About Schuyler County, Illinois

[History]...[Courthouse]...[County Government]

Schuyler County History

In 1823, a roving band of Kickapoo Indians met the first white settlers to venture into what is now Schuyler county. A peaceful tribe, they seem to have accepted this incursion into their hunting grounds, and by 1825 a new County had been established and named after the gallant Revolutionary soldier General Schuyler.

about1

Traveling by the Overland Trail winding across southern Illinois, and via the Illinois River, settlers Calvin Hobart and O. Matheny were the first to settle here, having heard from soldiers who had camped along the Mississippi of the rich prairie without stones in the soil, grass which grew as high as a man’s shoulders, and the abundance of trees and water. The nearest post office was Jacksonville – the nearest neighbor twelve miles away on the opposite side of the river – and the bare necessities of life were rare.

But soon others came to join them. When Hobart purchased a “Band Mill” to grind flour, all the early settlers came to his cabin to grind their grain, each person taking his turn at driving the oxen which furnished the power to turn the mill.

The city of Rushton was founded in 1826, established as the county seat and named after prominent physician D. B. Rush – soon the name was changed to Rushville.

Early on the morning of October 20, 1858, wagons, horsemen and people on foot began pouring into Rushville for a very special occasion. By mid-morning delegations from other towns began to congregate. A large procession from Beardstown arrived, and was joined by others from the north and west. A parade was formed, estimated to be one and one-half miles long, led by a local brass band and another from Beardstown.

At precisely 2 P.M. the guest of honor arrived – Abraham Lincoln, candidate for the U. S. Senate. Mounting a stand in the square, he spoke to the crowd of about 2,500 people. His subject was slavery, and the policy he espoused was that in states where it about3 already existed it should not be interfered with, but in laying the foundation of societies where slavery does not exist it should not be introduced.

Not everyone was happy about Lincoln’s appearance in Schuyler county, at that time a Democratic stronghold. Partisanship ran high, and the visitors were greeted with a black flag fluttering from the top of the courthouse steeple.

As Lincoln spoke, a group of boys climbed to the steeple and heckled him until they were brought down and rebuked. But an even greater disturbance came from several females in the upper windows who made offensive remarks, interrupting Lincoln until he was compelled to stop and request them to be still until he was done!

Other than these exhibitions of bad manners, the day passed pleasantly, with the spirits of Stephen Douglas’s supporters going down to zero. On Flag Day, June 14, 1928, a tablet to mark the spot where Lincoln spoke in 1858 was dedicated in Rushville’s Central Park.

Rushville's Central Park

When our founding fathers laid out the town of Rushville, they wisely centered business buildings around a park, surrounded by hitching racks for the horses and buggies that brought customers to town. The park was originally centered by a small log courthouse, soon to be replaced by a more substantial one built of stone. This, in turn, was demolished and replaced by the handsome structure still to be seen just off the southwest corner of the square. With the courthouse gone, the next structure to occupy the space was a large pond (home, we are told, to an alligator, although no photos exist to prove this astonishing fact!)
about6

In the early 20th century, brass bands were the pride of every town, and Rushville was no exception. A bandstand was built to accommodate weekly concerts, a custom which continued into the 1940’s. But when many men went to war, the ranks of band members were depleted, and the bandstand was little used.

By the 60’s, the bandstand needed painting and repairs. A newly formed organization, PRIDE – for Promote Rushville’s Image, Design, and Environment, restored the bandstand and a plaza and plantings were added! Today, PRIDE members still plant flowers each spring and lovingly tend the plantings.

The Central Park “Gazebo” (as it is often called, although the old-timers know it’s really a bandstand!) has become our town’s logo as well as the site of frequent community events. Arts In The Park – lighting the community Christmas Tree – Prom Preview for the high school kids – even an occasional wedding all take place there. So come – stroll through the trees, read the inscription on the stone marking the spot where Lincoln spoke, perhaps have a little picnic – you’re welcome to Central Park!

Schuyler County Courthouse

The present courthouse is the third such structure, the first being made of logs and located on the north side of the square, with the second being constructed in Central Park in 1831 and was used until 1881 when this building was constructed. The land upon which this structure rests was purchased at a cost of $3,600, and the building was constructed at a cost of $36,000. The county board sent a delegation to Monroe, Michigan in 1880 to inspect that county's new courthouse, and the committee was so impressed that the contractor was subsequently hired and an exact copy was built here in Schuyler County.

court1

The renovation of our courthouse was initially started quite by accident as the one primarily responsible for the restoration, namely Marty Trinkle, was a talented roofer by trade who found himself unemployed during the winter months. He and Judge Carson Klitz struck up an agreement whereby Mr. Trinkle would work on the building in the winter months. It was intended that the courtroom look as close to what the room looked like in 1881 as possible.

The Schuyler County Courthouse is located on the southwest corner of the Rushville square. The hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. For more information, contact the County Clerk at 217-322-4734.
Excerpt from narrative by Carson Klitz, former Circuit Judge