Tazewell County
Photo of the Month
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| Tremont
Courthouse. On July 12, 1835, the State Legislature appointed a committee
to permanently locate the County Seat of Tazewell County. This Committee was composed
of John C. Calhoun of Sangamon County, James Gaylord of Putnam County, and Israel Puch of
Macon County. They came to Tremont in 1835, where they were met by John H. Harris who
offered to donate to the County twenty acres of land just south of the town. This
proposition was made to secure the County Seat at Tremont, and in addition to this, the
town donated $2000 for the erection of public buildings. They accepted the proposal, and in the course of time the County Seat was moved to Tremont from Mackinaw, where it had been located since March, 1827. After a short time in smaller quarters, this permanent courthouse was erected - the $14,450 contract being signed in January 1837. The building was built of red brick, 40 x 60 ft. in size, two stories high, with Grecian columns to support the front . It had an octagonal cupola covered in copper with a weathervane at its tip (the remains of the cupola are on display at the Tremont Historical Society). In September, 1839, the building which later was to witness the resounding voices of men such as Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, General Shields, J.R. Logan, and David Davis was consecrated. One interesting note: Abraham Lincoln was attending court in the above building when challenged by General Shields. They eventually assembled on an island opposite Alton, Illinois to fight a duel with cavalry broad swords. The friends with them interceded, the difficulty was adjusted, and Lincoln and Shields became friends. In 1848, the county citizens voted to move the county seat from Tremont to Pekin. |
