The Beginnings of a City -- Jacksonville
Morgan County, Illinois
By Florence Hutchison
Some of the facts of Jacksonville have been abstracted from the
Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois
and History of Morgan County Munsell Publishing Company, 1906, Chicago. Also, Deed
Books, County Clerk's Office.
Quoting Florence's article:
When the law establishing the County of Morgan was passed, January 31, 1823, not an inhabitant dwelt
on the future city's site. The temporary county seat was located at "Olmstead's Mound", where
Mr. Adam Allinson later lived. (It is now called Allison's Mound.)
On January 6, 1825, John Howard, Abraham Prickett and John T. Lusk, of Madison County, were
appointed Commissioners to locate the permanent seat of justice for the new county, as "near as possible
to the center of the territory, having a due regard to the present and future population." The law provided
that if said seat should be located upon land belonging to any private citizen, the owner was to donate
twenty acres to the county, to be laid out in lots and sold, the proceeds of which should be applied to the
building of a court house and a jail for county use.
The three person located the county seat in the center of a quarter section of land composed of the
East half of the Northeast quarter of Section 20, and the
West half of the Northwest quarter of Section 21, in Township 15 North of the Base Line, and in
Range 10 West of the Third Principal Meredian, which runs north and south in the center of the
State of Illinois. The land at that time still belonged to the U. S. Government.
The next day at nine o'clock in the morning the Government sold it at private sale at $1.25 per acre
to Thomas ARNETT and Isaac DIAL--Arnett purchasing the tract in Section 20 and Dial the tract in
Section 21. On March 10, 1825, the proprietors laid out a town of eight acres of land, in a square
form, in the center of the 160 acres tract.
By an agreement between these two owners and the County Commissioner's Court, a line was drawn from east to west
(now State Street), and Arnett and Dial conveyed, by deeds to the county, each twenty acres immediately
on the north side of the line. See Deed dated 22 Mar 1825, 20 acres, Isaac Dial, grantor, to Morgan County, Book A, page 15 in
the County Clerk's office. Also see Deed dated 22 Mar 1825, 20 acres, Thomas Arnett, grantor,
to Morgan County, Book A, page 16.
This donation by those proprietors contained forty acres, being double the quantity required by law to the county. By this
arrangement the 20 acres on the North side of State Street was to be sold by the County Commissioners. The southwest
quarter containing 10 acres was subject to sale by Thomas Arnett, the southeast 10 acres by Isaac Dial.
In doing this research I decided to find the first ownership of these 180 lots and the 36 fractional
lots on the outer edge of the square, as can be seen on the
Map of Jacksonville
the original plat map of which is to be found in Deed Book A page 19. Then I discovered that several men
purchased large blocks of lots for thier personal resale. Therefore, I do not consider them as original owners in the
sense that they probably did not build or put improvements upon them, except in certain
cases where they might establish a business.
Interesting facts pertaining to the Original Plat Map of Jacksonville
A. Sale of the original lots - the north half of the city was subject to sale by the Morgan County Commissioners.
They also owned the north half of the Public square. The first courthouse was situated on the northwest corner.
It was burned down on December 6, 1827.
B. The southwest quarter of the City was subject to sale by Thomas Arnett. He later deeded
his quarter of the Public Square to Morgan County.
C. The southeast quarter of the City was subject to sale by Isaac Dial. He later deeded his quarter
of the Public Square to Morgan County.
Following are the sale of the first 180 lots shown on the original plat map of Jacksonville.
It appears that there were a few men who bought many lots for private sale. Among them, other
than Issac Dial and wife Rebecca, Thomas Arnett and Kesiah, Abraham Johnson, Mathew Stacy,
Murry McConnel, Dennis Rockwell and John Handy, are the names most prominent which will be
shortened in this report.
-
End of Quoted article.
I would believe that one could send to the Recorder of Deeds office at the Morgan County
Courthouse and get copies of a particular transaction by giving the Book/Page #, as well
as the name of the person and the date.
