1905 Coles County, IL History (2024)

History of Coles County, Illinois

By Charles Edward Wilson

© 1905

CHAPTER VII
POLITICAL AND STATISTICAL

©2004, Transcribed by Judy Anderson for Illinois Genealogy Trails

COLES COUNTY CREATED--NAMED FOR GOVERNOR COLES--EARLIER ANDLATER COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS-- COUNTY DIMENSIONS--COUNTY DIMENSIONS--COUNTY-SEAT ESTABLISHED AT CHARLESTON--FIRSTCOUNTY COMMISSIONERS--TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION ADOPTED IN 1859--LIST OF COUNTY OFFICERS--MEMBERS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY--REPRESENTATIVESIN CONGRESS--MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS--CIRCUIT JUDGES--OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS--PRESIDENTIAL VOTE,1852-1904--CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE APPORTIONMENT'S--JUDICIAL DISTRICTS--VILLAGE ORGANIZATIONS--POSTOFFICESAND FIRST POSTMASTERS-- POPULATION AND SCHOOL STATISTICS--COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS.

The history of Coles County, as a distinct political entity,begins with Christmas day, 1830, when the act creating the new county was approved by Governor Reynolds. It tookits name from Edward Coles, the second Governor of the State.

Under the Territorial Government, Illinois was divided intotwo counties--St. Clair and Randolph. St. Clair was successively divided by the creation of new counties, so thatthe territory which now constitutes Coles County has been at different times a part of St. Clair, Madison, Crawfordand Clark Counties, and after the creation of Edgar, the area lying west of the latter, including a part of whatis now Coles County, was attached to Edgar for governmental purposes.

County Organization.--The limits of the county, as defined by the act creating it, approved December 25th, 1830, were asfollows: "Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 4 in Township 16 North, in Range 14 West of the SecondPrincipal Meridian, thence west on the line dividing Townships 16 and 17, to the eastern boundary of Range 6 Eastof the Third Principal Meridian; thence south on said line dividing Townships 8 and 9 to the southeast corner ofSection 31, the east boundary of fractional Range 11 East; thence north on said line, which is the division betweenfractional Range 11 and Range 14 (W. of the Second P. M.), to the northeast corner of Section 19 in said Range11 in Township 12 North; thence to the northeast corner of Section 21 in Township 12 and Range 14; thence northon the sectional lines, the center of said range, to the place of beginning."

By the provisions of the same act William BOWEN, of VermilionCounty, Jesse ESSAREY, of Clark County, and Joshua BARBER, of Crawford County, were appointed commissioners tomeet at the house of Charles EASTIN on the fourth Monday of January following (1831), or within five days thereafter,to determine the location of the county-seat for the new county, and the first election for the choice of countyofficers-one Sheriff, one Coroner and three County Commissioners-was to be held on the first Monday in February,1831. Said first election was to be held at the places within the new county at which elections were held whileit constituted a part of Clark County, and all courts were required to be held in the home of Charles EASTIN untilcounty buildings were erected or change of location was made by the County Commissioners Court.

The boundaries thus established by the act of 1830 were identicalwith those now embracing the counties of Douglas, Coles and Cumberland, extending 48 miles from north to southand 28 miles from east to west, except a strip three miles wide off the east side of the south 21 miles, whichremained attached to Clark County, from which Coles was taken. In 1843, Cumberland County was created by detaching14 tiers of sections from the southern part of Coles; and in 1859, the county was again divided by the creationof the County of Douglas out of two and a half northern tiers of townships (a strip fifteen miles wide) excepttwelve sections north (and at the eastern end) of the main south line of Douglas County, and which constitutesthe northeast part of Coles County. In this tract, which would have fallen into Douglas County had the line betweenColes and Douglas extended unbroken from west to east, is situated the village of Oakland.

In 1857 as act was passed by the Legislature authorizing avote to be taken by the counties of Coles and Champaign on the proposition to create a new county to be calledDouglas, consisting of a tract three miles wide off the southern portion of Champaign and another fifteen mileswide from the north end of Coles. This proposition failed of adoption and, at its next session, the Legislaturechanged the boundaries of the proposed new county so as to take nothing from Champaign and leave Oakland to Coles,and in this form the proposition prevailed. As a consequence of these changes Coles County was shorn of three-fifthsof its original dimensions, its western border (which was unchanged) being on the line between Towns 6 and 7 Eastof the Third P. M., its main northern border on the middle of Town 14 N. and its southern border two miles northof the south line of Town 11, while the eastern border is irregular, about one-third in the southern portion beingon the eastern line of fractional Township 11 East, and the northern two-thirds in the middle of Town 14 West ofthe Second P. M. The area embraced within these boundaries amounts to 19 miles from north to south, by about 28miles from east to west on the northern border and 25 miles on the southern border-making, with the irregularitiesor projections described, about 520 square miles.

