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CHAPTER XI.
pg. 32
The Market Price of
Food in 1849
The Mexican War
A Change in the Method of Voting
It is interesting to
compare the prices of commodities in 1849 with those of the
present time. Following is a copy of Willis Willard's
weekly market list published in the Jonesboro Gazette. It
gives the price and the amount for sale of the articles used in
those days. Four, 4 bbl. at $4.50, 2-100 lb sacks at
$2.25; wheat 40 bu. at 52c; corn in ear, 20 bu. at 25c; salt,
per bu. 50c, per sack $2.00; dry apples, 50 bu. at 52c; green
apples, 20 bu. at 25c; dry peaches, 90 bu. at $1.00; green, 25
bu. at 30c; Castor beans, 10 bu. at $1.25; white beans, 30 bu.
at 35c; butter, 6 lbs. at 8c; coffee, sack, 8 lb. at 9c; 9 lb.
at 10c; sugar (New Orleans) 7 lbs. at 10c, 5 bbl. at 7c per lb.;
Imperial tea, 90 lb. at $1.00 per lb. nails, 6 lb. at 7c; lead,
6 lb. at 7½c; whiskey, 35 gal. at
40c; 22½ bbl. at 25c per gal.; molasses, 35 gal. at 40c, 30 bbl.
at 35c per gal.; candle molds, 11 at 15c each, 12 at 18c each;
salaratus, 9 lb. 10c; cordage, manilla, 18 lb. at 25c; chickens,
100 doz. at 25c per doz; eggs, 5 doz. at 6c per doz.; linseed
oil, 75 gal. at $1.00; turpentine, 87 gal. at $1.00; white lead,
200 kegs, at $2.25; tallon, 6 lb. at 8c; dry hides, 6 at 8c;
green, 3 at 4c. The market price for beef cattle and hogs
was not given but articles the store wished to buy to sell to
traders on the river were priced as follows: feathers, 25c per
lb.; ginseng, 20 c per lb.; beeswax, 18c per lb.; flaxseed, 80c
per lb.
In 1846, the United States declared that a state of war
existed between this country and Mexico, and Illinois was called
upon for thirty companies of men. Union County sent its
quota, most of whom were placed in Company F
of the 2nd Regiment. The enlisted men were
allowed to elect their own officers. This company took
part in the Battle of Buena Vista, February 22nd, 1847, which
brought about the close of the war and victory for the United
States.
The following men were enlisted from Union County:
Captain, Hacker, John S.
First Lieutenant, Condon, Sidney S.
Second Lieutenant, John Roberts and John Master
Third Lieutenants, Alphonso Grammer
Sergeants, John C. Hunsaker, Alex J. Nimmo, Abram
Hargrave and John Grammer
Corporals, Adam, Creese, Wright C. Pender, Henderson
Brown, Abram Cover
Musicians, Jacob and Grave H. Lemley
Privates:
Barringer, Charles |
Bevins, John |
Brown, John |
Burgess, John Z. |
Casper, Peter H. |
Coffman, Elijah |
Cripps, Peter |
Davie, Scipio A. B. |
Davis, John |
Doughterty, Daniel |
Fike, James |
Finley, Charles A. |
Fisher, Simeon |
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Flaugh, Henry |
Georgus, Franklin |
Grammer, James |
Gray, Jessie |
Hacker, Henry C. |
Hamby, William N. |
Hayward, Benjamin F. |
Henry, William |
Hess, Samuel |
Jones, Fielding A. |
Jones, Silas |
Kerr, John |
King, Frederick |
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Langley, Chesterfield |
Lemons, Andrew J. |
Lewis, Philip |
Lingle, Adam |
Lingle, Daniel |
Lingle, John |
Lyerle, Daniel W. |
Martin, Samuel |
McCoy, Harrison |
McGinnis, John |
McIntosh, Washington L. |
Menees, Jefferson |
Menees, John |
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Miller, William |
Millikin, John H. |
Moland, John |
Parker, Samuel |
Phelan, James M. |
Regan, John W. |
Resink, Garrett |
Simonds, Amalphus W. |
Sprey, Franklin |
Springs, James A. |
Thornton, Azel |
Vick, Reuben |
Walker, James |
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Charles A. Finley in the
quartermaster's department, Henry C. Hacker, hospital
steward and Pleas Martin, surgeon were also in the
service.
Flex G. Anderson, Anderson Davie and Joseph
Ledgerwood were wounded in the battle of Buena Vista and
died in hospitals after the war.
Feb. 12, 1849, the Illinois Legislature passed a law
revising the method of voting in Illinois, establishing the
use of ballots and ballot boxes.
The law stated that a general election should be held
on Tuesday next after the first Monday in the November
preceding the expiration of the term of office of each
president of the United States. The general election
for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state,
auditor of public accounts, state treasurer, representatives
to Congress, Senators and representatives to the general
assembly and county officers, was to be held biennially,
Tuesday next after the First Monday in November, except for
such offices as were directed to be chosen other than
biennially, namely the governor and other officers who
served for terms of four years each instead of two years.
There was provisions made for the election of two
supreme judges, one from the first district to be elected
the first Monday in June, 1852 and a successor every nine
years thereafter, the second from the second district to be
elected the first Monday in June, 1855, and a successor each
nine years thereafter. The judges then in office were
told hold their positions until the times set for the next
elections.
Circuit judges were to be elected in each circuit the
first Monday in June 1855 and every six years thereafter,
the second from the second district to be elected the first
Monday in June, 1855, and a successor each nine years
thereafter. The judges then in office were to hold
their positions until the times set for the next elections.
Circuit judges were to be elected in each circuit the
first Monday in June 1855 and every six years thereafter.
It was provided that if a vacancy should occur in the
judgeship of the supreme court, or circuit court within one
year before a scheduled election, the governor of Illinois
should appoint a judge to fill the vacancy until the time of
the regularly scheduled election. In case the office
of supreme court clerk should become vacant, the supreme
judge should appoint a clerk to fill the vacancy until term
of a scheduled election, and the circuit judge should do
likewise in case of a vacancy in the office of circuit court
clerk. The governor of the state was to make
appointments to fill vacancies in the office of states
attorney, state auditor of pubic accounts, state treasurer
or secretary of state.
The privilege of voting was given to all white men
above the age of 21 who had resided in the state for one
year.
The method of voting was changed to a ballot system.
Blank ballots with no writing or identifying marks were to
be used by voters who wrote the names of the candidates of
their choice, folded the ballots and gave it to one of the
election judges who placed it in the ballot box without
unfolding it.
After the voting was completed, the clerk counted the
number of names of votes on the poll book who had voted and
the judges county the number of ballots in the box. If
more ballots were in the box than there were names of
voters, a public drawing was held where the judges drew out
the number o surplus ballots and destroyed them. In
counting the votes, if two ballots were found folded
together, both were destroyed because this appeared as
evidence that someone was attempting to cast more than one
vote.
The clerks and judges were allowed to adjourn until the
next day after the votes were cast to count the votes.
They were required to hand the results of their count to the
county clerk within four days after the election and the
county clerk was required to publish the returns.
The ballots were returned to the ballot box which was
then locked and one election judge kept the key and another
the box until the next election if there was no contest.
This law repealed all previous laws that had been
passed in regard to elections.
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