Click for a copy of the Plat Map of Jacksonville, to
determine
the location of a particular lot.
| NAME |
# |
GRANTOR |
DATE |
BOOK/PAGE |
|
|
|
|
| ALEXANDER Jos M & N |
13,14 |
Morgan Co |
7 Dec 1830 |
C/386 |
| ANDERSON Ed H |
10,11 |
Morgan Co |
8 Dec 1829 |
B/394 |
| ANDERSON John |
91,92 |
I Dial |
5 Dec 1826 |
A/259 |
| ANDERSON John |
108 |
T Arnett |
23 Apr 1827 |
A/234 |
| ANDERSON John |
130,135 |
I Dial |
6 Oct 1826 |
A/141 |
| ANDERSON John |
135 |
I Dial |
6 Oct 1826 |
A/142 |
| ANGELO Benjamin |
145,146 |
T Arnett |
1 Feb 1827 |
A/230 |
| ANGELO John |
147 |
T Arnett |
1 Feb 1827 |
A/229 |
| ARNET Andrew |
42 |
Morgan Co |
12 Jan 1827 |
A/176 |
| ARNET Thos B |
55,56,57 |
Morgan Co |
3 Apr 1826 |
B/38 |
| ARNETT Thomas |
90 |
Morgan Co |
3 Apr 1826 |
A/92 |
| AYERS David B |
99 |
Morgan Co |
21 Jul 1846 |
X/116 |
| BARTON Jacob W |
N1/2, 4 |
M Stacy |
10 Sep 1831 |
E/342 |
| BARTON Ruth |
151,152,153 |
T Arnett |
18 Dec 1828 |
B/74 |
| BEDWELL George |
64 |
Morgan Co |
31 Jul 1826 |
A/308 |
| BENTLEY Thomas |
97 |
M McConnel |
22 Dec 1829 |
B/327 |
| BENTLEY Thomas |
122 |
I Dial |
31 Oct 1826 |
A/138 |
| BETZER Peter |
136 |
|
25 Sep 1855 |
II/620 |
| BIXFORD Samuel C |
113 |
T Arnett |
12 May 1827 |
N/2 |
| BOGART Samuel |
31,32,33 |
Morgan Co |
1 Dec 1828 |
B/64 |
| BRICH John |
37 |
Morgan Co |
6 Mar 1827 |
A/190 |
| BRICH John |
45 |
Morgan Co |
6 Mar 1827 |
A/190 |
| BROWN Bedford |
66 |
M McConnel |
14 Mar 1829 |
B/257 |
| BROWN William G |
127 |
I Dial |
26 Feb 1830 |
B/416 |
| BROWN William G |
133,134 |
I Dial |
26Feb 1830 |
B/416 |
| BROWN William G |
138 |
I Dial |
26 Feb 1830 |
B/416 |
| BUSH Palemon C |
180 |
J Handy |
1 Jun 1840 |
T/435 |
| CARRINGTON James B & T LARRIMORE |
87 |
Ab Johnson |
14 Oct 1829 |
B/252 |
| CARSON Thomas |
98,99 |
I Dial |
7 Feb 1827 |
A/261 |
| CARSON Thomas |
128 |
I Dial |
10 Sep 1827 |
A/278 |
| CARSON Thos |
Pt 98,99 |
M McConnel |
28 Jan 1830 |
B/377 |
| CHURCH Thomas |
94 |
J Handy |
4 Jan 1828 |
H/172 |
| CHURCH Thomas |
172 |
J Handy |
4 Jan 1828 |
H/172 |
| COBB Jonathan |
75 |
Morgan Co |
14 Oct 1826 |
A/132 |
| CODDINGTON James |
67,68 |
Morgan Co |
8 Sep 1829 |
B/227 |
| COLLINS Chas |
29,30,31,32 |
D Rockwell |
16 Sep 1829 |
B/336 |
| CONNOVER Peter |
6 |
Morgan Co |
1 Dec 1828 |
B/108 |
| CONNOVER Peter |
40 |
Morgan Co |
12 Jan 1827 |
A/177 |
