Mason County
Page 30
Mason County
Page 30
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Was the result of the union of the counties of Sangamon and Tazewell and Menard, and was born from the two latter, by an act approved January 20, 1841. Parts of Menard were used in its construction. The adjoining counties, or the territory now forming the adjoining counties, were all settled prior to Mason. In 1830 to 1835 there did not reside in the present limits of Mason county to exceed twenty-five families. Some years later, in 1840 to 1845, the tide of emigration and the progress of development was begun which has so rapidly increased, and placed Mason county in her present enviable position among the leading counties in the State of Illinois. The best information now obtainable, indicates that Mr. Osian M. Ross was the first permanent white settler, and located at Havana, in the spring of 1829. Where the city of Havana now stands was a wilderness at that time, and was long after known as Ross' Ferry. To illustrate the primitiveness of this region at that time, we will here note that the first Postoffice was established in the county in the fall of 1829, Osian M. Ross, Postmaster. The present city of Chicago was then Fort Dearborn, and Cook county and its surroundings had no Postoffice in their limits. The first Postoffice in Cook county was established in 1831. Two offices were in Fulton county in 1830. McLean had no office in 1830; neither had LaSalle county an office in her then extended territory. McDonough and Mercer were without Postoffices. Peoria county had an office at Peoria, Norman Hyde, Postmaster. Mackinaw, then the county seat of Tazewell county, had a Postoffice in 1830 and earlier. In that year there were but one hundred and thirty offices in Illinois. The offices were mostly in the central and southern part of the State, where the earliest settlements were established. Mr. John Williams, of Springfield, Illinois, informs me, that in 1825 he was a clerk in the office in that city. They received mails twice a week, and the surrounding regions were on hand for their mails at these arrivals. Though the first white settlers located here permanently in 1829, this region had been traversed by white men long before that date. Father Hennepin, with two companions, passed down the Illinois river in 1680. LaSalle and others, early explorers, traded with the Indians along the banks of the Illinois, and at various succeeding periods. In 1833 a few other families settled in this vicinity. Dr. Chandler located where the town of Chandlerville is, in 1832. A man named Myers came to Havana, also, the Krebaum family, about this date. A Mr. Shepherd and Mr. Westervelt located at Matanzas about this time, and Mr. Barnes at the Mounds, north of this city. For the experiences and further details of the first settlers, we refer the reader to the Biographical department of this work. These early settlers were not troubled by the Indians to any serious extent, as in some other parts of the State, as nearly all had left prior to the arrival of the first white settlers. A couple of blockhouses, for defense, had been erected at Havana, previous to the Black Hawk war, and stood for many years. The first schoolhouse, erected for the purpose of public instruction, was on what is now the Court House square. As population increased, these facilities were multiplied, to meet the wants of the pioneer. The first school houses in the eastern part of the county were built at Crane creek and Big Grove, and were known as the Turner and Virgin school houses. These were the voting places for the election precincts in which they were situated, and supplied the place of church edifices for religious services. The log school house at Big Grove was built in the latter part of 1838. Mr. Lease, Sr., was the first teacher. A school was taught in the vicinity, however, at an earlier date, at the residence of Edward Sykes (see Biography), by his daughter, Mary A., then a girl of fourteen, now the intelligent, talented and amiable wife of S. D. Swing, Esq., of Mason city. Churches were not erected at so early a date, though religious services were not neglected, but were held at the residences of the settlers, or in the groves which were God's first temples. The first ministers transiently visiting this county were, Rev. Peter Cartwright, who preached at Havana, in 1835, and at various times since, to near the date of his death. Rev. John Jenkins, from Fulton county, may have visited here at an earlier date. In 1836, Rev. J. A. Daniels, now a resident of Bath, organized a Baptist church at Sny Carte, assisted by Rev. Thos. Taylor, now of Oregon. The original members were Wm. Davis and wife, Richard Phelps and wife, Mr. Smith and wife, the parents of Mark A. Smith, Esq., now of that vicinity, and Mrs. J. W. Phelps. A very pleasant fact connected with that organization is, that Mr. Daniels, the first minister, is the pastor of it to this day, a period of forty years, with the exception of a brief absence. Thus have they labored together, in the good work before them, knowing in whom they trusted. Irregular services were held in the eastern part of the county, by different ministers, at various times and places. A Baptist church was built on Crane creek, in 1856. The old Methodist church, in Havana, and a Presbyterian church, at Bath, were built at an earlier date, and were, as near as we can ascertain, the first church edifices in the county. The present status of the county's schools and churches will be referred to, at length, in this work, under another head. The subject of the formation of a new county having been for some time agitated; in 1841, as before stated, an act was passed by the Legislature, and duly approved by the Governor, for that purpose. By the provisions of this law the legal voters of the district which was to compose the new county, met at Havana on the first Monday in April, 1841, and proceeded to elect a sheriff, treasurer, and other county officers. The sheriff chosen was Francis Low, still a resident of this city, and President of the First National Bank, and who had been acting as deputy