This book tells the story of the
construction of the present court house which cost $1,380,500, and of the
two preceding it. The first court house was built of logs in 1830 and cost
$128.66. The second one was constructed of brick in 1838-40 and cost
$15,000.
The construction of the log court house and the brick court
house did not attract more than ordinary attention. For that reason rather
brief mention is made of them. It is about the present court house whose
stirring history covers a period from 1867, when its construction began,
down to 1910, when the last bond was paid the debt discharged, that this
book has to do. It contains a simple recital of the main facts as disclosed
by the records and first hand information obtained from those who had
intimate knowledge of the new court house from the time its erection began
down to the time the bonds were paid.
In addition to the story of
the three court houses, a number of biographies of business and professional
men are contained in the book. To those who contributed the sketches, and
for helpful suggestions from friends, sincere thanks are offered.
The Author
Caption:
The Court House as it appeared in 1869. Note the piles of dirt in the distance at
the right. Part of the iron fence shows at the left.
When the Board of Supervisors of Macoupin county at a meeting held in the fall of 1933, decided to accept the offer of the Civil Works Administration, at Washington, to give financial assistance for the redecorating and partial reconstruction of the court house, their action served once more to bring to the attention of the people of this county its great temple of justice. Those of the older generation have a fairly good knowledge of the interesting history connected with its inception and construction. But to the younger generation only fragments of the actual story have come into their possession.
The history of the erection of this magnificent building reads in many respects like a tale from a book of fiction, rather than a recital of actual facts. It cost, according to the county records, $1,380,500. This in itself was a staggering sum for a country community, even when it was spread over a period of forty years, commencing as it did in 1867. When the erection of the present court house was begun, the county was not under township organization. The sheriff was the tax collector and the civil war had ended only two years. West of the Mississippi river our country was in most respects practically undeveloped. This will give the younger readers a background of conditions existing in Macoupin county in 1867. When this court house was completed it was said to be the finest county building in the United States, with the possible exception of the one located in the confines of New York city. It was much more pretentious than most state capitols at that time.
So far as is known no official record has ever been made as to why such an expensive court house now adorns the county seat. Back in the early sixties there was talk of dividing Macoupin county and making two counties out of it. If this had been done it was the plan to have the county seat located at Virden in the north county and at Bunker Hill in the south county. This of course, would have taken the county seat away from Carlinville. While there is nothing on record to prove that this was the motive, it is fairly well established that this was the real reason that prompted the action to have the big court house built at Carlinville. Once this immense building was started on its way, it was sound reasoning to assume that no one with enough influence, could stop the plan and divide the county.
Caption:
The First Court
House, built of logs in 1830. The photograph is from a recent sketch drawn
from the original description of the building.
In order to give a true idea of the full meaning of all that the building of the present court house meant, a brief account of two other court houses built in Macoupin county will be given. The first court house was built of logs in 1830. It was ordered constructed by the county court which assembled at the log home of Ezekiel Good, an early settler. The specifications were that it was to be built of hewn logs, 18x24 feet, the logs to face one foot on an average, the house to be two stories high, the lower story to be eight feet between floors and the second story to be six feet below the roof, to have one door below, with one window below and above; door to be cased and to have a good strong shutter; the windows to contain twelve lights or panes of glass, 8x10; two good plank floors to be laid down rough; roof to be double covered with boards, weight poles to be shaven, cracks to be filled on the inside with shaven boards, and crammed on the outside with straw or grass well mixed with mud; all to be completed in a strong manner. The record shows that one payment was made for $48.33; one for $57.33 and another for $23. If this was all of the expense, it shows that the building with benches and bar cost a total of $128.66. The contract was let to Seth Hodges. For the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice of Macoupin county, the following persons were appointed commissioners: Seth Hodges, Joseph Borough, John Harris, Shadrack Reddick and Ephriam Powers. Before the log court house was built the Commissioner's court met in different places — in the homes of some of the commissioners. This was the first court house built in Macoupin county and it is claimed that it was the first one erected west of the state of Ohio.
Caption:
The second Court
House of 1838-40, built of brick and costing $15,000. It was sold and torn
down in 1869.
