^^^:: ^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY : .}Vl ' J 113

V;.:VV'--:-'/'\A_. ->;.-;.-^ : .;_: .:. ;';^f.-\-

Mr. May moved a vote of thanks to the members of the board heretofore com-
posing the building committee for their efficient and faithful services connected
with the construction of the court house. Carried.

Mr. Simpson moved that a committee of five be appointed on court house
and grounds. Carried. . 1,. .';--;

Mr. May moved that the committee be appointed by ballot. Carried.

Mr. Steph(;nson moved that the five supervisors receiving the highest number
of votes be Declared elected. Carried.

The chairman appointed Mr. Richey and Mr. Stuckey tellers. ; /':;.?-.':

There were twenty-four full votes cast for the committee and one blank. ^

Of which Mr. Gale received 20, Mr. Townsend 14, Mr. Robson 12, Mr. Sis-
son 9, Mr. Miles 8, Mr. Rebstock 8, Mr. May 7 and the others scattering.

Messrs. Gale, Townsend, Robson and Sisson, being the four receiving the
highest number of votes, were declared elected. Messrs. Miles and Rebstock
each receiving eight votes, Mr. Rebstock withdrew his name, and on his motion
Mr. Miles was declared elected.

April 1 8, 1888. Letter of Dawson & Anderson and agreement between Daw-
son & Anderson, Pittsburg Bridge Co., and Eagle Iron Works in regard to final
settlement of iron contracts for court house were read and referred to the same
committee; also copy of letter of county clerk to Dawson & Anderson, showing
statement of account in the matter of construction of court house.

April 19, 1888. Statement of Dawson & Anderson asking for an allowance
of $4,741.50, on account of errors in estimates and of items furnished but claimed
not to be required by the contract for the construction of the court house was
read.

One P. M. The hour for the special order of the afternoon having arrived,
Mr. E. A. Bancroft appeared and addressed the board in behalf of Dawson &
Anderson.

Mr. Bancroft having concluded his remarks, Mr. Latimer moved that the
matter be referred to the committee on court house and grounds to report at next
meeting of the board. . ''v/ - ^ :

The ayei and nays being called for resulted as follows :

Ayes Hunter, Latimer, George, Gale, Boydstun, McKee, Rearick, Cooke,
Sisson, Townsend, Clark, Simpson, Sipherd, Robson, Stephenson, Rebstock,
Becker, Andrews, Mason, Shaffer, Barlow, McCrea. . . '^

Nay Allen, ../ :^;-..- - /;-.v >-->::.';.;v;-.;:--;,v;v; - ->," /^-i' .. ;.' '^'-''' .'''"
Tlje motion prevailed.

Mr. Gale read the following report of the same committee in relation to mat-
ters pending with Messrs. Dawson and Anderson.

State of Illinois, ) 7- .ij'^^ ^-''V. x --'; \; .;.->;.. . '.'->-

Knox County, j ^ ' , ; ;

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, APRIL TERM, APRIL i8, A. D. 1888. ; '
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Board of Supervisors:

. -v'. Your committee on court house and grounds in the matter of claims con-
. nected with the contract with Messrs. Dawson & Anderson, beg leave to report :

It appears that the amount found due Dawson & Anderson in February, 1887,
as appears by the record of the proceedings of the board, and by the account kept
by the county clerk, was $i 17,797.19

' ' '

^ tv; : HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY . . ' '^.'^ .

'. ..'.;. ,i^. 'ixi;:t/' '. . ' " .' v - '^ .'' ''

Less payments which to this date amount to 113,631.16

Leaving a balance ....,,.' ...... i....$ 4,166.03

which amount has been held back to indemnify the county against any possible
claim against the county by parties sub-contractors for the iron work on the
court house. i

The papers referred to this committee show a settlement between these parties
and Messrs. Dawson & Anderson.

The committee recommend that these papers be filed and made matters of
record and that orders issue in conformity to such settlement as follows: ).' . ,

To Eagle Iron Works, Detroit $3,750.00

The Frost 'Manufacturing Co 136.83

Williams, Lawrence & Bancroft lOO.OO

Dawson & Anderson 179.20

The committee further recommend that inasmuch as Messrs. Dawson & An-
derson were entitled to receive the amount of $4,166.03 one year and more ago,
and the amount has been withheld for the protection of the county, and it seems
but just that interest be allowed for this detention; that a further order issue
to Dawson & Anderson on account of interest to the amount of $250 or six per
cent, on the amount due them last year.

In the matter of petition of citizens who have sat on jury for enlargement
of jury box, we recommend that the request be complied with.
. All of which is respectfully submitted. . , ;;. ,'. Vr:.- ;,.; |

V . W. SELDEN GALE. Chairman.

DETROIT, MICH., MARCH 27th 1888.
IV. Selden Gale, Esq., Chairman Building Committee and the Commissioners

of Knox County, Galesburg, Illinois. -'' :'f^ ' .'. ::^ ^'; 'S'sCV'; '. ^X:' 1

GENTLEMEN : We attach hereto authority to Dickenson and Thurber, of
Detroit, Michigan, to settle for all claims in connection with the building of the
court house on behalf of the Pittsburg Bridge Company; also enclose a letter
directed to you signed by the Eagle Iron Works and Dickenson and Thurber, at-
torneys for the Pittsburg Bridge Company, empowering our firm to 'make settle-
ment with you and your county for all claims for building your court house
at Galesburg; also enclose a letter from Messrs. Dawson and Anderson directed
to you embodying an order that you pay to us the sxun of $3,750.00, and charge
the same to their account. ; ,':...':;.': ;V^ : I

Acting under the authorities shown by these letters we do hereby for and on
behalf of the Eagle Iron Works, and on behalf of the Pittsburg Bridge Com-
pany, fully and completely discharge you as chairman of the building committee,
and the building committee of the county commissioners of Knox county, and
the commissioners of Knox county and the county of Knox from all claims and
demands whatsoever growing out of, or in any way connected with the building
or building contracts for the building of the Galesburg court house.

We trust this will enable you to call your committee together and act upon it.
This discharge, however, to take effect only upon the acceptance and payment to
us of the sum of $2.750, in accordance with the enclosed order of Dawson and
Anderson, otherwise these papers to be returned to us.

rv^v'>v'-^ ;/;.;;:: HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY V^:.';- 115

- If you need anything further from us kindly inform us, or let your attorneys
draw such papers as will answer the purpose. -' ; :":.'

..-.V. ;';;:'. .;^ :. .r. V.. -^i ..;>.. Very truly yours, >:;,.. :."'V

".--'.:-C^ '-''. ^^,'.''- .' .-^' ''';-;-'' ..^.. : MOORE & MOORE. /'^

' ''" ' -^v :f- V PiTTSBURG, March I7th, 1888. {'.

Commissioners of Knox Co., Gdesburg, III.

GENTLEMEN : We hereby appoint our attorneys, Messrs. Dickenson and Thur-
ber, of Detroit, Mich., to receipt for us, and in our name, in full for all amounts
due us on our claims against the Eagle Iron Works, Dawson & Anderson, and
yourselves.

. 'X '':'.''.'.,"' '.; ' .. ;V' .C:r."" ' V: Yours truly, :;?:.'!./:. -x:-- -'.--/..:"':::..;

- ; .' ^ ^ ^ ;, .: THE PITTSBURG BRIDGE Co., ,

(SEAL) ;'-' . v - ; ': x^.' ' V; J- H. SAWYER, Sec'y. ,

' ' ; DETROIT, MICH., March 27, 1888. ;'

W. Selden Gale, Esq., Chairman of Building Committee of Knox Co., III.

DEAR SIR : Terms of settlement having been agreed upon between the Eagle
Iron Works and ourselves for work done and material furnished by them for
the Galesburg court house, you are hereby authorized to pay them or their order
three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars ($3,750), and charge same to our
account. : 'V- :;>-.'^"': //;:;:>;.;;-:;/' -./'.^ .x;'-. . - '^:. "':':''..v^'- ' '^ ''

- - " '. ; -^ ': ' Very truly yours, -v -'

-'^ -''.'.''';' ^., --' '-V; "^ -'j ", . ,, DAWSON & ANDERSON. '' ;

- : ;. /^ V -. - DETROIT, March 20, 1888. ^

W. Selden Gale, Esq., Chairman Building Committee, Galesburg, III.

DEAR SIR : Terms of settlement having been agreed upon between ourselves,
we hereby empower Moore & Moore to complete settlement with your county
for all claims for building court house and to give full discharge therefor.

Very truly yours, '> . ^

v/.^-'.: \ !...-; ^';'- '-';/:'>;,/ 1,'. ;'./;;' EAGLE IRON WORKS, -.^>'

by C. J. O'HARA, Sec. and Treas. V

Dickenson & Thurber, attorneys for Pittsburg Bridge Co.

On motion of Mr. Cooke the foregoing report was adopted and its recom-
mendations concurred in. ;.;?;- ^

Mr. Gale offered the following resolution, which on motion of Mr. McKee
was adopted.

That the committee on court house and grounds be authorized to procure an
enlargement of the jury box in circuit court room. ' ; ' :' -./

A suitable book case to hold the law books owned by the county and kept for
use of circuit court. . ... .

A suitable case as asked for by county clerk for his office. '.'.''"' ''.'.

Such furniture as may be necssary for sheriff's office. ' .';'.'/:.

That the committee be authorized to make arrangements to procure water
for use of court house from the city, and have the stone work of the court house
repointed where needed.

That the same committee be authorized to join the city in the construction of
such walks as may be agreed on at the boundary of the county portion of pub-
lic grounds.

That the same committee be authorized to consent to such assessments by

116 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ::->;''-

the city as are just and proper for pavements and curbing adjacent to court
house grounds, and be directed to protect the county from assessments which
may seem to be unjust or of doubtful propriety.

September Meeting, 1888. Mr. Gale presented the following report of the
building committee which was read, and action thereon deferred until the next
meeting of the board. :../'' '' .'. '-' ^V- 'i^ - : I; ;

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

The building committee, in reference to the claims of Dawson & Anderson,
court house contractors, beg leave to report:

Messrs. Dawson & Anderson claim an allowance not yet made them by the
board of the sum of $1,741.50. This sum is composed of three items: i

Concrete under inside foundation walls $570.00

Basement floor 682.50

Lime and cement in iron ceilings 489.00

This is work the committee required, believing it necessary to the proper
construction of the building, and claiming with some reason that it was included
in the specifications and plans. The work was done by Dawson & Anderson un-
der protest, they claiming their contract did not require it. The committee did
not feel authorized to order or allow for extra construction, and after settling
with the contractors for such claims as were indisputably due, referred these
matters to the board, believing if it shall appear to the board, that the terms
of the contract did not require the work, its necessity would be recognized, the
action of the committee approved and payment ordered. Upon re-examination
of the matter by the committee, under the reference made at the July meeting, the
committee is satisfied that the right to demand this work is at least doubtful,
that the contractors in bidding did not contemplate doing it, and in fact, have
done the work without pay for it.

They are of the opinion that there is at least a strong probability that the
contractors can legally recover, and they recommend that these items be paid.
These items include all that the contractors claim to be legally entitled to, be-
yond the payments already received.

They claim, however, that the county ought to allow them a further sum, a
claim not based on any legal right, but due them on grounds of equity and fair
dealing.

Their bid for construction was accompanied by a schedule in which was
set down the estimated cost of each item of work and material. The amount
bid was the sum total of these items, with addition of 5 per cent, to cover cost of
superintendence and contingent expenses. In this schedule there were three
important omissions.

Nothing was set down for the gallery front which cost them $ 770.00 ,.

The iron door of the vault costing i lo.oo ,

The dial faces in the tower costing 120.00

Total $1000.00

The bid was further reduced in amount by an error in addition, the plaster-
ing being carried with the column of totals $2,000 less than the estimate.

As to these claims the committee made no recommendation. They do not
believe that the county can be legally obliged to make any allowance for these

;X v' : < ^ ;^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^ - 117

errors of calculation. The appeal is made by them to a sense of justice and
such an appeal should be answered by each member of the board for himself, re-
garding, as he should, the opinion and wishes of his constituents.

It may be said in behalf of the contractors, the woodwork in the building
being very superior, both in workmanship and material, and although the con-
tractors succeeded in getting it very cheaply, considering its character, its cost
to the contractors, aside from the gallery front, exceeded the estimate in the
schedule, and it is the opinion of that member of the committee, who is best
qualified to judge of such work, Mr. Robson, that the contract might have been
filled with work sufficiently inferior and cheaper to have saved the loss, even
including the gallery front. The vault door is very cheap the result of a for-
tunate opportunity to buy at a bargain. \. j

The contractors have been held to a rigid performance of the contract to
a degree unusual in public work. They have done honest and faithful work.
If all their claims were allowed, the cost of the building to the county would
be less than anybody else offered to do the same work for. The contractors
would still be large losers, and the committee do not believe the work could
have been done, and as well done by anybody at the cost. . ., . . ,..

Respectfully submitted, ' i '.- v " v

'.,;-.;_'.;.-....'' .-:;".'';'/ ;;.;':-; W. SELDEN GALE, .^'v"'^:, :.,;:

^-'.' V.' '" ''':'-.''. '';'. ' .';' ^ /,- -.;..;-. ". '\.-i^:V' LEON A. TOWNSEND, ^-'^-^^
-;, '':-',;-. '.. ': '';'' - ;'^-:: .'^;v"' 'c :'^ V :'' '" V ; . WM. ROBSON, .. . .^ ..;.,/;; I ;

; .'''':. :;"".: ..?'.'-.; ;'. .r''; ...;::;;' ^-Cv.;,:; v^^-^-v^'-; '' ' ^ R. w. MILES, -'.;''''. ^v'i-Vi^V-''

^' ' ;-^ ";-.: :.'::;; .-:- '':"''.':. c' ' H. M. SiSSON. """ ' "'''.'""

