ILLINOIS HISTURK-AL iuKVcr
HISTORY
OF
FORD COUNTY ILLINOIS
From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908
BY E. A. GARDNER
Illustrated With Portraits and Views
With Biographical Sketches of some
Prominent Citizens of the County.
CHICAGO:
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBI^ISHING CO.
1908
v.]
«)»
r
PREFACE.
In presenting this history of Ford county to the public I desire to return
^ my thanks to the many citizens of the county who have so willingly contributed
i:?^ valuable data for this work. I .also wish to give due acknowledgment to the his-
\ torical matter contained in the Atlas of Ford County published in 1884, from
^ which a large portion of the pioneer facts has been compiled. Due acknowledg-
^ ment is also made for the valuable pioneer data contained in "Remembrances
of a Pioneer," by Mrs. Jane Patton, of Button township, and published by her
in 1904. Much of the data has been compiled directly from the files and records
of the county clerk and circuit clerk's offices.
^ E. A. G.
^
I
E._ A. GARDNE-R
HISTORY OF
FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS
THE ABORIGINES.
It is clearly demonstrated by the numerous and well authenticated accounts
of antiquities found in various parts of this county that a people civilized, and
considerably cultivated, at least as compared with the Indian, occupied this great
land before its possession by the red man of later history, but their "day and
generation" lie buried in the deepest obscurity.
Nature, at the time of the discovery of America by Columbus in 1492,
had asserted her original dominion over the land ; the forests were in their full
luxuriance — the growth of many centuries, and nothing remained to point out
who and what they were who once lived and loved, labored and died on the
continent of America.
This race with an unwritten history is known as the Mound-Builders. The
remains of the works of this people form the most interesting class of antiqui-
ties discovered in the United States.
These mounds consist of what once apparently were villages, altars, tem-
ples, idols, cemeteries, monuments, camps, fortifications, pleasure grounds, etc.
Were the Mound-Builders the ancestors of the Indians or who were they?
What were their customs? Whence came they? What is their history? The
oblivion which has closed over them is complete, and only conjecture can be
given in answer to these questions.
Mr. Breckenridge, who examined the antiquities of the western country
in 1817, says : ' ' The great number and extremely large size of some of them
may be regarded as furnishing, with other circumstances, evidences of their
antiquity. I have sometimes been induced to think that during the period
when they were constructed there was a population here as numerous as that
which once animated the borders of the Nile or Euphrates or of Mexico. The
most numerous, as well as considerable, of these remains are found in precisely
those parts of the country where the traces of a numerous population might be
looked for, namely, from the mouth of the Ohio on the east side of the Missis-
12 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
sippi to the Illinois river, and on the west from the St. Francis to the Missouri.
I am perfectly satisfied that cities similar to those of ancient Mexico, of several
hundred thousand souls, have existed in this country."
To describe these mound-builders is now impossible. We onlj^ know the
red men, who occupied this country when the French, English and Spanish
came to visit the land and trade for peltries, and had not even a tradition of
them.
It is generally conceded that whatever the uses of these mounds — whether
for homes for the living or burial places for the dead — these voiceless land-
marks of the silent past were built, and the race who built them disappeared
from the face of the earth ages before the Indians occupied the land, but their
date must probably remain as a sealed volume of history. The names of their
mighty chieftains, their deeds of valor, their marches with faithful followers
to a
"Glory bed.
Or to glorious victory,"
have not been preserved by the historian and tradition is silent.
EARLY DISCOVERIES.
' In October, 1665, Father Claude Allouez landed on the southwestern shore
of Lake Superior, at a place called by the Indians Chegoimegon.
Here he found a number of the Algonquin tribes assembled T>reparatory to
an incursion into the territory of the Sioux.
The good father persuaded them to abandon their preparations for war.
He then erected the chapel which he named the "Mission of the Holy Ghost,"
at the place since called "Lapointe du Saint Esperit, " and began his work as
missionary.
To this spot came the roving Pottawattamies, Sacs, Foxes, the Kickapoos,
the Illinois and Miamis, prompted by curiosity, and here they first heard the
preaching of Christianity.
In Father Allouez, they beheld a champion of human rights, and to him
they narrated their griefs by first speaking of their former grandeur, and then
of their diminished numbers from hostile visitations from the Sioux on the
west and the Iroquois on the east. The gentle and pious Marquette three
years later took the place of Allouez.
Just previous to this time, hoAvever, possession of the country was taken
in the name of the French government. For this event Allouez and Joliet
summoned the chiefs of no less than fourteen tribes and bands at St. Mary'&
IIISTOHY OF FOKM) COIXTY l:?
It was well known that a great river crossed southward through the coun-
try. The first white man who set foot on the soil of this state was Nicholas
Perrot, a Frenchman. lie was sent to Chicago in the year 1671, for the pur-
pose of inviting the western Indians to a peace convention at Green Bay. One
object of this meeting was to form a plan for the discovery of the Mississippi
river. This river had been discovered by De Sota nearl}^ one hundred and
thirty years before, but his nation left it without further explorations.
Father IMarquette and Joliet obtained leave to start on an expedition for
the purpose of bringing to light the mysteries of this river.
These two distinguished men started from St. Ignace, a small missionary
station on the north shore of the straits of IMackinaw.
Two birch bark canoes, five men, a bag of corn meal, some dried beef and
a blanket for each constituted their outfit.
Their route late along the north shore of Lake Michigan, and the west bank
of Green Bay. They passed through the waters of Lake Winnebago and
thence accompanied by Indian guides, continued up the Fox river to the carry-
ing place across to the Wisconsin. Here their Indian guides refused to go
farther, and returned whence they came. Down this stream they passed amid
the silent grandeur of its forests, and under the cedar-crested precipices of
solid rock. No mark of human life was apparent along its shores.
On the ITtli of June, 1673, they found themselves on the broad surface
of the ^Mississippi. The banks were less precipitous than the bold headlines
of the Wisconsin, and as they passed down the stream, the country looked
more promising. Herds of buffalo were seen grazing on the open prairies.
Not until they neared the mouth of the Des Moines did they discover any
evidence of human beings. Noticing footprints on the river's banks they left
the canoes in charge of the five men. INIarquette and Joliet fearlessly took
the Indian path, and after two leagues' travel, came in sight of their villages.
The meeting proved a friendly one. The Indians were of the Illinois tribe.
They gave the missionaries a dinner of fish, roast bufi'alo and hominy. They
resumed their journey but did not meet with any more Indians luitil reaching
what is now the state of Kentucky. Landing on the left bank of the river,
just below the mouth of the Ohio, they met with what was evidently a roving
band of warriors from the far distant borders of civilization on the Atlantic
coast. They were armed with guns, but were peaceably disposed, and received
the voyagers kindly. The adventurers passed down the river till the mouth
of the Arkansas was reached. Here again they met Indians, savage as nature
could make them. The young men showed a disposition to take the lives of
14 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
our little party of travelers at once, but were restrained by the older men of
the tribe. Finally a friendly meeting was had. From their new hosts, they
ascertained that the mouth of the Mississippi was but ten days' travel distant.
The intense heat of the month of July and fears of being picked up by Spanish
adventurers caused them to conclude their explorations at this point. They
had passed below where De Sota had discovered and crossed the Mississippi in
1541, which was one hundred and thirty-two years previous. No trace, not
even a tradition of De Sota's work remained. The object of Marquette and
Joliet's expedition had been fulfilled. They had discovered the great river
and determined whether it emptied into the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean.
On the 17th of July they took leave of their doubtful friends and turned
their canoes up stream. It is difficult for any person not familiar with the
current of a great river to comprehend the task before them. Patient toiling
at the oar finally brought them to the mouth of the Illinois river. Here they
met with the Kaskaskias, who offered to conduct them by a more convenient
route, which proved to be by the Illinois, the Des Plaines, and the Chicago
rivers.
On the Illinois river, especially along the shores of Peoria lake, were the
principal villages of the Illinois. There were also bands of the same tribe
in the vicinity of Starved Rock, near the present site of Utica.
Marquette preached to these warriors, who manifested a commendable
interest in what he had to say to them. When the little company of adven-
turers passed on to Chicago, a large delegation of the Indians accompanied
them, where they arrived in September. The Indians attached much import-
ance to the little inlet stream called Chicago, and these French voyagers were
eager to see the river, and still more eager to look upon the lake whose waters
would afford a new route to their friends in northern Wisconsin.
On the marshy banks of the little stream where now stands the city of
Chicago these two bands bade each other adieu.
The Frenchmen took their course along the western shore of the lake and
soon arrived at the Mission of Green Bay.
On the 25th of October, of the following year, Marquette, with two com-
panions, Perre and Jasques, and a band of Indians, started on their mission
to preach the gospel to the Illinois. Accomplishing his mission he started
on his return to Canada in the spring of 1675, his health having failed because
of exposure to the winter storms. Arriving at Sleeping Bear Point on the
eastern shore of the lake, he had become too much prostrated to proceed far-
ther. His two companions built a hut of bark and did all they could to make
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 15
him comfortable. Here he died and was buried, a large wooden cross mark-
ing his resting place.
In 1679, La Salle, a French explorer, sailed to Green Bay and from there
his party proceeded in canoes to the mouth of the St. Joseph river, on the
eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Here he established a trading-post with the
Miamis. He then ascended the St. Joseph, crossed to the Kankakee and sailed
down until he reached an Illinois village.
He formed an alliance with the tribe, and early in 1680 began near tlie
present Peoria a post which he called Fort Crevecoeur. His chief object was
to trade in furs. Accompanying him were several priests, and among them
was Father Hennepin, who, with two companions, started to explore the upper
Mississippi, and were taken prisoners by the Sioux. After an extended exper-
ience with the Indians, he was permitted to return to Green Bay. La Salle
was finally assassinated after his second visit to Illinois, while exploring the
lower Mississippi. The first mission in Illinois, as we have already seen, was
established by Marquette. The first military occupation of the state was at
Fort Crevecoeur, by La Salle. There is, however, no evidence that a settle-
ment was commenced at those early dates.
The first settlement of which there is any authentic account was commenced
with the building of Fort St. Louis, on the Illinois river, in 1682, but this was
soon abandoned. The oldest permanent settlement, not only in Illinois, but
in the valley of the Mississippi, is at Kaskaskia, situated six miles above the
mouth of the Kaskaskia river. This was settled in 1690, by the removal of
the mission from old Kaskaskia, or Fort St. Louis, on the Illinois river. Caho-
kia was settled about the same time.
Illinois came into full possession of the French in 1682, and was a depend-
ency of Canada and a part of Louisiana. During the period of French rule
in Louisiana, the population probably never exceeded ten thousand.
To the year 1730 the following five distinct settlements were made in the
territory of Illinois, numbering in population one hundred and forty French
families, about six hundred ''converted" Indians, and many traders: Cahokia,
near the mouth of Cahokia creek and about five miles below the present city of
St. Louis; St. Philip, about forty-five miles below Cahokia; Fort Chartres,
twelve miles above Kaskaskia; Kaskaskia, situated on the Kaskaskia river, six
miles above its confluence with the Mississippi; and Prairie du Rocher, near
Fort Chartres. Fort Chartres was built in 1718, and was for a time the
headquarters of the military commandants of the district of Illinois, and the
most impregnable fortress in North America. For about eighty years the
French retained peaceable possession of Illinois. For more than a hundred
16 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
years peace between the white man and the red man Avas unbroken, and when
at last this reign of harmony terminated, it was not caused by the conciliatory
Frenchman, but by the blunt and sturdy Anglo-Saxon. During the century
now under consideration, no regular court was held by the French occupants.
In 1765, the country passed into the hands of the English. As early as 1750,
there could be perceived the first threes of the Revolution, which gave a new
master and new institutions to Illinois.
THE INDIANS.
The opinion prevails that the inhabitants of North America who followed
the mound-builders were those who reared the great cities, the ruins of which
are found in Central America. It is undoubtedly true that this people was far
more civilized and advanced in -avta than Avere the mound-builders. If we
are to judge of these cities by their ruins of broken columns, fallen arches and
crumbling walls of temples, palaces and pyramids, which in some places bestrew
the ground, thej^ must have been cities of great extent, magnificent and very
populous. Then to consider the time required to bring them to their present
ruined condition we must conclude that the date of their building was far in
the past.
The Indians, believed to be the third race inhabiting North America, are
distinct in every particular from the former two. Their origin is also envel-
oped in mystery. Neither had they any traditions respecting their predeces-
sors. They knew absolutely nothing about them, consequently they must have
been successors of a race which had entirely passed away before the Indian
made his appearance on this continent. There are several widely different
opinions expressed at length in the various histories of the North American
Indian as to their origin, but as already stated, mystery surrounds their begin-
ning as a race, and the opinions expressed are largely a matter of speculation.
A quite common supposition, well expressed in Chapman's history, is that
"they are a derivative race and sprang from one or more of the ancient peo-
ples of Asia.