For ten years this crude log house served as the frontier seat of justice and answered all of the requirements of that early period. Finally it became too small for the growing needs of the time, and at a special term of court held in 1836, plans were outlined for the erection of a more modern and commodious building. Plans were adopted for a two-story structure to cost $15,000. It was to be of brick and was 50x50 feet. The plans were drawn by Dr. J. R. Lewis and were adopted by the county commissioners. The court house had a belfry on top. Before court was called into session some officer or citizen was directed to ring the bell which was notification that the mill of justice was about to begin to grind. Harbird Weatherford and Jefferson Weatherford were designated by the court as two of the "undertakers" to erect the building. The record also shows that J. Greathouse was associated with the Weatherfords in constructing the building. It was the first order of the court that the window sills were to be of stone. Later this was changed and walnut sills were put in. This saved the county $175. In March of 1840 this building was officially received. The court house was surrounded by a fence which cost $230. The building was wrecked in 1869. The bell which had done service was sold and was bought by the congregation of St. Paul's Episcopal church of Carlinville, in whose possession it remains today. Back in the early fifties, Abraham Lincoln, then a struggling young lawyer, tried a chancery case in this court house. The record of an order in Lincoln's own handwriting is now on file in the office of the circuit clerk. No doubt but that Lincoln appeared in other cases in this old court house. This building had two corridors running through it, the one north and south and the other east and west. Quite a number of people now living in Carlinville remember this court house.
After a period of about thirty years the brick court house was deemed to be inadequate for the growing needs of the county, and the building of a third court house, and the one about which this story has to deal, was ordered. This was in 1867 and at that time the county court, as commissioners, had full charge of the county's affairs. The first official record covering the erection of the present court house, that was to play such an important part in the history of the people of Macoupin county, is as follows and is taken from the county court of March, 1867:
Ordered that A. McKim Dubois and George H. Holliday be associated with T. L. Loomis, county judge, and Isham J. Peebles, County Justice, as commissioners, to erect a new court house in the City of Carlinville, Illinois, foundation to be laid this year, and the building to be completed before the expiration of the term of office of the present court; said court house not to be commenced until there is sufficient money in the county treasury to pay the present indebtedness of the county.
"Ordered that a levy of 50 cents on each $100 value of property in Macoupin county for the year 1867, real, personal and mixed, be made for the purpose of erecting said court house, and that the clerk extend said tax on the collector's books for the year 1867, and that it be collected as their taxes for county purposes."
Judge Loomis was constituted agent of the county to close all contracts. The commissioners at once consulted E. E. Meyers, a Springfield, Illinois, architect, and the plans submitted by him were adopted. He was appointed superintendent of the work. Soon vast heaps of stone and iron began to assume shape and the great structure was under way. In 1867 the legislature of Illinois passed an act authorizing the county court to borrow money to build the court house. The act further authorized them to raise money to liquidate all indebtedness that might accrue in building the court house and for that purpose they were authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed $50,000. In any event the building was not to cost more than $175,000.00. This act was the real starting point from which so much litigation grew and around which so many stirring scenes were to center in the future. At the June term of the county court it was ordered that county orders be issued to bear interest at the rate of 10% and the amount was to be $20,000.00. They were to run for ten years.
The court further ordered that $50,000.00 in bonds be issued to run for a period of ten years and to bear interest at 10%. By September over $13,000.00 had been expended and the foundation was far enough along for the ceremony of laying the corner stone. This was done in October, 1867, with the Masons in charge. John M. Woodson, first mayor of Carlinville, and a prominent citizen, was the orator of the day. Mr. Woodson afterwards moved to St. Louis, where he died about six years ago.
It was plainly evident at the time the corner stone was laid that the building then under course of construction could not be finished tor anything like tile amount of money that was at first contemplated. At the December term of court it was found that the cost would be so heavy that it was ordered that the senators and representatives in Congress be asked to have a special act passed granting the county the right to import free of duty, all building material needed in the construction of the edifice. It is not known whether this was actually done. The building continued apace and at the special term of court held in January, 1869, the county agent, Judge T. L. Loomis, reported the immense sum of $449,604.07 had been paid out up to that time and the building was not yet finished. The great dome and the roof bad been contracted for at an estimated cost of $125,115.00.
