At the time of
the formation of the county, all county affairs were
transacted by the County Commissioners' Court, which was
composed of three men, who were usually selected with
reference to their qualifications for the peculiar and
responsible duties of the office. This court assumed
jurisdiction upon almost all manner of subjects, except the
exercise of judicial functions, and the record shows that,
even in this respect, upon one occasion at least, the court
assumed to fine a man for an indignity to that honorable
body, which supposed indignity the court characterised as
"flouting," whatever that may mean.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.†
1829-30 - |
Benjamin Wilson,
Elisha Freeman,
James Miller, |
1831-32 - |
James Miller,
I. C. Pugh,
David Davis, |
1833-34 - |
Elisha
Freeman,
Hugh Bolls,
Philip D. Williams, |
1835-36 - |
James A.
Piatt,
Wm. Muirhead,
Benj. Wilson. |
|
1830-31 - |
Elisha Freeman,
James Miller,
I. C. Pugh. |
1832-33 - |
James Miller,
I. C. Pugh,
David Davis |
1834-35 - |
James A. Piatt,
Wm. Muirhead,
Benj. Wilson. |
1836-37 - |
James A. Piatt,
Wm. Muirhead,
Benj. Wilson. |
|
-------------------------
† Established under act of
March 22, 1819.
Page 36 -
1837-38 - |
James A. Piatt,
Wm. Muirhead,
Josiah Clifton. |
1839-40 - |
*Elisha Freeman, 3 yrs.
* Benj. Wilson, 2 yrs.
* Hiram Chapin, 1 yr. |
1841-42 - |
Elisha Freeman,
John Rucker,
Abraham H. Keller |
1843-44 - |
John Rucker,
Leonard Ashton,
Andrew W. Smith |
1845-46 - |
Andrew W. Smith,
James D. Tait,
Elisha Freeman, |
1847-48 - |
Elisha Freeman,
Samuel Rea,
James D. Campbell, |
|
1838-39 - |
Wm. Muirhead,
James A. Piatt,
Abram Chapin, |
1840-41 - |
Elisha Freeman,
Benj. Wilson,
John Rucker, |
1842-43 - |
John Rucker,
Abraham H. Keller,
Leonard Ashton. |
1844-45 - |
John Rucker,
Andrew W. Smith,
James D. Tait. |
1846-47 - |
Elisha Freeman,
Samuel Rea,
James D. Campbell |
1848-49 - |
Elisha Freeman,
Samuel Rea,
James D. Campbell. |
|
It will be notice that there are but two members of the
above court remaining in Macon county, viz.:
James D. Tait and Samuel Rea. The
others are either dead or have ceased to be residents.
By an act of the Legislature, approved Feb. 12, 1849,
the County Commissioner's Court was abolished, and the
COUNTY COURT established, This act provided
for the election of a county judge
and two additional justices of the peace, whose duty it
should be "to sit with the county judge as members of
the court, for the transaction of all county business."
The County Court was in existence from 1850 to 1860.
The following constituted our County Court during that
period:
COUNTY COURT.
1850-51 - |
William Prather, County Judge,
Jacob Hostetler, Associate Judge,
John Rucker, Associate Justice. |
-------------------------
* These Commissioners were allotted to the respective
terms opposite their names by the County Clerk, under an
act approved Mar. 1st, 1837. Under this act the
term of service of the county Commissioners was fixed at
three years, one to be elected each year.
Page 37 -
1851-52 - |
William Prather, County Judge,
Jacob Hostetler, Associate Judge
John Rucker, Associate Justice. |
1852-53 - |
William Prather, County Judge,
Jacob Hostetler, Associate Justice.
John Rucker, Associate Justice. |
1853-54 - |
William Prather, County Judge.
Jacob Hostetler, Associate Justice,
John Rucker, Associate Justice. |
1854-55 - |
William Prather, County Judge,
Jacob Hostetler, Associate Justice,
John Rucker, Associate Justice. |
1855-56 - |
William Prather, County Judge,
Jocob Hostetler, Associate Justice,
John Rucker, Associate Justice. |
1856-57 - |
John
Rickets, County Judge,
Jacob Hostetler, Associate Justice,
John Rucker, Associate Justice. |
1857-58 - |
John
Rickets, County Judge.
