Eleventh Judicial Circuit

Ford County FYI

Named after Thomas Ford, the eighth Governor of the State of Illinois. Ford served Governor of the State of Illinois from December 8, 1842 to December 9, 1846.

The largest town and county seat of Ford County is in Paxton where the present courthouse was built in 1906. A near violent argument broke out between Paxton and Gibson City that year, as each town wanted the new courthouse. Finally, when the old building was torn down, the supervisors left one wall standing in the basement. Thus, by building on and around the old wall, they settled the argument by saying that they were remodeling, rather than building a new structure.

Livingston County FYI

Named for Edward Livingston, a lawyer and statesman, Mayor of the City of New York, Representative in Congress from New York and later from Louisiana, United States Senator from Louisiana, Secretary of State under Jackson, and United States Minister to France.

The County was organized on February 27, 1837, from parts of McLean, LaSalle, and Iroquois counties. The first and only county seat at Pontiac was incorporated in 1856 by an act of the State Legislature. Township Government was adopted in 1858.

Logan County FYI

Named for Dr. John Logan, a pioneer physician, father of General John A. Logan.

When Lincoln first came to Postville(Lincoln), he was the junior partner of John Todd Stuart and later Stephen T. Logan.

Abraham Lincoln traveled the circuit to make a living. Most communities were too small to support resident lawyers. His work in Logan County bolstered a very successful legal career and helped set the stage for later political successes.

The Logan County seat was moved to Lincoln in 1855, and by the Civil War that city had absorbed old Postville into its boundaries.

McLean County FYI

McLean County was formed late in 1830 out of Tazewell County. It was named for John McLean, United States Senator for Illinois, who died in 1830. The name is pronounced "mac-LAIN" or "muh-CLAIN", not "mac-LEEN"as some outsiders say it

Woodford County FYI

Named after Woodford County in Kentucky through the influence of emigrants from that county.

The Metamora Courthouse(in Metamora) is one of two surviving court buildings on the old Eighth Judicial Circuit, which was traveled by Abraham Lincoln.

Over the years, several towns made attempts to wrest the county seat from Metamora. Referenda to relocate the county offices, held in 1867, 1869, and 1873, were narrowly defeated. A final bitter battle fought in 1894 resulted in the county seat's relocation to Eureka.