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The Story of the
Sangamon County Court House
by H.D. Giger -
April 29, 1901
In the year 1818
Illinois was, admitted to the Union and the same year Elisha and
John Kelley, natives of North Carolina, with a few relatives and
friends emigrated to what was then the far, far West. They built
their cabins and formed a settlement in the timber stretching along
the Town Branch, a stream that in early days flowed through the
center of what is now the City of Springfield, Illinois.
Sangamon county was
established by an act of the General Assembly January 30,1821, and
the original boundaries were approximately as follows: Beginning at
the intersection of the third principal meridian with the Illinois
river (near LaSalle), and following down the river to the mouth of
Negro creek (say -Meredosia), thence striking southeasterly across
the prairie to the southwest corner of the present county, and
thence east along the north line of township 12 to the meridian line
(about ten miles east of Taylorville), and thence north to the
beginning. It will be seen from these boundaries that Sangamon
county comprised the very heart of what was then known as the famous
"Sangamo country” -the most fertile and productive land in the
United States. By this act it was provided that as soon as the
county commissioners were elected they should meet at some
convenient place as near the center of population as possible, and
such place when selected should be the temporary seat of justice for
the county.
Rivers Cormack,
Zachariah Peters and William Drennan were elected commissioners and
qualified as such on April 3,1821. The Kelleys were hunters and had
sought this place as a quiet spot where they could be "far from the
maddening crowds' ignoble strife;' they wanted to be on the firing
line of civilization, but the commissioners came into their midst
for the reason that it was the only place in the country where
enough families could be found in the vicinity to take in the
members of the court, and in the kindness of their hearts these
rough pioneers welcomed them to their cabins. Thus it was that in
the spring of 1821 the commissioners named above held a court at
Kelley's settlement, on the waters of Spring creek, and Charles R.
Matheny was appointed clerk and entered into bond with James
Latham,'of Elkheart grove, as security. At a county commissioners'
court hold April 10, 1821, at the house of John Kelley, on the
waters of Spring creek, the commissioners presented their
certificate of the location of the temporary seat of justice for the
county of “Sangamo," in which they state they have fixed and
designated a certain point in the prairie near John Kelley's field
on the waters of Spring creek at a stake marked "ZD" as the
temporary seat of justice for said county, and do further agree that
the said county seat be called and known by the name of Spring
Field. The certificate is signed by Zachariah Peter and Wm. Drennan.
The certificate being recorded in court record "A," page 3. The
stake marked "ZD" is generally believed to have been set at or near
the corner of Second and Jefferson streets.
On April 10, 1821,
the commissioners entered into a contract with John Kelley, by which
Kelley for the sum of $42.50 agreed to build a court house in the
prevailing style, the logs to be 20 feet long, the house one story
high, plank floor, a good cabin roof, a door and window cut out; the
work to be completed by May 1st, next. This contract was not quite
as lengthy as the Warren Roberts contract; but John Kelley must have
fulfilled his part on time, for the record shows the next term of
court "was held at the court house in Springfield" on June 4th,
1821. There was no haggling over red warrants, because page 9 shows
that on June 5th, John Kelley was allowed $42.50 due him by contract
for building the court house and $5.00 for "extras." The record does
not disclose what John did with all the money.
Prior to June 5,
1821, the record shows the name of the county as Sangamo, but
without any apparent reason on this day a letter is added making it
Sangamon, and so it reads, to this day. Another peculiar act was
performed by the court. The county was divided into four districts,
and overseers for the poor were appointed - two for each district,
the court then appointed three trustees to look after the overseers
of the poor. It does not appear that anyone was appointed to look
after the trustees. And so the summer passed away in this little
out-of-the-way village, and along about the time the frost began to
gather on the pumpkins and the autumn wind to whistle through the
cracks of this primitive temple of justice and incidentally through
the whiskers of the county officers; they bethought themselves of
winter cheer. So one Jesse Brevard contracted to patch up the court
house for the winter. Nine years after this they had a snow five
feet deep. He agreed to chink outside and daub inside. Boards sawed
and nailed on the inside cracks, a good and sufficient door shutter,
to be made with good plank and hung with good iron hinges, with a
latch. A window to be cut out, faced and eased, to contain nine
lights, with a good, sufficient shutter hung on the outside. A
fire-place to be cut out seven feet wide, and a good, sufficient
wooden chimney, built with a good, sufficient back and hearth. Jesse
did all this for $20.50. Robert Hamilton built the county jail for
$84.75. Joseph Thomas was allowed $1.00 for the plans of this jail,
and on December 3, 1821, John Taylor, the sheriff, started the first
racket in the board by claiming the jail was no account.