More bonds were issued and the work was continued and when at the September term, 1869, Judge Loomis made his report as county agent, it was seen that the enormous sum of $838,540.77 had been expended and the building was still not finished. It was at this term of court that the old court house, costing originally $15,000.00 was sold by order of the court and brought a total of $856.35, including safes and furniture. It was torn down. The total assessed value of property at that time in Macoupin county was, according to the official report of the county assessor, $7,274,186.00. Among the items of expense noted in the report of Judge Loomis for September were those of Deakman & Messenger, a Chicago firm, who had the contract for the stone and brick work. One single item was a bill for $50,000.00, and another for $49,000.00, and many smaller sums, paid to this firm alone. This will give some idea as to how the grand total grew and grew.
In January, 1870, a new court had been elected as follows: P. C. Huggins, County Judge; Martin Olmsted and Andrew A. Atkins, Associate Justices. These gentlemen were confronted with, a mighty task of trying to find some method by which this great debt could be met.
During these three years of building this court house a fierce opposition had grown up against what was termed a "flagrant and outrageous violation of law" in expending this money. Meetings of protest had been held and threats had been openly made against the men who had piled this mighty debt upon the people in direct opposition to their will. At the January term of court Gen. John I. Rinaker and Hon. C. A. Walker, of Carlinville, lawyers of statewide reputation, came before the court in behalf of the people, and formally petitioned it to declare illegal the taxes known as the "court house tax" and "bond tax." The motion was sustained by the court and the sheriff was formally directed not to collect this tax which was so obnoxious to the people. The court further employed an attorney to look after the interests of Macoupin county. Letters were openly addressed to the court through the local newspapers denouncing the tax and still others were printed saying that it should be collected. It was found when the coupons were presented for payment that some of the bonds had been duplicated. Numbers on many bonds failed to agree with the numbers on the bond register. It was ordered that no bonds or coupons be paid until they had been presented to the court for approval.
By February, 1869, the building was up to the cornice. So much excitement had been created by the meetings of protest that it had the effect of calling into question the legality of the acts of the county court. No further funds could be obtained to push the work to completion. The legislature being in session, men were sent to Springfield and succeeded in getting a special act passed entitled, "An Act to legalize certain acts of the county court of Macoupin County and to enable it to complete a court house in said county." This was approved March 9, 1869. A monster meeting of the people was held in Carlinville to protest against the passage of this bill. The order of the county court, directing the sheriff not to collect the special tax and the bond tax, had involved the county in numerous law suits which had brought about a maze of legal tangle. Judgments were obtained against the county and a mandamus was issued by the United States court at Springfield to compel the levy and collection of the taxes. In 1870 Macoupin County had adopted township organization and the mandamus was directed against the members of the Board of Supervisors in February, 1874. The board was with the people and a majority of them absented themselves from the jurisdiction of the court. A resolution was unanimously adopted appropriating $18,000.00 for the use of the chairman in "court house suits." This money was used to pay the fines of absentees who were in contempt of court. Of course the record does not say that in plain words, but that is what the money was used for.
After struggling with the question until 1877 the Board of that year made the definite proposition to fund the debt at 75c on the dollar at 6% interest to run for 20 years. This was submitted at the election of January 5, 1878, and was approved by the voters. The amount outstanding at that time was $1,380,500.00. The new bonds were issued to the amount of $1,036,000.00. Twenty years later the bonds were again funded. This time the amount was $720,000.00 at 4 1/2%.
But the funding of the bonds did not release the Board of Supervisors from worries over the court house debt. When the people voted to approve the refund there were many holders of the securities who refused to surrender their paper according to the terms as endorsed by the people. These persistent and non-conforming bondholders brought suit in the United States court at Springfield, and in many instances got judgments against Macoupin county. In 1881 most of the members of the Board were summoned to Carlinville to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of court for refusing to levy a tax to pay the bondholders who demanded dollar for dollar and refused to accept anything less. The Board appointed a committee to go to Springfield in July of 1881 and secure information and report at the September meeting as to the judgments rendered against the county. The committee reported tliat judgments to the amount of $73,568.90, with interest at 6 per cent, were on record at Springfield. A motion was made at the September meeting that the taxing authorities be instructed to make the necessary levy to pay the judgments. It failed to carry by the narrow margin of 8 to 7.
