Untitled Document

Circuit Court

With the organization of the county it was made a part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, comprising the counties of Rock Island, Cook, La Salle, Putnam, Fulton, Schuyler, Adams, Hancock, McDonough, Knox, Warren, Jo Davies, Mercer and Henry. The first term of the Court was held at the house of John Barrel, in Farnamsburg, April 28, 1834. There were present Richard M.Young, Judge of the Circuit; Thomas Ford, State's Attorney ; Joseph Conway, Clerk; B. F. Pike, Sheriff.

The order of Judge Young regulating the time for holding the terms of Court was ordered spread upon the records. The order specified the 27th day of April and the 11th day of September, 1834, as the time. After affiixing his signature and seal to the order the Judge added a postcript, directing that if either day appointed should fall upon Sunday the terms should begin the next day.

After approving the bonds of the Clerk and Sheriff the Court proceeded to its regular business. The following are the names of those comprising the first grand jury of the county :

Joel Wells, Jr., foreman; Robert Simms, Wm. Carr, Wm. T. Brashar, Calvin Spencer, Henry McNeal, James L. Burtis, Sr., James H. Goleman, John D. Ritchey, Martin W. Smith, Chas. H. Simpson, Henry Watchler, Nathan Smith, Roswell H. Spencer, William Thompson and Eliphalet T. Cook. There was no petit jury summoned at the first term of the Court.

The first case was that of Wm. Sparks against Wm. H. Simms, an appeal from a Justice of the Peace. The suit was dismissed by agreement, at the plaintiff's cost.

In a suit of Sarah Butler against John Wells, on a bond, on motion the bond was quashed.

There were two criminal and ten chancery cases at this term, none of which was of any importance.

The second term of the Court was held on the 18th day of September. The same officers were present except the Sheriff, Michael Bartlett having succeeded to that office.

Two indictments were found at this term of Court. Moses Johnson was indicted for larceny and Wm. Thompson for setting fire to the prairie. Both cases were made returnable to the next terra of Court.

By an act of the General Assembly, approved Jan. 7, 1835 , the law requiring the Supreme Judges to perform circuit duties was repealed, and five additional Circuit Judges were provided for, and the Sixth Circuit was created, Rock Island forming a part of the latter.

Thomas Ford was elected and commissioned Judge of the Sixth Circuit Jan. 19, 1835 , but did not preside in the Circuit Court of this county during the year. By agreement Judge Sidney Breese presided at the April term. The case of the people against Wm. Thompson was called and trial entered upon. James Grant prosecuted the case and Edward A. Philleo defended. Mr. Thompson was acquitted.

At the April, 1836, term Judge Ford presided for the first time. No business of any importance was transacted at this term.

In March, 1837, Judge Ford resigned and Dan Stone (plain Dan, not an ab.of Daniel) was commissioned, March 4, to fill the vacancy. Judge Stone presided at the April term, in 1837, and served until 1841.

In the fall of 1848 Benj. R. Sheldon was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, receiving a commission bearing date Dec. 4, of the same year. He served until May 14, 1851, when Ira O. Wilkinson was commissioned.

J. Wilson Drury was elected and commissioned Junes, 1855. He served until March, 1860, when he resigned. John H Howe was appointed to fill the vacancy, and filled out Judge Drury's unexpired term

In June, 1861, Judge Wilkinson was again elected and served the full term of six years, his term covering the full period of the war.

The General Assembly, by an act approved March 28, 1873, divided the State into 26 Judicial Districts, in each of which one Judge was to be elected on the zd of June. Rock Island County became a part of the Fifth Circuit, and Judge Pleasants was elected Judge of the Circuit.

In 1877 the General Assembly passed an act by which the State was divided into 13 circuits, with three Judges in each. Rock Island, Knox, Warren, Henderson, Mercer and Henry comprised the Tenth Circuit. The following named have served the circuit: Geo. W. Pleasants, Arthur A. Smith and John J. Glenn. All were re-elected in June, 1885, for a term of six years.

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