ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS

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Macon County, Illinois
History & Genealogy

Source:
History of Macon Co., Illinois
from its organization to 1876
By
John W. Smith, Esq.
of the Macon County Bar.
Springfield: Rokker's Printing House.
1876

 

CHAPTER III.

COUNTY OFFICERS

Page 35

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     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.

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     † 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.

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     * 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.

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     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.

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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.

   

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     † Resigned.

Page 40 -

1867.

   

1868.

   

1869.

   

1870

   

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     * Resigned, and T. H. Barr appointed.

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Page 43 -

NOTES

 

 



 

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