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wright, who preached at Havana, in 1835, and at various times. since, to near the date of his death. Rev. John Jenkins, from Fulton county, may have visited here at an earlier date. In 1836, Rev. J. A. Daniels, now a resident of Bath, organized a Baptist church at Sny Carte, assisted by Rev. Thos. Taylor, now of Oregon. The original members were Wm. Davis and wife, Richard Phelps and wife, Mr. Smith and wife, the parents of Mark A. Smith, Esq., now of that vicinity, and Mrs. J. W. Phelps. A very pleasant fact connected with that organization is, that Mr. Daniels, the first minister, is the pastor of it to this day, a period of forty years, with the exception of a brief absence. Thus have they labored together, in the good work before them, knowing in whom they trusted. Irregular services were held in the eastern part of the county, by different ministers, at various times and places. A Baptist church was built on Crane creek, in 1856. The old Methodist church, in Havana, and a Presbyterian church, at Bath, were built at an earlier date, and were, as near as we can ascertain, the first church edifices in the county.

The present status of the county's schools and churches will be referred to, at length, in this work, under another head.

The subject of the formation of a new county having been for some time agitated; in 1841, as before stated, an act was passed by the Legislature, and duly approved by the Governor, for that purpose. By the provisions of this law the legal voters of the district which was to compose the new county, met at Havana on the first Monday in April, 1841, and proceeded to elect a sheriff, treasurer, and other county officers. The sheriff chosen was Francis Low, still a resident of this city, and President of the First National Bank, and who had been acting as deputy sheriff when part of the territory of the county lay within the limits of Tazewell county. George T. Virgin, John R. Chaney and Abner Baxter were county commissioners. Joseph A. Phelps was the first county clerk, and subsequently, at a meeting of the circuit court, he was appointed circuit clerk by the presiding judge. The population of Mason county at the time of its organization, as near as can be ascertained, was about two thousand, and at this election about four hundred votes were cast.

It was also directed by the Legislature that at the same time and place a vote should be taken for the purpose of determining the location of the county seat. Here began a struggle and a rivalry

continuing many years, which was far from creditable to the parties engaged therein, on either side. They endeavored to accomplish by foul means what could not be accomplished by fair. It was the source of rivalry between the friends of the towns which were the candidates for the seat of justice. The two towns which were the competitors for the county seat were Havana and Bath. The contest was exciting, but the former was successful.

A bond donating a block of lots adjoining the public square, was executed by L. W. & H. L. Ross. Thus Havana was elected the county seat. It did not, however, long retain that honor. Dissatisfaction in the defeated town waxed strong and violent.

Agitation was kept up, and an act, approved January 19, 1843, was obtained from the legislature, authorizing another election on the second Monday of February, of that year. Polls were opened in Havana, Bath and Linchburg, where votes were received for and against Bath and Havana for county seat. The votes of Havana were for that town, and those at the others were against it being the county seat. Bath received a majority of the votes, and was declared the county seat.. They soon had the records removed to that town. The June term of the circuit court, 1844, was held at Bath; the term for the previous year had been held at Havana. Bath continued the county seat for eight years. Havana still had aspirations for the seat of justice, and in February, 1851, legislation was obtained which ordered another election on the second Monday in March, 1851, at which the question was again before the people for or against removal. This election, conducted as unfairly as the former one, resulted in again making Havana the county seat, which it has continued to be. The last term of court held in Bath was in November, 1850. The May term following was held in Havana.

The first term of circuit court ever held in Havana was at the hotel of Osian M. Ross, beginnning November 12, 1841, S. H. Treat, Judge. The official bond of Joseph A. Phelps, first circuit clerk, was dated April 9, 1841.

Grand Jurors at the June term of county court ordered for the November term, 1841, were as follows:

James Walker,

Ira Halsted,

Austin P. Melton,

William Dew,

Daniel Clark, Sr.,

Michael Swing,
P. W. Campbell,
John G. Conover,

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The following were ordered for a petit jury at the same Novem

ber term, 1841, second Monday of November:

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Francis Low, Sheriff and Collector of taxes.

