ON Friday, July 9, the first term of the County Commissioner's Court was held at the house of Alexis Phelps.  Daniel McNeil, Jr., was appointed Clerk of the Court, this being the first appointment of the Court.  The first order made was that McNeil should file his bond.  The first account approved and ordered to be paid was that of Adam Ritchey, John B. Talbot and John Pence, for amounts respectively, $3.00, $3.00 and $1.50.  The first road viewers were appointed on Sept. 7, 1830, upon the petition of William McCullough, for a road from Lower Yellow Banks to the southeast corner of section 36, in town 12, north of range 1 west, Kelly Township.  Stephen S. Phelps, David Findley and Allen G. Andrews were appointed viewers.
     Jacob Rust was licensed to keep a grocery or inn Oct. 1st, 1831, at Monmouth.  Wm. Causland was licensed to keep an inn at Yellow Banks, June 11, 1831.  Stephen S. Phelps was licensed to keep a store at the same time and at the same place.  On Dec. 5, 1831, Elijah Davidson, was licensed to keep a grocery at Monmouth.  The order of the County Commissioner's Court that the Circuit Court hold its next term at Monmouth, the permanent seat of justice, was made Apr. 12, 1831.
     Daniel McNeil, Jr., took an oath to faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties of his office, according to the best of his ability and understanding, and to support the Constitution of the United States and State, presented his bond to the Commissioners' Court, which was accepted, and then entered upon the duties of his office.
     It was ordered by the County Commissioners' Court that a temporary seat of justice or place for holding the County Commissioners' and Circuit Courts for the county, be held at the house of Mr. Alexander Phelps, at the Yellow Banks, on fractional section 15, in town 11 north, of range 5 west.  The Court appointed Stephen S. Phelps Treasurer for the County, and required of him a bond of $1,000 for the faithful discharge of his duties, which bond was presented and approved.  They also authorized him to purchase a small "blank book," for the purpose of entering county orders and keeping the said Treasurer's account with said County of Warren.
     At this time the Court divided the County into two election precincts, to be known as precinct number one and precinct number two.  Number one was laid out as follows: Com-

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mencing at the northeast corner of township 12 north, of range 4 west (Kelly), thence west to the Mississippi River, thence down said river to the township line, between 7 and 8 north, thence east to the southeast corner of township 8 north and range 4 west, thence north to the place of beginning.
     The place for holding the election was ordered to be at the Court House, or the place of holding Courts, and Jeremiah Smith, James Jamison and Thomas D. Wells were appointed Judges of the Election to be held in this precinct.
     Precinct number 2 was laid out as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of township 12, north of range 1 west (Kelly), thence west to the northwest corner of township 12, north of range 3 west (Sumner), thence south to the southwest corner of township 8 north, of range 3 west (Point Pleasant), thence east to the southeast corner of township 8, north of range 1 west (Greenbush) and thence north to the place of beginning.  The place of election was located at the house of James Hodgins, and Thomas C. Jennings, James Hindley and James Hodgins were appointed Judges of the Election.
     For the purpose of electing Justices of the Peace and Constables, the county was divided into two districts the Mississippi and Cedar Creek districts.  The Mississippi district comprised what is now Henderson County.  The place of election was fixed at the place of holding courts in this district, and Jeremiah Smith, James Jamison and Thomas D. Wells were appointed Judges of the Election.  Cedar Creek District included Warren County.  The place of holding the elections for Justices of the Peace and Constables were fixed at James Hodgins', and John Findley, Thomas C. Jennings and James Hodgins were appointed Judges of Election for this district.
     An election was ordered by the County Commissioners' Court, to be held the first Monday in August, which was the day for the general election throughout the State.  It was also ordered that in addition to the State officers to be elected, there should be chosen three County Commissioners, one Sheriff, one Coroner, two Justices of the Peace and two Constables for each precinct.
     Anticipating this election and the full organization of the county, Judge Young, on the 5th day of July, 1830, issued the following order:

     STATE OF ILLINOIS,
FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. }ss.