"In the absence of all authentic history, and when even tradition is want-
ing, any attempt to point out the particular location of their origin must prove
unsatisfactory. Though the exact place of origin may never be known, yet
the striking coincidence of physical organization between the oriental type of
mankind and the Indians point unmistakably to some part of Asia as the place
whence they emigrated, which was originallj^ peopled to a great extent by the
children of Shem. In this connection, it has been claimed that a meeting of
IILSTORV OF FOKJ) COUNTY 17
the Europeans, Indians and Africans on the continent of America, is the fnl-
tillnient of a i)roi)he('y as rcccn-chMJ in Genesis, ix. 27: 'God shall enlarge
Ja})heth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem ; and Canaan shall be his ser-
vant. ' Assuming the theory to be true that the Indian tribes are of Shemitic
origin, they were met on this continent in the fifteenth century by the Japh-
ethic race, after the two stocks had passed around the globe by directly differ-
ent routes. A few years afterward the Ilamatic branch of the human family
were brought from the coast of Africa.
"During the occupancy of the continent by the three distinct races, the
children of Japheth have grown and prospered, while the called and not volun-
tary sons of Hani have endured a servitude in the wider stretching valleys of
the tents of Shem."
Ridpath, in his history of the ITnited States, says: "The origin of the
North American Indian is involved in complete obscurity. That they are one
of the older races of mankind cannot be doubted. But at what date or by
what route they came to the western continent is an unsolved problem. The
notion that the Indians are the descendants of the Israelites is absurd. That
half-civilized tribes wandering from beyond the Euphrates should reach North
America, surpasses human credulity."
No doubt all of us, having in our school days read the stories of Indian
wars, were under the impression that the various tribes peopled this country
quite densely, so that wherever the pioneer might travel in this newly discov-
ered land, the red man with bow and arrow, tomahawk and scalping knife,
glared upon him from every thicket and steathily glided through the tall
grasses of the prairie watching the white man's course.
But it is the opinion of the best authorities that when America was dis-
covered in 1492, the whole continent was thinl>' populated, as compared with
the present time, by roving bands or tribes of Indians.
In some few regions, a considerable degree of civilization and skill in agri-
culture had been obtained in Mexico and Peru.
The number of Indians in this country, when permanent settlements began
to be made, is not known, but pi'obably amounted in all the vast territory, as
estimated by w^ell informed writers, to only a few millions — perhaps two or
three.
As almost every one know^, these were called Indians by the Europeans
from the erroneous idea of Columbus and the men of that age, that there was
only one continent; and that they had reached the eastern shore of Asia when
America was discovered.
18 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
The whole region comprising our country was in the possession of a great
number of these tribes. They divided the country between them in an indefi-
nite way, war and hunting being their chief occupations. They, generally
speaking, attempted a very little cultivation of the soil.
The settlements of Indians were as indefinite and movable as their boun-
daries, and they attached very little value to land. Territory was acquired
from them partly by force and partly l)y i)urchase.
The last was usually made for a nominal sum and with little compre-
hension, on their part, of the importance and future effects of its alienation.
Historians have classified the Indian families or nations as follows :
1. The Esquimaux, inhabiting the country from Labrador to Alaska. The
name means the eaters of raw meat.
2. The Algonquins, who occupied the country extending from Nova Sco-
tia south of the James river, thence west to the mouth of the Ohio, and thence
northward along the east side of the Mississippi and on to Lake "Winnipeg,
excepting that portion which was occupied by the Huron-Iroquois, as hereafter
described.
3. The Huron-Iroquois, a powerful nation. occui)i('d a tract of country
within that of the Algonquins. Their borders extended over the country
reaching from Georgian bay and Lake Huron to Lakes Erie and Ontario, south
of those lakes to the valley of the upper Ohio, and eastward to the river Sorel.
4. The Appalachians inhabited that portion of the country south of the
Algonquins, and east of the Mississippi.
5. The Dakotas, called by the French Sioux, occupied a district of coun-
try west of the Mississippi and north of the Missouri and Platte rivers.
G. Tlie Shoshones, occupying the country south and west of the Dakota^.
It will be understood that these nations were again divided into many tribes
each, speaking different dialects of the common language, by which the main
group was distinguished. As a general rule, Indians, when asked their name,
gave the term. Men or Real Men. Each tribe had a name, generally that of
the nnimnl or object which was 'the totem of the tribe. By referring to the
foregoing description of the territory occupied by the Algonquins, it Avill be
observed that our state was, at the beginning of the seventeenth century, under
the jurisdiction of that nation. The Algon(iuin tribes occupying the western
part of the country thus allotted to this nation, were the several tribes of the
Illinois and Miami confederacies, the Pottawattamies, the Kickai)oos and scat-
tered bands of Shawnees and Delawares.
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 21
THE ILLINOIS.
From the aceouuts, the Illinois seems to have laid claim to quite an exten-
sive tract of country, the eastern boundary thereof being the ridge that divides
the waters that flow into the Wabash above the headwaters of Saline creek,
from those flowing into the Illinois river, the northern limit being a line from
the mouth of the Des Plaines river westward beyond the Mississippi. On the
north, the Illinois for a long time contested their boundary line with the Chip-
peways, Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes. Afterward, the Sacs, Foxes and Kick-
apoos. assisted by the Pottawattamies, became the successful invaders of the
land of the Illinois. On the east came the Miamis, who in language and man-
ners much resembled the Illinois, with whom they originally bore a close
affinity.
General Harrison stated that ''the Illinois confederacy was composed of
five tribes: The Kaskaskias, Cahokias, Peorians, Michigans and the Tamarois."
It is authoritatively stated that the Algonquin language, as spoken l)y the
Ojibways, was regarded as the court language, so, if a person fell among a
strange tribe, whose language he did not understand and spoke this language,
they were bound, as a general rule, to furnish some one who could communi-
cate with him in that language. It was through tliis language that iNIarquette
spoke M'ith all the tribes, and so it was with all the early French trav-
elers. Of all states in the Union, the following have Indian names : ]\Iassa-
chusetts, Connecticut, Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois,
Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, the most of these being derived from
great rivers or other waters.
The first accounts we have of the Illinois are given by the Jesuit mission-
aries. In the "Relations" for the year 1655, it is stated that the Illinois
are neighbors of the Winnebagoes; and again, the following year it was
reported "that the Illinois nation dwell more than sixty leagues from here,
and beyond a great river, which as near as can be conjectured, flows into the
sea toward Virginia. These people are warlike. They use the bow, rarely
the gun, and never the canoe." At this time the Illinois and Miamis were
living west of the IMississippi, the reference being to this river. While the
Illinois were like their brethren of a roving nature, they were not so much so
as other tribes.
Their favorite portions of the state seemed to be along the Illinois river,
and on the Mississippi from the Kaskaskia to where Cairo now stands. Beck-
with, in describing them, says: "In form they were tall and lithe. They
22 _ HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
were noted for their swiftness of foot. They wore moccasins prepared from
buffalo hides, and a small covering extending from the waist to the knee. The
rest of the body was entirely nude."
The art of hunting not only supplied the Indian with food, but, like that
of war, was a means of gratifying his love of distinction.
The male children were earl.y taught the use of the bow and arrow. They
were as carefully trained in hunting and Indian warfare as are the boj^s and
girls of our time in the elements of reading, writing and arithmetic.
The dwellings were simple and rude in character. A pleasant spot Avas
selected by the river or near a spring, and here they raised their groups of
A^igwaras. constructed chiefly of the bark of trees. The skins of animals sorvod
for beds and wearing apparel. Depending principally on the chase for sub-
sistence, this being, somewhat uncertain, they were led to cultivate small
patches of corn.
Commerce or an interchange of articles being almost unknown, every fam-
ily did everything necessary within itself to provide food and comfort.
When disputes or dissensions arose, each Indian relied upon himself to
adjust the difficulty. Blood for blood was the rule, and the relatives of the
slain man were bound to obtain bloody revenge. The result of this was bit-
ter feuds and wars of extermination.
"War was the Indian's glory and delight; not war after the civilized rule,
but war where individual skill, endurance, gallantry and cruelty were the
prime requisites. During the intervals of his more exciting pursuits the Indian
employed his time in decorating his person with all the refinement of paint
and feathers, and in the manufacture of his arms and of canoes.
The main drudgery and labor of Indian communities fell upon the women.
They planted, tended and gathered the crops, made mats and baskets e-^rried
the burdens on the march— in fact they were but little better than slaves to
the "braves."
The area of the country orginally claimed by the Illinois was reduced by
wars with their neighbors. The Sioux forced them eastward, and the four
tribes already named encroached upon them from the north, and war parties
from the Iroquois on the east rapidly lessened their numbers.
The Illinois confederacy was in a decline when they first came in contact
with the French, of which mention is hereafter made.
The misfortunes of the Illinois drew them so kindly to the priests, the
coureurs des bois and soldiers, that the friendship between the two races never
abated.
HISTORY OP FORD COUNTY 23
The fatal dissolution of the Illinois rapidly proceeded, and their territory
was largely appropriated by the Sacs. Foxes, Kickapoos and Pottawattamies.
By successive treaties, their remaining lands in this state were ceded to
the United States, and they were removed west of the Mississippi. In 1872,
there remained of them but forty souls — men, women and children all told.
Thus has disappeared the people who at one time occupied the larger part
of Illinois and portions of Iowa and Missouri. In the year 1784 their single
village at La Salle's colony could muster twelve hundred fighting men. When
they were prosperous, at one time they nearly exterminated the Winnebagoes,
and their war parties have penetrated the country of the Huron-Iroquois as
far as the Mohawk and Genesee.
THE POTTAWATTxVMIES.
The country of the Miamis, as has already been stated, extended west to
the watershed between the Illinois and Wabash rivers, forming the eastern
])oundaries of the Illinois tribes. To the north of the Miamis were the Potta-
wattamies, who were steadily encroaching upon the territory of the Miamis.
The Miamis held their own until they obtained possession of firearms,
but the Illinois could not withstand their foes so long.
In regard to the Pottawattamies, it is stated in an official letter to the
secretary of war, March 22, 1814: "So long ago as 1795, at the treaty of
Greenville, the Pottawattamies notified the Miamis that they intended to settle
upon the Wabash." They made no pretensions to the country, and the only
excuse for the intended aggression was that they were tired of eating fish
and wanted meat. And they did come. They established villages upon the
north and west bank of the Wabash and its tributaries fiowing in from that
side of the stream above the Vermilion.
They, with the Sacs, Foxes and Kickapoos. drove the Illinois into the vil-
lages about Kaskaskia and divided the conquered territory among themselves,
the Sacs and Foxes choosing that part to the north and west of the Illinois
river. It is said that by the other tribes they were called squatters, who
justly claimed that the Pottawattamies never had any land of their own and
were only intruders. They were, however, foremost at all treaties and were
clamorous for the lion's share of presents and annuities, particularly where the
price given was for other's lands rather than their own. They also had vil-
lages upon the Illinois and Kankakee rivers.
After the Kickapoos and Pottawattamies had established themselves in the
24 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
valley of the Wabash, it was mutually agreed between them and the Miamis
that the river should be the dividing line, the two first-named tribes to occupy
the west side of the stream.
The Pottawattamies and Kiekapoos were among the last to leave their i)()s-
sessions in Illinois and Indiana, and it was the people of these tribes with
whom the settlers of this section of the country came, principally in contact.
They ceased hostilities at the close of the war of 1812. The Pottawattamies
owned extensive tracts of land on the Wabash, also on the Tippecanoe and
other western tributaries of the Wabash, and elsewhere in northwestern Indi-
ana, eastern Illinois and southern ]\Iichigan. The greater part of these reser-
vations were retroceded to the United States, in exchange either for annuities
or lands west of the IMississippi. As has already been noted, the Indians
became greatly attached to the French. An Indian reservation on the Des
Plaines river, in Cook county, was occupied by a band of Pottawattamies,
whose chief was Alexander Robinson, the son of a Canadian voyageur and a
Pottawattamie woman.
His place was generally lively with Indians in the declining glories of their
latter days. Groups of blanketed squaws, with their papooses slung on their
backs, and an equal number of braves, bedaubed with paint and ornamented
with feathers, hung around his home in listless dalliance. During the summer
season their numbers were increased by visiting braves and their families from
other reservations.
Being half Indian and having a wife of the same race, he was shut out
from civilized society generally, l)ut his character for integrity and his reputa-
tion for excellence in those qualifications which make up the model citizen
were Avidely published. When his tribe was removed, after carefully weigh-
ing the matter, he chose civilized life, considering this for the children's best
good. He continued to live on the reservation and became a farmer, esteemed
by all who knew him.
The final emigration of the Pottawattamies from the Wabash took place
in the summer of 1838, and in 1846, the various bands of this great tribe were
united west of the Mississippi, except a few scattered bands like the one men-
tioned, who remained long after the departure of their brethren.
In 1863, the tribe numbered two thousand two hundred and seventy-four
men, women and children, which was an alarming decrease from the census
of 1854, owing, no doubt, largely to two reasons — the return of many to their
former home east of the Mississippi, and many of the younger men going west
to the buffalo grounds.
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 25
The Pottawattainics attested tlieir fidelity to the i^overnmeiit l)y the vohin-
teering of seventy-five of their young men to service in the war of 1861.
THE KICKAPOOS.