Jacob Spangler, Associate Justice,
M. G. Camron, Associate Justice, |
1858-59 - |
John
Rickets, County Judge.
Jacob Spangler, Associate Justice,
M. G. Camron, Associate Justice. |
1869-70 - |
John
Rickets County Judge,
Jacob Spangler, Associate Justice,
M. G. Camron, Associate Justice. |
There
are but three members of the old County Court now
living, viz: Judge John Rickets, and
Associate Justices Jacob Spangler and
M. G. Camron.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.*
1860.
Hickory Point, J. Y. Braden
Austin, James Parker, |
Oakly, G. W. Forest,
Long Creek, John Rucker. |
-------------------------
NOTE. - On the 17th of February, 1851, an act was
passed authorizing counties to adopt the system of
"Township Organization" therein prescribed, upon the
petition and vote of citizens of the county. At
the September
SHARON WICK's NOTE: In the list of County Court,
as appears above here, it skips from 1858-59 to 1869-70.
I just want you to be aware that the dates are exactly
as they are in the original book.
Page 38 -
Maroa, William Crawford.
Friends Creek, D. K. Wilson,
Decatur, H. B. Durfee.
Niantic, J. H. Hughes,
S. Wneatland, I. S. Boardman. |
Whitmore, Jas. Lichtenberger,
Harristown, Abraham Eyman,
Decatur, John W. Koehler, ast.
Mt. Zion, W. C. Meyers,
South Macon, W. D. Hamilton,
Blue Mound, J. C. Armstrong. |
1861.
Decatur, H. B. Durfee,
Friends Creek, D. K. Wilson,
Maroa, W. F. Crawford,
Hickory Point, J. Y. Braden,
Niantic, J. H. Hughes.
Oakley, G. W. Forest.
Long Creek, J. C. Rucker. |
Decatur, John W. Koehler, ast.
Blue Mound, W. T. Moffett.
Mt. Zion, W. C. Meyers.
S. Wheatland, I. S. Boardman,
Harristown, J. H. Pickrell.
South Macon, L. M. Clement.
Whitmore, Henry Rhodes.
Austin, J. S. Parker. |
1862.
Harristown, J. B. Hanks,
Whitmore, Jas. Lichtenberger.
Long Creek, J. C. Rucker,
Niantic, J. A. Pritchett.
S. Wheatland, I. S. Boardman,
South Macon, A. H. Martin,
Decatur, John W. Koehler. |
Hickory Point, J. Y. Braden,
Maroa, W. F. Crawford.
Mt. Zion, B. W. Davison.
Friends Creek, Comely Lukens,
Blue Mound, F. A. Brown,
Decatur, H. B. Durfee.
Austin, A. Emery.
Oakley, Laban Chambers. |
-------------------------
term, 1859, of the County Court, a vote of the county
was authorized to be submitted to the legal voters at
the November, election ensuing. The proposition to
go into township organization was carried, and at the
December term, following of the County Court, William
Cantrill, David Garver and James Dingman,
were appointed as commissioners to divide the county
into townships, which they did,
and reported to the court their action on the 14th of
January, 1860. At that time the county was divided
into fourteen townships, as follows: (1) Friends Creek
(2) Maroa, (3) Montgomery (afterwards changed to
Austin), (4) Bull Point (afterwards changed to Hickory,
and then to Hickory Point), (5) Decatur, (6) Long Creek,
(7) Whitmore, (8) Oakley, (9) Harris (afterwards changed
to Harristown, (10) Wilson (afterwards changed to Mt.
Zion), (11) South Wheatland, (12) South Macon, (13)
Madison (afterwards changed to Blue Mound), (14)
Niantic. Illini, Milam, and Pleasant View have been
since formed of parts of other townships.
Page 39 -
1863.
1864.
1865.
1866.
-------------------------
† Resigned.
Page 40 -
1867.
1868.
1869.
1870
-------------------------
* Resigned, and T. H. Barr appointed.
Page 41 -
Page 42 -
Page 43 -
|