HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

Speculation in Illinois lands got fairly under way in 1835. It was in that year that Henry County was first visited by persons authorized to purchase large tracts of land for the benefit of certain companies. The county was then without an organization. The southern boundary was on the parallel 13 north of the base line, and its western boundary was upon the 4th principal meridian. It extended five townships, or thirty miles, east, and north it reached to the 18th parallel north of the base line. Rock River entered the county on the north about midway from east to west, and formed its boundary on the northwest for about twenty miles, leaving it about midway of the fourth tier of townships. These boundaries have been retained ever since. It extends over no less than twenty-one entire townships of six miles square each, and four fractional townships aggregating a little less than three entire townships. The square miles foot up to about eight hundred and thirty, and the acres to nearly or quite 530,000. Of this number there were probably about 70,000 acres of timber land. Exclusive of the timber on Rock and Green Rivers there were a dozen distinct groves, besides a few clusters of trees dignified sometimes as groves.

Red Oak, White Oak, Round Hickory, Sugar Tree, Big Barren, Richland, and a few smaller groves, were found in the southern portion of the county; Shabane or Shabbona, Crocker's, Trading House, Eight Mile, and several other small groves, as well as the timber on the Green and Rock Rivers, in the northern. It will be remembered that a large share of what was called timber lands contained only here and there a tree. The northeastern part of the county contained swamp lands, which were at that time undesirable as an investment. The balance of the prairie, excepting a few hilly quarters, was of the most desirable quality for farming purposes. This was then the inviting prospect held up to the poor man looking for land for "actual settlement," and to the capitalist for hypothetical settlement.

Unfortunately for the growth and prosperity of the county, the latter class of settlers were the most numerous, very large portions of the best land in the county being taken up by them, and the poor man, the actual settler, was compelled to look elsewhere for a location. Many would not locate close to the colonies, on account of reports that the organization intended to swallow all outsiders who settled close to them.

In the early settlement of this county, William Roberts, who afterwards lived at Andover, and moved thence to Texas and there died, resided near Quincy, in Adams County. One night a prospector, who had been through this county, put up with Roberts. He said he couldn't stop in

Henry County; 'twas too full of colonies. Of course there was much misapprehension as to the character of those colonies. Henry County seems to have furnished remarkable attraction for them-Andover, Wethersfield, Geneseo, Morristown, La Grange, in an earlier day, thus originated, and Bishop Hill in a later. This last, however, differed from the others. fundamentally. It required no accession from outsiders for support. The first mentioned five colonies had educational projects in view; and three of them, viz.: Andover, Geneseo and Wethersfield, aimed at the dissemination of religious truth. The last named, or Bishop Hill Colony, was strictly a religious organization, the members of it coming directly from Sweden, and was the only one that obtained a legal existence. The modes by which the other colonies endeavored to build up their educational and religious establishments, though not differing much one from another, will be delineated when treating of them separately. For the present it is sufficient to say that all of them had public property, the proceeds of which, in some form, were to be used to build their schools or colleges. These five settlements began their existence nearly at the same time, Andover having precedence chronologically; then followed Geneseo, Morristown, Wethersfield, La Grange.

Before the commencement of any of these colonies, Dayton, near Rock River, had commenced. This is known as "Brandenburg's settlement," George Brandenburg being one of the earliest settlers. He laid off the town, and for a long time his house was the whole of Dayton. In those days there was a great amount of travel to the land office at Dixon, and some from Knoxville to Albany, on the Mississippi. Dayton was at the crossing of those roads, and Brandenburg's hotel was a central point of great interest. The popularity of the "Judge" attracted a host of customers, and out of pure regard for their comfort he erected another cabin by the side of the first, leaving a space for a hall between them, and covered the whole with one roof. That was then the most commodious house of entertainment in all this region; and an additional supply of furniture in the shape of beds, bedding and benches, with some other luxuries for the repose of the weary, made it a desideratum with travelers to reach that commodious "tavern."

About the time the Judge had got fairly under way, Caleb Pillsbury, brother of George and Levi Pillsbury, at Andover, opened a public house, which contained one room below and a loft above.