The Kiekapoos, when first met by the whites, inhabited the state of Wis-
consin, but with the Sacs and Foxes gradually moved southward until they
came in contact with the Illinois. Then unitiiiti' with the Pottawattamies in
a warfare upon the Miamis and Illinois, they steadily drove these two tribes
from a great portion of the territory occupied by them.
The Kiekapoos early incurred the displeasure of the French by committing
depredations upon the missionaries and others. It is said of this tribe that
they were not inclined to receive religious impressions from the early
missionaries.
Prior to 1718, the Kiekapoos had villages upon the banks of the Rock river
and the Illinois. They are described as a clever people and brave warriors.
Their language and manners strongly resembled those of the Foxes. "They
catch deer by chasing them, and even at this day (1718) make considerable
use of bows and arrows."
Their progress south and west was no doubt largely owing to the fierce
attacks of the Sioux, who were pressing on them from the northwest. The
Kiekapoos and the Foxes, meditating a migration to the Wabash as a place of
security from the Sioux, the French became alarmed lest their tribes should
effect a junction with the Iroquois and English. The matter was adjusted
by the French conciliating the Sioux, and for a number of years the Foxes
and Kiekapoos remained upon their old hunting grounds in northern Illinois
and southern Wisconsin. The theory has been advanced that the Mascoutins
and Kiekapoos were bands of one tribe, first known to the French by the for-
mer name, and subsequently to the English by the latter, under which name
alone they figure in our later annals. This theory has been adopted for the
purposes of this sketch. Another noticeable fact is, that with one exception,
the Mascoutins were never known as such in any treaty with the United States,
while the Kiekapoos were parties to many. In warfare, the Kiekapoos were
inferior to the other tribes in movements requiring large numbers of men, but
in predatory warfare they were preeminent. Their war parties usually num-
bered from five to twenty-five persons. The boldness and daring of these
small parties were very great. They would sometimes push out hundreds of
miles from their villages and attack a feeble settlement or an isolated cabin,
26 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
burn the buildings, steal the live-stock, capture the women and children, and
then escape before a general alarm could be given.
The Kickapoos were noted for their fondness for horses. They exhibited
great skill and daring in stealing them.
Their principal enemies seemed to be the Illinois, and after driving the
latter into the southwestern part of the state, it is related that as late as
1789 to 1796, their war parties kept the white settlements and the Illinois tribes
in the vicinity of Kaskaskia in a state of continual alarm. During the time
stated, they killed and captured many of that tribe, as well as a number of the
whites.
After the close of the Pontiac war, the Kickapoos and Pottawattamies
almost annihilated the Kaskaskias, a band of the Illinois, at a place called Bat-
tle Ground Creek, between Kaskaskia and Shawneetown. The principal towns
of the Kickapoos were on the left bank of the Illinois, near Peoria, and on the
Vermilion of the Wabash, and at several points on the west bank of the Wa-
bash. On the prairie they also had villages west of Charleston, Illinois,
and in many of the groves scattered over the prairies in the section of country
bounded on the north by the Kankakee river, on the east by the Wabash, and
on the west by the Illinois, extending south to the Kaskaskia. The most nota-
ble were their towns at Elkhart Grove, twelve miles north of Bloomington,
and at Oliver's Grove in Livingston county, Illinois. Consequently that tract
of country of which Ford county is a part must have been the hunting grounds
of the Kickapoos after the removal of the Illinois tribes.
These people became greatly attached to the country drained by the Ver-
milion of the Wabash and its tributaries, and General Harrison had much
difficulty in securing their consent to cede it to the general government.
The Kickapoos were at the battle of Tippecanoe in considerable numbers,
and fought with frenzied courage. During the war of 1812, they sided with
the English, and sent out numerous war parties that kept the settlements in
Illinois and Indiana territories in constant danger.
When the latter war closed, the Kickapoos ceased active hostilities upon
the whites, and within a few years afterward disposed of their lands in this
state and Indiana, and with the exception of a few bauds, removed west of
the Mississippi.
Beckwith, an excellent authority, says of them: "As compared with
other Indians, the Kickapoos were industrious, intelligent, and cleanly in their
habits, and were better armed and clothed than the other tribes. The men, as
a rule, were tall, sinewy and active; the women were lithe, and many of them
HISTORY OF FOlil) COUNTY 27
by no means hu-kinti' in beauty. Their dialect was soft ami li(]uid, as (■(»iii-
parecl with the rough and gutteral language of the Pottawattamies. They
kept aloof from the white people as a rule, and in this way preserved their
characteristics, and contracted fewer of the vices of the white man than other
tribes. Their numbers were never great, as compared with the Miamis or Pot-
tawattamies; however, they made up for the deficiency in this respect by the
energy of their movements."
Thus we have attempted to briefly sketch the red man as he once lived
upon these prairies and in the groves but the space for this subject in a work
of this character is necessarily quite limited.
To summarize: We first find the Illinois and Miamis occupying this sec-
tion of the country, wdth their dividing line running north and south, nearly
identical with the range line of our county. Following them came the Kicka-
poos and Pottawattamies, the former taking the place of the Illinois tribes,
except that the Kickapoo villages and hunting grounds extended further east,
including the Vermilion of the Wabash and its tributaries.
The Indian came to this country, and now he has left it to return no
more. He left the country no better as far as we can judge for having been
here.
We find the arrowheads and spearheads, saws, flesh-scrapers, hammers and
spades made from stone, and all demanding great patience in their manufac-
ture, because of the lack of suitable implements or machinery to produce
them.
It has been stated that the maize or Indian corn which they cultivated to
a limited extent, and tobacco are the only contributions made by them to us
in the way of products of the soil.
"A noble race, but they are gone;
And we have built our homes upon
Fields where their generations slept."
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
As early as 1784, Thomas Jefferson, then a member of congress, submitted
a plan of government for all the territory from the southern to the northern
boundary of the United States, all of which was expected to be ceded by the
states claiming the same. By this plan seventeen states were to be formed
from this territory.
One of its provisions was "that after the year 1800 there shall be neither
28 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
slavery nor involuntary servitude in any of said states, other than in the pun-
ishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." This
provision was rejected, not having seven states in its favor.
This rejected provision was again proposed by Rufus King the following
year. The proposition again failed. The ordinance of 1787, embracing in
part the plan submitted by Mr. Jefferson in 1874, Avas reported by Nathan
Dane.
The legislative, executive and judicial powers were vested in a governor
and three judges, who with the secretary were to be appointed by congress —
the governor for three years, the judges during good behavior.
The laws of the territory were to be such laws of the original states as
the governor and judges should think proper to adopt. These laws were to
be in force until disapproved by congress. When the territory shoukl contain
five thousand free male inhabitants of full age, there was to lie a legis-
lature, to consist of two branches — a house of representatives, the members to
be chosen from the several counties or townships, for the term of two years,
and a legislative council of five persons, who were to hold their offices for five
years and to be appointed by congress out of ten persons previously nominated
by the house of representatives of the territory. All laws were recpiired to
be consistent with the ordinance, and to have the assent of the governor.
The ordinance concludes with six articles of compact between the original
states and the people of the territory, to be unalterable except by common
consent.
The first secured entire religious freedom; the second, trial by jury, the
writ of habeas corpus, and the other fundamental rights usually inserted in
bills of rights ; the third provided for the encouragement and support of schools
and enjoined good faith toward the Indians; the fourth placed the new states
to be formed out of the territory upon an equal footing with the old ones
both in respect to their privileges and their burdens, and reserved to the United
States the right to dispose of the soil; the fifth authorized the future division
of the territory into not less than three nor more than five states, each state to
be admitted into the Union, when it should contain sixty lliousand inhabitants;
the sixth was the anti-slavery proviso introduced by Thomas Jefferson in 1784,
so modified as to take effect immediately.
This ordinance, which left the territory south of the Ohio (then not yet
ceded) subject to future regulation, received the unanimous vote of eight
states present.
General Arthur St. Clair, who was president of congress, was appointed
HISTORY OF POKl) COUNTY 81
military governor, and in the following snninier began his duties at ^larietta.
In the year 1800, a line was drawn tlirough the northwestern territory from
the mouth of the great ]\Iiami river to Fort Recovery, and thence to Canada.
Two years afterward, the (-(nintry east of this line was erected in the state
of Ohio and admitted into the Union.
The portion west of this line was organized under the name of the Indi-
ana territory. Vincennes was made the capital, and General William Henry
Harrison received the appointment of governor. Indiana was admitted into
tlie Union in 1816, near the close of JMadison's troubled administration.
The Illinois territory was established February 3, 1809, and it included
"all that part of the Indiana territory which lies west of the Wabash river
and Post Vincennes due north to the territorial line between the United States
and Canada."
Kaskaskia was made the seat of government.
John Boyle was appointed governor, but declined to serve. Ninian
Edwards was then appointed. He served from April 24, 1809, to December 6,
1818, when he was made United States senator for the new state of Illinois.
ILLINOIS.
Monroe's administration was noted for the great number of new members
which were added to the Union. In 1818, Illinois, the twenty-first state,
embracing an area of more than fifty-five thousand square miles, and extend-
ing through more than five degrees of latitude, was organized and admitted.
Two years later, when the general census was taken, Illinois ranked twenty-
fourth as to population. From that time up to 1880, her advancement was
rapid, and we noAv find only two states which outrank Illinois in population
and wealth. Population of Illinois territory. 1810, twelve thousand two hun-
dred and eighty-two ; population of Illinois state, 1820, fifty-five thousand one
hundred and sixty-two ; population of Illinois state, 1880, three million seventy-
eight thousand six hundred and tliirt\'-six ; population of Illinois state, 1900,
four million and five hundred thousand. Under the Constitution of 1818, the
elective officers were the governor and lieutenant governor, who held office for
four years. The other state officers were appointed by the governor or chosen
by the general assembly.
By the Constitution of 1848, all of the state officers were made elective.
32 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS.
Shadrack Bond, October 6, 1818
Edward Coles December 5, 1822
Ninian Edwards December 6, 1826
John Reynolds December 9, 1830
William L. D. Ewing November 17, 1834
Joseph Duncan December 3, 1834
Thomas Carlin December 7, 1838
Thomas Ford December 8, 1842
Augustus C. French December 9, 1846
Augustus C. French January 8, 1849
Joel A. Matteson January 10, 1853
William H. Bissell January 12, 1857
John Wood • March 21, 1860
Richard Yates January 14, 1861
Richard J. Oglesby January 16, 1865
John M. Palmer January 11, 1869
Richard J. Oglesby January 13, 1873
John L. Beveridge January 23, 1873
Shelby M. Cullom January 8, 1877
Shelby M. Cullom January 10, 1881
John L. Hamilton February 6, 1883
Richard J. Oglesby 1885-89
Joseph W. Fifer 1889-93
John P. Altgeld 1893-97
John R. Tanner 1897-01
Richard Yates, son of Richard Yates, the war governor 1901-05
Charles S. Deneen 1905-08
ILLINOIS.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Geographical Position — Illinois is bounded on the north by Wisconsin, on
the east by Lake ]\Iichigan, Indiana and Kentucky, on the soutli l)y Kentucky
and Missouri, and on the west by Missouri and Iowa by the Mississippi. It
lies betw^een 37 degrees and 3 minutes and 42 degrees and 30 minutes north
latitude, and between 10 degrees and 30 minutes and 14 degrees and 25 in in-
HISTOEY OF FORD COUNTY 33
utc's longitude west from Washington. Tlie greatest breadth of the state from
east to west is two hundred and ten miles, and its extreme length from north
to south three hundred and seventy-eight miles. The general form of the state
is that of an ellipsoid, truneated at its northern extremity. The superficial
area is about fifty-five thousand five hundred and tliirty-one square miles, or
thirty-five million five hundred and thirty-nine thousand eiglit hundred and
forty acres.
Face of the Country — The surface of the country is generally level or
gently rolling, although in the southern part near the large rivers it is quite
broken and hilly. Illinois is properly termed the prairie state; for, in no
other part of the country are there to be found such vast expanses of level
prairie as here. To the eye of the observer they mark the plane of the horizon
in every direction, and seem limitless as the ocean. As a general rule they
occupy the higher grounds. The timber is principally confined to the lower
lands, along the breaks and valleys of the streams. The highest lands in the
state are in the extreme northwestern part, and are known as the mounds,
which are about eleven hundred feet above the level of the sea. From Free-
port southward there is a gradual descent through the entire length of the
state, except where it is broken b^^ a ridge crossing from east to west through
Union, Johnson and Pope counties. This ridge attains an elevation of about
nine hundred feet above the sea, while the elevation at Cairo is but three hun-
dred and fifty feet.
Rivers — The general slope of the watershed is to the southAvest, and nearly
all the principal streanLs, after a general course in that direction, flow into
the Mississippi. A few in the southeast portion of the state empty into the
Wabash, while some small ones in the extreme south find their outlet in the
Ohio. The largest river flowing through the state is the Illinois, which is
formed by the junction of the Des Plaines and Kankakee, the former rising
in Wisconsin and the latter in Indiana. The Rock and Kaskaskia rivers are
streams of considerable importance, the first running through the northern and
the latter through the southern portion of the state. More than three-fourths
of the circumference of the state is bounded by navigable rivers, the Wabash
on the east, the Ohio on the south, and the Mississippi on the west. The
two last named are among the largest of the world, and afford transportation
for all classes of steamers. The Mississippi, the great "Father of Waters,"
extends along the western boundary a distance of over five hundred miles.