January Meeting, 1889. On motion of Mr. Gale, the report of the build-
ing committee in relation to Dawson & Anderson, filed at the last meeting of
the board, was taken up for consideration and read by the clerk.

Mr. Gale moved that the three items : ;:--.* N, v

Concrete under interior walls of court house $ 570.00

Concrete floor in basement of court house 682.50

And a difference in cost of concrete used over iron arches in the

court house over that claimed to be required by the contract 489.00

And aggregating 1741.50

be allowed and paid, on condition that the amount be received in full of all claims,
whatsoever, by said Dawson & Anderson against Knox county, on acconut of
the construction of the court house and of all matters growing out of the same.
Carried.

Mr. Gale read the following report of the committee on building and grounds :
State of Illinois, ) ,..,:-.-.- . ,. ' .-. .-

I QQ _'. . ' '-. f' .'.'.'''' . . - _ :','', ~. ' '- ' '"..'' * . -^ '.- .-.,.'

Knox County, j " '- ;.....--..

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, J.\NUARY SESSION, JANUARY 9, A. D., 1889. ?' , ,;
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Board of Supervisors: ;";,. .. .

Your committee on building claims would beg leave to report that they have
examined all claims presented to them, and recommend the payment of the fol-
lowing, and that the clerk be directed to issue orders on the county treasurer to
the claimants for the several amounts allowed as follows, to-wit: -

Conant Bros. Furniture Co., jury box, bill $28.15, allow $ 23.65

Same, new furniture for offices 743.67

; ' HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY :::\ : - ^- ^ ;; "

'. " . '- . ' '..- '-'

/ Robert A. Ross, setting up furniture ................. ".'. .,'... 1 . . . 10.45

- , Parry & Stevens, work on jury box 17-42

, All of which is respectfully submitted, ' ^ ?.,: 'r',

^ . :.v:.^., . ;; ' - W, SELDEN GALE,

'-''-. '.:?^.'--;>:;^';; .. ' .'':,',/-""':'.'''.. R. W. MILES,
V ' ' '"^ ' ' ' ' H. M. SISSON.

On motion of Mr. Sisson, the foregoing report was accepted and its recom-
mendations concurred in.

At the January meeting, 1889, a final report of the committee on buildings
and grounds was made and a final payment was made Dawson & Anderson,
general contractors on account of the building. Final settlement was also made
for furniture and putting same in place. These two payments were the final
payments and completed the building so far as it had been planned up to that
time.

At the April meeting, 1889, there was a reorganization of the committees,
when the committee on buildings and grounds was dropped. ;v "';;.;- j

Full reports of the progress of the work on this court house have been in-
corporated in this history, but we deem it a matter of historic value to add a
complete copy of the annual report of the county clerk, which was submitted
to the board of supervisors at the September meeting, 1889, as it shows the
financial condition of Knox county after the payment of every bill incurred in
the construction of the court house. Not a bond had been issued in aid of
this construction. An annual tax, sufficient to care for the annual progress
in the work on the building, had been levied and many of the tax payers of the
county found it difficult to believe that the work was completed and paid for.
There was cash on hand September i, 1884, the sum of $23,089.36. The board
made a levy that fall of $80,000 for all purposes. Out of this all bills for
court house construction were paid besides all bills for the current expenses
for the county the ensuing year, leaving $22,034.43 on hand, September i, 1885.
The city of Galesburg owed the county $10,000 for the fire-proof, which would
make $32,034.43 at the disposal of the county board for the ensuing year. The
board thereupon again levied $80,000 for all purposes, which made an aggre-
gate of $113,034.43, with which to pay current expenses and work on the court
house from September i, 1885 to September i, 1886. The financial statement
for September 1886, shows amount on hand $13,474.75. It was thought best
to levy a tax for $80,000, which would make an entire clean-up of all expendi-
tures on account of the new court house and all furnishings connected there-
with. This was done and the following report shows the result: |

September, 1889. The following is the county clerk's annual statement :

. GALESBURG, 111., Sept. lo, 1889.

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

. I herewith present the county treasurer's financial statement for the year
ending September i, 1889, showing cash on hand $18,788.62. This amount ac-
cording to past experience will probably be sufficient to pay all demands upon
the treasury until receipts are realized from the collection of taxes.

The proceedings of the board have been published and distributed as pro-
vided by law.

It will be remembered that Dawson & Anderson claimed a balance due them

-'^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY -'^ 119

of about $4,840.50, which the board had refused to allow. At the Januaty

-: meeting of 1889, the matter was again considered, and three items of said claun.

aggregating $1,741.50, were allowed on condition that the amount be received

; in full of all claims whatsoever by said Dawson & Anderson against Knox

: county on account of the construction of the court house, and of all matters

'1 growing out of the same. The amount was paid and accepted on the terms

named. The sheriff's office has also been equipped with furniture at a cost

; of $313.17. At the July meeting of 1887, a detailed statement of orders issued

;.. on account of court house construction was presented and published, aggregat-

' ing $146,453.51. All orders issued since then have been published in detail,

. but it will doubtless be interesting to the board and the people to see a sum-

;. mary of the whole thing, including the items above mentioned. I therefore

: V present them as follows, viz: . .^';: ";.;',';.. .:: -'C'-V;

-. Court house $120,293.59 '';

_ ; Steam heating 7,072.67 >; 'X^

; , ; Architect 4,120.25 :; ":^ ;

Advertising 81.50 ' . ./

::;x Cisterns 3O375 x.:' :

. :. Furniture 10,601.12 K /

, , Superintendent 2,853.50 .*-,

. -. Building committee 3,160.83 . :

Grading 2,607.16 - ^>:/

Sundry expenses 1.049.88 ' .' :

'V Gas fixtures 908.06 '.:''':-'!:

Mantels 706.00 ^V.;

: ; Walks 1,941.74 ''':]:

Carpets 560.95 ; ;- :

Total $156,261.00 '

The ordinary accumulation of papers and files has made it necessary to pro-
cure some furniture not included in the above. They are omitted because they are
such as will be called for from time to time in the future, and are not properly
chargeable to the account of construction, unless the account is to be kept open for
all time, as is the practice of railway companies. ?;;;- .: ;:

The following is a statement of the amount of claims allowed during the year
compared with those allowed during the year 1888. It should be borne in mind
that in making these statements, the year is reckoned from September ist to Sep-
tember ist:

-^''..^-..^:''''^-.-:\^:--^'----''^'.::'-:^--.':^^^^^ l888 ^ /;- 1889 '

Salary for county judge $ 1,500.00 $ 1,500.00

Miscellaneous bills, including supervisors' services .... 2,549.32 1,834.48

Judiciary and clerk's offices 3,512.27 2,845.22

Jail and jail expenses 5,871.70 7,031.35

Jurors circuit court, orders paid 5,579-O5 4,703.55

Jurors county court, orders paid 444.10 520.50

Foreign witnesses 129.06 295.50

Roads and bridges 2,906.00 1,936.95

Alms house and farm .' 10,978.29 9,579-93

120 : HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^ - : '

Outside pauper claims 2,023.73 1,447.94

Charitable institutions 687.03 . 615.31

Stationery and printing 1,803.21 1,977.06

Wolf bounty 360.00 127.00

Janitor 1,200.00 1,200.00

Election 1,483.50

Fuel 549.70 . 580.97

Refunding taxes ii-77 ^- "''- 3.27

Interest account 95-O2 23.43

Court house 4,4i7-53 i,74i-5O

Walks 1,780.64 . 152.50

Grading 460.60

Building committee 308.30 i3-6o

Carpet 560.95

Court reporter 630.25 . . 685.00

Court house and grounds 499-52

Furniture for sheriff's office . \-^ 3^3-^7

Attorney's fees, injunction suit 150.00

Criminal costs Henry Co 120.05

$48,478.57 $4i,;36i.25

It is gratifying to note that the expenditures of the county have returned to
a normal figure ; that even with the purchase of nearly $800 worth of new furni-
ture and the payment of $1,740 to Dawson & Anderson, the amount expended is
somewhat below the usual levy of six years ago.

It would seem that a levy of $40,000 would be sufficient for the year. '
It is with pain that I mention the fact that the office of the clerk of the cir-
cuit court became vacant by the death of Mr. Josiah Gale by a railroad accident
near Esterbrook in the state of Colorado on the 29th of August last. The sad
news reached us in the forenoon of the 3Oth. His honor. Judge Glenn, of the
circuit court, was appraised of the occurrence and after consultation with the
attorneys and others interested, the appointment of Mr. George W. Gale, brother
of deceased, to fill vacancy until a successor shall be elected, was made by Judges
Glenn and Pleasants, and the governor was notified of their act.

Respectfully submitted, !

' . ; : 'v- /: ' ''_.'::.-' ALBERT J. PERRY, County Clerk, ':_...

Thus was completed and equipped with every convenience for the county of
Knox an elegant court house, thoroughly well built in every particular, for the
sum of $156,261.00. It has one fault. It was thought that glass was more ex-
pensive than stone, the windows were made small to lessen the cost and there-
fore the halls and some of the rooms are rather dark. With larger windows the
building would be almost faultless.

The writer here desires to make a few statements in addition to all the record
history given in relation to the building of this court house. At the commence-
ment of this work the board of supervisors was composed of the following indi-
viduals: . . ,^ . : -.

M. B. Harden, from Indian Point township. - :;.;.;'.;.;';;

J. S. Latifner, from Cedar township. , :?.:;.'

:- '\V HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY - 3- 121

James Paden, from Galesburg township. ,- ; . ;-- ' x/:

W. Selden Gale, from city of Galesburg township. - '\ ,:.'.';,'

Milo D. Cooke, from city of Galesburg township. . ;; ; .'.. ,

S. H. Olson, from city of Galesburg township, '.j; - - /' \.

Thomas McKee, from city of Galesburg township, n'v. . - /

Geo. W. Foote, from city of Galesburg township. - ; '! / .

Samuel Rankin, from Henderson township. ' .; . ,

Samuel W. May, from Rio township. ;.' \;^v . . ?:.;:;;

Leon A. Townsend, from Chestnut township. .; .. .; . . :..... . .-..

:.-.'.; -.-;. . ' . : -r, '_> -.

Luther Clark, from Orange township. . i ^^ ,; . '1

A. G. Charles, from Knox township. ' '=/.. ; ^ = / '

Harvey Montgomery, from Knox township. ; .' ' ''"

William Robson, from Sparta township. , . > ^ :- ;..-?:

J. W. Allen, from Ontario township. v^^'-y'; ':',.::>:' . - ^^

Joshua Boynton, from Maquon township. ' ' . ^i ' t : .

James Rebstock, from Haw Creek township. ; . ' : -f ' . . J

E. J. Wyman, from Persifer township. ;:/V;,..h/ : - V

Wm. H. Leighton, from Copley township. . r , ' .

John W. Andrews, from Walnut Grove township. i-.: r -.^ '.:.;>

John Sloan, from Salem township. - '-,''..'

A. G. Mathews, from Elba township. '::';'.'., , ;;....

W. H. Parker, from Truro township. ..--.'.., : ^

r' .* '" . . '-''-.- , ' "^ '- .'-'>' .

C. P. Sansbury, from Victoria township. ;: .;;^^';::r^ .^;: - ' ^r /

W. B. Todd, from Lynn township. '' ' ' . - .

Mr. R. G. Mathews was elected chairman and the building committee was
composed of the following persons : Sloan, Robson, Gale, Charles, Harden, Leigh-
ton. In 1885 Mr. Miles was placed on the building committee in the place of
Charles, not in the board. In 1886 Mr. Townsend was placed on the building
committee in the place of Harden, not re-elected. In 1887 Mr. Andrews was
placed on the committee in the place of Miles and Mr. Miles was added to the
committee by vote of the board. In 1888 the name of the committee was changed
to court house and grounds. The new committee consisted of Gale, Robson.
Townsend, Sisson and Miles. It will be seen that Mr. Gale and Mr. Robson were
the only members who remained on the committee from the beginning until the
completion of the court house. The only members who are still living who were
on the board at the time the work was begun are S. H. Olson, Samuel Rankin,
Samuel W. May, Leon A. Townsend, Harvey Montgomery, James Rebstock and
John W. Andrews seven members still living and nineteen gone to their long

home. [-.':.:. ^. ^.'' ['":-.-'::::'--:,.' \-.'^.- ''./-...: '.'