County Seat Located.--The Commissioners appointed for that purpose by the enabling act creating the county of Coles in 1830,fixed the county-seat of the new county on the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 11, Town 12 North,Range 9 East of the Third Principal Meridian. This tract was purchased from the Government by Charles S. MORTONand Benjamin PARKER, and by them given and conveyed to the County Commissioners. In April, 1831, the Commissionerslaid out the original town of Charleston on a part of this tract. The land was subsequently re-surveyed, the platof the town extended to cover the whole tract, and the lots sold by the Commissioners from time to time and theproceeds paid into the county treasury.

County Government.--Isaac LEWIS, George M. HANSON and Andrew CALDWELL were elected County Commissioners at the first specialelection, held in February, 1831, the voting place being at the house of James ASHMORE, in what is now LafayetteTownship, and they held their offices until the regular election in August of the next year, when Isaac LEWIS,Andrew CLARK and James S. MARTIN were chosen. Biennially thereafter three Commissioners were elected until, bya change in the law, it was provided that the Commissioners should hold office for three years and one be electedannually. The commissioners so elected constituted the County Commissioners Court, which had jurisdiction in allmatters concerning the county revenue, regulating and imposing the county tax in all cases of public roads andbridges, the auditing of accounts and, in general, the control and management of the county's property and business.They held four sessions each year-in March, June, September and December-and were authorized to hold special (orcalled) sessions when deemed necessary on account of urgent business, upon five day's notice.

This continued to be the form of government until the adoptionof the Constitution of 1848, which provided for a County Court consisting of a County Judge and two Associates.W.W. BISHOP became the first County Judge elected under this Constitution, and the first Associate Justices wereJohn M. LOGAN and Hezekiah J. ASHMORE.

Township Organization.--The affairs of the county continued to be managed by the County Court, as thus constituted, for twelveyears. But in 1859 the form of county government was again changed by the adoption of the system known as townshiporganization. This was done by vote of the people of the county at the general election, and John MONROE, JamesT. CUNNINGHAM and John HUTTON were appointed Commissioners to divide the county into townships. Twelve townshipswere formed, which continue to exist with the same boundaries originally established. The town now known as Humboltwas originally called Milton, and it and the first postoffice here, called Milton Station, received their namesfrom James Milton TRUE, who had a store there and was known over the county as Milton TRUE. Otherwise the nameshere given have remained unchanged.

Under the system of township organization the control of thebusiness and affairs of the county is vested in a Board of Supervisors, composed of one Supervisor from each ofthe twelve townships as are authorized by the general law to elect them. At present the Board consists of seventeenmembers-one Supervisor from each township, with three Assistant Supervisors from Mattoon and two from Charleston.James MONROE was the first Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, which held its first meeting under the new organizationof May 7, 1860.

The change in the form of county government involved the organizationof the townships as distinct municipalities. The assessment of property and collection of taxes, and the establishmentand care of highways, which had before been under the control of the county, came under the jurisdiction of theTownship Supervisors. The change was made from the county system, which prevailed generally in the Southern States,to that of the town-meeting plan of New England. The affairs of each township are under the immediate directionof the voters at the town meeting held in the spring of each year. At this meeting the Supervisor is elected whoacts as a member of the County Board. He is also the Overseer of the Poor for his township and the custodian ofits funds. There are also elected a Town Clerk, and Assessor and Collector of taxes, and Commissioners of Highways,who have charge of the establishment and maintenance of the public roads and bridges of their respective townships.

County Judges

County Clerk

Treasurer

Coroner

Surveyor

State's Attorney

Prior to the adoption of the Constitutionof 1870, Prosecuting Attorneys were elected in circuits consisting of several counties, and James R. CUNNINGHAMwas the first Coles County man to hold the office. He defeated Joseph G. CANNON, the presentSpeaker of the National House of Representatives, who was then a resident of Douglas County. CUNNINGHAM serveduntil 1864, when Joseph G. CANNON was elected. In 1868 General BOYLE, of Paris, was elected, and it was providedby law that such Attorneys should remain in office for the full term of four years, even though the new Constitutionof 1870 provided for a State's Attorney to be elected by the people of each county. The first election, therefore,under the new order of things was in 1872, and James W. CRAIG was then elected. The list in full from that timeis as follows:

School Commissioner

Charles S. MORTONwas the first School Commissioner and held office until 1841, when he was followed by James ALEXANDER, who held office until 1845. Other incumbents were;

The Legislature then changed thelaw so that, from that time on, the County School official was called County Superintendent of Schools, insteadof Commissioner, and his term of office was four years. The list of Superintendents follows:

The following is believed to bea complete list of those citizens of Coles County who have represented the county in the Legislature, in Congressand other important official position:

StateSenators

Representatives

Representatives in Congress

Members of State Board of Equalization

Lieutenant Governor

Members of Constitutional Conventions

Attorney General

Judges of the Circuit Court

In all of its history Coles County has furnished only twoCongressmen. O. B. FICKLIN, whose biography has been briefly given heretofore in these papers, was first a Whigand later a Democrat. J. P. H. BROMWELL was a Republican. He was a tall, straight, fine looking man, of pleasingaddress, and excellent public speaker, and a creditable Representative. He lived in Charleston. In the early seventieshe moved to Denver, Colo., where he died with the last two years.

Coles has been allowed by the other counties of its judicialcircuit to have only three Judges of the Circuit Court during its history, notwithstanding the excellent materialamong its members of the legal profession. The first was James F. HUGHES, of Mattoon, who served faithfully andwell, so much so that he was afterwards made the first Judge of the City Court of Mattoon. The second was FrankK. DUNN, of Charleston, who, through comparatively a young man, proved himself to be a man of judicial temper andwell qualified legally. His record upon the bench is most excellent. The third, James W. CRAIG, of Mattoon, isat present upon the bench. He is making a reputation as a Judge of ability and of judicial fairness second to nonewho have been upon the bench in this circuit, and is noted for the promptness with which he dispatches the businessof his court without curtailing any of the rights of the litigants.

Presidential Vote.--In its earlier years Coles was a Whig county in National campaigns. The last Presidential electionin which the Whigs has a candidate was in 1852, and, commencing with that year, the following table gives the voteof Coles County at Presidential elections up to 1904:

1852--SCOTT (Whig), 997; PIERCE (Dem.), 733; HALE (F.S.),2.

1856--FREMONT (Rep.) 783; BUCHANAN (Dem.), 1,178; FILLMORE(Am.), 796.

1860--LINCOLN (Rep.), 1495; DOUGLAS (Dem.), 1467; BELL (Un.),79; BRECKENRIDGE (Dem.), 0.

1864--LINCOLN (Rep.), 2,210; MCCLELLAN (Dem.), 1,555.

1868--GRANT (Rep.), 2,658; SEYMOUR (Dem.), 2,247.

1872--GRANT (Rep.), 2,647; GREELEY (Lib.), 2,411.

1876--HAYES (Rep.), 2,957; TILDEN (Dem.), 2,822; COOPER (Gr'nb'k),102.

1880--GARFIELD (Rep.), 2,991; HANco*ck (Dem.), 2,905; WEAVER(Gr'nb'k), 141

1884--BLAINE (Rep.), 3,193; CLEVELAND (Dem.), 3,234; BUTLER(Peo.) 69; ST. JOHN (Pro.), 73.

1888--HARRISON (Rep.) 3,424; CLEVELAND (Dem.), 3,286; FISK(Pro.), 145 STREETER (U.L.), 28

1892--HARRISON (Rep.) 3,693; CLEVELAND (Dem.), 3,611; BIDWELL(Pro.), 203; WEAVER (Peo.), 97

1896--MCKINLEY (Rep.) 4,534; BRYAN (Dem.), 3,963; LEVERING(Pro.), 54; PALMER (Gold Dem.), 51;

MITCHELL (Soc. Lab.), 5. BRYAN also received 19 "Middleof the Road" votes this year.

1900--MCKINLEY (Rep.), 4,706; BRYAN (Dem.), 3,921: WOOLEY(Pro.), 110; DEBS (S.D.), 18; ELLIS (U. R.), 11;

BAKER (Peo.), 6; MALONEY (Soc. Lab.), 5.

1904--ROOSEVELT (Rep.), 4,901; PARKER (Dem.), 3,435; SWALLOW(Pro.), 270; WATSON (Peo.), 23;

CORREGAN (S.L.), 19; DEBS (Soc.), 169; HOLCOMB (Cont.), 11.

Congressional Districts.--Under the first congressional apportionment after Coles County was organized, made in 1831, ColesCounty was placed in the Second Congressional District with White, Hamilton, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash,Lawrence, Clay, Marion, Fayette, Montgomery, Shelby, Vermilion, Edgar, Clark and Crawford counties.

