History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

ITS ADVANTAGES FOR MANUFACTURING. 11
approved Feb. 15, 1839, the counties of court and those who would be likely to
Menard,Logan and Dane were established. attend its sessions. The commissioners
The whole of Menard and a part of what met pursuant to adjournment,on the 10th
is Logan, Mason and Dane, were taken and fixed upon a location. In their refrom Sangamon, reducing it to the pres- port, after discussing the questions pro
ent limits. The name of Dane has since and con, with regard to the different
been changed to Christian. localities, they came to the following conThe act of Jan. 30, 1824, which provi- clusion: "Therefore, we the undersigned,
ded for organizing the county of Sanga- county commissioners, do certify that we,
mon, created a board of three commis- after full examination of the situation, of
sioners, whose first duty was declared to the present population of said county,
be the selection of a temporary seat of have fixed and designated a certain point
justice. The first meeting of the com- in the prairie, near John Kelly's field, on
missioners, was held at the house of John the waters of Spring creek, at a stake set,
Kelly, April 3, 1821. Without coming to marked Z. P., as the temporary seat of
a decision, the board adjourned to meet justice for said county, and further agree
at the same place on the 10th of the that said county seat be known by the
month. Before their next meeting, by name of SPRINGFIELD." The initials on
their investigations they became aware of the stake were doubtless, those of Zechathe fact,that the Kelly neighborhood was ria Peter, who was one of the commisthe only place in all the county, large as sioners and the first county surveyor. The
it was, where enough families could be first court ever held in the county, was at
found in the vicinity of each other, to the house of John Kelly, and commenced
board and lodge the members of the May 1, 1821, just half a century ago.
COURT HOUSES IN SANGAMON COUNTY.
The point chosen for the new county ever bearing in mind the dignity of the
buildings, is now the northwest corner of court, ordered the lawyer to be arrested,
Jefferson and Second streets. A log Court and sent him to jail for a few hours. On
House and Jail was built there in the repairing to the Court House next morn.
latter part of 1821. The Court House ing, the Judge, attorneys and others, were
was built under contract for $84 00. I surprised to find the court in session, befail to find that there was any Court fore the hour to which it had adjourned.
House Ring formed, or that there were A large calf was on the platform, usually
any persons about who were disappointed occupied by the Judge, and a flock of
because they could not have a hand in geese, cooped up in the jury box. The
spending the money, shouting steal! attorney who had been in jail the day
steal! before, was inside the bar; bowing first
An incident said to have occurred about to the calf, and then to the geese; he
this time, will illustrate the disposition commenced his pleading, —"May it please
of the early settlers to give an amusing the Court, and you gentlemen of the
turn to passing events. An attorney at Jury."
the bar, violated the rules of decorum as The $84 00 Court House did well for a
understood by the Judge. His honor, time, but aristocratic feelings began to