THE HISTORY 
 OF A FAMOUS 
 
 COURT 
 HOUSE 
 
 LOCATED AT 
 
 CARLINUILLE, 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 BY W. B. BROWN 
 
Digitized by the Internet Arefiix© 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://archive.org/details/historyoffamouscOObrow 
 
This book tells the story of the construction of the pres- 
 ent court house which cost $1,380,500, and of the two 
 preceding it. The first court house was built of logs in 
 1830 and cost $128.66. The second one was constructed 
 of brick in 1838-40 and cost $15,000. 
 
 The construction of the log court house and the brick 
 court house did not attract more than ordinary atten- 
 tion. For that reason rather brief mention is made of 
 them. It is about the present court house whose stirring 
 history covers a period from 1867, when its construction 
 began, down to 1910, when the last bond was paid and 
 the debt discharged, that this book has to do. It con- 
 tains a simple recital of the main facts as disclosed by 
 the records and first hand information obtained from 
 those who had intimate knowledge of the new court house 
 from the time its erection began down to the time the 
 bonds were paid. 
 
 In addition to the story of the three court houses, a 
 number of biographies of business and professional men 
 are contained in the book. To those who contributed 
 the sketches, and for helpful suggestions from friends, 
 sincere thanks are offered. 
 
 The Author. 
 
Copyright, 1934, by W. B. Brown. 
 All Rights Reserved 
 
 CARLINVILLE, ILLINOIS, 
 SEPTEMBER, 1934. 
 
 Press of The Carlinville Democrat 
 
The History of a Famous Court House 
 
 When the Board of Supervisors of Macoupin county at a meeting held in 
 the fall of 1933, decided to accept the offer of the Civil Works Administra- 
 tion, at Washington, to give financial assistance for the redecorating and 
 partial reconstruction of the court house, their action served once more to 
 bring to the attention of the people of this county its great temple of justice. 
 Those of the older generation have a fairly good knowledge of the interest- 
 ing history connected with its inception and construction. But to the younger 
 generation only fragments of the actual story have come into their posses- 
 sion. 
 
 The history of the erection of this magnificent building reads in many 
 respects like a tale from a book of fiction, rather than a recital of actual 
 
 The Court House as it appeared in 1869. Note the piles of dirt in the 
 distance at the right. Part of the iron fence shows at the left. 
 
 facts. It cost, according to the county records, $1,380,500. This in itself was 
 it staggering sum for a country community, even when it was spread over 
 a period of forty years, commencing as it did in 1867. When the erection 
 of the present court house was begun, the county was not under township 
 organization. The sheriff was the tax collector and the civil war had ended 
 only two years. West of the Mississippi river our country was in most re- 
 spects practically undeveloped. This will give the younger readers a back- 
 ground of conditions existing in Macoupin county in 1867. : When this court 
 house was completed it was said to be the finest county building in the 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 United States, with the possible exception of the one located in the confines 
 of New York city. It was much more pretentious than most state capitals 
 at that time. 
 
 Why the Court House was Built 
 So far as is known no official record has ever been made as to why 
 such an expensive court house now adorns the county seat. Back in the 
 early sixties there was talk of dividing Macoupin county and making two 
 counties out of it. If this had been done it was the plan to have the county 
 seat located at Virden in the north county and at Bunker Hill in the south 
 county. This of course, would have taken the county seat away from Car- 
 linville. While there is nothing on record to prove that this was the motive, 
 it is fairly well established that this was the real reason that prompted the 
 action to have the big court house built at Carlinville. Once this immense 
 building was started on its way, it was sound reasoning to assume that no 
 one with enough influence, could stop the plan and divide the county. 
 
 The First Court House 
 
 In order to give a true idea of the full meaning of all that the building 
 of the present court house meant, a. brief account of two other court houses 
 built in Macoupin county will be given. The first court house was built of 
 logs in 1830. It was ordered constructed by the county court which assemb- 
 
 '^^ftS" 1 - 
 
 C&--V 
 
 The First Court House, built of logs in 1830. The photograph is from 
 
 a recent sketch drawn from the original description of 
 
 the building. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 led at the log home of Ezekiel Good, an early settler. The specifications were 
 that it was to be built of hewn logs, 18x24 feet, the logs to face one foot on 
 an average, the house to be two stories high, the lower story to be eight feet 
 between floors and the second stoiy to be six feet below the roof, to have 
 one door below, with one window below and above; door to be cased and to 
 have a good strong shutter; the windows to contain twelve lights or panes 
 of glass, 8x10; two good plank floors to be laid down rough; roof to be 
 double covered with beards, weight poles to be shaven, cracks to be filled 
 on the inside with shaven boards, and crammed on the outside with straw 
 or grass well mixed with mud ; all to be completed in a strong manner. The 
 iecord shows that one payment was made for $48.33; one for $57.33 and an- 
 other for $23. If this was all of the expense, it shows that the building with 
 benches and bar cost a total of $128.66. The contract was let to Seth 
 Hodges. For the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice of Macou- 
 pin county, the following persons were appointed commissioners: Seth Hod- 
 ges, Joseph Borough, John Harris, Shadrack Reddick and Ephriam Powers. 
 Before the log court house was built the Commissioner's court met in differ- 
 ent places — in the homes o. some of the commissioners. This was the first 
 court house built in Macoupin county and it is claimed that s it was the first 
 one erected west of the state of Ohio. 
 
 The Second Court House 
 
 For ten years this crude log house served as the frontier seat of justice 
 and answered all of the requirements of that early period. Finally it became 
 
 too small for the growing needs of 
 the time, and at a special term of 
 court held in 1836, plans were out- 
 lined for the erection of a more 
 modern and commodious building. 
 Plans were adopted for a two-story 
 structure to cost $15,000. It was 
 to be of brick and was 50x50 feet. 
 The plans were drawn by Dr. J. R. 
 Lewis and were adopted by the 
 county commissioners. The court 
 house had a belfry on top. Before 
 court was called into session some 
 officer or citizen was directed to 
 ring the bell which was notifica- 
 tion that the mill of justice was 
 about to begin to grind. Harbird 
 Weatherford and Jefferson Wea- 
 therford were designated by the 
 court as two of the ''undertakers" 
 to erect the building. The record 
 also shows that J. Greathouse was 
 associated with the Weatherfords 
 in constructing the building. It 
 was the first order of the court 
 that the window sills were to be 
 
 The second Court House of 1838-40, 
 
 built of brick and costing $15,000. 
 
 It was sold and torn down 
 
 in 1869. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 of stone. Later this was changed and walnut sills were put in. This saved 
 the county $175. In March of 1840 this building was officially received. The 
 court house was surrounded by a fence which cost $230. The building was 
 wrecked in 1869. The bell which had done service was sold and was bought 
 by the congregation of St. Paul's Episcopal church of Carlinville, in whose 
 possession it remains today. Back in the early fifties, Abraham Lincoln, then 
 a struggling young lawyer, tried a chancery case in this court house. The 
 record of an order in Lincoln's own handwriting is now on file in the office 
 of the circuit clerk. No doubt but that Lincoln appeared in other cases in 
 this old court house. This building had two corridors running through it, 
 the one north and south and the other east and west. Quite a number of 
 people now living in Carlinville remember this court house. 
 When the Trouble Began 
 After a period of about thirty years the brick court house was deemed 
 to be inadequate for the growing needs of the county, and the building of a 
 third court house, and the one about which this story has to deal, was or- 
 dered. This was in 1867 and at that time the county court, as commis- 
 sioners, had full charge of the county's affairs. The first official record 
 covering the erection of the present court house, that was to play such an 
 important part in the history of the people of Macoupin county, is as follows 
 and is taken from the county court of March, 1867: 
 
 "Ordered that A. McKim Dubois and George H. Holliday be asso- 
 ciated with T. L. Loomis, county judge, and Isham J. Peebles, County 
 Justice, as commissioners, to erect a new court house in the City of 
 Carlinville, Illinois, foundation to be laid this year, and the building 
 to be completed before the expiration of the term of office of the 
 present court; said court house not to be commenced until there is 
 sufficient money in the county treasury to pay the present indebt- 
 edness of the county. 
 
 "Ordered that a levy of 50 cents on each $100 value of property in 
 Macoupin county for the year 1867, real, personal and mixed, be 
 made for the purpose of erecting said court house, and that the clerk 
 extend said tax on the collector's books for the year 1867, and that 
 it be collected as their taxes for county purposes." 
 
 Judge Loomis was constituted agent of the county to close all contracts. 
 The commissioners at once consulted E. E. Meyers, a Springfield, Illinois, 
 architect, and the plans submitted by him were adopted. He was appointed 
 superintendent of the work. Soon vast heaps of stone and iron began to 
 assume shape and the great structure was under way. In 1867 the legisla- 
 ture of Illinois passed an act authorizing the county court to borrow money 
 to build the court house. The act further authorized them to raise money 
 to liquidate all indebtedness that might accrue in building the court house 
 and for that purpose they were authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed 
 $50,000. In any event the building was not to cost more than $175,000.00. 
 This act was the real starting point from which so much litigation grew and 
 around which so many stirring scenes were to center in the future. At the 
 June term of the county court it was ordered that county orders be issued 
 to bear interest at the rate of 10% and the amount was to be $20,000.00. 
 They were to run for ten years. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 The court further ordered that $50,000.00 in bonds be issued to run for 
 a period of ten yeais and to bear interest at 10%. By September over 
 $13,000.00 had been expended and the foundation was far enough along for 
 the ceremony oi laying the corner stone. This was done in October, 1867, 
 with the Masons in charge. John M. Woodson, first mayor of Carlmville, and 
 a prominent citizen, was the orator of the day. Mr. Woodson afterwards 
 moved to St. Louis, where he died about six years ago. 
 
 The Cost Keeps Growing 
 
 It was plainly evident at the time the corner stone was laid that the 
 building then under course of construction could not be finished for any- 
 thing like the amount of money that was at first contemplated. At the De- 
 cember term of court it was found that the cost would be so heavy that it 
 was ordered that the senators and representatives in Congress be asked to 
 have a special act passed granting the county the right to import free of 
 duty, all building material needed in the construction of the edifice. It is not 
 known whether this was actually done. The building continued apace and 
 at the special term of court held in January, 1869, the county agent, Judge 
 T. L. Loomis, reported the immense sum Oi $449,604.07 had been paid out 
 up to that time and the building was not yet finished. The great dome and 
 the rooi had been contracted for at an estimated cost of $125,115.00. 
 
 More bonds were issued and the work was continued and when at the 
 September term, 1869, Judge Loomis made his report as county agent, it was 
 seen that the enormous sum of $838,540.77 had been expended and the build- 
 ing was still not finished. It was at this term of court that the old court 
 *>ouse, costing originally $15,000.00, was sold by order of the court and 
 brought a total of $856.35, including safes and furniture. It was torn down. 
 The total assessed value of property at that time in Macoupin county was, 
 according to the official report of the county assessor, $7,274,186.00. Among 
 the items of expense noted in the report of Judge Loomis for September 
 were those of Deakman & Messenger, a Chicago firm, who had the contract for 
 the stone and brick work. One single item was a bill for $50,000.00, and an- 
 other for $49,000.00, and many smaller sums, paid to this firm alone. This 
 will give some idea as to how the grand total grew and grew. 
 
 In January, 1870, a new court had been elected as follows: P. C. Huggins, 
 County Judge; Martin Olmsted and Andrew A. Atkins, Associate Justices. 
 These gentlemen were confronted with a mighty task of trying to find some 
 method by which this great debt could be met. 
 
 People Begin to Protest 
 
 During these three years of building this court house a fierce opposi- 
 tion had grown up against what was termed a "flagrant and outrageous vio- 
 lation of law" in expending this money. Meetings of protest had been held 
 and threats had been openly made against the men who had piled this mighty 
 debt upon the people in direct opposition to their will. At the January term 
 of court Gen. John I. Rinaker and Hon. C. A. Walker, of Carlinville, lawyers 
 of statewide reputation, came before the court in behalf of the people, and 
 formally petitioned it to declare illegal the taxes known as the "court house 
 tax" and "bond tax." The motion was sustained by the court and the sheriff 
 was formally directed not to collect this tax which was so obnoxious to the 
 people. The court further empolyed an attorney to look after the interests 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 of Macoupin county. Letters were openly addressed to the court through 
 the local newspapers denouncing the tax and still others were printed say- 
 ing that it should be collected. It was found when the coupons Were pre- 
 sented for payment that some of the bonds had been duplicated. Numbers 
 on many bonds failed to agree with the numbers on the bond register. It 
 was ordered that no bonds or coupons be paid until they had been presented 
 to the court for approval. 
 
 By February, 1869, the building was up to the cornice. So much excite- 
 ment had been created by the meetings of protest that it had the effect of 
 calling into question the legality of the acts of the county court. No further 
 funds could be obtained to push the work to completion. The legislature 
 being in session, men were sent to Springfield and succeeded in getting a 
 special act passed entitled, "An Act to legalize certain acts of the county 
 court of Macoupin County and to enable it to complete a court house in said 
 county." This was approved March 9, 1869. A monster meeting of the people 
 was held in Carlinville to protest against the passage of this bill. The order 
 of the county court, directing the sheriff not to collect the special tax and 
 the bond tax, had involved the county in numerous law suits which had 
 brought about a maze of legal tangle. Judgments were obtained against the 
 county and a mandamus was issued by the United States court at Spring- 
 field to compel the levy and collection of the taxes. In 1870 Macoupin 
 County had adopted township organization and the mandamus was directed 
 against the members of the Board of Supervisors in February, 1874. The 
 board was with the people and a majority of them absented themselves from 
 the jurisdiction of the court. A resolution was unanimously adopted appro- 
 priating $18,000.00 for the use of the chairman in "court house suits." This 
 money was used to pay the fines of absentees who were in contempt of court. 
 Of course the record does not say that in plain words, but that is what the 
 money was used for. 
 
 Bonds Refunded 
 
 After struggling with the question until 1877 the Board of that year made 
 the definite proposition to fund the debt at 75c on the dollar at 6% interest 
 to run for 20 years. This was submitted at the election of January 5, 1878, 
 and was approved by the voters. The amount outstanding at that time was 
 $1,380,500.00. The new bonds were issued to the amount of $1,036,000.00. 
 Twenty years later the bonds were again funded. This time the amount was 
 $720,000.00 at 4]/ 2 %. 
 
 But the funding of the bonds did not release the Board of Supervisors 
 from worries over the court house debt. When the people voted to approve 
 the refund there were many holders of the securities who refused to surren- 
 der their paper according to the terms as endorsed by the people. These 
 persistent and non-conforming bondholders brought suit in the United States 
 court at Springfield, and in many instances got judgments against Macoupin 
 county. In 1881 most of the members of the Board were summoned to Car- 
 linville to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of court for 
 refusing to levy a tax to pay the bondholders who demanded dollar for dollar 
 and refused to accept anything less. The Board appointed a committee to go 
 to Springfield in July of 1881 and secure information and report at the Sep- 
 tember meeting as to the judgments rendered against the county. The com- 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 mittee reported that judgments to the amount of $73,568.90, with interest at 
 6 per cent, were on record at Springfield. A motion was made at the Sep- 
 tember meeting that the taxing authorities be instructed to make the neces- 
 sary levy to pay the judgments. It failed to carry by the narrow margin 
 of 8 to 7. 
 
 Members of the Board who opposed the bondholders who held out for 
 one hundred cents on the dollar, made speeches warning of the consequences 
 of letting the bars down to a flood of such payments if they did not stand 
 firm against it. It was estimated that bonds to the amount of $280,000 were 
 held on which full payment was demanded. They were held by individuals 
 and corporations. The Aetna Life Insurance Company held quite a lot of 
 them. A Carlinville man, now deceased, was the holder of a large block of 
 the paper. It was estimated that had the county surrendered to the demands 
 for full payment it would have cost the taxpayers $500,000 in principal and 
 interest, in addition to the payments which the funding proposition called for. 
 
 Is Imposing Building 
 
 The court house was officially completed in 1870 and is a beautiful 
 structure constructed of magnesian limestone. The building is a rectangle, 
 
 The Court House as it Appears To-day. 
 
