Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume I, Part 1

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago ; Peoria : Munsell
Number of Pages: 686

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A. Lincoln

HISTORICAL

ENCYCLOPEDIA

ILLINOIS

EDITED BY

NEWTON BATEMAN, LL. D.

PAUL SELBY, A. M.

SOVEREIGNTY

NAT

AND HISTORY OF

PEORIA COUNTY

EDITED BY DAVID MCCULLOCH.

ILLUSTRATED.

VOLUME I.

CHICAGO AND PEORIA . MUNSELL PUBLISHING COMPANY. PUBLISHERS 190!

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the years 1894. 1899 and 1900, hy WILLIAM W. MUNSELL, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at WASHINGTON.

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PREFACE.

Why publish this book? There should be many and strong reasons to warrant such an undertaking. Are there such reasons? What considerations are weighty enough to have induced the publishers to make this venture? and what special claims has Ilinois to such a distinction? These are reasonable and inevitable inquiries, and it is fitting they should receive attention.

In the first place, good State Histories are of great importance and value, and there is abundant and cheering evidence of an increasing popular interest in them. This is true of all such works, whatever States may be their subjects; and it is conspicuously true of Illi- nois, for the following, among many other reasons: Because of its great prominence in the early history of the West as the seat of the first settlements of Europeans northwest of the Ohio River-the unique character of its early civilization, due to or resulting from its early French population brought in contact with the aborigines-its political, military, and educa- tional prominence-its steadfast loyalty and patriotism-the marvelous development of its vast resources-the number of distinguished statesmen, generals, and jurists whom it has furnished to the Government, and its grand record in the exciting and perilous conflicts on the Slavery question.

This is the magnificent Commonwealth, the setting forth of whose history, in all of its essential departments and features, seemed to warrant the bringing out of another volume devoted to that end. Its material has been gathered from every available source, and most carefully examined and sifted before acceptance. Especial care has been taken in collecting material of a biographical character; facts and incidents in the personal history of men identi- fied with the life of the State in its Territorial and later periods. This material has been gathered from a great variety of sources widely scattered, and much of it quite inaccessible to the ordinary inquirer. The encyclopedic form of the work favors conciseness and com- pactness, and was adopted with a view to condensing the largest amount of information within the smallest practicable space.

And so the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois was conceived and planned in the belief that it was needed; that no other book filled the place it was designed to occupy, or fur- nished the amount, variety and scope of information touching the infancy and later life of Illinois, that would be found in its pages. In that belief, and in furtherance of those ends, the book has been constructed and its topics selected and written. Simplicity, perspienity. conciseness and accuracy have been the dominant aims and rules of its editors and writers. The supreme mission of the book is to record, fairly and truthfully, historical facts ; faets of the earlier and later history of the State, and drawn from the almost innumerable sources connected with that history ; facts of interest to the great body of our people, as well as to scholars, officials, and other special classes; a book convenient for reference in the school the office, and the home. Hence, no attempt at fine writing, no labored, irrelevant and

PREFACE.

long-drawn accounts of matters, persons or things, which really need but a few plain words for their adequate elucidation, will be found in its pages. On the other hand, perspicuity and fitting development are never intentionally sacrificed to mere conciseness and brevity. Whenever a subject, from its nature, demands a more elaborate treatment-and there are many of this character-it is handled accordingly.

As a rule, the method pursued is the separate and topical, rather than the chronological, as being more satisfactory and convenient for reference. That is, each topic is considered separately and exhaustively, instead of being blended, chronologically, with others. To pass from subject to subject, in the mere arbitrary order of time, is to sacrifice simplicity and order to complexity and confusion.

Absolute freedom from error or defect in all cases, in handling so many thousands of items, is not claimed, and could not reasonably be expected of any finite intelligence; since, in complicated cases, some element may possibly elude its sharpest scrutiny. But every statement of fact, made herein without qualification, is believed to be strictly correct, and the statistics of the volume, as a whole, are submitted to its readers with entire confidence.

Considerable space is also devoted to biographical sketches of persons deemed worthy of mention, for their close relations to the State in some of its varied interests, political, gov- ernmental, financial, social, religious, educational, industrial, commercial, economical, mili- tary, judicial or otherwise; or for their supposed personal deservings in other respects. It is believed that the extensive recognition of such individuals, by the publishers, will not be disapproved or regretted by the public; that personal biography has an honored, useful and legitimate place in such a history of Illinois as this volume aims to be, and that the omission of such a department would seriously detract from the completeness and value of the book. Perhaps no more delicate and difficult task has confronted the editors and publishers than the selection of names for this part of the work.

