warren county illinois   

Organization of Warren County

The Legislature of the State of Illinois, at its session during the winter of 1822-23, laid out into counties what is known as the Military Tract, together with other unorganized territory.  This land was situated between the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers, extending as far north as the North line of Warren County.  At this session Pike County was formed from this territory, with a county seat at Atlas.  Subsequently the counties of Adams, Fulton, Peoria, and Schuyler were organized with McDonough attached to the latter for judicial purposes.

        During the Legislative session of 1824 and 1825, Warren County was formed, which comprised all that part of the Military Tract west of the 4^th P.M., extending to the Mississippi River, and including the territory now occupied by Henderson County.  At this time it was attached to Pike County for judicial purposes.  Subsequently it was attached to Peoria County.  The county was name after General Joseph Warren, of Revolutionary fame.

        The first settlement in the territory now embraced by this county, was made in 1827, by Mrs. Talbot, her son, John B., and her nephew, Allen G. Andrews.  For more particular information regarding its early settlement, the reader is referred to the history of the several townships.

        The first furrow turned in Warren County soil was in 1828.  The foundation for six settlements was made during this and the following year, and the zeal of the settlers was only equaled by their industry, and one pioneer was soon followed by another.  By the summer of 1830 it was estimated that there were between 300 and 400 inhabitants in the county, who had established the reputation of being prosperous.  Of so much importance had it become that Peoria County deemed it expedient to send up an officer with the view of levying a tax for her benefit, she having previously established a judicial district here.  The inhabitants of Warren, as long as they were not taxed and had a justice before whom they could transact their little legal business, and consummate their matrimonial alliances, did not care to what county they were attached or belonged.  Marriage licenses were dispensed with in those days, and all that was required was the posting up of a notice for ten days, announcing the coming event. 

         There was no road then from this county to Peoria, a distance of some 50 miles, and in going to and from, the Kickapoo and Spoon Rivers had to be forded, which was rather dangerous in high water time.  Therefore, when a movement was made to put a tax on the people of Warren County for the small benefits they had received, the rebelled against it as much as the Boston Teed Party did against the tax of Great Britain.

          In the Spring of 1830, there fore, having a desire to manage their own municipal affairs, and to have whatever taxes they might be called on to pay go into their own exchequer; and believing, also, that they had the requisite population for a full county organization, they petitioned the Honorable Richard M. Young, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, for an order to hold an election for the purpose of forming a complete county government.  About this period the census had been taken by a commissioner sent on by the county court of Peoria County, who reported about 300 inhabitants, which was not sufficient for a county organization; nor was this report satisfactory to the people of Warren County, who claimed about 400.  Subsequently the U.S. Marshal passed through the county and reported 350.

          Daniel McNeil was selected to go with the petition and present it to Judge Young, who was then at Peoria.  The Judge saw the justice of the petition, and at once granted the prayer of the citizens of Warren and appointed Saturday, the third day of July, A.D. 1830, for the election of three County Commissioners, one Sheriff, and one Coroner.  The election was to be held at the house of Adam Ritchey, for the purpose of having this order carried into execution.  He appointed John B. Talbot, Adam Ritchey, Jr., and Robert K. Hendricks, Judges of the said election.  The election was to be held viva voce, between the hours of 9 o’clock in the forenoon, and 7 o’clock in the afternoon.

           The third day of July, 1830, was waited for with a good deal of anxiety by the voters of Warren.  It came as all things do, in good time.  It was a beautiful day.  A lovely breeze was wafted over the prairies; a few clouds flitted above in the blue summer sky, the air was balmy and enlivened by the sweet songs of wild birds.  After their morning’s work was done, the voters wended their way from their several homes to the place of election to cast their first vote in their new settlement, to exercise the great gift of the freeman.  What a precious boon is this!  The right of self-government; the exercise of suffrage, holding within ourselves the power to regulate and control our political affairs.  And yet, how little is it appreciated by some, and to what extent are its grand and sacred rights abused!  There was no politics in this election, and the voters cast their tickets for the men they deemed most worthy.  The election passed off harmoniously, and the hope was expressed that in all future elections there would be the same good feeling manifested, and the same integrity of the ballot-box preserved.

            The persons named in Judge Young’s order for Judges of Election, declined to serve, and the people appointed Robert K. Hendricks, Sheldon Lockwood, and Peter Butler in their places.  For Clerks of Election, they appointed Stephen S. Phelps and Daniel McNeil.  There were 37 votes polled at this election, three voters being absent.

            The county  was organized, the Commissioners assumed their duties, and for many years the political government of the county was very nicely conducted in this way.  For a brief season it was under the management of the County Court, but for over thirty years the public affairs of the county have been in the hands of the Board of Supervisors.  After the organization of the county, the settlers felt themselves of greater importance, and worked for the progress of their new homes with renewed zeal.  It was many years, however, before the beautiful and fertile prairies were settled.  In fact this was not done to any considerable extent until the advent of the “IRON HORSE”.  The introduction of railroads stimulated emigration, and increased the activity in manufactures and agricultural pursuits.  While the county through its generous aids to railroad enterprises has encumbered itself with a large debt, yet it has been benefited by the rise of property and the general development and increase of all branches of industry.

           From the advent of the Talbot’s, its first settlers, in 1827, it has moved steadily on, with few drawbacks, until it now has an estimated population of 23, 000, with an assessment value, as shown by reports of 1885, of $4,928,755 on improved lands; $68,655 on unimproved lands; town lots, $794,872; personal property, $1,583,087.  Strictly speaking, there is no unimproved land in the county.  For a general average of valuation of lands, the county ranks among the first in the State, and by no means would it appear insignificant if compared with the counties of any of the Eastern States, and if the editor who wrote the following stanza, in 1847, could pass over this country now, and through its broad, cultivated fields and elegant homes, he would undoubtedly be ashamed of his verse:

“Great western waste of bottom land,

Flat as a pancake, rich as grease,

Where gnats are full as big as toads,

And skeeters are as big as geese.

O, lonesome, windy, grassy place,

Where buffalo and snakes prevail;

The first with dreadful looking face,

The last with dreadful sounding tail.

I’d rather live on camel rum,

And be a Yankee double beggar,

Than where they never see a stump.

And shake to death with fever’n ‘ager.”

           The old log cabins have disappeared and in their places are fine dwellings; ox teams as means of travel and transportation are gone, and the steam car now rushes over the prairie; the mortar and corn-cracker live only in the memory of the pioneer, while the products of the roller mill are placed in his store room; the dread of the savage no longer disturbs his slumbers, nor does the wolf come in the darkness of the night to destroy his flocks.  With complacency he can take a retrospective view of the past and contemplate the transformations made during half a century.  Yes, half a century ago, before the pioneer there was doubt and uncertainty, privations and dangers; before him to-day, standing out in broad, radiant light, is a complete social and political government, under American institutions and shining resplendent with American Freedom.

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