The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-03-09
IAN INTERESTING RELIC.
ThFirst Stronghold Used by the State
of Illinois.
iAazine.

TMflrSC SCrOnE-BOX UScO Dy Uhe Stabte
of Illinois.
here is to be seen in the vault OF
the Estate Treasury at the Capitol, a
mot interesting memento of early
STAB history, being the original
''sttong-box" used by the treasur er
during the years of the existence OF
Illinois as Territory and for year
or so after it's admission as State 1t
consists of plain cherry box of twelve
by eighteen inches and about eight
inches deep, divided into four compart-
ments, in which the funds of the Terri
tory and of the infant State were de-
posted during the period mentioned.
The relic has been in the possession of
the family OF the Hon. John Thomas.
for considerable period Territorial
Treasurer before the admission of Hill
nois as q State and afterward the first
State Treasurer, and has just been pre-
scented to tho State through State
Treasurer Becker, accompanied by the
following letter from James H. Thomas
of the Bellevi.le Advocate. who is a
grandson of the first State Treasurer:
"BELLEvILLB, ILL.,, Jan. 90. -. Hon. Charles
Becker, State Treasurer, Springfeyd. W.-DEAR
SIR: BY to-morrow's express / send you
small chest that should from its historical asso-
citation be nov tho property Of the State of
Illinois; and you being the State Treasurer, end
from this the home county Of tho first treasurer,
~. ooot AVID. 7 1,nI; -
to the Stateat your hands.
'sThis ch,st was tho treasure box OF the Ter
ritory of Illinois from 1919 until Illinois was adj
mitted ito the Union. and then it filled the
same purpose for tho new State fo- about one
Year Your early predecessor, the Hon. John
lRAsklas, was, as you ave we'll aware, the Ter
ritoral Treasurer by appointment, End was
afterward elected as the first State Treasurer,
and no used this chest as the deposit DRY for the
public rloreys while in his hands during the
limo he was in office. The genuineness of this
relicis well authenticated by evidences that
nave been in tho possession of the writer's
lamily for seventy years,
, ut is q plain, cld-fashioned, modest h:tle
box, quite in keeping with it's day. and no doubt
ample enough for the demands upon it then as
, receptacle for the States money. A conf
paIison OF 1t with the State treasure vaults OF to-
day will show Qn one way the wonderful
growth ir wealth aad Importance OF the COM
monwealth in time within the momory of
many yet living.
III you will permit ne, viii! ask OF you tho
service OF presenting 1t 10 the State, hoping
It viii be acceptable as q "Reminiscences OF early
times In the tressurcr's Office AMI prove OF
some interest among the memorials in the
State house. should il DO placed thore. TO-
main, with high regard, yosr friend and fellow.
townsman, JAMES II. THoMAs"
This modest box presents, by con-
trast with tho vault in which it is
stored, containing its $4,000, 600 or ST.
100000 of State funds, besides valuable
documents, IL striking Illustration Of
the growth OF Illinois in population and
wealth during tho seventy years that
have elapsed sia"o The time IL was
used. 1t Will probe one Of the most
Interesting mcuN2ntoes III thc S!a,c
capitol, intimately identified a1 it ia
with carly State history. Spring doid
Ql) journal.