     To all whom these presents may concern, Greeting:  Know ye, that I, Richard M. Young, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, north of the Illinois River, and presiding Judge of the Circuit Court, in and for the county of Warren, and State aforesaid, in pursuance of the power vested in me, by virtue of the 10th section of the act entitled "an act supplementary to an act regulating the Supreme and Circuit Courts," approved Jan. 19, 1829, do hereby order and appoint that Circuit Court be held in and for the said county of Warren, at such places as may be selected and provided by the County Commissioner's Court of said county, on the fourth Monday in June and the first Monday in October, until I shall make another order to the contrary.
                                                             RICHARD M. YOUNG.
                                                  Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
     The Judge gave the above order while holding court at Galena.  Subsequently he made an order appointing Daniel McNeil, Jr. Clerk pro tem, for the Circuit Court.
     At this general election 47 votes were cast, being within three of the entire vote of the county.  John B. Talbot, Peter Butler and John Pence were elected County Commissioners; Stephen S. Phelps, Sheriff;  and John Ritchey, Coroner.  At the Yellow Banks District, John Pence and Daniel McNeil, Jr., were elected Justices of the Peace, and James Ryerson and William Causland, Constables.  John B. Talbot and Adam Ritchey, Jr., were elected Justices of the Peace for Hodgin's Grove District, and David Findley and James Hodgins Constables.
     The first regular term of the County Commissioners' Court set on the second Monday in August, 1830.  At this meeting John Pence and Peter Butler only were present, John B. Talbot, the other Commissioner being absent.  At this session the Court ordered to be summoned a grand and a petit jury for a term of Circuit Court to be holden the first Monday in October.  This term of court was not held, and consequently the men who were summoned for jurors were not wanted.  The Judge and Clerk met, transacted some formulatory business and then returned to their homes.
     After the organization of the county, the people were a little anxious to place themselves on good terms with Uncle Sam, as will be seen from the following order, which was indicted by the County Commissioners:

STATE OF ILLINOIS, WARREN COUNTY.
     The Clerk of the Warren County Commissioners' Court will certify to the Postmaster-General of the United States, at Washington city, that the county of Warren was organized on the 3d day of July, 1830, and that the temporary seat of Justice is and was located at Lower Yellow Banks (Oquawka), on the Mississippi River, on the 9th day of July, and about half way between the Des Moines and Rock River Rapids, and request the Postmaster-General to establish a Postoffice at said County seat, to be called Warren Court House Postoffice; and further request the Postmaster-General to forward the mail immediately to said office, either from Fulton and Schuyler Counties, or from Venus, Hancock County.

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     Given under our hands in vacation of Court, this 10th day of September, A. D. 1830
                                        JOHN PENCE
                                        JOHN B. TALBOT,
                                     County Commissioners

     The county having been fully organized, the question of the permanent seat of Justice came up for their action.  Not being able to settle this matter among themselves, the citizens petitioned the Legislature to make the location.  Upon receiving the petition, the Legislature took action at once by special act, approved Jan. 27, 1831, and appointed Hazen Bedell, of Hancock County; John G. Sanborn, of Knox County; John McNeil, Fulton County, Special Commissioners to select the site.  Having duly qualified themselves, they met at the house of Stephen S. Phelps, on the first Monday in April, and at once proceeded to the work in hand.  There were several contestants for the location, among which were Hodgins' Point, Center Grove, Yellow Banks, Ellison Creek, Monmouth, and some other names were put in.  From these each County Commissioner drew one name.  The names drawn were Isabella, Kosciusco and Monmouth.  They were put together and the drawing again commenced, the agreement being that the first name drawn should be the one selected.  Kosciusko was the lucky name.  When this name appeared before them in all its un-Saxon orthography, they were in doubt.  They felt sure that not one fourth of the inhabitants could ever learn to spell that name.  Finally, they decided to draw again, and this time the name of Monmouth came out, which was accepted.  They completed their work on the 7th of April, sealed up their report, addressed it to the County Commissioners' Court, and returned to their homes. 
     On the 11th of April, a special meeting of the Court was called.  The sealed package was opened and the following report was found:
     "To the Honorable County Commissioners' Court of Warren County: The undersigned Commissioners, appointed by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, entitled an "act to establish a permanent seat of Justice for Warren County," approved Jan. 27, 1831, respectfully report that they located the seat of Justice for said county on the southwest quarter of section 29, in township 11 north, of range 2 west (Monmouth Township) of the 4th principal meridian, which said quarter section is reported, and we believe to be, Congress land, and they have given the said seat of Justice the name of Monmouth.
     In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seal this 7th day of April, A. D. 1831.
                                        JOHN G. SANBORN,
                                        HAZEN BEDELL,
                                        JOHN McNEIL