At a court held
March 1, 1822, the court began to put on a little style, so they
ordered that fourteen rods east and west, including the street, and
twelve rods north and south, including the street, in the town of
Springfield, on which the court house now stands, be set apart for
public purposes and the accommodation of the court house and other
public buildings.
Prior to 1823, the
principal occupation of the frontiersman of the Kelley settlement
consisted in hunting, trapping, fishing and bee hunting; but the
fame of the "Sangamo country" spread through the land and the town
began to fill up with progressive citizens accustomed to the more
advanced ways of the larger cities of the East.
About this time came
such men as Major Elijah Iles, Pascal P. Enos, Col. Thomas Cox,
Charles R. Matheny, Mordecai Mobley, Thomas M. Neale, James C.
Stevenson and Daniel P. Cook. Iles and Enos in 1823 laid out the
town. It was called "Calhoun" in honor of the great nullifier of
South Carolina; but the name was not popular and but little used,
the name of the post office being Springfield. The streets and
alleys and the lots and blocks exist the same today as laid out by
them in 1823. The plat comprises that portion of the city bounded on
the west by First street, on the east by Seventh street, on the
north by Madison street, and on the south by Monroe; the public
square remaining as it is. All of the persons above named proceeded
to lay off strips of land between the several streets and running
from Madison street north to the quarter section line near Enos
avenue, and from Monroe street south to the quarter section line
near Lawrence avenue. These strips they deeded to each other
alternately, so that no one person would have a large tract of land
near the center of improvements. Major Iles kept a store and lived
at the southeast corner of Jefferson and Second streets. Col. John
Williams was his clerk. East of this was the store of Jabez Capps.
Across the street was the store and home of Archer Herndon. Next
east was Hooper Warren the printer, and next east the home and
office of P. P. Enos, the public land agent. On the northwest corner
of Fourth and Jefferson was the residence of Dr. William Jayne's
father, Dr. Gershom Jayne. This house stood until replaced by
Central Music Hall. Jefferson street was the only thoroughfare in
the town and all the business centered about First and Second
streets. On the southeast corner of First and Jefferson streets
stood the Abrams Inn; next east the store of John Taylor; next the
"Buck Tavern," kept by Andrew Elliott. William Carpenter lived and
kept a store at the southwest corner of Second and Jefferson. On the
north side of Jefferson, between First and Second streets, were a
row of small shops occupied by various craftsmen, including the
inevitable justice of the peace in the person of Asa Shaw. Following
Jefferson street west to the crossing at the branch (Pasfield
street) we find the ox-mill and distillery of Colonel Cox. His
tavern stood at the north side of Jefferson near First street. West
of the mill-lot was the rock-quarry. On the south side of Jefferson
at Pasfield street and across the branch was the tan-yard of William
Proctor, and up over the hill on which the High School stands and a
little to the west and south was a settlement called "Newsomville"-jocularly
called "Nuisanceville" by the jealous residents of the "Old Town."
On the south side of Jefferson just east of the tan-yard stood the
cabin of Uncle Billy Fagan, next east the house of William Baker,
and next the home of John Moor, the step-father of Isaac A. Hawley.
On the southwest corner of First and Jefferson Streets lived
Sherrill the cobbler. Other persons here at the time, were Gen. J.
D. Henry, Dr. John Todd, Edward Mitchell, Dr. John G. Bergen, P. C.
Latham, Z. A. Enos, Isaac A. Hawley, Gordon Abrams, Dr. Garrett
-Elkin, Thomas Strawbridge, Dr. Darling, Jacob Plank, "Aunt Creecy"
a free negress, and others.
At this period the
road leading from St. Louis met the road from Vincennes at Macoupin
point and followed close to the line of the old Chatham road,
passing the Master's farm house (Second and Lawrence) on the east
and then swerving to the left over the. hill through the grove where
the Capitol now stands, then up First street, crossing the branch at
Adams, and on up First to Jefferson, then east on Jefferson to
Fourth, thence across the country by the Converse farm and on
northward to Erastus Wright's ferry at Fort Clark (Peoria), and then
on to Galena and the lead mines. Mr. Wright afterwards lived in
Springfield and traded eighty acres of land for a tame elk that he
rode and drove to harness like a horse. The other road ran west on
Jefferson from First, crossing the branch at the tan-yard, ran a
little to the southwest passing Newsomville, to the forks. Here one
road branched off to Beardstown running close to the present line of
the Beardstown road; the other struck out to the southwest for the
Diamond Grove (Jacksonville), following the line of the old
Jacksonville road.
By an act of the
General Assembly of December 23, 1824, the boundaries of the county
were re-established, and James Mason, Rowland P. Allen, Charles
Gear, John G. Lofton and John R. Sloo, were appointed commissioners
to locate the permanent seat of justice of the county. It was
stipulated in this fact that the parties on whose lands the county
seat was located, should donate to the county thirty-five acres of
land adjoining it.
