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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
Nichols; 1863-64-Clark Braden; 1865-68-C. B. Smith; 1869-73-Geo. B. Charles; 1874-86- Charles E. Mann; 1886, until his death in 1902 -Marvin Quackenbush; 1902-H. A. Dean.
STATE'S ATTORNEYS - 1837-39 - Alonzo Hunt-ington; 1839-40-Norman H. Purple; 1840-41- Onslow Peters; 1841-42-Seth B. Parwell; 1842-44-Orsemas D. Day; 1844-47-Benj. F. Fridley; 1847-51-Burton C. Cook; 1851-52-Phineas W. Pratt; 1852-53-A. B. Coon; 1853-56-M. F. Boyce; 1856-57-Amos B. Coon; 1857-61- Edward S. Joslyn; 1861-Eugene Canfleld and A. B. Coon; 1861-65-Charles J. Metzner; 1865-69-Leander R. Wagner; 1869-72-Charles J. Metzner; 1872-76-Albert J. Hopkins; 1876-80-T. E. Ryan; 1880-84-Henry B. Willis; 1884-88-John A. Russell; 1888-92-Frank G. Hanchett; 1892-1900-Frank W. Joslyn; 1900-04 -W. J. Tyers.
CHAPTER XIII.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS.
FEDERAL BUILDINGS AURORA AND ELGIN POST-
OFFICES - STATE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS-
NORTHERN HOSPITAL FOR IXSANE TRAINING
SCHOOL FOR GIRLS HOME FOR BOYS KANE
COUNTY COURT HOUSE HISTORY ALMS-HOUSE
AND THE COUNTY POOR.
The General Government has erected two beautiful and elaborate Post-office Buildings within Kane County. In each case the amount of the appropriation was $100,000, about $20,000 each being paid for the respective sites and $80,000 expended upon each building. The Aurora office-a fine two-story building of red brick with stone trimmings-was built in 1894-95, and the one at Elgin, a very elaborate one-story structure of light-colored granite, was erected in 1901-02. The Aurora building is finished in artistically designed and highly wrought and polished hard woods, while the public portion of the Elgin office is walled, ceiled and finished in white marble, with rich mosaic floor. In each building every conceivable facility for the reception and prompt distribution of all incoming and outgoing mail is carefully provided. The arrangements for selling stamps and postal money-orders, and for handling registered matter, seem almost perfect. Every precaution against loss by carelessness, criminality, or the natural elements have been most studiously and thoroughly provided. The flag constantly floats above each, as in military posts, and the buildings, grounds and surroundings are maintained in the most scrupulous order and neatness.
STATE BUILDINGS.
The Illinois Northern Hospital for the Insane was established by an act of the Legislature, approved April 16, 1869, by Governor John M. Palmer. The district to be provided for by that institution embraced the thirteen counties of Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll, Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, Lee and Whiteside-Jo Daviess and Carroll having since been withdrawn. A locating commission, composed of Augustus Adams, B. F. Shaw, W. R. Brown, M. L. Joslyn, David S. Hammond and William Adams-none of whom were residents of Kane County-after careful inspection of the numerous sites offered, with generous bounties by various localities, selected the beautiful grounds at Elgin. It would be very difficult to find a location meeting more completely the prime requisites of fair healthful altitude, good drainage, abundant water, accessibility, beauty of situation and pleasant diversity of landscape. The city purchased of R. B. Chisholm, and donated to the State, 150 acres of land in Sections 23 and 24 and, by subsequent purchases, the grounds have been enlarged to 510 acres, lying along the west bank of the river.
The highway to the south, from the city, which is also traversed by a line of electric cars, runs parallel with, and some eighty rods distant from, the river, through the State grounds; and that portion lying between the river and the road is cultivated as farm land. The Hospital buildings front toward the east and stand some forty rods west of the highway, near the center of the park-like lawn, which is separated from the highway by a substantial and artistic iron fence. The grounds are entered through elaborate iron gateways, flanked by neat stone lodges. With an even, gradual slope, rendered more pleasing by two grassy waterways for the surplus rain-fall to reach the river, the land rises from its pebbly