Lakes — A remarkal)le feature of Illinois is the almost entire absence of nat-
34 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
ural lakes or ponds. A few small ones only are found in the northeastern
and southwestern parts of the state. There is, however, a coast line of about
sixty miles, extending along Lake Michigan, one of the largest of the five great
North American lakes.
Soil and Climate — As an agricultural state, Illinois stands without an
equal. Possessing a soil of unsurpassed fertility, and a climatic range of
five and a half degrees of latitude, it yields a greater amount and variety of
botanical production than any other state in the Union. No large tracts of
worthless lands, such as characterize the topography of all the other states, are
to be found here, but the farmer in all portions of the commonwealth obtains
a rich reward for his labor. In the northern and central portions of the
state are raised in abundance nearly all those plants which are common in the
north temperate zone, while in the vicinity of Cairo, both the animal and vege-
table productions partake of a semi-tropical character. The amount of rain
which falls each year is fully one-half greater at the southern extremity of the
state than at the northern, and the average difference in temperature is about
ten degrees Fahrenheit.
Minerals — No natural deposits of gold or silver are known to exist; yet
the mineral productions of the state are not unimportant. Fire clay, potter's
clay, and valuable ci[uarries of building stone are found in various localities.
Rich mines of lead exist in the vicinity of Galena, and iron ore in considerable
quantities is obtained in the southeastern part of the state. Coal is the most
valuable mineral in Illinois. The coal fields are destined to gaow more and
more important, as their resources are developed, and their value can hardly
be overestimated. The coal-bearing strata covers more than two-thirds of the
entire surface of the state, and the mines are believed to be inexhaustible.
HISTORY.
Illinois was originally a part of Florida. In 1543 it became a Spanish
colony. Northern Illinois was included in the territory granted in 1620 to
the Plymouth Company by King James, and was therefore claimed by Great
Britain. In 1673 the Mississippi river was discovered by Marquette and Jol-
iet. In the same year they ascended the Illinois river; and in 1679 Robert
Cavalier De La Salle made further discoveries, descending the Kankakee to
its mouth. Kaskaskia and Cahokia, the oldest towns on the Mississippi river,
were settled by the French in 1682. Illinois at this time contained but few
white inhabitants. In 1699 it became a part of Louisiana, and so remained
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 35
until 1763, when it was ceded to England. The white population now num-
bered about three thousand, mostly French, the principal settlements being at
Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Peoria, Prairie Du Rochor, Prairie Du Pont and Fort
Chartres. In 1778 Kaskaskia, Cahokia and other settlements were captured
by four companies of Virginians, under Colonel Clarke, and in October of the
same year an act was passed by the Virginia legislature, establishing the
"County of Illinois," which embraced all of Virginia northwest of Ohio. In
1784 it was ceded by Virginia to the United States, and in 1787 congress passed
an ordinance for the government of all territory northwest of the Ohio river,
Arthur St. Clair being appointed the first governor. In 1803 Indiana, includ-
ing Illinois and "Wisconsin, was erected into a separate territory, and six years
later, the present state of Illinois became a territory by itself. In 1812 it
passed from the first to the second grade of territorial government, and sent
a delegate to congress. The right of suffrage was at this time extended to the
people, without regard to property qualifications. On the 3d of December,
1818, Illinois was admitted into the Union as a sovereign and independent
state. One section of land in each township was at once donated for school
use, and two townships in the state for the use of a seminary. Since that
time, the growth of Illinois has been astonishingly rapid, and it now ranks the
fourth state in the Union in wealth, population and importance. The num-
ber of its white inhabitants in 1800 was only about 3.000. In 1810 the number
had increased to 12, 282; in 1820 to 57,000; in 1830 to 157,000; in 1840 to
476,000; in 1850 to 851,470; in 1860 to 1,711,951; in 1865 to 2,141,510; in
1870 to 2,539,891; and in 1880 to 3,077,871. Chicago, its largest city, con-
tains a population of over 2,000,000. The foreign population of Illinois is
largely composed of Germans, Irish, Welsh, Scotch, French, Swiss, Swedes,
Danes and Poles. Of tlie American born, the north part of the state is set-
tled principally from New York and New England, the central from Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Virginia, and the southern from Kentucky, Tennessee and
the Carolinas.
Internal Improvements — The works of art compare favorably with those
of the older states. It has not been a century since Illinois was admitted
into the Union, yet the number and value of her internal improvements already
completed are immense. Many thousands of miles of railroad lines are in
successful operation and more are in the process of construction. The number
and character of the splendid edifices which have been erected for courthouses,
humane institutions, seminaries of learning and churches, and the other public
works which adorn the state, bespeak at once the enterprise, intelligence and
moral worth of the people.
36 HISTORY OP FORD COUNTY
Politics — Illinois is at present a republican state. The northern part is
almost exclusively controlled by the dominant party, while the central is gen-
erally democratic, and the extreme southern — familiarly known as Egypt — is
about equally divided between the two parties.
EXPLANATION OF GOVERNMENT SURVEYS.
All the surveys of Illinois are made from three established lines, known
as the second, third and fourth principal meridians. The second principal
meridian runs due north from the mouth of the Little Blue river in Indiana.
The third principal meridian, due north from the mouth of the Ohio river.
The fourth principal meridian starts at the mouth of the Illinois river, follows
up the stream to a point opposite Beardstown, and runs thence due north.
Townships lying west of the third principal meridian and the Illinois
river number nortli and south from a base-line which runs due west from
Beardstown. All the other townships number north and south from a base-
line which runs through the center of St. Clair county.
Ranges number from the fourth principal meridian west to the IMississippi
river and east to the third principal meridian and the Illinois river, and from
the third principal meridian west to the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.
Ranges east of the third principal meridian and north of a line passing
through the center of Kankakee county number from said meridian east to the
state line. The other ranges number from the third principal meridian, east
to the eastern line of range eleven, and west from the second principal merid-
ian to the same line.
Each township is six miles square, and is divided into sections, which num-
ber from one to thirty-six ; number one being in the northeast corner of the
township. Each regular section contains six hundred and forty acres. Frac-
tional townships are occasioned by inaccurate surveys. Fractional sections'
are due to the same cause, and are usually found on the north and west side
of each township. Correction lines, running east and west, are established at
distances of about thirty miles apart, for the purpose of preventing such errors
as would naturally be occasioned by the curvature of the earth.
THE ECONOMIC RESOURCES OF ILLINOIS.
Of the varied economic resources of Illinois, only those whicli are of
supreme importance to the state as a whole, such as agriculture, mining, bank-
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 37
ing, transportation and manufacturing industries, will be briefly reviewed in
this article.
Agriculture is one of the greatest industries of the state. The large yield
of those crops for which the state is adapted make ample amends for what-
ever deficiency there may be in the variety of products. In 1900, out of
the total acreage of thirty-two million seven hundred and ninety-four thousand
and seven hundred and twenty-eight acres in the state, twenty-seven million
six hundred and ninety-nine thousand two hundred and nineteen acres were
improved land. In the value of farm property, Illinois leads the list of states
with a total value of two billion four million three hundred and sixteen thou-
sand ("iti'ht hundred and ninety seven dollars. In the value of farm products,
Iowa takes the lead ^\'ith an annual product of three hundred and sixty-five
million four hundred and eleven thousand five hundred and twenty eight dol-
lars in comparison with three hundred and forty-five million six hundred and
forty-nine thousand six hundred and eleven dollars for Illinois. The improved
acreage of the state in 1905 was divided among the various leading crops as
follows: "Wheat, one million four hundred and forty-seven thousand seven
hundred and sixty-four acres ; oats, three million two hundred and forty-two
thousand seven hundred and sixty-two acres ; corn, seven million seven hundred
and forty-three thousand three hundred and sixty-one acres; hay, two million
five hundred and sixteen thousand seven hundred and ninety-three acres; rye,
eighty-seven thousand four hundred and thirty acres ; barley, twenty-nine thou-
sand six hundred and sixty-three acres, with four million two hundred and
eighty-six thousand two hundred and ninety-six acres in pasture.
Although in acreage of cereals in 1900, Iowa ranked first with sixteen mil-
lion nine hundred and thirty thousand and ninety-five acres, and Illinois second
with sixteen million seven hundred and sixty-nine thousand and ten acres, yet
Illinois ranked first in the Union in value of all crops, the valuation being two
hundred and twelve million two hundred and seventy-six thousand eight hun-
dred and sixteen dollars, Iowa and Ohio following in order. In value of cer-
eals, Illinois again led with a production valued at one hundred and sixty-four
million seven hundred and eighty-four thousand four hundred and thirty seven
dollars, Iowa and Ohio following as in the value of all crops. Among specific
products, Illinois produced three hundred and ninety-eight million one hundred
and forty-nine thousand one hundred and forty bushels of corn, enough to
place her fifteen million beyond her nearest competitor in 1900. In the pro-
duction of oats, the state was likewise twelve million bushels in advance of any
other state, with a total production of one hundred and eighty million three
38 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
hundred and five thousand six hundred and thirty hushels. In 1900. Illinois
produced sixty million six hundred and sixty-five thousand five hundred and
twenty pounds of the ninety million nine hundred and forty-seven thousand
three hundred and seventy pounds of broom corn produced in the entire United
States. The number of tons of hay and forage crops, three million nine hundred
and forty-eight thousand five hundred and sixty-three tons, placed Illi-
nois in the sixth place, and in rye, the state ranked eighth. Two hundred and
fifty-six thousand two hundred and thirteen acres were devoted to the growing
of vegetables, which were produced to the value of ten million three hundred
and forty-six thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven dollars. In the num-
ber of apple trees, Illinois ranked third among the states, with a production of
nine million one hundred and seventy-eight thousand one hundred and fift.v
bushels apples. These figures show the importance of agriculture in Illinois,
and the high position which the state takes among the states of the Union in
agricultural products.
Next in importance to agriculture in the natural products of the state is
coal. Only one state in the Union surpasses Illinois in value of coal pro-
duced. All the coal that is found in this state is bituminous, differing in value
at the mines from one dollar and thirty-seven cents per ton for lump coal to
fifty-six cents per ton for pea coal. The total output of the state for 1904
was thirty-seven million seventy-seven thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven
tons compared with fifteen million six hundred and sixty thousand six hundred
and ninety-eight tons in 1891, an increase of nearly twent.v-two million tons,
or over one hundred and forty per cent. The number of mines in 1904 was
nine hundred and thirty-two, an increase of fourteen since 1891, and the num-
ber of hands employed in the mines had increased from thirty-two thousand
nine hundred and fifty-one to forty-nine thousand three hundred and sixt.v-
one. The total value of the coal at the mines was forty million seven hundred
and seventy-four thousand two hundred and twenty-three dollars. In respect
to the distribution of the industry over the state, Sangamon county led with
a production of four million five hundred and sixteen thousand three hundred
and fifty-eight tons, St. Clair county second with three million four hundred
and eighteen thousand four hundred and seventy-nine tons and Vermilion
county was third with a production of three million one hundred and fourteen
thousand and sixty tons. It is a significant fact as sliowing the extent of the
distribution of coal in the state, that out of tli(> one hundred and two ('ounti(>s,
fifty-four are coal producing.
No statement of the industrial activity of the state would be complete
CITY HALL, GIBSOX CITY
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 41
witliont something being said of the banking business. Banks are so essential
to tlio l)usiness world of today, that the volume of their transactions are a fair
indication of the business life of the state. During the last few yeai-s, Chi-
cago has passed Ixith Philadelphia and lioston in the amount of her clearing-
house transactions, the amount of clearances for 1904 being eight billion eight
hundred and eight million ninety-three thousand tAvo hundred and sixty-eight
dollars. The number of national banks in the state in 1904 was three hundred
aiul twenty-four with a capitalization of forty-eight million eight hundred and
eleven thousand dollars, and a surplus of twenty-two million two hundred aiul
eighty-nine thousand dollars. The number of state banks for the same year
was two hundred and eighty-five with a capital of thirty-eight million nine hun-
dred and fifty thousand dollars and a surplus of twenty-five million six hun-
dred and thirty thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven dollars. Of the
two hundred and eighty-five state banks, one hundred and nineteen were oper-
ating savings departments and thirty were exercising trust powers. The inimlxT
of private l)aii]\s in 1!)()2 was six hundi-ed and thirty-eight, capitalized at
thirteen million twelve thousand one hundred and fifty-three dollars, and hav-
ing a surplus of two million five hundred and fifty-seven thousand three
Inindred and two dollars. There were fortv-three trust companies in 1904; of
this number thirty were operating under the State Banking Act of 1887, three
were or'^'anizcd under the Trust Company Act of 1887, with a capital of five
million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars and a surplus of one million
one hundred and eighteen thousand four hundred and four dollars, and ten
were foreign corporations qualified as trust companies. This makes a grand
total of one thousand two hundred and sixty banking institutions in the state
with a capital of one hundred and six million five hundred and twenty-three
thoiLsand one hundred and fifty-three dollars, and a surplus of fifty-one mil-
lion five hundred and ninety-five thousand five hundred and thirty-three
dollars. These figures when compared with those of 1890 show what an enormous
development has taken place in the banking business during the last fourteen
years. In 1904, as stated above, there were three hundred and twenty-four
national banks; in 1890 there were one hundred and seventy-seven. In 1904,
there were two hundred and eighty-five state banks; in 1890 there were forty.