 181 feet in length by 80 feet wide, crossed in equal distance from north to 
 south ends by a transverse rectangle of smaller dimensions, the plan re- 
 sembling an elongated Swiss cross, or a cross of St. George, of double width. 
 It is of Corinthian style of architecture. It is divided into three floors. The 
 basement is 12 feet in height, main floor 16, the upper floor, which is occu- 
 pied as a court room, is 32 feet high. The height of the building from the 
 cornice to the ground is 69 J/2 feeet. The roof is surmounted by a large dome. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 The height from the apex of the dome to the ground is 191 feet, giving the 
 dome an altitude of almost 100 feet. The main entrance is on the north and 
 is reached by 22 stone steps, flanked on both sides by low walls of masonry, 
 capped with cut stone, leading up to the portico. Supporting the roof of the 
 portico are four Corinthian columns 40 feet in height, four feet in diameter 
 at the base and three and one-half feet at the top. The south entrance is 
 constructed the same as the north. The steps at the east and west entrances 
 are laid parallel wtih the building, ascending from north and south and meet- 
 ing upon a platform. For 
 many years these east and 
 west entrances were used 
 regularly. But later they 
 were closed and the long 
 narrow hallways on either 
 side are now used for offices. 
 At all of the entrances were 
 lamp posts of iron, highly 
 ornamental. During the re- 
 construction work these 
 lamp posts were removed. 
 The floors of the building 
 are laid with tile. At the 
 northwest, northeast, south- 
 east and southwest on the 
 ground floor, are entrances. 
 Every door in the building, 
 when constructed was of 
 iron, which includes the 
 doors to the offices. The long 
 corridor on the main floor 
 has a small arch in the cen- 
 ter supported by iron col- 
 umns. The upper floor is 
 reached by two wide iron 
 stairways at the right and 
 left on entering the building. 
 At the south end of the cor- 
 Interior view of the Court Room, showing ridor is a stairway leading 
 the judge's bench; the $1500 chair and up to the rear of the court 
 
 the interior of the dome. The iron room, and also to the fourth 
 
 fence around the bar is seen in floor, just under the dome, 
 
 the foreground. The front stairways are or- 
 
 namented /with flowers done in iron and other designs. The balustrade of the 
 main stairways at the north are ornamented with dogs heads done in iron. 
 On the front of each of the double iron doors opening into the ,court room, 
 is a lion's head with a large ring in its mouth. ( 
 
 |The court room is 60x74 feet. From the interior of the dome a large 
 chandelier was suspended, upon which were 56 gas burners. It cost $3,000. 
 The walls are of tall shield-like panels of iron. The ceiling is finished in 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 dron with three shell-like circular ornaments of the same material. 
 At the rear of the room on either side two small chandeliers were suspended. 
 The window frames throughout the building are of iron. Each window con- 
 tains four panes of glass. Above the windows on the second floor are cir- 
 cular iron frames each containing eight panes of glass of varied colors. The 
 judge's bench which stands at the south end of the court room is of marble 
 of different colors. It stands beneath a portico which is supported by four 
 fluted columns. In front is the bar surrounded by an iron fence, and raised 
 about two feet above the main floor. Back of the court room are the jury 
 rooms and the rooms for the officers of the court. 
 
 The judge's chair is of hand carved walnut and is seven feet in height. 
 It is finished in crimson plush. It is a beautiful piece of work and there is 
 probably none other like it in a court room in the United States. This chair 
 always attracts the attention of visitors by its size and unusual beauty. The 
 cost of this chair was $1500.00. 
 
 Underneath the roof at the south of the dome is a large iron tank of 
 8,000 gallons capacity. It was used to supply the water lor the building. A 
 small steam engine located in the basement pumped the water from two big 
 cisterns located on either side of the building in the court house park. The 
 water was carried to the cisterns from the roof and then pumped into the 
 tank. Gravity carried the water, which was piped to all parts of the build- 
 ing. The plant was discontinued when the City of Carlinville installed a 
 water system many years ago. The roof of the building is of heavy iron. 
 When the court house was completed it did not contain a foot of combustible 
 material. The building is heated by a steam plant in the southeast corner 
 of the basement. A tunnel arched with rock runs under the floor of the 
 basement corridor. This tunnel contains the main ,steam and gas pipes and 
 was constructed so that access migiht be had to them for repairs or replace- 
 ment. It is four feet in diameter. • Upon the completion of the building, and 
 until the summer of 1934, the building was lighted with gas. The court house 
 is in the center of an attractive park of about an acre and a half and is one 
 block east of the public square. It was originally surrounded by an iron 
 fence and a sidewalk of limestone. The record shows that the contract 
 price of the walk and fence was $15,000. Double iron gates were originally 
 placed at the north and south entrances of the park and single gates at the 
 east and west. They were swung from stone pillars and each pillar was 
 ornamented at the top with an acorn carved in stone. Some years ago the 
 Board of Supervisors ordered the fence and gates taken down and sold for 
 old iron. This was done but the stuff brought little money. The stone 
 foundation upon which the fence rested still stands. 
 
 Court House Site Cost $24,800. 
 
 The site of the present court house was originally composed of sixteen 
 lots in the old plat and Edward's, Smith and McAfee's addition to Carlin- 
 ville, located in block six, East, which means east of the square. The records 
 show that the county of Macoupin paid $24,800 for the tract. As early as 
 1863, Judge Loomis and his associates, G. W .A. Cloud and Thomas B. Rice, 
 made the first move towards building the new court house. In that year 
 William North and his wife, Nancy North, and William P. Scott and his wife, 
 cf St. Louis sold lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, to John A. Chestnut for $1000. 
 
10 
 
 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 Later the title was acquired by Nicholas Boice, and in the same year Mr. 
 Boice sold the lots to the county for $1,300. The title was taken in the 
 name of Judge T. L>. Loomis, and his associates, G.W.A. Cloud and Thomas B. 
 Rice, and their successors in office. In 1867, Ellen Andrews and her hus- 
 band, Cyrus Andrews, conveyed to the county of Macoupin lot 69 and the 
 east half of lot 70, for which they received $3,500. In the same year Jonas 
 U. Grove bought from "William M. Maddox and his wife, Elvira A. Maddox, 
 part of lot 70 and lots 71 and 72. He paid $10,000. Mr. Grove sold the lots 
 to the county for $15,000. April 2nd, 1867, Malcom McCuaig and his wife, 
 Lydia McCuaig, sold lots 97, 98, 99 and 100 to the county, and they received 
 $5,000. 
 
 An unusual view of the Court House and grounds, showing the effects 
 of the great sleet storm of December, 1924. 
 
 Part of the court house park was owned at one time by Samuel Couch, 
 a wealthy bachelor of New Hartford, Conn. He was also the owner of land 
 northwest of Carlinville. Mr. Couch was a relative of Geo. L. Brown and 
 the latter at one time owned and lived on the farm one mile west of the 
 county seat on the hard road, now owned by Walter Denby and occupied 
 by his son, Gordon Denby and family. 
 
 Jonas U. Grove had an eye for a thrifty dollar. In buying the lots 
 from Mr. and Mrs. Maddox for $10,000 and selling them to the county for 
 $15,000, he made $5,000. Mr. Grove at one time was the owner of the Grove 
 flour mill; bought grain and in the closing years of his life was a dealer in 
 produce. He was located in a wooden building which stood on the site of 
 the store of L. E. Ross & Son. Mr. Grove was a good citizen and was well 
 liked. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Maddox were prominent residents of Carlinville. They 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 11 
 
 lived in a pretentious two story brick house at what is now the northwest 
 corner of the court house square. Their home was said to be the finest in 
 the county seat. He conducted a grocery store in about the middle of the 
 block on the east side of the square, south of East Main street. Malcom 
 McCuaig and his wife resided on the south side of the court house site. Lo- 
 cally the name was pronounced "McQuade." The records show that the 
 correct spelling is "McCuaig." 
 
 At about the center of the site, facing East Main street, was the home 
 of Mrs. Hannah Underkoeffler. She was ill at the time work on the foun- 
 dation started and before she had recovered and was able to leave, the en- 
 tire tract of ground had been surrounded with a board fence about ten 
 feet in height. The fence was put up to keep out the curious and to prevent 
 accidents. Only workmen and the privileged could come and go at will. All 
 others had to have cards signed by someone in authority before they could 
 enter. 
 
 Jail Site Cost $850. 
 
 The cost of the site upon which the Macoupin county jail is located was 
 $850. The deed was recorded October 5, 1867, and the property is described 
 as "57% feet off of the west side of lot 102, of the old plat of Carlinville." 
 The purchase was made from A. S. Ruark and his wife, Eliza Jane Ruark, 
 and the price was $800. The witness to the signatures on the deed was John 
 T. Rogers. The jail is located almost due south of the court house on East 
 First South street. It faces the north. In 1881 the officials of the county 
 decided that they needed more room on the jail lot and Mary J. C. 
 McKee and husband, Thomas R. McKee, sold to the county eight and one- 
 quarter feet off of the east side of lot 102. The price paid was $50. This 
 makes the lot sixty-six feet in width. As far back as 1836, the record dis- 
 closes that lots 101, 102, 103, 104, 133, 134, 135, 136 were sold by Tristram 
 Hoxsey and wife to James Anderson, John M. Smith and Isaac McAfee for 
 $2,000. 
 
 Macoupin County Jail, Erected in 1869. 
 
12 
 
 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 The County Jail 
 
 The county jail was constructed at the same time as was the court house. 
 It stands just across the street to the south. One peculiarity of its con- 
 struction is that each stone was hollowed out at the end and a cannon ball 
 placed in each joint to prevent any single stone being removed by a prisoner 
 v/ho should attempt this method to gain his liberty. The jail is two stories 
 with a basement. So far as the records show the cannon ball method of 
 construction has proved effective. The contract price for the jail was $14,000. 
 
 Men Who Suffered Blame 
 
 A large size volume could be written about the men and events con- 
 nected with the building of the Macoupin County Court House and yet the 
 story would probably not be complete in all details. The late General John 
 M. Palmer, at one time governor, and later United States Senator from Illi- 
 nois, was prominently connected with its history as advisor and attorney 
 
 The "Loomis House," the four-story hotel on the east side of the square, 
 
 built by Judge T. L. Loomis in 1869. The view shows the decorations 
 
 during the celebration of July, 1910. The building is faced or veneered 
 
 with the same kind of stone used on the exterior of the court house. 
 
 It has for many years been known as the St. George Hotel. 
 
 for the commissioners during the trouble. But the two men around whom 
 the storm of opposition and villification centered the greatest were Judge 
 Thaddeus L. Loomis and County Clerk George H. Holliday. Judge Loomis 
 was a man of strong character, aggressive, fearless and able. It was he 
 who was the power behind the throne, the "Iron Chancellor" who did not 
 falter nor turn back. He was much abused and villified. But strange to 
 say there are few if any men then ( or today, Who believed that he ever se- 
 cured any private gain from the building of the court house. Even the local 
 newspapers said that there was no stain on his private character. Certainly 
 a remarkable tribute to him after going through those strenuous times. He 
 lived to ,a ripe old age. He died in Alton January 15, 1910. His remains 
 were brought to Carlinville and were interred in the city cemetery with 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 13 
 
 Masonic honors almost in the shadow of the great dome of the building 
 which he had all but lived to see paid for. In 1869 Judge Loomis built the 
 "Loomis House," the four story hotel on the east side of the square. For 
 many years it has been the '"St. George Hotel" and is now owned by T. C. 
 Loehr. 
 
 George H. Holliday was a man of culture and his friends said of "super- 
 ior education." He was a persistent reader and was a connoiseur of books. 
 He had one of the finest libraries in the West, which contained many rare 
 volumes. After his disappearance his books were shipped to New York, 
 where they were sold. He had journalistic ambitions and in 1855 he bought 
 from Jefferson L. Dugger the "Macoupin Statesman," and changed it to "The 
 Spectator." He conducted it until 1857 when he sold the paper and devoted 
 much of his time to writing for some of the leading magazines. The Spec- 
 tator was Democratic in politics. 
 
 rWr\^~ " 
 
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 The suburban home of Geo. H. Holliday in the Fourth ward, built by him in 
 
 1860. The architect and supervising builder was L. W. Mounts, father 
 
 of the late Senator W. L. Mounts. For many years it has been 
 
 the home of Mrs. W. L. Mounts. 
 
 One night back in 1870, Mr. Holliday boarded a train on the Chicago & 
 Alton railroad and disappeared. From that day until the present no positive 
 trace of him was ever found. About a year after he disappeared it was 
 rumored that he was seen in New York City. And later the body of a man 
 was found below Niagara Falls. Authorities there telegraphed to Carlin- 
 ville for a description of Mr. Holliday but it did not tally with the descrip- 
 tion of the missing county clerk. Following Mr. Holliday's leaving Carlin- 
 ville, a grand jury returned an indictment against him for his part in con- 
 nection with the building of the court house. In justice to him it should 
 be said that whether or not he was actually guilty of any wrong doing in 
 the building of the court house, was not proved because he was never 
 brought to trial and the true facts brought out. 
 
 After he left, his family continued to reside in Carlinville for a number 
 
14 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 of years and were always treated with respect and consideration, no odium 
 being attached to them in any way. 
 
 Was He Geo. H. Holiiday? 
 
 Along in the early eighties, a wave of excitement swept over Macoupin 
 county, when it became known that a man had been arrested in the state 
 of Washington, said to be Geo H. Holiiday. He was held until Daniel De- 
 laney, a deputy sheriff who knew him, was sent west to bring the suspect 
 back to Carlinville. When Mr. Delaney arrived the prisoner was taken to 
 the court house where hundreds of people viewed him. The arrival of the 
 prisoner was the signal for almost a county-wide suspension of work as the 
 people nocked to the county seat in the excitement of the day. The man 
 said that his name was Hall. He smiled and spoke pleasantly with everyone 
 he met and did not seem the least put out by the rather annoying exper- 
 ience he went through. When it was all over he was not identified as the 
 long missing county clerk. A few of the many who knew Mr. Holiiday, in- 
 sisted that it was he. But the majority who looked at the stranger said 
 that he was not the man wanted. 
 
 The most positive evidence was given by Mrs. Holiiday. When she 
 learned that the stranger was in town, she promptly went to the St. George 
 hotel where he was stopping, and demanded that the man be presented be- 
 fore her. This was done and after gazing steadily at "Mr. Hall" she said: 
 "This is not Geo. H. Holiiday," turned and walked away. At the time the 
 suspect was brought to Carlinville Mrs. Holiiday and her children were liv- 
 ing about one mile west, in a house now owned and occupied by Mr. and 
 Mrs. Charles M. Nixon, on the north side of the hard road. 
 
 A few years following the Hall incident Mrs. Holiiday and children mov- 
 ed to Clinton, Missouri. A Carlinville man (now deceased) was living in 
 Clinton and he knew Mr. Holiiday and family well. Returning to Carlinville 
 from Clinton for a visit he told the following story: "One evening about 9 
 o'clock I was passing the Holiiday home in Clinton. I noticed that all of 
 the curtains at the front and the sides of the house were drawn. This ex- 
 cited my curiosity and I walked around to the back of the home. One of the 
 curtains was up ahout a foot and I looked in. There were assembled Mr. and 
 Mrs. Holiiday and all of the children. I guess that it was a family re-union." 
 
 This citizen insisted that he could not be mistaken as to the identity of 
 Mr. Holiiday. At any rate it is another incident during those exciting 
 times when rumors flew thick and fast as to Mr. Holiiday having been seen 
 at this or that place. 
 
 After Mr. Hall had been released and had gone his way, much talk 
 went the rounds about the affair. It was whispered by some and openly 
 charged by others, that Holiiday had actually been arrested in Washington 
 and that on the way East he had been released and Mr. Hall substituted 
 in his place. Was that done? That question has never been authentically 
 answered. 
 
 Gen. Palmer and the Court House 
 
 Gen. John M. Palmer was Governor of Illinois in 1869 when the contro- 
 versy over the building of the new court house was at its highest pitch. He 
 was an active supporter of the county commissioners, and of the bill which 
 was passed, legalizing the acts of the county court, and making it possible 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 15 
 
 to finance and complete the building. He took the view that the building 
 should not be left unfinished and for that reason supported the measure be- 
 fore the legislature. He made many enemies at that time. But none of those 
 who opposed his course, ever accused him of gaining anything wrongfully 
 from the affair. His sole motive was his love for the people and his admira- 
 tion for and loyalty to his home city and county of Macoupin. His character 
 was above reproach. 
 
