ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of  Genealogy Express

 

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Page 41 -

 

 

Page 42 -

 

 

Page 43 -

NOTES

 

 



 

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ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of  Genealogy Express

 

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
County Commissioners' Court; County Court; Board of Supervisors; Judges of Circuit Court; Judges of County Court; State's Attorneys; Masters in Chancery; Circuit Clerks; County Clerks; County Treasurers; Sheriffs; Circuit Courts; Charter of first cases; Early Juries; Attorneys; Biographical sketches of all county officers from organization of the county, etc..
Page 35

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pg. 49 -

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHIES OF COUNTY OFFICERS.

-------

COUNTY JUDGES

     DANIEL McCALL, First County Judge. -

- pg. 51 -

grated to Texas, and, as reported, died there; but at what period we have been unable to learn.

     CHARLES EMERSON, Second County Judge - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     KIRBY BENEDICT, Third County Judge - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     DR. JOHN G. SPEAR, Fourth County Judge - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     THOMAS H. READ, Fifth County Judge - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     WILLIAM PRATHER, Sixth County Judge - Mr. P. was born in Maryland about the year 1806, and died on the twenty-ninth day of August, 1870.  He was appointed circuit clerk in 1847, and elected to the same office in 1848, and re-elected in 1852.  In 1850 he was elected county judge, and retained that position until 1856.  He always had very infirm health.

     JOHN RICKETS, Seventh County Judge - Mr. R. was born in 1814, in Lynchburg, Campbell county, Va.  In 1832 he moved with his father to Kentucky, and came to Illinois in 1834, and located at Bloomington, where he remained until 1839, when he came to Decatur.  In 1841 he removed to Monticello, where he remained until 1847, and then returned to Decatur.  Was a justice of the peace for a good many years, and was judge of the county court from 1856-1861.

     SAMUEL F. GREER, Eight County Judge - Mr. G. was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1824, and removed to Macon county in 1854.  He engaged in the sale of dry goods for about five years.  He was elected judge of the county court in 1861, and has been re-elected at the expiration of each term since.  Has also been a member of the board of education, and has held other offices of trust and responsibility.

CIRCUIT CLERKS.

     D. McCALL, First Circuit Clerk - [See sketch above.]

     H. M. GORIN, Second Circuit Clerk -

Pg. 51 -
clerk of the county court from 1837 to 1840.  He removed from Macon county, in 1840, to Scotland county, Mo., where he was afterwards elected clerk of the circuit court, and where he now resides.  He married Mary Ann Love, and was a brother of Jerome R. Gorin, of Decatur.

     N. W. PEDDICORD, Third Circuit Clerk - Mr. Peddicord was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, and removed to Macon county in 1836, where he engaged as a clerk for Adamson & Prather, and afterwards formed a co-partnership with Joseph Stickel in merchandising.  He was appointed clerk of the circuit court to succeed Mr. Gorin, in 1840, and served in that capacity until 1847, and was also clerk of the county court from 1840 to 1846.  He removed from Macon county and became a resident of Missouri, California and Iowa.  He died in the latter state about 1870.

     WILLIAM PRATHER, Fourth Circuit Clerk - [See above, as county judge.]

     JOSEPH Q. A. ODOR, Fifth Circuit Clerk -

     WILLIAM L. HAMMER, Sixth Circuit Clerk - William L. Hammer, the sixth circuit clerk of Macon county, was born Nov. 2, 1817, in Winchester, Clark county, Kentucky, and came from Kentucky to Sangamon county, Illinois, now Christian county, in 1837, and thence to Macon county in 1854.  In 1860 he was elected circuit clerk of Macon county, and was re-elected in 1864, serving two full terms and entire satisfaction of his constituents.  On

Pg. 52 -

retiring from office he became a director, and subsequently president, of the First National Bank of Decatur, and on the liquidation of that institution he became senior member of the banking house of Rucker, Hammer & Co.  He was mayor of the city of Decatur in 1869, and a member of the board of education of Decatur school district from 1865 to 1874, and was largely instrumental in the erection of the elegant and commodious school buildings that are a pride to the citizens of Decatur.  Mr. H., in his business and official relations, has been gentlemanly and upright.  In his social and domestic relations he is kind and indulgent.

     E. McCLELLAN, Seventh Circuit Clerk -

COUNTY CLERKS.

     D. McCALL, First County Clerk - [See county judge above.]

     H. M. GORIN, Second County Clerk [See circuit clerk above.]

     N. W. PEDDICORD, Third County Clerk - [See circuit clerk above.]

     E. B. HALE, Fourth County Clerk -

     WARNER W. OGLESBY, Fifth County Clerk -  Mr. O. was born Oct. 1, 1817, in Kentucky.  He held the office of county clerk from 1847 to 1856.  He died on the twenty-second day of August, 1860.  He held other positions of trust, and was loved and respected by all.