When the above law
was passed, quite a struggle ensued between Springfield, Sangamo
town and a "paper town" located on the river where the water works
now stands. The historic town of Sangamo- where Lincoln built his
flat boat-was located on the west bluff of the river in the
northwest quarter of section two in Gardner township. It has long
been extinct. Charles Broadwell was the proprietor, and at the time
the question of locating the permanent county seat was agitated, had
grown into quite a respectable town for those days, and was actually
a better location than Springfield, it was on the water, contained
several stores, had a saw-mill and grist-mill and a carding machine.
The other rival of Springfield was a town that existed on paper, and
was principally owned by speculators from the east, of whom Wm. S.
Hamilton, a young lawyer and son of Alexander Hamilton, of Aaron
Burr fame, was the prime mover. The commissioners, it seems, were
required to view the various sites offered, much as parties seeking
factory sites do nowadays, and after visiting Springfield, with
which they were not very much impressed, inquired the nearest route
to Sangamo and Hamilton's town.
Major Iles and the
other citizens would not hear of their leaving without a guide, so
Andrew Elliott, the keeper of the "Buck Tavern," and a noted
woodsman volunteered to show them the way. It is now about an hour's
drive to old Sangamo town, but Elliott took the commissioners in a
roundabout way through swamps and thickets, and back and forth
across Spring creek and the river, and when the commissioners
arrived at Sangamo they were so exhausted and disgusted with the
supposed inaccessible region, that they would listen to no
explanations and soon put back to Springfield, where after hanging
fire like a legislative committee, they finally located the
permanent county seat. It would be impossible to calculate of how
much value this decision was for the struggling little town at that
period. The State warrants for expenses held by the commissioners
were practically worthless, as there were at that date no taxable
lands, and Major Iles intimated that if it should so happen that
they should select Springfield, he would see that their warrants
were cashed. The warrants were cashed.
The commissioners
made formal report to the court March 18, 1825, that they had
located the permanent county seat at Springfield, and Major Iles and
P. P. Enos deeded to the county a tract of land, beginning at the
northeast corner of Fifth and Monroe streets, thence north to the
northeast corner of Fifth and Washington streets, thence east to the
northeast corner of Sixth and Washington streets, thence north to
Madison street, thence east to the quarter section line between
Eight and Ninth streets, thence south to Monroe street, and thence
west to the place of beginning, containing thirty-five acres, and
including the public square.
Sarcasm surely
existed at this early period, for the court record shows that W. S.
Hamilton, the disappointed proprietor of the “paper town" was
magnanimously appointed to make the survey of the tract donated to
the county, but this appointment was scornfully ignored by him, and
he soon left this part of the country forever. Thomas M. Neale made
the survey, for which he was paid $38.95.
The old court house
(the Kelley one) was sold to John Taylor on September 7, 1825, for
$32.00, and the contract to build a frame court house was let to
Thomas M. Neale for $449.00, except the chimney, which was let to
Joseph Thomas for $70.00. Robert Thompson was allowed $2.50 for the
plan of the court house. On July 15, 1826, the treasurer was ordered
to pay T. M. Neale balance of $87.00 when the court house was
finished, or his contract fulfilled, and John Taylor and Chas. R.
Matheny were appointed to receive the house. It was ordered that
Chas. White be employed to lath and plaster the court house at 37
1/2 cents a yard. This frame court house stood on the northeast
corner of Sixth and Adams street.
On January 4, 1830,
it was ordered that a brick court house be built-on or about the
middle of the public square, as now laid out in the town of
Springfield or Calhoun. John Todd, Asa S. Shaw and Garret Elkin,
were appointed agents for the county to contract for the building
and to superintend the same. The committee reported that they lot
the contract March 2, 1830. On March 6, 1830, the committee were
ordered to have the court house built near the center of the square,
the southeast corner to be at a stake set by the commissioners for
that purpose.
The brick court
house stood in the middle of the square, and was completed in 1831
at a cost of $6,841.00. It was a two-story square, brick building,
with a hip roof, and cupalo on top, similar to the court houses
peculiar to the Mississippi valley at that period, and from the time
it was built all the business of the town centered around the
square, and the old town on Jefferson street began to decay. The row
of small shops on the east end of the north side of the square was
called "Chicken Row." In the fall of 1835 a young man fresh from the
prim and dignified courts of New York arrived in Springfield. He
wandered into the brick building standing in the center of the
square, and saw the judge on his bench with his chair tilted back,
his heels higher than his head, a cob pipe in his mouth, his hair
all awry, and before him stood a small dark man with long black hair
pleading his case. Attentively listening sprawled a long sombre form
on the low platform used for the judge's rostrum. The room was
filled with men laughing and smoking. The judge was Stephen T.