In 1902 there were six hundred and thirty-eight private banks; in 1890 there
were one hundred and sixty-four. In 1904 there were thirty-three trust com-
panies; in 1890 there were only seventeen. In 1890 there was a grand total
of three hundred and eighty-eight banking institutions in the state with a
capitalization of twenty-eight million two hundred and sixty-five thousand
42 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
three hundred and sixty-three dollars and a surplus of nine million seventy-
three thousand four hundred and thirty-two dollars; in 1904 the number was
one thousand two hundred and sixty, the capitalization one hundred and six
million five hundred and twenty-three thousand one hundred and fifty-three dol-
lars, and the surplus fifty-one million five hundred and ninety-five thousand five
hundred and thirty-three dollars, an increase in each of these items of over
two hundred and seventy-five per cent. Such increases show not only the
increase of banking transactions, but also the great development of all kinds
of business to the needs of which the banks respond.
For three decades, Illinois has led in miles of railroad. With abundant
supplies of bituminous coal throughout the state, mining, manufacturing and
railroads have developed together. There were in 1904 in Illinois eleven thou-
sand six hundred and thirty-six miles of main line and enough more in
branches, second, industrial and yard tracks to make the total mileage twenty
thousand and sixty-five. In 1900 there were nineteen and sixty-five hundredths
for every one hundred square miles of territory. The only states approaching
Illinois in amount of mileage are Pennsylvania and Texas, Pennsylvania
having slightly more miles per one hundred square miles and Texas but one-
seventh as much per one hundred square miles. The number of employes of
the railroads in Illinois in 1904 were one hundred and fiftpen thousand four
hundred and seven, to whom wages to the sum of seventy-two million seventy-
eight thousand three hundred and ninety-seven dollars were paid. The number
of passengers carried in Illinois was fifty-three million five hundred and
forty-seven thousand two hundred and ninety, and the number of passengers
carried one mile was one billion seven hundred and fifty-four million nine hun-
dred and nine thousand, three hundred and twenty-six. The number of tons
of freight carried was one hundred and twenty-three million five hundred and
eighty-four thousand and seventy-eight, a total of twelve billion five hundred
and seventy-eight million two hundred and se-^^enteen thousnnd i^vo ]^m^<^ro(}
and eighty-six ton-miles. From the passenger service thirty-eight million eight
hundred and forty-five thousand five hundred and twenty-two dollars was
derived and from the freight service eighty-eight million four Inindred and six
thousand five hundred and fortA-two dollars earnings were received, the total
earnings and income for the railroads in Illinois for the year 1904 being one
hundred and forty-one million four hundred and fifty-four thousand, four hun-
dred and fifty-nine dollars. In 1890, fourteen years earlier, although there
was nearly the same amount of main track in Illinois, only twenty-four million
nine hundred and ten thousand eight hundred and twenty passengers were
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 48
carried, over seventeen million less than in 1001. The inunl)er of passengers
carried one mile has increased nearly one hnndred per cent in the short inter-
val of ten years. The tons of freiolit had increased from forty-eisfht million
in round ]niin))crs to eiyhty-eiglit million dufiii<;- the same period. The total
income had increased from seventy-three million to one hnndred and eij?ht mil-
lion dollars. These figures show that railroad building is pretty well
advanced in Illinois, that new construction is proceeding slowly, as it should,
but that greater use is being made of existing facilities.
It is in manufactures that the great expansion of the state's energies is
now taking place. This accounts in some degree for the unusual increase in
the urban population of the state. The high rank of Illinois as a manufac-
turing state as stated in the census of 1900 is due primarily to its transporta-
tion facilities. The communication with the east afforded by Lake Michigan
has made Chicago the great distributing center for eastern products to all
points in the middle west, while the Mississippi affords communication with
the entire Mississippi valley. The importance of railroads has already been
touched upon. As a result of these facilities and because of her great natural
resources, Illinois is only surpassed by New York and Pennsylvania in the
value of her manufactured products, according to the census of 1900, being
one billion two hundred and fifty-nine million seven hundred and thirty thou-
sand one hundred and sixty-eight dollars ; an increase of over three hundred
per cent since 1880. In the amount of capital invested in manufactures, Illi-
nois ranks fourth among the states, with an investment of seven hundred and
seventy-six million eight hundred and twenty-eight thousand five hundred and
ninety-eight dollars in contrast with one hundred and forty million six hundred
and fifty-two thousand and sixty-six dollars invested in manufactures in 1880.
In the number of wage-earners dependent upon manufacturers, Illinois ranks
fourth with a total of three hundred and ninety-five thousand one hundred and
ten wage-earners, to whom one hundred and ninety-one million five hnndred
and ten thousand nine hundred and sixty-two dollars was ])aid in wages. The
cost of materials used was seven hundred and thirty-nine million seven hundred
and fifty-four thousand, four hundred and fourteen. The per capita production
of manufactured goods for the state exceeded two hundred and fifty dollars
in 1900.
In value of manufactured goods in specific industries, Illinois ranks first
among the states in the manufacture of agricultural implements, bicycles and
tricycles, steam railroad cars, glucose, distilled li(iu()rs. and wnlchcs, and in tlie
products of its slaughtering and meat packing establishments. It ranks
44 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
second in the manufacture of factory furniture, men's clothing, soaps, and in
printing and publishing, l)<)th in Ijooks and in joh work. Forty-one and one-
half i)er cent of all the agricultural implements of the country are manufactured
in the ninety-four plants of Illinois, employing twenty-two thousand three
hundred and ninety-four men. The importance of the slaughtering and meat
packing industry is well known. There are sixty-four plants in the state,
employing twenty-seven thousand eight hiuidred and sixty-one men and turning
out products to the value of t^vo hundred eight^'-seven million nine huiulred
twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-seven dollars. It is this industry
in addition to many of lesser importance, which has made Chicago the second
manufacturing city in the world.
In the production of iron and steel, Illinois ranks third, Pennsylvania and
Ohio taking the lead. There are twenty-six plants in Illinois, having a capital
of forty-three million three hundred fifty-six thousand two hundred thirty-nine
dollars, employing sixteen thousand six hundred forty-two men, paying in wages
nine million six hundred forty thousand seven hundred sixteen dollars, and
turning out a product valued at sixty million, three hundred three thousand one
hundred forty -four dollars. Besides these larger industries, there are numerous
carriage and wagon factories, ship-building establishments, locomotive works,
papermills, flourmills, canning factories, clothing factories, malt liquor estab-
lishments, which turned out products to the value of nineteen million seven
hundred thirty-three thousand eight hundred twenty-one dollars in 1900,
distilleries, manufactories for chemicals, finished leather, and numerous other
products whose total annual value exceeds one million dollars.
Because of its significance, the printing and pul)lishing industry deserves
separate attention. In the state there are one thousand seven hundred fifty-five
regular publications, having an aggregate circulation per issue of ten million
four hundred twenty-nine thousand three hundred and sixty-eight, and an
average circulation per issue of six thousand seven hundred thirty-seven.
From the al)ove brief statistics and comparisons, it is seen that Illinois with
fifty-six thousand scjuare miles of territory and ahnost fi\-e million inhabitants
is a state with truly imperial resources. Her innnense coal fields widely dis-
tributed, producing thirty-seven million tons each xcar; iiei- twenty-thousand
miles of railroad, making a netwoi'k of ii-on over the state; her rail and water
couanuuication with tlie east and the whole Mississippi valley afi'ording unri\ale(l
means of transportation ; her mow than twelve hundred banking institutions,
possessing a grand total of one hundred and fifty million dollars capital and
surplus ; her twenty-seven million acres of improved land producing an anniuxl
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 45
product valued at three hundred fortj^-five million dollars; her thirty-eiglit
thousand manufacturing establishments, using materials valued at three-quarters
of a billion dollars and turning out a product valued at one and one-cpiarter
billion dollars; all these resources combine to give Illinois a proud position
among the sisterhood or states.
FORD COUNTY.
Within a short time after the organization of Illinois territory, two counties
St. Clair and Randolph, were formed. These two counties have been gradually
subdivided until now there are one hundred and two comities within Ihe
boundaries of this state. Ford was the last county organized. To show
whence we came as a county, the following letter is inserted:
Springfield, February 11, 1881.
]\ferton Dunlap, Esq., Connty Clerk, Ford County, Paxton, 111. :
Dear Sir — Your communication of the 8th inst. at hand, and in response
thereto, have to say that the following named counties comprised the state of
Illinois in the year 1818, to-wit :
St. Clair, organized April 28, 1809.
Randolph, organized April 28, 1809.
Madison, organized September 14, 1812.
Gallatin, organized September 14, 1812.
Johnson, organized September 14, 1812.
Edwards, organized November 28, 1814.
White, organized December 9, 1815.
Jackson, organized January- 10, 1816.
Pope, organized April 1, 1816.
IMonroe, organized June 1, 1816.
Crawford, organized December 31, 1816.
Bond, organized January 4, 1817.
Union, organized January 2, 1818.
Washington, organized January 2, 1818.
Franklin, organized January 2, 1818.
Vermilion county was organized by an act of the general assembly, ai)proved
January 18, 1826, and embraced all that tract of country within the following
bounds, to-wit : Beginning on the state line between Illinois and Indiana, at the
northeast corner of Edgar county; thence west with the line dividing townships
16 and 17, to the southwest corner of township 17 north, range 10, east of third
46 HISTORY OF FORD COUxXTY
principal meridian; thence north to the northwest corner of township 22 north;
thence east to the state line ; thence south with the state liue to the place of
l)eginning.
Vermilion county was formed out of territory attached to Edgar county for
county purposes.
Edgar county was organized January 3. 1828. and at that date the territory
now embraced in Vermilion county was attached to the county of Edgar.
Clark county was organized March 22. 1819, and at that date the territory
now comprising the county of Vermilion formed part of Clark.
Crawford county was organized December 31, 1816, and at that date the
territory now embraced in Vermilion county formed part of Crawford.
Edwards county was organized November 28, 1814, and at that date the
territory now embraced in Vermilion county formed i)art of Edwards.
St. Clair county was organized April 28, 1809, and at that date the territory
now embraced in Vermilion county formed part of St. Clair.
The territory attached to Vermilion county embraced all the country now
occupied by Champaign, Iroijuois and Ford counties; two tiers of townships on
the east side of Livingston; two-thirds of the width of Grundy county south of
the Kankakee, and nearly one and one-half congressional townships in the south-
west corner of Will.
Iroquois county was formed February 26, 1833.
Champaign county was formed February 20, 1833.
Livingston county was formed February 27, 1837.
Grundy county was formed February 17, 1841.
Will county was formed Januarj^ 12, 1836.
Ford county was formed February 17, 1859.
Very respectfully yours,
Henry D. Dement,
Secretary of State.
Although Ford was the last county of the state organized, she is not tli(^
least as many supjiose.
In population Ford county numbered as follows: 1860, 1,979; 1870. 9.103;
1880, 1.505; 1900. 18,259. At the date of the last census there were twenty-six
counties in this state containing a less iunnl)er of inhabitants than Ford.
Forty-five counties have a smaller acreage than this county, as shown by
the reports of the State Hoard of E((ualization.
This county received its name in honor of Thomas Ford, the eighth governor
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 47
of Illinois (if the adiiiinisti'ation of W. L. D. Ewing, covering sixteen days, is
to be counted as a term, otherwise Governor Ford's would be the seventh).
Thomas Ford was born in UniontoAvn, Pennsylvania, in the year 1800.
His father was killed by the Indians when Thomas was but two years old. In
1804, his mother, with her large family of children, removed to St. Louis,
IMissouri, and two years later settled in IMonroe county, Illinois.
This mother was a good manager, energetic, and determined that her sons
should become good citizens. Governor Ford's boyhood was mostly spent in
earning something for the family support, attending an occasional session of
the county school, and one term at the Trans^dvania University. He then
studied law with Daniel P. Cook, a congressman, and soon thereafter com-
manded a remunerative class of clients.
In 1829, he was appointed prosecuting attorney, and was reappointed in
1831.
Afterward he served two terms as circuit judge, one term as .judge of the
circuit court at Chicago, and one term as judge of the supreme court. In 1837
the financial panic then sweeping over the country visited Illinois with the most
destructive effect. The state had become embarrassed as a consequence of
loaning her credit to various projects of internal improvements, notably that of
building railroads, and for the purpose of establishing a state bank and branches.
The panic came, the internal improvement plans collapsed, the banks failed, the
state bonds experienced a heavy decline, public confidence was lost, credit
disappeared, and biLsiness of every kind was completely prostrated. This
unfortunate condition of affairs continued for a period of several years. In
1842, Thomas Ford was chosen governor; the state debt then amounted to
fourteen million dollars. It was during his able administration, and chiefly
upon his recommendation, that a series of wise financial measures were brought
forward in legislature. The fallen credit of the commonwealth was restored,
confidence reestablished, and a fresh impetus given to trade and agricultural
enterprise.
