The first election for County Officers on the second day of July of that year. It is bounded on the north by the lines between townships two and three north, on the west, by the Mississippi, on the south, by the line between township three and four south, and on the east, by range four west, having Hancock county on the north, Schuyler and Pike on the east, and Pike on the south. Its length, from north to south, is 30 miles, and its average breadth about 26 miles. The centre of the county is in latitude about 30 degrees and 53 minutes north, and consequently avoiding the extremes of heat and cold, it possesses an agreeable and salubrious temperature.

            The western part of the county is well divided for farming purposes into convenient proportions of prairie and woodland. The surface of the country is sufficiently rolling effectually to drain off the superfluous water. The soil, although rich and fertile, is light and mellow, like the alluvion of large streams, containing a small portion of sand; it is seldom too wet to plough nor is it subject to parching drought. At this time, (June 18) while from the recent torrents of rain that have been poured upon the earth almost beyond former precedents, the soil in some parts cannot be cultivated, and the roads are almost impassible, in a large portion of this county the public highways are firm and dry and the farmers are busily engaged in working their crops.

            The eastern portion of the county does not contain so large a proportion of timber as that above alluded to. Yet we think we are warranted in saying that two fifths of the area of the whole county is covered with valuable timber. The soil of the eastern part of the county is a black rich mould, about two or three feet deep, producing a very luxuriant growth, and the surface is less rolling than the western. The forests of the county consist of eight or ten varieties of the oak - black walnut, white walnut, or butternut, hickory, lynn or bass wood, hackberry, coffee nut, red and white elm, black cherry, black mulberry, honey locust, white and blue ash, cottonwood, sycamore or button wood, soft or white maple, sugar tree, sassafras, and buck eye or horse chestnut. Among the undergrowth may be mentioned, the red and white thorn, black and red haw, redbud, crab apple, red plum, pawpaw, and hazel. Grapes are found among the forests in great profusion, as also hops, among the undergrowth.

            Some of the varieties of the oak, and especially the white, are of great value for building timber. And it is the opinion of the gentlemen who have had much experience in ship building, in the eastern states, that the oak found in this county is i all its quality fully equal, if not superior to the best kinds of oak found in those states for that purpose and that as our forests have never been culled for ship timber, it can be obtained in vast quantities on the banks of the Mississippi. It has also been suggested that the bay, commencing at the north part of Quincy, and extending up the river about two miles, affords numerous eligible locations for ship yards. Here the hull of a vessel when constructed, might be freighted with the produce of the country, and with a trifling expense navigated, or towed by a steam boat, to New Orleans, making a handsome advance on the freight, where it might be sold or rigged for service.

            Some of the varieties of the oak, and especially the white, are of great value for building timber. And it is the opinion of the gentlemen who have had much experience in ship building, in the eastern states, that the oak found in this county is i all its quality fully equal, if not superior to the best kinds of oak found in those states for that purpose and that as our forests have never been culled for ship timber, it can be obtained in vast quantities on the banks of the Mississippi. It has also been suggested that the bay, commencing at the north part of Quincy, and extending up the river about two miles, affords numerous eligible locations for ship yards. Here the hull of a vessel when constructed, might be freighted with the produce of the country, and with a trifling expense navigated, or towed by a steam boat, to New Orleans, making a handsome advance on the freight, where it might be sold or rigged for service.

            All the usual productions of the western states grow well here. Corn, wheat, rye, oats, and beans, are those principally cultivated. Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, beets, parsnips, carrots, turnips, cabbages, melons, cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins, and indeed all kinds of garden vegetables, common in the eastern and middle states are produced in great perfection. A few orchards in the neighborhood of Quincy have commenced bearing, and as far as we can judge by the light of experience, the soil is as well adapted to the growth of fruit as in any part of the west. The extreme cold, for a few days in the winter of 1834-5, and late spring frosts, have nearly destroyed the peach trees that had been planted six or eight years.

            This county has been most bountifully supplied with springs of pure, limpid water, some of which are lime and others freestone, as well as with clear running streams. Of the former one affords sufficient power to keep in constant operation a large flour and saw mill. The latter flow rapidly over rocky or gravelly beds. Those of most noted are Bear Creek, (on the maps erroneously called Jackson's river) Groshong's, Spring, Cedar, Tyrer's, Mill, Fall, Pigeon, and McCraney's creeks, which flow into the Mississippi, and McKee's creek, which discharges itself into the Illinois river. On all of these streams, mills have already been erected, although that on Tyrer's creek, and perhaps some others, are not now in operation. Bear, Mill, and M'Kee's creeks all take their rise not far from the centre of the county, and McKee's flowing southeast, Mill south west, and Bear creek west, north west, completely intersect the county. White or grey limestone is found in abundance in all parts of the county, and is the chief rock of this region. In the south eastern part, there is an extensive quarry of blue lime stone, said to be in township three south, range six west; and the same kind is also found near the town of Fairfield. In the vicinity of the latter place free stone of a fine quality may be obtained. On the bank of Mill Creek, in township three south and eight west, and extensive bed of Calcareous rock has been deposited, from which it is supposed fine marble slabs may be produced, capable of receiving a neat polish, although it has not been much worked as yet. Near the town of fairfield, there is a bank of pure white sand. It is also found of a good quality in the bluffs of the Mississippi at Quincy. It is supposed that beds of fossil coal exist in the banks or ravines of all the principal creeks in the county. It has been discovered on Bear, McCraney's, Mill, McKee's, Fall, and Van Burkelow's creeks. That on Bear creek is said to be equal to the Pittsburgh coal.  Sixty-five community leaders chartered the Adams County Anti-Slavery Society, the first in Illinois.