     SAMUEL REA, Sixth County Clerk - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     I. C. PUGH, Seventh County Clerk - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     SAMUEL REA, Sixth County Clerk - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     I. C. PUGH, Seventh County Clerk - [See sketch in chapter 10]

Pg. 53 -

     H. W. WAGGONER, Eighth County Clerk -

SHERIFFS.

     WILLIAM WARNICK, First Sheriff  - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     JOHN McMENNAMY, Second Sheriff - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     JAMES STEVENS, Third Sheriff - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     WILLIAM WHEELER, Fourth Sheriff - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     SAMUEL REA, Fifth Sheriff - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     STEPHEN M. WHITEHOUSE, Sixth Sheriff -

     E. McCLELLAN, Seventh Sheriff - [See sketch as circuit clerk]

     GEORGE GOODMAN, Eighth Sheriff -

     JOHN W. BEAR, Ninth Sheriff - Mr. B. was born about 1830, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and came to Illinois in the spring of 1854.  He was elected sheriff in 1862, and served two years, and also served as a member of the city council, and was a justice of the peace.  He is now a resident of Wichita, Kansas.

     A. A. MURRAY, Tenth Sheriff - Mr. M. was born in 1822, in Jefferson county, New York.  He removed to Illinois in 1847, and located in Springfield, Illinois, where he remained five years, and then went to Bloomington and remained four years, and came to Decatur Illinois, in 1857.  Was elected sheriff in 1864, since

Pg. 54 -

which time he has been engaged in the sale of agricultural implements.

     JOHN E. JONES, Eleventh Sheriff -

     JAMES TRAVIS, Twelfth Sheriff -

     GEORGE M. WOOD, Thirteenth Sheriff -

     I. D. JENNINGS, Fourteenth Sheriff -

     MARTRIN FORSTMEYER, Fifteenth Sheriff -

Pg. 55 -

COUNTY TREASURERS.

     B. R. AUSTIN, First County Treasurer- [See sketch in chapter 10]

     JOHN MILLER, Second County Treasurer - We have been unable to learn much of Mr. M.  He was probably born in Virginia, and was about fifty years of age when he held the office of county treasurer.

     JAMES JOHNSON, Third County Treasurer -

     JOSEPH HOSTETTLER, Fourth County Treasurer- [See sketch in chapter 10]

     JOSEPH STEVENS, Fifth County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     JAMES RENSHAW, Sixth County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     DAVID DAVIS, Seventh County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     HENRY SNYDER, Eighth County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     THOMAS H. READ, Ninth County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     GEORGE POWERS, Tenth County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     SAMUEL C. ALLEN, Eleventh County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     I. C. PUGH, Twelfth County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     WILLIAM CANTRILL, Thirteenth County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     IRA B. CURTIS, Fourteenth County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

     WILLIAM M. BOYD, Fifteenth County Treasurer - Mr. Boyd was born on the thirtieth of May, 1842, in Warren county, Vir-

Pg. 56 -

ginia, and came to Decatur, Illinois, in the fall of 1860.  He was elected county treasurer in the fall of 1869, and served two terms, and was elected as a member of the city council in 1875,and has been for several years occupying an important and responsible position in the banking house of Peddecord & Burrows.

     R. H. PARK, Sixteenth County Treasurer - Mr. Park was born Nov. 11, 1833, in Madison county, Kentucky; came to Illinois, March, 1861; settled in Macon county; was elected treasurer in 1873, and served two years.

     GEORGE M. WOOD, Seventeenth County Treasurer - [See sketch in chapter 10]

STATES ATTORNEYS *

     D. L. BUNN, Ninth State's Attorney - D. L. Bunn, "was born on the banks of the raging Okaw," as he strenuously insists, McLean county, Ill., on the 27th day of September, 1837, and came to Macon county in 1855.  He was appointed prosecuting attorney by Gov. Yates, in 1862, to fill out the unexpired term of James P. Boyd, and was re-elected in 1864, and served four years, and then "retired in good order."  Mr. B., in his official capacity, was regarded by all as a successful prosecutor, and faithfully discharged the duties of his office.

     M. B. THOMPSON

     CHAS. C. McCOMAS

     L. A. BUCKINGHAM

Pg. 57 -

 

 

MASTERS IN CHANCERY.

     I. C. PUGH

     WM. A. BARNES

     R. H. MERRIWEATHER

     JOHN A. BROWN

 

 

NOTES

* NOTE:  We are enabled to give sketches of the state's attorneys from 1864 only

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This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Genealogy Express  ©2008
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