     This report was accepted by the County Commissioners, though with some reluctance, as stated in the history of Monmouth, and was ordered to be placed on record.
     After the organization of the county, Mercer County was attached to it for Judicial and other purposes, until it should be organized as provided by law.
     In the spring of 1831, the matter of laying out the county seat was taken up by the  County Commissioners.  Plans were carefully prepared and furnished and the survey given to Peter Butler, Apr. 25, 1831, who received 21½ cents per lot for the same.  On the 26th the Court located the public square.  On the 6th of June, the lots were put up at public sale.  There were 46 lots sold, amounting in all to $965.62½.
     At the April term, 1831, the Commissioners' Court ordered that proposals be received and contracts be entered into for the purpose of building a Court-House from plans to be furnished by the Court.  From the plans presented, it would appear that these pioneers did not think that expensive halls or buildings were necessary for the seat of Justice.  The following were the specifications:  "To be 20x22 feet on the ground, 9 feet between sleepers and the joists, and to be built of logs hewn down inside and out, and finished as the County Commissioners shall direct."  The construction of this building was let at public vendue to Francis Kendall at $57.  It was located on the west side of Main Street, about a block below the square.
     Those early Commissioners were statesmen as well as economists, and the duties that they felt called upon to discharge were manifold.  At their June term 1831, we find them licensing Win. Cansland to keep an inn at the Yellow Banks, which was then temporarily the seat of Justice, under some very commendable restrictions and provisions, to wit:  "On his producing to the Clerk of this Court, the Treasurer's receipt for $2.50, and paying the Clerk his fee; and that the following rates be al