Logan, acknowledged to be the greatest lawyer Illinois has ever
produced. The little man was Stephen A. Douglas the "Little Giant,"
and the form on the floor was that of Abraham Lincoln, destined in
the years to come to be the two foremost characters in the most
formidable crisis the Union ever knew.
On March 10, 1831,
the old court house (on 6th and Adams) and the lot on which it stood
were sold to John B. Moffett for $626.00.
On March 10, 1831,
it was ordered that 30 feet of the north end of the public square be
appropriated for a walk, provided a brick market house is built in
the street not less than 40 feet long. This market house stood in
the middle of Sixth street just north of Washington, with a driveway
on either side, the street being widened for that purpose.
In the Legislature
at Vandalia in the session of 1836-7, Sangamon county was
represented by two senators and seven members of the lower house.
They were a singular body of men, all tall and angular and their
combined height was exactly 54 feet, they are famous in Illinois
history as the "Long Nine." The men were Abraham Lincoln, Ninian W.
Edwards, Archer G. Herndon, Job Fletcher, John Dawson, Andrew
McCormack, Dan Stone, William F. Elkin and Robert L. Wilson. "Honest
Old Abe" contributed four inches to make the average six feet.
The capitol of the
State at this time was at Vandalia, having been removed there from
Kaskaskia and as the tide of emigration was moving northward it was
conceded that the capitol must be nearer the center of population;
although Vandalia and Southern Illinois fought hard against it.
The people were wild
over a mania called internal improvements, a plan of which Governor
Duncan was a strong advocate, and which eventually plunged the State
into bankruptcy. From the beginning of the session the “Long Nine"
set to work "log rolling.” They asked for no public improvements;
they wanted no railroads, canals, no plank roads, but would help out
any member that did want them for his district, if he would vote to
remove the capital to Springfield.
There were many
applicants, and on the first ballot Springfield had but 35 out of
121 votes. The vote stood as follows: Springfield 35, Jacksonville
14, Vandalia 16, Peoria 16, Alton 15, scattering 25. Illiopolis, a
"paper town" of mammoth proportions, covering 8,000 acres, laid out
near the site of the present village of that name, by Governor
Duncan, John Taylor, Eli C. Blakenship and the Sangamo Land Company,
received ten votes on the second ballot. " Poor old Peoria," as
usual, brought up the rear and Springfield captured the prize on the
fourth ballot.
The city and county
have never made any public recognition of the valuable services
rendered by the " Long Nine," and it is to be hoped that if a
monument is not erected to their memory in the court house park,
their names at least may be inscribed on the historic walls of the
building they so skillfully obtained for Springfield.
By an act
supplemental to the act permanently locating the seat of government
of Illinois at Springfield, approved March 3, 1837, the county
commissioners were empowered to convey to the governor of the State
the property known as the "public square" in the city of
Springfield, containing two and a half acres, and the deed to
Governor Joseph Duncan is recorded in Book "K," page 503. In Book
"0," page 319, is recorded a contract between the commissioners and
Leroy L. Hill, in which Hill gives the commissioners the right of
taking from his stone quarry on Sugar creek, all the rock they want
from December 1, 1837, to January, 1841, at the rate of $1.00 per
load. Mr. Hill's farm was on Sugar creek near the home of Uncle
Philemon Stout, and the peculiar rock in the present building came
from this quarry. Daniel 0. and David A. Brown, twin brothers, and
well known citizens, at fifteen years of age sawed all the lath used
in the building.
By reason of a
defect supposed to exist in the former deed to the state an order
was entered by the court February 10, 1847, authorizing the
commissioners to execute another deed to the State for the public
square, and the deed to Governor French can be found in Book "Y,"
page 581.
An act legalizing
both deeds was passed Feb. 17, 1847.
An act passed Feb.
25, 1867, provided for the erection of a new State house and the
Governor was empowered to reconvey to the county of Sangamon and the
city of Springfield the public square for the sum of $200,000, and
the further consideration that the grantees cause to be conveyed to
the State the tract on which the capitol now stands on Second
street. The deed from Gov. John M. Palmer to the county and city is
recorded in book 41, page 44, and the deed from the city to the
county is recorded in book 41, page 45.
One of the
conditions of locating the capitol in Springfield in 1837 was that
the city should pay $50,000 toward the erection of the building, and
although the population was but 1,100, the brave little town met the
first two installments promptly, but the third fell due just as the
great financial crash swept over the country and while the building
was still uncompleted. On March 22, 1838, 101 loyal citizens
executed their joint note to the State Bank of Illinois for
$16,666.67 and the money was paid to the State. The note was paid
off when it became due and is now preserved at the Ridgely bank. The
note was signed by John Hay, Joseph Thayer, M. 0. Reeves. W. P.
