In the fall of 1824, John Wood caused to be inserted in the Edwardsville Spectator a notice that application would be made at the next session of the legislature, for the organization of a new county, defining its boundaries. In 1825 the Legislature authorized its establishment, fixing the boundaries described in Wood’s notice and as they now exist. Three commissioners were appointed to locate the county seat. After going over the boundaries, they selected the place suggested by John Wood as the most suitable. They christened the new town Quincy and the county Adams, in honor of the president. Thenceforth the little village of three log cabins rejoiced in a name. A space four hundred feet square was reserved in the center of the town for a public square, now known as Washington Park, the home of the friendly squirrels and birds that sport in safety amid its elms, shrubs and fountains. The first election for officers of the county was held July 2, 1825, when forty votes were polled. From 1825 to 1830, the growth of Quincy was very slow, caused by the privations incident to a pioneer’s life. The little settlement was many miles distant from mills or places where necessary family supplies could be obtained. Instead of coffee the settlers used okra seeds, which they cultivated for that purpose and sweetened with wild honey found in great abundance in the neighboring woods. Their nearest blacksmith was at Atlas, forty miles distant, where they carried their plows to be sharpened, swung upon horses’ backs. Among the voters who took part in the election for county officers in July, 1825, appear the Celtic names of George Frazier, Michael Dodd, Thomas McCreary, Louis Kinney, Daniel Moore, H. Hawley and Ben McNitt, besides the others above mentioned. Below appear the names of the Irish pioneers who came after the county and the town were organized. From the beginning, John Wood was the moving spirit of the young settlement. Its subsequent growth and prosperity were due to his untiring zeal which he maintained to the end of his long and useful life. In 1827, John Wood visited the lead mines at Galena, but maintained his home at Quincy and was constantly identified with its progress, serving as its mayor four times and a number of years as one of its councilmen. His influence was not confined to Quincy alone. He was early recognized throughout the State as a rising man of mark. The manner in which he organized Adams County and defeated a movement of men from Kentucky, who, in 1824, desired a convention for a new constitution to allow them to bring their slaves to Illinois, gave him prominence among the politicians of the State.