Edgar County IL Archives History - Books .....History Of Edgar County, Part I 1879
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Book Title: The History Of Edgar County, Illinois

HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

AS we go up the ascent of time, past history shrinks and shrivels up into
points, the light specks only making the darkness visible. While this is true of
nations, it is especially true of individuals, however great in their day, and
however important the results achieved through their instrumentality. In this
respect history does not repeat itself. It must be reproduced as far as possible
with all its original antecedents and surroundings; otherwise, much that the
world cannot afford to lose will pass silently, but no less surely, into the
remorseless gulf of oblivion. The past, with all its momentous changes, has ever
been regarded as important, and richly deserving of record. Long before letters
were invented, legendary tales and tradition were employed to perpetuate a
knowledge of important events, and transmit the same to succeeding generations.
Hieroglyphics were afterward used for the same purpose. But all these forms of
memorial have long since given place to the pen and the type among civilized
nations. The introduction of modern alphabets made writing less difficult, and
the invention of the art of printing afforded facilities for publishing books
before unknown. The thirst for knowledge produced by the press and the
Reformation, and the growing taste for history created by the latter, brought
out a host of historians, rendered their works voluminous and scattered them
broadcast over the world. Many of them, read in the blazing sunlight of
civilization, have all the fascination of a romance, and but increase in
interest as time rolls on. The papyrus roll of ancient Egypt, containing
mysterious records of the Dark Ages, and the ponderous folios of Confucius, that
antedate tradition itself, were not more valuable to the sages and philosophers
of old, than the printed page of the nineteenth century is to the scholar and
enlightened individual of to-day. It is hoped, therefore, that the present
effort to select and preserve some gleanings and reminiscences of early days in
this section of the State, will not be deemed unimportant, nor wholly destitute
of interest.

   Although Illinois has contributed much to enrich the pages of history, her
resources are by no means exhausted, and it requires but the historian's pen to
cull from the chaotic mass important facts, and present them in a tangible form
to the reader. And with all her vast wealth of historical lore, no part of the
great State possesses more of genuine interest than this section. A period of
time which would be considered remote in Northern Illinois, would be regarded as
recent in Edgar County. Pioneers here were beginning to look upon themselves as
"old settlers" when Chicago consisted of but a fort and trading-point of
trappers and Indians. Even before the bright star answering to the name of
Illinois appeared in the azure field of the Stars and Stripes, the pale-face had
begun to dispute with the red man for these fair lands, the smoke of his cabin
to ascend from their forests, and his "civilized war-whoops" to awake the echoes
of their hills and brakes.

BOUNDARY AND TOPOGRAPHY.

   Edgar County lies in the eastern part of the State, and is bounded on the
north by Vermilion County, on the west by Douglas and Coles, on the south by
Clark County, and on the east by the State of Indiana. It is nearly a square,
being about twenty-three and a half miles wide by about twenty-seven miles long,
and thus containing something less than six hundred and forty square miles. The
eastern and southern borders of the county, comprising perhaps two-fifths of its
area, are occupied by the timbered land adjoining the banks of the streams which
run toward the Wabash River. The remainder, with the exception of a few sections
about the head of Embarras River, in the western edge of the county, is occupied
by the Grand Prairie, some arms of which also run quite deeply into the timber,
along the divides between the different- creeks. The timber is mainly the same
as that of the timbered lands, to the northward; but in the southeastern part of
the county, beech begins to take a prominent place, and a considerable number of
pines find congenial soil above the heavy-bedded soil; but, in some of its
eastern extensions into the timber,* this is mostly wanting, and the soft,
dark-brown clay of the subsoil comes nearly to the surface. The bottoms of the
prairie sloughs generally contain more or less of the light-brown, marly clay,
in which may be found fresh-water shells. The State Geologists' Report, from
which we shall make occasional extracts in these pages, says that some years ago
the almost perfect skeleton of a mastodon was obtained from one of these prairie
sloughs, which, after having been exhibited through all parts of the United
States, was sold to a Philadelphia museum, and that fragments of skeletons of
this animal are not rare in this section. The beds of the "Drift Period" we
shall notice more fully under the head of Geology, to which subject a chapter
will be devoted further on in this work.

* Geological Survey of Illinois.

SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY.

   We have said that a period remote in the history of Northern Illinois, would
be regarded as recent in Edgar County. Look at the dates, 1817—1879! Sixty-two
years are between these milestones, standing along the highway of Time.
Sixty-two years! Twice the chances of human life. Thirty years are a
generation's life-time, and thus the allotted span of two generations has run
out since white men first came to the wilds of Edgar County —one year before
Illinois was admitted into the Union as a State. The entire State was then a
"waste, howling wilderness," peopled by Indians, wolves, panthers, bears and
other wild and savage animals. Lo, the change that threescore years have
wrought! The Indians, the original owners of the soil, are fading away, as it
were, in the distant West; the panthers and wolves are almost forgotten, and
"the wilderness has rejoiced and blossomed as the rose," while hundreds of happy
and prosperous homes dot its forests and prairies. A large proportion of the
citizens of Edgar County are American-born. From the pine forests of Maine to
the palmetto groves of South Carolina and the cotton-fields of Tennessee, her
population has come. Every State lying between these points has contributed more
or less to the settling-up of the County. The hardy sons of New England, with
their thrift and Yankee ingenuity, the stirring New Yorkers, the Pennsylvania
Quakers and Dutch, the far-seeing Buckeyes, the industrious Hoosiers, the
dignified Virginians, the warm-hearted Southerners, the courageous Kentuckians,
are here grouped together, forming a class of people that for native
intelligence, favorably compare with those of any section or country; while one
of the results of the late war was an importation of Sambo, who has been
denominated "God's shadow on the dial of American Progress." The first
settlement in Edgar County was made along the timbered margin of the "North Arm"
of Grand Prairie, which extends deep into the county on its eastern side, and
was originally known as

WAYNE PRECINCT.

   This precinct embraced in its boundaries the present townships of Hunter,
Brouillett and Stratton, with the northern tier of sections of Elbridge, and was
one of the five original townships or precincts into which the county was
divided at the time of its organization. Here, early in the spring of 1817,
Remember Blackman, John Stratton, Anthony Sanders, William Whitley and Aloysius
Brown located, and are acknowledged as the first white settlers in Edgar County.
Stratton, Whitley and Brown were from Kentucky, Blackman was from the Empire
State, and Sanders from North Carolina. They arrived in time to prepare land and
cultivate small crops of corn. Aloysius Brown finally moved to Wisconsin and
died there years ago. Whitley remained in this section of the county but a few
years, then sold out, moved into Paris Township and settled on the place now
owned by Elliott. Stratton lived here many years, and finally sold out and moved
up near Kankakee, where he died. Blackman died in the township, and Sanders left
his wife, went down South, and married another woman. In the township histories
more extended notices will be given of all the early settlers.

   In the fall following the settlement of those above given, Col. Jonathan Mayo
came to the county and settled in the immediate neighborhood of them, and,
during the winter, Barna B. Reynolds came in. Both were from Kentucky here, but
Mayo was originally from the Old Dominion. He and his wife are the only two
persons now living in the county who came to it that first year, grown up
people. A few are to be found who were small children at the time of coming. A
man of considerable prominence, and for years officially connected with the
affairs of the county, we shall have occasion to quote extensively from Col.
Mayo in these pages. Although blind and feeble in bodily health, his memory is
undimmed by age, and we acknowledge in the beginning of our work our
indebtedness to him for many historical facts and to Hall Sims, Col. Blackburn
and many others of more modern date, without whose aid our history would be
meager indeed. Mayo settled on the "North Arm," where he remained until 1827,
when he removed into the city of Paris, and is still living on the place where
he located on his removal to the city. Reynolds was related to Aloysius Brown,
and removed from the country with Brown. They were zealous Catholics (Brown and
Reynolds), and a brother of Reynolds attained quite an exalted position in that
Church, as well as a daughter of Brown's, who is at the head of the Convent of
St. Mary's, near Terre Haute.

   In 1818 the little settlement was increased by the arrival of Daniel Lane,
Augustin E. Boland, George and Daniel Beckwith and William Reed. Lane was from
New Hampshire, and came first to Vincennes, where he remained a short time, and
then came to this settlement. He died here many years ago, and upon his old
homestead stands a Lombardy poplar that is known as a way-mark all over the
country, and to which is attached quite a history, more particularly referred to
in another page. Boland was a native of Connecticut, and drifted westward while
serving as a soldier of the war of 1812. He was discharged, when the war was
over, at Vincennes, Ind., and from that place came here, as stated above. His
name is still perpetuated here by several sons, who rank among the worthy
citizens of Hunter and Paris Townships. The Beckwiths were from New York, and
were men of intelligence and enterprise. They removed to Vermilion County,
before its organization, however, and after its formation, became active men,
and Daniel represented it in the Legislature one or more terms. William Reed
came from some of the Eastern States, but which one, we could not ascertain. He
was also in the war of 1812, and after the formation of Edgar County, was its
first Sheriff. He went to Vermilion County, where he died several years ago.

   The following arrivals occurred during the year 1819: Jacob Jones and family,
Samuel Littlefield, Rev. Joseph Curtis, Lewis Murphy, and the Van Houtins. The
Joneses and Littlefield were from Maine, and settled on the "North Arm," now
embraced in Hunter Township, where they remained until 1826, when they changed
their location to Brouillett Township. Being rather prominent men, they will be
more fully noticed in the chapter devoted to that town. Rev. Joseph Curtis*
hailed from the Buckeye State, and is supposed to have been the first minister
to proclaim the word of God in Edgar County. He established a class at Col.
Mayo's house, of which Mayo and his wife and Curtis' widow are the only
survivors. This fact will be referred to again in the church history. Murphy was
from Virginia, and was the first Judge of Probate in the county. He died many
years ago. All whose names have so far been given settled in what is now Hunter
Township; the Van Houtins, however, settled in the present town of Stratton.
Benjamin Van Houtin was born in New Jersey, and his brother, Thomas Van Houtin,
in New York, after the removal of the family to that section. Both still live in
Stratton Township, and are among the enterprising farmers of that community. The
next year (1820), the population of the settlement was increased by the coming
of Joseph Lowry, John Lycan, James and William Murphy, Otis McCulloch, Alexander
McDonald, Alonzo Lapham, James Dudley, Col. J. M. Blackburn, and Trueman
Blackman. Blackburn, Lowry and Lycan were from Kentucky, the "Dark and Bloody
Ground," lying "beyond the beautiful river." The two latter settled in Hunter,
and Blackburn in what is now Stratton Township. Blackburn took an active part in
the Black Hawk war, and commanded a regiment during that brief campaign. He is
still living in the township, retaining much of his former energy, and a vivid
recollection of facts pertaining to the early history of the county, and will be
further alluded to in the history of Stratton Township. The Murphys were from
Virginia. The first Circuit Court after the formation of the county was held at
the house of William Murphy, who lived adjoining to Col. Mayo, and upon which
place he died many years ago. James Murphy built a horse-mill near the present
line of Hunter and Stratton, and afterward a water-mill near by, which is
referred to elsewhere. McCulloch and Lapham were from New York, and Dudley from
Massachusetts. The latter was one of the first merchants in the county; finally
removed to Coles County, and, it is said, grew very wealthy. Lapham built a
"fulling-mill," in the early days of the county. McCulloch was not particularly
distinguished, beyond being a worthy citizen. McDonald came from Tennessee, and
Black-man from Ohio. Of McDonald little is known, and Blackman lived for years
in Stratton Township.


* A Methodist Episcopal minister.

   In 1821, but few additions were made to the little settlement. Among them
were Dr. Url Murphy, Hon. John B. Alexander and Nathaniel Morgan. Dr. Murphy was
a younger brother of the Murphys above mentioned, and was a young physician who
had come to the "Far West" to establish a practice in the healing art, but
found, instead, an early grave. Alexander was from North Carolina, and was a man
of considerable note in the country, as elsewhere stated. Morgan was from
Kentucky, but otherwise little is known of him. In 1822, James Lowry, the
Gillams, George Board. Rev. John W. McReynolds, James Hensly, Squire Newlon,
Laban Burr and Edward Wheeler came to the settlement. Lowry was a brother to
those already mentioned in this chapter. John, Thomas and David Gillam were from
Indiana; and, after remaining here a few years, returned to the Hoosier State.
Board settled in what is now Stratton Township, and was the first Coroner of the
county. Rev. McReynolds was one of the early preachers of the time, and was a
brother-in-law of Col. Mayo. Burr was from Now York, and settled near the
present line of Paris and Hunter Townships, where he died in a few years. Hensly
was from Kentucky, and Wheeler from New York. The latter is more particularly
referred to in Brouillett Township. Squire Newlon is still living: was
originally from Virginia, and settled in Stratton Township.

   There seems to have been a lull in the arrivals for a year or two, or rather
in this section, as we find no new-comers in 1828-24. In 1825, Rev. William J.
Mayo, William S. Wilson, Robert J. Scott, John Brown and Andrew G. Fitzgerald
came in. Rev. Mayo, the father of Col. Mayo, was from Kentucky, and was one of
the pioneer Methodist preachers of the county. Wilson is from North Carolina,
and settled in Stratton, while Rev. Mr. Mayo settled in Hunter Township. Scott
and Brown settled in Brouillett Township, and are referred to in the history of
that town. Mr. Scott came from Ohio, and Brown from Kentucky. Fitzgerald came
from North Carolina and settled in the section now embraced in Stratton
Township. In 1826, the following accessions were made to the population:
Jonathan and Sanborn Basford, Col. D. A. Morrison, William Hurst, Sylvester
Barker, William C. Trimble, John Wilson and John Somerville. The Basfords
(father and son) were from the Green Mountains of Vermont, and located in
Brouillett Township. Col. Morrison is from Kentucky, and is still living in
Stratton Township. Hurst was from Ohio; but of him little could be learned.
Barker was from New Hampshire, and lives now in the city of Paris. He is
extensively noticed in the history of Brouillett Township. Trimble, Wilson and
Somerville were from Kentucky, but of them little is remembered. In
1827,1828,1829 and 1830, Thomas Evans, Joseph Barkley, the Parkers, Enos Hobbs,
Matthew R. Scott, William Allen, the Hunters, Godfrey Wilkins, John Clarke,
Isaac Wilkins, Jesse Moore and Daniel and Lewis Camerer came to the county.
Evans, Barkley and Moore were from Kentucky, and located in the present township
of Brouillett. The Parkers, M. R. Scott, Clarke, the Wilkinses and the Caraerers
were from Ohio, and settled, also, in Brouillett, where some of them and their
descendants still live. Hobbs and the Hunters wrere originally from Tennessee;
the latter settled in Hunter Township and the former in Brouillett. Allen is a
Virginian, and lives, at present, in the village of Chrisman. Additional
settlers in this section of the county were: William Huffman, James Carney,
Willard and Ebenezer Center, Enos Martin, William Bond, Thomas Hobbs, George W.
Haws, Isaac Sanford and James A. Gillespie, most of whom we have been unable to
learn anything definite regarding their native place or the time of their
settlement in the county.

   As we have already stated, the county, at the time of its formation, was
divided into five civil townships, or election districts, of which Wayne
Township comprised the territory embraced in Stratton, Hunter and Brouillett
Townships, with a narrow strip of Elbridge Township. Immediately south of this
district and lying in the southeast corner of the county, was another of those
early divisions, and was known as

PIKE PRECINCT.

   This precinct, or civil township, embraced the present territory of Elbridge
Township, with the exception of the north tier of sections which belonged to the
division just described, as noted in another page, with a kind of arm from Pike
extending north between Sugar Creek and the range line to where the creek
crosses it. It was scarcely one-fourth the size of Wayne Precinct, but for a
time had nearly as great a population as the whole of that district. Among the
early settlers of this township, were some of the roughest characters that,
perhaps, Edgar County ever knew. We do not wish to be understood to say,
however, that all there were of that character; for Pike had many who were of
the very best and most honorable citizens, and who succeeded, in a few years, in
getting rid of the turbulent ones, until, at the present day, this section
compares favorably with any portion of the country.

   One of the first settlers in the original Pike Township or Precinct, was John
Ray, who came from Tennessee in 1818, and settled in the southern part of it,
but a short distance from the present line of Clark County. While he is supposed
to have been one of the first, it is not altogether certain that he was the very
first settler in that section. And there still exists some doubt upon the point,
many believing that the Elliotts, Ewings and Rhoadeses came about the same time.
Hall Sims, now living in this district, but who settled in what is now Sims
Township, says when he came to the county in 1821, he found John Ray, Alexander
Ewing, Thomas Wilson, Thomas Rhoades, James Love, James Eggleton, James Knight
and Arthur Foster living in what was known as Pike Township. Wilson, Rhoades,
Eggleton and Foster were from Kentucky, and settled here between the years 1818
and 1821. Ewing was from Tennessee, as well as the Rays. Knight was likewise
from Tennessee, and is said by some to have been a Revolutionary soldier. We are
inclined to doubt that fact, however, and think that if a soldier at all, it
must have been in the war of 1812. Love was a pretended doctor, but seems to
have been of rather questionable standing in the community, and remained but a
few years. Where he came from, no one now can tell, nor seems to care whither he
went. He figured in the early courts of the county in a manner not in the least
to his honor or credit.

   In 1822, Eleven Tucker and David Role came to the settlement from Ohio.
Tucker came at the same time as the Meanses and Beard, who settled first in
Vermilion County, and afterward in Paris Township, in this county, where their
history is given. Andrew B. Ray was from Tennessee, and settled in Pike in 1823,
and served in the Black Hawk war of 1832. Abner Lamb settled in the neighborhood
in 1823, and was from Kentucky. Thomas Hicklin was also from Kentucky, and came
to the settlement the next year after Lamb. John Elliott came in 1825, and
Solomon Trogdon in 1826. The latter was the father of Judge Trogdon, of the
County Court, and settled here upon coming to the country, but, later, moved
into Stratton Township. William Hanks, James W. Parrish and George Mack came to
the county in 1829. Hanks hailed from Kentucky, Parrish from Tennessee and Mack
from North Carolina. I. Cummins, J. D. Marley and other members of the Ray
family came in soon after the last named above. This embraces all who came prior
to the Black Hawk war, whose names we have been able to learn. Next in the
settlement of the county comes the original

FAIRFIELD PRECINCT.

