Places

Alton Penitentiary

The Alton Penitentiary was a state correctional facility located in Alton, Illinois, that served as the destination for convicted criminals from across Illinois during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is mentioned in connection with Kane County history primarily in the context of horse theft prosecutions, when offenders convicted in the county were transported south to serve their sentences there.

History

The penitentiary's role in Kane County affairs is documented in relation to a period of heightened concern over livestock theft in the region. According to the History of Kane County, Ill. (Joslyn, 1908), the Kane County commissioners passed an order — the precise year unrecorded in the source, though the context suggests the early 1900s — offering a reward not exceeding $50 for the apprehension and conviction of any person found guilty of stealing a horse, mare, or mule within Kane County. (Source: History of Kane County, Ill., Vol. 1 (Joslyn, 1908))

Following convictions under this enforcement effort, multiple individuals received sentences of years imprisonment at the Alton Penitentiary. Sheriff Spaulding, serving as Sheriff of Kane County during this period, reportedly made the journey south to transport convicted horse thieves to the facility. (Source: History of Kane County, Ill., Vol. 1 (Joslyn, 1908))

Notable Associations

  • Sheriff Spaulding — Kane County Sheriff credited with transporting convicted horse thieves to the facility in the early 1900s.
  • Kane County — The county from which prisoners were remanded to Alton following horse theft convictions. Kane County commissioners' reward order was a direct antecedent to at least some of these prosecutions.
The Alton Penitentiary does not appear to have a direct connection to Dundee or its residents beyond its function as the receiving institution for Kane County convicts during this era. No local Dundee individuals are identified by name in the source as having been imprisoned there.

Sources

  • History of Kane County, Ill. (Joslyn), Vol. 1, 1908. Available at: https://archive.org/details/historyofkanecou01josl#offset-328190