THE FIRST ENTRY

Of land made in this county was on June 8, 1835, N. § 34, 18, 2. now Hanna Township, by Giles Williams. He is believed to have been a speculator, from the number of lots entered in his name in the following year. July 7, 1835, Jas. W. Stephenson entered N. E. N. W. 10, 17, 1. Later in the same year many thousands of acres were entered, the New York Company alone entering some thirty thousand acres. Dr. Thomas Baker has the credit, generally, of building the first house in the county; but that is a mistake, as James Glenn erected the first house. Dr. Baker's was the first family in the county. It is a little remarkable that a man of his temperament should have become a pioneer. He is said to have loved his ease exceedingly. Passing near a man who was making rails one warm day,

he begged him to stop his work till he could get by, as it hurt his feelings to see a man work in warm weather. He moved to Rock Island County some years ago, and thence to Missouri, and died there.

In April, 1835, James Glenn settled on Section 20, in what is now Colona township, and erected a house thereon in the same month, and still resides on the same farm. At this time Dr. Baker and family, heretofore mentioned, were living near him in a wagon. The next house was built at White Oak Grove by a man named Butler, who was bought out by the New York Company. The house is believed to have been the Company House, and if so, is still standing near the residence of Dan Moore. Butler is said to have been the first white man who planted and raised corn in the county. He sold out in the Fall of 1835, and is believed to have moved to Kansas. Washburne, an early settler and well known in the county, sowed the first wheat; others, however, sowed wheat the same Fall. The first mill was at Andover, built in 1836-7, and the first "grist" for which toll was taken, after the bolt was put in, belonged to this same Washburne. He says that before the mill was running they got their samp by grating corn upon an old tin pail with holes punched in it, and meal in much the same way. This provender answered a good purpose where only "corn bread and common doings" were gotten up, unless too liberally supplied with blood from knuckles barked during the process of grating. Wheat bread and "chicken fixins" could be found more frequently in the cabins after the mill got into operation. In that day many early settlers began going to Spoon River, in Knox County, to get their meal.

ORGANIZATION OF HENRY COUNTY.

Henry County was under the jurisdiction of Knox County till its separate organization in 1837. The Legislature then met at Vandalia. Major James M. Allan took a horseback ride from Brandenburg's to Vandalia, via Knoxville, Peoria, Tremont and Springfield, a distance of some two hundred and fifty miles, for the purpose of getting an act passed organizing the county, in accordance with the wishes of its inhabi

tants.

As the population increased the people demanded the organization of their county, and an enabling act was passed March 2, 1837, when commissioners were appointed to locate and name a county seat. They were Francis Voris, of Peoria County; Jonas Rawalt, of Fulton County, and Isaac Murphy, of Warren County.

THE FIRST ELECTION

Was held June 19th, 1837, at the house of George Brandenburg. There were to be elected three County Commissioners, Sheriff, Coroner, Surveyor, and Recorder. John P. Hanna, Charles Atkinson and R. R. Stewart were judges of election; James M. Allan and Arba M. Seymour clerks. As this was the first election we have no doubt but it will be of interest to many of our readers to know the names of all the candidates, and we here insert them, with the number of votes for each :