Grimsley, William Wallace, Thomas Mather, D. Prickett, Washington
Iles. Joel Johnson, Wm. S. Burch, C. R. Matheny, Wm. Butler, P. C.
Latham, N. W. Edwards, J. T. Stuart, George Pasfield, B. 0. Webster,
S. M. Tinsley, J. F. Amos, S. Conant, R. B. Zimmerman, James L.
Lamb, B. Ferguson, B. Talbott, Simeon Francis, Nathaniel Hay, Robert
Irwin, V. Hickox, Geo. Trotter, S. T. Logan, E. M. Henkle, J. W.
Keyes, Jno. G. Bergen, E. Wright, E. D. Baker, A. Lincoln, Garrett
Elkin, G. Jayne, Abner Y. Ellis, S. H. Treat, E. Iles, James Maxey,
W. M. Cowgill and others.
The cost was
estimated at $130,000, but the sum of $240,000 was expended on the
building.
After the conveyance
of the public square to the State in 1837, the brick court house
standing in the middle of the square was demolished to make room for
the State house, which was immediately erected on the ground. The
corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies July 4, 1837.
While this structure was in course of erection the State departments
were removed in wagons (there being no railroads) from Vandalia to
Springfield, and the Senate occupied the First Methodist church on
the southeast corner of Monroe and Fifth streets and the House of
Representatives used the old Second Presbyterian church, on the west
side of Fourth street and south of the alley, just north of the
present church. The supreme court sat in the Episcopal (St. Paul's)
church.
In 1837, after such
conveyance to the State, the county leased the buildings on the west
side of Fifth street, just north of Washington, he same being known
as "Hoffman's Row."
Hoffman's Row was
occupied by the county until 1845, when a lot on the southeast
corner of Sixth and Washington streets, fronting 78 1/2 feet on
Sixth and 160 feet on Washington, was purchased by the county, May
14th of that year, and on which another brick court house, with
stone portico and trimmings, was built. It stood just north of the
old building of the State Bank of Illinois, the two buildings
occupying the half block on the east side o the square. They were
massive, picturesque structures, and added much dignity to the town.
The bank was a Grecian temple on the Corinthian order, and the court
house was of Doric architecture. The building was to cost according
to the contract, $9,680. This building was used by the county from
1845 to January, 1876 when the State moved its offices to the
present State capitol and vacated the public square, which had been
re-conveyed to the county by deed of Oct. 23, 1869, nearly seven
years before. The county then moved into the present building, and
the court house, on 6th and Washington streets, was torn away, the
ground subdivided into business lots and sold off in 1877.
The old State House,
being large and spacious, served eminently for a court house, and
for many years was amply sufficient for the needs of a county
building. But the county was rapidly growing in population and
wealth, and the business necessarily transacted at the court house
gradually increased, until it became apparent, that, sooner or
later, more room must be provided. Another matter which began to be
taken into account, was the condition of the building with regard to
fire. John Kelley's contract bad no such phrases as "absolutely
fire-proof" or "practically fire-proof," and, indeed, the old State
House seems to have been constructed without taking danger from fire
into consideration at all, except that the office of the State
Treasurer (used by the county for the recorders office), was
provided with a so called fire-proof vault. The remainder of the
building, and especially the roof and dome, would in these days be
called "a veritable fire trap." This matter of jeopardizing the
county records, which, if destroyed could never be replaced, was
often pointed out and thoroughly dis- cussed. Finally, on the 11th
of June, 1897, Dr. A. L. Converse introduced a resolution in the
Board of Supervisors, setting forth the need of additional room, the
danger from fire, etc., and providing for the appointment of a
committee to investigate the matter. On December 16th this committee
reported in substance, that they had found a bigger job than they
expected, and advised that nothing be done until the finances of the
county would justify giving the building a general overhauling.
About this time,
many of the business men of the city, especially around the square,
began to get ashamed of the old soft gravel walks in the court house
yard and sent a petition to the county board asking them to replace
these horrid walks with something more up-to-date. The majority of
the supervisors, however, were farmers, and were not afraid of a
little mud, and politely suggested to their “city cousins" that
there were other things needed more than walks. Public sentiment,
when aimed in a certain direction, is a potent factor in influencing
to action men in public service The need of doing something with the
court house was now fully apparent, but public sentiment was greatly
divided on what to do. One idea advanced was to sell off
three-fourths of the public square and build a new court house on
the remaining quarter with the money thus obtained. H. H. Biggs
introduced a resolution in the board of supervisors to this effect
September 13, 1898. This idea met with violent opposition. The old
building was one of historic interest. It halls had echoed the
voices of Lincoln and Douglas in matters of vital import to the
State and Nation. Within its walls Stephen T. Logan, Illinois'
greatest lawyer, and other noted men had pleaded with juries for the
lives and liberties of their fellow men. Its corridor had been made
sacred by having held in state, the remains of the lamented Lincoln.