As already stated, it was the writer's privilege to have been county clerk and
clerk of the board of supervisors during the period of court house construction,
and therefore to have been intimately acquainted with all of these men, and he
feels at liberty to speak somewhat freely in regard to them. The long contest
over the removal of the county seat from Knoxville to Galesburg had divided
the county into two opposing camps, each camp made up of selected men who
were elected for the express purpose of looking closely after that one interest.
The board contained an unusual proportion of bracing men. It ranked high for
its business capacity and strict integrity. Not a man was placed there through

\%>;--:\. ,'- HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 'v^-V-^v- ;/';:;

his own machinations, but purely because the people wanted him. It is doubtful
if the legislature of the state of Illinois, or in fact any other state, ever contained
a higher percentage of upright and capable men. Each man had fought to the
limit for the people he represented in the county seat contest, and when the bat-
tle was over and the order to build was voted, there was not a single obstructionist
in the board, but all turned their attention and their best efforts to securing a
good building at the lowest price. Not one dollar of graft was ever paid to any-
one on account of any work connected with that job. The actual cost of the
building was about $7,co more than the county paid for it, and it was only by
the careful management of the building committee that the job was completed at
all by the contractors. If the committee had done differently, the contractors
would have failed before the close of the year 1885, and the work have been re-
let to some other parties at a jnuch higher price. The contract provided that
monthly estimates of work done should be made and paid for, less 15% to be
retained by the committee. It soon became evident that the stone work would
cost many thousands of dollars more than was bid, and that if the contract were
adhered to strictly, the work could not be finished. It was made to appear to
the committee that a good profit would come to the contractor in the plastering,
glass, iron and woodwork. This work was to be done and paid tor later, so the
committee, rather than bankrupt the contractor at the start, take the job off his
hands and find some other way to complete it, chose to pay the full amount of
each monthly estimate, and on one occasion overpaid the sum of $2,cxx). This
assistance enabled the contractor to complete the job, but owing to his mistakes
in figuring, omissions and possibly bad management, his profits on the other
classes of work did not make him whole.

The next work of importance connected with the court house, was the instal-
lation of the electric lighting plant, the telephone system and the remodelling of
the heating plant, which covers the extension of these three conveniences to the
jail. If the board had realized the full cost of this work, it is somewhat doubtful
whether it would have been done, but they are very great conveniences, we
may almost say necessities, under the modern way of living and doing business.
After more or less discussion in the board, the work was begun in the summer of
1906, and the first report was made to the board at the September meeting. These
reports are sufficiently explicit to show the improvements and are therefore
given without further comment.

December Meeting, 1906. Your committee on the installation of the electric
light and power plant have examined the report of Adkins-Smeeton Co., and find :

1. That there is an error in said report in stating the cost of the light and
power plant and the office telephone system as follows : The item amounting to
$557.95, with credits of $134.52, leaving a balance of $423.43, in the bill of Henry
Newgard & Co., is stated in the auditors' report to be for "extra work, feeders
underground," whereas, the bill of this item shows that every dollat- thereof was
for material for the underground system and none of it for labor.

This error is misleading in that it apparently increases the labor bill by the

sum of $423.43. ^- ; :.:.;;;;:';'-'::' .-,:,:-;;; .>.'': -TV

2. We further note that the auditors' report shows an alleged overcharge
for labor on the jail feeders of $1,114.83.

In order to reach this result, the auditors have, evidently by unintentional

;:;;;;-:->'.:'' HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ; :; -

mistake, duplicated an item of $799.50, expended for labor, charging this amount
first to the telephone system, and again afterwards to the jail feeders.

The auditors' report makes an "analysis of cost," in which the total cost
of the telephone system is figured at $1712. In this amount is included a bill of
Henry Newgard and Co., for $1542.85, consisting of materials amounting to
$514.35, and labor as follows: .. ^- </ ; ^; x-; :^:\f ;^''::'v . -. -; " ^

Colly, 282 hours $211.50

X, Nordberg, 365 hours 219.00 '

; : Hall, 333 hours 199.80

I Johnson, 284 hours 1 13.60 y

; : Krouse, 280 hours 168.00 C;

; >: Crane, 224 hours 89.60 ^^

; :J Allen, 2 hours 1.20 .:V;

Carpenter, i8 hours io.8o

Plasterers, 25 hours 15.00 '

" ' ' Total :', V. $1,028.50 ' ''

When the auditors come to analyze the cost of the jail feeders, they again in-;
elude a labor item amounting to $799.50. This item consists of the same labor
above mentioned and already charged to the telephone system, apparently as fol-
lows :

Colly, 282 hours $21 1.50 . v

Nordberg, 365 hours 219.00 ' '^

Hall, 333 hours 199.80 :':.

.'. Krouse, 280 hours i68.oo /

;. Allen, 2 hours 1.20

Total $799-50

Thus according to the auditors' "analysis," this item of $799.50 is duplicated
and charged to the jail feeders when in fact it has already been charged to the
telephone system. In this way, by adtling this sum of $799.50 to the correct bill
for the jail feeders which amounts to $448.16, the auditors' report figures the total
labor cost of the jail feeders to be $1,247.66, or nearly three times the true amount
thereof.

It is therefore evident that the auditors' finding as to the over charge of labor,
being based on these incorrect figures, is also incorrect. .:

3. We further report that in figuring the alleged overcharge the auditors have
estimated the labor cost on the jail feeders to amount to $138.83. This estimate
is not based on any inspection of the work actually done, nor upon any expert
knowledge of its cost or its value, but is based solely upon an estimate as to the
time required for the work apparently founded on Mr. Allen's report. Mr. Allen's
report in this particular is evidently defective and incomplete, inasmuch as the
auditors estimate the time of work required on the jail feeders at 271^ hours when
it is evident to any one who will carefully inspect the work, that it could not, by
any possibility, have been completed in that length of time. -. . . . :

Your committee further calls the attention of the board to the fact that the
total labor cost on the jail feeders is $448.16 instead of $1,247.66. as stated in the
auditors' report ; that this item of $448.16 includes not only the digging of the ditch

124 V : HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ; ^ .

for the conduits, but also cutting through the heavy foundations of the court
house and jail, repairing the same with concrete and cement, and putting them in
as good condition as before, taking up and relaying the side walk in three places,
taking up and relaying the pavement on Cherry street, which was crossed diag-
onally, and the placing and tamping down of three iron pipes constituting the
conduit. This work was done in the winter when the ground was frozen and in
refilling the trench, the dirt had to be dissolved in water. In addition to the
cost of laying the conduit there was the labor of pulling the cable and wires
through the conduits and putting them in place.

-^ ;;.. ^ ;. JAMES A. EPPERSON,

''.'/'' J':>-'-r, ' \ ,/,.'; ; /. -'^ E. V. ALLEN,

E. P. ROBSON.

An extended discussion followed relative to matters pertaining to the special
reports of the lighting committee by Supervisors McDowell, Gale, Latimer,
Robson, Epperson, McWilliams and Burkhalter.

On motion of Mr. McWilliams the board adjourned until one o'clock p. ni.

One o'clock p. m. Board met pursuant to adjournment.

Present Same as this forenoon. .''-. : - ^ V,:- > ;'':.n ':'!' '

Mr. Robson of the jail committee then made further verbal statements rela-
tive to the lighting plant for the court house and jail and the discussion of that
subject and the telephone system was resumed by various members of the
board.

December meeting, 1906. Statement of the cost of the purchase and in-
stallation of the electric light and power plant for the court house and jail and
telephone system for same buildings.

Contract price with Henry Newgard & Co., which included wiring of
' buildings, engine, generator and storage battery, and the connecting

of the engine with the steam plant of the court house $ 5.311.00

Extra on larger engine and generator than stated in original contract 150.00

Contract price with David J. Braun Mfg. Co., fixtures 2,834.20

Hanging fixtures (Henry Newgard & Co.) not in original contract.. 200.00
Material and labor on underground conduits not contemplated when |- .

original specifications were made 871.59

Light bulbs, glass shades, and fuses, not included in contract 594.48

Total cost of lighting plant $9,961.27

Material and labor necessary for repairing and remodeling the steam
plant and placing same in safe condition for furnishing power,
which said material and labor was found to be necessary only after
the work of connecting the steam plant with the engine was begun $ 2,635.25

The telephone system, which was a separate job from the others and
not contemplated when the original contract was let, was installed
along with the wiring for lighting plant because deemed an econ-
omy of time and labor $ 1,712.60

Edwin A. Allen, superintendent, which item of cost covers the super- T
intendence and inspection of the three foregoing jobs, viz: wiring
and installing of electric plant, hanging fixtures, remodeling heat-
ing plant, and installation of telephone system 654.28

/^;'-'^;':v;.;''v.;;--:.'v.; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^,;v - ;^;.;;;
Extra janitor service 664.90

Total cost of lighting and power plant, heating plant and telephone. $15,628.30
One bill, "Job No. 8888 contract" included in auditors'

report and which bill is not allowed or to be allowed. .$74.62 ',;.;
Error in statement of American Electric Supply Co., and ;; i''

. amount actually paid i .00 75-^2

Making the total as per auditors' report $15,703.92

. The bills for all the above amounts, and the receipts for the payments
thereon, or for county orders issued therefor are on file in the county clerk's
office.

Out of the total cost of the lighting plant, $9,961.27, there might be de-
ducted an amount of about $2,500.00, being the estimated cost of engine, gen-
erator and storage battery, making a cost of $7,461.27 as the amount necessary
to have been expended in order to purchase electric current.

Amounts paid Galesburg Gas & Electric Light Company for lighting county
^ail and court house :

. ; .. For the year 1901 $ 643.38 V /-:,

For the year 1902 882.10 . .y;' '..

: For the year 1903 947-54 ^: 7'$.;

; For the year 1904 1,023.10 'v'",'

For the year 1905 1,253.26 r^ -

''>"'V'' ^'- ; . ''...':' - - V- '.^"-'f' :''.-'.,;:..;;/;'.{... JAS. A. EPPERSON, '".:.".'-/;'''

'^. '^." ''.'_; . "''.-''"';.'-;'''.'- V'^X. /-'.-;' E. p. ROBSON, - . . \:- ?''V''^

;:';;./.;.. ',.:'^V ' ' - , .^V7''v'''' '''';.' Vv-V, J. L. MclLRAVY, ;';;V

'''::'"'''''/'.':','' '.. X"'--''''^r'/';"r''^';''^'. !'''"" \:' J- L. BURKHALTER, '^:',-:;.,

':-i^V '.;'.. ". : ' : , '. .";--/.;!>v:. ':.':.'' ,:-:-V.:;>,--^;, E. V. ALLEN, "/\^-'',--'

''. '.''''':' /." -';'-^- '.-i'-' ".'.^' ' '. .''..^'-^'--''''' --...-.. Committee. : .

;. ; " FIRE PROOF BUILDING KNOXVILLE ;;^-l:-

An account of the construction of the building known as the fire proof at
Knoxville may properly be considered as a supplement to the account of court
house building. It was begfun in the summer of 1854 and was settled for in full
February 9, 1856, although the receipt was not filed until the May meeting, 1856.

The following is the brief record history of the construction of this building:

June meeting, 1854. At the June meeting of the board of supervisors 1854
bids for the construction of fire proof offices were presented, opened and acted
upon as follows:

The board in pursuance to notice given now proceeded to open the bids for
building fire proof offices, two bids only were offered, Samuel Fox having made a
bid for building the said offices of $5,375.00 and Edson Huggins for the sum of
$5,700.00. : .

On motion of Mr. Reynolds it was voted that the bid of Samuel Fox for
the fire proof offices be referred to the committee on public buildings to consult
with Mr. Fox in regard to the payments and the time of completing the same, etc.

126 . HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

; The committee on public buildings and grounds to whom was referred the
proposition and to consult with Mr. Fox in reference to the building fire proof
offices now filed a report which was read and adopted by the board.

Resolved, That the bid of Samuel Fox be accepted upon the basis of the re-
port submitted this morning, in relation to the fire proof buildings, and that Z.
Cooley be appointed to superintend the building, construction and completion of
the same, and that the committee on public buildings close the contract, and take
bond of the contractor.

Mr. Gale moved to lay the resolution on the table till the next September
meeting of this board. ' %. ; - . ' .v; - "H.V -'-'r ; .J v/M-.'. i

Mr. Reynolds called for the yeas and nays on the motion, which resulted
as follows :

- Yeas W. S. Gale, J. McMurtry, R. Heflin, T. H. Taylor, J. Hammond, J.
G. Hamrick, G. W. Manley, J. H. Nicholson. Nays Daniel Meek, H. A. Kelly,
S. Collins, H. G. Reynolds, Wm. M. Dark, I. O. Stanley, A. Ward, M. B. Mason,
T. H. Ross, J. L. Jarnagin, Jonathan Gibbs.

The vote was then taken by yeas and nays on the passage of the resolution
which resulted as follows: - I

Yeas D. Meek, H. A. Kelly, S. Collins, H. G. Reynolds, Wm. M. Clark,
I. O. Stanley, A. Ward, M. B. Mason, T. B. Ross, J. L. Jamagin, Jonathan
Gibbs. Nays W. S. Gale. J. McMurtry, R. Heflin, T. H. Taylor, J. Hammond,
J. G. Hamrick, G. W. Manley, J. H. Nicholson.
: Resolution adopted. .:';;. :^ .: 'V >..,.,:;:,'.',,. |. O

By the December meeting the construction of the fire proof building had
reached a point where the board of supervisors found it advisable to adopt the
following resolution :

On motion it is ordered that the superintendent of the building of the fire
proof offices be authorized to draw orders in favor of Samuel Fox from time
to time in such sums as he shall judge advisable in accordance with the contract
between said Fox and the building committee.