Members of the Board who opposed the bondholders who held out for one hundred cents on the dollar, made speeches warning of the consequences of letting the bars down to a flood of such payments if they did not stand firm against it. It was estimated that bonds to the amount of $280,000 were held on which full payment was demanded. They were held by Individuals and corporations. The Aetna Life Insurance Company held quite a lot of them. A Carlinville man, now deceased, was the holder of a large block of the paper. It was estimated that had the county surrendered to the demands for full payment it would have cost the taxpayers $500,000 in principal and interest, in addition to the payments which the funding proposition called for.
Caption:
The Court House as it Appears To-day.
The court house was officially completed in 1870 and is a beautiful structure constructed of magnesian limestone. The building is a rectangle, 181 feet in length by 80 feet wide, crossed in equal distance from north to south ends by a transverse rectangle of smaller dimensions, the plan resembling an elongated Swiss cross, or a cross of St. George, of double width. It is of Corinthian style of architecture. It is divided into three floors. The basement is 12 feet in height, main floor 16, the upper floor, which is occupied as a court room, is 32 feet high. The height of the building from the cornice to the ground is 691/2 feet. The roof is surmounted by a large dome. The height from the apex of the dome to the ground is 191 feet, giving the dome an altitude of almost 100 feet. The main entrance is on the north and is reached by 22 stone steps, flanked on both sides by low walls of masonry, capped with cut stone, leading up to the portico. Supporting the roof of the portico are four Corinthian columns 40 feet in height, four feet in diameter at the base and three and one-half feet at the top. The south entrance is constructed the same as the north. The steps at the east and west entrances are laid parallel with the building, ascending from north and south and meeting upon a platform. For many years these east and west entrances were used regularly. But later they were closed and the long narrow hallways on either aide are now used for offices. At all of the entrances were lamp posts of iron, highly ornamental. During the reconstruction work these lamp posts were removed. The floors of the building are laid with tile. At the northwest, northeast, southeast and southwest on the ground floor, are entrances. Every door in the building, when constructed was of iron, which includes the doors to the offices. The long corridor on the main floor has a small arch in the center supported by iron columns. The upper floor is reached by two wide iron stairways at the right and left on entering the building. At the south end of the corridor is a stairway leading up to the rear of the court room, and also to the fourth floor, just under the dome. The front stairways are ornamented with flowers done in iron and other designs. The balustrade of the main stairways at the north are ornamented with dogs heads done in iron. On the front of each of the double iron doors opening into the court room is a lion's head with a large ring in its mouth.
Caption:
Interior view of the Court Room,
showing the judge's bench; the $1500 chair and the interior of the dome. The
iron fence around the bar is seen in the foreground.
The court room is 60x74 feet. From the interior of the dome a large chandelier was suspended upon which were 56 gas burners. It cost $3,000. The walls are of tall shield-like panels of iron. The ceiling is finished in iron with three shell-like circular ornaments of the same material. At the rear of the room on either side two small chandeliers were suspended. The window frames throughout the building are of iron. Each window contains four panes of glass. Above the windows on the second floor are circular iron frames, each containing eight panes of glass of varied colors. The judge's bench which stands at the south end of the court room is of marble of different colors. It stands beneath a portico which is supported by four fluted columns. In front is the bar surrounded by an iron fence, and raised about two feet above the main floor. Back of the court room are the jury rooms and the rooms for the officers of the court.
The judge's chair is of hand carved walnut and is seven feet in height. It is finished in crimson plush. It is a beautiful piece of work and there is probably none other like it in a court room in the United States. This chair always attracts the attention of visitors by its size and unusual beauty. The cost of this chair was $1500.00.