In his first message, he says: "We must convince our creditors and the
world that the disgrace of repudiation is not countenanced among us, that we are
honest and mean to pay as soon as w^e are able. ' '
When Governor Ford delivered the reins of government to his successor, in-
stead of a domestic debt for the ordinary expenses of the state amounting to
almost one-third of a million dollars, we find it reduced to thirty-one thousand
two hundred twelve dollars, with nine thousand two liuiidred sixty dollars in
the treasury.
48 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
Governor Ford in his personality is described as ' ' short in stature, slender,
dark eomplexioned, heavy dark hair, deep set eyes, sharp nose and small mouth. ' '
He sa^'s in his valedictory message: "Without having indulged in wasteful
or extravagant habits of living, I retire from office poorer than I came in, and
go to private life with the full determination not to seek again any place in the
government. ' '
He died at Peoria November 2, 1850, in very indigent circumstances.
FORD COUNTY ORGANIZED.
An act to Create the County of Ford and for Other Purposes :
Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois represented
in the general assembly, That all that portion of Vermilion county lying and be-
ing within the following boundaries and described as follows, to- wit:
Beginning at the northeast corner of Champaign county, running thence
north of the south line of Iroquois county, thence west to the southwest corner of
Iroquois county, thence north to the northwest corner of Iroquois county, thence
west to Livingston county, thence south to the southeast corner of Livingston
county, thence west to McLean county, thence south to the northwest corner of
Champaign county, thence east to the place of beginning, be and the same is
hereby created into a new county, to be called the county of Ford : Provided
that a majority of all the- legal voters of said county of Vermilion voting on the
(Question shall vote for said new county, at an election to be held in manner
hereinafter provided.
Sec 2. The qualified voters of said county of Vermilion may at a special
election to be held in the several towns in said county on the first Tuesday in
April next, vote for or against the creation of said new county of Ford by ballot
upon which shall be written or printed or partly written and partly printinl 1h(^
words, "For the new county," or "Against the new county."
Sec. 3. The clerk of the county court of said county of Vermilion shall give
notice of said election in the several election districts of said county in the same
manner as notice of general or especial elections are given in counties which have
not adopted township organization as nearly as may be, and the judges and
clerks of election in the several election districts of said county shall keep a list
of the voters polled at said election, and conduct the same in all respects and
make return thereof to the clerk of the county court in the same manner as is
provided by law for general elections. All vacancies in the bt)ar(l of election shall
/goo
THE Or.D COURT HOUSE, PAXTON
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 51
be filled in the same manner as is provided by law in other cases. The clerk of
said county court shall within seven days after said election, or as soon there-
after as said returns shall be received, proceed to canvass the returns of said
election in the same manner as in general elections, and shall within five days
thereafter make return of said vote to the secretary of state.
Sec. 4. If it shall appear that a majority of all the voters in said county
of Vermilion voting upon the question, have voted in favor of the creation of
said new county of Ford, then there shall be held a special election in the several
towns and precincts within the limits of this act described for said new county
of Ford, on the first Monday in June next for county officers. In case of frac-
tional towns or precincts which have become detached by the boundaries of the
said new county the voters thereof may at the first election for county officers
vote within such town or precinct within said new county as they deem most
convenient. The said election to be conducted by the judges of election then
in office under appointment or election in said county of Vermilion, and to be
held at the place of holding the last general election. In case of vacancy in the
board of election, or non-attendance, said vacancy or place of any absentee shall
be filled in the same manner as is provided by law in other cases of election. At
which election the qualified voters of said county of Ford shall elect all county
officers for said county except such as hereinafter are excepted who shall be com-
missioned and ciualified in the same manner as such officers are in other counties
in this state, and who shall continue in office until the next general election for
such officers and until their successors are elected and cpialificd, and who shall
have all the jurisdiction and perform all the duties which are or may be con-
ferred upon such officers in other counties of this state.
Sec. 5. All the justices of the peace, constables or other town or precinct
officers who have been heretofore elected and qualified in said county of Ver-
milion whose term of office shall not have expired at the time of said election
and whose residence shall be embraced within the limits of said county of
Ford shall continue in office until their term of office shall expire, and until
their successors shall be elected and qualified.
Sec. 6. For the purpose of fixing the permanent location of the county
seat of said county of Ford, the voters of said county shall at said election for
county officers vote for some place to be designated upon their ballots for a
county seat, upon which ballots shall be written or printed, or partly written
and partly printed, "For county seat " after which words shall be
written or printed the name of the place intended for the county seat. The
place receiving a majority of all the votes cast upon the question shall be the
LIBRARY "^"-^ — ■
University of u'
52 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
county seat of said county of Ford, but if no one place sliall receive a majority
of all the votes cast upon the question, then it shall be the dut}' of the t-ounty
court of said county to call another election within thirty days thereafter at
the several places of holding elections in said county, at whirh election the vot-
ers of said county shall proceed to vote as before, but shall choose from the
two places having the greater inimber of votes at the former election, and the
place having the majority of all the votes cast at the second election shall be
the permanent county seat of said county of Ford.
Sec. 7. The notice of said election for county officers shall be given hy the
clerk of the county court of Vermilion county in the same manner as in cases
of general elections; said notice shall specify that a vote will be taken upon
the location of the county seat. The returns of said election for county offi-
cers shall be made to the clerk of said court, who shall cause the same to be
opened and canvassed and returns thereof made in the same manner as is pro-
vided by law in other cases.
Sec. 8. All suits and prosecutions that have been or may be commenced
in said county of Vermilion, including all the proceedings in the county court,
in matters of probate before the organization of said county of Ford, shall not
be affected by this act or the operation thereof, l)ut all such suits, prosecutions
and proceedings shall be prosecuted, and conducted to their final termination
in said county of Vermilion, and the officers of said county are hereby author-
ized to execute all writs that may be necessary for the completion of said suits,
prosecutions or proceedings within the limits of said county of Ford, and all
judgments that may have heretofore been obtained, or that may hereafter be
obtained in said county of Vermilion before the organization of said county of
Ford, shall have the same lien upon all property within the limits of said
county of Ford as if the said territory had not been created into a separate
county.
Sec. 9. As soon as the county officers shall have been elected and (pialified
as aforesaid, the said county of Ford shall be considered organized. The oath
of office may be administered to the several country officers by any person within
the limits of the new county authorized by law to administer oaths, and as soon
as said county is organized, the clerk of the circuit court shall give notice
thereof to the judge of the circuit in which said county may be embraced, who
shall thereupon hold court at such place in said county of Ford as the county
court thereof shall designate until the county seat of said county shall become
permanently located as heretofore provided, which court shall be holden at
such times as the judge of said circuit shall appoint until otherwise provided
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 53
by law, the said eoiint.y of Ford shall be taken and considered as a part of the
eighth judicial circuit.
Sec. 10. The school funds, if any, in the hands of the school commission-
ers of Vermilion county belonging to the several towns or parts of towns
embraced within the limits of said county of Ford, shall be by said commis-
sioners paid over to the school commissioner of said county of Ford, so soon
as he shall have given bond and been qualified on demand- made.
Sec. 11. The county court of said county of Ford shall at some term of
said court, by an order to be entered upon their records, appoint some compe-
tent i^erson a commissioner for the purpose hereinafter expressed, who shall
take an oath of office before some officer of said county authorized by law to
administer oaths, said court shall at the same time provide a sufficient number
of well bound blank books, and deliver the same to said commissioner, who
shall receipt the same to the clerk of said court, and as soon as the same shall
be delivered to said commissioners he shall record in each book a copy of the
order of appointment and oath of office, and shall thereupon proceed to trans-
cribe into such books all deeds, mortgages and title papers of every descrip-
tion, with the acknowledgments and certificates in relation thereto, of lands
lying in the said county of Ford, which have been recorded, or may hereafter
be recorded, before the organization of said county, in the recorder's office of
said county of Vermilion. Such commissioner shall be allowed by said county
court such sums as his services shall be worth, to be paid out of the county
treasury. Said commissioner shall note at the end of each paper he shall
transcribe, the book and page from which the same was transcribed, and shall
make a correct double index of said records, and on the completion of his
duties, said commissioner shall return said books to the clerk of the circuit
court of the said county of Ford, whereupon they shall be taken and considered
to all intents and purposes as books of records of deeds, mortgages and title
papers for said county of Ford, and copies of said records certified by the offi-
cer having custody of the same shall be evidenced in all courts and places in
the same manner that deeds and title papers regularly recorded in the record-
er's office, an evidence and with the same effect.
Sec. 12. Of the swamp lands lying within the present limits of Vermilion
county and of the proceeds of sales of said lands heretofore made, and which
may hereafter be made before the organization of said county of Ford, after
deducting all expenses paid by, and for which the said county of Vermilion
may be liable. The said county of Ford shall receive and be entitled to a
share in proportion to the number of congressional townships and parts of
54 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
townships lying within the boundaries of said county of Ford, and the share
of said county of Yennilion to said hinds and proceeds of sales thereof as
aforesaid, shall be in proportion to the number of congressional townships and
parts of townships remaining within the limits of said county of Vermilion
after said county of Ford shall have been organized.
Sec. 13. The secretary of state shall forthwith furnish to the clerk of
the county court of Vermilion county a certified copy of this act.
Sec. 14. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
passage.
William R. INIorrison,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
John Wood,
Speaker of the Senate.
Approved February 17, 1859,
William H. Bissell.
United States of America,
State of Illinois.
ss.
Office of Secretary.
I, Henry D. Dement, secretary of state of the state of Illinois, do hereby
certify that the foregoing is a true copy of an act to create the county of
Ford and for other purposes now on file in this office.
In witness whereof, I hereto set my hand and affix the great seal of state
(L. S.) at the city of Springfield, this 11th day of June, A. D. 1883.
Henry D. Dement,
Secretary of State.
Agreeably to tlie fourth section of the foregoing act, an election w^as held
on the first Monday in June, 1859, in the new county of Ford, for county offi-
cers. At the same time, in accordance with the sixth section, the location of
the county seat was determined by the selection of Paxton, the name of the
town at that time being Prospect City.
The following is a list of the county officers, from the first election, until
the present time :
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
An act for establishing county courts, approved February 12, 1849, and
in force at the time of the organization of Ford county, provided for the elec-
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 55
tioii of a county .I'ncl^'e. Also, that at the same time, "there shall be elected
two justices of the peac(\ wliose jurisdiction shall be coextensive with the
county, and Avho shall hold llicir officers for four years." They were to give
bond, and have the same powers as township justices and "moreover, sit with
the county judge, as meml)ers of the court for the transaction of the county
business, and none other, and while sitting as members of the court shall have
an c({ual vote with the comity judge on all (piestions and matters legally and
properly before said ccmrt. The said judge wnth said two justices shall in
all cases whatever, have, exercise and possess all the power, jurisdiction and
authority heretofore conferred on the county commissioners court." To dis-
tinguish these county justices from those of the several townships they were
termed associate justices. In probate and certain other matters, the county
judge acted alone.
It is our purpose to give a list of the members of this court followed by
a list of the township supervisors, dating from the adoption of township organ-
ization by this county. These supervisors, when met for county business,
compose what is termed the board of supervisors, which takes the place of the
county court, consisting of the county judge and associate justices.
The records of Vermilion county show^ that that portion which now com-
prises Ford county was organized as a township February 16, 1856, from IMid-
dlefork township and named Prairie City township. Its name was changed
to "Patton" September 15, 1857, on account of there being another Praire
City township in the state.
Drummer Grove township was organized from Patton, September 14, 1858,
and included the present townships of Drummer, Dix, Peach Orchard and Sul-
livant. Stockton township was organized from Patton, March 15, 1859, and
included the present townships of Lyman, Brenton, Pella, Mona and Rogers.
Therefore, at the time of the organization of Ford countv, it consisted of three
townships, viz. : Patton, Drummer Grove and Stockton, the former at that
time including the present townships of Patton, Button and Wall. The first
court after the election in June, 1859, for the transaction of county business,
was held by David Patton, county judge; William Swinford and Andrew J.
Bartlett, associate justices.
April 3, 1860, Edmund F. Havens was elected associate justice in place
of Andrew J. Bartlett, removed from the county.
November 6, 1860, township organization was adopted by the following
vote: For, two hundred and sixty-five; against, seventy-six.
56
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
1861 — James P. Button, Patton township; Andrew Jordan, Drummer's
Grove; and George B. Winter, Stockton.
1862 — Jame.s P. Button, Patton; Andrew Jordan, Drummer's Grove; Mark
Parsons, Stockton.
1863 — William Noel, Patton; William Snider, Drummer's Grove; ]\Iark
Parsons, Stockton.
September 14, 1863 — The township of Grant was organized Avliich com-
prised the present townships of IMona and Rogers.
March 7, 1864 — The name of Grant was changed to Rogers, and Stockton
at this time, comprising the present townships of Lyman, Brenton and Bella,
was changed to Brenton.