The board of supervisors again took action on the fire proof building at the
January meeting 1856, as follows: . :. :.- .| ;

To the Hon. Body of Supervisors of Knojc county, III.:

Report of the committee to whom was appointed to examine the account of
Samuel Fox in building of the fire proof building do report that we have exam-
ined said account and find according to the best information we can get to be
correct, the said Fox agrees to have the two offices ready for occupancy in two
weeks and to have the building completed by the ist day of May for the per-
formance of which he agrees to give sufficient security, in consideration of which
your committee recommend that the board of supervisors make a final settle-
ment with said Fox and allow him over and above his account $500 for his time
and work not presented in his bill. Your committee find from examination of
the building and all the information that we can get that the work is done in the
most satisfactory manner. " '. '^ -:

Knoxville, July 15, 1856. . ; v'"

. , GEO. A. CHARLES,

,: '-^..^ %:,;;-V^ , ' : "' . ] -^'; '-' -.' F. B. ROSS, ,^>

.'.-:-';':'' -.''"'..':'' I. R. JOHNSTON, ^^

.-. ".T.'^"..'' .-. ' ' ^ . . ' , '.- - ,-'-' , ,' '' ;." '-'.:.' Committee.

V: ;/:>;:::/,:- HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY . f-'^'

Mr. Gale moved that Mr. Fox be allowed $500 above the contract price, $350
to be paid now and $150 on the completion of the building. . r

Mr. Johnston moved to amend the motion of Mr. Gale by substituting the
report of the committee.

Motion on the amendment carried. ' . . -..-i

Moved that the report of the committee be adopted and that Samuel Fox
be allowed $1,167.39 above the contract price. Adopted. -^ .,-.;:;. :.v:-v'

ORDERED : That Geo. A. Charles be and he is appointed by the board to settle
with Samuel Fox on the completion of the fire proof offices according to contract.
' On the 7th of January, 1856, the fire proof building was again the subject of
action by the board : ' ;

ORDERED: That Messrs. Morey and Cooley be authorized to have the fire proof '
office fitted in a suitable manner and render bill at the next meeting of this board.

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Geo. A.
Charles for twenty-seven hundred dollars to pay to Samuel Fox on his con-
tract for building the fire proof offices upon said Fox filing and giving good
security for the finishing of said offices to be by him approved.

May meeting, 1856. Geo. A. Charles, who was appointed at the last meet-
ing of the board (in January last) to settle with Samuel Fox for building the
clerk's offices and to whom an order was passed by this board at that time for
the sum of twenty-seven hundred dollars for the purpose of making such set- ,.
tlement upon said Fox completing his contract, now files and presents to the
board receipts from said Fox for said sum which receipts are in the words and
figures following: '.'...;

It appears that Mr. Charles paid Samuel Fox upon said fire proof building
on February 9, 1856, the sum of $2,700 and receipts for the same having been
presented to the court his report of settlement with said Fox was received and
the following order entered: > 1

On motion it is ordered that the report of Geo. A. Charles in the business of
settling with Samuel Fox be received and that he be discharged.

This building was used as a fire-proof depository for the valuable records
of Knox county from the time of its completion until February, 1873, ^ period
of about seventeen years, when the county seat was removed to Galesburg.
The books were then put into a building also called the fire-proof, situated on
South Cherry street on the lot now occupied by the new city hall. This build- - '
ing was used for the safe keeping of the county records until the new court
house was ready for occupancy. The county offices moved into the new court v'
house about January 5, 1887. : . ;..-:- .T^- . .: , -^ - -::=, .^ S;; '.-

;x'>.r'.V^^> ;V / ; . THE COUNTY SEAT FIGHT .

The struggle for the final location of the seat of justice of Knox county
was characterized by much the same tactics on the two sides as has always
attended such social wars. It has been related in this history that the first
courts and elections were held at the house of John B. Gum, Esq.. who resided
on Section 32 in Henderson township at that time. On March 24, 1830, Rees

128 .: . HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY -X;;!^

Jones was employed to go to Springfield, Illinois, to purchase the southwest
quarter of Section 28, Knox township, which had been designated by law for
the permanent seat of justice for the county. This land was bought and paid
for and the court house and jail erected upon it. A portion, at least, of the land
so purchased was surveyed into streets and lots and sold at auction and thus
the town of Henderson (afterwards the name was changed to Knoxville) was
started as the permanent "seat of justice." The town of Galesburg was started
in 1836. Knox college was chartered in 1837 and thus there ^yas established a
competitor with Knoxville only five miles away. Both towns increased in pop-
ulation at about the same rate and did not differ very much until the advent of
the railroads in 1854 as the result of negotiations which had been in progress
for three or four years. No sooner had the railroad reached Galesburg than she
turned her covetous eyes to the county seat and quietly laid plans for wresting
the prize from Knoxville. The centering of the railroads from the north, south,
east and west and the location of shops and round houses at Galesburg gave the
town a boom that raised the population rapidly, doubling that of Knoxville sev-
eral times.

From that time on may be seen in the acts of the board of supervisors,
sometimes dimly, sometimes vividly, the out-cropping of this contest, each side
taking the aggressive and acting upon the defensive as the case demanded. The
aggressive policy of Galesburg was directed to an increase of its power and
influence in the county board ; its defensive policy to prevent all further im-
provements at Knoxville. The policy of Knoxville was upon the whole de-
fensive in resisting the growth of the power and influence of Galesburg. Both
parties sought legislative relief ; Galesburg by obtaining a bill for the division of
the township from the city in such a way as to increase its representation in
the county board ; Knoxville by inserting a clause in the new constitution touch-
ing the removal of county seats from a point away from the center of the
county to a point nearer the center of the county. T ' -

Quite a large part of this struggle will be found in the chapters on court
houses, jails and the alms house and poor farm. This chapter gives those pro-
ceedings of the county board which have a more direct bearing on the conflict
and it is therefore given under the heading "The County Seat Fight." The
first move was made by Galesburg in the spring of 1856. ; ,:.;.

At the spring election of 1856 an assistant supervisor for the town of Gales-
burg was voted for. Samuel W. Brown was elected and he presented his cer-
tificate of election at a special May meeting of the board and the following
action was taken. ' . - v; , : ^ . ^ I '

Samuel W. Brown now presents to the board his certificate of election as as-
sistant supervisor of the town of Galesburg, together with a list of legal voters
of said township made under the authority of the township officers with the ap-
pointment of said officers to take the same from which it appears that said town-
ship contained 829 legal voters on the ist day of April last when on motion it
was voted that Samuel W. Brown be entitled to his seat as a member of this
board.

January, 1866. Mr. Gale presented a petition of citizens of Galesburg asking
a division of said town, which on motion of Mr. Gale was referred to a committee,
the chair appointing Messrs. Gale, \^aughn and Dunlap, with instructions to re-
port to the present meeting of the board.

., THK FIRST KXOX COUNTY JAIL

THE OLD COURT HOUSE AT KNOXVILLE

128 . HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

Jones was employed to go to Springfield, Illinois, to purchase the southwest
quarter of Section 28, Knox township, which had been designated by law for
the permanent seat of justice for the county. This land was bought and paid
for and the court house and jail erected upon it. A portion, at least, of the land
so purchased was surveyed into streets and lots and sold at auction and thus
the town of Henderson (afterwards the name was changed to Knoxville) was
started as the permanent "seat of justice." The town of Galesburg was started
in 1836. Knox college was chartered in 1837 and thus there was established a
competitor with Knoxville only five miles away. Both towns increased in pop-
ulation at about the same rate and did not differ very much until the advent of
the railroads in 1854 as the result of negotiations which had been in progress
for three or four years. No sooner had the railroad reached Galesburg than she
turned her covetous eyes to the county seat and quietly laid plans for wresting
the prize from Knoxville. The centering of the railroads from the north, south,
east and west and the location of shops and round houses at Galesburg gave the
town a boom that raised the population rapidly, doubling that of Knoxville sev-
eral times.

At the spring election of 1856 an assistant supervisor for the town of Gales-
burg was voted for. Samuel W. Brown was elected and he presented his cer-
tificate of election at a special !May meeting of the board and the following
action was taken. , . > ^ .- I ' .

January, 1866. Mr. Gale presented a petition of citizens of Galesburg asking
a division of said town, which on motion of Mr. Gale was referred to a committee,
the chair appointing Messrs. Gale, \'aughn and Dunlap, with instructions to re-
port to the present meeting of the board.

- . -_

:; FIRST KXOX COUNTY lA

THE OLD COURT HOUSE AT KNOXVILLE

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 129

Mr. Gale from committee to whom was referred the petition of citizens of
Galesburg for a division of said town, made the following report which was
adopted :

OKUICKIO): That so much of the territory of the town of Galesburg as is con-
tained in Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, i8, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31,^ ;
32, 33, 34, and the west half of Section 3, and the west half of Section lo, in town-
ship II north of range one east, be constituted a town to Ix; called the town of :
West Galesburg.

April meeting 1866. This meeting opened with L, E. Conger supervisor elect
from the town of Galesburg.

Mr. Rhea of Salem moved that a committee of three l>e apfx>inted to examine
and report as to the rights and qualifications of assistant sujjervisors from the
towns of Galesburg and West Galesburg. Carried. When the chair apjxjinted
Messrs. Rhea, Dunlap and Meek said committee. ;> ,>;:.'- .

The committee to which was referred the rights of the assistant supen'isors
in Galesburg and West Galesburg to their seats, reported that they had made the
necessary examination, and would report that each of said towns are entitled to
a supervisor and assistant supervisor each. Report accepted and approved.

April meeting, 1867. At this meeting of the Ixjard, the struggle over the loca-.-
tion of the county seat had advanced to a point where the representation of Gales-
burg in the Ixjard was challenged. It was conceded that A. C. Clay was duly elected
a member other members from Galesburg were voted for whose names were
not put on the roll of supervisors. After the organization of the board, Mr. Clay, ; ,
therefore made the following motion :

Mr. Clay moved that a committee of five be appointed by the chair, from dif-
ferent towns, to examine credentials, with power to send for persons and papers.
Adopted, when the chair appointed Messrs. Clay, X'aughn. Beadle, Dunlap and ./
Shaffer said committee.

On motion the board took a recess to enable the committee to investigate the '
credentials of members claiming seats from the city of Galesburg, Knoxville and
elsewhere. ;; . : '

Board called to order by temporary chairman.

The committee on credentials made the following report which was on motion;.':; '
accepted, and the committee discharged :

; Your committee would report that the following is a list of superv'isors duly '

elected: -:".-: -/-.- :.^.^:.;K^=: .'-. y^7 :^;:^.:>' ";--./ .v

Indian Point. . . Daniel Meek V,^;-'/- ;

: Cedar E. S. Harden ;;:;/

V V Galesburg .i. .:i ,.:. A. C. Clay ^ Av ;

: ; , , Henderson A. J. Dunlap :^: V:

Rio John Wycofl :^ ^ ;

, : Chestnut Thomas Xewell vl^ :: ^

Orange T. W. Sumner ;;";:

'( .U Knox George A. Charles t /^^ ,

; V Sparta J. M. Holyoke cj^^ ^

"':'' Ontario Orin Beadle 7' :

5. ; Maquon J. G. HamHck V::i

;= ; Haw Creek .:^i< V* r,.^ . - . \\'m. Swigan ; V /

130 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^. /:;:>::

Persifer R. W. Miles "

Copley James Johnson '

Walnut Grove J. S. Chambers ;

Salem CM. Hall v

Elba H. H. Wood : v

Truro B. B. Shaffer y

Victoria H. J. Vaughn '',-^

Lynn Joseph D. Gibbs

Your committee would further report in the case of the persons claiming seats
from the city of Galesburg, that we find by examining the poll lists of the city of
Galesburg, that 1,375 persons voted at the last city election; and Isaac Delano,
F. R. Bartlett, Holcomb, Stewart, C. P. West, J. R. West, Stanley, L. E. Conger,
Crocker, Hickey, Bates, Robinson, Chaplain, Troman, Morse, Russell, Nash, Chap-
lain, Bergen, Williams, Comstock, Ekins and Owens, swear that they are ac-
quainted with, and personally know 292 persons that are legal voters, whose
names do not appear on the poll list, making in all 1,667 legal voters residing in
the city of Galesburg. It also appears that there are 49 names of persons residing
in the city of Galesburg, in addition to the above, that are not properly certified
to, which may or may not be legal voters. And your committee would report that
W. Selden Gale, Henry R. Sanderson, L. E. Conger, and Richard H. Whiting, are
duly elected supervisors, and are entitled to seats in this board from the city of
Galesburg.

And your committee would further report, that there has been no evidence
produced to show that Knoxville is entitled to more than one supervisor.
. - .^- ; ... A. C. CLAY,

Chm. of Committee.

Mr. Dunlap moved that the report of the committee be adopted.
Mr. Charles moved to amend that the members elect from the city of Gales-
burg be rejected until they produce a certified copy of the act under which they
claim to be elected. Lost.

Mr. Gibbs moved that the board adjourn until tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock.
Lost.

. Mr. Charles appealed from the decision of the chair and demanded the yeas
and nays thereon. The chair being sustained by the following vote : Yeas
Messrs. Meek, Harden, Clay, Dunlap, Wycoff, Newell, Sumner, Holyoke, Beadle,
Hamrick, Swigart, Miles, Johnson, Chambers, Hall, Wood, Shaffer, Vaughn and
Gibbs, 19. Nays Mr. Charles, i. ^ . ; : ; :. ;-.V:.;- ".'":;;:: -M: '";
The question being on the adoption of the report of the committee, the yeas
and nays were demanded, resulting :

Yeas Messrs. Meek, Harden, Clay, Dunlap, Wycoff, Newell, Sumner,
Charles, Holyoke, Beadle, Hamrick, Swigart, Miles, Johnson, Chambers, Hall,
Wood, Shaffer, Vaughn, and Gibbs, 20. Nays None. , I

On motion of Mr. Miles the same committee were reappointed to investigate
the credentials of the assistant supervisor from the town of Knox.