Under its dome many stirring scenes, "in times which tried men's
souls" had been enacted. So filled was, indeed, the whole structure
with recollections, pleasant and otherwise, that the sentiment was
well nigh universal, that the appearance of the time-honored
building must not be molested. A resolution in harmony with this
feeling, but pointing to some plan for improving the building was
introduced in the County Board September 15, by Thomas C. Mather,
and met with hearty support. It was generally agreed that, sometime,
somehow, something must be done to enlarge the space and fireproof
the building but the great obstacle in the way, as is usual in such
cases, was how to meet the expense. The financial condition of the
county lent little encouragement. The constitutional levy of 75
cents on the $1.00 hardly furnished sufficient revenue to defray the
current expenses of the County. The railroad bonds issued on account
of the Springfield and Illinois Southeastern, and Gilman, Clinton,
and Springfield railroads had not all been paid. The permanent
location of the State Fair at Springfield had cost the County
$75,000, none of which had been paid. However, the matter was
referred to a committee which at a special meeting October 4th,
reported that they had fully examined the building, found it
inadequate, dangerous and unsafe; that they believed it inexpedient
and undesirable to sell off any of the ground, but advised that
steps be taken at once, to remodel, enlarge and fireproof the old
building. On the acceptance of this report the Board decided to
submit the question of levying a tax of $100,000 to remodel the
Court House, to the voters of the county at the county election in
November. This action of the Board was taken in a "committee of the
whole;" it found itself in the (w) hole many times afterward. A
majority of the votes cast on the question, at the election, were in
favor of the additional tax, so the question of remodeling the court
house came squarely before the board of supervisors. The question of
plans now became the paramount idea, and everybody had a notion of
his own. It was thought that the large corridor running north and
south through the building, if properly utilized, would afford the
necessary additional room, and would not “change the external
appearance of the building." Some advocated building wings on the
building, others tearing off the roof and adding a story on the top,
but as these were not in harmony with the prevailing idea, but
little attention was paid to them. S. J. Hanes, one of the
architects, who afterwards furnished the plans, advanced the idea of
raising the building and constructing a complete story underneath,
which, he insisted would not mar the external appearance but rather
improve it. This idea, although it was later adopted, was looked
upon as an utter impossibility and cast aside. Mr. Mather solved the
problem for the time being with an omnibus resolution which, in
substance, provided for an extension of $20,000.00 on the tax books
for the ensuing year by way of a starter; that architects be invited
to prepare plans and specifications, to present to the board; that
certain premiums be offered to architects to induce them to submit
plans; that the necessary committee be appointed, etc., etc. Lest
the prevailing idea should be lost sight of, E. S. Scott tacked on a
little proviso that none of the plans should provide for any "change
in its external appearance." This resolution was then adopted by a
vote of 21 to 16, with the express understanding that the cost
should not exceed $50,000.00, and the following committee appointed,
being the first committee on “Remodeling the Court House: " E. L.
Stockdale, of Talkington, J. H. Maxey, of Island Grove, J. H.
Crowder, of Cotton Hill, Thomas C. Mather and H. H. Biggs, of
Capital town- ship. At the next meeting, this committee submitted
three plains, and after much deliberating, a plan presented by S. J.
Hanes was adopted, but the proposition to raise the building was
defeated. Hanes and S.A.Bullard were jointly employed to superintend
the job. The contract was let on March 29, 1899, to Warren Roberts &
Co., of Chicago, for $49,850.00.
On April 5th, the
county officers moved to their temporary quarters, the most of whom
found shelter in the I. 0. 0. F. building, corner Fourth and Monroe
streets. The building committee was now changed. E. S. Scott and J.
M. Amos were appointed in place of Messrs. Biggs and Crowder whose
term expired, and Mr. Simmons in place of Mr. Mather, who did not
wish to serve longer on the committee. Mr. J. 0. Joy, chairman of
the Board was also added to the committee. This committee chose Mr.
George Simmons as general overseer. At the expiration of their term,
Messrs, Scott and Amos were succeeded by Philip Nelch and G. W. M.
Gordon, otherwise the committee remained the same.
After the contract
had been let and the old building dismantled, those who frequented
the court house began to entertain some fear lest after all the
building, when remodeled, would not furnish the necessary room.
