Untitled Document

RICHMOND.

It seems that Mr. Allan as early as 1836 saw that there would be in the near future need for a town or location for a county seat, and his idea was that some eligible spot would be near the geographical center of the county. He mounted his horse and rode until he found an established corner in Sugar Tree Grove, and from that point, guided by a pocket compass, rode due north, counting the steps of his horse, till he reached, as he supposed, section 17, township 16 north, 3 east, about five miles from where he started, and this led him into a rise in the middle of a beautiful prairie as may be found anywhere.

He had made no error in his measurement, and he afterwards entered the southeast quarter of section 17, and staked out a town, and named it Richmond, and the town was henceforth a standing candidate for countyseat.The law organizing the county required the Commissioners to meet at the house of Dr. Baker, and pioceed to select a site. Another requirement was that, pari passu, they should select Government land.

The Commissioners met as required, and there was a large delegation from Andover. At Brandenburg's they met Major Allan, and proceeded to Geneseo ; then the cavalcade rode out in the bald prairie to Allantown—Richmond, and upon the highest ground they halted and surveyed the wide landscape o'er. Not a house nor a tree was within miles of the group of town-hunters, but there was a wide and extended view, and the rich rolling prairies lay spreading its broad acres at their feet. The county map was unrolled before them, and this was unquestionably nearly in the center.

Mr. Allan prevailed. His offer rather overwhelmed other bidders. He made a deed to the county for 120 acres of his quarter section, and reserved only 40 acres for himself. The entire tract was laid out in lots 4x8 rods—streets six rods wide. Each party had a public square. " Three choice lots " were donated to George Harris upon condition that he would build a public house of entertainment " by the first of next June." This house was soon up and the town started on its brilliant and brief career.

A sale of lots was advertised in the Peoria, Galena, Chicago and Canton papers " to come off the first ; Wednesday in June." In the interval choice lots were ordered sold at private sale for $50, second choice for $25, one-third cash. Proposals were pub lished for building a court-house, 18x24 feet, story and a half high; and at the December term, 1837, the clerk was ordered to let the work to the lowest bidder. George Harris secured the contract for the building, and so he pushed the work on his own house and the court-house towards completion the next year. His public house mentioned above was 36 x. 40 feet, two stories. So far, this was by far the most extensive and pretentious building ever erected in the county.

At the June term, 1838, the Court pledged the faith of the county that all purchase money paid for lots should be returned in the event the county seat was removed from Richmond. This was official notice that it would possibly soon move.

At the August election, 1838, the new County Commissioners elected were Marcus B. Osborn, Sylvester Blish and John P. Hanna, and by act of the Legislature of the preceding winterjthe newCommissioners had to draw lots. In the drawing, Osborn retained his office three years, Blish two and Hanna one.

At a special term, October, 1838, George Branden burg was allowed $12 for "furnishing a court-room one term." At the December term, of this year, it was ordered that at the general elections all voters should vote at the county seat. Probably the cause of this action was that at the election in 1837 there were just seven votes cast in Richmond. This act was repealed the same year, and people did not have all to go to the county seat to vote. At this time the Court informed the members of the Legislature that the county of Henry was seriously suffering, because there had been no session of the Circuit Court in the county. This appeal to the Legislature did bring the Circuit Court, as the next spring term convened there. There were, notwithstanding the long delay of the Court's coming, only ten cases on the docket at this first term.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County

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Illinois Ancestors

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