1864 — William Noel, Patton; William Snider, Drummer's Grove; IMark
Parsons, Brenton ; J. W. Rogers, Rogers.
September 12, 1864 — Name of Drummer's Grove township changed to Dix.
December 13, 1864 — E. M. Blackford took his seat as supervisor in place
of William Snider, elected sheriff.
At this meeting the present township of Button was organized.
1865 — James P. Button, Button ; William Noel, Patton ; J. W. Rogers,
Rogers ; George B. Winter, Brenton ; J. E. Davis, Dix.
August 31, 1865 — John J. Simons appointed county clerk, pro tempore,
vice Nathan Simons, deceased.
December 4, 1865 — William Walker took his seat as supervisor in place
of James P. Button, elected county treasurer.
1867— J. P. Middlecotf, Patton; J. II. Kendall, Dix; J. IT. Flagg, But-
ton; D. B. Case, Rogers; S. E. Burt, Brenton.
June 12, 1867 — The present township of Wall was organized
September 9, 1867 — Tlu; present township of Lyman was organized.
September 10, 1867 — Tlie present township of Sullivant Avas organized.
1867— W. TI. H. Wood, Patton; J. II. Flagg, Buttcm ; M. L. Sullivant, Sul-
livant; Samuel Woodward, Lyman; J. E. Davis, Dix; Edward Clayton, Rog-
ers; William Liggett, Wall; L. T. Bishop, Brenton.
September 15, 1868 — The present township of Peach Orchard was
organized.
March 1, 1869 — The present townsliip of Drununer was organized and
called Drummer's Grove.
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 57
1869— M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant; J. H. Flagg, Button; L. T. Bishop, Bren-
toii ; D. B. Case, Rogers; Caleb McKeever, Drummer's Grove; R. S. Chamber-
lin, Dix; A. M. Haling, Lyman; John Kelley, Patton; William Noel, Wall;
James Dixon, Peach Orchard.
]\Iarch 2, 1870 — The present township of Pella was organized and called
Clyde.
Also present township of ]\Iona organized and called Delhi.
The name of Drummer's Grove township was changed to that of Drummer.
1870— David Keighin, Delhi ; J. D. Kilgore, Wall ; C. E. Henderson, Pat-
ton; B. H. McClure, Drummer; R. S. Chamberlin, Dix; P. S. Gose, Lyman;
L. T. Bishop, Brenton; J. H. Flagg, Button; D. B. Case, Rogers; W. B.
Holmes, Peach Orchard ; J. S. Ruff, Clyde ; M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant.
June 16, 1870 — Name of Delhi township changed to Mona, and name of
Clyde township changed to Pella.
1871 — W. L. Conrow, Brenton; P. S. Gose, Lyman; D. B. Case, Rogers;
David Keighin, IMona; R. S. Chamberlin, Dix; B. H. McClure, Drummer;
William Noel, Wall; C. E. Henderson, Patton; J. H. Flagg, Button; M. L.
Sullivant, Sullivant ; J. S. Ruff, Pella ; T. D. Thompson, Peach Orchard.
December 12, 1871 — M. M. Pulver took his seat as supervisor in place of
W. L. Conrow, appointed county superintendent of schools.
1872— J. P. Micldlecoff, Patton; William Walker, Button; James Sheldon,
Pella; David Keighin, IMona; Thomas Winstanley, Rogers; M. L. Sullivant,
Sullivant; M. M. Pulver, Brenton; 0. D. Sackett, Lyman; Levi Miller, Wall;
R. S. Chamberlin, Dix ; J. M. Sudduth, Drummer ; Thomas F. Kingsley, Peach
Orchard.
March 11, 1873 — Albert Keith took his seat as supervisor in place of J.
P. IMiddlecoff, elected to the general assembly.
1873 — 0. D. Sackett, Chairman, Lyman; Samuel Clayton, Rogers; David
Keighin, Mona; Robert Wells, Pella; Hugh P. Beach, Brenton; Thomas F.
Kingsley, Peach Orchard; John H. Collier, Drummer; Edward Babcock, Wall;
Benjamin Ferris, Patton; R. N. Gorsuch, Button; M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant;
J. I. Robinson, Dix.
December 16, 1873— W. T. Morrison took his seat in place of R. N. Gor-
such, elected county superintendent of schools. N. M. Ward took his seat in
place of H. P. Beach, elected county judge.
1874 — J. I. Robinson, chairman, Dix; Samuel Clayton, Rogers; Monroe
Bute, Mona; L. T. Bishop, Brenton; H. B. Ferguson, Lyman; Thomas F.
Kingsley, Peach Orchard; M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant; William Noel, Wall;
58 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
John H. Collier, Drummer; John M. Hall. Patton; J. C. Kirkpatrick, Button;
James Sheldon, Pella.
John Keesey was elected assistant supervisor for Patton township, it being
the opinion that this townshij) had the population entitling it to two
supervisors.
March 9, 1875— J. JM. Thompson took his seat, in place of T. F. Kingsley,
resigned.
1875 — John H. Collier, Chairman, Drummer; John Richardson, Dix; J.
C. Kirkpatrick, Button; William Kenward. Wall; J. A. IMontelius, Brenton;
James Sheldon, Pella; A. V. Bureham, Lyman; J. M. Hall and J. T. Miller,
Patton; Samuel Clayton, Rogers; Monroe Bute, Mona; W. B. Holmes, Peach
Orchard; M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant.
1876 — John H. Collier, chairman. Drummer; Joseph Burger, Brenton;
Alonzo Burr, Sullivant; John ]\I. Hall and John W. Swanson, Patton; John
S. Hewins, Button; W. B. Holmes, Peach Orchard; AVilliam Kenward, Wall;
James Ogilvie, Rogers ; John Richardson, Dix ; James Sheldon, Pella ; Joseph
Hurst, Lyman ; ]\Ionroe Bute, Mona.
March 13, 1877 — Samuel J. LeFevre took his seat as supervisor, in place
of J. H. Collier, elected to the general assembly. James Sheldon was elected
chairman.
1877 — J. P. Middlecoff, chairman, Patton ; Joseph Burger, Brenton ; C. 'M.
Blowers, Pella; W. B. Flora, Lyman; W. B. Holmes, Peach Orchard; J. C.
Kirkpatrick, Button ; David Keighin, Mona ; J. F. Kenney, Wall ; S. J. LeFevre,
Drummer; James Ogilvie, Rogers; John Richardson, Dix; ]M. L. Sullivant, Sul-
livant; J. W. Swanson, Patton.
1878 — J. P. Middlecoff, chairman, Patton; Joseph Burger, Brenton; C. ]\I.
Blowers, Pella; W. A. Bicket, Sullivant; W. B. Flora, Lyman; J. A. Froyd,
Patton; John S. Hunt, Peach Orchard; David Keighin, Mona; J. F. Kenney,
Wall; J. C. Kirkpatrick, Button; S. J. LeFevre, Drummer; James Ogilvie,
Rogers; S. W. Wade, Dix.
1879 — S. J. LeFevre, chairman. Drummer ; Edward Babcock, Wall ; Joseph
Burger, Brenton; C. M. Blowers, Pella; W. A. Bicket, Sullivant; J. Y. Camp-
bell, Patton ; J. A. Froyd, Patton ; Joseph Hurst, Lyman ; John S. Hunt, Peach
Orchard ; David Keighin, Mona ; James Ogilvie, Rogers ; W. T. Patton, Button ;
John Richardson, Dix.
July 14, 1879 — The board decided that under the census of 1870, as pro-
vided by law, Patton township was entitled to but one supervisor. Accord-
ingly Mr. Froyd withdrew.
SHERIFF'S RESIDENCE AND JAIL, PAXTOX
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 61
1880 — S. J. LeFevre, chairman, Drnmmer; W. A. Bickct, Sullivant; J. Y.
Campbell, Patton ; Joseph Hurst, Lyman; J. F. Kenney, Wall; Hugh McCor-
mick, Button; J. IMathis, Peach Orchard; J. S. IMcElhiney, Brenton ; James
Ogilvie, Rogers; John Richardson, Dix; John A. Scott, IMona ; T. J. Sowers,
Pella.
1881— W. A. Bicket, chairman, Sullivant; C. M. Blowers, Pella; Joseph
Burger, Brenton; Abraham Croft, Patton; Joseph Hurst, Lyman; John lehl,
Peach Orchard; H. McCormick, Button; John Richardson, Dix; John A. Scott,
Mona; J. H. Snelling, "Wall; W. B. Sargeant. Rogers; C. H. Yeomans.
Drummer.
1882 — Joseph Burger, chairman, Brenton; W. A. Bicket, Sullivant; A. C.
Bullington, Dix; L. Burns, Lyman; Abraham Croft, Patton; George Eastwood,
Pella; John lehl, Peach Orchard; William Kenney, Wall; Hugh McCormick,
Button ; W. B. Sargeant, Rogers ; John A. Scott, Mona ; Charles H. Yeomans,
Drummer.
March, 1883 — Thomas Correll took his seat, in place of George Eastwood,
removed from the county.
1883 — Charles H. Yeomans, chairman. Drummer; W. A. Bicket, Sulli-
vant; A. C. Bullington, Dix; Joseph Burger, Brenton; L. Burns, Lyman; N. B.
Day, Patton ; John lehl. Peach Orchard ; William Kenney, Wall ; Thomas
]\IcDermott, Pella; Hugh McCormick, Button; W. B. Sargeant, Rogers; John
A. Scott, Mona.
1884— W. A. Bicket, Sullivant; A. C. Bullington, Dix; Joseph Burger,
Brenton; N. B. Day, Patton; John lehl. Peach Orchard; James C. Kirkpatrick,
Button ; William Kenne.y, Wall ; Byron Lisk, Lyman ; Thomas McDermott,
Pella; W. B. Sargeant, Rogers; John A. Scott, Mona; W. H. Simms, Drummer.
1885 — W. B. Sargeant, Rogers; P. J. Gerhart, JMona; Thomas McDermott,
Pella ; Joseph Burger, Brenton ; W. B. Flora, Lyman ; William Kenney, Wall ;
W. S. Larkin, Peach Orchard ; W. A. Bicket, Sullivant ; W. H. Simms, Drum-
mer; J. H. Leonard, Dix; N. B. Day, Patton; J. C. Kirkpatrick, Button.
1886 — W. B. Sargeant, Rogers; Henry Benson, INIona; Thomas McDermott,
Pella; Joseph Burger, Brenton; Byron Lisk, Lyman; William Kenney, Wall;
John lehl, Peach Orchard; W. A. Bicket, Sullivant; F. C. IMcDowell, Drum-
mer; S. W. Wade, Dix; N. B. Day, Patton; W. T. IMorrison, Button.
1887 — W. B. Sargeant, Rogers; Henry Benson, IMona ; Thomas McDermott,
Pella; Joseph Burger, Brenton; Byron Lisk, Lyman; William Kenney, Wall;
John lehl. Peach Orchard; W. A. Bicket, Sullivant; F. C. IMcDowell, Drum-
mer ; A. T. Gullett, Dix ; N. B. Day, Patton ; W. T. Morrison, Button.
62 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
1888 — W. B. Sargeant. Rogers; Henry Benson. ]\Iona ; Thomas IMeDermott,
Bella ; Joseph Burger, Brenton ; E. 0. Newman, Lyman ; William Kenney,
Wall; John lehl, Peach Orchard; W. A. Bieket, Sullivant; F. C. McDowell,
Drummer; INI. W. Peterson, Dix; J. W. Ramsay, Patton; W. T. IMorrison,
Button.
1889 — P. Whalen, Rogers; John A. Scott, Mona; Thomas LIcDermott,
Pella; Joseph Burger, Brenton; W. B. Flora, Lyman; J. F. Kenney, Wall;
John lehl, Peach Orchard; W. A. Picket, Sullivant; John F. White, Drummer;
J. H. Leonard, Dix; J. W. Ramsay, Patton; W. T. Morrison, Button.
1890 — Samuel Clayton, Rogers; John A. Scott, Mona; Thomas IMcDermott,
Pella; Joseph Burger, Brenton; W. B. Flora, Lyman; J. F. Kenney, Wall;
John lehl. Peach Orchard; W. A. Picket, Sullivant; Charles S. Crary, Drum-
mer; J. E. Hagin, Dix; J. W. Ramsay, Patton; W. T. Morrison, Button.
1891— W. F. Hoyt, Rogers; John A. Scott, Mona; Thomas McDermott,
Pella; Joseph Burger, Brenton; W. B. Flora, Lyman; J. F. Kenney, Wall;
John lehl. Peach Orchard; W, A. Picket, Sullivant; Charles S. Crary, Drum-
mer; J. E. Hagin, Dix; J. W. Ramsay, Patton; W. T. Morrison, Button.
1892 — Samuel Clayton, Rogers; Winfried Scott, Mona; Thomas McDer-
mott, Pella ; Joseph Burger, Brenton ; W. B. Flora, Lyman ; J. F. Kenney,
Wall; John lehl. Peach Orchard; W. A. Picket, Sullivant; Tim Ross, Drum-
mer; P. J. Yeager, Dix; J. W. Ramsay, Patton; W. T. Morrison, Button.