On motion adjourned until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning. i '

The next day the board elected a permanent chairman, Mr. Holyoke, of Sparta :
The vote stood: Holyoke. 12; Miles, lo. . , . ',i -. .

Thereupon Mr. Holyoke was declared elected. : ./;.> V

^ ^V; v; : . ' ;:/\' HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY :V^':^ 131

. Mr. Clay from committee on credentials made the following report. '.
;- The committee appointed on the credentials of members ask leave to report:

- That H. N. Keightley is entitled to his seat as assistant supervisor from Knox.

' A. C. CLAY, Chairman,

.. Mr. Miles moved that the report of the committee be accepted and adopted.

::V; Carried.' ' ' V>:---''';'''f :?;.;'' '''\.;vr_.-\..v,,''^ .. ^:' ';

: . Mr. Gale moved that the credentials of Mr. Thomas McKee, claiming a seat as

. ... one of the supervisors from the city of Galesburg be referred to the committee on

. credentials.

.,',- Mr. Vaughn offered the following as a substitute: > v^^.. i L >. -. . !i -

. ; Resolved, That hereafter, when any town shall claim an extra member of this

- y board, over and above the representation said town has heretofore had, that the

votes actually cast at the town meeting at which such extra member claims to

have been elected, shall be deemed by this board as the number of actual legal votes
-. in said township. ' -J' / - .'

On which resolution, the yeas and nays were called, resulting: Yeas Messrs.
Newell, Sumner, Charles, Keightley, Hamrick, Swigart, Miles, Johnson, Hall,

Wood, Shaffer and Vaughn, 12. Nays Messrs. Meek, Hardin, Clay, Gale, Con-
' ger, Sanderson, Whiting, Dunlap, Wyckoff, Beadle, Chambers, Gibbs and chair-

: man, 13. Lost. ;.", - -. .;^

- The question recurring on Mr. Gale's motion, it was adopted.

Mr. Clay, from committee on credentials, reported as follows: Your commit-
tee appointed on credentials, ask leave to report. That they have examined the cre-
; : dentials of Thomas McKee from the city of Galesburg, and find him entitled to a
seat as supervisor in this board upon substantially the same evidence that entitled
the assistant supervisor of Knox to a seat in this board.

A. C. CLAY, Chairman.

On motion, said report was accepted and the committee discharged and action
' thereon postponed until this afternoon.

; Mr. Whiting moved the adoption of the report of the committee on credentials,
and that Thomas !McKee be admitted as a member of this board. Adopted. Yeas
. : ; Messrs. Meek, Harden, Clay, Gale, Conger, Sanderson, Whiting, Dunlap. Wyc-
koff, Beadle, Chambers, \'^aughn and Gibbs, 13. Nays Messrs. Sumner, Charles,
. . Keightley, Hamrick, Swigart, Johnson, Hall, Wood and Shaffer, 9. Absent Mr.

Newell; excused, Mr. Miles, 2.

: Mr. Vaughn offered the following resolution: -' ' -. '.., : - ; . :

: Resolved, That hereafter when any town shall claim an extra member of this
board, over and above the representation said town now has. that the votes actually
cast at the town meeting at which such extra member claims to have been elected,
shall be deemed by this board as the number of actual legal votes in said township.
V ' Laid upon the table : Yeas Messrs. Meek, Harden, Clay, Gale, Conger, San-

derson, Whiting, Wyckoff, Charles, Keightley, Beadle, Chambers. Hamrick, Hall
and Gibbs, 15. Nays Messrs. Dunlap. Swigart. Miles, Johnson and Vaughn. 5.
Absent ^Messrs. McKee and Newell, 2. Excused Messrs. Sumner, Wood and
Shaffer, 3. ; '/V-V A hr-::-- -^ '-r'.:':'..';' ^ ; '. \.y -'(, ^.-'^'-'-'c'

September. 1868. Mr. Wood from select committee appointed at the last
meeting of the board reported as follows :

We, the committee, appointed to investigate and inquire into the number of

132 ' HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

legal voters in the city of Galesburg, and in the town of Knox, beg leave to re-
port, that we have partially investigated the matter, but are not now prepared to
make a full report, and would respectfully ask further time. I

H. H. WOOD, -. .

:: \ :''^:H'V'^ .' //':,';;::"'',''': T. w. SuMNER, ;;';

: ''^ , " . . O. BEADLE, 1

\ ^v C. H. JACKSON,

.'.'%-;..'''_ . . ' -,'.", ' , - %' /,. . E. S. HARDEN, '

: ' Committee.

On motion of Mr. Lanphere, the report was accepted and further time granted

the committee. . . ..V^^V --..' 'V'-H '^.'-.

iVIr. Sumner, member of the committee to inquire into the number of super-
visors the city of Galesburg and town of Knox are entitled to in this board, pre-
sented the following report :

The undersigned, members of the committee at the last meeting of this board
to inquire into and ascertain how many supervisors the city of Galesburg is en-
titled to in this board, under an act entitled "An Act to divide the Towns of Gales-
burg and West Galesburg," as said city is at present districted; also to investi-
gate the rights of the assistant supervisor of the town of Knox to a seat in this
board ; after considering the report made yesterday, which does not embrace the
subject matter under consideration by said committee, and being desirous of being
excused from further service on such committee, would ask leave of this board
to report their action up to the present time. r A ; ^' ' ; .1

: The undersigned would therefore state, that in regard to the rights of the as-
sistant supervisor of Knox to a seat, a register of voters of the town of Knox was
presented to the committee, containing 850 names, and that witnesses were pro-
duced who recognized 823 persons named in such register as voters in said town
of Knox at the time of holding the election for supervisor and assistant supervisor.

The undersigned, with other members of the committee, met at Galesburg to
investigate into the number of supervisors the city of Galesburg is entitled to
under the act, as at present districted. Registers (together with the names of
voters sworn in), were presented, not sustained as any evidence that the names
thereon were all legal voters, but given as the best evidence in the possession of the
parties, by which appears that the ist and 5th wards comprise one election dis-
trict, has 762 voters ; that the 2d, 3d and 6th wards comprise another election dis-
trict, and has on the register 784 voters ; and the 4th ward is another election dis-
trict and has 596 voters on register. That the district composed of the ist and 5th
wards elect two supervisors ; that composed of the 2d, 3d and 6th wards elect two
supervisors, and the 4th ward elects one supervisor.

The law provides "at each annual city election there shall be elected in the city
of Galesburg, one or more supervisors. The number shall not exceed the number
of wards in such city, and shall not be greater than one for every four hundred
legal voters in said city. The city council may from time to time divide the city
into districts for the election of supervisors, each district to elect one or more,
as the council may provide, but in forming districts no ward shall be divided."

We have now reported the facts as we found them ; and must leave this board
to determine whether the clerk of said city in granting certificjites of election to
two supervisors from each of the following districts, to-wit : that composed of the

^^:V-, ;:<:. HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^V-^Vx/ 188

1st and 5th wards, with only 762 names on the register, and that district composed '
of the 2d, 3d and 6th wards with 784 voters registered, performed his duty ac- '_'.
cording to such law, or whether he exceeded his powers in granting such certifi-
cates, when it appears by the evidence that there were not twice four hundred
voters in either of said election districts, even by the showing of the registers, '

Believing that any further examination is unnecessary, and that the object of
yesterday's report, being only for delay, the undersigned members of the com- ,
mittee desire to be relieved from any further exzimination of the subject.
^ ; ^''''.^: THOS. W. SuMNER. '^

" ;. Mr. Charles moved that the report be accepted, and Mr. Sumner relieved from
further action on said committee, when Mr. Clay moved, that the whole matter be ;
laid upon the table. Carried.

January Meeting, 1869. Mr. Wood, from select committee, to whom was re-
ferred the matter of the number of supervisors the city of Galesburg and town :
of Knox are entitled to in this board, reported as follows:

"We the committee appointed to investigate the claims of Knox and Gales-
burg, as to their claims for the number of supervisors in the board, after examin- ^ '
ing papers, and hearing evidence, find that Knoxville is entitled to two and the
city of Galesburg to five supervisors, X:-;.;j :^ ^ ; , . v : ; :.; ; v- .-^ ;

..; . : ;..;.-, ..-..-. . ... -- V' '' "'a V-;;';^ '.^:-'; '' H. H. WOOD, vri'V'':
',':';::,;,.' ' ':';. -v'/: ^V^.>-- /:;/.';.: 'i'-. :'.'.:"';'''-;-.' E. S. HARDEN, ^:;:^-^,.r "'
;.v '' ' ^'-:,: '' '''''\^^' -''' ^ ':-:-!' i.^ -.^^^ O, BEADLE, ^^:'- :^'': '/;.;

. ":; : : /i . ..:. ": - ..;;;- -.':.;: ;r' ''- '\."''! ''/^''-^. ';' " '-^.V' '' . Committee, 'y ' --..
: Report accepted and committee discharged. . .x . . . . '

MARCH SPECIAL MEETING, 1869 ;.'-,.."

State of Illinois, ) ::>:';:' ^:^V;.-'^' '

' L CO ''..'...' -v -

T^ /~^ , r ^^ . ,-. .- - . .-^ . ' .'* .'-*.

Knox County j v, . / :"':..:.: \';.^ --vv.;.-^-.:"; . :- . ; '/ ^ ^.j^;- . .

March Special Meeting

Special meeting of the board of supervisors of Knox county held in the court ;
house, in the city of Knoxville, in said county, called by the clerk of the county -
court, in pursuance of the following notice: ^yV'' -'' : v^V.

To James J. Egan, Esq., Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Knox County,
State of Illinois:

The undersigned, being one-third of the members of the board of supervisors ;.;
of said county of Knox, do request that a special meeting of said board be held, V
to convene on the 23d day of March, A. D., 1869, at the court house in the town : '
of Knoxville, in said county. . . .; r ..'---.;.". '

Dated this I5th day of March, A. D., 1869. ' ' .^-V.'V ."

^: HENRY R. SANDERSON, JOSEPH D. GIBBS, o;^:' .

;:' ." y ' . ; E. S. HARDEN, ,.;v.^.;>; J. S. CHAMBERS, r;.J^:;X:V.

-,;'-;, :^ ; ; G. C. LANPHERE, ;^. j/ --^ J. M. HOLYOKE, ' >X:;r'.;' :
'.. V ' , D. H. FRISBIE, .--^ '':: O. BEADLE. .. v ';/.;"
"';'':..,'-;.;; ^' : ;; I ' L. E. CONGER, '-"'>' '>,>^^-:- ^;^.., A, C. CLAY, ;-^:;-v'-^ ^. ...'','';
"-''.-; -^^ -' 'C R. H, WHITING, 'V^- /iv^:. /.'-^^.'^::'^V^ ";:"';.

The following supervisors answered to their names: Hon. Joseph H. Holyoke, ..
chairman; Messrs. P. H. Smith, E. S. Harden, A. C. Clay, D. H. Frisbie, L. E. . .
Conger, H. R. Sanderson, R. H. Whiting, G. C. Lanphere, C. H. Jackson, Daniel .
Robertson, Owen Betterton, T, W. Sumner, G. A. Charles, P. H. Sanford, Orin ;

134 1. HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ; v;V ;v/.

Beadle, A. Humphreys, Peter Lacy, James Dossett, James Johnston, J. S. Cham-
bers, J. M. Corey, H. N. Wood and Joseph D. Gibbs. . - '..;:.:.. : / . j

Board opened by proclamation. . , .

JAMES J. EGAN, Clerk,

-'^ - ' : : ; . w. S. SEACORD, Slieriff.

On motion of Mr. Lanphere, the clerk read "An act to provide for the re-
moval of the county seat of Knox county."

Mr. Sanderson moved that Messrs. P. H. Smith, of Indian Point, J. M.
Holyoke, of Sparta, F. C. Smith, of Ontario, Amos Ward, of Walnut Grove and
D. Corey, of Salem, be appointed commissioners of public buildings, under said
act.

Mr. Sanford moved to amend by substituting the name of H. J. Vaughn, of
Victoria, for that of Amos Ward. Lost.

On motion of Mr. Charles further action on the motion of Mr. Sanderson
was postponed until afternoon. .;. 'V ^C.V ' ''- 1-

Ye?is Messrs. Smith, Harden, Jackson, Robertson, Betterton, Sumner,
Charles, Sanford, Beadle, Humphreys, Lacy, Dossett, Johnston, Corey and
Wood, 15. Nays Messrs. Qay, Frisbie, Conger, Sanderson, Whiting, Lanphere,
Chambers and Gibbs, 8. . . \;; .. :: ':" -^ .' v;;. .;;V^'; \ ^'1 /

The motion of Mr. Sanderson for the appointment of commissioners of pub-
lic buildings, being the special order, was called up.

Mr. Lacy moved to amend by substituting Rufus W. Miles, as one of said
commissioners, in place of F. C. Smith, which amendment was lost. Yeas
Messrs. Betterton, Sumner, Charles, Sanford, Humphreys, Lacy, Dossett, John-
ston, Tucker and Vaughn, lo. Nays Messrs. Smith, Harden, Clay, Frisbie, Con-
ger, Sanderson, Whiting, Lanphere, Jackson, Robertson, Chambers, Corey, Wood
and Mr. Chairman, 14.