Hanes still stuck to his theory that the building could be raised
and its appearance preserved, and even augmented. This theory
gradually gained in favor until finally, May 15, Mr. Mather secured
the passage of a resolution in conformity with this idea. Of course
it became necessary to got the consent of the con- tractor in order
to make the change, but "Barkis was willin’" and accordingly on the
14th day of June a second contract was made with the same firm (they
being the lowest bidders), by which the entire building was to be
raised eleven feet, and a complete story built underneath, for
$27,500. This was the greatest feat of engineering skill ever
attempted in the county, but it was successfully done. Several weeks
were consumed in placing the "jacks" and blocks into position, but
when at length everything was ready, the entire building was raised
the eleven feet in about twelve days, or an average of nearly a foot
a day, and it was generally conceded that the appearance of the
structure had been enhanced rather than deteriorated, except that
the dome now "looked too squatty," and the agitation at once arose
that it too must be improved. All the contracts up to this, time had
provided for making the building "practically fire-proof," and as
the old framework in the roof and dome was the worst fire- trap of
all, it was soon decided that it must "go." So after the usual
“resolutin" the contract for a new roof and dome was let to the same
firm for $12,000. The court house was now very much like the
Irishman's, old barrel; although it had had new heads, new hoops and
new staves, Pat still maintained it had the same old "bung," and
consequently was the same old barrel; so it appeared, especially to
those who had opposed the improvements, that the only thing to be
left of the old court house would be the "bung," if it had one.
This completed the
improvements so far as the building was concerned, although it was
sarcastically suggested that the stone in the walls "looked pretty
shabby." New troubles arose, however, in the way of furniture.
Something up-to-date and commensurate with the improved building
must be provided. This proved to be as perplexing a problem as the
building itself. For nearly two years the board of supervisors
wrestled with it. There were whereases and resolutions innumerable,
motions, amendments, substitutes, re-considerations and tax levies
galore; and always the inevitable committee," without which no
special work by a public body of men is ever possible. Finally two
contracts were let, one to Geo. D. Barnard & Co. of St. Louis, for
the steel furniture, consisting of fire- proof file cases, book
shelves, counters, etc., for the sum of $20,517; and one to the
Wollaeger Mfg. Co. of Milwaukee, for wooden furniture consisting of
tables, desks, chairs, and other innumerable paraphernalia for the
various rooms and offices for $11,750. (Jacob Ellis supplied the
"furniture" for the first court house which consisted of a judge's
seat and bar, for which he received the exhorbitant (?) sum of four
dollars and fifty cents.)
During the progress
of the remodeling, of the court house the old soldiers sent a
petition to the County Board asking that a room be set apart for the
use of the Grand Army of the Republic. The old veterans usually get
what they go after, and the result of their effort in this direction
is that now an elegant room on the fourth floor has been provided
and neatly furnished for their "use, benefit and behoof forever,"
and which is known as Grand Army Hall.
Another matter was
brought to the attention of the board, but as yet no action has been
taken. When a citizen of the county becomes insane the only place to
confine him pending an investigation and commitment to an asylum, is
the jail along with common criminals. Judge Murray has been
especially active in an effort to have a room in the court house
which might be fitted up expressly for this purpose. The board at
one time acted favorably on his suggestion and recommended that such
a place be provided, but somehow in the confusion it has been
overlooked. The committee and architects, however, are of the
opinion that some of the unoccupied rooms can yet be fitted up for
this purpose, and it is to be hoped that they will be able to do so,
and in future spare the families of such unfortunate people the
humiliation of seeing their relatives and friends confined like
criminals in a common bastile.
The total cost of
remodeling the court house can, at present, be only approximated, as
the work is not entirely completed and many of the little
incidentals are not yet paid for. The following figures, however,
are substantially correct:
The Warren Roberts
Co., three contracts and extras... $103,220.07
Less credits for old
material sold and changes........ 2,491.86
-- $100,728.21
Geo. D. Barnard &
Co., contract and extras - 20,971.75
The Wollaeger Mfg.
Co., contract and extras - 12,471.00
Hanes and Ballard,
architects - 6,771.40
Electric wiring,
clocks, frescoes arbitration, etc - 9,186.02
Furnishing Grand
Army Hall - 2,259.80
Cement Walks, etc -
2,736.72
Making a total cost
of improvements to date, not including the curtains. carpets,
linoleum, furnishing dormitory, etc $155,125.90.
In order to get the
total expense the county has been to on account, of the remodeling
of the court house, there should be added to the above, $16,994,
which has been paid out for rent, moving and other miscellaneous
items, which, with a reasonable estimate for the uncompleted work,
will make in round numbers $175,000 as the total cost of the
improvements.