Underneath the roof at the south of the dome is a large iron tank of 8,000 gallons capacity. It was used to supply the water for the building. A small steam engine located in the basement pumped the water from two big cisterns located on either side o£ the building in the court house park. The water was carried to the cisterns from the roof and then pumped into the tank. Gravity carried the water, which was piped to all parts of the building. The plant was discontinued when the City of Carlinville installed a water system many years ago. The roof of the building is of heavy iron. When the court house was completed it did not contain a foot of combustible material. The building is heated by a steam plant in the southeast corner of the basement. A tunnel arched with rock runs under the floor of the basement corridor. This tunnel contains the main steam and gas pipes and was constructed so that access might be had to them for repairs or replacement It is four feet in diameter. Upon the completion of the building, and until the summer of 1934, the building was lighted with gas. The court house is in the center of an attractive park of about an acre and a half and is one block east of the public square. It was originally surrounded by an iron fence and a sidewalk of limestone. The record shows that the contract price of the walk and fence was $15,000. Double iron gates were originally placed at the north and south entrances of the park and single gates at the east and west. They were swung from stone pillars and each pillar was ornamented at the top with an acorn carved in stone. Some years ago the Board o£ Supervisors ordered the fence and gates taken down and sold for old iron. This was done but the stuff brought little money. The stone foundation upon which the fence rested still stands.
The site of the present court house was originally composed of sixteen lots in the old plat and Edward's, Smith and McAfee's addition to Carlinville, located in block six, East, which means east of the square. The records show that the county of Macoupin paid $24,300 for the tract. As early as 1863, Judge Loomis and his associates, G. W. A. Cloud and Thomas B. Rice, made the first move towards building the new court house. In that year William North and his wife, Nancy North, and William P. Scott and his wife, of St Louis sold lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, to John A. Chestnut for $1000. Later the title was acquired by Nicholas Boice, and in the same year Mr. Boice sold the lots to the county for $1,300. The title was taken in the name of Judge T. L. Loomis, and his associates, G.W.A. Cloud and Thomas B. Rice, and their successors in office. In 1867, Ellen Andrews and her husband, Cyrus Andrews, conveyed to the county of Macoupin lot 69 and the east half of lot 70, for which they received $3,500. In the same year Jonas U. Grove bought from William M. Maddox and his wife, Elvira A. Maddox, part of lot 70 and lots 71 and 72. He paid $10,000. Mr. Grove sold the lots to the county for $15,000. April 2nd, 1867, Malcom McCuaig and his wife, Lydia McCuaig, sold lots 97, 98, 99 and 100 to the county, and they received $5,000.
Caption:
An unusual
view of the Court House and grounds, showing the effects of the great sleet
storm of December, 1924.
Part of the court house park was owned at one time by Samuel Couch, a wealthy bachelor of New Hartford, Conn. He was also the owner of land northwest of Carlinville. Mr. Couch was a relative of Geo. L. Brown and the latter at one time owned and lived on the farm one mile west of the county seat on the hard road, now owned by Walter Denby and occupied by his son, Gordon Denby and family.
Jonas U. Grove had an
eye for a thrifty dollar. In buying the lots from Mr. and Mrs. Maddox for
$10,000 and selling them to the county for $15,000, he made $5,000. Mr.
Grove at one time was the owner of the Grove flour mill; bought grain and in
the closing years of his life was a dealer in produce. He was located in a
wooden building which stood on tbe site of the store of L. E. Ross & Son.
Mr. Grove was a good citizen and was well liked.
Mr. and Mrs. Maddox
were prominent residents of Carlinville. They lived in a pretentious two
story brick house at what is now the northwest corner of the court house
square. Their home was said to be the finest in the county seat. He
conducted a grocery store in about the middle of the block of the east side
of the square, south of East Main street. Malcom McCuaig and his wife
resided on the south side of the court house site. Locally the name was
pronounced "McQuade." The records show that the correct spelling is
"McCuaig."
At about the center of the site, facing East Main street, was the home of Mrs. Hannah Underkoeffler. She was ill at the time work on the foundation started and before she had recovered and was able to leave, the entire tract of ground had been surrounded with a board fence about ten feet in height. The fence was put up to keep out the curious and to prevent accidents. Only workmen and the privileged could come and go at will. All others had to have cards signed by someone ia authority before they could enter.
The cost of the site upon which the Macoupin county jail is located was $850. The deed was recorded October 5, 1867, and the property is described as "57 3/4 feet off of the west side of lot 102, of the old plat of Carlinville." The purchase was made from A. S. Ruark and his wife, Eliza Jane Ruark, and the price was $800. The witness to the signatures on the deed was John T. Rogers. The jail is located almost due south of the court house on East First South street. It faces the north. In 1881 the officials of the county decided that they needed more room on the jail lot and Mary J. C. McKee and husband, Thomas R. McKee, sold to the county eight and one-quarter feet off of the east side of lot 102. The price paid was $50. This makes the lot sixty-six feet in width. As far back as 1836, the record discloses that lots 101, 102, 103, 104, 133, 134, 135, 136 were sold by Tristram Hoxsey and wife to James Anderson, John M. Smith and Isaac McAfee for $2,000.
