Rock Island County Court House
As attractive, perhaps, as any court house in the states and more
remarkable in architecture by far than many, is the handsome county
building of Rock Island. Stately and inviting for business, this edifice
stands a monument to the progressive spirit of the people, who, keeping
pace with the advancement of the times, put it there.
Way back in 1826 a small but well designed building known as "John
Barrel's house," enclosed within its walls the first gathering of men to
transact Rock Island County business. That house stood in Farnhamsburg and
besides being the first county court house, served as post office and
hotel.
The first jail was built in 1836-then the city was the town of Stephenson.
John W. Spencer in October, 1835, was awarded the contract to build this
jail, which was originally a hewed log building, two stories high and
twenty-two feet square. The brick portion of the structure, afterward
added, was built by Daniel Doty in 1839. It stood on lot No. 5 in block
No. 15 in the old town until it was sold to a German, who converted the
brick portion into a residence.
It was in this building that the murderers of Colonel Davenport were
confined, and from which they were led forth to expiate their crimes upon
the gallows on the morning of October 29th, 1845. Birch and Baxter were
also confined there; the former took a change of venue to Warren County
where he broke jail and escaped. Baxter escaped the gallows on the grounds
of having no willful intention to take the life of his benefactor; for
while he laid the plot for the robbery of Colonel Davenport's house, and
planned with the robbers to be ready to enter it on that memorable Fourth
of July, he did it thinking that the house would be unoccupied. But in
that he was disappointed; all the family had gone to the celebration
excepting the colonel. When the robbers entered, they unexpectedly found
him in the house and to make sure of escaping with their plunder, murdered
him. Baxter was sentenced to the penitentiary for life but was afterwards
parolled on the promise that he would leave this part of the country.
The present jail was built in 1857 at an initial cost of $60,000.
Additions of note have since been added. Until this date, 1857, the jail
building contained besides the sheriff's office and residence, the offices
of circuit clerk, recorder, and the county clerk.
A contact with Jonah H. Case to furnish 200,000 bricks at eight dollars a
thousand, was the first step toward the erection of the then, new court
house. That was in April, 1836. In June the contract for the building was
let to Samuel Smith for $10,500, to be completed December 1, 1837. The
building, a square brick structure, was of two stories with a central
cupola. It stood on the square reserved for that purpose when the town was
mapped out and on the land of the present temple of justice.
Immediately after the jail fire in 1882, the people began to agitate a new
court house. In January 1883, the board of supervisors decided to erect an
office building of sufficient capacity for the offices of county judge,
circuit clerk, and county clerk; consequently, a contract was made with S.
J. Collins for a one-story brick building, situate on the south-east
corner of court house square, at a cost of about $13,000, the building
being completed during the year.
During the time of its construction, office room was obtained in the old
court house, and improvised space in the jail building.
As Rock Island County grew it was soon apparent that extensive
improvements and additions to the court house would be necessary. This
rehabilitation would have cost the county so much money that it seemed to
the wise men quite the wrong thing to do, but rather appeal to the people
to decide at the polls whether or not it was their desire to bear the
expense of a new and modern building. Supervisor Joseph Fitzpatrick of
Milan championed the movement. He introduced a resolution at the April
term, 1893, calling for a committee to investigate the needs of the county
and the probable cost of a new court house, to report to the board at the
July meeting, with recommendations as to the time and money necessary to
erect such a court house as would compare with the wealth and progress of
the county.
This committee composed of Supervisor Joseph Fitzpatrick, A. F. Vinton,
James G. Britton and Conrad Schneider made a favor-able report and thought
$125,000 would be about the right amount.
An election was held November 6, 1894, and the proposition to issue bonds
to the amount of $125,000 was carried by tie following vote: For the
proposition to issue bonds, 3,913; against proposition, 2,174; majority
for said proposition, 1,739 . Accordingly the contract was let, Charles J.
Larkin winning.. Work on the foundation commenced June 26, 1895, and
October 1, 1896 the corner stone was laid. The arrangements being in
charge of the Old Settlers' Association.
The following men constituted the Court House Committee: Charles L.
Walker, chair-man; Phil Mitchell, Hon. William Jackson, John Ohlweiler, T.
S. Silvis, (deceased), Hon. Charles J. Searle, H. P. Simpson, William
McEniry, J. F. Robinson, (deceased), C. F. Lynde, S. J. Collins, S. S.
Hull, Hon E. E. Parmenter, (deceased), W. P. Quayle, (deceased). After the
formal notice was made, the following orations were delivered by Edward D.
Sweeney, C. J. Searle and Judge J. M. Gould at the laying of the corner
stone of the new court house, October 1, 1896.
Early Settlements of Rock Island County
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908