sheriff when part of the territory of the county lay within the limits of Tazewell county. George T. Virgin, John R. Chaney and Abner Baxter were county commissioners. Joseph A. Phelps was the first county clerk, and subsequently, at a meeting of the circuit court, he was appointed circuit clerk by the presiding judge. The population of Mason county at the time of its organization, as near as can be ascertained, was about two thousand, and at this election about four hundred votes were cast. It was also directed by the Legislature that at the same time and place a vote should be taken for the purpose of determining the location of the county seat. Here began a struggle and a rivalry continuing many years, which was far from creditable to the parties engaged therein, on either side. They endeavored to accomplish by foul means what could not be accomplished by fair. It was the source of rivalry between the friends of the towns which were the candidates for the seat of justice. The two towns which were the competitors for the county seat were Havana and Bath. The contest was exciting, but the former was successful. A bond donating a block of lots adjoining the public square, was executed by L. W. & H. L. Ross. Thus Havana was elected the county seat. It did not, however, long retain that honor. Dissatisfaction in the defeated town waxed strong and violent. Agitation was kept up, and an act, approved January 19, 1843, was obtained from the legislature, authorizing another election on the second Monday of February, of that year. Polls were opened in Havana, Bath and Linchburg, where votes were received for and against Bath and Havana for county seat. The votes of Havana were for that town, and those at the others were against it being the county seat. Bath received a majority of the votes, and was declared the county seat. They soon had the records removed to that town. The June term of the circuit court, 1844, was held at Bath; the term for the previous year had been held at Havana. Bath continued the county seat for eight years. Havana still had aspirations for the seat of justice, and in February, 1851, legislation was obtained which ordered another election on the second Monday in March, 1851, at which the question was again before the people for or against removal. This election, conducted as unfairly as the former one, resulted in again making Havana the county seat, which it has continued to be. The last term of court held in Bath was in November, 1850. The May term following was held in Havana. The first term of circuit court ever held in Havana was at the hotel of Osian M. Ross, beginning November 12, 1841, S. H. Treat, Judge. The official bond of Joseph A. Phelps, first circuit clerk, was dated April 9, 1841.
Grand Jurors at the June term of county court ordered for the November term, 1841, were as follows: James Walker, Daniel Clark, Sr., Ira Halsted, Michael Swing, Austin P. Melton, P. W. Campbell, William Dew, John G. Conover, Thomas F. Blunt, Anderson Young, Lemuel D. Becket, George Marshall, G. W. Phelps, Edmund Northern, A. Hickey, Hodge Sherman, William Hibbs, William Atwater, Thomas Low, John Rishel, Daniel Dieffenbacher, Pulaski Scovil, Daniel Bell.
The following were ordered for a petit jury at the same November term, 1841, second Monday of November: George Close, Israel Carman, Henry Sears, O. E. Foster, A. W. Hemp, Thomas Falkner, James Russel, James Yardly, Laban Blunt, John Close, Washington Davies, Jacob H. Cross, James Ray, James Lockerman, Benjamin Lesson, John Johnson, Frederick Buck, David Coder, William Chaney, James Blakely, Nelson Abbey, Samuel Patton, William Rodgers, H. C. Rowland, Francis Low, Sheriff and Collector of Taxes.
Collector's bond, $1,500. O. E. Foster and J. H. Netler, securities. Approved July 6, 1841. At this date we find the following order: "That Joseph A. Phelps be allowed, for use of room to hold court in, one dollar per day for two and a half days. Total, two dollars and fifty cents."
County Commissioners in 1846: Amos Smith, Robert McReynolds, Henry Norris. The following persons have filled the office of Circuit Clerk since the organization of the county, in the order in which they are named, viz: Joseph A. Phelps, John S. Wilbourn, Richard Ritter, O. H. Wright, John H. Havighorst, George A. Blanchard, and Leonard Schwenk, the present competent and gentlemanly incumbent. The gentlemen who have served Mason county in the capacity of Sheriff are named below, ad seriatum: Francis Low, who had, also, been deputy when this formed a part of Tazewell county; Isaac H. Hodge, John H. Havighorst, Robert Elkins, Robert H. Walker, James H. Hole, J. Price West, John H. Havighorst, Joseph Y. Hauthorn, John H. Havighorst, James L. Hastings, Lambert M. Hillyer, David B. Phelps, John H. Cleveland and Lambert M. Hillyer, whose efficiency and competency has placed him in this position the third term, which expires this fall. The Judges of the county court, since the term of Judge Rockwell, before given, are: Joseph A. Phelps, Mathew Langston, H. Warner and John A. Mallory, who is the present incumbent, and serving his second term. The Judges of the circuit court since the organization of the county in 1841, are: Samuel Treat, William A. Marshall, Pinckney H. Walker, James Harriot, Charles Turner and Lyman Lacy, the able and popular present Judge of this judicial district. The County Clerks have been: Joseph A. Phelps, Adolph Krebaum, Isaac N. Onstot, Adolph Krebaum, W. W. Stout, S. Elliott, Isaac N. Mitchell, William M. Ganson, who is the present very efficient incumbent. A vote for and against the adoption of township organization was taken November 11, 1861, to take effect April, 1862. Commissioners to divide into townships were: B. H. Gatton, Mathew Langston and Lyman Lacy. Since then the following have been County Treasurers, viz: J. D. W. Bowman, S. Wheadon, B. A. Rosebrough, Isaac N. Mitchell, Benjamin F. West and Samuel Bivens, the present Treasurer. The School Commissioners and County Superintendents have been: S. D. Swing, E. B. Harpham, S. C. Conwell, S. Wheadon, O. H. Wright, W. E. Knox, H. H. Moore, and S. M. Badger, the present incumbent.