Caption:
Macoupin County Jail, Erected in 1869
The county jail was constructed at the same time as was the court house. It stands just across the street to the south. One peculiarity of its construction is that each stone was hollowed out at the end and a cannon ball placed in each joint to prevent any single stone being removed by a prisoner who should attempt this method to gain his liberty. The jail is two stories with a basement So far as the records show the cannon ball method ot construction has proved effective. The contract price tor the jail was $14,000.
Caption:
The "Loomis House," the four-story hotel on the east side of the
square, built by Judge T. L. Loomis in 1869. The view shows the decorations
during the celebration of July, 1910. The building is faced or veneered with
the same kind of stone used on the exterior of the court house. It has for
many years been known as the St. George Hotel.
A large size volume could be written about the men and events connected with the building of the Macoupin County Court House and yet the story would probably not be complete in all details. The late General John M. Palmer, at one time governor, and later United States Senator from Illinois, was prominently connected with its history as advisor and attorney for the commissioners during the trouble. But the two men around whom the storm of opposition and vilification centered the greatest were Judge Thaddeus L. Loomis and County Clerk George H. Holliday, Judge Loomls was a man of strong character, aggressive, fearless and able. It was he who was the power behind the throne, the "Iron Chancellor" who did not falter nor turn back. He was much abused and vilified. But strange to say there are few if any men then or today, who believed that he ever secured any private gain from the building of the court house. Even the local newspapers said that there was no stain on his private character. Certainly a remarkable tribute to him after going through those strenuous times. He lived to a ripe old age. He died in Alton January 15, 1910. His remains were brought to Carlinville and were interred in the city cemetery with Masonic honors almost in the shadow of the great dome of the building which he had all but lived to see paid for. In 1869 Judge Loomis built the "Loomis House," the four story hotel on the east side of the square. For many years it has been the "'St. George Hotel" and is now owned by T. C. Loehr.
George H. Holliday was a man of culture and his friends said of "superior education." He was a persistent reader and was a connoisseur of books. He had one of the finest libraries in the West, which contained many rare volumes. After his disappearance his books were shipped to New York, where they were sold. He had journalistic ambitions and in 1855 he bought from Jefferson L. Dugger the "Macoupin Statesman," and changed it to "The Spectator." He conducted it until 1857 when he sold the paper and devoted much of his time to writing for some of the leading magazines. The Spectator was Democratic in politics.
Caption:
The
suburban home of Geo. H. Holliday in the Fourth ward, built by him in 1860.
The architect and supervising builder was L. W. Mounts, father of the late
Senator W. L. Mounts. For many years it has been the home of Mrs. W. L,
Mounts.
One night back in 1870, Mr. Holliday boarded a train on the Chicago & Alton railroad and disappeared. From that day until the present no positive trace of him was ever found. About a year after he disappeared it was rumored that he was seen in New York City. And later the body of a man was found below Niagara Falls. Authorities there telegraphed to Carlinville for a description of Mr. Holliday but it did not tally with the description of the missing county clerk. Following Mr. Holliday's leaving Carlinville, a grand jury returned an indictment against him for his part in connection with the building of the court house. In justice to him it should be said that whether or not he was actually guilty of any wrong doing in the building of the court house, was not proved because he was never brought to trial and the true facts brought out.
After he left, his family continued to reside in Carlinville for a number and were always treated with respect and consideration, no odium being attached to them in any way.
Along in the early eighties, a wave of excitement swept over Macoupin county, when it became known that a man had been arrested in the state of Washington, said to be Geo H. Holliday. He was held until Daniel Delaney, a deputy sheriff who knew him, was sent west to bring the suspect back to Carlinville. When Mr. Delaney arrived the prisoner was taken to the court house where hundreds of people viewed him. The arrival of the prisoner was the signal for almost a county-wide suspension of work as the people flocked to the county seat in the excitement of the day. The man said that his name was Hall. He smiled and spoke pleasantly with everyone he met and did not seem the least put out by the rather annoying experience he went through. When it was all over he was not identified as the long missing county clerk. A few of the many who knew Mr. Holliday, insisted that it was he. But the majority who looked at the stranger said that he was not the man wanted.