The question recurring upon the adoption of the motion of Mr. Sanderson, ;
appointing Messrs. P. H. Smith, J. M. Holyoke, F. C. Smith, Amos Ward and D.
Corey, Jr., as commissioners of public buildings, the same was adopted. Yeas
Messrs. Smith, Harden, Clay, Frisbie, Conger, Sanderson, Whiting, Lanphere,
Jackson, Robertson, Beadle, Johnston, Chambers, Corey and chairman, 15. Nays
Messrs. Betterton, Sumner, Sanford, Humphreys, Lacy, Dossett, Wood and
Vaughn, 9. Excused Mr. Charles, i.

Mr. Lanphere offered the following resolution: .-.,- -I

Resolred, That if the vote about to be taken on the question of moving the
county seat to Galesburg, shall be in favor of such removal, that then the com-
missioners having such matter in charge, shall not under any circumstances move
from the building they are now in, the records and files in the respective office of '
county and circuit clerk, until a building is completed and ready for use in Gales-
burg, as secure and suitable as the one in which said records and files are now
kept.

Mr. Vaughn moved to amend by striking out all after the word "resolved," -
and insert "that this board will not meddle with business properly belonging to
the next board of supervisors," which was lost by the following vote. Yeas
Messrs. Betterton, Sumner, Charles, Sanford, Humphreys, Lacy, Dossett, John- .
ston, Corey, Wood, Tucker and Vaughn, 12. Nays Messrs. Smith, Harden,
Clay, Frisbie, Conger, Sanderson, Whiting, Lanphere, Jackson, Robertson,
Beadle, Charnbers and Gibbs, 13.

;> .C ,^ : ; ; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY >r^;: ;' ' 135

The resolution of Mr. Lanphere was then adopted by the following vote:
Yeas Messrs. Smith, Harden, Clay, Frisbie, Conger, Sanderson, Whiting, Lan-
phere, Jackson, Robertson, Beadle, Chambers, Corey and Gibbs, 14. Xays
Messrs. Betterton, Charles, Sanford, Humphreys, Lacy, Dossett, Tucker and
Vaughn, 9. Messrs. Sumner and Johnston, excused. . " -r v

Mr. Charles in explanation of his vote, said he voted no, because he did not
believe it was right for the board of supervisors to amend or change the law as
passed by the legislature, and would recommend that the resolution be referred
to the legislature, to be passed as a supplemental act to the enabling act. . '

Mr. Sanford explained that he voted no, because the law provided for, and
expressed the duties of the commissioners, and the board had no right to alter or
modify the requirements of the law. ;

Mr. Humphreys explained that he voted no, because he objected to the board
passing resolutions for the purpose of making capital to be used in the election. .

Mr. Wood explained that he voted no, because he believed it right to do so. -. '

May Meeting, 1869. There were present at this meeting, Messrs. P. H.
Smith, M. C. Bates, A. C. Clay, H. R. Sanderson, Geo. C. Lanphere, L. E Con-
ger, Geo. V. Deiterich, M. Belden, H. M. Sisson, Daniel Robertson, Thomas Xevv-
ell, Thomas W. Sumner, George A. Charles, P. H. Sanford, J. M. Holyoke, Grin
Beadle, B. H. Morgan, Wm. Swigart, James Dossett, James Johnston, J. S.
Chambers, John Sloan, L. A. Lawrence, John Wilson, H. J. Vaughn, O. M.
Gross; James J. Egan, clerk, by J. S. Winter, deputy; Wilkins Seacord, sheriff. :.

Mr. Sumner moved to make the temporary chairman the permanent chairman. .
Lost. / .

Mr. Sanderson moved that the board proceed to ballot for chairman. Carried.

The chair appointed Messrs. Smith and Sumner tellers. > ':'

' Messrs. H. J. Vaughn and J. M. Holyoke were put in nomination, the ballot re-v ' -
suiting, J. M. Holyoke fourteen votes, H. J. Vaughn twelve votes. Hon. J. AI.
Holyoke was declared duly elected chairman. ,

Mr. Sanderson offered the following resolution: ' - - -

RESOLVED: That Supervisors Lanphere, of Galesburg; Sanford, of Knox;
Lawrence, of Elba; Sisson, of Henderson, and Gross, of Lynn, be appointed a
committee to investigate the result of the election on the removal of the county
seat, and report to the board at this meeting.

Mr. Charles moved to lay the resolution on the table, and the yeas and nays
being called, the motion was lost. Yeas Messrs. Newell, Sumner, Charles, San- .
ford, Morgan, Swigart, Dossett, Johnston, Sloan, Lawrence, Wilson and X'aughn,
12. Nays Messrs, Smith, Bates, Clay, Sanderson, Lanphere, Conger, Deit- .
erich, Belden, Sisson, Robertson, Beadle, Chambers, Gross and Chairman, 14. . .

The question recurring on the adoption of the resolution of Mr. Sanderson,/: :
the same was adopted. Yeas Messrs. Smith, Bates, Clay, Sanderson, Lanphere,
Conger, Deiterich, Belden, Sisson, Robertson, Beadle, Chambers and Gross, 13.
Nays Messrs. Newell, Sanford, Morgan, Johnston, Sloan and \^aughn, 6.
Excused Messrs. Sumner, Charles, Dossett, Lawrence and Wilson, 5. Refused
to vote, Mr. Swigart, I. -.-;':: . ': ---.^ :.;;'>-;:

Explanation of votes Mr. Sumner wished to be excused because Tie thougrht
the board had no power to appoint such committee. Mr. Charles wished to be
excused for a similar reason. Mr. Swigart refused to vote because the board

186 '^V HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY x^t'C ,

had no power to canvass the vote, or delegate such power to a committee; that
the action was entirely without authority of law, and he would not vote unless
some law or precedent could be produced ; that he was already ready to vote one
way or another on any question that might arise, when the board had a legal
right to act, but on this question he would not vote, nor did he want to be ex-
cused. Mr. Dossett wished to be excused for reasons given by others ; and Mr.
Lawrence and Mr. Wilson were excused for similar reasons.

Mr. Charles also presented the following, requesting that it be entered of
record :

To the Hon. Board of Supervisors : The undersigned, in behalf of citizens
of Knoxville and vicinity, would respectfully report that prior to the election on
the county seat question (April 6, 1869), a subscription was made by them, of
twenty thousand dollars, to aid in the erection of a county jail at the city of
Knoxville, should the vote be in favor of the city of Knoxville; and whereas,
the result of said election was in favor of said city of Knoxville, we will state
that said subscription is in the hands of the county treasurer, with the payment
fully guaranteed, to be used by the board of supervisors on the conditions named
in said subscription. GEORGE A. CHARLES.

Mr. Swigart introduced a resolution that the board accept the donation of
$2O,(XX) offered by citizens of Knoxville and vicinity, and proceed to erect a jail
at Knoxville.

On motion of Mr. Sanderson, the resolution was laid on the table, the vote
being the same as on other questions pertaining to the county seat contest.

Mr. Lanphere, from the committee appointed, twenty-four hours previously,
"to investigate the result of the election on the removal of the county seat," pre-
sented a voluminous "report," signed by three members of the committee, em-
bracing a number of lengthy affidavits in regard to the election in Knox town-
ship only, and moved its adoption by the board. - : . v:' ;V ,-.;;.:] . .

Mr. Sanford made a statement in regard to the conduct of the committee,
showing there had been no meeting of the committee; that the "report" as pre-
sented was ex parte and one-sided, and had evidently been prepared before the
committee was appointed ; and that if it was within the functions of the board
of supervisors to institute an investigation of this kin'd, the inquiry should ex-
tend to other precincts, as well as Knox township.

The "report of the committee" was then adopted, by the usual vote yeas,
14; nays, 12. - I

Sheriff Seacord served upon the board a summons to appear at the June term
of the circuit court, to answer a bill of complaint filed by Geo. Davis, of Gales-
burg, in regard to the county seat election.

It being moved that the board authorize Mr. Sanford to employ counsel in
the case on behalf of the board. ': ;. . : V "^ v >' ' Oj\V /'

Mr. Sanderson moved to amend by substituting Mr. Lanphere and the other
members of the judiciary committee for that duty. The amendment was adopted
yeas, 14; nays, 12.

Mr. Lanphere, from special committee appointed yesterday, made the fol-
lowing report : . .- - , j.

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Knox County:

Your committee appointed to investigate and ascertain the result of the elec-

:'!^--':r'--'^^^'^: '''' HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ^V:^; 137

tion on the removal of the county seat, beg leave respectfully to report that they
have given to the subject such consideration as the limited time at their disposal
has permitted.

They find that the law providing for the removal of the county seat makes
no provision for officially determining the result of the election, beyond the sim-
ple canvass of the returns made by the several boards of election; this canvass
to be made by the county clerk and two justices. The law makes no provision
for the issue of any certificate by the clerk, and it seems to be admitted on all
hands, in accordance with the doctrine in the case reported in the 2Oth Ills., that
even if such a certificate had been provided for, it would not be entitled to be re-
garded as evidence.

The board of supervisors being absolutely required to perform certain du-
ties if the result of the vote has been for removal, and having other important
duties to perform if the result be against removal ; and as either by the design or
imperfection of the law, no person has been appointed to determine the result,
they are, of necessity, put upon their inquiry.

The most available evidence in the reach of the committee are the returns of
the boards of election. In the absence of anything to contradict the certificates
of the boards of election, your committee believe they may properly be taken as
prima facie evidence. These returns show, in the aggregate, a majority of 247
against removal.

Your committee, however, in examining these returns, find disclosed the
startling fact that the town of Knox returns 1,520 votes, all but 17 against re- ;,
moval ; a number more than three times the usual vote of that town, about three
and one-half times as great as was cast by the same town four years before on
the same question ; a number about two and one-half times as great as the num-
ber of white males ovei twenty years of age, residing in that town less than four
years before, as appears by the census returns.

The committee believe from their own knowledge of the town, and from the
general opinion as they hear it expressed, that the growth of the town of Knox
during the four years last past has been far from rapid. They can but regard
such a return as so manifestly false on the face of it, as to entitle it to very little
consideration in arriving at the number of votes actually cast in that town.

Your committee are also in possession of affidavits of persons of entire re-
spectability, which affidavits your committe beg leave to submit as part of this
report, showing that the election in the town of Knox was conducted not only
without any regard to the usual forms of elections, and without the usual safe-
guards against illegal and fraudulent voting, but was evidently intended and ar-
ranged for a fraud from the outset.

Taking into account, first, the absolutely incredible character of the returns
from the town of Knox, and second, the gross character of the frauds openly
practiced, as appear from the affidavits referred to, the committee are of opin-
ion that the returns of the town of Knox should be entirely set aside as affording
no evidence whatever of the number of votes actually cast in that town. . :;

What the number of legal votes actually were, or how cast, your committee
can only ascertain, by instituting inquiries which would consume very much more
time than has been put at their disposal.

They are disposed in the absence of other data, to take the vote of last No- ^

138 ;:. HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ;VCT ;V

vember as a basis, the vote at that time being 639, a number a little greater than
was returned by Mr. McGowan, who took the census three and one-half years
before the April election, as the number of white males in that town over twenty
years of age.

Your committee think that the number equal to the white males in their 2ist
year, added to the number of alien white males over 20, to the number of short
residents, and the number of those who are kept from the polls by absence from
home, sickness, indifference as to the result, and other causes, is a very large al-
lowance for the growth of the voting population of the town of Knox in that period.

They are also in possession of testimony that at the November election the
feeling ran high ; extraordinary efforts were made to get out voters, and many
persons not legal voters were allowed to vote.

Deducting from the returns the excess returned in April, over the number re-
turned in November, from the town of Knox, which is 884, and the majority of
247 against removal, is converted into a majority of 634 for removal.

In all the towns giving majorities for removal, with one exception, we find
a large vote given against removal, enough perhaps, to guard reasonably well
the purity of the polls. From none of these towns has any complaint come to
the knowledge of your committee.

In most of the towns giving majorities against removal, the adverse vote was
small and the opportunity and temptation to illegal voting had not the usual
check of a vigilant opposition. . -.'\. . - 1 .

With one exception, however, these towns' cast less votes than were cast in
the same towns last November.

The exception is the town of Orange, which cast i8 votes in excess to the
votes cast in November, all the votes in the town but five being against removal.
We are assured on the authority of persons of the highest respectability, living
in that town, that many voters stayed at home on the day of the April election,
and that many illegal votes were cast. We are informed that one of the oldest
and best known residents of that town, who voted against removal, estimated the
fraudulent vote in Orange at fifty. - : . ' > :' 'v \-A'; ":; ;-\l':^^

Your committee have not, however, had the opportunity to investigate the
true state of facts existing in that town or others. They are, however, clearly
of the opinion that a thorough investigation of the nineteen towns and a purging
of their polls, would, so far as it affected the result at all, increase, to some ex-
tent, the majority for removal.

Admitting (an admission favorable to the vote against removal, as we think),
that the legal vote cast in Knox was 639, that the returns from the nineteen other
towns were correct, there remains a majority of 634 for removal. If from this
be deducted, as some claim should be, the ninety votes cast for town and city
officers, by persons who did not vote on the county seat question, and the ma-
jority is still 544.

This majority can only be overcome by supposing an illegal vote of that
amount was cast in the city of Galesburg. Of this no evidence has been pro-
duced. That in a community where the public sentiment was so unequivocally
one-sided, there was unusual temptation and opportunity for fraudulent vot-
ing, it is true, and it is also true that the vote of April exceeded the vote of No-
vember, 714. ;; Ov "' ; :

,;;A'-- .A--v^y^:- ;: HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY , . -S^' .