See Also

Family Ancestry Researching in Coles County, Illinois1905 Coles County, Il History

The next apportionment was in 1843, when Coles was placedin the Third District, with Lawrence, Richland, Crawford, Jasper, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Christian, Shelby,Moultrie, Clark, Clay, Edgar, Macon, Dewitt and Piatt counties.

In 1852 Coles was assigned to the Seventh District, with Logan,Macon, Piatt, Moultrie, Edgar, Clark, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, Clay, Crawford, Lawrence, Richland and Fayette.

In 1861 (still remaining in the Seventh District) Coles wasassociated with Macon, Piatt, Champaign, Douglas, Moultrie, Cumberland, Edgar, Vermilion, Iroquois and Ford.

In 1872 it became a part of the Fourteenth District with Macon,Piatt, Champaign, Douglas and Vermilion.

In 1882 the Fifteenth District consisted of Coles Edgar, Douglas,Vermilion and Champaign.

In 1893 the Nineteenth District was composed of Coles, Edgar,Cumberland, Clark, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Richland and Lawrence.

In 1901 Coles County was again placed in the Nineteenth District,with Douglas, Champaign, Piatt, Dewitt, Macon, Moultrie and Shelby Counties.

Legislative Districts--Prior to 1848 the number of Senators and Representatives elected fromthe whole State underwent many changes, on account of the rapid changes in population in the different countiesof the State. The Constitution of 1818 made it the duty of the Legislature, at its first session, to apportionthe Senators and Representatives among the several counties or districts, to be established by law, according tothe number of white inhabitants in the same. The only restriction as to numbers prescribed that the Representativesshould not be less than 27, nor more than 36, until the population of the State should amount to 100,000, and thatthe number of Senators should never be less than one-third nor more than one-half the number of Representatives.Under this provision the first Senate consisted of 14 members-one from each county except Franklin, which was unitedwith Johnson-and 28 Representatives, or in the proportion of one Senator to two Representatives.

Upon the adoption of the Constitution of 1848, the State wasdivided into twenty-five Senatorial and fifty-four Representative Districts. Each Senatorial District was allowedone Senator, and each Representative District was allowed one or more Representatives, according to population,the total representation of the latter being 75 members each. Senatorial and Representative Districts were notidentical as now, but each underwent changes after each decennial census. Coles County was then placed in the TenthSenatorial District with Vermilion, Edgar and Cumberland Counties, and was associated with Moultrie as the Twenty-fifthRepresentative District, which was given one member of the House.

In 1861, Coles with Douglas, Champaign, Ford, Vermilion andIroquois Counties, constituted the Ninth Senatorial District, and with Douglas, Vermilion, and Edgar Counties wasmade the Thirty-ninth Representative District, which was allowed three members of the House. That arrangement continueduntil the adoption of the Constitution of 1870, which provided for the division of the State into Senatorial Districts,each to have one Senator, whose term is four years, and three Representatives, whose term is two years. It providedfurther for the plan of "minority representation," by which one party could not elect more than two outof the three members of the House in each district unless the minority party was able to poll less than one-fourthof the total vote, and also that Senators should be elected every two years, in odd and even numbered districts,alternately, beginning with the even numbered districts in 1872. It further provided that the State should be re-apportionedevery ten years.

The Governor and Secretary of State were instructed and empoweredto make the apportionment for the First General Assembly (the Twenty-seventh) after the adoption of the Constitution.They organized the Ninth Senatorial District with counties of Coles, Douglas, Champaign, Ford, Vermilion, and Iroquois,with two Senators, and made of Coles County the Forty-sixth Representative District, giving it two Representatives.This arrangement was merely temporary, continuing in force only one term.

The first regular apportionment made by the Legislature toconform to the requirements of the new Constitution was in 1872, and Coles, Douglas and Moultrie Counties wereplaced in the Thirty-second District, with the power to elect one Senator and three Representatives.

In 1882 the Thirty-second District was made to consist ofColes, Douglas and Cumberland Counties.

In 1901 (the last apportionment), Coles, Douglas, and ClarkCounties were placed together in the Thirty-fourth District.

Judicial Circuits.--In 1831 the Second Judicial Circuit consisted of Coles, Wabash, White, Edwards, Lawrence, Wayne, Clark,Crawford, Edgar, Vermilion and Clay.

In 1833 the same counties were kept together constitutingthe Fourth Circuit.