            Iron ore has been discovered in this county, but as it has never been submitted to any test, we cannot pronounce upon its quality or value. Fossil remains and various chemical formations from the wonderful laboratory of "The Great Architect of the Universe," are strewed along nearly all the water courses.  Dr. David Nelson’s Mission Institute, an abolitionist training school, was also on the Underground Railroad.

            Adams county includes 19 whole townships, and seven fractional, containing about 515,000 acres. It is divided into seven districts, or election precincts, called Quincy, Mill Creek, Bear Creek, Centre, Wigle, North East, and Clayton. The first settlement of the county, as near as we can ascertain was commenced by Justus I. Perrigo, an old soldiers; on the land received from government for his services in the late war, in three south eight west, in Mill creek district, in 1821. - In the autumn of the same year or the winter following, Daniel __ settled in two south six west in Wigle district. In March 1823, John Wood' and Maj. Rose located at Quincy, and raised the first crop without fencing: having to travel thirty miles to get a plough sharpened, and forty to mill. During the last named year, Major Campbell and William Worley made an improvement in town one north eight west, in Centre district. Settlements were commenced in Bear Creek district in 1826 - in Clayton and North East in 1829 or 30, or near those dates. The present population of the county is probably from 6 to 7000, judging from the number of votes given 1834.

            There are eight or ten common schools in the county taught a portion of the year. In Quincy, there is a female school, where all the branches are taught, usual in female seminaries, and a good school for boys. The various religious denominations may be principally comprised under the following names. Episcopal Methodists, who have 9 or 10 classes and about 300 member: Presbyterian and Congregational, who have 4 churches and 250 members; Baptists, 5 churches, and 105 members; Reformed Baptists, or Christians, (called by some Campbellites,) 4 churches and about 100 members; Reformed Methodists, 2 or 3 churches, and 35 or 40 member; a large and respectable church or society of Drunkards, some Roman Catholics, and Universalist's. The general character of the inhabitants of this county, whatever may be the opinions of our friends residing in the older states, is that of an intelligent, moral, enterprising community. In former years a large portion of the emigration to this county has been from the State of Kentucky; some from Virginia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New England, and indeed, every state in the Union was represented in the throng who came amongst us, seeking a home. But in later years the larger portion has been from New York and New England, the balance from the states bordering on the Ohio river, and from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany.

            The town of Quincy was located as the seat of justice in March, 1825, on the north west quarter of section two, in town two south. nine west, by commissioners appointed by the Legislature, who gave it the name it now bears. These commissioners reported the county to contain at that time, seventy inhabitants.. The first sale of lots in the town took place in December 1825, and the first cabin was erected the spring following. It now contains 10 stores, 4 Groceries, 2 Drug shops, 1 Land Office, 1 Land Agency Office, 1 Post Office, 1 Printing Office, 1 Bonnet Store, 1 Mantua Maker and Milliner's shop, 1 Silversmith's shop, 2 Bake shops, 2 Warehouses, 3 Taverns, 3 Cooper's shops, 3 Cabinet shops, 21 Merchants, 1 Pork Merchant, 6 Lawyers, 6 Physicians, 1 Silver Smith, 20 Carpenters, 4 Saddler's, 3 Blacksmiths, 1 Coach maker, 2 Boot and Shoe makers, 2 Stone masons, 4 Tailors, 2 Wagon makers, 3 Brick masons, 1 Gunsmith, and I Chair maker. There is also at this place a large steam mill calculated for running 2 saws, and four pairs of Burrs, which has been in successful operation for two seasons, with the saws and two pair of burrs, and arrangements are now making for putting in operation the others. There is also one wool carding machine. The town contains about 700 inhabitants: males over 21 years of age, 297; females over 21, 118; males under 21, 149; females under 21, 137. Whole number of houses 116, of which 22 have been built within less than one year.

            Notwithstanding the many unfavorable reports that have been put in circulation relative to the health of Quincy, we may safely assert that it is as healthy a location as any other upon the Mississippi or Illinois rivers. There are four other towns in the county, regularly laid out, and the plats recorded, viz: Montgomery on the N. E. quarter of section 27, in township 2 south, range 6 west. Fairfield, N. E. 11, 1 N. 8 W. Clayton, N. E. 31, 1 N. 5 W. Paysonville, S. W. 8, 3 S. 7 W. Besides the Post Office at Quincy, there is one in the north part of the county, called Bear Creek; one in the eastern, named Walnut Point; Ashton, in the southern; and Liberty, in the south eastern part, in Wigle district. Letters and papers are from ten to fifteen days in reaching these offices by mail from Washington, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, and a few days later from Boston.  Substantial brick homes lined Quincy’s streets and the community saw limitless opportunity ahead.

            The situation of Quincy is very handsome, having a rock bank on the river in front, and a fine steam boat landing, with excellent roads diverging from it to every part of the back country. Every where upon the Mississippi river, below the town of Quincy, with the exception, perhaps, of St. Louis, there is either a bow alluvial bottom of several miles in width, subject to occasional inundation or a hilly, broken country, for several miles back before you reach the good land; but here, the rich, rolling prairie approaches directly to the river bank, affording a delightful landscape, and beautiful situations for country seats in the vicinity of the village.  Manufacturing, of many sorts, is done on a great scale.”

            In concluding this article, we have no hesitation in pronouncing the county of Adams at least equal if not superior in all respects to any county in the state. We have a peachable, prosperous community, and all who make a prosper use of the advantages with we are blessed by the Almighty, may expect in return ample remuneration for their exertions.
H.H.S.