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lowed in said tavern: Horse keeping per night, 25 cents: single feed per night 12½ cents; for each meal of victuals, 25 cents; lodging per night, per bed, 12½ cents, but if two persons lodge in one bed, 6¼ cents; for each half pint of brandy, 25 cents; for each half pint of rum or wine, 18¾ cents; for each half pint of whisky, 12½ cents.  If any person shall call for a less quantity than a half pint of either of said liquors, the same price as per half pint."  If liquors could be had at the present day at the above rates, it is not probable that the good people of Monmouth could enforce their prohibition laws.
     This inn was the first opened in the county.  At the same time a license was given to Stephen S. Phelps to sell merchandise.  Viewers were appointed at this term to lay out a road from Broadway, in Monmouth, to Yellow Banks, now known as Oquawka.
     The first regular term of the Circuit Court was called to meet at Monmouth, June, 1831.  On account of threatened Indian troubles, no term was held.  It was the same in October.  In October of the following year, the first session of the Court was held, Judge Richard M. Young presiding.  For the proceedings of this Court, the reader is referred to the legal history.  The August elections of 1832 resulted in the choice of Peter Butler, Sheriff; John Ritchey, Coroner; Jeremiah Smith, John B. Talbot and James McCallon, County Commissioners; Wm. Edmundson, Representative of the District embracing the counties of Calhoun, McDonough and Warren; Wm. McCreery, Senator of the District embracing the counties of Schuyler, Knox, Fulton, Calhoun, McDonough and Warren; Joseph Duncan for Congress, for all Northern Illinois.
     During the year 1833, the laws for the collection of taxes were passed and the land in the Military Tract was no longer exempt.  The Clerks of the County Commissioners' Court were made the collectors from September to March, and if the taxes were not then paid the non-resident lands were sold by the Clerks instead of the Auditor as heretofore.  This gave the citizens an opportunity to become bidders without going to Vandalia, then the seat of Government.
     In 1837, under the act of the General Assemby passed in 1837, a Probate Court was established. 
     The residents of the territory now embraced by Henderson County, were not satisfied with the location of the county seat at Monmouth, and made an effort to have it changed to a more central location.  Failing in this, they seceded and organized themselves into a county which was called Henderson.
     From about the beginning of the organization of the county, the County Commissioners, ardently sustained by the people, commenced the laying out and improvement of roads, which under an organized system they have continued until the present day.  The result of this has been that to-day the public roads of the county are unexceptional.
     The municipal affairs of the county continued under the government of the County Commissioners until 1849, when they were turned over to the County Court.  They remained in charge of this Court until June, 1850, when they were for a brief period in the hands of the Board of Supervisors;  then the county matters were again placed in the hands of the County Court.  (See County Court history).  In 1854 the government of the county was again placed in the hands of the Board of Supervisors.
     The last session of the County Commissioners' Court was held Nov. 12, 1849.  Under the Constitution of 1848, the County Judge and two associates had been chosen at the general election, in 1849, who were to supersede the Commissioners' Court and take charge of the municipal affairs of the county.  These officers were commissioned by the Governor of the State, and after taking the oath of office, duly entered on the discharge of their duties.  The first session of this Court was held Dec. 3, 1849.  At this session, the Court appointed three Commissioners, Joseph Paddox, John C. Bond and Ira F. M. Butler, to divide the county of Warren into townships in accordance with the township organization laws.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

     AT the election held in November, 1849, the people had declared themselves in favor of township organization.  The commissioners met and proceeded in the discharge of their duties, completing their work and making their report to the Court.  The Board of Supervisors chosen at the spring elections, on the 8th day of April, 1850, organized and proceeded to the transaction of county business.  They adjourned

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on the 5th of June, to meet on the second Monday of November following, but this Board never met again.  The Supreme Court had decided the elections illegal on account of the insufficiency of votes cast.  Accordingly the municipal affairs of the county reverted back again to the County Court.  This Court continued to transact the county business until 1854, holding their last regular session on April 1st of this year.
     A petition was presented to the County Court, in session Sept. 12, 1853, signed by James McCoy and 50 legal voters of the county, praying that the township organization be submitted again to the people at the next general election, to be holden on Tuesday after the first Monday in November next, which petition was duly granted by the Court, and the Clerk was ordered to give the notice of same for the next general election.  An election was accordingly held on the 8th of November, 1853, for township organization.  The whole number of votes cast was 1,396, for organization 768, being a majority of all the votes cast at said election.  The County Court at its December Term, 1853, again appointed Commissioners to divide the county into townships.  John C. Bond, Samuel Holland and Robert Gilmore were the appointees.
     On June 5th following the Board of Supervisors were elected. On April 4, they met, organized and assumed control of the county affairs.  A vote had been taken for and against township organization at the regular fall election of 1851 and 1852, and at each of these elections, township organization had been voted on and had been defeated.  The people seemed to be very much adverse to it at this time.  At the November election of 1853, a vote was taken, as stated above, for township organization, which proved successful.
     Since then the affairs of the county have been conducted by the Board of Supervisors, and in the main with unusual satisfaction.  The different townships have generally sent able and honest members to represent their interests and to legislate for the county.  During the war the Board did much toward aiding the cause of the Union.  The names of the men comprising the Board since 1853 are given in sketches of the various townships.

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