 Gen. Palmer was born in Kentucky in 1817. He came to Macoupin 
 county in 1839. He underwent great privations in his youth but surmounted 
 
 all obstacles. He studied law and 
 was admitted to the bar, with Ste- 
 phen A. Douglas as one of his 
 sponsors. He was strongly oppos- 
 ed to slavery and was a personal 
 friend and political coworker of 
 Abraham Lincoln. He was on the 
 platform with Lincoln when the 
 latter spoke in Carlinville August 
 31, 1858. When the civil war broke 
 out Gen. Palmer organized the 
 14th Illinois volunteer infantry 
 and was chosen its colonel. He 
 served during the war and came 
 out of that conflict a brigadier 
 general. He had a wide reputation 
 as a great criminal lawyer. 
 
 Gen. Palmer was Governor of 
 Illinois in 1869-72; was elected 
 United States senator from his 
 state; was the candidate for presi- 
 dent on the Democratic "gold" 
 ticket during the unforgettable sil- 
 ver campaign. of 1896, when Wil- 
 liam Jennings Bryan carried the banner for the democrats. Gen. Palmer's 
 running mate for the vice presidency was the Confederate General Buckner. 
 Gen. Palmer owned a farm southwest of Carlinville where for many years 
 he came for periods of rest and recreation. In the later years of his life he 
 lived in Springfield where he died September 25, 1900. His remains were 
 interred in the Carlinville City cemetery with simple but impressive rites, 
 witnessed by a large number of people from all walks of life. Directly be- 
 hind the hearse walked an old negro, whose name was Mose Drakeford. At 
 the close of the war Gen. Palmer brought Mose to Macoupin county where 
 he worked for the General for many years. During the services at the grave 
 Mose stood at a respectful distance, tears streaming down his coal black 
 face. It was genuine grief that Mose manifested over the departure of his 
 friend and benefactor. A stone of modest proportions marks Gen. Palmer's 
 last resting place. Besides the date of his birth and death are these words: 
 "Lawyer," "Soldier," "Statesman." 
 
 Gen. John M. Palmer 
 
16 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 John Moran 
 
 The history of the present court house would hardly be complete with- 
 out a word about the late John Moran, one of the most picturesque charac- 
 ters Carlinville ever knew. By birth he was an Irishman. He came to Car- 
 linville in 1863 and practiced law in Macoupin county for nearly fifty yea'rs. 
 All of the older generation of this community remember him. From the 
 very outset he vigorously opposed the method by wb,ich the court house was 
 built and financed. He contended that its erection was illegal and on that 
 basis, refused to pay the tax. He went even farther than that, because the 
 records as far back as 1879 down to 1926, show that he did not pay any 
 taxes. Of course his property was offered at the delinquent sales and at first 
 was bid in occasionally. But the buyer soon found that he had a law suit 
 on his hands, because Mr. Moran promptly went to court and contested the 
 sale. For many, many years there were no buyers for his property at the 
 delinquent sales for the reason already given. 
 
 In 1927, following his death, his property was sold by the state. It 
 consisted of a residence and several lots located in Hoxsey and Edwards 
 addition, situated near the south end of Locust street, not far from Cogan's 
 Green. The total accumulations amounted to $12,010.46. The penalties alone 
 amounted to $2,394.78. The sale netted something like $300. It was profb- 
 ably the most unusual tax sale ever held in the county. Mr. Moran was be- 
 low the average height and weight and wore a beard. He was aggressive, 
 dearly loved an argument and was, at times, pugnacious. Mentally and phy- 
 sically he was always ready to back up any proposition he espoused. No 
 cne who knew him well, ever doubted his courage, because he demonstrated 
 it on numerous occasions. 
 
 His special aversions were: the court house tax, vested interests, office 
 holders and politicians in general. He would argue on the street corner, 
 in the band stand in the park, or wherever he deemed the situation demand- 
 ed it. His language was, at times, more forceful than eloquent. When he 
 was engaged in one of his oratorical efforts he was oblivious to time and 
 his surroundings. Mr. Moran was well informed and could talk on any sub- 
 ject. If you chose to argue on ancient or modern history, geography, astron- 
 omy, grammar, politics or whatnot, he would accommodate you on the spot. 
 The originality and uniqueness of his train of thought was something to 
 cause the listener much astonishment. He maintained an excellent library 
 at his home, was a constant reader and had a very retentive memory. Whe- 
 ther or not he was a graduate of a college, there is no available record to 
 show. 
 
 Mr. Moran wrote two books. One was entitled "Searching the Records," 
 which was published in 1898. It contained 202 pages and was divided into 
 eleven chapters, as follows: Confusion, The Tax Question, City Taxation, 
 Mortgagor and Mortgagee, Federal Taxation, The Three Court Houses, Edu- 
 cation, The Churches, Success, Money, The New Court House. In his book 
 "Searching the Records," Mr. Moran enlarged on his objections to the court 
 house tax. He quoted the statute in force in January, 1829, passed by the 
 legislature in session at Vandalia, creating the county of Macoupin and fix- 
 ing the site for the permanent seat of justice. This seat of justice is what 
 now constitutes the present public square in Carlinville. One of the con- 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 17 
 
 tentions that Mr. Moran advanced in his book was, that when the county 
 commissioners bought the site of the present court house, they violated the 
 law of 1829, which he contended fixed the square as the PERMANENT site 
 for a court house, and the act of the county commissioners was illegal and 
 void as to the new location. 
 
 In 1906 Mr. Moran wrote and published another book which was entitled 
 'Searching the Heavens and the Earth." This book contains 107 pages and 
 is a treatise on astronomy. He expounded upon and upheld the ancient but 
 long discarded theory that the earth stands still and the sun, moon and 
 stars move around it. His own language quoted from his book, as follows, 
 tells what he believed. "I see the sun, moon and stars move. I don't see the 
 earth move. I see or know that the atmosphere surrounds it and presses 
 on to it all around equally, which is so powerful as to hold it to its place — 
 immovable forever. These things I know I know. The multitude can not 
 change it." 
 
 Mr. Moran also declared that there was no such thing as gravity. Asked 
 one time to explain why all falling objects were attracted to the earth, he 
 replied, "It is the pressure of the air." He said that he took pride in the 
 fact that he was the first man to prove that the earth stands still, and that 
 the theory of gravity is false. In spite of his odd makeup, Mr. Moran was 
 possessed of some admirable traits of character. If he did not agree with 
 you on a subject he left no doubt in your mind as to his attitude. When he 
 expressed his opinion you did not have to look into the dictionary to find out 
 what he meant. He always spoke with pride and affection of his family 
 which consisted of his wife and two talented daughters. When advancing 
 age caused Mrs. Moran to fall ill with a mental trouble she was committed 
 to the state hospital at Jacksonville for treatment. At the hearing held be- 
 fore the county court, Mr. Moran asked and received permission to accom- 
 pany his wife to the institution that he might be with her to do what he 
 could to comfort her in her affliction. "Forsaking all others" he stood by her 
 side until death claimed her. Mr. and Mrs. Moran died about eight years ago. 
 The daughters passed away some years prior to the death of their parents. 
 
 This is the story of the building of the $1,380,500 Macoupin county 
 court house which at one time gained for the county almost national fame. 
 
 Debt of Forty Years Standing 
 
 For forty years the debt hung over Macoupin county like a financial 
 pall. It was the favorite topic of conversation among the citizens of the 
 county. At tax paying time it was bitterly denounced by most all people 
 who had to make their annual contribution to the county treasurer. So far 
 and wide had the story of the court house and its debt traveled, that it dam- 
 aged the county as to land values. Prospective purchasers of land in Ma- 
 coupin county and especially those not residents of the county, shook their 
 heads after making inquiry as to the price per acre. "Your court house 
 debt is a burden and must be taken into consideration if we buy land," was 
 almost the invariable comment of those who actually considered buying a 
 farm in the great "state of Macoupin." 
 
 But what strange tricks time and events play in the lives of men. The 
 court house debt was a burden and no doubt did, to some extent, damage 
 
18 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 the land values in the county. But since the debt was lifted in 1910 slowly 
 but surely through the intervening years following the burning of the last 
 bond, taxes have risen steadily and are double what they were when the 
 last bond was paid and the original debt wiped out. Macoupin county again 
 has a bonded debt of considerable figures. 
 
 Two Days' Jubilee Held 
 
 In the spring of 1910 the glad news spread over the county that there 
 was enough money in the treasury to pay off the debt. The Board of Su- 
 pervisors announced that the last bond would be paid and the debt cancelled. 
 There was much rejoicing and a county wide celebration was proposed. 
 This met with the unanimous approval of the people and plans for the 
 event were begun. It was announced that the date for the celebration would 
 be July 20 and 21. The Board of Supervisors appointed committees to pro- 
 ceed with the plans and appropriated $500.00 to help defray the expenses. 
 
 Not only did the Board sponsor officially the occasion but the people 
 over the entire county joined heartily in the matter. The city council of 
 Carlinville, with Hon. Jesse Peebles as Mayor, took notice of the affair and 
 appointed committees to assist in the working out of the plans and prepar- 
 ing a program. The various committees worked steadily with the view to 
 making the event the greatest in the history of the county. Merchants and 
 citizens not officially on the committees put their shoulders to the wheel 
 with an enthusiasm seldom manifested. The two county seat newspapers, 
 The Carlinville Democrat and the Macoupin County Enquirer, gave gener- 
 ously of their columns for items that would assist in making the Jubilee the 
 crowning event in the county's long and eventful history. They were cor- 
 dially supported by all other papers of the county which did their part to 
 help put the affair over in grand style. 
 
 Opening Day of the Jubilee 
 
 Wednesday, July 20th, was the opening day of the celebration and Ju- 
 bilee. There was an elaborate program, with large crowds present to enjoy 
 the proceedings. Outstanding on the day's program were the addresses by 
 Gen. John I. Rinaker, Hon. C. A. Walker and Hon. W. E. P. Anderson. Each 
 of these men had been active on the side of the people in the trying and 
 thrilling years of the court house trouble Each from his own personal ex- 
 perience and recollection gave first hand facts of importance that made local 
 history. The big audience which surrounded the grandstand in the court 
 house park heard them with the closest attention, interrupting each speaker 
 with great outbursts of applause. A spirit of good will and gaiety prevailed 
 in the crowds, a forerunner of greater things on the morrow. 
 
 Macoupin County's Greatest Day 
 
 Those living in Macoupin county or elsewhere today, who attended this 
 debt paying Jubilee, and were old enough to know what it was all about, 
 will never forget July 21st, 1910, at Carlinville. It was a joyful, happy 
 throng. The people were in holiday mood. Speeches were made by Gover- 
 nor Deneen, Congressman Rodenberg and John Mitchell, former president of 
 the United Mine Workers of America. 
 
 Early in the morning visitors began to arrive. Special trains were run on 
 the McKinley (Traction) lines and over the Chicago & Alton railroad. All 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 10 
 
 Macoupin Co. Jubilee® Celebration 
 Carlinville, Illinois 
 
 WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY, 
 
 JULY 20-21 
 
 T^HE county is out of debt. The last bond will be 
 publicly burned July 21. The event is going to be 
 celebrated at Carlinville with a monster two-days' Ju- 
 bilee. The following is the 
 
 —PROGRAM- 
 WEDNESDAY, JULY 20 
 
 2:00 P. M. Speaking in court house yard 
 
 4:00 Athletic events 
 
 8:00 Elaborate display of fire works 
 
 Band concerts 
 
 THURSDAY, JULY 21 
 11:00 A. M. Reception of Speakers 
 11:30 Great Automobile Parade (Prizes awarded for 
 
 best decorated Automobiles) 
 2:00 P. M., Court House Square Address of Welcome 
 
 Mayor Jesse Peebles 
 2:15 Address, concluding with burning of last bond 
 
 Governor Charles S. Deneen 
 2:45 Address 
 
 Hon. David R. Francis, ex-Governor of Missouri 
 3:15 Address 
 
 Hon. John Mitchell, former president United 
 
 Workers of America 
 3:45 Brief Addresses by Congressman Rodenberg, 
 
 Graham and Rainey; Hon. John Woodson and 
 
 prominent Macoupin county citizens. 
 8:00 Band Concerts 
 
 Everybody is Glad the Great County is out 
 
 of Debt! Let Everybody Join in 
 
 the Jubilee ! 
 
 Order of Committee 
 
 Reproduction of Handbill Advertising the Jubilee. 
 
20 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 were crowded to standing room. Two trains from the branch line of the 
 Chicago & Alton from the west, brought in ten coaches each, with one thou- 
 sand passengers aboard. In addition to their regular service the Traction 
 line ran special cars at only short distances apart, which were all filled. 
 The assembled thousands filled the streets and sidewalks in almost a solid 
 mass for blocks from the business section. The court house park was filled 
 with its quota of visitors. The court house was the center of attraction for 
 thousands who had a curiosity to see the famous structure. 
 
 Crowd Estimated at 20,000 
 
 The crowd was estimated at 20,000 people. Everything was orderly and 
 there was but one accident. Miss Olive Bramley, of Hagaman, was slightly 
 injured by an automobile. There were bands present from Brighton, Mt. 
 Olive, Virden, Benld and Dorchester. They were stationed at various points 
 in the city and furnished music during the day. The chief event of the morn- 
 ing was the automohile parade under the direction of B. M. Burke. There 
 were one hundred cars, all beautifully decorated. The parade formed on 
 West Main street and was one-half mile in length. It traversed the main 
 streets of the city, covering four miles. Prizes were awarded for 
 the two most handsomely decorated machines. The first prize was won by 
 A. Paul & Company and the second by Bruce H. Mounts, both of Carlinville. 
 There were many beautiful cars and they were admired by thousands who 
 lined the streets to see the display. 
 
 The following distinguished visitors and speakers arrived at 11:00 o'- 
 clock on a special car over the Traction line: Congressman W. A. Roden- 
 berg; Postmaster J. D. Messick and party of friends from East St. Louis. 
 A private car from the north at twelve o'clock brought Governor Charles S. 
 Deneen; Adjutant General Frank S. Dickson, and H. Clay Wilson, candidate 
 for congress from the twenty-first district; Congressman James M. Graham, 
 of Springfield; former Congressman Ben F. Caldwell, Chatham; Auditor J. 
 S. McCullough; Judge James A. Creighton, of Springfield. The car was un- 
 der the personal supervision of the late Geo. W. Quackenibush, traffic man- 
 ager of the Traction system. 
 
 Mayor Peebles Introduces Deneen 
 
 At the same time a special car brought from St. Louis, John Mitchell, 
 former president of the United Mine Workers of America; Vice President 
 Gross Lawrence, and Secretary Duncan McDonald, of the United Mine 
 Workers. With them was a large committee of mine workers and munici- 
 pal officials from cities of southeast Macoupin county. The distinguished 
 visitors were accompanied by the Benld band. The speakers and guests 
 were met at the station by a reception committee and automolbiles. They 
 were taken for luncheon in the parlors of the Methodist church. This was 
 quite an elaborate affair and was given by the ladies of the church in honor 
 of the guests. Following, the visitors were entertained for a time in the 
 rooms of the Carlinville Library Association in the basement of the court 
 house. 
 
 At two o'clock the speakers were escorted to the grand stand which had 
 been erected on the east side of the court house. In a timely and appro- 
 priate address Mayor Jesse Peebles welcomed the visitors to Carlinville. He 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 21 
 
 then introduced Governor Charles S. Deneen, who was the principal speaker. 
 He was greeted with great applause when he arose to speak;. He spoke 
 briefly but complimented in glowing terms the people of Macoupin county 
 for their thriit and enterprise resulting as it did in the payment of the 
 great debt which had hung over the county for so many years. 
 
 Governor Burns Last Bond 
 
 At the conclusion of the address Mayor Peebles lit the natural gas which 
 had been piped into the court house park especially for the event. The gas 
 had been brought right into the speakers' stand and the Mayor lit it with a 
 match which had been sent for the event by Mrs. Ruth Kimball Gardner, 
 who had made the story of the court house the subject of an interesting 
 novel. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Kimball, her father 
 being editor of the Carlinville Democrat during the strenuous days of the 
 court house trouble. 
 