| CONOVER James |
21 |
Morgan Co |
8 Dec 1829 |
G/314 |
| CONOVER Peter |
43,44 |
Morgan Co |
12 Jan 1827 |
A/177 |
| CRAIN James W etal |
S1/2, 97 |
M Stacy |
24 Jan 1831 |
C/364 |
| CRAIN James W etal |
N1/2, 97 |
M Stacy |
24 Jan 1831 |
C/365 |
| CROMWELL Nathan |
120 |
J Handy |
23 Jul 1829 |
B/212 |
| CROMWELL Nathan II |
Pt 100, 101 |
T Arnett |
14 Sep 1827 |
A/266 |
| DANIELS Verin |
156 |
T Arnett |
18 Dec 1828 |
B/75 |
| DANIELS Verin |
166 |
A Johnson |
24 Aug 1829 |
B/216 |
| DENNIS John C |
22,23 |
Morgan Co |
4 Jul 1829 |
B/182 |
| DEW Peter |
61,62 |
Morgan Co |
31 Jul 1826 |
A/125 |
| DEW Peter |
110,114,154 |
T Arnett |
13 Nov 1826 |
A/195 |
| DEW Peter |
114,110,154 |
T Arnett |
13 Nov 1826 |
A/195 |
| DEW Peter |
154 |
T Arnett |
13 Nov 1826 |
A/195 |
| DEWITT Ab. B |
Pt 80 |
T Arnett |
10 Apr 1831 |
C/403 |
| DOBYNS Thomas P |
135 |
M Stacy |
25 Feb 1858 |
00/82 |
| DUNBAR Rice |
20 |
Morgan Co |
9 Dec 1829 |
C/46 |
| DUNCAN Joseph |
120 |
M McConnel |
27 Jul 1835 |
H/450 |
| DURANT Edward |
55.56,57 |
T Arnett |
19 Aug 1828 |
B/39 |
| DURANT Edward |
169 |
A Johnson |
21 Apr 1829 |
B/217 |
| DURANT Sam |
164,165 |
A Johnson |
20 Oct 1830 |
C/227 |
| DURLEY Samuel & McCLUNG, Harvey |
142,143 |
I Dial |
30 Mar 1826 |
A/90 |
| EADS James M |
90 |
T Arnett |
17Sep 1828 |
B/43 |
| EADS James M |
178,179 |
J Handy |
8 Jul 1829 |
B/231 |
| EADS John |
88 |
J Handy |
7 Jan 1828 |
A/286 |
| EADS John |
93 |
I Dial |
30 Oct 1829 |
B/442 |
| EADS John |
Pt 104 |
T Arnett |
2 Jun 1829 |
B/189 |
| EDWARDS Jas G |
16 |
J Handy |
9 Mar 1833 |
G/286 |
| FAIRFIELD Jas M |
11 |
Morgan Co |
7 Dec 1831 |
D/177 |
| FAIRFIELD Jos M |
52,53,54 |
Morgan Co |
14 Oct 1826 |
A/134 |
| GEST Nathan H |
58,59,60 |
Morgan Co |
12 Jan 1827 |
A/175 |
| GIBSON Jacob |
Pt 34 |
J Handy |
31 Dec 1830 |
C/450 |
| GILLETT Bezaleel |
67,68 |
M McConnel |
3 Mar 1838 |
Q/139 |
| GILLETT Bezaleel |
69 |
M McConnel |
3 Mar 1838 |
Q139 |
| GILMORE Henry |
112 |
T Arnett |
7 Apr 1830 |
B/469 |
| GILMORE Henry |
122 |
T Arnett |
15 Nov 1828 |
B/96 |
| GLISSON Isaac |
70,71,72 |
Morgan Co |
14 Jan 1828 |
A/297 |
| GRAVES James |
131 |
J Handy |
1 Nov 1830 |
C/358 |
| GRAVES James |
173,174 |
I Dial |
15 Nov 1828 |
B/158 |
| GREEN Wiley B |
120 |
T Arnett |
9 Feb 1827 |
A/202 |
| HACKETT George |
63 |
Morgan Co |
14 Oct 1826 |
A/135 |
