Calhoun county is not under township organization. The almshouse is kept by a new contractor, who pays three dollars and seventy-five cents per acre for the use of one hundred and seven acres, and receives two dollars a week for each pauper committed to his charge. The county furnishes nothing except medical care. The county physician is paid one hundred and eighty dollars a year, and he visits the almshouse, the jail, and the paupers in Hardin precinct, and furnishes medicines at his own cost. There were only five inmates, of whom one was a child attending school, and none were insane. The total pauper expense in this county is about two thousand dollars, of which a very small amount, estimated not to exceed two hundred dollars, is paid for outdoor relief. No almshouse register is kept, and the overseers, of whom seven have been appointed by the county court, do not keep the accounts nor make the reports required by law.
Contributed by Marty Crull
Our paupers cost the county for the last quarter for which bills were allowed last week, $622.70. The paupers at the poor farm cost $289.25, while the outside bills amount to $338.45. What is the poor farm for anyway? The County may render assistance of a temporary nature to persons outside the poor house but not to permanent paupers. The place for permanent paupers is at the poor house, where they will be better housed, better fed, better clothed and better cared for in every respect. It seems to be a false sympathy. Last winter those who were receiving the “temporary assistance” actually suffered. Here is the list of paupers that received “temporary assistance” at last term of Court:
L. Turic $27.00
Josh Cutler 16.00
Susan Gray 18.00
Mary Miller 26.00
J. McCartney 14.00
Old Man Reisa 24.00
Felix Bohl 24.00
Mrs. Harris 19.50
Wm. Swan 13.00
Total 3 months $180.50
Besides ????, John S. Lane was allowed for provisions furnished paupers $10.00 and B. Kingscheriff $10.00 for similar relief.
Contributed by Marty Crull
12 Feb
We take the following from the report of the 1890 of the Board of State Commissioners’ of the State of Illinois.
CALHOUN:--Visited June 3, ’90—
This almshouse is located one and one half miles north of Hardin. The farm
contains two hundred and forty acres, one hundred of which are in
cultivation. The land and buildings are estimated to be worth $6,000, and
the furniture $25. The keeper receives one dollar and seventy-five cents per
week for feeding each inmate, and pays the county four dollars and
twenty-five cents per anmum. as rent, for the tillable land. The cost of
maintainance at the almshouse, for the year ending Sept. 1, 1889, was
$1,290.50, for repairs $25, and for outdoor relief $1.486.78. The main
building of this almshouse was found to be in moderate condition. The floors
were clean. The walls and ceiling might be made to look better. The old log
cabin is much decayed, and is not fit for occupancy. The rooms are heated by
stoves. The beds and bedding were clean and in fair condition, except that
used in the log cabin. There were nine inmates present: six males and three
females. Two of the inmates were idiots, one an epileptic, and four were
under sixteen years of age. One of the children is a bright and interesting
blind boy five years of age. The boy should be sent to the institution for
the blind. The inmates except the idiots.
Contributed by Allen Austin
[page 70] ... Calhoun - The sanitary condition of these buildings is good, the heating sufficient and the system of ventilation satisfactory. There is an abundant supply of good water and adequate fire protection.
The sexes are cared for in separate buildings. The board recommends that one of the female insane inmates be sent to a State hospital. She has mania to burn herself up and to set fire to the buildings. She is not a desirable inmate as she has no special nurse to watch her. Her folks are poor and for this reason she is confined at the almshouse.
Good and suitable food and sufficient clothing is furnished the inmates. All have clean beds and sufficient bedding. Bath tubs are provided and all are required to bathe and change underclothing regularly. The discipline is severe. No religious services are held at the almshouse. Light work is provided for such of the inmates as desire to work.
The farm is owned by the county and is in good condition. Small fruits and vegetables are raised.
[page 105] Table III - Boards of Auxiliary Visitors of County Almshouses, Jails, Etc.
Calhoun County.
Arthur D. Fowler, president, Hardin.
F. W. Runde, M.D., secretary, Kampsville.
Mrs. G. A. Williams, Hardin.
Source: Seventeenth Biennial Report of the Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities of the State of Illinois, presented to the Governor October 1, 1902, Volume 17, extracted 20 Aug 2016 by Norma Hass
Enumerated on January 1, 1910
6 Total
6 Male
0 Female
4 White Native
3 White Foreign born
0 White Nativity unknown
0 Colored
Admitted in 1910
5 Total
3 Male
2 Female
2 White Native
2 White Foreign born
1 White Nativity unknown
0 Colored
Transfers to other almshouses
0 Present Jan 1, 1910
0 Admitted in 1910
4 Other transfers and discharges
2 Deaths in 1910
Contributed by Marty Crull
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