 County Clerk W. C. Seehausen and a committee of the Board of Super- 
 visors were assembled on the platform. At that time bond No. 720 for 
 $1000.00 was handed to Governor Deneen and while the immense throng 
 stood, the last evidence of the indebtedness was destroyed. As the bond 
 
 View showing the scene at the burning of the last court house bond, on the 
 east side of the building, July 21st, 1910. 
 
 turned to ashes bombs were exploded, every bell rang and every whistle in 
 Carlinville blew, while the thousands of persons joined in the singing- of 
 "America." By carefully made plans the whistle of every coal mine in the 
 county blew at the time the bond was burned. The demonstration lasted 
 ten minutes. 
 
 Others who spoke were John M. Mitchell, Congressman Wm. M. Roden- 
 berg, a former resident of Carlinville; Congressman James M. Graham, of 
 Springfield. 
 
 John M. Woodson, of St. Louis, was the first mayor of Carlinville. He 
 came to the county seat the morning of July 21 and was to have delivered 
 
22 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 an address. There was much disappointment when the crowd learned that 
 he had been called home on account of urgent business. 
 
 The scene in the court house park where the speaking was held was an 
 inspiring sight. Seats had been provided for 2000 but were sufficient only 
 for a small portion of the throng which witnessed the exercises. Not only 
 did the crowd fill the park and adjacent streets but it also filled the win- 
 dows on the east side of the building. Never before had Carlinville wit- 
 nessed such a throng as attended the burning of the last court house bond. 
 
 At the St. George hotel at 12:00 o'clock noon, Hon. W. E. P. Anderson 
 entertained at dinner the eight surviving supervisors who were members of 
 the Board when the bonds were refunded in 1877-1878, and the local press. 
 Mr. Anderson was a member of the Board. A special guest of honor was 
 Moses Eldred, who was a member of the first Board or Supervisors of the 
 county. He was 86 years old at the time of the Jubilee. 
 
 Besides Mr. Anderson other members of the Board of 1877-78 who attend- 
 ed the dinner were: Rev. D. P. Deadrick, Brushy Mound; Rev. T. N. Marsh, 
 Shipman; Geo. A. Brown, Brighton; W. A. Gardner, North Otter; George 
 Etter, Western Mound; F. M. Henderson, Staunton. 
 
 During the two days' celebration Captain Geo. J. Castle was in chaige 
 of the arrangements for the big affair. He managed it with skill and fine 
 judgment. Captain A. C. Hulse was chief marshal. 
 
 Fireworks Show Last Bond 
 
 The festivities at night were brilliant and thrilling. In front of the court 
 house on East Main street there was a beautiful display of fireworks. Car- 
 linville never in its history witnessed such a display. The concluding piece 
 was a replica of the last bond, which lighted up the street with an enchant- 
 ing glare, while the thousands stood and watched. When it finally burned 
 out the great Jubilee was officially ended. 
 
 There was a display of natural gas on West Main street, which was 
 given with specially constructed burners. The gas was piped into Carlin- 
 ville from wells about two miles south of the city. 
 
 And there was a flight by Joseph Gillett in his biplane. Compared with 
 the improved machines of today it was a crude affair, but people watched 
 the plane with breathless interest. There was to have been a balloon flight 
 by Captain John Berry, of University City, Missouri, but when partially in- 
 flated the balloon broke from its moorings and this part of the program had 
 to be abandoned. 
 
 City Gaily Decorated 
 
 The decorations were profuse and elaborate. Every business house and 
 many private homes were decorated with the national colors and special de- 
 signs. The court house was a riot of color with the special streamers and 
 flags from the ground to the top of the lofty dome. A large American flag 
 floated in the breeze near the tip of the spire. 
 
 Some Interesting Sidelights 
 
 The population of Macoupin county in 1829 was 1500. The number of 
 tax payers in the county in 1837 was 1007. They paid a total of $1789.23 
 into the county treasury. The average tax per person was $1.77. The heav- 
 iest tax payer in 1837 was Col. James C. Anderson. He paid a total of 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 23 
 
 $16.80. Of this amount $12.00 was for personal tax and $4.80 on lands. The 
 total value of the assessed property in the county for 1860 was $5,097,589. 
 The total assessed value of all property in the county for 1932 was $31,335,- 
 291. In 1933 it was $25,172,397. 
 
 Inscriptions on the Corner Stone 
 
 The corner stone for the court house was laid October 22nd, 1867. The 
 oartor of the day was John M. Woodson, first mayor of Carlinville. An 
 account of the event published at that time said "the crowd was not large." 
 The Masons were in charge of the program. The inscription facing the east 
 is as follows, the stone being at the northeast corner of the building: 
 
 Laid by 
 The Most W. G. L. 
 A. F. & A. Masons 
 
 By 
 
 CHARLES FISHER 
 
 DEPUTY GRAND MASTER 
 
 October 22d 
 
 A. L. 5867 
 
 A. D. 1867 
 
 BUILDING COMMISSIONERS 
 
 A. McKim DuBois 
 
 Geo. H. Holliday 
 
 I. J. Peebles 
 
 T. L. Loomis 
 
 The inscription facing the north reads: 
 
 Erected 
 
 By Order of 
 
 County Court 
 
 March Term 
 
 A. D. 1867 
 
 COUNTY COURT 
 
 Thaddeus L. Loomis 
 
 Isham J. Peebles 
 
 John Yowell 
 
 E. E. Meyers 
 
 Architect 
 
 \C(*urt Room Scene of Historic Events 
 
 The court room has been the scene of many historic events. Probably 
 the most noted criminal trial held there was what was known as the "Holmes 
 Murder" case. On the night of May 2nd, 1895, Engineer Frank Holmes of 
 the Chicago & Alton railroad was shot dead in his cab about a mile north of 
 Carlinville. Three men boarded the train at the coal shaft in the city limits. 
 The train was due in here about 11:00 o'clock and was bound for Chicago. 
 Two of the men entered the cab and they halted the train and killed the 
 engineer. The murder, which was a bungled attempt to rob the mail and 
 express cars, created a tremendous sensation in southern Illinois. For about 
 ten days the identity of the perpetrators of the crime remained a mystery, 
 
24 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 then they were placed under arrest. Their names were Ben Myers, of Car- 
 linville, aged about 35; Ed. Bryant, 18, and Jack Frost, 19, the two latter 
 from Kentucky. The late P. C. Davenport was sheriff. The men were in- 
 dicted by the September grand jury and were tried for murder at the same 
 term of court with Judge Jacob Foulk presiding. The late Edward C. 
 Knotts was state's attorney. Associated with him in the prosecution were 
 Gen. John I. Rinaker and his son, Thomas Rinaker. Probably never before 
 nor since was such a brilliant array of legal talent engaged in a trial in the 
 Macoupin circuit court. The trial opened Thursday, October 11. It took 
 three days in which to select a jury. The actual trial occupied one week. 
 The verdict of the jury was life imprisonment for the trio. The case was 
 bitterly contested and was marked by many dramatic clashes. The defense 
 counsel was headed by the late United States Senator Daniel W. Vorhees, 
 assisted by his son-in-law, Congressman Lamb, of Indianapolis. Carlinville 
 lawyers who took part in the defense were Hon. C. A. Walker, Judge A. N. 
 Yancey, Hon. A. H. Bell and Jesse Peebles, the latter just starting on his 
 legal career. Senator Vorhees had a national reputation as an Orator and 
 was known as the "Tall Sycamore of the Wabash." 
 
 From the opening of the celebrated case until the jury had returned a 
 verdict the interest of the people was intense and feeling against the pris- 
 oners was strong. The court room was crowded to suffocation every day. 
 It was admitted by the attorneys for the defense that the speech to the jury 
 by Senator Vorhees saved the prisoners from the gallows. It was a fatherly 
 talk entirely devoid of heroics or oratorical flights. The following are the 
 names of the jurors who heard the evidence: Ed. Crum, Palmyra; Oscar 
 Sims, Modesto; William Owens, Scottville; W. England, Girard; C. J. Bal- 
 low, Hettick; Seth Smith, Woodburn; John Truesdale, Gillespie; James 
 Etter, Palmyra; S. B. Wood, Virden; Alvis Arnold, Scottville; H. Groves, 
 Carlinville; Albert Wilcox, Stirrup Grove. Public opinion accepted the ver- 
 dict as satisfying the demands of justice. 
 
 An interesting fact about this case was that before the trial started 
 Senator Vorhees and Mr. Bell met Judge Foulk one night in his room at the 
 St. George hotel and offered to allow their clients to plead guilty provided 
 the court would not inflict the death penalty. Judge Foulk's reply was: "I 
 will see." That is as far as the matter ever went. State's Attorney Knotts 
 objected to the proposition and the trial proceeded to the end. 
 
 The court room was the scene of many local and professional entertain- 
 ments. The early day Uncle Tom's Cabin companies held forth there. Then 
 there were the Tennessee Jubilee Singers, all colored; and the Swiss Bell 
 Ringers, white performers. These companies came regularly for years to 
 Carlinville. 
 
 Gen. John A. Logan, of civil war fame, spoke from its rostrum. For 
 fifty years the annual graduating exercises of Blackburn College have been 
 held in the court room. Memorial exercises for two presidents, who died 
 at the hands of assassins, were held there. They were James A. Garfield and 
 William McKinley. All politics was laid aside while the people gathered to 
 pay their respects to the memory of the two men who held the highest office 
 in the gift of the American people. Political rallies and conventions almost 
 without number have been held there in the past and are today . 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 25 
 
 Chair has Interesting History 
 
 Elsewhere mention is made of the Judge's chair in the circuit court 
 room. It has a decidedly interesting history. For many years it was out of 
 use and was stored in one of the vacant rooms in the building. It had all 
 but fallen to pieces, when about ten years ago the Carlinville Woman's Club 
 took the matter in hand and had the chair thoroughly overhauled and placed 
 in first class condition at their own expense. The work was done by Leo 
 Pfaff, Sr., expert cabinet maker, in the employ of Gustav Heinz & Company 
 of this city. When the work had been completed there was a ceremony of 
 rededication held in the court room where pictures were taken with Judge 
 F. W. Burton on the bench. 
 
 The Artistic Chandelier 
 
 When the recent CWA work began some months past and the interior 
 of the court room was redecorated, the chandelier was taken down. Several 
 times in the past it had been suggested that it be removed because it was 
 alleged to have been a menace to the lives of those who passed under it. The 
 efforts to have it removed were not successful until recently when it was 
 taken down after having done service for sixty-seven years. Much senti- 
 ment was attached to it and many regretted that it had to be removed, to 
 make way for more modern lighting equipment. 
 
 Location of the Log Court House 
 
 The exact location of the log court house was always a subject of heated 
 argument among many of the older residents who have since passed from 
 the scenes of this life. Some contended that it was located near the north- 
 west corner of the square. Others maintained that it was at the southeast 
 corner of the square. W. H. Stoddard came with his parents to Carlinville 
 in 1865. He is now 'a resident of the Second ward. He says that when he 
 was a small boy he remembers that this log structure stood just north of 
 what is now the north front of the new court house, facing East Main street. 
 The late Captain Samuel Welton, one of the prominent pioneers, told Mr. 
 Stoddard that he (Capt. Welton) moved the old log court house, when it 
 was ordered removed to make way for the second court house. Capt. Welton 
 in his later years was under the impression that it was located originally 
 near the southeast corner of the public square. At any rate( he was (the 
 man who moved it to the site on East Main street just north of the new 
 court house. Mr. Stoddard says that when he was a lad the old log court 
 house was used as a carpenter shop by Mr. Poley, one of the early day resi- 
 dents of the county seat. Mr. Stoddard recalls that the old fireplace had 
 been taken down and double doors substituted for the convenience in bring- 
 ing in lumber. The names of a number of people were cut on those doors 
 and Mr. Poley said that they were the names of the men who had served on 
 juries from time to time. 
 
 But to again refer to the original location of the log court house. It 
 would seem that it was clearly established that it was in the center of the 
 present square, by reference to it in a speech by the late John M. Woodson, 
 first mayor of Carlinville, when he dedicated the corner stone of the new 
 court house, October 22d, 1867. He said: "That house standing just there, is 
 the house erected by Seth Hodges, builder, and formerly stood in the center 
 
26 THE HISTORY OP A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 of the square in this city, on the site where the present (brick) court house 
 stands." It is reasonable to assume that Mr. Woodson knew what he was 
 talking about when he pointed to the old log building and said that it once 
 stood in the center of the square. 
 
 Judge Lockwood Held First Circuit Court 
 
 Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, one of the associate justices of the supreme 
 court of Illinois, came down from Springfield, and held the first term of cir- 
 cuit court in the log court house in April of 1830. John J. Hardin, once 
 attorney for the people, and Stephen A. Douglas, also attorney for the peo- 
 ple, practiced in the log court house. Col. E. D. Baker, one of the promin- 
 ent attorneys of the state, appeared in court in the first court house. Col. 
 Baker moved to Oregon where he was elected to the United States Senate. 
 He was killed while serving in the union army during the civil war. 
 
 Mrs. Graham Turned First Shovel of Earth 
 
 To Mrs. Mary A. Graham, of Carlinville, then a girl of 16, fell the dis- 
 tinction of turning the first shovel of earth for the foundation for the new 
 court house. Mrs. Graham was born in March of 1851 and is now in her 
 83rd year. The ceremony took place at the northeast corner of the building 
 at a point where the corner stone was dedicated in 1867. Nearly seventy 
 years have passed since Mrs. Graham took such a prominent part in start- 
 ing the court house on its way. She can not recall many of the details 
 but does remember that among those present were County Judge T. L. 
 Loomis and his associates, John Yowell and Isham J. Peebles, and Mr. and 
 Mrs. Crittenden H. C. Anderson. She says that the crowd was large and 
 thai much interest was manifested in the event. Mrs. Graham was born in 
 Spanish Needle and is a daughter of Hiram J. and Sarah (Andrews) Rice. 
 The late Judge E. Y. Rice, of Hilsboro, an uncle of Mrs. Graham, held court 
 for thirteen years in the brick court house. He was a circuit judge. One of 
 the homes that stood on the site of the new court house was that of Mrs. 
 Hannah Underkoeffler. Mrs. Graham is of the opinion that Mrs. Underkoeff- 
 ler conducted a millinery shop in her home. Mrs. Graham is the widow of 
 the late W. D. Graham, druggist, one time mayor of Carlinville and a ve- 
 teran of the civil war. He died November 16, 1909. 
 
 Judge's Room Elaborate 
 
 The office of the county clerk is located on the east side of the main 
 floor corridor, at the south end of the building. The offices really consist 
 of four rooms. In the early days the southeast room, which is about ten 
 feet square, was used by the county judge as his private office. It is elabor- 
 ately finished. On the west side of the wall at a height of about ten feet, 
 is a handsome shield-like design in iron, beautifully finished. Other decora- 
 tions were in keeping. The judge also had a safe in the wall which was 
 used for his private papers. 
 
 Clerk's Office on the Square 
 
 For some time County Clerk Geo. H. Holliday had his office on the 
 second floor of the three story building located on the south side of East 
 Main street and the square. A large safe was hoisted up to the office and 
 a hole had to be cut in the brick wall to receive it, the windows being too 
 small. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 27 
 
 First Officer in the Court House 
 
 The late Henry Burton, who was Circuit Clerk when the court house 
 was built, was the first county officer to occupy the new temple of justice. 
 He moved over in the latter part of 1869. Casper Westermeier was his 
 deputy. 
 
 Rooms Never Finished 
 
 Four large rooms are located near the dome on the fourth floor of the 
 court house. They were never finished. One of them does not have any 
 floor. Dust and cobwebs, the accumulation of more than half a century, 
 give them a wierd appearance. It is believed that they were intended to be 
 used for storage of old records but no one actually knows this to be a fact. 
 
 Material Hauled With Oxen 
 
 Nearly all of the material for the court house was hauled to the site on 
 fiat cars drawn by oxen. The Chicago & Atlon railroad put in a switch 
 near the end of West First North street. The track extended east up the 
 street to High street, then turned south, entering the court house park 
 south of where the Presbyterian church now stands. Quite a few people 
 in Carlinville are old enough to remember this "ox railroad." The stone 
 composing the large columns supporting the porticos at the north and south 
 entrances were brought to the site in square blocks. Then they were mount- 
 ed in pairs opposite each other and ground down in the rough to near the 
 proper size. The finishing was done by hand. 
 