   This district embraced in its limits the present townships of Paris, Sims.
Grand View, Kansas, Buck, the larger portion of Embarrass, with a tier of
sections off of the south ends of Edgar and Shiloh. Settlements were not made in
this precinct as early by two or three years as in Wayne and Pike. Of the first
in this section, we may note Hall Sims and his father-in-law, Thomas Jones. The
latter was from Kentucky, and settled in what is now Paris Township, in July,
1821, where he died some years later. Sims was likewise from Kentucky, but was
born in North Carolina. He is still living, though several years past his
fourscore. He settled originally in what is now Sims Township, where he lived
from 1821 until a few years ago, when, as old age crept upon him, he dissolved
his household and went to live with a son in Elbridge Township. Mr. Sims has
always been a prominent man in the county, and a public-spirited citizen. He
served two terms in the State Legislature, and held other important offices. He
and Mr. Jones were the only settlers in Fairfield, in 1821, of whom we have any
information. The next year, the following additions were made to it, viz.:
Samuel Vance, Smith Shaw, Thomas Tenery, Charles Ives, Jacob and Thomas Rhoades,
John Cutler, John and Thomas Darnall, Thomas Brown, the Sutherlands, William
Janes, Moses Williams, Isaac Johnson, Samuel Wells and Thomas Cary. The present
site of the settlement of Mr. Vance is now included in the city limits of Paris.
He donated twenty-six acres of land for the county seat, as noticed in another
chapter. A son, together with many other descendants, still resides in the
county. Shaw's original settlement is also in the city limits; and a son. Major
Shaw, owns it. A more extended notice is given these pioneers in the chapter
devoted to Paris Township. Tenery was supposed to be from Tennessee, but of him
little could be learned. Charles Ives was from New York, and settled in the
southern part of Paris Township. He was one of the first County Commissioners,
and afterward a Representative in the Legislature. The Rhoadeses first settled
in what is now Elbridge Township, but soon afterward removed to the present town
of Sims. John Cutler was from Ohio, and settled in that portion of Fairfield now
known as Grand View. Thomas Brown also settled in Grand View, and was from
Tennessee. The Darnalls were from  Kentucky: Thomas settled in Grand View and
John in Sims, where the latter died the next spring after his settlements Thomas
Darnall raised a large family of children, none of whom, we believe, are living
except William D. Darnall, a present resident of Paris, and to whose excellent
memory we are indebted for many facts pertaining to the early times. The
Sutherlands came from New York, and consisted of Aric Sutherland, R. B., Daniel
and Charles Sutherland, all of whom settled in Grand View Township. Many
representatives of this family still live in the county. William Janes and Moses
Williams were from Kentucky, and settled in the present town of Sims. Isaac
Johnson was from Ohio, and located in that part of the district now embraced in
Grand View. Thomas Cary was from New York, and also settled in Grand View.
Samuel Wells came from Kentucky, and made his claim in Sims Township.

   In 1823, the population was increased by the arrival of William Whitley,
Nathaniel Wayne, Gen. M. K. Alexander, Washington Alexander, Isaac Alexander,
Leander Munsell, William Means, William Beard, David Crosier, Adriel Stout,
Isaac Brimberry, Moses and Aaron Darnall, William Flood, William Craig and
William Young. Whitley first settled in Wayne Precinct, and was noticed in that
chapter. Nathaniel Wayne settled in Paris, and was one of the early hotel
keepers, but in a few years removed to Embarrass Township, where he is noticed
as one of the early settlers of that section. Gen. Alexander and his brothers,
Washington and Isaac, settled in Paris. Gen-Alexander took a prominent part in
the Black Hawk war; was one of the first merchants of Paris and the first
Postmaster, after his father, Hon. John B. Alexander, who is noticed as one of
the early settlers of the original Wayne Township. Washington Alexander is still
living in Paris, and Isaac was one of the early school-teachers in the county.
Munsell settled in Paris and was one of the early merchants. He has a son, a
lawyer, still living in the city. Means, Beard, Crosier and Stout were all from
Ohio, all came together and all settled in what is now Paris Township, where
they are more particularly referred to. Brimberry settled in Grand View, and was
a captain in the campaign against Black Hawk. Moses and Aaron Darnall were from
Kentucky and settled in Sims. They were brothers of John Darnall. who settled
here a year previous and died, when they came and took charge of his claim.
Flood. Craig and Young settled in Sims also.

   The population of the district was increased in 1824-25 by the following
arrivals: Michael and William O'Hair, ____ Hanly, James Adams, Jonathan Newman,
Isaac Craig, the Dills, the Redmons, G. B. Shellady, Robert Brown, the Johnsons,
the Pinsons, Solomon McGwire, George Moke, the Olmsteads, Anson Phelps, James
and Benjamin Johnson, the Hendersons, William Roley, Ledston Redmon and Joseph
McCracken. The O'Hairs, Hanly, Adams, Newman and Craig settled in the present
township of Sims. The Dills, of whom there were a large family, settled in what
is now Paris Township, where members of the family still live. M. M. Dill, a son
of Abner Dill, is a prominent citizen of Paris, and one of the proprietors of
the Edgar County Mills. The Redmons also settled in Paris Township, and George
W. Redmon, a son of the early settler, George Redmon, lives in Paris, and is
likewise one of the proprietors of the Edgar County Mills. A more extended
notice will be given of the Dills and Redmons in the chapter devoted to Paris
Township. Garland B. Shellady located in Paris, and was the first resident
lawyer of Edgar County. Brown was from Kentucky, settled in Paris Township and
died more than forty years ago. Madison and William Johnson settled in what is
now Paris Township, and William is at present one of the proprietors of the City
Mills. The Pinsons were from the Old Dominion, and settled near Paris. Aaron
Pinson died here; his sons, Thomas and James, moved away. McGwire and Moke
settled in what is now Paris Township. Moses and John T. Olmstead settled in the
present town of Grand View. They were from New York, as was also Anson Phelps,
who settled in the town about the same time. James and Benjamin Johnson came
from Ohio and located in the present town of Grand View. The Hendersons were
from the old Blue-grass State, and consisted of John. Andrew and Hugh Henderson,
and made their claims in Grand View Township. William Roley was from Virginia,
and settled also in Grand View. Ledston Redmon and McCracken also settled in
this section, and were from Kentucky.

   Among the additions made to the settlement up to and including 1830, we may
note the following: Thomas Brock, Lawson Kimble, the Bovels, John Matthews, John
Arterburn, James Hoskins, the Pinnells, James F. Whitney, John Montgomery.
Thomas Morgan, the Whalens, Robert M. Ray, W. K. Payne, William and John
Shrader, James Miller, John and Joseph Perisho, J. R. Wilhoit, Daniel and
Emanuel Zink, and John Archer, Joseph Hite, John Umphrey. Rev. J. Y. Allison,
Squire Boyer, John Milburn, Frederick Rudy, Jacob Augustus, John Cuist,
Nathaniel Wayne, Benjamin Wayne, George Roberts, Thomas Dohhette, Joseph Smart,
James Scott, James Flack, Henry Owsley, Robert Downs, Middleton White, William
Laughlin and Isaac Neeley. Thomas Brock settled near Paris, as did also Lawson
Kimble, who is still living, and was originally from the Buckeye State. The
Bovels were from Tennessee and located in what is now Paris Township. Matthews,
Hoskins and Montgomery were Kentuckians and located near Paris. Whitney was also
from Kentucky and died with the cholera. He was Sheriff of the county at the
time of his death. Patrick and Bartholomew Whalen settled in Paris Township; the
latter is still living where he originally settled. Patrick is dead. Robert M.
Ray settled also in Paris and was twice Sheriff of the county, and one of the
early merchants. W. K. Payne, the Shraders, Perishos, James Miller and the Zinks
settled in what is now Grand View Township, where they are more fully noticed in
the township history. Also John Archer, Joseph Hite, John Umphrey, Milburn, Rudy
and Augustus located in Grand View, and -will come under the notice of the
township historian. Arterburn, Wilhoit, the Pinnells, Rev. Allison and Boyer
settled in what was Grand View Township, but is now known as Kansas Township,
and, for several years after township organization, a part of the former. The
Waynes settled in what is now Embarrass Township; Nathaniel had previously
settled in Paris Township where he lived some years. Cuist, Roberts, Dohhette,
Smart, Scott, Flack and Owsley also settled in Embarrass, and were mostly from
Kentucky. Further mention is made of them in the history of the township.
Laughlin, Downs, White and Neeley were also from Kentucky and settled in Sims
Township, where they will again be referred to. Thus we have taken a brief
glance at the original settlement of old Fairfield Township or Precinct. The
north part of the county as now bounded was originally called

CARROLL PRECINCT.