In 1841 Jasper County was added to the list, which was continuedas the Fourth Circuit.

In 1851 there was a rearrangement and Coles, with Crawford,Lawrence, Richland, Clay, Effingham, Jasper, Cumberland and Clark Counties constituted the Fourth Circuit.

In 1853 the Fourth Circuit was changed by taking out Effinghamand substituting Edgar County.

In 1857 Coles, with Macon, Piatt, Fayette, Effingham, Shelbyand Moultrie, was organized in the Seventeenth Circuit.

In 1859 Coles County was again assigned to the Fourth Circuit,in association with Edgar, Clark, and Cumberland.

In 1873 the Fifth Circuit was organized, consisting of Coles,Vermilion, Edgar, Clark and Douglas Counties.

In 1877, again as the Fourth Circuit, Coles was associatedwith Champaign, Piatt, Moultrie Macon, Vermilion, Edgar, Clark and Douglas Counties.

The last apportionment, in 1897, organized the Fifth Circuit,with Coles, Vermilion, Edgar, Clark and Cumberland Counties.

VILLAGE PLATS

The following is a list of village plats that have been madeand recorded in Coles County, in the order in which they were surveyed:

Charleston

Surveyed April 23, 1831, by Thomas SCONCE.

Plat filed for record June 4, 1831.

Located on part of the W. 1/2 of the S. W.1/4 of Sec. 11-12-9.

Owners: County Commissioners of Coles County,Ill.

Hitesville

Surveyed April 14, 1835, by Thomas SCONCE.

Plat filed for record May 21, 1835.

Located on part of the N. 1/2 of the N. E.1/4 of Sec. 9-12-14.

Owner: James HITE.

Independence (Oakland)

Surveyed May 12, 1835, by Thomas SCONCE.

Plat filed for record May 21, 1835.

Located on the S. E. 1/4 of the S. E. 1/4 ofSec. 13-14-10

Owner: Gideon M. ASHMORE.

Middleton

Surveyed July 29, 1836, by Joseph FOWLER.

Plat filed for record August 11, 1836.

Located about the middle of Sec. 35-13-10.

Owners: Christian SOUSELY and Christopher GROVES.

Liberty

Surveyed August 8, 9 and 10, 1836, by JosephFOWLER.

Plat filed for record August 18, 1836.

Located on S. W. Cor. Sec. 18 and N. W. Cor.Sec. 19-13-11.

Owners: James CLARK, Arthur JOHNSON and SolomonBOYER.

Richmond

Surveyed August 16, 17 and 18, 1836, by JosephFOWLER.

Plat filed for record August 27, 1836.

Located at junction of State Road with Secs.27 and 34-12-7.

Owner: John HOUCHIN.

Paradise

Surveyed August 19, 20,21, 22 and 23, 1836,by Joseph FOWLER.

Plat filed for record August 26, 1836.

Located on part of the S. E. 1/4 of the N.W. 14 of Sec. 33-12-7 on the State Road.

Owner: Charles SAWYER.

Paradise

Surveyed February 1, 2, 3 and 4, 1837, by JosephFOWLER.

Plat filed for record March 30, 1837.

Located on N.E. 1/4 of S. E. 1/4 of Sec. 8-11-7,on Palestine and Shelbyville Road.

Owners: Miles W. HART and Thomas BRINEGAR.

Salsbury (Hutton)

Surveyed December 28 and 29, 1837, by JosephFOWLER.

Plat filed for record January 15, 1838.

Located on N. E. 1/4 of S. E. 1/4 of Sec. 9-11-10.

Owners: John HULEN and George K. HARRIS.

Farmington

Surveyed April 25, 1852, by Thomas LYTLE.

Plat filed for record May 1, 1852.

Located on N. W. 1/4 of S. W. 1/4 of Sec. 16-11-9.

Owner: John J. ADAMS.

St. Omer

Surveyed August 20, 1852, by Thomas LYTLE.

Plat filed for record September 5, 1854.

Located on S. W. Corner of W. 1/2 of S. E.1/4 of Sec. 24-13-10.

Owner: J. W. HOGE.

Mattoon

Surveyed December 12, 1854, by John MEADOWS.

Plat filed for record October 13, 1855.

Located on Sec. 13-12-7.

Owners: Charles Floyd JONES, Davis CARPENTER,JR., Usher F. LINDER, Ebenezer NOYES, James T. CUNNINGHAM, Stephen D. DOLE, John CUNNINGHAM, John L. ALLISON, ElishaLINDER, H. Q. SANDERSON, Harrison MESSER, Samuel B. RICHARDSON, William B. TUELL and Josiah HUNT.