 First Vote Was Close 
 
 When the proposition to refund the bonds was put up to the people at 
 a special election January 5, 1878, the contest was close. It carried by the 
 narrow majority of 128. The vote was: For 1412; Against, 1284. In Staun- 
 ton the vote for the proposition was 22, while 202 votes were cast against 
 it. In Virden the number of votes for the refunding was 24 and against it, 
 253. In Grirard the vote for the proposition was 195 with 8 against it. North 
 Otter cast 57 votes for the proposition and 2 against it. In Dorchester town- 
 ship every single solitary vote went against the refund and not a vote was 
 recorded for it. Twenty years later, April 5, 1898, the bonds were again 
 refunded. This time the proposition had better luck. The vote for it was 
 5213; against 2400. In Girard township the people reversed their former 
 attitude and the vote was for 182, and against 276. 
 
 Seats of Solid Walnut 
 
 The seats in the court room are straight back and are made after the 
 style of church pews. They are of solid walnut and are artistically pat- 
 terned. The arm rests on the ends are of iron. Very few, if any public 
 buildings are equipped today with seats of the kind that are in the Macou- 
 pin county court house. Much care was used in their construction and fin- 
 ish. The estimated cost at the time they were ordered was $3300. It is be- 
 lieved that they cost much more. Competent judges state that the seats 
 could not be duplicated today for twice the estimated cost. Solid walnut 
 furniture has all but passed out of the picture except in the most expensive 
 establishments. The seats have all been cleaned and revarnished. 
 
 The New Decorations 
 
 The new decorations of the interior of the building have transformed it. 
 
28 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 Twenty years ago it was decorated in rather dark colors. The work 
 was done by the late Alex. Gaspard. In the present color scheme tan, 
 brown, ivory and very light green were used. The effect is not only rest- 
 ful to the eye, but gives the entire interior a stately appearance. The light- 
 ing is all concealed. The interior of the dome is illuminated with flood 
 lights of 2000 candle power. The court room proper is illuminated with 
 two powerful ceiling lights at the rear and one over the judge's stand. 
 The effect is one of much beauty, eliminating all shadows. 
 
 All wiring his been concealed in conduits placed in the walls and ceil- 
 ings. Switches have been conveniently placed for control of the lights. 
 
 The outside of the dome has been painted with aluminum, a light gray 
 and the windows have been trimmed in the same color. The old rock 
 walks have been taken up and concrete walks laid down. A curving drive- 
 way of shale has been constructed in the southeast corner of the court 
 house square, leading up to the building. 
 
 All Bitterness is Gone 
 
 When Governor Deneen held the last bond over the flame which turned 
 it to ashes, he said: "I hope that this, the last evidence of the indebtedness 
 having disappeared, the old bitterness and bad feeling which existed over 
 the construction of the court house will also fade into history." That bit- 
 terness is gone. The men who were actively engaged in the construc- 
 tion of the court house, with its ensuing tangle of law suits and bond 
 issues, have passed from the scene of action to their reward beyond. Only 
 a handful of people are now living who remember much about the drama- 
 tic days of the court house trouble. A new generation has come upon the 
 stage. With them the animosities created by the court house trouble are 
 only tradition. They hear it mentioned occasionally but it arouses only curi- 
 osity. The attitude today is one of pride in the great court house, which all 
 but tore the county asunder back in the sixties. Time is indeed the great 
 healer of wounds. 
 
 Architect Estimated Cost 
 
 During the court of Huggins, Atkins and Olmstead (1869) they em- 
 ployed Charles H. Pond, a St. Louis architect, to go over the contracts for 
 the building filed with the county court, and make an estimate of the cost 
 Pond measured the building and his report made under oath was $643,867. 
 His estimate included the heating and gas installations and the furniture. 
 However it did not include the commissioner's fees, architects' fees or per 
 cent for the sale of bonds. This amounted to many thousands of dollars. 
 In his report to the court Pond placed the cost of the present county jail 
 at $14,000. 
 
 Graft in Building the Court House 
 
 The difference in what the court house cost, $1,380,500, and Pond's esti- 
 mate of $643,867, is $736,633. Was there graft in the construction of the 
 court house? There undoubtedly was. To say otherwise would be contrary 
 to all the known facts. Who got it? That will ever remain a mystery. Men 
 who were actively engaged in opposing the court house as it now stands 
 and who have since passed away, expressed their belief that none of the 
 county officers, with the possible exception of one, ever profited illegally 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 29 
 
 from the erection of the court house. The one under suspicion might have 
 proved himself innocent had he been brought to trial. It is believed that 
 the ill-gotten gains from the construction of Macoupin's temple of justice 
 went out of the county, but to whom is a sealed book. 
 
 Macoupin is Large County; Rich in History 
 
 Macoupin is one of the largest counties in Illinois. It has a length of 
 36 miles with a width of 24 miles. There are 864 square miles of territory- 
 containing 552,960 acres. The population is about 55,000. It is an agricul- 
 tural county and also has a number of large bituminous coal mines. Its 
 history is forever associated with and specially illuminated by the names 
 of Lincoln, Douglas, Palmer, Rinaker and Rowett of civil war days. \ 
 
 Committee in Charge of CWA Work 
 
 The committee in charge of the Civil Administration work under which 
 the court house was redecorated and partially reconstructed was composed 
 of the following members: F. H. Richie, of Palmyra, former chairman of the 
 Board of Supervisors; Frank W. Fries, Carlinville, Sheriff; Michael F. 
 Seyfrit, Carlinville, State's Attorney; Peter J. Caveny, Carlinville, County 
 Clerk. The stone work on the exterior of the building has deteriorated 
 badly in many places. Much more money will be required to place it in 
 first class condition. 
 
 Circuit Judges of Macoupin County 
 
 The following Macoupin county men have served on the circuit bench 
 since the new court house was built: 
 
 Judge W. R. Welch, of Carlinville. He was born in Jessamine county, 
 Kentucky, in 1828. Was admitted to the bar in 1851 and came to Carlin- 
 ville in 1864. He was elected a circuit judge in 1879 and re-elected at the 
 expiration of his term of office. He died in 1888. 
 
 Judge Robert B. Shirley was born in Madison county in 1850. He came 
 to Carlinville when a young man and studied law under Judge Welch. He 
 was admitted to the bar in 1876 and was elected circuit judge in 1893. 
 Judge Shirley was re-elected and served until his death in June of 1914. 
 
 Judge Frank W. Butron was born in Bunker Hill in 1857. He studied 
 law under the late Charles A. Walker and was admitted to the bar in 1879. 
 Following the death of Judge Shirley he was elected to the circuit bench 
 and was re-elected, serving until his retirement in 1933. 
 
 Judge Victor Hemphill, the present sitting judge, was born near Car- 
 linville in 1882. He graduated from 1 the law department of Washington Uni- 
 versity, St. Louis, in 1905. He was admitted to the bar in the same year. 
 Judge Hemphill was elected to the circuit bench in 1933. 
 
 County Judges 
 
 Judges who have served on the county bench, beginning with 1849, are 
 as follows: John M. Palmer, James Breden, G. W. A. Cloud, William Weer, 
 Samuel S. Gilbert, George Judd, Thaddeus L. Loomis, Thomas B. Rice, John 
 Yowell, Isham J. Peebles, P. C. Huggins, A. A. Atkins, Martin Olmstead, L. 
 P. Peebles, A. N. Yancey, David E. Keefe, J. B. Vaughn, Balfour Cowan, 
 Herbert Cowan, Andrew J. Duggan, Truman A. Snell, Frank G. Wood and 
 A. A. Isaacs. (Judge Isaacs is the present sitting judge.) 
 
30 
 
 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 Present County Officers 
 
 The present county officers are as follows: 
 County Judge, Alfred A. Isaacs, Gillespie 
 State's Attorney, Michael F. Seyfrit, Carlinville 
 Sheriff, Frank W. Fries, Carlinville 
 Treasurer, A. H. Behrens, Gillespie 
 Circuit Clerk, Irvin Reader, Carlinville 
 County Clerk, Peter J. Caveny, Carlinville 
 County Superintendent of Schools, L. E. Wilhite, Carlinville 
 County Coroner, Dr. J. A. McBrien, Staunton 
 County Surveyor, Fred S. Morse, Carlinville 
 Master-in-Chancery, E. D. George, Staunton 
 
 County Superintendent of Highways, William Yowell, Carlinville 
 Chairman of County Board, E. J. Mclntyre, Carlinville 
 County Physician, Dr. J. B. Liston, Carlinville 
 County Mine Inspector, Bruce Huff master, Gillespie 
 
 Hon. W. E. P. Anderson 
 
 Hon. C. A. Walker 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 31 
 
 ORATION 
 
 The following oration was delivered by John M. Woodson, at the laying 
 of the corner stone of the new court house October 22d, 1867. It is reprinted 
 from the original booklet, now in possession of Rev. W. Thomas, of Min- 
 neapolis, Minnesota, who was a resident of Carlinville fifty years ago: 
 
 Fellow Citizens: — Since our assemblage at this place, most appropriately 
 has prayer been offered up to the Great Ruler of the Universe and Protector 
 of Nations for His blessings upon a work undertaken; and the solemn and 
 ever impressive rites and ceremonies of the ancient and honorable order of 
 Free and Accepted Masons been performed in adjusting this stone, emblema- 
 tic we trust of "beauty and strength" — at the northeast corner of the build- 
 ing to be erected on this ground. 
 
 In the contemplation of what has transpired, the mind of the classic 
 student is, with some propriety, led to inquire why, in this day of enlighten- 
 ment, the solemnities of the hour? Is this an era in which the gods are 
 implored, and the oracle consulted with offerings of "the corn of plenty," 
 "the wine of joy and gladness," and "the oil of peace?" "The very air that 
 I breathe, he exclaims, is filled with the dust and mould of antiquity!" 
 
 It is true the ancients dedicated their temples to the gods by the most 
 imposing ceremonies; and we to-day are making history "repeat itself" in 
 imitating and conforming, to some degree, to the manners and customs of 
 the ancients. Speculative Masonry dates back to the building of the most 
 celebrated and magnificent temple mentioned in biblical or profane history — 
 that of King Solomon. And Ancient Masonry, adhering to the rites and 
 ceremonies of the Order, unchanged by civil commotion or revolution, the un- 
 disturbed witness of the decay of national greatness and splendor, the tot- 
 tering of thrones and crumbling of mighty governments, buried now in ob- 
 livion — save the page of history — to-day untouched by the ruthless hand of 
 innovation, sits as the hand-maid of the Christian religion. 
 
 In the further contemplation of subjects which crowd upon the mind 
 on this occasion, the fields of religion, philosophy, poetry, chivalry and 
 ancient and modern history open up, inviting one to digress from the true 
 purpose for which we have convened, and tempting one to pluck a gem or 
 a flower by the wayside. But without making such a digression, I will pass 
 to the presentation of what, I trust, will, in view of the fact that we have 
 met to congratulate ourselves upon our prosperity and progress as a people, 
 interest every one present, the history and organization of the government 
 under which we immediately live, and by which we are, so to speak, imme- 
 diately governed. Endeavoring in a concise manner to show, particularly, 
 the rise and progress of our county, and the legitimate ends desired to be 
 accomplished in the further prosecution of the work here undertaken. 
 
 On the 17th day of January, A. D., 1829, while the Capitol of the State 
 of Illinois was located at Vandalia, the General Assembly of this State 
 passed an act creating the County of Macoupin, in territory once comprised 
 in the County of Greene, and which, since its formation, in extent and 
 boundary has remained unchanged. The County was called Macoupin, after 
 the creek of that name which traverses it. The original Indian word or 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 words from which the creek derived its name was or were Mac-cou-pin-na 
 — white potatoes, or wild artichokes, which grew in great abundance along 
 the creek bottom at an early day, as I learn. (Note — Here follows a descrip- 
 tion of the log court house previously given in this book, omitted here). 
 
 The County Seat of Macoupin was called Carlinville, in honor of Thomas 
 Carlin, a member of the General Assembly in the year 1829, and afterwards 
 Governor of the State of Illinois, through whose influence and active in- 
 strumentality the act was passed. 
 
 By the terms of the contract the house was to be completed for the re- 
 ception of the Judge of the Circuit Court, who was expected on the day 
 mentioned in the contract for completion, to open the first Circuit Court 
 ever held in Macoupin County. 
 
 That house standing just there, is the house erected by Seth Hodges, 
 builder, and formerly stood in the center of the Public Square, in this city, 
 on the site where the present court house now stands. 
 
 In that house, then of so rude an architecture — changed in its appear- 
 ance — of late occupied as a private residence, and now again the property 
 of the county — Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, then one of the Associate Judges 
 of the Supreme Court of this State, a man of the purest integrity, and an 
 able jurist, and with whose name begins my earliest recollections of the 
 Court, the Court House, and the bar, held the first term of the Circuit Court 
 of Macoupin County, in April, A. D, 1830. 
 
 In that house has glittered the intellectual steel of men born to be 
 great; and a score of names of men, eminent and distinguished, could be 
 mentioned, who, within its rude walls, made their first strides toward emin- 
 ence and distinction. 
 
 Of the living it is unnecessary for me to speak — you know them. Of the 
 dead, though known, it would be appropriate in this ^connection, had I time, 
 to pronounce an eulogy, and in becoming terms of praise to mention the 
 names of men, the memory of whom we cherish as a part of our own history. 
 
 On this occasion my duty to the living and the dead, admonishes me to 
 briefly speak of several of the most prominent: Of John J. Hardin, once 
 the attorney of the people here, talented and brilliant — loved and admired 
 for his social character, his intellectual ability and generous impulses; he 
 having gained distinction as a civilian, sought military honors in the Mexi- 
 can war, in the command of a brave regiment of Illinois volunteers, and 
 poured out his blood on the sanguinary field of Buena Vista; and his death 
 wrapt in sorrow the hearts of Illinoisans. 
 
 Of Col. E. D. Baker, one of the most remarkable men who figured in the 
 early history of Illinois; an orator, a genius; who, at the bar or at the poli- 
 tical hustings dashed away, as it were, every impediment, and moved di- 
 rectly to the heart — touching the sympathies of the juror in his box, and 
 winning the admiration of a promiscuous audience — he rose to political dis- 
 tinction in Illinois, afterwards represented Oregon in the United States Sen- 
 ate, and later as a General of the Volunteers, was the victim of an ill-ad- 
 vised military movement or blunder on the Potomac, in the late war. His 
 words of eloquence and sublimity pronounced at the grave of Senator Bro- 
 derick, most beautifully paint the imagery of his mind and the elegance of 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 33 
 
 his diction, and are a becoming tribute to bis eloquent voice, now busbed 
 iorever — "in deatb its ecboes will reverberate amidst our mountains and 
 our valleys, until truth and valor cease to appeal to the human heart." 
 
 And of Stephen A. Douglas — whose name and memory are so much 
 cherished and admired by the people of this State — in that house as a 
 Prosecuting Attorney, it may be said, he commenced the struggle of life. 
 Ambitious to reach the highest pinnacle of statesmanship and of fame — 
 mounting, as it were, upon the wings of the morning, he soared aloft to the 
 meridian height of glory, and hastened to his setting. A green grove on 
 the shore of Lake Michigan marks the spot where the dead statesman re- 
 poses. His ashes are ours; a nation has honored his name, and a monu- 
 ment of marble will speak to generations yet unborn the brilliancy of his 
 career, and the value of his services in the Mississippi Valley. 
 
 On the 7th day of March, A. D., 1831, John Harris, the first Sheriff of 
 the county, settled with the county Commissioners' Court the revenue of the 
 county for the year 1830, amounting to $177.85, which had been raised by 
 the levy of a tax of 50 cents on each $100.00 worth of taxable property in 
 the county. 
 
 At the June term, A. D. 1835, owing to the rapid growth of the county, 
 and the court house which had been erected being found insufficient for 
 the convenient transaction of business, the Court appointed Col. James C. 
 Anderson, Isaac Greathouse, Stith M. Otwell, John R. Lewis and John Wil- 
 son, agents to borrow not less than five thousand, and not exceeding seven 
 thousand dollars at not exceeding eight per cent. int. per annum, for not 
 less than six, nor more than ten years, for the purpose of erecting a good 
 and sufficient brick Court House. 
 
