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Hancock County (Ill.)

 Organization

Biography

Hancock County, Illinois, was originally part of a military tract designated by Congress as a reward for veterans of the War of 1812. Settlement of the area was delayed due to concerns about conflicts with its indigenous peoples, but proceeded after the Blackhawk War in 1832.

The county was officially formed on January 23, 1825, out of Pike County. It was named for John Hancock, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In 1833, the state commissioned the formation of the county seat at Carthage. Its original courthouse, a log cabin that later became a school, was built in Montebello (near Nauvoo, but no longer existing) and used until 1839. The second courthouse, which was in use until 1906, was the location from which Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln gave campaign speeches while running for the U.S. Senate in 1858. The current courthouse, which was rebuilt on the same spot, was dedicated in 1908.

Hancock County is home to the city of Nauvoo, which in the 1840s was the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and one of Illinois' most populated cities. The Church's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., was killed at Carthage Jail in 1844, after which most Church members left the area. It continues to be a site of vacation and religious pilgrimage for Church members today.

Citation:
found: GeoNames, algorithmically matched, 2009(adm2; 40°31ʹ00ʺN 091°09ʹ01ʺW) Wikipedia, February 3, 2023 (originally part of military tract designated by Congress as reward for veterans of War of 1812; settlement delayed, concerns about conflicts with indigenous peoples, proceeded after Blackhawk War in 1832; county officially formed January 23, 1825, out of Pike County; named for John Hancock, signer of Declaration of Independence; 1833, state commissioned formation of county seat at Carthage; original courthouse, log cabin that later became school, built in Montebello: near Nauvoo, no longer exists; used until 1839; second courthouse in use until 1906; location Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln gave campaign speeches while running for U.S. Senate, 1858; current courthouse rebuilt on same spot, dedicated 1908; County is home to city Nauvoo: in 1840s, was headquarters of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and one of Illinois' most populated cities; Church's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., killed in Carthage in 1844, most Church members left area; still site of vacation and religious pilgrimage for Church members today)

Found in 15 Collections and/or Records:

Hancock County (Ill.) and Portage County (Ohio) legal documents

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 4054
Abstract

Hancock and Portage County legal documents, 1826-1910, contains two archival series: (1) Hancock County documents, 1838-1844, and (2) Portage County documents, 1826-1910. The documents include affidavits, deeds, summons, and filings.

Dates: 1826-1910

Hancock County (Ill.) deposition

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230234632]
Identifier: MSS SC 134
Scope and Contents

Signed documents concerning a debt of $20,000 owed to Isaac Galland by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for land near Nauvoo, Illinois. Galland affirms that the successors to Joseph Smith are fleeing the jurisidiction of the Illinois courts without paying the debt.

Dates: 1846

Hancock County (Ill.) documents, 1838-1844

 Series
Identifier: MSS 4054 Series 1
Scope and Contents note

This series contains affidavits, summons and filings.

Dates: Other: 1838-1844

Hancock County (Ill.) legal instruments

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230310911]
Identifier: MSS SC 1271
Scope and Contents

Legal instruments from Hancock County, Illinois. The items are from a court case involving Parley P. Pratt as defendant and Cyrus Jones and David Wetmore as plaintiffs.

Dates: 1845-1849

Hancock County (Ill.) legal instruments

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230310895]
Identifier: MSS SC 1272
Scope and Contents

Legal instruments from Hancock County, Illinois. The items are from court cases involving Joseph Smith III.

Dates: Date not identified

Hancock County (Ill.) legal instruments

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230310887]
Identifier: MSS SC 1273
Scope and Contents

Legal instruments from Hancock County, Illinois. The items are from a court cases involving Hiram Kimball.

Dates: 1854

Hancock County (Ill.) legal instruments

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230310879]
Identifier: MSS SC 1274
Scope and Contents

Legal instruments from Hancock County, Illinois. The items are from a court cases in which Thomas B. Marsh was plaintiff and William Smith was defendant.

Dates: 1854

Hancock County (Ill.) legal instruments

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230310861]
Identifier: MSS SC 1275
Scope and Contents

Legal instruments from Hancock County, Illinois. The items are from a court cases involving Isaac Galland.

Dates: 1829-1838

Hancock County (Ill.) legal instruments

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230310853]
Identifier: MSS SC 1276
Scope and Contents

Legal instruments from Hancock County, Illinois. The items are from court cases involving James White.

Dates: 1830-1836

Hancock County (Ill.) legal papers collection

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 3234
Scope and Contents

The contents of this collection are mainly autographed, though some are typewritten. They are legal documents documenting cases presented in Hancock County, Illinois between 1830 and 1868

Dates: 1830-1868

Additional filters:

Type
Collection 13
Archival Object 2
 
Subject
Civil Procedure and Courts 14
Politics, Government, and Law 14
Summonses 9
Hancock County (Ill.) -- History 8
Affidavits 6