   This division, at the time of forming the county, extended to the center of
Township 18, in Vermilion County, and is the north line of Carroll Township in
that county. It was very sparsely settled at the time of this division of the
county, which will account for the extent of its territory. It included in its
limits the present towns of Prairie, Edgar, Ross, Young America and Shiloh, and
extended, as before stated, to the north line of Carroll Township, in the
present county of Vermilion. The first comers to this section, of whom we have
any account, were Joshua and Enos Martin and William C. Trimble who came to the
neighborhood in 1824 and 1825. Joshua Martin settled in what is now Edgar and
Enos in Ross Township. Trimble also settled in Ross, but moved the next year
into Wayne, where he is noticed among the early comers. In the district known as
Carroll Precinct, up to and including 1830, we may mention the settlement of the
following persons, viz.: James Mars, William Lowry, William Drake, Abraham
Cowrey, James Gordon, John McKee, Hamson and Hubble Sprague, Col. William Wyatt,
Solomon Bond, J. W. Riley, Ensign Mitchell, Frank Lowry, Augustus Wyatt, Horatio
Blanchard, Christopher Ward, Thomas Hoi den. Joshua Van Fleet, Elijah Bacon,
Joseph Conover, Richard Jones, Sylvester Barker, John Jackson, Edmund Clarke,
John Hannah and Samuel Lowry. Mars, Lowry, Drake, Cowrey, Gordon, McKee, the
Spragues, Col. Wyatt, Bond, Riley and Mitchell settled in the territory now
included in Edgar Township. Col. Wyatt was from Kentucky, and was Lieutenant
Colonel of Blackburn's regiment in the Black Hawk campaign. Gordon, McKee and
Bond were also from Kentucky, the former of whom is now living in the city of
Paris. The Spragues were from Vermont, and Cowrey from Ohio. Of the others, we
were unable to learn their native States. Frank Lowry, Augustus Wyatt, Horatio
Blanchard, Ward, Holden and Van Fleet settled in what is now Ross Township. They
were all from Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, and from them have descended
some of the worthy citizens of the county. Richard Jones, Barker, Jackson,
Clarke, Newcomb and Hannah settled in the present town of Prairie. Jones was the
son of Jacob Jones, mentioned among the early settlers of Wayne, and located
where the town of Scotland now stands. Barker soon removed to Brouillett
Township, where he is noticed as one of the early settlers. We were unable to
learn much of the others. This comprises a number of the first settlers in this
section of the county, much of which is rather new, as compared to other
portions. The present towns of Shiloh, Buck and Young America are of more recent
settlement than the east and south parts of the county. The fifth and last of
the old original townships was known as

RIPLEY PRECINCT.

   This precinct or town extended from the north line of Carroll Precinct to
Chicago, and so remained until the formation of Vermilion County, when it was
included in it.    At the March meeting of the County Commissioners' Court of
Vermilion, we find that that county was divided into two townships or districts,
called respectively Carroll and Ripley Townships. As all this section was once
embraced in Edgar County, we deem it appropriate in this connection to glance
briefly at the settlement of the original Ripley Township, The first settlement
was made at or near the old Salt Works, by a man named Seymour Treat, who came
to these Salt Springs as early as 1820, for the purpose of making salt. A man by
the name of Blackburn came with him. These Salt Springs were known to the State
at the time of its adoption into the Union in 1818, and were reserved to the
State when Vermilion County was organized. The State passed sundry laws for the
regulation of the "Vermilion Saline. " Mr. Treat, after remaining at the Salt
Springs for several years, settled the village of Denmark and built a saw-mill.
James Butler came in the latter part of 1820, and was the first settler at
Butler's Point, now called Catlin. The beautiful farm settled by Mr. Butler is
now owned by Harvey Sandusky. Henry Johnston was the first white settler on the
Little Vermilion, and came about the same time of Butler. Two of his
brothers-in-law settled near by in a short time after. Harvey Luddington settled
at Butler's Point in 1822, and afterward removed to the Salt Works. He improved
several farms on Salt Fork, west of the Saline, and then removed to Danville. He
was in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Lundy's Lane, in 1813,
when but twenty years of age. George and Daniel Beckwith, noticed among the
early settlers of the original Wayne Township, were among the first settlers in
Ripley. They came to the Salt Works, and Daniel afterward entered land, at
present embraced in the city of Danville. Hon. John B. Alexander, another of the
early settlers of old Wayne, removed to this section, where the remainder of his
life was passed. When Mr. Luddington settled in Ripley Township, four years
before the formation of Vermilion County, he found but eight families in all
that section, viz.: the Beckwiths and Treat, at the Saline: Butler, at Butler's
Point; Achilles Morgan, at Brooke's Point; Henry Johnston, on the Little
Vermilion, and his two brothers-in-law. Alexander McDonald settled on the Little
Vermilion, and Asa Elliott at Butler's Point, the next year. Benjamin Canaday
settled near the present village of Georgetown, in 1823; John and William
Current came in 1825. Among the early settlers of Ripley Precinct or Township,
we may notice in addition to the names already given, William Bandy and James A.
Davis, Hezekiah Cunningham, Moses Thomas, Jonathan Lyon, John B. Thomas, James
Davison, Joseph Gundy, Joseph Kerr, and many others whose names are forgotten.
As already noted, Ripley Township extended to Chicago, and for several years
after the organization of Vermilion County, as well as when Vermilion was a part
of Edgar, the city of Chicago, which was then concealed in the swamps of Lake
Michigan, was embraced in these districts. William Reed, the first Sheriff of
Edgar County, and removing to Vermilion became the first Sheriff there, as such
had to collect the taxes of Chicago, or Fort Dearborn, as it was then called.
Harvey Luddington, as we have been informed, having business in the "extreme
north part of the county," agreed to collect Chicago's taxes, provided the
county would pay his expenses. The latter amounted to about ten dollars, and
taxes collected from the future metropolis of the Northwest was three dollars.
The next year, to save expenses, Sheriff Reed paid Chicago's taxes out of his
own pocket. It amounted, we are told, to a few cents over three dollars.

   Thus we have taken a brief glance at the early settlement of the county,
giving the dates of settlement in each of the original divisions, viz.: Wayne,
Pike, Fairfield, Carroll and Ripley Townships. That inaccuracies exist in many
points is not only possible, but altogether probable. Stretching back over a
period of over sixty years to the time of the first settlements in its
territory, it would be wonderful in the extreme for the mind of man to collect
with perfect accuracy all the names and dates mentioned in these pages. If,
therefore, names have been omitted which are entitled to come in the list of
early settlers, it is unintentional, and deeply regretted. We have noticed only
those who settled in the county previous to 1830, and have spared no pains to
obtain the names of all who came before that date. But, as very few of those
early pioneers are still living, it is highly probable, as before observed, that
many omissions have been made. In the township histories which follow, the
settlement of each particular section will be more fully given, and many
additional facts noticed, together with the names of those coming in to a later
period than given in this connection. With these few apologetic words,
parenthetically, we will pass now to the

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

   When Illinois was admitted into the Union as a State, in 1818, it was
composed of fifteen counties. One of these, Crawford, included what is now Edgar
County. The farthest north of any of these counties was Bond, whose northern
boundary was limited only by the State-line. Indeed, it would have been rather
difficult for a geographer to have definitely pointed out the exact limits of
any county on its northern boundary. Only about one-fourth of the State was
really embraced in these counties. "The settled portions of Illinois were all
south of a line drawn from Alton via Carlisle to Palestine, near the Wabash; but
within this area were large tracts of wilderness country, of several days'
journey in extent, the settlements being mostly scattered along the borders of
the great rivers. All the vast prairies north of this line, comprising the most
fertile lands of the State, nearly every acre of which was susceptible of
cultivation, ready cleared and provided, as it were, for the hand of the
husbandman, was a howling wilderness, uninhabited save by the red savage and the
prairie wolf."

   The organization of the State drew the attention of emigrants toward it, and
a consequent enlargement of the settlements. This necessitated the formation of
more counties, for men then, as now, considered themselves fully capable of
managing their own governmental affairs, and, consequently, among the early acts
of the Legislature appear the creation of counties almost as fast as the bills
therefor could be presented and acted upon. The influx of immigrants to the
northern portions of Crawford County, in 1819 and 1820, led to the formation of
Clark County, which, by a similar manner, in the spring of 1823, suffered a
division, and Edgar County was the result. The act for its formation we have
been unable to obtain, and must, therefore, omit its insertion in this
connection. For the benefit of our readers, however, we would state that the
bill authorizing its formation as a county was passed by the Legislature January
23, 1823, and was approved and signed by Edward Coles, then Governor of the
infant State. In pursuance of the act of organization, an election was held in
the spring of 1823, when John B. Alexander, Elijah Austin and Charles Ives were
elected County Commissioners.

   The election referred to was not, however, the first held in what is now
Edgar County. Col. Mayo states that, in the spring of 1818, an election was held
in his house, on the "North Arm," to choose delegates to the Convention to form
the State Constitution. He says there were 14 votes cast, 3 of which came from
Sugar Creek. In the fall, another election was held in the Colonel's house, for
Governor, Congressmen and a member to the Legislature. The next election was
doubtless after the county was formed, and was the one already referred to. When
the county was organized, Judge Wilson appointed Col. Mayo Clerk of the Circuit
Court. It was his duty now to put the county in proper shape to hold the
election for County Commissioners. He went to Clark County, where he took the
oath of office. Gov. Coles had appointed him Recorder and Notary Public, and, on
his return from Clark County, he swore in Lewis Murphy as Judge of Probate
Court, and all the Justices of the Peace that had been commissioned by the
Governor. William Reed was appointed Sheriff, and as soon as the Commissioners
were elected and qualified, Edgar County was a reality.