 At the March term, A. D. 1836, the agents reported their inability to 
 borrow the money on the terms mentioned in their appointment; and there- 
 upon the Court made a further order, authorizing said agents to give ten 
 per cent, interest; but the county was not able to borrow the money. 
 
 At a special term of the County Commissioners' Court, held September 
 20th, A. D. 1836, commissioners Jesse Rhoads and Thomas Corr, adopted the 
 plan of the present Court House; and Col. James C. Anderson, Dr. J. R. 
 Lewis and Thomas Corr were appointed commissioners to let out the build- 
 ing to the lowest bidder — the building to be paid for as follows: $2,000 
 March 1st, A. D. 1838; $3,000 March 1st, A. D. 1839; $4,000 March 1st, A. D. 
 1840; $4,000 March 1st, A D. 1841; and the balance, provided not over $2,000 
 March 1st, A. D. 1842 — in the aggregate amounting to fifteen thousand dollars 
 — installments to be paid in county orders, to bear eight per cent, interest af- 
 ter maturity. 
 
 At the March Term, A. D. 1836, of the Court, Jefferson Weatherford, the 
 second Sheriff of the county, settled with the Court the revenue of the 
 county for the year 1835, amounting to eight hundred and sixty-three dol- 
 lars and fifty cents. — In this connection it is a matter of interest to observe 
 the difference in the taxable property returned in the county in the year 
 1835 and in the year 1865, thirty years after: 
 
 In 1835 to realize the amount of revenue reported by the collector, the 
 assessment, at fifty cents on each one hundred dollars worth of property 
 (and that was the rate of taxation at the time) would make the total asses- 
 
34 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 sed valuation, one hundred and seventy-two thousand and seven hundred 
 dollars, ($172,700). In 1865 the assessed valuation of property in Macoupin 
 county was six millions, three hundred and fifteen thousand, two hundred 
 and thirty-two dollars, ($6,315,232) an increase in thirty years of over six 
 millions of dollars. 
 
 Every one acquainted with our system of taxation, and the statistics 
 returned in the reports of our public officers, is well aware that the asses- 
 sed value of property in Macoupin county, is about one-third of its actual 
 value. That being true, let us see what was the actual value in 1835 and 
 in 1865, assuming the same disparagement is applicable to both assessments: 
 
 True value in 1835, $518,100.00. 
 
 True value in 1865, $18,935,696.00. 
 
 Pursuing the investigation further, let us compare, taking dates, the 
 financial condition of our county; to be more explicit, its ability to pay a 
 •debt: In 1835, the Court, without credit, contracted to build a court-house 
 to cost $15,000. In order to have raised that amount of money on the true 
 value of the property in the year 1835 ($518,000,) as I have mentioned, in 
 one levy, it would have been necessary to have imposed a tax of nearly 
 three per centum. Now let us see what sum would be realized by the im- 
 position of a tax of three per centum on the true value of the property, in 
 the year 1865 ($18,935,696.) It would be $568,070.88. By this comparison, 
 based upon statistics, it will be observed that Macoupin county was much 
 more able in 1865 to build a court house to cost $284,000, than in 1835 to 
 build a court-house to cost $15,000. And here, lest I should be charged 
 with a forgetfulness of duty and a departure from propriety, I wish, in the 
 comparison and presentation of statistics, to disclaim any intention to at- 
 tempt, on this occasion, to argue any one into the indorsement of the acts 
 of any public servant. This day I bury the partisan, and come here to re- 
 joice with my fellow-citizens, in the progress of our county. 
 
 As a citizen of Macoupin county, in looking over the past, I admire 
 what the pioneers of this people have done. With a keen perception they 
 penetrated the veil of the future and saw what was in store. To resume: 
 let us see what has been done in the quarter of a century intervening be- 
 tween the years 1840 and 1865: 
 
 In 1840 the population of Macoupin county was 7,826. In 1865, 32,305. 
 
 In 1840 the number of churches in the county did not exceed ten, of 
 any character. In 1865, about sixty good houses. 
 
 In 1840 there was not a flouring mill in the county; in 1865 twenty-one 
 flouring mills — two in the city of Carlinville, said to be as good as can be 
 found in this State, capable of turning out 1000 barrels of flour per day; 
 1 at Brighton, 1 at Shipman, 1 at Nilwood, 2 at G-irard, 2 at Virden, 1 at 
 Palmyra, 1 at Scottville, 1 at Chesterfield, 1 at Rhoad's Point, 2 at Bunker 
 Hill, 1 at Woodburn, 1 at Gillespie, 1 at Clyde, 1 at Dorchester, 2 at Staun- 
 ton. Besides the flouring mills mentioned, our business men along the lines 
 of railroad have introduced a great deal of machinery for pressing hay, 
 shelling corn, and elevating and handling grain of all kinds. 
 
 In 1840 the number of primary and common schools in the county was 
 14; scholars, 375. In 1865 the number of free schools, 186; scholars, 
 over 9,500. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 35 
 
 In 1840 Macoupin county produced 42,919 bushels of wheat; in 1865, 
 over 500,000 bushels. In 1840 Macoupin county produced 510,930 bushels 
 of corn; in 1865, near 2,000,000 bushels. 
 
 In 1840 there was not a foot of railroad in the county; in 1865, about 
 65 miles of railroad — the Chicago & Alton, and the St. Louis, Alton & Terre 
 Haute routes — leading thoroughfares from the great cities of the sea-board 
 and lakes to the great city of the Valley of the Mississippi. 
 
 A little over thirty years ago this place was without mail facilities, and 
 it may be said without roads. The first traveled mail and stage route 
 through this country was from St. Louis to Springfield; leaving St. Louis, 
 thence going to Edwardsville, Madison county; thence to a watering-place 
 on "Wolf Ridge," now the site of the town of Bunker Hill — one of the most 
 beautiful towns in Illinois, then inhabited by the wolves — thence heading 
 the streams via Dry Point, Honey Point and Shaw's Point to Zanesville, in 
 Montgomery county; thence via Macoupin Point to Springfield. In the ex- 
 amination of this subject, I have endeavored to seize upon the most prom- 
 inent facts, and present them; it would be tedious to longer detain you 
 in the investigation. 
 
 In this great State of Illinois, is it a matter of wonder that the red man 
 hesitated in giving up his rich hunting ground, its broad expanse of prairie 
 and woodland, its beautiful limpid streams and silvery lakes; their home 
 by nature — the land in which their dead were buried? In reviewing the le- 
 gends of the past, is not the heart of the white man melted in the contem- 
 plation of the love which actuated the Indian warrior, Black Hawk, when 
 he fought for the grave of his daughter, on the bank of the "Father of 
 Waters" — a spot to which he annually repaired to lament and bewail the 
 death of his dark-eyed Indian girl, the pride of his heart and of his Indian 
 home? 
 
 The pale-face came; the march of civilization set in; the Indian fell 
 back, unable to cope with the unyielding will of the pioneer. The finger of 
 inexorable fate pointed to the hour of their departure; the darkness of In- 
 dian barbarism was to be dispelled in this beautiful land, by the refulgent 
 light and truth of the christian religion; and to-day the graves are the only 
 traces left, almost, which mark an era when all this county was the home 
 of the savage. From a wilderness it has sprung into a garden; from a wild 
 waste or hunting-ground, it has become the home of millions, and teems 
 with wealth. 
 
 Fellow-citizens: in scanning the quarter of a century that has just 
 elapsed in the rise and growth of our county, have we not every reason 
 to congratulate ourselves upon our prosperity? At first we see our county 
 struggling from paucity of numbers and meagerness of revenue, in the 
 establishment of an organization. Then were her pioneer days of happi- 
 ness. Now she has mounted up with the most energetic of her sisters, and 
 we can boast of her position, and experience an exalted feeling of pride in 
 her advancement, her growth, her wealth, her richness of soil, her abundant 
 productions; her churches, her colleges and seminaries of learning; her 
 school-houses, her cottage homesj her farmers, their herds and their gran- 
 aries; her mechanics, the busy hum of their industry; the budding wealth 
 
36 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 of home manufactures, and last, but not least, in the rising grandeur of 
 the structure here being erected by the skill of her artisans. On this 
 ground where we are to-day have placed this corner-stone, is to rise 
 
 "The princely dome, the column and the arch," 
 and in the beautiful symmetry of the Roman Corinthian style of architec- 
 ture, an edifice of magnificent proportions, which, as a public building, will 
 not be surpassed in any county in the State of Illinois; a structure to be 
 the property of Macoupin county, it will stand here as the watch-tower of 
 a great and rich people, encircled by a country not surpassed in the world. 
 
 Fellow-citizens, pause and contemplate her greatness. She stretches 
 from the West to the East twenty-four miles; from the South to the North 
 thirty-six miles; contains an area of eight hundred and sixty-four square 
 miles, and over five hundred and fifty thousand broad acres. 
 
 Where is the man in our county who does not feel a pride this day — 
 burying the partisan, and rising to an appreciation of what we are and 
 what we may be if our resources are properly husbanded and directed? 
 Greece, the mother of oratory, philosophy, poetry and architecture, had not, 
 in her palmiest days a soil like ours — had not the resources and facilities 
 of this nineteenth century, but her people were pround of being called 
 Athenians; and Athens, in her glory, was supported by the strong hearts 
 and willing minds of her people, who, in a noble spirit of emulation, sought 
 to make Greece celebrated and renowned — to make her terrible in war and 
 proud in peace. 
 
 Let us then, in the proper spirit, emulate and follow the example of the 
 Greek — let our watchword be ONWARD! till we can say, at least, that Ma- 
 coupin county shall worthily be designated the richest field in agriculture 
 and letters in the "garden spot of the American continent." \ 
 
 To-day let us dedicate our hearts to the cause of our county; and when 
 this building is completed, let us again repair to this place to dedicate it as 
 the temple of Justice — that Justice of which one of the most brilliant of 
 modern British essayists has most beautifully said: "Truth is its handmaid, free- 
 dom is its child; peace is its companion, safety walks in its steps, victory 
 follows in its train; it is the brightest emanation of the Gospel; it is the 
 greatest attribute of God; it is that center around which human motives 
 and passions turn, and Justice sitting on high, sees genius and power, and 
 wealth and birth revolving 'round her throne, and teaches their paths, and 
 marks out their orbits, and warns with a loud voice, and rules with a strong 
 arm, and carries order and discipline into a world, which, but for her, 
 would only be a wild waste of passions." 
 
 Fellow-citizens: I trust that we may all live to see the hour when jus- 
 tice shall sit in her temple here, and a light be shed abroad, which, in its 
 influence, "will extinguish revenge, and communicate a spirit of purity and 
 uprightness." 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 37 
 
 GENERAL JOHN I. RINAKER 
 
 Indelibly impreseed on the history of Carlinville and Macoupin county 
 is the life and career of the late Gen. John I. Rinaker. From the time of 
 the trouble over the building of the present court house came into the public 
 eye, Gen. Rinaker was actively engaged as attorney in behalf of the people. 
 He was outspoken in his opposition to the methods used in erecting this 
 famous temple of justice. He was graduated from McKendree College in 
 1851, and then took up the study of law in the office of Gen. John M. 
 Palmer. Four years later Gen. Rinaker was admitted to the bar. From the 
 time of his admission until his death, Jan. 15, 1915, a period of sixty-six 
 years, he enjoyed a large practice; was one of the recognized leaders of the 
 
 Macoupin County bar and his ability 
 as a lawyer had a state wide reputa- 
 tion. Gen. Rinaker was a profound 
 student; approached all problems 
 with which he was confronted, with 
 an open mind and his judgment on 
 matters of law and state was re- 
 spected by men in all walks of life. 
 
 In 1862, Gen. Rinaker organized the 
 122d regiment of Illinois Volunteer 
 Infantry for the union army and was 
 appointed its colonel. He served un- 
 til the close of the Civil war; was in 
 many battles and when the great 
 struggle was ended came home with 
 a brigadier generalship which he won 
 by his soldierly qualities. In politics 
 Gen. Rinaker was a staunch Republi- 
 can. He was for many years the re- 
 cognized leader of his party in this 
 section of Illinois. Gen. Rinaker was 
 elected to congress in 1894 from this, 
 the 21st district. He was in the 85th 
 year of his age at the time of his 
 Gen. John I. Rinaker death. 
 
 Gen. Rinaker took into partnership his son, Thomas Rinaker, which 
 association continued until the father's death. Thomas Rinaker demonstrat- 
 ed his ability as a lawyer and was one of this county's most successful 
 practitioners, with a large clientele, who entrusted him with their business. 
 Mr. Rinaker served with distinction as a member of the House in the Illi- 
 nois General Assembly, and as a member of the constitutional convention 
 in 1920. He died June 18, 1926. 
 
 His son, Thomas Kelly Rinaker, who was admitted to the bar in 1916, 
 has continued the family name in one of the oldest professions with credit to 
 himself and to the legal fraternity. It has been eighty years since Gen. Rin- 
 aker began the practice of law. The name is still carried on, commanding 
 the respect of all who are familiar with the history of this distinguished family. 
 
 
 
 
 
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38 
 
 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 JUDGE ALFRED A. ISAACS 
 
 Judge Alfred A. Isaacs was born April 22, 1884, in Dorchester town- 
 ship. His parents were the late Abraham and Nancy E. (Fruit) Isaacs, the 
 mother being a native of Madison county. The Isaacs homestead in Sec- 
 tion One of Dorchester township, is one of the oldest in the county and 
 was settled by the grandfather in 1840. The place is still in possession of 
 the family. Judge Isaacs graduated from the Gillespie schools; attended 
 and graduated from Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He finished his 
 education by graduating from the law department of Northwestern Uni- 
 versity, at Evanston, in 1909, and was admitted to the bar the following 
 year. 
 
 Since his admission he has prac- 
 ticed his profession with marked 
 success. He was city attorney of 
 Gillespie, and served two terms, a to- 
 tal of four years as Master-in-Chan- 
 cery of Macoupin county. 
 
 In 1926 Judge Isaacs was the suc- 
 cessful nominee of the Republican 
 party, for the office of county judge 
 and was elected. He was re-nomin- 
 ated and re-elected in 1930, and is, 
 therefore, serving in the closing 
 months of his second term as judge. 
 At the April, 1934,primary his party 
 again nominated him, without oppo- 
 sition, as their candidate for judge 
 at the coming election in November. 
 In discharging the duties of his of- 
 fice, Judge Isaacs brings to bear a 
 thorough knowledge of the law, and 
 experience acquired over many years 
 of practice. He is cordial in his re- 
 lations with his constituents and is 
 one of the most popular judges who 
 ever occupied the county bench. 
 In 1913 Judge Isaacs was united in marriage with Eslie Smith of Sioux 
 Falls, South Dakota. To their union two children have been born, namely, 
 Elizabeth and Helen Isaacs, who are students of the Gillespie High School. 
 For many years he has been an active member of the Methodist church 
 and a cordial supporter of any cause for the betterment of his city and 
 county. 
 
 Judge Alfred A. Isaacs 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 39 
 
 JUDGE VICTOR HEMPHILL 
 
 Judge Victor Hemphill was born near Carlinville in 1882. He is a son 
 of Robert S. (who died, in 1924) and Mary Ross Hemphill. The parents are 
 descendants of Macoupin county pioneers and the family has a long record 
 of high quality citizenship, which has added much to the interesting history 
 of Macoupin county. Judge Hemphill's mother is a resident of Carlinville. 
 
 Judge Hemphill attended the Carlinville schools and graduated from the 
 local high school and Blackburn college. When he had finished his college 
 education he taught in the Virden high school. Having the practice of law 
 in mind as his life's work, he attended Washington University, St. Louis. 
 He graduated from the law department of that institution in the class of 
 1905. The same year he was admitted to the bar in Missouri and Illinois. 
 
 Following his admission to the bar 
 Judge Hemphill established an office in 
 his home city. In politics he is a Dem- 
 ocrat. Shortly after beginning the prac- 
 tice of his profession he took an active 
 interest in politics. He was elected 
 state's attorney in 1916 and was re-elect- 
 ed in 1928. He was an able prosecutor. 
 He was elected mayor of Carlinville ip 
 1921 and served three terms in that po- 
 sition, leaving a record of duty well per- 
 formed. In 1933 he was elected to the 
 circuit 'bench from this, the seventh ju- 
 dicial district. Judge Hemphill is a 
 member of the legal fraternity, Phi 
 Delta Phi, and of the Illinois State, and 
 American Bar Associations. 
 It is not often that such a busy and useful career has fallen to one 
 of Judge Hemphill's years. His extensive practice; his success as a state's 
 attorney, and mayor of his native city, helped to give him the necessary 
 experience and background to fit him for the high position he holds today. 
 And hard work, close application and study of the problems with which he 
 has had to deal, have enriched his store of knowledge upon which he can 
 draw in the office which he occupies. 
 