While it is believed that no unworthy name has a place in the list, it is freely admitted that there may be many others, equally or possibly even more worthy, whose names do not appear, partly for lack of definite and adequate information, and partly because it was not deemed best to materially increase the space devoted to this class of topics.

And so, with cordial thanks to the publishers for the risks they have so cheerfully assumed in this enterprise, for their business energy, integrity, and determination, and their uniform kindness and courtesy; to the many who have so generously and helpfully promoted the success of the work, by their contributions of valuable information, interesting reminis- cences, and rare incidents; to Mr. Paul Selby, the very able associate editor, to whom especial honor and credit are due for his most efficient, intelligent and scholarly services; to Hon. Harvey B. Ilurd, Walter B. Wines, and to all others who have, by word or act, encouraged us in this enterprise-with grateful recognition of all these friends and helpers, the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, with its thousands of topics and many thousands of details, items and incidents, is now respectfully submitted to the good people of the State, for whom it has been prepared, in the earnest hope and confident belief that it will be found instructive, convenient and useful for the purposes for which it was designed.

MuotouBateman, Editor-in- chief.

Paul Sely

PREFATORY STATEMENT.

Since the bulk of the matter contained in this volume was practically completed and ready for the press, Dr. Newton Bateman, who occupied the relation to it of editor-in-chief, has passed beyond the sphere of mortal existence. In placing the work before the public, it therefore devolves upon the undersigned to make this last prefatory statement.

As explained by Dr. Bateman in his preface, the object had in view in the preparation of a "Ilistorical Encyclopedia of Illinois" has been to present, in compact and concise form, the leading facts of Territorial and State history, from the arrival of the earliest French explorers in Illinois to the present time. This has included an outline history of the State, under the title, "Illinois," supplemented by special articles relating to various crises and eras in State history; changes in form of government and administration; the history of Consti- tutional Conventions and Legislative Assemblies ; the various wars in which Illinoisans have taken part, with a summary of the principal events in the history of individual military organizations engaged in the Civil War of 1861-65, and the War of 1898 with Spain; lists of State officers, United States Senators and Members of Congress, with the terms of each; the organization and development of political divisions; the establishment of charitable and educational institutions; the growth of public improvements and other enterprises which have marked the progress of the State; natural features and resources; the history of early newspapers, and the growth of religious denominations, together with general statistical information and unnsual or extraordinary occurrences of a local or general State character- all arranged under topical heads, and convenient for ready reference by all seeking informa- tion on these subjects, whether in the family, in the office of the professional or business man, in the teacher's study and the school-room, or in the public library.

While individual or collected biographies of the public men of Illinois have not been wholly lacking or few in number-and those already in existence have a present and con- stantly increasing value-they have been limited, for the most part, to special localities and particular periods or classes. Rich as the annals of Illinois are in the records and character of its distinguished citizens who, by their services in the public councils, upon the judicial bench and in the executive chair, in the forum and in the field, have reflected honor npon the State and the Nation, there has been hitherto no comprehensive attempt to gather together, in one volume, sketches of those who have been conspicuous in the creation and upbuilding of the State. The collection of material of this sort has heen a task requiring patient and laborious research; and, while all may not have been achieved in this direction that was desirable, owing to the insufficiency or total absence of data relating to the lives of many men most prominent in public affairs during the period to which they belonged, it is still believed that what has been accomplished will be found of permanent value and be appreciated by those most deeply interested in this phase of State history.

The large number of topics treated has made brevity and conciseness an indispensable feature of the work; consequently there has been no attempt to indulge in graces of style er

PREFATORY STATEMENT.

elaboration of narrative. The object has been to present, in simple language and concise form, facts of history of interest or value to those who may choose to consult its pages. Absolute inerrancy is not claimed for every detail of the work, but no pains has been spared, and every available authority consulted, to arrive at complete accuracy of statement.

In view of the important bearing which railroad enterprises have had upon the extraor- dinary development of the State within the past fifty years, considerable space has been given to this department, especially with reference to the older lines of railroad whose history has been intimately interwoven with that of the State, and its progress in wealth and population.