   The county received its name from Hon. John Edgar, one of the first three
Judges of the Illinois County, when that municipality was a part of the "Old
Dominion." He was a resident of old Kaskaskia when Gen. St. Clair arrived there,
in February, 1790, under instructions of Gen. Washington. His wife was one of
the most accomplished women of that day, and was a devoted American. Her husband
had been an officer in the British army in the War of Independence; but, owing
to the intense loyalty of his wife, was induced, mainly by her, to join the
patriot cause. Mr. Stuve, in his admirable history of Illinois, thus speaks of
these two persons:

   "This accomplished woman, the center of fashion for remote Illinois, in the
olden time, presided for many years, with equal grace and dignity, over her
husband's splendid mansion, at Kaskaskia—the abode of hospitality and resort of
the elite for near a half-century. It was in the spacious and elegantly-finished
parlors of this house that La Fayette, on his visit to Illinois, in 1825, was
sumptuously entertained by a banquet and ball. Mrs. Edgar's name merits high
rank in the scroll of Revolutionary heroines. By birth, education and sympathy,
she was American; but her husband, John Edgar, was an officer in the British
navy, fighting against the colonies in their struggle for independence. By her
talents, shrewdness and, above all, her patriotic devotion to her country, she
won over, not only the heart of her husband to the American cause, but was the
projector of many plans by which soldiers in the British army were induced to
quit and join the ranks of the patriots. She had, upon one occasion, arranged a
plan of escape for three soldiers, and was to furnish them guns, American
uniforms, etc., and all needful information to enable them to reach the patriot
camp. When they came, she was absent from home; but her husband, a confidant of
all her operations, notwithstanding his position in the enemy's navy, supplied
them with the outfit prepared for them by her. But the deserters were
apprehended, returned to the British camp, and compelled to divulge the names of
their abettors. This implicated Edgar, and he fled. Remaining awhile in the
American army, he deemed it safer for his life to seek greater seclusion, and
came to Kaskaskia. His property was confiscated, but the rare sagacity of his
wife, who remained back, enabled her to save from the wreck some $12,000, with
which she joined her husband, two years afterward, in his Western home. Their
union was childless; but they were for many years the most wealthy family in
Illinois. Edgar was a large, portly man. A county of the State perpetuates his
name."

   The Commissioners met at the house of William Murphy on the first Monday in
April, 1823, chose Amos Williams Clerk of Court, and were ready for business.
The first thing on record is the report of John Boyd and John Houston,
Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to locate the seat of justice for the
new county. At this meeting, they presented the following report:

   "We, the undersigned Commissioners, appointed by the act of authority of the
State of Illinois framing the county of Edgar, in obedience to said act have met
at the house of William Murphy, in said county of Edgar, on the first Monday of
April, 1823, for the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice of said
county of Edgar; and after having duly examined the present population of said
county of Edgar, with an eye to future population; and after being duly sworn,
before Lewis Murphy, Esq., to perform the duties imposed upon us by the
above-recited act, have and do hereby declare that the seat of justice for the
said county of Edgar should be and is hereby located on twenty-six acres of
land, the property of Samuel Vance, being the northwest quarter of Section 1,
Township No. 13 north, Range No. 12 west; and we do farther, in the discharge of
the duty aforesaid, declare and make known to all persons to whom these presents
shall come, that the said county seat or seat of justice shall, from and after
this day, be styled and known by the name of PARIS; and we do further certify
that Samuel Vance, the proprietor of the land whereon the said county seat is
located, gave, as a condition to the county aforesaid, the quantity of
twenty-six acres of land for the use of said county, for which he has executed
his bond to the said county, which is herewith inclosed and made a part of our
report."

   The bond referred to was in the sum of $10,000, payable to the county in case
Samuel Vance failed to deed to it the twenty-six acres "to be laid off," it
provided, "in one square block, the lines to run north and south, east and west,
and so as to include a 'Jack oak' tree blazed and marked Paris in the center of
said twenty six acres."

   It was ordered that the land be surveyed before the 14th of June (the deed
was to be given by the 15th of April), and on the third Monday in June the lots
were to be sold at public vendue.

   Thus providing for the county seat, the Commissioners proceeded to lay out
the county into "townships," as they term it, though these were not known in the
West then, precincts being meant, it is a noticeable fact that in all the early
records the words "township," "precinct" and "district" are used synonymous.
Townships were not adopted legally until 1856, hence precinct is the proper term
until that date.

   The first division of the county, as it now appears on the records, was as
follows:

    "Ordered, That the county of Edgar be and hereby is divided into the
following townships, to wit:

   "Beginning where the range line, between Ranges Eleven and Twelve west,
crosses Sugar Creek, thence south on said line to the south boundary of Edgar
County; thence east to the State line; thence north on said line to the center
of Township Thirteen north; thence west to Sugar Creek; thenee [sic] up
saidcreek to the place of beginning to be called PIKE Township.

   "All that part of Edgar County lying west of Range Eleven west, and south of
Township Fifteen north, shall constitute one township, to be called FAIRFIELD.

   All that part of Edgar County lying north of Pike Township, and east of Range
Twelve west, and south of Township Sixteen north, shall constitute one township,
to be called WAYNE.

   "All that part of Edgar County lying north of Wayne and Fairfield Townships.
as far north as the center of Township Eighteen north, shall constitute one
township, to be called CARROLL.

   "All that part of Edgar County lying north of Carroll to constitute one
township, to be called RIPLEY."

   If the reader will turn to the map of the county in the front part of this
work, he can readily trace out the boundaries of these divisions. They are fully
described elsewhere in these pages, and repetition here is not necessary.

   After the Court had performed this duty, it appointed Smith Shaw, Jasper
Starr and Samuel Brimberry, Trustees of the School Sections; George Board and
William Whitley, George Beck with, Absalom Starr, Thomas Rhoades, Constables in
their respective townships, Trustees for the Poor in each, and William Reed as
County Treasurer. His bond was $2,000, John Stratton becoming his surety. He
withdrew his bond at the June term and John Stratton was appointed to the place.

   At the June term of this Court, the Surveyor made his report concerning the
plat of the county seat. His assistants in this work were William Lowry, George
Board, Samuel Vance and David Crosier. The first two were allowed $3 each for
their services, the next one $2 and the last one $1. The Surveyor was allowed $16.

   Numerous road petitions were now presented to the Court at its sittings, road
districts were marked out, Supervisors appointed and other county business, as
it came before the Commissioners, disposed of. Further on in these pages,
sketches of the first courts appear where the names of the first juries appear,
and also some of their acts. Taxes on real and personal property were assessed,
the collection of which and custody did not require much time or space.

   At the September term, the plans of the first Court House and Jail were
determined and contracts for their erection let. As it is a matter of history,
and as an evidence of the progress of the times, we here append the plans as
they now appear on record. It was ordered

   "That the following shall be the plan of the temporary Court House in the
town of Paris: Length, 32 feet; width, 22 feet; sills, 10x12 inches, placed on 8
white-oak blocks, 18 inches long, 2 feet in diameter, set 6 inches in the
ground; 11 sleepers, 10 inches at the small end, and 4 cross-sills, 10x12
inches, framed into the sills with a bearer under the center of the sleepers; 4
corner-posts, 10 inches square; 2 center-posts 5x10 inches; studs in both
stories, 4 inches square, 2 1/2 feet apart from center to center, except
receiving the doors and windows; 4 joist-posts, 9 inches square, for the broad
side of the building; 2 end-plates, 6x9 inches square; 11 joists, 5x9 inches; 2
plates, 7x9 inches, 32 feet long; 2 end-plates, 5x8 inches, 23 feet 6 inches
long; 9 joists, 3x8 inches, 23 feet 6 inches long; 11 pairs of rafters, 4x6
inches, 13 feet long; 32 braces, 4x5 inches. The building is to be covered with
joint shingles, 18 inches long, 5 inches to the weather, made of poplar or
walnut, 4 to 5 inches wide, 5/8 of an inch in thickness; lath, 3 inches broad
and 1 inch thick; weather-boarding, 3/4 of an inch thick, 8 inches wide, lapped
2 inches; door in the center of the end of the building, 3 feet 2 inches wide, 6
feet 6 inches high, batten shutter; 3 24-light windows in the lower story—one
opposite the door, one on each side of the house, 10 feet from the corners
opposite the door; in the upper story, two 20-light windows in the front in the
center of each room; glass for all the windows to be 8x10, with batten shutters
for the three lower windows, and sash and frames and the glass well puttied in;
lower floor plank, 1 1/4 inches thick, 7 inches wide, two 10-penny nails in each
board at each sleeper, jointed down with square joints; the plank to be of good
white oak, well seasoned; the upper floor, poplar planks, planed on the upper
side, plowed and grooved, and nailed down as the lower floor; stairs to run to
the jury-rooms of 3-inch bearers; stairs to be 3 feet wide, and plank to be
planed, with newel-post, hand-rail and banisters; a partition to inclose the
head of the stairs, with a door to enter into each jury-room, and a partition to
divide the second story into two rooms of equal size; the partitions and doors
in the upper story to be planed, tongued and grooved; the doors to be well hung,
good hinges and locks. The first story to be 10 feet between floors; the second,
8 1/2. The weather-boarding to the front and back to be planed.

   "All the above work to be done in a good and sufficient workmanlike manner."

   The building was to be completed in ten months, and was "purchased," as it is
termed in the records, by Ebenezer Center, whose bid was probably the lowest,
his contract for building it being $690. It stood on the south side of the
square, the broad side of the building facing the square. A Court House as good
for the times as could be expected was the result of this definite plan. It was
received by the Commissioners, and stood good service until replaced by its
present successor, which now has the appearance of being on a very serious decline.