| HACKETT George |
74 |
T Arnett |
2 Mar 1826 |
A/74 |
| HACKETT George |
111 |
T Arnett |
2 Mar 1826 |
A/74 |
| HANDY John |
76,77,78 |
Morgan Co |
31 Jul 1826 |
A/124 |
| HANDY John |
87,88 |
Morgan Co |
14 Oct 1826 |
A/136 |
| HANDY John |
94 & c |
I Dial |
24 Apr 1828 |
A/338 |
| HANDY John |
125, 131 |
I Dial |
26 Feb 1830 |
B/415 |
| HANDY John |
129 |
I Dial |
10 Sep 1827 |
A/338 |
| HANDY John |
131,132 |
I Dial |
26 Feb 1830 |
B/415 |
| HANDY John |
172,173,174 |
I Dial |
29 Apr 1828 |
A/338 |
| HARDIN John J |
25,26 |
M Stacy |
17 Oct 1835 |
K/23 |
| HARP William |
162 |
T Arnett |
13 Mar 1830 |
F/32 |
| HEDENBURG James V |
116,117 |
A Johnson |
5 Feb 1829 |
B/256 |
| HEDENBURG James V |
157 |
T Arnett |
3 Sep 1829 |
B/256 |
| HENRY John |
E1/2, 123 |
M Stacy |
2 Mar 1829 |
B/290 |
| HENRY John |
139 |
I Dial |
1 Oct 1829 |
B/289 |
| HENSHAW Jesse |
155 |
T Arnett |
29 Jul 1830 |
D/139 |
| HOAGLAND Martin |
16, 17 |
Morgan Co |
4 Jul 1829 |
B/183 |
| HOLLAND John |
83 |
Morgan Co |
30 Jun 1847 |
X/562 |
| INGALLS Darius |
4 |
Morgan Co |
4 Sep 1827 |
A/255 |
| INGALLS Darius |
24 |
Morgan Co |
7 Dec 1831 |
D/178 |
| JACKSON Amy E |
12 |
Morgan Co |
4 Nov 1826 |
A/139 |
| JACKSON Finis McK |
34 |
Morgan Co |
4 Nov 1826 |
A/141 |
| JACKSON Lovina H |
15 |
Morgan Co |
4 Nov 1826 |
A/140 |
| JACKSONVILLE CITY |
175 |
I Dial |
3 Jan 1832 |
F/307 |
| JACKSONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
175 |
I Dial |
16 Jun 1826 |
B/189 |
| JANUARY Thos J |
12 |
Morgan Co |
7 Dec 1831 |
D/179 |
| JARRED William |
136, 137 |
I Dial |
27 Jan 1827 |
A/258 |
| JOHNSON Abraham |
102 |
T Arnett |
12 Oct 1826 |
A/201 |
| JOHNSON Abraham |
106 |
T Arnett |
12 Oct 1826 |
A/201 |
| JOHNSON Abraham |
116, 117 |
T Arnett |
12 Oct 1826 |
A/201 |
| JOHNSON Abraham |
119 |
T Arnett |
12 Oct 1826 |
A/201 |
| JOHNSON Abraham |
148,149 |
T Arnett |
12 Oct 1826 |
A/201 |
| JOHNSON Abraham |
163,164,165,166 |
T Arnett |
12 Oct 1826 |
A/201 |
| JOHNSON Abraham |
169 |
I Dial |
12 Oct 1827 |
A/199 |
| JOHNSON McHenry |
76 |
J Handy |
10 Jul 1828 |
B/28 |
| JOHNSON William D |
65,66 |
Morgan Co |
14 Jan 1828 |
A/300 |
| KEMMITT Thomas |
95 |
I Dial |
5 Feb 1827 |
A/183 |
| KIRKMAN George |
Pt 101 |
M McConnel |
18 Dec 1829 |
B/433 |
| KIRKMAN George |
150 |
T Arnett |
7 May 1829 |
B/181 |
| KNAPP James D |
168 |
T Arnett |