'.-'-. But on the other hand the following facts are unquestionably true :

1st, the elections in Galesburg, in April, were conducted with a full regard
to the usual forms. The votes were all duly registered, and no person allowed
to vote unless his name was on the register, except by swearing in his vote and '
making the legal proof of his right. The election was public and open, the num-
ber of votes cast at all times during the day being known to the bystanders, by !
whom the judges, clerks and voters could be distinctly seen.

2d. All the city officers, and the justices and constables were elected at the :;
same time, as many votes being cast for those officers as on the county seat. The .'
election was sharply contested by rival candidates, each having an interest in pre-
venting frauds attempted by his opponents. The votes were publically counted, ;
and the ballots, books and papers preserved according to law. No extensive .
frauds could be committed except with the knowledge of many persons. :

. 3d. It is well konwn that the November election in the city of Galesburg
failed to call out a full vote, local causes well understood, but on which the com- .
mittee need not dwell, contributed to that result.

4th. In consequence of the extension of the railroad works in Galesburg,
much greater number of men were in the railroad employ in April than in No- -
vember.

5th. The vote of the city of Galesburg, large as it is, is not very greatly in /.
excess of what might reasonably be calculated on by comparison with other votes .
in the last eight years, and with the census returns, considering the very great ap- -
parent growth of that city. ;

Your committee beg leave to say, in conclusion, that while in the short time
since their appointment they have not been able to ascertain all the facts bear- ' ;
ing upon the case, and to come to such conclusion as would enable them to say V
with precision what was the exact state of the vote, they are clearly of this opin-
ion, that those returns that are entitled to any confidence, show a majority for re- :
moval ; and though that majority may be reduced by proving the votes really cast, v
or tendered in the town of Knox, and may perhaps b.e further affected by a thor- ':
ough purging of the polls, there is no probability the result would be changed. -

All of which is respectfully submitted, . .. -..^ . :

' .; _ . ...^ . ^. .;':'.:' ;.v^;rv.:'^^-; G. LANPHERE, '-'';;; '..^^ ;

,''.-;".' : .: ' . '^^ :^'^/ --'^y'; ::''; ^'':'v'v^^'.'V^^. '^;'-%>-^'''-'.'\^ M. GROSS, ''..^'' :['::.'.

/ ' . -' -''- . ''. .'.. ..A'. V ..?:-; -''::. ^...'- /:.-.^:^'\- '.''. H. M. SISSON, '''- ^'.''-'^

Committee. .

Mr. Clay moved that the report of the committee be approved, and after ...

considerable discussion, the yeas and nays were demanded, and the resolution "..

adopted. Yeas Messrs. Smith, Bates, Clay, Sanderson, Lanphere, Conger, >'

Deiterich, Belden, Sisson, Robertson, Beadle, Chambers, Gross and Chairman, ;
14. Nays Messrs. Newell, Sanford, Morgan. Swigart, Dossett, Johnston, :

Sloan, Lawrence, Wilson and Vaughn, lo. Refusing to vote Messrs. Sumner - .;

and Charles. \^.

Explanation of votes. Mr. Sumner said that a resolution had passed the ''{,

Board this morning, that this board would not take any action upon any report, ,

or reports, made by any illegal committee or committees; that the action of this - :

board appointing a committee to canvass the county seat vote, was assuming a '
power not conferred by law, but directly in opposition thereto, that the com-

140 ,; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ;: ;-V I

mittee was an illegal one, and appointed for an illegal purpose, and as he would
not stultify himself, he should refuse to vote upon the question and also refuse .
to be excused. . ...; [ - .;.:

Mr. Charles for similar reasons refused to vote or be excused.

On motion it was ordered that the alms house committee be authorized to
approve the records of this meeting when written up.

At this time the sheriflf of Knox county, who had been in waiting for some '
time, served upon the board of supervisors of Knox county, James Egan, county '_'
clerk ; J. W. Temple, circuit clerk, and Dennis Clark, county judge of Knox '-
county. 111., a summons to appear at the June term of the circuit court to answer
the complaint of George Davis, of Galesburg. \:;:'^^::.v>v\-r\/ ;- I'- ; V;;

The judiciary committee were authorized to employ counsel on behalf of the '
board of supervisors in said suit. , ;

September Meeting, 1869. There were present at this meeting, Hon, J. M. .
Holyoke, chairman ; supervisors, Messrs. P. H. Smith, M. C. Bates, A. C. Clay, Vv
H. R. Sanderson, L. E. Conger, G. V. Deiterich, M. Belden, H. M. Sisson, Thomas
Newell, Thos. W. Sumner, George A. Charles, P. H. Sanford, Orin Beadle, B.
H. Morgan, John Sloan, John Wilson and O. M. Gross, James J. Egan, clerk; ".-
Wilkins Seacord, sheriflf.

Board opened by proclamation. , : ^ : ! v . .. :

The chairman presented the certificate of appointment of E. P. Williams ;
as one of the supervisors of the city of Galesburg, to fill a vacancy occasioned
by the resignation of Mr. Lanphere. -

On motion, Mr. Williams took his seat in the board. . I :;- v

Mr. Holyoke, from "commissioners on public buildings," presented the fol- '^
lowing:

"To the Honorable the Board of Supervisors of Knox County:

The undersigned commissioners of public buildings appointed by your hon-
orable body, under the law regulating the removal of the county seat, respect- .:
fully report that the city of Galesburg, in pursuance of the obligation entered ;
into by the mayor and aldermen of said city, have erected in said city a fire >
proof building of sufficient capacity and convienience for the use of the circuit ' :
and county clerks; and the same will be ready for the use of said officers when-
ever the board of supervisors shall order the removal of the records and papers .
belonging to the county. By order of the commissioners. . :

J. M. HOLYOKE, Chairman, . ' r. i
;;.;;". :-; . F. E. SMITH, S'^cre/orj. ^ '. '

Directed to lie upon the table. . , : /

JANUARY SPECIAL MEETING, A. D., 1873. ^; . . ;

State of Illinois, )

Knox County, j ss. , _.. ^^ . V' ' ;

. .;'\^ >'-i . ' January Special Meeting. ;:;. I /';':''

At a meeting of the board of supervisors of Knox county, held pursuant to :v
a call, issued at the request of one-third of the members thereof, at Knoxville, '-
in said county, on Thursday, the 3Oth day of January, A. D., 1873. ; v !

Present Hon. A. C. Clay, chairman ; Supervisors, Messrs. P. H. Smith, M. .,:.
C. Bates, W. S. Gale, G. V. Dieterich, J. M. Morse, B. S. Stanley, H. R. Sander- ' ;
son, John Junk, D. Wainwright, Heber Gillis, Peter Godfrey, Geo. A. Charles, ' ^

;;;:/';': :\;;:^;; HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ;:-: : 141

G. G. Stearns, H. P. Wood, A. S. Curtis, L. W. Benson, Wm. Swigart, W. H. .
Leighton, AL P. Stephens, J. W. Hensley, Wm. West, John Wilson, M. B. Ogden,
James Soles, John S. Winter, clerk; A. W. Berggren, sheriff. . . , ..,. ,_;.

Board opened by proclamation. ' ' ,

The chairman presented decree of McDonough circuit court, in the county ;
seat case, and requested its reading by the clerk. .;., / i ::;"'.' '/ '

State of Illinois, ) ; .^^ '..-::.-':"- '/-"' : !^-'' '/ '

McDonough County, j ss. : " ;

In the McDonough Circuit Court, September Term, A. D., 1871. ' ^'
' George Davis, who sues on behalf of himself, as well as on behalf of all the
tax payers of the county Knox and state of Illinois, who choose to be made
complainants therein, vs. the board of supervisors of Knox county, Illinois,
James J. Egan, county clerk of Knox county, Illinois, James W. Temple, circuit
clerk of Knox county, Illinois, and Dennis Clark, county judge of Knox county, . -
Ills. In chancery. Change of venue from Knox county. Ills. . . ;^

This cause coming on to be heard upon the bill, answers, replications, plead-
ings and evidence, and after hearing counsel for the respective parties, the court
finds upon the evidence, and adjudges and decrees that a majority of the legal
voters of the county of Knox, did, at an election held on the sixth day of April,
1869, in said county of Knox, pursuant to an act of the legislature of this state,
approved March lO, 1869, referred to in the original and amended bill, referred
to in this case, vote in favor of removal of the county seat of said county from
the city of Knoxville to the city of Galesburg in said county, that the allega-
tions of the bill are true, and the said defendants, the board of supervisors of v
Knox county aforesaid, and the clerk of said board, are hereby directed to spread
the result of said election and of the canvass thereof upon the record of the
board of supervisors of Knox county, and state upon said record that the result
of said election and canvass thereof was in favor of removal of the county seat
of said county from Knoxville to the city of Galesburg, in said county, by a ma-
jority of two hundred voters; and said court further finds and decrees that the
return of said election in the town of Knox, purporting to be made by the officers
of said election therein is illegal, fraudulent, false and void ; and that the result I /
of said election heretofore spread upon the record of the board of supervisors,
be set aside as incorrect. It is further ordered that the fact be stated upon said
records of said board, that said election resulted in favor of the removal of the
county seat of Knox county, from the city of Knoxville to the city of Galesburg
in conformity with this decree. And it is further ordered that the defendants,
the board of supervisors of Knox county, pay the costs of this suit; and there-
upon defendants and each of them pray an appeal to the supreme court of the
central grand division of the state of Illinois, which is allowed upon the defend-
ants or either of them entering into bond in the penal sum of one thousand dol-
lars, with security, which, by consent of parties, is to be approved by the clerk,
within forty days from the rendition of this decree, said appeal bond to be con-
ditional according to law. :.
' ;^';^."'v:'''' ^' :v- "-'-.'.-;;.';"' ''/'v - '^;'.'^':.''.r.'-' :_.'-:-.''''^ ../- C. L. HIGBEE. .''.-'

142 '' HISTORY OF KXOX COUNTY l^; v ;

-;', ^ '

State of Illinois, ) ^ . :' - /: . ..^' ,: ; - ,: .:

McDonough County, j ^f'

I, I. N. Pearson, clerk of the circuit court, in and for said county, do hereby
certify that the above and foregoing is a true and complete copy of the final de-
cree rendered in said cause, and filed therein on the 7th day of October, A. D.,
1872, as appears of record from the books and files in my office.

Witness, my hand and the seal of said court at Macomb, this 29th day of Jan-
uary, A. D., 1873.

(SEAL.) ^ - I. N. PEARSON, C/^rfe.

Mr. Gale offered the following resolution, which was adopted: i. 'I :

Rcsol'ced, That the decree of his honor. Judge Higbee, rendered in the Mc-
Donough circuit court, in the case of Geo. Davis vs. board of supervisors of
Knox county, et al. having been affirmed by the supreme court, be spread upon
the records of this board, and the clerk of the board be directed to correct the
records as ordered by the court in said decree. ]

The decision of the supreme court, in the case of George Davis vs. board of
supervisors of Knox county, et al, having been read, it was

On motion of Mr. Charles, ordered that the decision of the supreme court
in said case, be spread upon the records of this board, and be published with
the proceedings thereof in pamphlet form. .

i/'2 O'clock, P. M. Board met pursuant to adjournment. ; '

Mr. Sanderson presented the following resolutions:
. Resolved, That the sherifif and clerks be directed to remove the books, pa-
pers and furniture of the county to Galesburg as rapidly as required by the in-
terests of the county, employing such assistance as may be necessary ; that for
so much expense as is made necessary by the removal, the said officers be di-
rected to send in bills for expenses to the city of Galesburg.

, Resoh'ed, That the said officers, with the approval of the chairman of com-
mittee on judiciary and clerks offices, be authorized to purchase such furniture
as may be necessary for their offices, which must be procured before the next
meeting of this board. Adopted.
. Mr. Gale offered the following resolutions, which were adopted: |

Resoh'ed, That there be a committee of five, of whom the chairman of this
board shall be one, and the other members appointed by the chair, whose duty
it shall be to procure plans and estimates for a county jail.

Resolved, That said committee be directed to report, what provisions, if any,
it is necessary to make for the county at Galesburg, what future provision
should be made by the city of Galesburg; also, what real estate belongs to the
county at Knoxville, and what disposition should be made of such real estate.

The chairman announced as such committee, in addition to the chairman,
Messrs. Gale. Charles. Bates and Ogden. :^ ^^' .... . ' 1 '

The following resolution was offered by Mr. Gale, and adopted :

Resoh-ed, That when this board adjourn, it adjourn to meet four weeks
from today, at the clerk's office in the city of Galesburg.

Mr. Wood presented report of board of commissioners of public buildings,
which report was accepted, and ordered to be spread upon the records. I

To the Hon. Board of Siif>en'isors of Kno.r Co.:

The undersigned commissioners of public buildings appointed under the act

y^^: ^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY / ; .v, 143

for the removal of the county seat of Knox county, hereby respectfully report :

We have in our possession the following list of property pledged by the au-
thorities of the city of Galesburg, before the election, in aid of the removal of .-
the county seat: :

1st. A warranty deed from the city of Galesburg to the county of Knox for
a part of lots seven and eight in block thirty-one, as numbered on the original
plot of Galesburg, being four and one-half rods off the north side of lots seven
and eight, being the premises commonly known as the "fire proof building."

2d. Warranty deed from A. N. Bancroft and wife to Knox county, convey-
ing the west, two-thirds of lot number seven (7), in block forty-five (45), in the
southern addition to the town of Galesburg. This lot was intended for a jail
lot, but is not so expressed in the deed.