The most positive evidence was given by Mrs. Holliday. When she learned that the stranger was in town, she promptly went to the St. George hotel where he was stopping, and demanded that the man be presented before her. This was done and after gazing steadily at "Mr. Hall" she said: "This is not Geo. H. Holliday," turned and walked away. At the time the suspect was brought to Carlinville Mrs. Holliday and her children were living about one mile west, in a house now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Nixon, on the north side of the hard road.
A few years following the Hall incident Mrs. Holliday and children moved to Clinton. Missouri. A Carlinville man (now deceased) was living in Clinton and he knew Mr. Holliday and family well. Returning to Carlinville from Clinton for a visit he told the following story: "One evening about 9 o'clock I was passing the Holliday home in Clinton. I noticed that all of the curtains at the front and the sides of the house were drawn. This excited my curiosity and I walked around to the back of the home. One of the curtains was up about a foot and I looked in. There were assembled Mr. and Mrs. Holliday and all of the children. I guess that it was a family re-union."
This citizen insisted that he could not be mistaken as to the identity of Mr. Holliday. At any rate it is another incident during those exciting times when rumors flew thick and fast as to Mr. Holliday having been seen at this or that place.
After Mr. Hall had been released and had gone his way, much talk went the rounds about the affair. It was whispered by some and openly charged by others, that Holliday had actually been arrested in Washington and that on the way East he had been released and Mr. Hall substituted in his place. Was that done? That question has never been authentically answered.
Gen. John M. Palmer was Governor of Illinois in 1869 when the controversy over the building of the new court house was at its highest pitch. He was an active supporter of the county commissioners, and of the bill which was passed, legalizing the acts of the county court, and making it possible to finance and complete the building. He took the view that the building should not be left unfinished and for that reason supported the measure before the legislature. He made many enemies at that time. But none of those who opposed his course, ever accused him of gaining anything wrongfully from the affair. His sole motive was his love for the people and his admiration for and loyalty to his home city and county of Macoupin. His character was above reproach.
Caption:
Gen. John M. Palmer
Gen. Palmer was born in Kentucky in 1817. He came to Macoupin county in 1839. He underwent great privations in his youth but surmounted all obstacles. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, with Stephen A. Douglas as one of his sponsors. He was strongly opposed to slavery and was a personal friend and political coworker of Abraham Lincoln. He was on the platform with Lincoln when the latter spoke in Carlinville August 31. 1858. When the civil war broke out Gen. Palmer organized the 14th Illinois volunteer infantry and was chosen its colonel. He served during the war and came out of that conflict a brigadier general. He had a wide reputation as a great criminal lawyer. Gen. Palmer was Governor of Illinois in 1869-72; was elected United States senator from his state; was the candidate for president on the Democratic "gold" ticket during the unforgettable silver campaign of 1896, when William Jennings Bryan carried the banner for tbe democrats. Gen. Palmer's running mate for the vice presidency was the Confederate General Buckner. Gen. Palmer owned a farm southwest of Carlinville where for many years he came for periods of rest and recreation. In the later years of his life he lived in Springfield where he died September 25, 1900. His remains were interred in the Carlinville City cemetery with simple but impressive rites, witnessed by a large number of people from all walks of life. Directly behind the hearse walked an old negro, whose name was Mose Drakeford. At the close of the war Gen. Palmer brought Mose to Macoupin county where he worked for the General for many years. During the services at the grave Mose stood at a respectful distance, tears streaming down his coal black face. It was genuine grief that Mose manifested over the departure of his friend and benefactor. A stone of modest proportions marks Gen. Palmer's last resting place. Besides the date of his birth and death are these words: "Lawyer," "Soldier." "Statesman."
The history of the present court house would hardly be complete without a word about the late John Moran, one at the most picturesque characters Carlinville ever knew. By birth he was an Irishman. He came to Carlinville in 1863 and practiced law in Macoupin county for nearly fifty years. All of the older generation of this community remember him. From the very outset he vigorously opposed the method by which the court house was built and financed. He contended that its erection was illegal and on that basis, refused to pay the tax. He went even farther than that, because the records as far back as 1879 down to 1926, show that he did not pay any taxes. Of course his property was offered at the delinquent sales and at first was bid in occasionally. But the buyer soon found that he had a law suit on his hands, because Mr. Moran promptly went to court and contested the sale. For many, many years there were no buyers for his property at the delinquent sales for the reason already given.