Collector's bond, $1,500. O. E. Foster and J. H. Netler, securities. Approved July 6, 1841.

County Commissioners in 1841: Robert Falkner, A. J. Field, George T. Virgin.

County Commissioners in 1844: John R. Chaney, Abner Baxter, Amos Smith.

County Commissioners in 1845: Abner Baxter, Amos Smith, R. McReynolds.

At this date we find the following order: "That Joseph A. Phelps be allowed, for use of room to hold court in, one dollar per day for two and a half days. Total, two dollars and fifty cents.' Amos Smith, Robert McRey

County Commissioners in 1846:

nolds, Henry Norris.

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Bond of Adolph Krebaum filed for county clerk August 28, 1847. Sworn into office September 6, a847.

County Commissioners in 1848 and 1849: R. McReynolds, Amos Smith, Henry Norris.

November 28, 1849: Smith Turner, County Judge, and John Pemberton and Robert McReynolds, Associates. These continued till the 28th of November, 1853, when N. J. Rockwell, County Judge, and Daniel Corey and J. H. Daniels, Associates.

The bond of Isaac N. Onstot, County Clerk, bears date November 29, 1853. James H. Hole's bond as Collector filed December 5, 1854.

June 5, 1855: County Judge, N. J. Rockwell.

H. C. Burnham, J. H. Daniels.

Associates,

The vacancy in the clerkship caused by the death of Isaac N. Onstot, filled by Adolph Krebaum, by order of the court, November 7, 1856. J. P. West, Collector and Sheriff. Adolph Krebaum elected for a full term, and sworn into office March, 1857.

The following persons have filled the office of Circuit Clerk since the organization of the county, in the order in which they are named, viz: Joseph A. Phelps, John S. Wilbourn, Richard Ritter, O. H. Wright, John H. Havighorst, George A. Blanchard, and Leonard Schwenk, the present competent and gentlemanly incumbent.

The gentlemen who have served Mason county in the capacity of Sheriff are named below, ad seriatum: Francis Low, who had, also, been deputy when this formed a part of Tazewell county; Isaac H. Hodge, John H. Havighorst, Robert Elkins, Robert H. Walker, James H. Hole, J. Price West, John H. Havighorst, Joseph Y. Hauthorn, John H. Havighorst, James L. Hastings, Lambert M. Hillyer, David B. Phelps, John H. Cleveland and Lambert M. Hillyer, whose efficiency and competency has placed him in this position the third term, which expires this fall.

The Judges of the county court, since the term of Judge Rockwell, before given, are: Joseph A. Phelps, Mathew Langston, H. Warner and John A. Mallory, who is the present incumbent, and serving his second term.

The Judges of the circuit court since the organization of the county in 1841, are: Samuel Treat, William A. Marshall, Pinckney H. Walker, James Harriot, Charles Turner and Lyman Lacy, the able and popular present Judge of this judicial district.

The County Clerks have been: Joseph A. Phelps, Adolph Krebaum, Isaac N. Onstot, Adolph Krebaum, W. W. Stout, S. Elliott, Isaac N. Mitchell, William M. Ganson, who is the present very efficient incumbent.

A vote for and against the adoption of township organization was taken November 11, 1861, to take effect April, 1862. Commissioners to divide into townships were: B. H. Gatton, Mathew Langston and Lyman Lacy.

Since then the following have been County Treasurers, viz: J. D. W. Bowman, S. Wheadon, B. A. Rosebrough, Isaac N. Mitchell, Benjamin F. West and Samuel Bivens, the present Treasurer.

The School Commissioners and County Superintendents have been: S. D. Swing, E. B. Harpham, S. C. Conwell, S. Wheadon, O. H. Wright, W. E. Knox. H. H. Moore, and S. M. Badger, the present incumbent.

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The population of the county in 1850 was 5,921. In the next ten years it nearly doubled. In 1860 in was 10,929. In 1870 a

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