This is a reprint of a “From the Local History Room” column that first appeared in June 2015, before the launch of this weblog.
Organization of Tazewell County’s townships
By Jared Olar
Library assistant
Big changes came to Tazewell County in the year 1849 and 1850. It was in 1849 that the county seat, after having moved from Mackinaw to Pekin and then to Tremont, was finally and permanently fixed at Pekin. The same year, Pekin passed from the status of “town” to “city,” voting to adopt a city charter. The following year, the new county seat built itself a fine new courthouse.
During those same two years that Tazewell County was witnessing those significant developments, it also saw the organization of the county’s township governments.
In his 1905 “History of Tazewell County,” page 709, Ben C. Allensworth describes the “township” form of government as it functioned in his day:
“Under this system the supervisor is the chief officer and representative of the township, and it is his duty to prosecute and defend all suits in which the township is interested. The township clerk keeps the records of the township, and the treasurer takes charge of the funds. The establishment, vacation and repair of the public roads is committed to the three commissioners of highways. The supervisor, the two Justices of the Peace whose terms of office soonest expire, and the Township Clerk constitute a township board for examining and auditing the accounts of the town.”
Since then, Illinois has eliminated “Justices of the Peace” and has reduced the number of Township highway commissioners.
Allensworth tells the story of the founding and organization of Tazewell County’s townships on pages 707-709 of his history. As he explains, the county’s Commissioners Court was abolished when Illinois adopted a new state constitution in 1848, and a new County Court was instituted in its place on Dec. 3, 1849. The presiding judge was Benjamin F. James, who served along with two associate justices named Joseph Stewart and Lawson Holland. “The salary of each member, while holding court, was $2 per day,” Allensworth says.
“During the existence of this Court,” Allensworth continues, “the people were agitating the question of township organization. Many counties of the State since the adoption of the constitution of 1848, had adopted that mode of conducting county affairs. The constitution gave counties the privilege of adopting either the County Court or the Board of Supervisors. At the fall election in 1849 a vote was taken ‘for or against township organization,’ which resulted in favor of the new measure.”
The County Court then appointed Benjamin S. Prettyman, Anson Gillon and J. K. Coon to a commission for dividing the county into townships. “This duty they performed in due time. Generally they constituted each congressional township a separate town,” Allensworth says.
Here is Allensworth’s account of their division of the townships:
“Beginning at Fond du Lac township, they fixed the boundary as it now is and named it ‘Fond du Lac,’ according to the wish of the people. The first election under the township organization was held at Farm Creek school-house.
“Washington township was laid off six miles square, east and adjoining Fond du Lac. It was called Washington, because the village and postoffice bore that name. The east half of township, 26 north and range 2 west, was attached to Washington at the request of the citizens, as there were not sufficient inhabitants to form a separate town. The first election was held in the district school-building at Washington.
“Deer Creek had its boundaries fixed as they are at present. The first election was held at the Monmouth school-house. The township was named by Major R. N. Cullom, taking the name of the creek that flows through it.
“Morton was laid off and named as it is at present. Harvey Campbell proposed the name in honor of Gov. Morton of Massachusetts. The first election was held at W. W. Campbell’s.
“Groveland was constituted a township and its boundaries fixed as they now are. The first election was held at the Randolph house, Groveland. The township took its name from the village.
“Pekin township was at first one tier of sections less, north and south, than it is at present. The northern tier of sections of Cincinnati was taken from that township and added to Pekin. It was named after the city of Pekin.
“Cincinnati township was laid out by this commission, one tier of sections larger than it is at present. The first election was held at the Cincinnati hotel, Pekin.
“Elm Grove had its boundaries fixed as they now are. The first election was held at Elm Grove school-house.
“Tremont had its boundaries defined by including a Congressional township. The first election was held at the courthouse at Tremont. Mackinaw township had its boundaries permanently fixed. The first election was held at the school-house in the town of Mackinaw.
“Little Mackinaw has never had its boundary lines changed. The first election was held at a school-house on Little Mackinaw creek.
“Hopedale at first was christened Highland. The present boundaries were fixed. A portion of Boynton township was attached to Hopedale, there not being enough inhabitants to organize a township. The first election was held at Mrs. Purviance’s residence. The name Highland was changed because there was another township in the state bearing that name.
“Dillon was constituted for a Congressional Township. The first election was held at the school-house in Dillon.
“Sand Prairie, formerly Jefferson, had its boundaries described as they are at present. The first election was held at John Hisel’s. Malone township was not organized, but the territory was attached to Sand Prairie.
“Spring Lake had its boundaries described as they remain at present; first election held at Charles Seiwell’s.
“Delavan was constituted a township as it remains at present, and had a portion of Boynton attached to it. Hittle was first named Union, then changed to Waterford, and finally to Hittle. It included its present territory and a portion of Boynton; first election held at Hittle Grove church.”
The townships having been laid out and organized, the County Court held its final session on Saturday, April 6, 1850, and then adjourned sine die, being replaced by the County Board of Supervisors.