 In 1915, Judge Hemphill was united in marriage with Miss Adele Loehr, 
 accomplished daughter of Theodore C. Loehr, of Carlinville. They have two 
 children, a daughter, Barbara, and a son, Robert T. Hemphill. Judge Hemp- 
 hill and family are residents of Burton Place. As a diversion from work, 
 Judge Hemphill plays golf. 
 
 Judge Victor Hemphill 
 
40 
 
 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 L. E. WILHITE 
 
 L. E. Wilhite, who is now serving in the closing months of his second 
 term as county superintendent of schools of Macoupin county, was born 
 near Hornsby. He is a son of the late T. J. and Hannah Wilhite. The father 
 served in Company H, of the Sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry in the Union 
 army in the civil war. 
 
 L. E. Wilhite went to work in his father's store which was also the 
 post office, at early age. Arriving at the age of (Seventeen, he re-entered 
 school. When he had finished his education he took up the profession of 
 
 teaching. However he had decided 
 that he would become an attorney. 
 With this in view he began the study 
 of law in the office of his brother, 
 the late P. A. Wilhite. Upon the 
 death of the brother he continued to 
 read law in the office of J. H. Atter- 
 bury, of Litchfield. In the year 1907 
 he was admitted to the bar and prac- 
 ticed ,in Gillespie. He served as city 
 attorney under two different mayors, 
 namely, R. H. Isaacs and J. B. By- 
 croft. 
 
 The practice of law becoming dis- 
 tasteful to him Mr. Wilhite re-entered 
 the teaching profession. He taught 
 and supervised schools for twenty- 
 two and one-half years prior to his 
 election to the office of county super- 
 intendent of schools and was never 
 employed more than eight miles from 
 the house in which he was born. The 
 seven years immediately preceding 
 his election to the office of county 
 superintendent, he was superintendent of the Gillespie grade schools. Mr. 
 Wilhite's record as a teacher, which covers a period of more than a quarter 
 of a century, has given him unusual experience and opportunity to qualify 
 him for the position as head of the schools of this county. He is vested with 
 much authority, yet he has always approached each problem brought before 
 him with sympathy and understanding which has made him very popular 
 with pupils, officers, patrons and teachers of the county. He holds a life 
 state certificate. In politics Mr. Wilhite is a Republican. He was the un- 
 opposed candidate in the April primary in 1934 of his party for renomina- 
 tion to the office he now holds. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church. 
 
 In 1909 Mr. Wilhite was united in marriage with Etta Lockyer, of Horns- 
 by. , They are the parents of three children, namely, Thelma, who is teaching 
 in the Springfield schools, Mary Ellen and Louis, attending the Carlinville 
 schools. 
 
 L. E. Wilhite 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 41 
 
 PETER J. CAVENY 
 
 Peter J. Caveny, county clerk, was elected to that office in November 
 of 1930. He was born in South Otter township April 9, 1888, and is a son 
 of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Caveny. His mother's maiden name was 
 Margaret A. Carmody. The son received his education at Douglas country 
 school and while growing up, worked on his father's farm. Upon arriving 
 of age he took up railroading and for fourteen years was in the operating 
 department of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. For nine years he was 
 a conductor on that road and for three years was in the northwest, making 
 his headquarters at Seattle, Washington. 
 
 In 1923 he returned to Carlinville and for seven years was in the em- 
 ploy of the Diamond Kerosene Company. In politics Mr. Caveny is a 
 Democrat. He had political ambitions and when he received the nomination 
 of his party in 1930 he was elected by a substantial majority. In all of his 
 endeavors he has made it a rule to give the best that is in him to the task 
 at hand. As an employee of the railroad company and the Diamond Kero- 
 sene Company his chief endeavor was to serve those who entrusted him with 
 responsibilities, with fidelity and honesty. This same effort for painstaking 
 service has marked his conduct of the office of county clerk. At the April, 
 1934, primary Mr. Caveny was again the nominee of his party for the office 
 he now holds, and without opposition. 
 
 February, 1917, he was united in marriage with Mame E. McEvoy, of 
 Gillespie. Mr. and Mrs. Caveny have eight children, namely: Eileen, Patri- 
 cia, Paul, Clement, Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth and Dorothy. Their home is 
 on East Second South Street. Mr. Caveny is a member of the Elks and of the 
 Knights of Columbus. He is a Past Exalted Ruler of the Elks and is Past 
 Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 MRS. M. A. IBBETSON 
 
 Two daughters were born to Charles Dana and Mary Merriam Whipple 
 Monroe, namely, Mary Augusta, the subject of this sketch, and Lucy 
 Annette. Their birthplace was Grafton, Mass. Mrs. Ibbetson was born April 
 9, 1845. Her father was a druggist at Grafton and he died when Mrs. Ibbet- 
 son was four years of age. The mother with the two daughters, decided to 
 move West about 1850. She had two brothers, Josiah Whipple, of Chester- 
 field, and Perley Whipple, of Alton. Mrs. Monroe made the long journey 
 by rail to Lake Erie, then to Chicago and down to Alton by water. Arriving 
 in Alton, they remained about two years, then moving to Chesterfield, 
 where Mrs. Monroe married Judge Z. B. Lawson. Mrs. Ibbetson was edu- 
 cated at Greenwood Academy, a select school for girls maintained at Ches- 
 terfield by Miss Matilda Williams. She finished her education with two 
 years at Mt. Holyoke College, at South Hadley, Mass. 
 
 Returning to Chesterfield she taught for one year in the Chesterfield 
 school. October 24, 1866, she was united in marriage with William H. H. 
 (Tip) Ibbetson, of Chesterfield. He was a veteran of the civil war and serv- 
 ed in Company D, 122d Illinois infantry. They resided at the old homestead 
 four miles west of Chesterfield until 1882 when they moved to Carlinville 
 to the Weer property on East Main street. Mr. Ibbetson engaged in the 
 grocery business on the south side of the square. He died in 1883, at the 
 age of 43 years. To their union were born the following children, and at 
 the time of the death of the father, the eldest was 16 and the youngest 
 about one year of age: Harry Monroe, deceased; Marie Annette Goldsbor- 
 ough, of San Antonio, Texas; Robert Edwin, Los Angeles, Calif.; Clara Ann 
 Palmer, who died in Carlinville May 11, 1934; Ernest Albert, now mayor of 
 Carlinville; Mabel Augusta Schuele, of Carlinville; William Henry Harri- 
 son, of Los Angeles, Calif. Harry Monroe died Oct. 9, 1899. Left with this 
 large family Mrs. Ibbetson reared them to manhood and womanhood, dis- 
 playing courage and fortitude which deserves the greatest praise. 
 
 It does not fall to the lot of many women, or men either, to have lived 
 through such marvelous changes as have taken place in our country, as Mrs. 
 Ibbetson has witnessed. She recalls the days of the tallow candle and re- 
 members quite well the first coal oil lamp in Chesterfield, at the home of her 
 uncle, Josiah Whipple. And Mrs. Ibbetson remembers vividly the days before 
 and during the civil war. Before the war, runaway slaves were passed 
 through Chesterfield on their way to Carlinville via the underground railway 
 and thence to Canada, where freedom could be found. Josiah Whipple was 
 one of the main men in the traffic to free the slaves. Meals were cooked 
 and mysteriously taken away and no questions asked. The negroes were 
 placed under straw in wagons and brought through at night. The Carlin- 
 ville station was located on what was once known as the Braley property on 
 East Main street. The house was destroyed by fire a number of years ago. 
 
 None in Carlinville is more loved by her children and revered by her 
 many friends than Mrs. Ibbetson. She has lived a long and useful life. All 
 who know her congratulate her. Mrs. Ibbetson has a sister, Mrs. Annette 
 Loomis, residing at Centerville, Cape Ood, Mass. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 43 
 
 WILLIAM YOWELL 
 
 William Yowell, County Superintendent of Highways, was born in Polk 
 township, November 15, 1882. He comes from one of the pioneer families 
 of that community and is a son of the late William and Sarah (Price) 
 Yowell. He attended the district school and worked on the farm until ar- 
 riving at young manhood when he went to farming for himself. He was 
 industrious and was considered one of the coming men of his township. In 
 politics Mr. Yowell is a Democrat. The people of Polk have honored him 
 with numerous positions of trust and responsibility. 
 
 He served as town clerk from 1912 to 1914. In 1925 he was elected a 
 member of the ( Board of Supervisors, serving two years with distinction to 
 himself and credit to his constituents. In the second year of office he was 
 honored by being elected chairman of the Board, discharging the difficult 
 duties of that important office in a manner which won for him the respect 
 of all of the members of the Board, regardless of their political affiliations. 
 The Board of Supervisors appointed Mr. Yowell to the position of County 
 Superintendent of Highways in June of 1927. His efficiency and thorough 
 knowledge of the duties of that office caused him to again be appointed in 
 September of 1933. 
 
 October 28, 1909, Mr. Yowell was united in marriage with Fay Thomp- 
 son, of Polk. To their union three daughters were born, Hazel, Claribel and 
 Anita. Mrs. Yowell died January 1, 1920. February 12, 1922, Mr. Yowell 
 was united in marriage with Aletha Curtis, of Chesterfield. One son, William 
 Junior, was born to them. 
 
 Mr. Yowell and his interesting family are residents of the Second Ward 
 of Carlinville. He takes pardonable pride in the fact that the land in sec- 
 tion 14, in Polk, settled by his father in 1860, is still in possession of the 
 family. It consists of three hundred and four acres. 
 
44 
 
 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 THOMAS J. COSTELLO 
 
 himself for teaching. 
 
 Thomas J. Costello was born in Western Mound township, Macoupin 
 county. He is a son of the late John and Ellen Costello, highly respected 
 pioneer residents. Mr. Costello was the fifth child of a family of ten child- 
 ren. When a lad. his parents moved from Western Mound to Bird township 
 where they resided for a few years, moving back to Western Mound in the 
 year 1888. The boyhood life of Mr. Costello was not much different from 
 that of the average country youth. He attended country schools and when 
 he had finished the eighth grade went to Western Normal College, at Bush- 
 nell, Illinois. He attended there for a part of two years where he fitted 
 In 18-99 he secured and taught his first school. He 
 continued in this work for eleven years, 
 spending his summer vacations working 
 on the farm. 
 
 In 1909 he was offered and accepted 
 the position of Deputy Circuit Clerk 
 and Recorder under the late Thomas 
 Cain. He continued with Mr. Cain for 
 two terms of four years each. At the 
 expiration of his second term as deputy 
 clerk under Mr. Cain, which was in 
 1916, Mr. Costello spent two years in 
 which he prepared a set of abstract 
 books, which occupied his time until 
 1918, when he opened an abstract of- 
 fice for himself in Carlinville, in which 
 business he is engaged today. Mr. 
 Costello, not having been born in the 
 lap of luxury, necessarily made his own 
 way since leaving the country schools. 
 He always put his best efforts into any 
 undertaking in which he was engaged, 
 having in mind that a job that was 
 worth undertaking was worth doing 
 well. In the position of school teacher, 
 deputy circuit clerk and of conducting his own business he has been con- 
 scientious, painstaking and diligent, and success has followed. Mr. Costello 
 takes pride in the fact that he never went back on a friend. 
 
 Mr. Costello's many friends all over Macoupin county know him and 
 appreciate his worth for the excellent citizen that he is. Mr. Costello is of 
 Irish descent. 
 
 Thomas J. Costello 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 45 
 
 EDWARD L. CALVERD 
 
 Edward L, Calverd, son of Andrew and Emma (Stanton) Oalverd, was 
 born February 18,1884, at Medora, Illinois. He went to school beginning at 
 the usual age and in due time graduated from the Medora High School. 
 After finishing school he went to work in his father's large general store 
 in his home town. He continued with his father until 19 years of age when 
 he branched out for himself, establishing a grocery and hardware business 
 in the thriving village of Chesterfield. In 1915 he sold this business and 
 cast his lot with the General Motors Company, specializing in Delco light- 
 ing and Frigidaire systems for homes and business establishments. 
 
 He continued in Chesterfield until 1927 when he came to Carlinville 
 where he is today, his location being in the well known Burgdorff building 
 on the north side of the square. 
 
 In 1907 Mr. Calverd was united in marriage with Edith M. Moore of 
 Chesterfield. They are the parents of two children, namely, Lewis A. and 
 Chester Calverd, who are associated with their father in business. The 
 eldest son, Lewis, married Hazel Pointer of Chesterfield. They have one 
 child, a daughter, Joyce, aged five. 
 
 Mr. Calverd has achieved success in his business, though as he points 
 out, it is a modest one. He has, like most business men, had his ups and 
 downs, especially since the depression and its consequent effect on merchan- 
 dising. But all of the time Mr. Calverd has worked hard, has been persis- 
 tent, taking advantage of every bright spot that has shown through the 
 clouded sky of business doubt and uncertainty, of the past six years. The 
 Calverd family is musical and they have derived much pleasure in their 
 home from this gift. The son, Chester, is an accomplished performer on 
 the piano and pipe organ. 
 
46 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 FRED S. MORSE 
 
 Fred S. Morse can rightly take pride in the fact that he is a descendant 
 of one of the prominent pioneer families of Carlinville and Macoupin county. 
 He was born February 17, 1900, at the well known Morse homestead just 
 adjacent to this city on the west hard road. He is the eldest son of Theo- 
 dore»S. and Grace (Munhall) Morse. He is one of a family of eleven child- 
 ren, all living. His grandparents were the late Theo. and Emma (WeltonX 
 Morse. His great grandfather was Capt. Samuel Welton. On his father's 
 side Mr. Morse comes from a family of civil engineers. His father was for 
 twenty-five years one of the practical and active engineers, and was the 
 author of one of the most complete atlases ever published in Macoupin 
 county. The father besides being one of the widely known engineers of this 
 county, was City Engineer of Carlinville. He was a member of and an active 
 worker for many years in the First Presbyterian church of Carlinville. He 
 died in 1921. 
 
 Fred S. Morse attended the Carlinville schools and graduated from the 
 high school in the class of 1918. He attended and graduated from Black- 
 burn College in 1921 with a degree in agriculture. But his life's goal was 
 civil engineering and with this in mind he attended and graduated from the 
 University of Illinois in the class of 1927, with the degree of civil engineer. 
 He has served as county surveyor since 1924 and city engineer of Carlin- 
 ville, since 1926. 
 
 Mr. Morse is a veteran of the World war and is a memlber of Guy 
 Baird Post, No. 554, of the American Legion. For some years he has been 
 a member of the Illinois Society of Civil Engineers. Since boyhood he has 
 been a member of the First Presbyterian church of this city. 
 
 In 1932 Mr. Morse was united in marriage with Miss Mildred Phillips, 
 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Phillips, of Carlinville. They have one 
 child, a daughter, Winifred Grace, aged one year. 
 
 iSince a youth Mr. Morse has not been idle. He knows what it is to 
 make his own way and has gained valuable experience from that unrivaled 
 school of "hard knocks." He is not only a capable and experienced member 
 of his profession, but is also a pleasant and agreeable gentleman to meet 
 and know. His large number of friends predict that he is only at the be- 
 ginning of a career that will reflect additional credit and honor to himself, 
 his profession and his family. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 47 
 
 THE CARLINVILLE DEMOCRAT 
 
 The Carlinville Democrat, now in its seventy-ninth year, was established 
 September 6, 1856, by William C. Phillips, as a Republican paper. Associat- 
 ed with him were a number of Carlinville citizens who advocated the aboli- 
 tion of slavery. Prominent among these was John M. Palmer, a young and 
 brilliant lawyer. He agreed that if the paper was established, he would 
 serve as its political editor. ■ This he did for several years, his editorials at- 
 tracting wide attention throughout this section of Illinois. It was first 
 called the "Free" Democrat, but in 1867 the word free was dropped for 
 more brevity and typographical neatness. Mr. Phillips took into partner- 
 ship with him in December of 1856, Henry M. Kimball, and the firm became 
 Phillips & Kimball. This continued until February of 1859, when Mr. Phil- 
 'lips sold his interest to Mr. Kimball, who became sole owner. On assuming 
 the ownership of the paper, Gen. John M. Palmer continued his connection 
 with the paper under Mr. Kimball as political editor. This was terminated 
 October of 1859, when Gen. Palmer became a candidate for congress. 
 
