COURT HOUSE

OFFICERS OF THE COURT

The first Court Houae in the County was built in 1821-2 on the west side of the square, the contract being let to William and Thomas Finley at a special meeting of the commissioners held June 13, 1821, though the building was not completed until a year later. One historian says the contract price was $,380 and another that it cost $700. Itwas a long, frame structure standingwith its side to the street. Years afterward it was cut in two, turned around and used for store rooms.

The need of a more commodious and dignified temple of justice began to be felt as early as 1828, but nothing came of it until in March, 1830, Moses Stevens was instructed to draft a plan and at a special meeting in April, the contract was let to Thomas Rattan for the erection of a brick Court House in the center of the square. The contract price was $7000 to be paid in yearly installments of $1000 or more; or, in case a special tax was levied that year, Mr. Rattan was to accept $5,500, when collected, in full payment of his bill. The building was completed early in 1832. It is a matter of history that, when finished, the new edifice "was the pride of the county, and was universally admitted at that time to be the finest Court House in tlie State." The building was 4 4 x 46 feet, two stories, surmounted by a pretentious tower (taken down some years before the building itself was razed).

This was replaced by the present Court House in 18!) 1.

JUDGE CLEMENT L. SMITH

Clement L. Smith was born in Bluffdale Township, Greene County, Illinois, on March 7, 1895. He attended rural schools and then the Carrollton Public Schools and was graduated in 1914 from the Carrollton High School. He served in the Army during World War I. On April 12, 1928 he was admitted to the Bar, and practiced law from the first of August, 1928 until December of 1942, at which time he took office as County Judge of Greene County, Illinois. He served as Acting County Judge of Macoupin County during the absence of the Judge of that Court, while said Judge was in the military service of the United States. In Juno of 1945 Judge Smith was elected as the Circuit Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit which comprises Greene, Jersey, Scott, Macoupin, Morgan and Sangamon Counties. In September of 1946 he was assigned by the Supreme Court as a Justice of the Appellate Court for the, then, Fourth District at Mt. Vernon, Illinois. He was re-elected as a Circuit Judge in '51, '57, and 1964. He has always resided in Greene County, with the exception of a period of tliree years in Morgan County when he was located there as a teacher and high school principal.

Judge Smith was married to the former Hilda Coats, of Hillview, Illinois in 1925. They are the parents of two children, Mrs. Doris Purdue, and Clem Smith, Jr.

COURTHOUSE CLOCK DEDICATION JULY 8, 1968 (Carrollton Gazette-Patriot, June 27, 1968)

The repairing and electrifying of the clock on top of the Greene County Courthouse, which has been silent so many years, is now nearing completion, and the clock will soon be in operation again.

Robert Hindelang, Carrollton Township Supervisor, told the Gazette-Patriot Tuesday morning that plans were partially completed Monday at the meeting of the Board of Supervisors to hold a formal dedication ceremony for the clock, the tentative date being July 8.

We understand that the work on the clock carries a five year guarantee. The contractors for the repair and maintenance are Kenneth B. and George B. Kavanaugh of St. Louis.

During preliminary testing of the Courthouse Clock Wednesday afternoon, June 26, several townspeople remarked how wonderful it was to again hear the "old clock" toll-out its familiar and distinctive chime of yesteryear (all but forgotten by many — and never heard by the younger set.

Without seeming to be too sentimental, the striking of the clock brings back something good and worthwhile out of the past, and it also returns something of definite value that is as much a part of the Greene County Courthouse as the foundation itself.

We commend the Greene County Board of Supervisors for their foresight in restoring the historic landmark to its original place of dignity and service to the residents of Greene County.

Other Officers of the Court:

Associate Circuit Judge L. A. Mehrhoff Jack A. Alfeld, State's Attorney Finice Doyle, Clerk Donald Vinyard, Sheriff Wm. H. Wolfe, Coroner

Attorneys:

Alfeld, Jack A., Hodges Bidg., Carrollton, Illinois Gustine, Claude C., Greenfield, Illinois

(Office West Side Square, Carrollton, Illinois) Harp, W. 0., Roodhouse, Illinois Hubbard, L. K., White Hall, Illinois Day, James W., Hodges Bidg., Carrollton, Illinois Hutchens, Gilbert K., Carrollton, Illinois (retired) Hutchens, Julian, White Hall, Illinois McDonald, Jack, Carrollton Bank Bidg., Carrollton,

Illinois

Mehrhoff, Robert H., Hodges Bidg., Carrollton, Illinois Strickland, Hugh A., Carrollton Bank Bidg., Carrollton,

Illinois Vogt, William G., 506 North Side Square, Carrollton,

Illinois

Other County Officials in Courthouse:

R. A. Batty, County Clerk and Recorder William Vandersand, Treasurer Veri Owens, Supervisor of Assessments Robert French, Superintendent of Highways Charles K. Barnett, Superintendent of Schools Beverly K. Trotter (now Mrs. Robert Lee Jones) Court Reporter

Janitors: Mr. and Mrs. George Stewart