14 Jun 1826 |
A/117 |
| KNAPP James D |
170,171 |
I Dial |
14 Jun 1826 |
A/117 |
| KNISLEY George |
121 |
I Dial |
10 Sep1827 |
A/264 |
| LAKEMAN Joseph |
124, 126 |
I Dial |
6 Oct 1826 |
A/154 |
| LARRIMORE Thomas & CARRINGTON JB |
87 |
Ab Johnson |
14 Oct 1829 |
B/252 |
| LEEPER John |
140, 141 |
I Dial |
20 Oct 1828 |
B/190 |
| LINDSAY Allen Q |
69 |
Morgan Co |
3 Sep 1827 |
A/254 |
| LUND Eulila |
57 |
T Arnett |
16 Jul 1825 |
A/93 |
| MARCH Enoch C |
118,119 |
T Arnett |
18 Jan 1827 |
A/178 |
| MATHEWS Samuel T |
38,39 |
Morgan Co |
6 Mar 1827 |
A/191 |
| MATHEWS Samuel T |
85 |
Morgan Co |
3 Apr 1826 |
A/130 |
| MATHEWS Samuel T |
86 |
Morgan Co |
6 Mar 1828 |
A/335 |
| MATHEWS Samuel T |
129 |
J Handy |
29 Jan 1829 |
B/102 |
| McCLUNG Harvey & DURLEY Samuel |
142,143 |
I Dial |
30 Mar 1826 |
A/90 |
| McCLUNG James |
105 |
T Arnett |
1 Aug 1826 |
A/153 |
| McCONNEL Murray |
87 |
J Handy |
3 Sep 1829 |
B/222 |
| McCONNEL Murray |
97 |
I Dial |
27 Feb 1825 |
A/75 |
| McCONNEL Murray |
102 |
Ab. Johnson |
5 Feb 1828 |
B/135 |
| McCONNEL Murray |
144 |
I Dial |
27 Feb 1826 |
A/76 |
| McCULLOUGH Simeon |
89 |
J Handy |
7 Jan 1828 |
A/288 |
| McCULLOUGH Simeon |
W1/2, 123 |
I Dial |
20 Oct 1828 |
B/58 |
| McGINNIS Samuel |
148,149 |
A Johnson |
24 Aug 1829 |
B/215 |
| McHENRY George |
13 |
M McConnel |
28 Nov 1836 |
N/79 |
| MEARS Edwin A |
109 |
T Arnett |
18 Jul 1829 |
B/283 |
| MEEKER Joseiah |
18,19 |
Morgan Co |
7 Dec 1830 |
C/224 |
| MELICK Abram |
130 |
M Stacy |
27Aug 1850 |
CC/80 |
| MILLER Ebenezer |
Pt 102 |
M McConnel |
15 Sep1829 |
B/233 |
| MILLER John E |
N1/2 107,108 |
D Rockwell |
25 Oct 1830 |
C/240 |
| MOODY David I |
16 |
T Arnett |
22 Jun 1837 |
O/279 |
| MOORE Edmund |
78 |
J Handy |
25 Jun 1827 |
A/289 |
| MORGAN COUNTY |
Pt 100 |
T Arnett |
11 Mar 1831 |
C/297 |
| MORTON Joseph |
74 |
Morgan Co |
4 Nov 1826 |
A/187 |
| PEABODY Benjamin |
49,50,51 |
Morgan Co |
3 Apr 1826 |
A/93 |
| PIPER Jonathan |
36 |
Morgan Co |
6 Mar 1828 |
A/336 |
| RAMSEY Jno F |
177 |
J Handy |
3 Apr 1829 |
B/118 |
| REARICK Geoge |
28,29,30 |
Morgan Co |
14 Jan 1828 |
A/299 |
| REED Stephen H |
79 |
J Handy |
26 Jun 1827 |
A/231 |
| REED Stephen H |
80,81 |
Morgan Co |
7 Jun 1826 |
A/111 |
| REES Thomas |
132 |
J Handy |
2 May 1838 |
A/339 |
| REW George W |
161 |
T Arnett |
13 Oct 1829 |
E/274 |
| REYNOLDS John |
158,159 |