In addition to the acknowledgments made by Dr. Bateman, it is bat proper that I should express my personal obligations to the late Prof. Samuel M. Ingl ... State Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, and his assistant, Prof. J. II. Freeman; to ex-Senator John M. Palmer, of Springfield; to the late Hon. Joseph Medill, editor of "The Chicago Tribune"; to the Ilon. James B. Bradwell, of "The Chicago Legal News"; to Gen. Green B. Raum, Dr. Samuel Willard, and Dr. Garrett Newkirk, of Chicago (the latter as author of the prin- cipal portions of the article on the "Underground Railroad") ; to the Librarians of the State IIistorical Library, the Chicago Historical Library, and the Chicago Public Library, for special and valuable aid rendered, as well as to a large circle of correspondents in different parts of the State who have courteously responded to requests for information on special topics, and have thereby materially aided in securing whatever success may have been attained in the work.

In conclusion, I cannot omit to pay this final tribute to the memory of my friend and associate, Dr. Bateman, whose death, at his home in Galesburg, on October 21, 1897, was deplored, not only by his associates in the Faculty of Knox College, his former pupils and immediate neighbors, but by a large circle of friends in all parts of the State.

Although his labors as editor of this volume had been substantially finished at the time of his death (and they included the reading and revision of every line of copy at that time prepared, comprising the larger proportion of the volume as it now goes into the hands of the public), the enthusiasm, zeal and kindly appreciation of the labor of others which he brought to the discharge of his duties, have been sadly missed in the last stages of prepara- tion of the work for the press. In the estimation of many who have held his scholarship and his splendid endowments of mind and character in the highest admiration, his con- nection with the work will be its strongest commendation and the surest evidence of its merit.

With myself, the most substantial satisfaction I have in dismissing the volume from my hands and submitting it to the judgment of the public, exists in the fact that, in its prepara- tion, I have been associated with such a co-laborer-one whose abilities commanded uni- versal respect, and whose genial, scholarly character and noble qualities of mind and heart won the love and confidence of all with whom he came in contact, and whom it had been my privilege to count as a friend from an early period in his long and useful career.

Paul Selby, Associate Editor

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGI

Abraham Lincoln (Frontispiece)

Annex Central Hospital for Insane, Jacksonville

Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children, Lincoln

Asylum for Incurable Insane, Bartonville 23:

Bateman, Newton (Portrait) 3

Board of Trade Building, Chicago.

"Chenu Mansion," Kaskaskia (1898), where La Fayette was entertained in 1825

315

Chicago Academy of Sciences

301

Chicago Drainage Canal

Chicago Historical Society Building 394

Chicago Publie Buildings 395

Chicago Thoroughfares 93

Chief Chicagou (Portrait)

246

Comparative Size of Great Canals

Day after Chicago Fire.

Early Historic Scenes, Chicago

Early Historie Scenes, Chicago (No. 2) .

1:1

Engineering Ilall, University of Illinois

Experiment Farm, University of Illinois

Experiment Farm, University of Illinois-The Vineyard

Experiment Farm, University of Illinois-Orchard Cultivation.

First Illinois State House, Kaskaskia (1818)

311

Fort Dearborn from the West (1808)

240

Fort Dearborn from Sontheast (1808)

Fort Dearborn (1853)

General John Edgar's House, Kaskaskia

Ilenry de Tonty (Portrait)

House of Governor Bond, old Kaskaskia (1891)

315

Ilouse of Chief Ducoign, the last of the Kaskaskias (1893). .

Ilome for Juvenile Female Offenders, Geneva.

Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Quincy

Illinois State Normal University, Normal

Illinois State Capitol, Springfield

Illinois State Building, World's Columbian Exposition, 1593

Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet

Illinois State Penitentiary-Cell House and Women's Pri-ch

Illinois State Reformatory, Pontiac

21:

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Institution for Deaf and Dumb, Jacksonville

300

Interior of Room, Kaskaskia Hotel (1893) where La Fayette Banquet was held in 1825 314 Institution for the Blind, Jacksonville . 301

Kaskaskia IIotel, where La Fayette was feted in 1825 (as it appeared, 1893) 314

La Salle (Portrait) 246

Library Building, University of Illinois. 334

Library Building-Main Floor-University of Illinois. 335

Map of Burned District, Chicago Fire, 1871 276

Map of Grounds, World's Columbian Exposition, 1893 600

Map of Illinois Following Title Page 66 66

Map of Illinois River Valley

McCormick Seminary, Chicago 362

Monuments in Lincoln Park, Chicago 90

Monuments in Lincoln Park, Chicago. 206

Monuments in Lincoln Park, Chicago 201

Natural History Hall, University of Illinois 151

Newberry Library, Chicago. 394

Northern Hospital for the Insane, Elgin 402

Old Kaskaskia, from Garrison Hill (as it appeared in 1893) . 314

Old State House, Kaskaskia (1900) 315

Pierre Menard Mansion, Kaskaskia (1893) 314

315

Selby, Paul (Portrait)