Ashmore

Surveyed February 24, 1855, by John MEADOWS.

Plat filed for record February 24, 1855.

Located on N. 1/2 of Sec. 31-13-11.

Owners: H. J. ASHMORE and James D. AUSTIN.

Arno

Surveyed March 14, 1855, by John MEADOWS.

Plat filed for record March 14, 1855.

Located on S. W. 1/4 of Sec. 31-13-8.

Owner: David A. NEAL.

Milton (Humbolt)

Surveyed November 12, 1858, by S. B. MOORE.

Plat filed for record March 4, 1859.

Located on part of the S. W. 1/4 of the N.W. 1/4 of Sec. 4-13-8.

Owner: A.A. SUTHERLAND.

Etna

Surveyed March, 1860, by Lennaeus B. RICHARDSON.

Plat filed for record August 20, 1860.

Located on part of N. E. 1/4 of the N. E. 1/4of Sec. 21 and part of S. E. 1/4 of S. E. 1/4 of Sec. 16-11-7.

Owners: Daniel R. BLAND and Richard SAYER.

Stockton (Loxa)

Surveyed November 3, 1863, by J. J. PETERSON.

Plat filed for record February 8, 1864.

Located on N. W. 1/4 of the S. W. 1/4 of Sec.12-12-8.

Owner: B. F. JONES.

Coles

Surveyed September 23, 1872, by John H. CLARK.

Plat filed for record October 12, 1872.

Located on S. W. Corner Sec. 31-13-7.

Owner: Dexter S. D. DOLE.

Janesville

Surveyed April 10, 1879, by William JONES.

Plat filed for record April 29, 1879.

Located on S. E. 1/4 of S. W. 1/4 of Sec. 19-11-9.

Owner: John FURRY.

Rardin

Surveyed August 18, 1881, by George W. DICKINSON.

Plat filed for record June 22, 1882.

Located on part of Lots 1 and 2 in E. 1/2 ofN. E. 1/4 of Sec. 5-13-10.

Owners: John H. RARDIN, Nancy RARDIN, JohnT. TAYLOR and Mary E. TAYLOR.

Bushton

Surveyed December 17, 1881, by George W. DICKINSON.

Plat filed for record December 13, 1882.

Located on N. W. 1/4 of N. W. 1/4 of Sec. 7-13-10.

Owners: David BUSH and John BUSH.

Trilla

Surveyed December 21, 1881, by J. L. AUBERT.

Plat filed for record August 23, 1882.

Located on S. W. 1/4 of the S. E. 1/4 of Sec.19-11-8.

Owner: Jacob FICKES.

Lerna

Surveyed November 25, 1882, by John L. AUBERT.

Plat filed for record November 28, 1882.

Located on N. E. 1/4 of N. E. 1/4 of Sec. 10-11-8.

Owner: Azariah JEFFRIES.

Fair Grange

Surveyed September 14, 1883, by George W. DICKINSON.

Plat filed for record November 10, 1883.

Located on S. E. 1/4 of the S. W. 1/4 of Sec.11-13-9.

Owners: A.B. TRIMBLE, J. C. BABBS and J.B.GRAY.

Post Offices

Below is a list of Post offices located within the county,given in the order of their establishment, with names of the first Postmasters and dates of appointment.

The following offices are identical, the name simply beingchanged:

Coles C. H. and Charleston

Milton Station, Humbolt and Humboldt

Selina and Lerna

Clara and Doran

Arena and Fair Grange.

The following offices, named in the order of their establishment,are located within territory now included in the several townships named in the last column:

Paradise	Geo. M. HANSON	Feb. 18, 1830	Paradise
Bachelorsville	Laban BURR	May 14, 1830	Ashmore
Coles Court House	Chas. S. Morton	Mar. 31, 1831	Charleston
Oakland	Whitfield W. MORRISON	July 26, 1833	East Oakland
Hitesville	James HITE	Aug. 24, 1835	Ashmore
Bethsaida	John M. TRUE	Mar. 15, 1836	La Fayette
Campbell	Eugenia CAMPBELL	Dec. 22, 1838	Pleasant Grove
Charleston	Edmund ROACH	Apr. 29, 1843	Charleston
Stewart	David WEAVER	Feb. 8, 1844	Hutton
Springville	Henry WILSON	Dec. 23, 1847	Pleasant Grove
Fuller's Point	Jackson T. JOHNSON	Sept. 18, 1849	North Okaw
Modrell's Point	William J. KEIGLEY	Oct. 24, 1849	Ashmore
Ashby	David PORTER	Apr. 9, 1850	Hutton
Wabash Point	Gideon EDWARDS	July 23, 1851	Mattoon
Republican	Chas. W. NABB	Mar. 31, 1852	Mattoon
Saint Omer	Jno. W. HOGE	Oct. 7, 1852	Ashmore
Rural Retreat	Robt. SANDERS	Nov. 16, 1853	Seven Hickory
Mattoon	Jas. M. TRUE	July 14, 1855	Mattoon
Ashmore	Jas. M. ASHMORE	Nov. 9, 1855	Ashmore
Milton Station	A. A. SUTHERLAND	Mar. 16, 1858	Humboldt
Etna	Robt. S. MILLS	Dec. 31, 1859	Paradise
Hutton	Valentine MCGAHAN	Dec. 5, 1861	Hutton
Loxa	Stephen Y. VANCE	July 22, 1862	La Fayette
Curtisville	Jno. C. MITCHELL	July 11, 1867	Morgan
McPherson	Jas. B. KILGORE	Feb. 19, 1869	Ashmore
Diona	Jno. M. MCMORRIS	Oct. 12, 1869	Hutton
Cooks Mills	Elam COOK	July 7, 1870	North Okaw
Rardin	Sam'l RARDIN	Mar. 30, 1875	Morgan
Humbolt	Geo. W. GRAY	July 25, 1875	Humbolt
Selina	Geo. B. BALCH	June 6, 1878	Pleasant Grove
Lerna	Geo. B. BALCH	Dec. 11, 1878	Pleasant Grove
Fieldsville	Wm. L. R. FUNKHOUSER	May 26, 1879	Pleasant Grove
Janesville	C. P. R. ROGERS	Sept. 1, 1879	Pleasant Grove
Coles Station	Jas. B. COOPER	Dec. 3, 1879	North Okaw
Clara	Jacob EASTER	April 15, 1880	Humbolt
Bushton	David BUSH	Aug. 22, 1881	Morgan
Butte	Redic C. HODGE	Feb. 1, 1882	Hutton
Folger	Wiley MATTHEWS	April 6, 1882	Pleasant Grove
Trilla	Henry MCPHERSON	June 28, 1882	Pleasant Grove
Arena	Cortez B. O'HAIR	May 4, 1883	Seven Hickory
Fair Grange	Cortez B. O'HAIR	June 15, 1883	Seven Hickory
Doty	James S. DOTY	Oct. 22, 1885	Charleston
Dirigo	Basil BAKER	May 7, 1892	Hutton
Humboldt	Clark ELKINS	June 20, 1892	Humboldt
Magnet	Isaac SAWYER	Aug. 19, 1893	Mattoon
Hites	Leonard HITES	Mar. 17, 1898	Ashmore
Doran	Jennie FROST	May 16, 1898	Humboldt

The following offices are still (1905) in operation: Ashmore,Bushton, Charleston, Cooks Mills, Doran, Etna, Fair Grange, Humboldt, Lerna, Loxa, McPherson, Magnet, Mattoon,Oakland, Rardin and Trilla.

Population

It is interesting to note the rate of growth of the countyin population in the different decades of its history. In 1830, just at its beginning, the population of the territorywhich became Coles County (including the present Cumberland and Douglas Counties) was stated to be 4,500. In 1835it had increased to 5,142. In 1840 it had grown to 9,615. In 1850 (Cumberland County having, in the meantime, beencut off) it had 9,335 people, of which 36 were colored. In 1860 (Douglas County having been detached in 1859) itspopulation was 14,203, of which 29 were colored. The census of 1870 showed a population of 25,235, of which 1,053were stated to be foreign born, and no enumeration of colored people seems to have been made, as the war was overand all colors were alike to the census enumerators in Illinois. By 1880, the authorities ceased to make distinctionsof any kind, and the total is given as 27,042. In 1890 the number was 30,093, and in 1900, 34,146.

The greatest relative growth, it will be noted, was in thetwo decades from 1850 to 1870. The coming in of the two railroads in 1855 gave it that impetus. The opening upof the Far West in the 'seventies, and the expansion of railroad facilities in every direction since, has madethe growth slower. Many have come in, but many have also gone out, and natives, or former residents, of this countyare scattered all over the United States. The county is quite largely represented in all of the newer States andthe Territories of the West.

