Henry County IL Archives History - Books .....County Courts 1877
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 2, 2008, 8:19 pm

Book Title: History Of Henry County, The

COUNTY COURTS.

    The county seat was located at Richmond, Oct. 6, 1837. The first term of
Circuit Court was held here by Hon. Thomas Ford, afterwards Governor of the
state, on April 2, 1839. In the month of June following the small frame
court-house was burned, also a two-story house erected by Harris. Steps were at
once taken to remove the seat of justice to a more convenient locality, the
citizens of Geneseo being most active in this move wishing to secure the prize
for their own town. In this they were defeated, as the site selected was the
Morristown Colony purchase. One term of court was, however, held at Geneseo on
April 6, 1840, and two the following year. Court was removed to Morristown, and
the first session held there on May 16, 1842; afterwards, on Sept. 26; on May
15, 1843; on Sept. 25; and lastly, on May 24, 1844.

    The county seat was located at Cambridge in the early part of 1843; but no
provision being made for holding courts there, they continued to meet at
Morristown, where the court-house, a small unfinished frame building, was
located. The citizens of Cambridge, desiring to make certain of the seat of
justice within their own limits, obtained permission from the county officers to
remove this building to their town. It was granted, and the building removed in
the Summer or Fall of 1843. Yet court did not come; still continuing the county
business at Morristown two sessions in September and in May following. The
court-house referred to was brought to Cambridge with ox teams, and placed on
the southeast corner of what is now the College Square. Here courts were held
until the erection of the present structure, which was completed and accepted
July 8, 1845. It was erected by Sullivan Howard, one of the early settlers of
Wethersfield, and cost about $3,000. The old wooden jail was begun in 1853, and
completed the following year.

    The present court-house, a very commodious and comfortable building in all
its parts, was finished in 1860. In 1858 a small fire-proof building was erected
immediately west of the court-house, costing about $10,000. It is used as the
receptacle for all the county records, and as the offices of the county and
circuit clerks, and that of the county treasurer. It is intended to erect, as
soon as practicable, probably during the coming year, a court-house suitable to
the needs of the county, and one which will be an ornament to the energy and
taste of the citizens.

    The first case tried in the Henry County Court before a jury, was an appeal
case wherein Hiram Pearce was tried for "disturbing the peace and good order of
a congregation assembled for divine worship, by profane language and disorderly
and immoral conduct." He was found guilty and fined twenty dollars.

    In the old court-house, accommodation could hardly be had for the officers
of the court, when they had to find room for the jury. This body often retired
to the shadow of a near tree, or hay-stack, and carried on their deliberations
in commodious but rather undesirable quarters.

    To find lodging at first in Cambridge was almost an impossibility, and
tended greatly to lessen the growth of that place. The members of the bar would
have to go to Andover, and to neighboring cabins for shelter and food. Pages
could be filled with incidents illustrating the mode of administering justice
which, though generally unhindered by legal forms, was sure. The first case in
the present court-house was conducted by Judge Jos. Tillson, now a resident of
Cambridge, and who has been closely identified with all her interests.

    November, 1849, under the new constitution, a county judge (who was also
probate) and two associates, styled county justices, were elected, to-wit: J. M.
Allan, judge; Wm. Miller and John Piatt, associates. In 1850, Allan was elected
Representative to the General Assembly, and a special election for judge to fill
the vacancy occasioned by his resignation, resulted in the election of Joseph
Tillson. In 1853, Stephen Palmer was elected judge, and Robert Getty and John
Piatt, associates. In 1857, the township organization was effected, and the
board of supervisors discharged the duties of the former court.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

THE HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS, ITS TAX-PAYERS AND VOTERS;
CONTAINING, ALSO, A BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY; A CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE STATE;
MAP OF THE COUNTY: A BUSINESS DIRECTORY: AN ABSTRACT OF EVERY-DAY LAWS; WAR
RECORD OF HENRY COUNTY; OFFICERS OF SOCIETIES, LODGES, ETC., ETC.

CHICAGO: H. F. KETT. & CO., 15 LAKESIDE BUILDING.

1877.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/henry/history/1877/historyo/countyco214gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/

File size: 5.2 Kb