On the 7th of Oct, 1839, these commissioners met at the house of William Benson, and organized the first county court ever heald in Wmson Co. They first cast lots for their different terms of service. Campbel drew the short term, one year; Hill the internediate term, 2 years, and Duncan the long term, 3 years. John Bainbridge, clerk elest, gave the requisite bonds and was qualified as clerk, county recorder and probate justice; and John D Sanders gave the necessary bonds and was qualified as sheriff. On the next day the commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice, submitted the following report of their proceedings.
STATE OF ILLINOIS County of Wmson
We, the commissioners appointed by an act of the Legislature of said State to locate the county seat of Wmson Co, approved February 28, 1839, have agreed on the southwest corner of Sec No 18, in Township No 9 south, and Range No 3 east of the third principal meridian, and that we do further agree to name the site Marion. Given under our hands this 20th day of August, 1839.
Calvin Bridges, Thornbury C Anderson, Jefferson Allen.
Title to ths site was obtained for the county by a deed of gift dated 20 Aug 1839 from William Benson and Bethany his wife, fir the west half of the SW quarter of the SW quarter of Sec 18, in T9 south, and R3 east, containing 20 acres. The court then allowed each of the commissioners who selected the site for the seat of justice, the sum of $12, and John S McCracken was allowed $10 for printing hand bills and advertising the sale of the town lots. Wm T Turner was then appointed and qualified as county school commissioner. John T Davis, an acting justice of the peace, returned a fine of $3 which he had assessed to and collected from Thomas Culberth for an assault and battery committed on the body of Michael Shanks. This is the first criminal case recorded in the county. He also paid in $3 as a fine collected from John Harris for a similar offense.
During this term the court divided the county into five election precints and designated the place in each for holding the elections. Northern Prec comprised the NE part of the county, and the elections were to be held at the house of John S Roberts.. Saline Prec comprises all the territory in the county south of Northern, and the elections were to be held at the house of John T Davis. Town Prec extended across the county,a nd lay west of the former two, and the elections were to be held at the house of William Benson. Grassy Prec comprised the SW portion of the county, and the elections were to be held at the house of O H Wiley. Fredonia Prec comprised the NW portion of the county, and the elections were to be held at the house of Wiliam T Ryburn. Judges of the election were also appointed.
The court then laid the county out into 12 road districts corresponding with the 12 congressional twps, and appointed the supervisor of each, as follows: T8-1, Isham Tyner; T8-2, Alfred Chitty: T8-3, John Gambrel; T8-4, Enoch Newman; T9-1, Michael Snider; T9-2, Samuel Aikman: T9-3, Wm Hervey; T9-4, M Campbell; T10-1, Joel Hufstetler; T10-2, Joab M Perry; T10-3, John Gothard; T10-4 John T Damron. Viewers were also appointed to mark and lay out certain roads. John Davis was then licensed to retial spirituous liquors at his house in the town of Marion for 1 year, and his license cost them $25. The court then established the price at which liquors should be sold per the half pint as follows: whisky 12 ½ cents; brandy, rum, wine and gin, each 18 3/4 cents; cider, per qt, 12½ cents. It appears from the foregoing, that the first business enterprise of the town was the retailing of liquors. The county commissioners closed their first term by allowing themselves and their clerks $12.50 each for their five days services, and $4 to John D Sanders for four days service as sheriff.