   Its position was detrimental to the business growth of the town, and it was
finally decided to sell the old structure and build a new one in the center of
the square. Mainly through the efforts of Mr. Hall Sims, so long on the Board,
was this accomplished. He urged the erection of a brick Court House, and at the
June term of Court it was ordered that the Commissioners meet again in Paris on
the first Monday in July and receive proposals for the erection of the new Court
House. In the mean time, the County Clerk was to advertise extensively in the
papers in surrounding towns. After various delays, a contract was entered into
with Leander Munsell on October 9, 1832, to erect a brick Court House, two
stories in height, at an expense of $4,250. The old Court House was ordered sold
by the Sheriff at the September term in 1833, the new one being by that time
done, and accepted at that term of Court. A year from that date, the contract
for fencing the public square was let to Hiram Jewett and Jesse Waller for$100.
They were required to complete it by the 1st of March of the next year.

   Both Court Houses were often used for religious meetings when churches were
not yet built, and both have heard the speeches of men prominent in State and
national life.

   We will now retrace our steps, and note the building of the Jails.

   At the same term of Court that the first Court House was planned, it was
decided to erect a Jail, and proposals were invited. The Commissioners decided
upon what kind of one they wanted, and, judging from the plans recorded, it must
have been a pretty good safeguard.

   "The foundation to be dug out two feet deep and filled with white-oak blocks,
two feet long, set on end, and not less than two feet in diameter. The lower
floor to be laid with squared timbers twelve inches thick; both walls to
commence on this floor; the timbers for each wall to be twelve inches square,
with a space of six inches between them, if filled with stone; if filled with
good, sound, hard timber, to be eight inches between the walls. The walls to be
well dove-tailed, and the logs to be let down close. The lower story to be seven
feet, and the upper, seven and a half feet above the floors. The second floor to
be laid with squared timbers ten inches square, to extend across both walls"—
giving a cross-floor at the bottom twenty-two inches thick—" the upper floor to
be of squared timbers eight inches thick. Rafters, four by five inches, twelve
and one-half feet long. The gable-ends to be studded and weather-boarded. Two
windows to be in the lower story, opposite sides of the building, set in the
inner wall; in the outer wall grating, four inches from center to center, were
to be set six inches in the logs. A trap-door to be in the center of the upper
floor, two feet wide and three feet long, and to be made of three-inch oak
planks, ironed with a pair of hinges extending across the door; an iron bar
three-fourths of an inch thick and two inches wide, extended across the door,
secured at one end with a staple equally as thick to go through the floor and
clinch, at the other end to be fastened with a padlock of the largest size and
double bolts. The door shutters were to be two feet wide, six feet high, to be
made double, of good oak plank nearly two inches thick; the front planks to
stand upright, the inside ones to cross, all to be tongued and grooved, and well
spiked with spikes three inches long, well clinched, not more than two inches
apart. The hinges were to go clear across the door, were to be nearly two inches
thick and fully that wide, and were to be well riveted with fourteen rivets
each. The hooks on which the hinges hung were to be one inch in diameter, and
were to be driven into the logs ten inches. Cheek-pieces six inches thick and
twelve inches wide, riveted three inches for the tenon of the logs to go in, and
to be tenoned into the sill of the door four inches deep, with three-inch
tenons, and at the top of the door in like manner. The door-shutters were to
have a good ten-inch stock lock and key, and were to be secured with a bar of
iron nearly an inch thick, two inches wide, and of sufficient length for the
bearded staples to be driven into the logs ten inches. The bar to be secured
also with a double-bolted padlock of the largest size."

   This plan comprised the main building. It was to be sixteen feet clear in the
inside; was to have steps secured with a banister and railing leading to the
door, and was to be completed in "ten months from date, in a good and sufficient
workmanlike manner." Two windows were added to the plan, to be placed in the
upper story (the roof to be made in a corresponding strong manner) similar to
those below.

   The payments were to be made like those for the Court House, i. e.,
one-fourth in four months, the remainder in ten and sixteen months; the builder
to entitled to a proportionment allowance of silver, did it happen to be in the
treasury.

   When the bids for its construction were opened, David Crosier became the
"purchaser," agreeing to build it for $645 State paper, and entered into bonds
for the faithful fulfillment of his contract.

   Immediately following the plan of the Jail is one for a Stray Pound, to be
made of white-oak posts set two and one-half feet in the ground, standing six
feet above. The inclosure "to be forty feet square, and so made as to keep any
pigs, horses or cattle that might be necessary to confine in it." The erection
of this was "purchased" by Allen Isaac, for $16.50, who was required to finish
it by the 1st day of January following.

   Before the Commissioners adjourned, they heard the report of William Lowry
and John Stratton, appointed to open a road, who report "that the flies had been
so bad they were prevented from viewing the road from Paris to the Vermilion
Salt Works." They were allowed until the next term of Court to complete the task.

   William Murphy was given a license to open a tavern in his house (the first
license of the kind granted in the county), and was also allowed $6 for the use
of his house for Court purposes. As his tavern license cost him $5, he did not
have a large sum for the rent of his house.

   We will now follow the history of the Jail. In October, 1823, Mr. Crosier was
ordered to put " iron plates into the bottom and top of each window in the lower
story of the Jail, one-half inch thick, two and a half inches wide and two feet
and a half long; the upright bars to pass through these plates." For this, the
County Commissioners bind themselves to make a reasonable allowance. He was also
ordered to build the Jail on the southwest corner of Lot No. 8 (one block north
of the square and directly north of the Court House). He was again ordered to
put iron plates in the upper windows, similar to those below. At the June term,
in 1824, Mr. Crosier was allowed, on his own petition, to make the following
alterations in the foundations of the Jail: To have the outside wall commenced
on the blocks, and the inside wall on the under floor.

   At the March term, 1825, the Court examined the Jail, and "find the same
finished according to the contract, except the padlocks." These were soon added,
and the first Jail in Edgar County was complete.

   At the September term, the gratings of the lower windows were changed, and it
was ordered that they "be made of Swedish bar-iron, leaving an aperture of two
inches square, said bars to be well riveted together; the gratings to be firmly
spiked to the wall with bearded spikes three-fourths of an inch thick, ten
inches long, round heads, half inch out; bars to extend on the logs four inches,
and let into the logs the thickness of the bars; the grating to be on the inside
of the windows." John Lycan agreed to furnish and put in these grates, for which
he was allowed $15.65, at the March term of Court in 1827. This old Jail,
unpretentious as it was, was much safer than many more modern ones whose cost
figures largely in the thousands, and whose appearances are grand and imposing.
It may be that criminals were not as adroit then as now, for they appear to be
learners as well as actors; but we wager the guess that the old log jails of
fifty years ago, built like the one we have described, show a much smaller
proportion of escapes than those of to-day.

   The old Jail was used until the summer of 1835, when it was replaced by a
larger one, built, also, of logs, but having the upper story divided into rooms.
By these divisions, those confined could be put in separate apartments. This
Jail stood on the site of the first one, which was sold and converted by its
purchaser into other uses. The second one was erected by Leander Munsell, who
received $900 for it. In addition to the contract price, he was allowed $30 for
extra work.

   The second Jail continued in use twenty-four years. By that time it, also,
had outlived its usefulness, and was condemned. In the spring of 1859, James B.
Hannars, N. B. Stage and James W. Parrish were appointed a committee to contract
for the erection of the present Jail and jailer's residence. They met at Paris
on the 16th of March of that year, and made a contract with a Cincinnati firm,
whose price for its erection was $38,000. This included the Jail and jailer's
residence—all in the same building. The building was completed by December, and,
at that term of the Supervisors' Court, the committee made their report, turned
over the Jail to the county and were discharged. They sold the old Jail to R.
Patton for $50, who removed it from the lot before the present one was completed.

   The present Jail is built on what is known as the "Cincinnati Plan." The
Sheriff's residence is in the front, the female prisoners' room just above and
back, while the Jail is in the rear. It is made with iron cells, provided with
water and all necessary privileges, and is considered very safe. A long hall
runs through the middle of the Jail. On each side of it are the cells, lighted
principally from the front through this hall. Everything betokens comfort and
security.

PRECINCTS AND TOWNSHIPS.

   We have already noticed the division of Edgar County into the original five
townships, as they were termed. It will be well in this political history to
review the acts of the county through its Board of Commissioners and
Supervisors, and note the various subdivisions, the causes relating to such
subdivisions, etc., and any other matters coming appropriately under this head.

   The original precincts were Pike, Fairfield, Wayne, Carroll and Ripley. Their
areas were widely different, and were not made upon any natural lines. They were
so made as to accommodate the settlers in various parts of the county, and for
this reason chiefly were they afterward subdivided.

   Pike was the smallest precinct, including in its boundaries the Sugar Creek
settlement, and in outline was same as Elbridge Township, save that the latter
has one more tier of sections on the north. They were, however, added when it
was yet Pike Precinct. This precinct has always remained as originally laid out,
with but few changes geographically. When the township organization was adopted
in 1856, the name was changed to Sims, and under such name, and as the limits
were then made, it has since remained.

   With the other precincts, however, the case has been entirely different. As
they filled with settlers, they were divided for election purposes from time to
time.