We will give the entire LIST OF VOTERS in the order in which they voted: George Brandenburg, Samuel Sullivan, David Wiley, Washington B. Colbert, Samuel Withrow, John L. Smith, Thos. R. Saunders, Smith Bennett, John McLinn, Henry Sullivan, Jas. Withrow, Neely Withrow, George A. Colbert, Edward C. Hall, Preston Browning, Alfred Beck, George Tyler, George Goyer, Edward A. Mix, Thos. Miller, William Hite, Elisha Cone, Cromwell K. Bartlett, Wm. C. Bartlett, Wm. H. Hubbard, John Sullivan, Henry G. Little, Ithamar Pillsbury, Eben Townsend, Albert Jagger, Wm. S. Woolsey, Adrian Van Winkle, Alfred Ball, Thos. Glenn, Earl P. Aldridge, Stephen Marshall, Anthony Hunt, Solomon Penny, Caleb Pillsbury, Jesse Woolsey, Wm. Potts, Samuel Clark, Jerome Brittain, Ebenezer Walters, Joshua Browning, Geo. McHenry, Robt. McCullough, Jas. P. Dodge, Wm. MeNevin, Philip K. Hanna, Joshua Harper, Rufus Hubbard, John P. Hanna, Chas. Atkinson, Roderick R. Stewart, Jas. M. Allan, Arba M. Seymour, Reuben Cone. Many of the gentlemen whose names appear in the foregoing list have figured somewhat prominently in the history of the county not all officers, but before the public in some capacity. Philip K. Hanna and Geo. A. Colbert will be remembered as the earliest Methodist ministers in the county. Ithamar Pillsbury, the Christian gentleman and energetic agent, was the first Presbyterian minister. Jas. M. Allan has been one of the most prominent men in the history of Henry County. He was the first clerk of the county, and in all political, social, military and county seat matters of early days, he was the most prominent figure, and in later days is known as an energetic, esteemed and valuable citizen. Geo. Brandenburg figured as the first landlord of the county, and has been well and favorably known. Eben Townsend, an aged gentleman of large experience and observation, of will imperious, strong affections, manners blunt or bland, as circumstances seemed to require, figured in the affairs of Andover for many years, and was well known to most of the early settlers. R. R. Stewart, the impartial magistrate, an exact public officer, long controlled the first and best public house in Geneseo. Henry G. Little has been called to serve his country in many positions of honor and trust. Jesse

Woolsey, the unobtrusive home man, and as the upright and trusty landlord at Andover, he is known to a large share of the gentlemen who attended the early courts at Cambridge. Joshua Harper, the mild and courteous gentleman, correct business man and faithful legislator. We might go on in this style, but limits must be set. Indeed, not a few of the gentlemen whose names are recorded at that first election, have histories belonging to the county, which will appear as we progress.

As before stated, the county was organized 19th June, 1837. On the 27th of the same month the Commissioners met in Dayton at the house of Geo. Brandenburg, and after being duly qualified, the first County Commissioners' Court for Henry County was opened. Jas. M. Allan was appointed Clerk. Robert McCullough was his security in the sum of $1,000. Ithamar Pillsbury (one of the Commissioners) administered the oath of office to Mr. Allan, and the court was ready for business. Chas. Atkinson was appointed Treasurer, took the oath, and gave bonds according to law. Records do not state who his sureties were. The clerks and treasurers of counties up to this time were appointed by the Commissioners, but by an act of the legislature, 7th February, 1837, those offices were made elective from and after the August election of 1837. Accordingly at that election (August 7, 1837), the people returned Mr. Allan to the Clerkship, and Mr. Atkinson was elected Treasurer. At the September term of the Commissioners' Court (September 4, 1837), the Clerk gave bond in same amount as before, with Robt. MeCullough and John P. Hanna as sureties. No record is discovered of treasurer's bond or surety.

The first recorded order of the court was on June 27, 1837, authorizing Charles Atkinson, John P. Hanna and Geo. Tyler to keep a ferry on Rock River at Cleveland. The second ordered that the tax on the above mentioned ferry be fixed at one dollar and fifty cents. The Commissioners doubtless had an eye to a revenue when they charged that dollar and a half. June 4, 1838, this "tax was raised to five dollars, and the party was authorized to work it out on the road under the direction of the Supervisor. One-half of one per cent. was fixed as the rate of taxation upon pleasure carriages, horses, cattle of every description, watches, wagons, hogs, sheep. Mules, clocks, and other property that might be mentioned, went "scot-free" it seems. A road tax of one dollar and twenty cents was placed upon each taxable quarter section of land. At a term of the Commissioners Court, held March 5, 1838, every legally ablebodied man was required to work on the road five days in a year. application for a license to sell goods being handed in, George Brandenburg, for the snug little sum of five dollars, was permitted to merchandise in Dayton. Later in the day, on a similar application, Geo. Tyler was authorized to run an opposition establishment in Cleveland. These were the beginnings of the commercial enterprise of the county. On the second day of the court the county was divided into five road districts. No. 1, included townships 16, 17, 18, N. 1 and 2 E.

On

16, 17, N. or so much as is S. Green River

3, 4, 5, E.

17, 18, or so much as is N. Green River 3,

4, 5, E.