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UNION COUNTY, ILLINOIS
History & Genealogy


Source:
History of Union County, Illinois
by Lulu Leonard
Publ. betw. 1939 - 1941
 

 

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
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
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
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

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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