Soldiers' Widows' Home, Wilmington 439

Southern Illinois Normal, Carbondale

505

Southern Illinois Penitentiary and Asylum for Incurable Insane, Chester 492

University Hall, University of Illinois

150

University of Chicago 363

University of Illinois, Urbana. (Group of Buildings)

540

University of Illinois, Urbana. (Group of Buildings). 541

View from Engineering Hall, University of Illinois 281

View on Principal Street, old Kaskaskia (1891)

Views in Lincoln Park, Chicago 91

Views of Drainage Canal. 96

Views of Drainage Canal. 97

War Eagle (Portrait) . 246

Western Hospital for the Insane, Watertown 403

Remnant of Old Kaskaskia (as it appeared in 1898).

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois.

ABBOTT, (Lieut .- Gov.) Edward, a British officer, who was commandant at Post Vincennes (called by the British, Fort Sackville) at the time Col. George Rogers Clark captured Kaskas- kia in 1778. Abbott's jurisdiction extended, at least nominally, over a part of the "Illinois Country." Ten days after the occupation of Kas- kaskia, Colonel Clark, having learned that Abbott had gone to the British headquarters at Detroit, leaving the Post without any guard except that furnished by the inhabitants of . the village, took advantage of his absence to send Pierre Gibault, the Catholic Vicar-General of Illi- nois, to win over the people to the American cause, which he did so successfully that they at once took the oath of allegiance, and the Ameri- can flag was run up over the fort. Although Fort Sackville afterwards fell into the hands of the British for a time, the manner of its occupa- tion was as much of a surprise to the British as that of Kaskaskia itself, and contributed to the completeness of Clark's triumph. (See Clark, Col. George Rogers, also, Gibault, Pierre.) Gov- ernor Abbott seems to have been of a more humane character than the mass of British officers of his day, as he wrote a letter to General Carleton about this time, protesting strongly against the employment of Indians in carrying on warfare against the colonists on the frontier, on the ground of humanity, claiming that it was a detriment to the British cause, although he was overruled by his superior officer, Colonel Hamilton, in the steps soon after taken to recap- ture Vincennes.

ABINGDON, a city and railway junction in Knox County. 10 miles south of Galesburg and 85 miles northeast of Quincy. It is the center of a rich agricultural region and has two banks, some flourishing manufactures, including heavy wag- ons, working men's clothing and mouse-traps. Hedding College, under the auspices of the

Methodist Episcopal Church, is located here. Abingdon Normal College, formerly a separate institution, located here, has been united with Hedding College. Population (1890), 1,321; (1900), 2,022.

ACCAULT, Michael (Ak-ko), French explorer and companion of La Salle, who came to the "Illinois Country" in 1780, and accompanied Hennepin when the latter descended the Illinois River to its mouth and then ascended the Mis. sissippi to the vicinity of the present city of St. Paul, where they were captured by Sioux. They were rescued by Greysolon Dulhut (for whom the city of Duluth was named), and having dis- covered the Falls of St. Anthony, returned to Green Bay. (See Hennepin.)

ACKERMAN, William K., Railway President and financier, was born in New York City, Jan. 29, 1832, of Knickerbocker and Revolutionary ancestry, his grandfather, Abraham D. Acker- man, having served as Captain of a company of the famous "Jersey Blues," participating with "Mad" Anthony Wayne in the storming of Stony Point during the Revolutionary War, while his father served as Lieutenant of Artillery in the War of 1812. After receiving a high school edu- cation in New York, Mr. Ackerman engaged in mercantile business, but in 1852 became a clerk in the financial department of the Illinois Central Railroad. Coming to Chicago in the service of the Company in 1860, he successively filled the positions of Secretary, Auditor and Treasurer. until July, 1876, when he was elected Vice-Presi dent and a year later promoted to the Presidency. voluntarily retiring from this position in August. 1883, though serving some time longer in the capacity of Vice-President. During the progress of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago (1892-93) Mr. Ackerman served as Auditor of the Exposition, and was City Comptroller of Chicago under the administration of Mayor Hopkins

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

(1893-95). He is an active member of the Chicago Historical Society, and has rendered valiable service to railroad history by the issue of two bro- chures on the "Early History of Illinois Rail- roads," and a "Historical Sketch of the Illinois Central Railroad."

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume I, Part 1

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago ; Peoria : Munsell Number of Pages: 686

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago ; Peoria : Munsell
Number of Pages: 686