The old "gravel
paths" through the court house yard have now been supplemented by
cement walks which defy stone itself in strength and durability,
diverging from the building and angling across the grounds, making
it easily accessible from every direction. Two large cannon, the
combined weight of which is 6,900 pounds, stationed on either side
of the building add much to the ornamentation of the grounds. These
are the gift of our distinguished citizen, Congressman Ben. F.
Caldwell, and are dedicated to the county in honor of her soldiery.
Judge James H. Matheney once planted a maple tree in the court house
grounds, just southwest of the building, which he dedicated to
Stephenson Post No. 30, G. A. R. This tree was struck by lightning
and materially disfigured. On Friday afternoon, April 26, 1901, the
Post reciprocated this tender act of affection by planting to his
memory a beautiful poplar tree near the site selected by the
deceased judge for his tree. The planting was attended with
appropriate exercises, Judge G. W. Murray delivering the address.
Another ornament(?)
once adorned the public square, but which has long since been
removed. This was the “whipping post” which stood near the northeast
corner of the square, adjacent to the jail. This post has passed out
of the recollection of many of the old inhabitants, and a majority
of our citizens of today do not know that one was ever established.
Such is the fact, however, and several persons "paid the penalty of
their misdeeds" at that post. An old settler informed the writer
that it was only used for "little offenses like petty stealing, and
wife-beating. It is said that James D. Henry was the last sheriff
who used the post, and he often remarked that be was so chicken-
hearted that he suffered more when inflicting the penalty than the
offender he punished. On the other hand, Judge Sawyer rather enjoyed
seeing the punishment inflicted. It finally came to be looked upon
as a "relic of barbarism" and dropped into disuse.
The building itself,
as it stands today, is a marvel of strength and beauty. It is the
Grecian-Doric style of architecture, especially applicable to
buildings of its character, and is one of the very few to be found
anywhere in the United States. It is 123 feet long, 90 feet wide,
and to the top of the flag-staff is 154 feet. From the ground to the
cornice line is 57 feet. The porticos on the north and south project
11 1/2 feet. There are three full floors of offices and an upper
story in which is the G. A. R. hall, the dormitory, the gallery of
the circuit court and storage rooms.
Grand, solitary,
dignified, historic old structure, sufficient for years for the
needs of the great commonwealth of Illinois, yet grown too small for
the business of a county. For three-quarters of a century it has
been a faithful servant of the public, and as it stands today,
remodeled, enlarged, renewed, bids fair to perform its part and take
its place in the history of another century, which is yet to be made
and written. It may be of interest to note, briefly, something of
the history of the county as a county, from its origin to the
present time. There were originally (June 5, 1821), four townships,
as follows: "Sangamon, comprised all the territory east of Edward's
old trace."' "Springfield, west of Edward's old trace including all
the settlements on Spring Creek." "Richland, west of Spring Creek
and south of the Sangamon river." "Union, west of Edward's old
trace, and north of the Sangamon river."
Thus it will be seen
that the Kelly settlement on Spring Creek was the "hub" from which
all the rest of the unsettled territory branched. As this remote
territory settled up new counties were formed out of the famous
Sangamo, and gradually its proportions decreased to its present
size. Macon, on the east, swung off January 19, 1829. Morgan, on the
west, next "followed suit" February 12, 1835. Cass, on the
northwest, was next to go March 3, 1837. Logan, on the north, and
Dane (now Christian), on the southeast, simultaneously severed their
connection with us February 15, 1839. Finally, little Menard
concluded she could take care of herself, and organized as a county
February 28, 1847.* Late in the year 1860, Sangamon county, by vote
decided to change her form of government and adopted the "New
England" system of township organization. Accordingly, April 29,
1861, the first board of supervisors met at the court house and
organized by electing William Lavely chairman. This was just forty
years ago, and forty years after the organization as a county
(April, 1821). There were then 23 supervisors representing 22
townships, Springfield having two supervisors. There are now 27
townships with 40 supervisors, the city having 13.
In 1821 the tax rate
was "one-half percentum" and George Hayworth, the county treasurer
for that year, reported to the court that he had collected $447.44,
and his report shows charges against the county amounting to just
$447.44. George must have figured pretty close, or else collected
just enough to pay expenses and then quit. After reducing the
territory to about one-seventh its original size the assessed
valuation in 1900 was $14,386,168.00, the rate being two and
one-half mills higher than in 1821.
First Officers
were:
James Latham -
Probate Judge
John Taylor -
Sheriff
Charles R.
Matheny - County and Circuit Clerk, Recorder of Deeds
George Hayworth -
Treasurer [James Sims having refused to qualify]
Joseph Dickson -
Coroner
James C.
Stephenson - Surveyor
Samuel D.
Lockwood - Prosecuting Attorney [Later judge of the supreme court]
Stephen A.
Douglas - Prosecuting Attorney in 1835
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