The following table shows the population of the county bytownships, according to the census of 1900:

Ashmore Township	2, 081
Charleston Township	6,760
East Oakland Township	2,403
Humboldt Township	1,761
Hutton Township	1,984
Lafayette Township	1,246
Mattoon Township	10,583
Morgan Township	1,165
North Okaw Township	1,848
Paradise Township	900
Pleasant Grove Township	1,914
Seven Hickory Township	1,501
	-------
TOTAL	34,146

School Statistics

The following table shows the enrollment of pupils, the numberof teachers, and amount of wages paid to teachers in the school term

of 1904-1905:

11	7	......	.....	110	112	222	.....	.....	6	5	11
11	8	90	92	106	88	376	3	2	4	3	12
11	9	.....	.....	117	82	199	.....	.....	3	5	8
11	10&11	.....	.....	123	131	254	.....	.....	2	9	11
12	7	1391	1280	100	73	2844	4	49	1	6	60
12	8	.....	.....	175	152	327	.....	.....	6	7	13
12	9	.....	.....	76	88	164	.....	.....	3	7	10
12	10&11	.....	.....	159	185	344	.....	.....	6	10	16
12	14	.....	.....	25	27	52	.....	.....	2	.....	2
13	7	.....	.....	158	122	280	.....	.....	4	7	11
13	8	41	52	105	115	313	1	1	4	7	13
13	9	.....	.....	107	95	202	.....	.....	7	6	13
13	10&11	.....	.....	184	161	345	.....	.....	5	6	11
13	14	.....	.....	60	42	102	.....	.....	4	2	6
14	7	.....	.....	74	49	123	.....	.....	1	3	4
14	8	.....	.....	82	66	148	.....	.....	1	4	5
14	9	.....	.....	51	51	102	.....	.....	.....	9	9
14	10&11	239	238	56	49	582	2	8	4	1	15
14	14	.....	.....	71	58	129	.....	.....	4	4	8
Charleston
Union		526	487	.....	.....	1013	6	22	.....	.....	28
Ashmore
Union		92	107	.....	.....	190	1	3	.....	.....	4
TOTALS		2379	2256	1989	1746	8320	17	85	67	101	270

Amount paid to male teachers.............................................$29,873.07

Amount paid to female teachers...........................................55,270.83

Highest monthly wages paid any male teacher...................188.23

Lowest monthly wages paid any male teacher....................27.50

Highest monthly wages paid any female teacher................85.00

Lowest monthly wages paid any female teacher.................25.00

Average monthly wages paid to male teachers...................60.28

Average monthly wages paid to female teachers................45.94

County Indebtedness

Until recent years Coles County has never been very deeplyinvolved in debt. During most of the county's history its warrants were readily convertible into cash and weretaken up promptly by the County Treasurer.

The building of the new jail and court house brought about a different condition in the finances of the county.The construction of the jail made a small debt which was never paid entirely, and the cost of the court house andheating apparatus and furnishing made a total which, according to an official statement of the Board of Supervisorsissued in January, 1905, approximates $195,000. The following figures are taken from the statement referred to:

The judgments rendered against the county amount to $98,795.62,less interest, while the claims not in judgment amount to $14,661.32. The above are on account of court house constructionand furnishing. The money borrowed by the County Board from banks and individuals aggregates $57,540, less interest.

The above makes a total of $170,996.94, which constitutesthe net debt of the county for the court house and money borrowed for the jail and sundry uses. Adding intereston the judgments and on money borrowed, figured to January 1, 1905, carries the total approximately to $195,000.

Besides this regular debt, the statement referred to mentionsarrearages for 1904 of something over $50,000.

The City of Charleston has a bonded debt of $30,000. CharlestonTownship's bonded debt is $67,000, and the Charleston School District has a bonded debt of $16,600.

Mattoon (City) has outstanding bonds aggregating $70,000.The Township bonds outstanding amount to $96,000 and the Mattoon School District bonded debt is $54,000.

Citizens of Mattoon and Charleston have, during the past tenyears, spent large sums in public improvement, such as paving, permanent sidewalks and drainage, and a considerableamount is still owing in deferred payments of such work. But as these improvements are paid for by special assessmentagainst individual property owners, they are not classed a public debts.

The Oakland School District has a bonded debt of $9,000. theTownship of East Oakland issued bonds to the amount of $75,000 in aid of the Terre Haute and Peoria Railroad. About1877 the courts decided the issue invalid and the debts of both township and village are now merely nominal.

The same is true of Ashmore, which has no bonded debt.

Several School Districts in the County have small debts forthe construction of buildings.

Return to the main index pagefor Coles County
©2004, Transcribed by Judy Anderson for Illinois Genealogy Trails