1893 — Samuel Clayton, Rogers; Winfried Scott, Mona, Thomas McDer-
mott, Pella; John Rohrback, Brenton; W. B. Flora, Lyman- J. F. Kenney,
AVall; Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; W. A. Picket, Sullivant; Tim Ross,
Drummer; P. J. Yeager, Dix; A. J. Laurence, Patton; W. T. IMorrison,
Putton.
1894 — Samuel Clayton, Rogers; Winfried Scott, Mona; T. J. Sowers, Pella;
John Rohrback, Brenton ; W. B. Flora, Lyman ; James H. Andrews, Wall ;
Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard ; W. A. Picket, Sullivant ; Tim Ross, Drum-
mer ; Thomas Crowe, Dix ; A. J. Laurence, Patton ; W. T. Morrison, Button.
1895 — Samuel Clayton, Rogers; Winfried Scott; Mona; T. J. Sowers,
Pella ; John A. Montelius, Brenton ; J. P. Smith, Lyman ; James H. Andrews,
Wall; Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; W. A. Picket, Sullivant; Tim Ross,
Dnmnner; Thomas Crowe, Dix; A. L. Laurence, Patton; J. C. Kirkpatrick,
Button.
1896 — Sanuicl Clayton, Rogers; Wijifriod Scott, Mona; T. J. Sowers, Pella;
John A. Montelius, Brenton ; J. P. Smith, Lyman ; James H. Andrews, Wall ;
Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; Swen Anderson, Sullivant; Tim Ross, Dnun-
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 63
raer; Thomas Crowe, Dix ; A. L. Laurence, Pattoii ; J. C. Kirkpatrick, Button.
1897— William Iloyt, Rogers; Winfried Scott, Mona; T. J. Sowers, Pell a ;
John A. Montelius, Brenton ; J. P. Smith, Lyman ; James IT. Andrews, Wall ;
Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; Swen Anderson, Snllivant; Tim Ross, Drum-
mer; Thomas Crowe, Dix; A. L. Laurence, Patton ; J. C. Kirkpatrick, Button.
1898 — James Ogilvie, Rogers ; Winfried Scott, Mona ; T. D. Hevener, Pella ;
John A. IMontelius, Brenton ; J. P. Smith, Lyman ; James II. Andrews, Wall ;
Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard ; Swen Anderson, Snllivant ; Tim Ross, Drum-
mer, Thomas Crowe, Dix; A. J. Laurence, Patton; J. C. Kirkpatrick, Button.
1899— James Ogilvie, Rogers ; Winfried Scott, ]\Iona ; T. D. Hevener, Pella ;
John C. Culbertson, Brenton; J. P. Smith, Lyman; William E. Kenney, Wall;
Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; 0. A. Lundelof, Snllivant; Tim Ross, Drum-
mer, Thomas Crowe, Dix ; A. J. Laurence, Patton ; J. C. Kirkpatrick, Button.
1900 — James Ogilvie, Rogers; Winfried Scott, IMona; T. D. Hevener,
Pella ; John C. Culbertson, Brenton ; J. P. Smith, Lyman ; J. W. Gilkerson,
Wall ; Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard ; O. A. Lundelof, Snllivant ; Tim Ross,
Drummer ; Thomas Crowe, Dix ; A. J. Laurence, Patton ; J. C. Kirkpatrick,
Button.
1901 — James Ogilvie, Rogers ; Winfried Scott, Mona ; T. D. Hevener, Pella ;
John C. Culbertson, Brenton ; J. P. Smith, Lyman ; J. W. Gilkerson, Wall ;
Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; 0. A. Lundelof, Snllivant; Tim Ross, Drum-
mer, Thomas Crowe, Dix ; A. J. Laurence, Patton ; R. C. Parks, Button.
1902 — Henry Raab, Rogers; Thomas Kewly, ]\Iona; J. P. Glass, Pella;
John C. Culbertson, Brenton; J. P. Smith, Lyman; J. W. Gilkerson, Wall;
Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; O. A. Lundelof, Snllivant; Horace C.
IMcClure, Drummer; W. A. Cameron, Dix; A. J. Laurence, Patton, R. C. Parks,
Button.
1903 — Henry Raab, Rogers; Thomas Kewly, Mona; J. P. Glass, Pella;
John C. Culbertson, Brenton; J. P. Smith, Lyman; J. W. Gilkerson, Wall;
Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard ; George Stockdale, Snllivant ; Horace McClure,
Drummer ; W. A. Cameron, Dix ; Albert Froyd, Patton ; R. C. Parks, Button.
1904 — Henry Raab, Rogers ; Thomas Kewly, Mona ; J. P. Glass, Pella ; John
C. Culbertson, Brenton; J. P. Smith, Lyman; J. W. Gilkerson, Wall; Owen K.
Boshen, Peach Orchard; George Stockdale, Snllivant; Horace McClure, Drum-
mer; W. A. Cameron, Dix; Albert Froyd, Patton; R. C. Parks, Button.
1905 — Henry Raab, Rogers ; Thomas Kewly, IMona ; J. P. Glass, Pella ; John
C. Culbertson, Brenton ; R. B. Chambers, Lyman ; J. W. Gilkerson, Wall ; Owen
K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; George Stockdale, Snllivant; Horace McClure,
64 HISTORY OP FORD COUNTY
Driiininer; W. A. Ciuneron. Dix; Albert Froyd. Patton, R. C. Parks. Button.
1906— Henry Raab. Rogers; Thomas Kewly, Moim; J. P. Glass, Pella;
John C. Culbertson. Brenton ; R. B. Chambers, Lyman; J. W. Gilkerson. AVall;
Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; (leorge Stockdale, Sullivant; W. E. Proctor,
Drummer; W. A. Cameron, Dix; Albert Froyd. Patton; R. C. Parks, Button.
1907— Henry Raab, Rogers; Thomas Kewly, IMona ; J. P. Glass, Pella;
John C. Culbertson, Brenton; R. B. Chambers, Lyman; J. AV. Gilkerson, Wall;
Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; George Stockdale, Sullivant; W. E. Proctor,
Drummer; W. A. Cameron, Dix; Albert Froyd, Patton; Sherman Frederick,
Button.
1908— AV. li. Gilborne, Rogers; Thomas Kewly, lyLma ; A\^ T. Atwood,
Pella; John C. Culbertson. Brenton; R. B. Chambers, Lyman; J. AV. Gilkerson,
AVall; Owen K. Boshen, Peach Orchard; George Stockdale, Sullivant; AV. E.
Proctor, Drummer; AV. A. Cameron, Dix; Albert Froyd, Patton; Sherman
Frederick, Button.
MONUMENTS TO THE SOLDIER DEAD.
At Gibson City, in "the soldiers' circle" of the cemetery, a one hundred-
pound Parrot gun and an eight-inch mortar from Fortress Monroe are mounted
beside a pyramid of eight-inch shells and dedicated May 30, 1898, to the sol-
diers of the Civil war. The work w'as carried out under the auspices of the
local G. A. R. post at a cost of about one hundred and twenty dollars.
At Paxton, in Glen cemetery, erected under the auspices of the G. A. R.
and AV. R. C, a marble shaft, twenty-two feet high, surmounted by the figure
of a private st)ldier, was dedicated IMay 30, 1901, "To the memory of the
unknoAvn sokliers" of the Civil wjir. Cost al)out fifteen Inuidred dollars.
At Piper City, in tlic pu1)lie ])ark, there is a cannon and p\raniid of balls
dedicated by the local G. A. R. post to the memory of the soldiers of the Civil
war.
IJATThKS FOR COUNTY SEAT.
Even at the start. Paxton had her troubles in the way of obtaining for
herself the capital of the county. Her success canic^ fi'om her environments
and the tigliting (jiialities oF hev citizens. Tlie (|uesti()ii ol* tlic county seat
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY 67
sluinbei-cd, iiu'rely, for years. Gibson City was ambitious and ever east a eov-
etous eye toward the capital. The culmination of her aspirations came in
1905, when certain of her citizens made an offer of money (in notes) and a
new conrthouse, as an inducement for the removal of the county seat to that
place. The courthouse was to be built on "lot 8," not in the corporation.
A vote was taken, after a warm and bitter contest, November 14, and Paxton
won. Tbe vote is given, in tabulated forms, below:
Paxton Block 8 Total
Rogers 115 26 141
Mona 123 19 142
Pella 100 17 117
Brenton 246 74 320
Lyman 165 116 281
Wall 145 21 166
Peach Orchard 32 217 249
Sullivant 64 184 248
Drummer 12 804 816
Dix 106 218 324
Button 201 4 205
Patton No. 1 487 487
Patton No. 2 478 6 474
Patton No. 3 123 2 123
Totals 2,397 1,708 4,105
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
So far as the principal county offices are concerned, the general arrange-
ment and method of handling the public business is very much the same as in
all of the states; but the offices are called by different names, and in minor
details — such as transferring from one office to another certain minor lines of
work — there are a number of points in which the method of county government
in the various states differs. The names of the principal county offices are
adopted, which are most common in the northern states, as in the southern and
New England states there are scarcely any two states in which the names or
titles of all the county offices are identical.
68 HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
AUDITING_OFFICE AND CLERK OP THE COUNTY BOARD.
Generally the principal auditing officer of the county is known as the
"county auditor" or ** county clerk." In Illinois, Kansas, jMissouri, Wiscon-
sin and many other states the office is called "county clerk." In Indiana,
Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio and others it is termed ' ' county auditor. ' '
In a few of the states under certain conditions tliis office is merged with some
other county office. A notable example of this is in the state of Michigan,
where they have one official, under the simple title of "clerk," who looks after
about all the work which in most of the states devolves upon both the county
clerk and also clerk of court. In all of the states a bond in a moderate sum
is required of the county clerk or auditor, and he is paid a salary of from one
thousand five hundred dollars to three thousand five hundred dollars per year,
besides in some states being allowed certain fees, unless it is in a very large
and heavilj' populated county, where the salary paid is of necessity much
higher than this amount. No county treasurer or member of the county board
is eligible to this office. In general terms it may be stated as a rule the audi-
tor acts as a clerk or secretary of the official county board, although in a few
of the states the court clerk is required to look after this matter. The clerk
of the county board keeps an accurate record of the board's proceedings and
carefully preserves all documents, records, books, maps and papers which may
be brought before the board, or which the law provides shall be deposited in
his office. In the auditing office an accurate account is kept with the county
treasurer. Generally they file the duplicates of the receipts given by the
county treasurer, charging him with all money paid into the treasury and giv-
ing credit for all warrants paid. The general plan of paying claims against
a county is as follows: If the claim is one in which the amount due is fixed
by law, or is authorized to be fixed by some other person or tribunal, the audi-
tor issues a warrant or order which will be paid by the treasurer, the certificate
upon which it is allowed being duly filed. In all other cases the claim must
be allowed b.N' th(3 county board, and the chairman or presiding officer issues
a warrant or order wliicli is attested by the clerk. A complete record of all
these county warrants or orders is kept, and the accounts of the county treas-
urer must balance therewith. The above in general terms outline the most
important branch of work' which the county clerk or county auditor looks after
in most of the states, l)ut in all the states the law riviuires him to look after a
number of other matters, although in these there is no uiiifoi'inity between the
various states, and no general (l('S('ri])tion of tliese mitioi- or additional duties
could be given that would apply to all the states.
HISTORY OF FORI) COUNTY 69
COUNTY TREASURER.
This is an office wliicli exists in all the states, and it is one of the most
important of the various offices necessary in carrying on the business of the
"onnty. It is an elective office in all of the states, and the term of office is
usually either two or four years, ])ut a very common provision in the various
states is that after serving for one term as county treasurer a party shall Ix'
ineligible to the office until the intervention of at least one term after the
expiration of the term for which he was elected. This provision, however,
does not exist in all of the states, as in some of them the county treasurer is
eligible for re-election for any number of terms.
The general duties of the county treasurers throughout the various states
is very similar. The county treasurer is the principal custodian of the funds
belonging to the county. It is his duty to receive and safely keep the revenues
and other public moneys of the county, and all funds authorized to be paid to
him, and disburse the same pursuant to law. He is required to keep proper
books of account, in which he must keep a regular, just and true account of
all moneys, revenues and funds received by him, stating particularly the time,
when, of whom and on what fund or account each particular sum was received;
and also of all moneys, revenues and funds paid out by him according to law,
stating particularly the time, when, to whom and on what fund payment is
made from. The books of the county treasurer must always be subject to
inspection of the county board, which, at stated intervals, examines his books
and makes settlements with him. In some of the states the provisions of the
law relating to county treasurer are very strict ; some of them provide for a
county board of auditors, who are expected, several times a year, to examine
the funds, accounts and vouchers of the treasury without previous notice to
the treasurer, and in some it is provided that this board, or the county board,
shall designate a bank (or banks) in which the treasurer is required to keep
the county funds deposited — the banks being required to pay interest on daily
or monthly balances and give bond to indemnify the county against loss. ' As
a general rule the county treasurer is only authorized to pay out county funds
on warrants or orders issued by the chairman of the county l^oard and attested
by the clerk, or in certain cases on warrants or orders o 