MASON COUNTY DIRECTORY, 1876 Circuit Judge .. Hon. Lyman Lacey Circuit Clerk ...Leonard Schwenk Prosecuting Attorney ..W. H. Rogers Sheriff .L. M. Hillyer County Judge ..J. A. Mallory County Clerk ..W. M. Ganson County Treasurer S. Bivens County Superintendent Schools ..S. M. Badger Master in Chancery .J. H. Havighorst, Jr.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Mason City .B. A. Rosebrough Salt Creek ...A. Thompson Allen's Grove .E. W. Nelson Sherman .Alfred Athey Pennsylvania ...John W. Pugh Quiver .J. W. Kelly Manito M. Langston Forest City ..S. H. Ingersol Lynchburg ..Wm. Ainsworth Kilbourne ...A. S. Blakely Crane Creek J. L. Hawks Bath Robert Pearson Havana J. F. Kelsey The population of the county in 1850 was 5,921. In the next ten years it nearly doubled. In 1860 it was 10,929. In 1870 a further rapid increase had raised it to 16,250, although much retarded during this decade by the war. The same ratio of increase would place the population at this time, July 4, 1876, at not less than 23,000, and it is, perhaps, even higher. In 1870 there were 118,218 acres of unimproved lands, and 232,724 acres improved. There were 5,292 horses and 1,590 mules; 761 sheep, 19,706 hogs, and 7,810 cattle. The productions of the soil are treated of in another place. The county is traversed by four important lines of railroad, which are treated of in detail in a separate chapter.
The following are the towns in Mason county, and the date of their surveys, and names of proprietors, so far as has been ascertained: Name Surveyed Proprietor Havana 1835 O. M. Ross Bath .1836 John Kenton Moscow ...1857 Sny Carte ------ Matanzas .------ Saidora 1859 Joseph Adkins Sedan ..1871 Long Branch ...1871 Gatton & Ruggles Kilbourn ..1870 J. B. Gum Poplar City ..1873 Martin Scott Biggs ...1875 P. G. Biggs Easton .1872 .J. M. Samuels Teheran ...1873 Alexander Blunt Mason City .1875 Geo. Straut Sangore ...1858 Dillon Morgan, Parker & Kidder Natrona ...1857 Conklin & Co. Walker's Siding ...------ Topeka 1860 Thomas Eckard Bishops ...------ Forest City ..1862 Dearborn & Kemp Manito .1858 Cox and others Union ..------ Conover ...1875 Peterville .1868 Peter Thronburgh Lynchburg ...1835 P. and G. May C. W. Andrus, Esq., one of the oldest and most substantial residents; made his home in Havana, in 1836, since which time, a period of forty years, he has been prominently identified with the interests of this city. By his courtesy, we are permitted to give to our readers a copy of the poll book below. The reader will bear in mind that this was then included in the limits of Tazewell county. "Poll book of an election held at the town of Havana, in Havana precinct, in the county of Tazewell, and State of Illinois, on the 7th day of August, 1837. For County Clerk, John H. Morrison. For Probate Justice of the Peace, Joshua C. Morgan. For County Treasurer, Lewis Prettyman. For Notary Public, Wm. H. Sandusky."
Each of the above received twelve votes. The names of the voters on the poll book are--
"At an election held at the house of O. E. Foster, in Havana precinct, in the county
of Tazewell, and State of Illinois, on the 7th of August, 1837, the following named persons received the number of votes annexed to their respective names, for the following offices, to wit:
Certified by N. J. Rockwell, Henry Shepard and David Adams, Judges of Election.
I, N. J. Rockwell, do solemnly swear that I will perform the duty of Judge; and I, B. F. Wiggington, do solemnly swear that I will perform the duty of Clerk of Election, according to law, and to the best of our abilities, and that we will studiously endeavor to prevent fraud, deceit or abuse in conducting the same. The original document, of which the above is an exact copy, is now in the possession of Mr. Andrus. Mr. John H. Havighorst was also present at the above election, but had not yet attained his majority, nor was he naturalized. He is still a resident of this city. |