T Arnett |
26 Apr 1829 |
B/286 |
| REYNOLDS Ralph |
Pt 100 |
M McConnel |
1 Apr 1876 |
3/344 |
| RHOADS Joshua |
Pt 123 |
M Stacy |
9 Feb 1863 |
TT/336 |
| RICHARDS George M |
96 |
I Dial |
12 Jan 1829 |
B/99 |
| RICHARDS George M |
176 |
J Handy |
28 Feb 1831 |
E/154 |
| ROBERTSON Jos M |
1,2,3 |
Morgan Co |
2 Dec1828 |
DD/553 |
| ROBERTSON Jos M |
46,47,48 |
Morgan Co |
2 Dec 1828 |
DD/553 |
| ROBISON israel |
172,173 |
I Dial |
13 Nov 1826 |
A/147 |
| ROCKWELL Dennis |
Pt 106 |
M McConnel |
15 Mar 1828 |
A/318 |
| ROCKWELL Dennis |
107 |
M McConnel |
15Mar 1828 |
A/318 |
| ROCKWELL Dennis |
108 |
M McConnel |
15 Mar 1828 |
A/318 |
| SACKETT Sam |
77 |
J Handy |
13 Nov 1827 |
A/323 |
| SAVAGE John |
7,8,9 |
Morgan Co |
9 Dec 1829 |
C/47 |
| SAVAGE John |
25,26,27 |
Morgan Co |
14 Jan 1828 |
A/298 |
| SAVAGE Peter |
Pt 106 |
A Johnson |
17 Jun 1827 |
A/224 |
| SAVAGE Peter |
107,167 |
T Arnett |
15 Apr 1826 |
A/102 |
| SAVAGE Peter |
167 |
T Arnett |
15 Apr 1826 |
A/102 |
| SHIBE Margaret |
5 |
Morgan Co |
7 Mar 1827 |
B/268 |
| SMITH John R |
79,89 |
Morgan Co |
3 Apr 1826 |
A/99 |
| SMITH John R |
89, 79 |
Morgan Co |
3 Apr 1826 |
A/99 |
| STACY Mathew |
Pt 97 |
M McConnel |
30 Jun 1830 |
C/175 |
| STACY Mathew |
E1/2, 123 |
I Dial |
20 Oct 1828 |
B/109 |
| STACY Mathew |
125 |
J Handy |
26 Feb 1830 |
C/23 |
| STACY Mathew |
Pt 144 |
M McConnel |
22 Oct 1827 |
A/296 |
| STADLER Jacob |
103 |
T Arnett |
9 Dec 1829 |
B/308 |
| STOUT Jacob V C |
S1/2, 4 |
M Stacy |
9 Sep 1850 |
BB/558 |
| TAYLOR Hector G |
82 |
Morgan Co |
14 Jan 1828 |
A/306 |
| TEFFT David |
83,84 |
Morgan Co |
7 Jun 1826 |
A/232 |
| TERRY William |
Pt 144 |
M McConnel |
26 Nov 1829 |
B/493 |
| THOMAS William |
Pt 106 |
D Rockwell |
17 Dec 1829 |
B/317 |
| THOMAS William |
S1/2, 107 |
D Rockwell |
17 Dec 1829 |
B/317 |
| THOMAS William |
148,149 |
A Johnson |
5 May 1837 |
Q/172 |
| TROTTER Joseph |
176 |
M McConnel |
30 Apr 1836 |
K/524 |
| TRUNNEL Branford |
33 |
M McConnel |
11 Jun 1849 |
Z/459 |
| VANCE Abraham |
64 |
M McConnel |
18 Nov 1828 |
C/160 |
| WILKINSON John P |
Pt 97 |
M McConnel |
30 Jun 1830 |
C/153 |
| WILKINSON John P |
Pt 104 |
T Arnett |
9 Sep 1828 |
B/81 |
| WOLCOTT Elihu |
115 |
I R Dial |
5 May 1832 |
F/52 |
| WOLCOTT Elihu |
163 |
A Johnson |
28 Dec 1830 |
C/243 |
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