   Fairfield originally included the present townships of Paris, Sims, Grand
View, Buck, Kansas, nearly all of Embarrass, and parts of Shiloh and Edgar. This
was nearly half the county; but there was only a part of it settled. On Big
Creek and in the edge of Grand View Township were a few families. At the June
term of County Court in 1824, Fairfield Precinct was altered "so as to include
two miles of the northwest end of the road leading from Paris to Terre Haute in
Pike Township." Carroll Precinct was also altered "so as to include the west
half of Town 15 north, Range 11 west." It was also ordered "that Smith Shaw,
John Lycan and William Means be and they are hereby appointed Judges of Election
for the voting precinct composed of the townships of Pike, Fairfield, Wayne and
Carroll." That one voting precinct was all of what is now Edgar County and about
nine miles of the south part of Vermilion County. The reader can form an idea of
the traveling necessary to vote. Ripley Township was at this meeting made a
separate voting precinct. It extended indefinitely north. It is not likely that
the voters about the military post at Chicago came down here to exercise the
elective franchise. Before this arrangement had been made, it was discovered
that there was an unassigned tract of country lying north of Pike Township. This
the Commissioners, at this same term of Court, ordered to be attached to Wayne.

   At a called term of the County Court in July, a petition was presented from
the inhabitants of Carroll Township, asking to be made a voting precinct. The
petition was granted. This division made two voting precincts in the county. At
the March term of 1826, it was ordered "that all that part of Edgar County lying
in the bounds of Carroll Township be attached to Wayne Township." Why this was
done the records do not say. A year after, all that part of Pike Township lying
north of the center of Town 13, and west of Sugar Creek, was attached to
Fairfield Township. This was a small corner of Pike, rather triangularly shaped,
and hence better attached to some other township where the form could be
altered. To help this, the western limit of Pike was extended one mile—that much
taken from Fairfield.

   This arrangement continued until 1830. At the June term that year, it was
found, owing to the increase in population in the county, that new precincts
must be made; hence the Commissioners

    Ordered, That all that part of this county lying west of a line beginning on
the south line of the county, one mile east of the range line between Ranges 12
and 13, and south of Township 15 north, be an election precinct to be called
Fairfield, and that the election in said precinct be held at the schoolhouse
near James M. Archer's store, and that Aric Sutherland, Sr., Benjamin Johnson
and Thomas Carey be appointed Judges of Election in said precinct.

   This divided the original Fairfield Township into two almost equal parts.
Paris was now thickly enough settled to want a precinct of its own; hence the
division. The east half containing the county seat and the Big Creek settlements
took the name of ^the former. William J. Mayo, Myron Ives and Thomas Hicklin
were appointed Judges of Election here.

   The eastern part of the county comprised in Wayne Township would also admit
of a division. A new precinct, to be called Morgan, whose southern boundary was
Town 14 north, and extending to Carroll Township, was also made The elections
were to be held at the schoolhouse near John W. Riley's. William Lowry, William
C. Trimble and Joshua M. Martin were appointed Judges.

   The next year, "Union District," as it is termed on the records, was formed.
The election was ordered "to be hereafter held at the storehouse of J. W. Riley,
in the town of Bloomfield. William Lowry, William C. Trimble and John McKee were
appointed Judges of Election. In the formation of Morgan and the " Union
District," there appears to be a discrepancy on the records, not at any time
explained. There does not appear to be any Union precinct formed.

   At the same term of Court the above order was made. The name of Fairfield was
changed to Grand View, and appears no more on the records.

   At the March term, 1832, Pike Township was made one election precinct, the
place of voting being the Liberty meeting-house, near the present town of
Elbridge. This would now give seven precincts, viz.: Paris, Grand View, Carroll
(which had been reduced by the creation of Vermilion County, in 1826), Wayne,
Pike, Morgan and the "Union District." In 1834, the name Morgan was changed to
Beaconfield. This evidently included the "Union District," as the election was
ordered to be held at J. W. Riley's house, in Bloomfield. The same time this was
done, the place of holding elections in Grand View Precinct was changed to the
house of Joseph McCracken.

   Wayne Township appears never to have been an election precinct until 1836\.
At the June term of that year, the southern portion of this original township
was made into a township called Wayne. The election was to be held at Josiah
Morrison's mill. William Hartley, George G. King and William J. Mayo were
appointed Judges of the Election. Previous to this, it will be remembered, it
was a part of Paris Precinct, having been attached to old Fairfield several
years before.

   It is not necessary to follow these divisions further. Enough has been
written to show the manner of forming new precincts, and the reasons therefor.
As the country filled with settlers, others were formed. Names were changed,
boundaries altered, and, indeed, about as much "tinkering" with the territory
was indulged in by the County Court as was the habit of the State Legislature to
alter old laws and pass new ones.

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

   The government of the county continued under the precinct system until 1856.
By this system, the Court consisted of three Commissioners elected by the
people. All business relating to the county was transacted by this Court as it
is now done by the Board of Supervisors.

   "The system of township organization had its origin, in the United States, in
New England. The root of this form of local government may be traced to the
districting of England into tithings by King Alfred, in the ninth century, to
curb the wide-spread local disorders which disturbed his realm. Upon this
ancient idea of tithing districts, the Puritans grafted their greatly improved
township system. The county system originated, in this country, in Virginia, and
is also of English origin. The tobacco-planters of the Old Dominion, owning
their laborers more completely than did the barons of England their vassals,
lived isolated and independent upon their large landed estates, in imitation of
the aristocracy of the mother country. They also modeled their county and
municipal institutions, with certain modifications suitable to the condition of
the new country, after the same prototype; whence has spread the county system
into all the Southern and many of the Northern States. All of the Northwest
Territory, now constituting five States, after the conquest of Clarke, was, by
Virginia, in 1778, formed into one county under her jurisdiction, called
Illinois. The county feature was afterward retained in all the States carved out
of this Territory. The county business in Illinois was transacted by three
Commissioners, in the respective counties, who constituted a County Court,
which, besides the management of county affairs, had usually other jurisdiction
conferred upon it, such as that of Justice of the Peace and probate business. By
the Constitution of 1848, owing to the influence of Eastern or New England
settlers in the northern portion of the State, township organization was
authorized, leaving it optional for any county to adopt or not the law to be
enacted. In accordance with the provisions of that Constitution, and in
obedience to a demand from the people in the northern part of the State, who had
observed1 its practical workings in the Eastern States, the first township
organization act was passed by the Legislature. But the law, in attempting to
put it into practical operation, disclosed radical defects. It was revised and
amended at the session of 1851, substantially as it has existed till the recent
revision in 1871. The adoption of the township system marks an era in the
management of fiscal affairs in many of the counties of the State.

   "Our township system is not, however, closely modeled after the New England
States. There a Representative is sent directly from each town to the Lower
House of the Legislature. In New York, owing to her vast extent of territory,
this was found to be impracticable, and a county assembly, denominated a Board
of Supervisors, composed of a member from each town, was then established. This
modified system we have copied, almost exactly, in Illinois.

   "Townships are often compared by writers to petty republics, possessing
unlimited sovereignty in matters of local concern; and Boards of Supervisors are
often popularly supposed to be vested with certain limited legislative powers.
Neither is the case. Both the county and the township boards are the mere-fiscal
agents. They hold the purse-strings of the counties; they may contract, incur
debts, or create liabilities—very great powers, it is true—but they cannot
prescribe or vary the duties, nor control in any manner the county or township
officers authorized by law. While the County Court of three members is a
smaller, and, therefore, as a rule, more manageable or controllable body by
outside influences, there is little doubt that a Board of Supervisors is not
only more directly expensive, but also that a thousand and one petty claims of
every conceivable character, having no foundation in law or justice, are
constantly presented, and, being loosely investigated and tacitly allowed,
aggregate no-insignificant sum. A Board of Supervisors also acts or is
controlled more by partisan feelings. There ought to be uniformity throughout
the State in the-management of county affairs. No little confusion seems to
pervade the laws at the present time relating to our two classes of counties." *


* See Davidson & Stuve's History of Illinois, pages 556, 557.


   Whatever may be the opinion of the writer of the foregoing sketch, the system
is not without its merits. The fact—a very potent one, too—is that, when once
adopted by any county, it is never changed. None have been known, as far as we
are able to learn, to recede from the position and return to the old system.

   After the law was amended, in 1851, the newspapers of the county began a
discussion as to the practicability of Edgar County abandoning the Board of
Commissioners and adopting the township plan. It was agitated until 1856, when
the Court, in answer to a united desire on the part of the people of the county,
ordered an election to be held to determine the question.

   This election was held on November 4, 1856, and resulted in 1,349 votes in
favor of the township organization and 971 votes against it. This decided the
matter. At a meeting of the Board of Commissioners, held soon after Hall Sims,
William P. Dole and William Gains were appointed a committee to divide the
county into townships, and give to each a name. For some unexplained reason,
there is no report of this committee preserved. Mr. Sims, -when asked in
relation to the matter, says he was sick at the time and did not act. He does
not remember what the other two did. The records simply show that the Board of
Commissioners continued in office until March, 1857, when they retired. At that
date, this Board was composed of the following members: James Steele, Judge,
James W. Parrish and Johnston Ross. The first meeting of the Board of
Supervisors was held on April 8, 1857, when the following persons reported
elected to that office: John Y. Allison, William H. Barnhill, Charlton Brown,
John B. Galloway, John R. Green, James B. Hannars, John Hunter, Theodore F.
Little, James W. Parrish, Charles L. Parker, Philip Ross and Napoleon B.
Stage—twelve persons in all. Mr. Hunter was chosen Moderator; a set of rules,
presented by Mr. Parrish, was adopted, and the Board of Supervisors and township
organization were a reality.