3d. Warranty deed from Knox College to Knox county, for block numbered
thirty-nine (39), in the original plot of Galesburg, being the east half of the ground
known as the "College Park." This deed is upon the express condition that the
ground shall be used as a site for a court house and for no other purpose.

4th. The obligation of the city of Galesburg to furnish suitable rooms for
the use of the county Knox, in the city of Galesburg, for court and jury rooms
for a period not exceeding ten years, and to pay all necessary expenses incurred
in the removal of the county records and property from Knoxville to Galesburg. .

5th. Two certificates of deposit for the sum of two thousand dollars each,
payable to the order of the commissioners appointed by the board of supervisors
of Knox county, for the removal of the county seat. One of said certificates
being signed by Weston Arnold, cashier of the Second National Bank of Gales-
burg, and the other by M. L. Smalley, cashier First National Bank of Galesburg.

6th. An agreement or lease between the owners of the Opera House on the
south side the public square in Galesburg, and the city authorities, for the use
of the Opera House for county purposes for the term of years signified by the
obligations of the city, also the resolution of the city council for the payment of
the actual cost of removal.

7th. A lease from C. Brechwald for a room in Concordia block. -"' '-''"'

We would further report that everything seems to be in readiness on the part
of the city of Galesburg, for the removal ; and would ask your honorable body
to take such action as to the disposition of the above named effects, and as to
the time of effecting the actual removal as may seem to you just and proper.

J. M. HoLYOKE, ^-i;- ;

...;;:;; ^'i/^f/v:- V.- ,..,^ -^ Chairman of Commissioners, '-/_:
Knoxville, Jan. 30, 1873. .>.:;' ; . .:;'/^V

Mr. Soles offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the sheriff and clerks remove their books and papers forth-v
with to Galesburg, in order to be in readiness to hold circuit court in said city,
next Monday. , - r-/. -.; ;-^v. ; / .:.>.. - v , , .- ^-'.-^ ";>: '

Mr. Hensley offered the following as a substitute :

Resoh'ed, That it is the sense of this board, that the commissioners of pub-
lic buildings proceed at once to remove the records of the county to Galesburg,
so as not to delay the proceedings of February term of court. ; ;. .' ;^;

Mr. Gale offered the following:

Resolved, That the committee on public buildings be directed to proceed at

144 ^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ; | i; ;

once, in conjunction with the officers of the county, to remove the county prop-
erty to Galesburg. K. ;'

Resolved, That the deeds and abstracts in the hands of the commissioners
be filed with the county clerk, and that the money in their hands be paid to the
county treasurer, and held by him as a special fund for jail building purposes.
; Resolved, That the clerk be directed to record the deeds and contracts re-
ceived from the committee.

Mr. Hensley accepted the substitute of Mr. Gale, when the substitute was
adopted and the resolution passed.

On motion adjourned until Thursday, February 27, 1873. ^ '

; ^v; . JAILS OF KNOX COUNTY v^- /

A brief account of the construction of the "Old Log Jail" was given at the
close of the chapter on Minor Courts and Permanent Seat of Justice, By
1840 the question of a new jail was again considered. At the December term
of that year of the County Commissioners court, the subject was formally acted
upon, as shown by the following order :

ORDERED: That the clerk publish in the Peoria Press and Peoria Register
notices for plans and specifications and sealed proposals for building a jail in
the town of Knoxville to be two stories high, not larger than thirty by fifty feet
nor smaller than twenty-five by forty-five feet, to include a dwelling in said
building, said plans, specifications and sealed proposals to be received and opened
on the 25th day of January, 1841 ; to be finished two years from the first Mon-
day of March, 1841. ;; ';?,:;.'* ^' ' ;\^/-i''v; ; I '/;'.

On January 26th, 1841, we find the following order in relation to the con-
struction of the jail, plans and specifications for which were called for at the
December term.

ORDERED: That the contract for building a jail in the town of Knoxville
be let to Zelotes Cooley, in accordance to plans and specifications by him filed
in clerk's office of the court for the sum of eight thousand, seven hundred
and twenty- four dollars, provided that he enter into bond with good security
approved by the court, and also that both parties agree to the article of agree-
ment or contract to be entered into at regular March term of this court and
to be finished in three years from March next, or as the parties can agree, said
Zelotes Cooley and this court further agree to exchange the present jail lot for
forty feet on the public square and twenty-six feet on North street to make
square corner in center of the lot of Lot No. 5, in Block No. 6, on which to
locate said jail, provided said Z. Cooley obtains a good title to the same.

Nevertheless, Zelotes Cooley never entered into a contract for the con-
struction of the jail, and it nowhere appears of record that he had anything to
do with it. The contract was made with Alvah Wheeler and the records show
that all through the years 1842, 1843, 1844, and the beginning of 1845, he was
working upon the building. The following entry, made March 5th, 1845, is a
summing up of the whole transaction, and Mr. Wheeler is paid for the contract

in full, $7,784. ' . , " ;- ;.;' :.'.;-';'.'. '-': ' ''. '/': .;'; ; .

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' 5'

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

once, in conjunction with the officers of the county, to remove the county prop-
erty to Galesburg. ' \ 1

Resoh-ed, That the deeds and abstracts in the hands of the commissioners
be filed with the county clerk, and that the money in their hands be paid to the
county treasurer, and held by him as a special fund for jail building purposes.

Resolved, That the clerk be directed to record the deeds and contracts re-
ceived from the committee. , i

Mr. Hensley accepted the substitute of Mr. Gale, when the substitute was
adopted and the resolution passed.

On motion adjourned until Thursday, February 27, 1873.

. JAILS OF KXOX COUNTY

A brief account of the construction of the ''Old Log Jail" was given at the
close of the chapter on Minor Courts and Permanent Seat of Justice. By
1840 the question of a new jail was again considered. At the December term
of that year of the County Commissioners court, the subject was formally acted
upon, as shown by the following order:

ORDERKD: That the clerk publish in the Peoria Press and Peoria Register
notices for plans and specifications and sealed proposals for building a jail in
the town of Knoxville to be two stories high, not larger than thirty by fifty feet
nor smaller than twenty-five by forty-five feet, to include a dwelling in said
building, said plans, specifications and sealed proposals to be received and opened
on the 25th day of January, 1841 ; to be finished two years from the first Mon-
day of March, 1841.

On January 26th, 1841, we find the following order in relation to the con-
struction of the jail, plans and specifications for which were called for at the
December term.

ORDERED: That the contract for building a jail in the town of Knoxville
be let to Zelotes Cooley, in accordance to plans and specifications by him filed
in clerk's office of the court for the sum of eight thousand, seven hundred
and twenty-four dollars, provided that he enter into bond with good security
approved by the court, and also that both parties agree to the article of agree-
ment or contract to be entered into at regular March term of this court and
to be finished in three years from March next, or as the ])arties can agree, said
Zelotes Cooley and this court further agree to exchange the present jail lot for
forty feet on the public square and twenty-six feet on North street to make
square corner in center of the lot of Lot No. 5, in Block No. 6, on which to
locate said jail, provided said Z. Cooley obtains a good title to the same. :

" -j.

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;:;:;;- x^ .;..;: ;^ HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 'V , 145

A. Wheeler, account with county on jail contract. , :.!

March 6/41 Amount contract '. $7724.00

March 45 doors extra 50.00

March Casing doors extra lo.oo

';'. 'v'''.l''>-^'^--'iHSV;---S'.;VZv^ ' $7784.00

' March 5/45 Cash paid , r. .......... $5708.00

Deduction on cistern 30.00 5738.00

'' 'V-; V-':::^.-':'''-v, .v;:-^'/:" $2046.00

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of A.
Wheeler for two thousand and forty-six dollars, in full for jail contract.

This jail is still standing on the west side of the public square in the City
of Knoxville, and is now in use as a city prison. It would seem, from the
following order entered upon the county commissioners' record, that it was not
always well cared for.

"ORDERED: That the sheriff clean out the jail and not suffer the cells or
debtors' apartments of the same to be used for any purpose whatever except
for prisoners." The time was when a clean jail was an exception worthy of
note, and not so very long ago either, if we are to credit the statements of
the State Boards of Health and Charities. Knox county is to be congratulated
on this early action of its commissioners. ^ - ;.

The building was pretty thoroughly overhauled in 1863. We prefer, how-
ever, to tell the story of this building from the record of the board of super-
visors. A movement for betterments began in i86i, when an unsuccessful
attempt was made to start a new building. Another unsuccessful attempt to
build was made in 1867, all of which will more fully and interestingly appear
from the record herein inserted.

At the January meeting, i86i. Supervisor LeBaron offered the following
resolution :

Resolved, That it is expedient to build a good jail in Knox county for
the more effectual keeping of prisoners, which was seconded and determined
in the negative.

The following report, submitted at the May meeting, 1863, shows the
condition of the jail.

The undersigned committee on jail repairs, appointed at the last meeting
of the board, would respectfully report:

That in pursuance of the duties enjoined upon us, we made a thorough
and careful examination of the jail and found the reports of the grand jurors
correct in their statements that thorough repairs were absolutely necessary ; that
the jail was not safe, a mere loophole for the escape of prisoners; that owing
to the situation of the vault it was offensive and unclean to such a degree as
to endanger the health of the prisoners and also the family having charge
of the same.

Your committee examined several plans for the repairs, taking into account
the cost and also the security to be gained, and adopted one which has nearly
been carried into effect, to-wit: Lining the inner surface of the outer walls
below with heavy boiled iron, riveted to 454-inch iron bars, giving it great

ToLI U

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 'v-vX:

.firmness, and affording space for deep countersinking, so that the riveting is

perfectly smooth on the inside, and preventing the possibility of removing

/ rivets, and the whole firmly bolted in such manner that the casing could not

. ' be removed even by the use of suitable tools, without making much noise, and

a great length of time spent thereon. To obviate the stench and enable the jail

' to be kept clean, your committee has caused holes eight inches in diameter

to be cut through the solid rock and iron casings, on an angle of 45 degrees

; and are now engaged in erecting a brick vault on the outside of the jail twelve

feet long by five feet wide, to be drawn in when a suitable distance from the

. : , ground and a chimney or flue therefrom to extend above the roof of the build-

ing, this arrangement, with close-fitting covers on the iron seats inside of th

jail, with little care on the part of the jailor, will render the jail as free from

smell as any building unexposed to the sun's rays can be expected to be.

When the iron work is painted white, and the stone work well whitewashed,
' - the rooms will be as light as before the lining was put in.
' . Your committee would recommend, if deemed necessary by the board to

have the additional room, that the upper rooms be similarly incased (the rooms
being now utterly worthless for prison purposes). This might be done with
much lighter material, and would be sufficiently secure for parties imprisoned
or held for minor offenses, thus relieving them from the necessity of being
locked up in cells during the night and leaving additional room for the safe
keeping of desperate characters, besides enabling the jailer to keep the un-
fortunate, or those who have perhaps committed a minor offense for the first
; time, from the contamination of the older and more desperate characters.
: - 1 Your committee would report expenses incurred so far, as follows: I '..'

; Bill of Miles Smith for iron, freight, etc $512.70

Bill of William Armstrong for labor, etc 376.11

Bill of Joseph Schumaker, draying 4.00

Bill of Z. W. Stevens, lime, sand, etc 23.20

Bill of James McCracken for brick I7-SO

Bill of Daniel Fox, hauling brick 6.00

Making $939-51

. The additional expense which will have to be incurred to complete the

improvements your committee have in contemplation, is estimated at about $50,
. making the whole expense for repairing the prison department of the jail cost

.^ a trifle less than $1000.

We have estimated that the cost of making the repairs to the upper rooms
. of the jail, contemplated in a former portion of the report, will be about the

sum of $700. ., .

Respectfully submitted, >. " , ^ ^ ,

' .'- ,-: '^^^ih ' ' ^' ARMS, . '^

:','/<.. . : ; JOHN S. WINTER, ;

Committee.

Your committee would further report that an examination of tht dwelling

: part of the jail building satisfied your committee that considerable repairs were

necessary, the plastering and paper dirty and broken, and the fencing broken

' down, posts rotted, etc. The sheriff called our attention to these matters, but

'::t^' ; V; ;s HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY ; / -:f 147

we were disposed to refer the matter to the board, as further repairs are

required, to- wit : Pointing up of brick work, repairs to roof, and the building

should be painted and pointed. But the sheriff deemed the immediate repairs

so necessary that he proceeded to have the same done and for which bills

will be presented. .'./W'>-"'- >'>' -^ -^ -'-'-''' ,P^ ';'-" :"

'..';'."'- ' :-'. "^- ' .'-?."- v'U'. -'- ^'-;-'v'':'-'^/C'^' C. ARMS, ...-' i, ' .''''.I''i-

;--\;:.^ :' ''':':. ": ;.'''' '' /J ;'.'-, '':.' :.^-"- >';'-' -''-v- : '-:: JOHN S. WINTER, ';^

' "' ' ''":''' '" Committee. :

' ; On motion of Supervisor Potter said report was accepted and approved. ;
January, 1866. Mr. Harden offered the following resolution: '-:

Resolved, That whereas the board of supervisors have examined the con-
dition of the county jail, feel that the frequent escapes of prisoners is entirely
chargeable to the culpable negligence of the proper custodians of said jail and
recommend that a committee of three be appointed to investigate the causes
and apply the proper remedy. Resolution adopted, when the chairman appointed
Messrs. Harden, Gray and Arms committee, as provided for by the resolution.

April, 1866. Mr. Arms from the committee to which was referre