 In 1867 A. W. Edwards bought a half interest in The Democrat. He 
 was known in Carlinville and over the county as "Major" Edwards. This 
 partnership continued until 1872 when Major Edwards was appointed war- 
 den of the penitentiary at Joliet and severed his connection with the paper. 
 Again Mr. Kimball became the owner and editor until 1879, when he took 
 into partnership A. G. David, who for some time had been one of the local 
 editors of The Democrat. When Mr. Kimball retired the paper became the 
 property of Mr. David. He continued as editor and publisher until Sept. 1, 
 1901, when he sold out to James E. McClure, who continued as editor and 
 publisher until January, 1934, when he sold The Democrat to Armin C. 
 Kurz, for a number of years editor and publisher of the Staunton Star- 
 Times. 
 
 Few country weeklies have had a longer record and none a more honor- 
 able and prominent part in the history of Carlinville and Macoupin county, 
 than The Carlinville Democrat. Since its first issue it has stood for clean 
 journalism and is welcomed in the family circle with keen interest and de- 
 light. It has been in the past and is now ably edited and managed. The 
 Democrat has lived through three wars involving our country — the Civil war, 
 the Spanish-American war and the more recent World war. It told the 
 story of the local young men and women who went away and came back, 
 and of those who went away and never came back. It has mirrored public 
 events in Carlinville and Macoupin county faithfully and with accuracy — 
 the joys and sorrows of its people, their hopes, and ambitions achieved. A 
 great historian has said: "The truest record of events, local, state and na- 
 tional, will be found in the newspapers." So far as this community and 
 county are concerned, that may be said of The Democrat's record of more 
 than three quarters of a century. 
 
48 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 LOTT ICE & COAL COMPANY 
 
 Forty-one years ago, or to be more exact, in 1893, the late D. H. 
 Karnes and his brother, Stephen Karnes, established themselves in the ice 
 business in Carlinville. The partnership continued until Stephen Karnes 
 retired. At that time Edward H. Lott became a partner in the business and 
 the firm name became Karnes & Lott. The partnership continued until the 
 death of Mr. Karnes which occurred in 1924. Since that time the style of 
 the firm is Lott Ice & Coal Company, under which name the business is 
 conducted today. 
 
 There have been many changes in all lines of business in the past forty 
 years and the ice business is no exception. When the Karnes Brothers be- 
 gan in a modest way forty-one years ago, the supply was cut from the 
 creeks and ponds near Carlinville. Men with saws and other necessary 
 tools went to the location, cut the ice, loaded it into wagons and hauled 
 it to town where it was stored for use during the warm months. An unus- 
 ually cold winter meant that the ice crop would be plentiful and of proper 
 quality. If, perchance, the winter was open and the weather mild, there 
 was a scanty supply or no supply at all and the product had to be shipped 
 in from the North. 
 
 But modern science has changed all this. Today machines and refriger- 
 ators supply this necessary product, regardless of the condition of the 
 weather. In the old days of the ice business there was not much attention 
 given to sanitation. If the ice came from a creek or pond which looked 
 good before the water froze, that was fine. If not, there wasn't much that 
 could be done about it. In this day and age with manufactured ice, sani- 
 tation comes first, and the product is made and delivered under strict laws 
 governing its purity and healthfulness. The company has a refrigeration 
 plant in Carlinville and clean, sanitary trucks deliver their product under 
 most inviting conditions, the old-fashioned two-horse wagon having long 
 ago passed out of the picture. Some years ago the company added a coal 
 yard to their line of business. Under the management of Mr. Lott the com- 
 pany has increased the number of its patrons and friends from year to year. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 49 
 
 GEORGE B. ARNETT 
 
 In 1910 George B. Arnett started in the real estate and insurance busi- 
 ness in Carlinville. The fact that he is still conducting the business does 
 not begin to tell the interesting story of Mr. Arnett's career. He was born 
 in Bird township, west of Carlinville, February 16, 1868, and is a son of the 
 late Mr. and Mrs. George W. Arnett, well known and highly esteemed resi- 
 dents of this community. The son secured his preliminary education at 
 West Fairview school northwest of this city. He was ambitious and de- 
 sired to widen his scope of knowledge. He attended Blackburn College and 
 entered the Northern Indiana Normal school located at Valparaiso. At the 
 end of two years he finished the course, specializing in educational methods 
 and business. 
 
 Returning home he taught school for several years, most successfully. 
 Retiring from teaching he was offered and accepted a position with D. M. 
 Osborn & Company, manufacturers of binders and farm implements. He 
 remained with this company for five years. Having received a lucrative 
 offer from the Smith-Premier Typewriter Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, he 
 accepted. His headquarters were at Louisville, Kentucky. He greatly in- 
 creased the company's business and in time was made district manager cov- 
 ering a large territory. 
 
 During those busy years Mr. Arnett cherished the idea of going into 
 business for himself. This ambition he satisfied by purchasing a hardware 
 store in Greenfield. He continued there for several years and came to his 
 home city of Carlinville, establishing himself in the real estate and insur- 
 ance business. He was the sole proprietor until 1917 when he took into 
 partnership his son, George C. Arnett. This was during the latter years of 
 the World War. Heeding the call to arms the son enlisted in the army in 
 Chicago in December of 1917. He went overseas, serving for fifteen months. 
 Following the Armistice in 1918, he returned home and again took up his 
 business career. Since 1917 the firm is known as Geo. B. Arnett & Son, 
 with the father the active manager. They have their offices in the two story 
 brick building on East Main street, which is owned by George B. Arnett and 
 is known as the Arnett Building. 
 
 Their business has been successful and they enjoy the confidence of a 
 large clientele. 
 
50 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 ENOS WATERS 
 
 Enos Waters was born in 1890, in Neleigh, Neibraska, and is a son of 
 Lewis and Sarah Enos Waters. The rather died February 17, 1924. The 
 mother is residing on the old. Enos homestead, five miles west of Carlin- 
 ville in Bird township. There is another son, O. S. Waters, who is in the 
 advertising business in Los Angeles, California. Since pioneer days none 
 have stood higher in their respective communities than the Enos and Waters 
 families. The names are synonymous with good citizenship and sturdiness 
 of character. Mr. Waters' grandparents on his father's side were Mr. and 
 Mrs. John Waters, for many years residents of the Charity church commu- 
 nity. On his mother's side the grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Miles Enos, 
 the community which bears their name having been so named in honor of 
 Miles Enos. 
 
 Enos Waters attended and graduated from the Townsend Harris high 
 school in New York City; he then attended the City College of New York. 
 Mr. Waters finished his college education by attending and graduating from 
 the University of Illinois, in the class of 1914, taking the degree of B. S. in 
 Agriculture. In the same year Mr. Waters began farming on the Enos 
 lands west of Carlinville, where he remained until 19)21, during which time 
 he was instructor in Agriculture at Blackburn College. 
 
 In 1921 Mr. Waters was offered and accepted the position of Farm Ad- 
 visor of Edgar county, Illinois, with headquarters at Paris, the county seat. 
 He continued there until 1928 when he resigned and returned to Carlinville. 
 
 In 1929 he became Farm Manager for the trust department of the Car-. 
 linville National Bank. This department has charge of approximately 
 17,000 acres of land in Macoupin county for various individuals and insti- 
 tutions. He is also secretary of the Carlinville National Farm Loan As- 
 sociation, which is the local unit of the Federal Land Bank, of St. Louis. 
 This association has about $1,000,000 in farm mortgage loans in Macoupin 
 county. Mr. Waters is also secretary of the Carlinville Production Credit 
 Association, making loans for production purposes through the Farm Credit 
 Administration. This latter organization does an extensive business in 
 financing feeder cattle and making dairy loans in Macoupin and Montgom- 
 ery counties. Mr. Waters is engaged in a work which is especially appeal- 
 ing to him and for which he made thorough preparation in his education. 
 His duties bring him in contact with a large numiber of people over a wide 
 range of Macoupin county. All who know him hold him in great respect 
 and place implicit confidence in his integrity and honesty. 
 
 Mr. Waters was united in marriage in 1919 with Miss Reba Sacre, 
 daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jerre Sacre, prominent residents of near 
 Carlinville. Mrs. Waters died in 1928. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 51 
 
 ELVIN D. GEORGE 
 
 An unusually busy career has fallen to the lot of the subject of this 
 sketch. Mr. George was born in Staunton, in Staunton township, on Octo- 
 ber 7, 1883, and is the elder of the two sons born to May Godfrey George 
 and the late William Robinson George. Both parents were members of pio- 
 neer families who settled early in Staunton township, and who contributed 
 so much to the early history of that community. 
 
 Mr. George attended the Staunton Grade Schools, and Whipple Academy 
 and Illinois College, at Jacksonville, graduating from the latter school in 
 1902 with high honors. He then read law for a year in the office of the late 
 D. G. Williamson, one of Macoupin's most prominent attorneys, afterwards 
 completing his legal education at Washington University, in St. Louis. He 
 
 graduated from the Law Department 
 of that institution in 1905 and was ad- 
 mitted to the practice of law in the 
 State of Illinois the same year. 
 
 He immediately began the practice 
 of law in Staunton, his home town, 
 and was elected to the office of City 
 Attorney in 1906, and has served the 
 City, at different times, for about 
 twelve years in that capacity. He is 
 also serving as Staunton Township 
 Attorney, and as Village Attorney 
 for Williamson and Livingston, in 
 Madison County, and for Sawyerville 
 in this county, which positions he has 
 held for the last seven years. Mr. 
 George is a member of the Illinois 
 Bar and of the American Bar Asso- 
 ciations, and is now serving his third 
 term as President of the Macoupin 
 County Bar Association. By appoint- 
 ment of the Judge presiding in the 
 E. D. George Circuit Court in May, 1933, he is now 
 
 serving as Master-in-Chancery of Macoupin county. 
 
 The military experience of Mr. George is also quite varied and extensive, 
 he having enlisted as a private in the United States Marine Corps in 1907, serv- 
 ing continuously thereafter until his discharge in 1919, shortly after the 
 Armistice. During this term of service he advanced in the ranks until at 
 the time he resigned he held the rank of Warrant Officer. His record shows 
 honorable and distinguished service in many foreign countries, including the 
 Hawaiian Islands, Guam, the Philippine Islands and China. In China, from 
 1912 to 1915, and from 1916. to 1919, he was attached to and served with the 
 38th Company, U. S. M. C, American Legation Guard at Peking, as First 
 Sergeant, Sergeant-Major and Warrant Officer. Mr. George, since his dis- 
 charge, has been especially active in veterans' work. He is a charter mem- 
 
52 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 ber of Elmer Dick Post No. 362, American Legion, and served as its first 
 Commander. He is also a charter member of Staunton Post No. 1241, Ve- 
 terans of Foreign Wars. 
 
 Mr. George is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Staunton Lodge No. 
 177, A. F. & A. M., and the Consistory and Shrine at East St. Louis. He is 
 also a member of the Staunton Rotary Club, having served that club both 
 as Secretary and President. In addition to these organizations he has been 
 active in many other organizations of his community which have to do with 
 civic improvements and community welfare, giving freely of his time and 
 abilities to the problems confronting these organizations. 
 
 In politics he has always been a staunch Democrat, supporting the 
 principles of that Party and working for its advancement and success at all 
 times. His recognized experience and ability, coupled with his keen in- 
 terest in civic affairs, resulted in his being selected by the Democratic 
 Party, at the April, 1933, Primary to be the candidate of that Party for the 
 office of County Judge of Macoupin county at the election to be held Novem- 
 ber next. 
 
 On June 15, 1922, Mr. George was united in marriage with Miss Mildred 
 E. Rowe, of Carlinville, the granddaughter of the late Mrs. Herman Wiese, 
 and the daughter of Wm. E. Rowe, of Springfield, and the late Clara Ma- 
 son Rowe. Mr. and Mrs. George have, since their marriage, made their 
 home in Staunton, where Mrs. George has become helpfully active in the 
 social and civic affairs of their community. 
 
THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 53 
 
 The Macoupin County Farm Bureau. 
 
 Two of the outstanding institutions that are working for the benefit of 
 its members and incidentally for all of the people of the county, are the 
 Macoupin County Farm Bureau and the Home Bureau. The Farm Bureau 
 was organized in December, 1917 with four hundred members. It came into 
 being as the result of carefully thought out plans of those who believe that 
 the only way to progress among the farmers is organization, with a definite 
 plan of action. W. P. Miller was the first Adviser and was employed in 
 February of 1918. The second adviser was E. W. Rusk, and the third and 
 present Adviser is W. F. Coolidge. He came to Carlinville from his native 
 county of McLean, in 1928. He is capable, energetic and understanding. Un- 
 der his direction and with the cooperation of the officers and members the 
 membership has more than doubled, now being 980. 
 
 The scope of the Farm Bureau's activities has widened greatly since its 
 organization seventeen years ago. Some of the outstanding projects are: In- 
 formation on soil treatment; keeping accurate farm accounts; cooperative 
 marketing of livestock and other farm products, such as wool, soybeans and 
 grain; 4-H Club work. The subsidiary organizations are: Macoupin Service 
 Company; a Cooperative Farmer's Creamery Company, a project available to 
 every farmer in Macoupin county. 
 
 The Farm Bureau and its allied organizations are doing a work which 
 is bringing results. The work has been especially difficult during the past 
 few years, on account of the very adverse conditions which prevail over the 
 entire country. 
 
 The officers are the following: Harold A. Keele, Chesterfield, president; 
 Chris Powars, Palmyra, vice president; Albert Barnes, Bunker Hill, secre- 
 tary; Otto Hauschild, Gillespie, treasurer. These four officers and the fol- 
 lowing constitute the executive committee: Charles Gibbel, Girard; Earl T. 
 Leach, Carlinville; T. B. Weller, Carlinville. Miss Mildred Weller is the of- 
 fice secretary. The Farm Bureau have their offices in the Ibbetson building 
 on North Broad street, in Carlinville. 
 
 The Home Bureau. 
 
 In order to make the movement for better conditions on the farm, more 
 nearly complete, the Macoupin County Home Bureau was organized in 1930. 
 The aims and objects of the Home Bureau are clearly set forth in the fol- 
 lowing declaration of principles: 
 
 To have every home — economically sound; mechanically convenient; 
 physically healthful; morally wholesome; mentally stimulating; artistically 
 satisfying; socially responsible; spiritually inspiring; founded on mutual af- 
 fection and respect. 
 
 Mrs. M. E. Eldred, formerly of Bird township, but now of near Gillespie, 
 was the first county chairman, serving for two years. Mrs. Clyde Land, of 
 Barr township, was the second county chairman, serving one year. Mrs. 
 Bert Ruyle, of South Otter, is the present chairman. Miss Gertrude Bekman, 
 of Alton, Iowa, was chosen the first Home Adviser, which position she holds 
 
54 THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS COURT HOUSE 
 
 today. Miss Bekman is popular with the membership; is a tireless and able 
 worker whose sympathies are wholeheartedly in the cause for which she 
 stands. 
 
 The present officers are: Mrs. Bert Ruyle, South Otter, chairman; Mrs. 
 Elmer Yowell, Atwater, vice chairman; Mrs. Kayo Hildabrand, Gillespie, 
 secretary; Mrs. J. P. Denby, Carlinville, treasurer; Mrs. William Schneeberg, 
 Brighton, Major Project Chairman; Mrs. R. L. Comer, Carlinville, Minor 
 Project Chairman; Mrs. Herbert Meiher, Nilwood, Recreation Chairman; 
 Miss Bertha Shultz, Shipman, 4-H Club Chairman; Mrs. Joseph Yahr, Car- 
 linville, Publicity Chairman. Miss Josephine Rhoads is office secretary. 
 
 The Home Bureau has a membership of 425, with twenty-one working 
 units. The home is the unit around which society and government revolve. 
 What could be more commendable than to give its members a bright and 
 hopeful outlook upon life? That's what the Home Bureau does.