    When the vote for the change occurred, there were thirteen precincts in the
county. These were, Prairie, Young America, Bloomfield, Clay, Embarrass,
Brouilletts Creek, Wayne, Elbridge, Marion, Grand View, Paris, Pilot Grove and
Midway.

   The first record of the names of the townships after their adoption shows the
following names:

   Grand View, Young America, Embarrass, Kansas, Ross, Sims (or Symmes),
Stratton, Prairie, Brouilletts Creek, Elbridge, Buck, Edgar and Paris.

    As has already been stated, there is no record of the change of the names of
the precincts when they were made townships. The reader will observe that the
number of each is the same, a few of the names only being changed. Pilot Grove
was changed to Buck, Wayne to Stratton, Marion to Sims, etc.

   Since the adoption of this form of government, two new townships have been
made, viz., Shiloh and Hunter, making fifteen in all. Formerly, each township
was allowed one representative; but owing to the excess of population in Paris
Township, it is allowed two. The change also altered precinct officers, giving
an Assessor and Collector in each township. Formerly these duties were performed
by the Sheriff, who appointed Deputies.

   Thus we have traced the progress of the county through the various steps of
its advancement from its organization; from five to fifteen townships, and from
one form of government to another. Its court trials and legal proceedings are
interesting to those who have participated in them, and, turning our attention
to this part of its history, we will devote a few pages to

THE CIRCUIT COURT.

   The first term of the Edgar County Circuit Court was held at the house of
William Murphy (who lived in what is now Hunter Township), in October, 1823. The
first record, which is well preserved, is as follows:

          "EDGAR CIRCUIT COURT, October Term, 1823, first day.

   "State of Illinois, Edgar County, to wit: Be it remembered that, at the house
of William Murphy, in the county aforesaid, on Monday, the 6th day of October,
one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, came William Wilson, Esq., Judge of
the Second Judicial District in and for the State aforesaid, and thereupon a
Circuit Court was begun and held for the said county of Edgar. Present, Hon.
William Wilson, Circuit Judge. Jonathan Mayo appointed Clerk, with leave to
execute bond during the term of this Court." Following are the names of the
first grand jury impaneled in Edgar County: William Lowry, Foreman; Laban Burr,
Joseph Lowry, John Lycan, Daniel Lane, Nathaniel Wayne, John Cutler, Abram
Walters, Alexander Ewing, Alexander Eggleton, Isaac Goyne, Achilles Morgan,
Henry Johnson, Jonathan Lyon, Smith Shaw, William Wyatt and Aloysius Brown, who
were "sworn a grand jury of inquest for the body of this county, and after
having received a charge from John M. Robinson, Circuit Attorney (who was
thereunto requested by the Court), retired to consult upon their presentments."
The next entry upon the records is as follows: "John M. Robinson and William P.
Bennett are permitted to practice as attorneys, or counselors at law, in this
Court." Prominent among the attorneys of that day, and who practiced in the
early courts of Edgar, were Justice Harlan, of Clark; Aaron Shaw, of Lawrence;
Gen. John M. Robinson, of Carmi; Abraham Lincoln, Gen. U. F. Linder, O. B.
Ficklin, William P. Bennett, of Darwin; A. P. Dunbar, of Coles; A. C. French, of
Crawford, and Garland B. Shellady, M. M. Dill and John Pearson, of Edgar, and
others of note and character. From a little publication entitled "Edgar County,"
we make the following extract: "About 1824, Hon. James O. Wattles, of Edwards
County, became Judge. He appointed Amos Williams, Circuit Clerk, and presided
about two years; at the expiration of which time, Judge Wilson was again
assigned to duty, and immediately reappointed Jonathan Mayo, Clerk, which office
he continued to hold until 1848, when it became elective by the people, under
the Constitution of 1847."

   The first case on the docket at this the first term of Court was William
Mars, appellant, vs. Ibby Monicle, appellee, upon an appeal from the judgment of
Lewis Murphy, a Justice of the Peace. It was "ordered that this case be
dismissed at the proper costs of the appellant, and that the papers in this case
be certified to the Justice who gave the original judgment, with directions for
him to proceed thereon." On motion of Circuit Attorney Robinson, Daniel Lane,
one of the grand jurors, was discharged from further service as such, and Otis
McCulloch sworn in his place. The bond of William Reed, Sheriff of the county,
was approved by the Court, and ordered to be certified to the Secretary of
State. The same disposition was made in regard to the bond of George Board, the
first Coroner of Edgar County. Apropos, we give the following story of this
important officer: Mr. Board, as we have said, was the first Coroner of the
county, and held the office for many years. He always attended the sessions of
Court, and usually acted as a Bailiff. "Once upon a time," during Court, Hon.
William Wilson presiding, a man named Sam Morgan was discovered lying in the
shade of the Court House, dead—drunk. Some person, desiring to have a little fun
at the expense of the Coroner, who had never yet been called upon to exercise
the functions of his office, entered the court-room and, in a solemn whisper,
informed Board that "there was a dead man out-of-doors," and that he had better
go and summon a jury. Board arose and, expanding with the importance and dignity
and responsibility of the occasion, observed: "May it please Your Honor, there
is a dead man out here, and I must go and hold an inquest: therefore ask the
Court to excuse me."

   The grand jury returned into the court-room and presented an indictment
against Jacob Poorman—"a true bill," also an indictment against Ebenezer
Center—"a true bill"—and "retired to consult further upon their presentments."
At this point of proceedings, the Court adjourned for the day. The next day,
business was begun by Jonathan Mayo presenting his bond as Clerk of the Court,
in the sum of $2,000, to the Governor of the State, for his faithful performance
of duty. John Stratton and John W. McReynolds were his bondsmen. The grand jury
presented the following additional indictments: James Love, for "sodomy," a
"true bill;" Daniel Lane and Susannah Lane, for "adultery," a "true bill;" and
having no further business, were discharged. The remainder of the term was
occupied in routine business, and the entire session lasted but two days. The
next term of the Court, which was in May, 1824, was held also at Murphy's; but,
the county seat having been located at Paris, the October term of this year was
held there. The first jury trial was at the May term of 1824, and was "The
People of the State of Illinois vs. Jacob Poorman, upon an indictment for
retailing spirituous liquors." The jury was as follows: Seth Montague, Solomon
Aldrich, Samuel Littlefield, Edward Wheeler, Ebenezer David, Joseph Clarke,
Augustine E. Boland, James Farnham, Adriel Stout, John Bovell, Samuel Frost and
James Wilson. The verdict of the jury was a fine of $12 and costs, which verdict
the Court affirmed, and ordered the "same to be collected from the said Poorman.
But four indictments were found by the grand jury at the first term of the
Court; the May term, in 1825, there were twenty-four indictments. In those days,
the term lasted two and three days; the present terms are twenty-four days in
length. Then, there were but two or three attorneys; now, there is a host of them.

   Garland B. Shellady was the first resident lawyer of the county, and at the
present day its bar is as follows: Hon. R. N. Bishop, who has served one term in
the State Senate; Hon. R. L. McKinlay, has served two terms in the Lower House
of the Legislature; J. E. Dyas, Hon. James A. Eads, a member of the
Constitutional Convention of 1869-70; William L. Foulke, John B. Hannah, Hon.
George Hunt, two terms as Senator from this District; Hon. A. J. Hunter, one
term in State Senate; Col. H. Van Sellar, C. B. Jaquith, E. B. Munsell, T. C. W.
Sale, Hon. James Steele, two terms as Circuit Judge; Henry Tanner,  H. S.
Tanner, present State's Attorney; A. Tanner, J. G. Woolley (lately removed to
Minneapolis), Joseph Ficklin, _____ Lewis, W. W. Taylor, A. Y. Trogdon, two
terms as County Judge, and the present incumbent; Lucien Capps, George Dole, W.
J. Van Dyke, H. M. Ewers and Rufus Cusick. As we have said, William Wilson was
the first Circuit Judge, and after him, James O. Wattles, who in turn was
succeeded by Wilson. Since then, the office has been filled successively by
Samuel H. Treat, David Davis (at present in the United States Senate), Justin
Harlan, John Murphy, Charles Constable, James Steele, and O. L. Davis, the
present Judge.

   Thus it will be seen that the Circuit Court of Edgar County has grown
somewhat since that first session in 1823, when, we are informed, that Court was
"held out of doors," the Judge and others sitting on the ground," and that "the
grand jury transacted their business in an open field."


Additional Comments:
Extracted From:

THE HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY, ILLINOIS,

CONTAINING

A History of the County—its Cities, Towns, &c.; Directory of its Tax-Payers; War
Record of its Volunteers in the late Rebellion ; Portraits of Early Settlers and
Prominent Men; General and Local Statistics; Map of Edgar County; History of
Illinois, Illustrated; History of the Northwest, Illustrated; Constitution of
the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c, &c.

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO: WM. LE BARON, JR., & CO., 186 DEARBORN STREET.

1879.


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