In 1927, following his death, his property was sold by the state. It consisted of a residence and several lots located in Hoxsey and Edwards addition, situated near the south end of Locust street, not far from Cogan's Green. The total accumulations amounted to $12,010.46. The penalties alone amounted to $2,394.78. The sale netted something like $300. It was probably the most unusual tax sale ever held in the county. Mr. Moran was below the average height and weight and wore a beard. He was aggressive, dearly loved an argument and was, at times, pugnacious. Mentally and physically he was always ready to back up any proposition he espoused. No one who knew him well, ever doubted his courage, because he demonstrated it on numerous occasions.
His special aversions were: the court house tax, vested interests, office holders and politicians in general. He would argue on the street corner, in the band stand in the park, or wherever he deemed the situation demanded it. His language was, at times, more forceful than eloquent. When he was engaged in one of his oratorical efforts he was oblivious to time and his surroundings. Mr. Moran was well informed and could talk on any subject. If you chose to argue on ancient or modern history, geography, astronomy, grammar, politics or whatnot, he would accommodate you on the spot. The originality and uniqueness of his train of thought was something to cause the listener much astonishment. He maintained an excellent library at his home, was a constant reader and had a very retentive memory. "Whether or not he was a graduate of a college, there is no available record to show.
Mr. Moran wrote two books. One was entitled "Searching the Records," which was published in 1898. It contained 202 pages and was divided into eleven chapters, as follows: Confusion, The Tax Question, City Taxation, Mortgagor and Mortgagee, Federal Taxation. The Three Court Houses, Education, The Churches, Success, Money, The New Court House. In his book "Searching the Records," Mr. Moran enlarged on his objections to the court house tax. He quoted the statute in force in January, 1829, passed by the legislature in session at Vandalia, creating the county of Macoupin and fixing the site for the permanent seat of Justice. This seat of justice is what now constitutes the present public square in Carlinville. One of the contentions that Mr. Moran advanced in his book was, that when the county commissioners bought the site of the present court house, they violated the law of 1829, which he contended fixed the square as the PERMANENT site for a court house, and the act of the county commissioners was illegal and void as to the new location.
In 1906 Mr. Moran wrote and published another book, which was entitled “Searching the Heavens and the Earth." This book contains 107 pages and is a treatise on astronomy. He expounded upon and upheld the ancient but long discarded theory that the earth stands still and the sun, moon and stars move around it. His own language quoted from his book, as follows, tells what he believed. "I see the sun, moon and stars move. I don't see the earth move. I see or know that the atmosphere surrounds it and presses on to it all around equally, which is so powerful as to bold it to its place — immovable forever. These things I know I know. The multitude can not change it."
Mr. Moran also declared that there was no such thing as gravity. Asked one time to explain why all falling objects were attracted to the earth, he replied, "It is the pressure of the air." He said that he took pride in the fact that he was the first man to prove that the earth stands still, and that the theory of gravity is false. In spite of his odd makeup, Mr. Moran was possessed of some admirable traits of character. If he did not agree with you on a subject he left no doubt in your mind as to his attitude. When he expressed his opinion you did not have to look into the dictionary to find out what he meant. He always spoke with pride and affection of his family which consisted of his wife and two talented daughters. When advancing age caused Mrs. Moran to fall ill with a mental trouble she was committed to the state hospital at Jacksonville for treatment. At the hearing held before the county court, Mr. Moran asked and received permission to accompany his wife to the institution that he might be with her to do what he could to comfort her in her affliction. "Forsaking all others" he stood by her side until death claimed her. Mr. and Mrs. Moran died about eight years ago. The daughters passed away some years prior to the death of their parents.
This is the story of the building of the $1,380,500 Macoupin county court house which at one time gained for the county almost national fame.
Extracted 16 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from The History of the Famous Court House Located at Carlinville, Illinois, by W. B. Brown, published in 1934, pages 1-17.
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