Tazewell County Bicentennial - Recognizing Tazewell County Clerks – Part 9
Tazewell County Bicentennial - Recognizing Tazewell County Clerks – Part 9 [2 Images]
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As Tazewell County approaches our Bicentennial in April of 2027, current Tazewell County Clerk & Recorder of Deeds John C. Ackerman and former County Clerk Christie A. Webb will be honoring and recognizing the previous community leaders to hold this position. The office of Tazewell County Clerk was the first Countywide Office established on April 10th 1827. Since then, only 22 individuals have served in this vital County Government position. Two of them were surgeons, two owned cigar companies, one was a race car driver. The youngest elected was 22, while the oldest elected was 64. One later served in the State Legislature, while another was appointed Assistant Secretary of State, and five received numerous United States Presidential Appointments to positions within the Federal Government.
Each month on the 10th as we approach the Bicentennial we will be placing a floral wreath from The Greenhouse Flower Shoppe in Pekin at the gravesite of these 22 individuals. This is the nineth in this series of twenty-two recognitions. Additionally, we will share the biographies and signatures of these county government leaders, thanks to the research to Susan Rynerson of the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society and Jared Olar of the Pekin Public Library. Please join us as we build momentum for the historic Tazewell County Bicentennial by honoring and recognizing these tremendous individuals.
This month we recognize Groveland’s Surgeon who served as Tazewell County Clerk, Dr. Flavel Shurtleff, 1877 – 1886, of the Democrat Political Party.
Dr. Flavel Shurtleff was born January 6th, 1842, in Groveland, Illinois, to Milton and Mary Berry Shurtleff. The Shurtleff family had long ties to Plymouth, Massachusetts, since 1632 English immigrant William Shurtleff landed in America. He attended common schools before attending Jubilee College and later Rush Medical College in Chicago, where he graduated with honors. He engaged in the practice of medicine in Groveland. He also owned a large farm in Groveland Township.
Dr. Flavel Shurtleff served during the Civil War as an Assistant Surgeon of the 154th Illinois Infantry. He was described on his military enlistment record as 6’ 2” tall, with a light complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. On November 9th, 1880, Dr. Flavel Shurtleff married Mary L. Rodecker. They would have one son, George.
Dr. Flavel Shurtleff was elected Groveland Township Supervisor in 1872 and served until 1875, in such position representing Groveland Township on the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors. He was elected Tazewell County Clerk in 1877, defeating Republican Party candidate and former Tazewell County Circuit Clerk Simeon R. Drake and Greenback Party candidate Wellington King by a vote of 2151 to 1953 to 301. He was 35 years old when elected. In a campaign rematch in 1882, now incumbent Democrat candidate Flavel Shurtleff defeated once again Republican candidate Simeon R. Drake and now Greenback candidate H.M. Smith by a vote of 2992 to 2350 to 105.
Following his time as County Clerk, Dr. Flavel Shurtleff went on to be director of the Farmers’ National Bank of Pekin for 20 years and was part owner of the Pekin Times Newspaper with his brother-in-law Judge A. W. Rodecker. He died at his home in Pekin on February 25th, 1920, after suffering for years with Bright’s disease. He is buried in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin.