USA > Illinois > Biographical and memorial edition of the Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 51
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his remains to their resting place. His was a pature that thought no evil, and found much good in those about him. His devotion to his profession was proverbial, and his patients reaped the benefit of his study and skill. His work wore upon him, and although he was faithful to his enfling as long as his strength permitted, be bually sank beneath the heavy load, and it may be said that Dr. Moore laid down his life in the great battle against disease. He was as surely a martyr to his cause as any general who was shot on a field of conflict. It is difficult for the finite mind to comprehend, or mortal judgment appreciate the reason for the cutting off of this useful, brave man, in the height of his usefulness, but sometimes, per- haps, in another existence, all things will be made clear.
CLINTON ROSETTE.
Trained faculties and an enlightened under- standing in these modern days are necessary requisites of a good newspaper man. More and more is the world at large requiring educated men, not only for the accepted professions, but also for those along less trained lines, and it is the work of the newspapers throughout the country to furnish the mental stimulus without which none can hope to succeed. The trained thinker is demanded for the deciding of pub- lie questions which are perplexing problems to the readers of his paper, but which through the efforts of the editor and his associates are made clear. The responsibility resting upon the man in charge of the policy and editorial branch of a newspaper is heavy, and should not be lightly assumed. From the time of the dis- covery of the art of printing, the power of the Fourth Estate has been unlimited. Government policies have been made and destroyed through newspapers: dynasties overthrown and new ones installed; men have been sent to their doom, or rescued from impending fate; crimi- nals tracked down and the innocent cleared alto- gether of crushing charges, in addition to the magnificent educational training given with the issue of each and any newspaper. No wonder that some of the ablest minds of the country have turned to newspaper work, or that their careers have been marked by distinguished serv- ice. One of the men that rendered signal serv- ice to the world at large, and DeKalb County
in particular, was the late Clinton Rosette, founder of the Chronicle of DeKalb, and a man of broad sympathies and keen intellect.
Mr. Rosette was born in Paw Paw Township, DeKalb County, Ill., October 24, 1850, and died at DeKalb, July 24, 1909. He was a son of William E. and Elizabeth (Breese) Rosette, na- tives of the State of New Jersey, but of French descent. A few years prior to the birth of Mr. Rosette, his parents seeking a wider field, and broader opportunities, came to Illinois, locating in Paw Paw Township about 1841. Although he was a harnessmaker by trade, the father em- braced farming and developed a fine agricul- tural property ; lived upon it until his death in 1550. Hlis widow only survived him four years, passing away in 1884. They had ten children, but only three survive: Mrs. Martin Goodyear and Bailey Rosette, who are of DeKalb, and Benton Rosette, who resides on the Rosette homestead in Paw Paw Township. Growing up amid rural surroundings, and alternating work upon the farm with attendance at the local schools, Mr. Rosette developed into a fine youth with high ambitions. He entered Paw Paw Seminary, where he took a classical course, and was graduated with honors. Following that, he took up the study of medicine under Dr. S. N. Fish, but finding that he was too keenly alive to the suffering of humanity to be able to stand the strain of the medical study, Mr. Rosette abandoned it, and embarked upon a
Cambió Pasetto
Mr Clinton Rosette
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successful career as an educator. In 1874, he came to DeKalb as one of the faculty of the high school here, but soon established a private school, which he developed into one of the best institutions of its kind in this county, and in it he was ably assisted by Mrs. Rosette, a lady of unusual attainments and culture. At one time 125 pupils were enrolled in this school, but when Mr. Rosette founded the Chronicle, March 8, 1879, he found that he could not continue in charge of bis school and give the time he deemed necessary to the conduct of his paper, and so left the ranks of the educational party to enter those of a wider sphere. A strong Democrat. he soon made his paper the official organ of his party, and was largely instrumental in shaping the policies of this neighborhood. The part he and his paper played in the work of his party in DeKalb County is history, and is of too wide a scope to be given in full in this limited space. Governor Altgeld recognized Mr. Rosette's power by honoring him signally, and during the administration of this executive, Mr. Rosette succeeded in securing for DeKalb a magnificent Normal school. He was the man who effected the erection of the township high school, and it is safe to say that there was not a single movement of any kind on foot in DeKalb after he came to this city that looked towards a bet- terment of existing conditions, that Mr. Rosette did not lead it, and generally to a successful termination. In addition to being publisher and editor of the Chronicle, Mr. Rosette was for some years editor and publisher of the Ameri- can Breeder. During the Columbian Exposition, Mr. Rosette went to the pains of taking entire charge of the Illinois Press Building on the fair grounds, being at that time president of the Illinois Press Association. In 1894, he and Mrs. Rosette took an extended trip abroad, vis- iting England, Scotland and Wales, which was undertaken for the purpose of studying English rural life. Mrs. Rosette wrote some able ar- ticles on this subject, notably one entitled "Beauty Spots in England," which he read be- fore the State Press Association at Chicago. in 1:96. This article was published in the National Printers' Journal, and widely circu- lated. Mrs. Rosette took another trip, in 1912. through Italy, Germany and London, seeing the wonders of these places. .
On December 24, 1873, Mr. Rosette was mar- ried to Alpha C. La Clair, born June 22, 1852, in Paw Paw Township, DeKalb County, daugh- ter of Johnson La Clair and Ann ( Nowlton) La
Clair, both deceased, the father dying at an early age in the State of Montana during the great gold excitement. The parents were na- tives of Paris, France, and Yorkshire, England, respectively. The Masse family was a promt- ment one. From fourteen children have come many descendants of the name, all of whom are people of note in New York, California, Michi- gan and other points. Mrs. Rosette's mother died at DeKalb at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rosette, She was a very brilliant lady, and Mrs. Rosette inherited much of her genius. Mrs. Rosette died December 11, 1912.
The funeral obsequies of Mr. Rosette were conducted at his late residence, and were im- pressive in character. Dr. John W. Cook and Rev. N. W. Heermand were in charge. The former in his funeral oration was eloquent in his appreciation of his warm personal friend, with whom he had had an acquaintance extend- ing over a long period. Owing to his knowledge of his character, Dr. Cook was well fitted to give a true estimate of this excellent man, and he did so in glowing terms. Briefly and yet com- prehensively Dr. Cook reviewed the public work of Mr. Rosette, already mentioned in this ar- ticle. Ile drew a touching picture of the pub- lie-spirited man ever laboring to bring about what he knew to be true and right. The exam- ple he drew from Mr. Rosette's blameless life could not fail to encourage others, and those who listened to the eloquent president of the Normal school, and heard his voice break with real feeling, recognized the fact that men's deeds do live after. them, and influence humanity after they are gone. In conclusion he said, in speaking of Mrs. Rosette and her sorrow : "I would not invade that inner sanctuary where her memories dwell, but would leave upon its threshold, along with yours who have so gra- ciously remembered her in her hours of supreme sorrow, my tribute to this interesting man and to the true-hearted woman whose comradery has sustained him in the work of his urgent and laborious life and who stood by his side when at last he entered into the Valley of the Shadow of Death'" As Mr. Rosette was a thirty-second degree Mason, and Knight Tem- plar, the service at the grave was according to Masonic ritual. Many representatives from the Royal Arcanum, of which he was a member, also attended the funeral.
News of the death of Mr. Rosette spread ran- idly, and on every hand were heard expressions of sorrow and sympathy. Without a doubt the
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dominating traits in the life of Mr. Rosette were honesty of purpose and fearlessness of action. Once sure he was right, he would forge ahead to the end, no matter what the cost to him- self. His was that rugged integrity that knows no compromise. He hated sham, he abhorred duplicity, he could not endure deceit. Such traits are rare, and they bespeak an honesty that is courageous. For years, the best known newspaper writer of this part of the State, he was recognized as a keen thinker and his pen ever retained a facility of expression that warmed his words with life-like force. In his newspaper work, he was animated by industry, zeal, a real love of writing, clever wit and an
individual style with a high ideal of journalism, and he lived up to these characteristics. He read freely, traveled widely, and his range of information was large and bis culture genuine. Possessing a home-loving nature, deeply de- voted to his wife, the happiness of his domestic connections was proverbial among all who knew him. Mr. Rosette is no longer among his fel- low-citizens, and his place in his home is empty, and yet be is not absent in spirit, for what he accomplished will live long after him, and work forth te a final advancement, and promulgation of his theories way beyond what he ever dared to hope.
WILLIAM H. POGUE.
The list of distinguished men of Jersey Coun- ty who gave the best of themselves in the service of the people and firmly established for themselves an undying reputation for spotless integrity and earnestness of purpose, is easily headed by the late Judge William H. Pogue, whose name is synonymous with all that is great and good. He was a man whose perspicacity was unquestioned, whose penetration was re- markable, whose introspection was thorough, and whose cognizance of law and the respon- sibilities attached to the bench was of a pro- fundity that almost transcended proper ap- preciation from those who did not comprehend the nature of his familiarity with the subjects in hand. Such a man necessarily dominated the circles in which he moved, and dying left behind him a void that has never been closed. A man of the highest moral character, he com- manded universal respect and raised the stand- ard of living in his community. Judge Pogue was born in Philadelphia, Pa., December 23, 1836, a son of Joseph and Jane K. Pogue.
Joseph Pogue was born in Ireland, but came to America when eighteen years old, and set- tling at Philadelphia worked himself up until he became the owner of a cotton mill. In 184S bis attention was attracted to southern Illinois, and he bought land in that section and also in Missouri, later forming the Connell Coal Company for the purpose of developing the coal on his property, but discovered that the. deposits were only in pockets and would not pay for the working. His death occurred at Phil- adelphia. He married Jane K. Cooper, a daugh- ter of Hugh Cooper, a prominent merchant of Philadelphia. After the death of her husband
Mrs. Pogue came to Illinois in 1854, and located at Alton, where she passed the remainder of her life. One of her sons, Dr. Joseph Pogue, how of Euwardsville, Ill., served for one year as a soldier during the Civil war.
Judge William H. Pogue attended the Pen- nington Seminary at West Jersey, near Phil- adelphia, but when only seventeen years old, left in 1854, to accompany his mother to Alton. For a year he was a clerk in the post office at Alton, and then entered the office of the Hon. Edward Keating, general solicitor for the Alton Railroad, for the purpose of reading law. After his admission to the bar Judge Pogue entered upon a career that was to bring him distinction and his city honor. As early as 1859, he came prominently before the people as a candidate for the office of city attorney, and was elected by a handsome majority, and in the following year, on December 17, he was appointed Master-in-Chancery. In 1862 he moved to Jerseyville to enter into a partnership with his father-in-law, the Ion. George E. War- ren. In 1572 Governor Palmer gave him signal recognition by appointing him district attorney, and in 1882 he was elected on the Democratic ticket judge of the County Court of Jersey County and re-elected to the same office in 1886. It was while serving his second term that his lamentable death occurred on September 23, 1887, and he was succeeded by his equally distinguished son, Judge Harry Warren Pogue.
Judge Pogue won a deservedly wide fame as both lawyer and judge and his many years of industrious application to all branches of pro- fessional practice rendered him a bright orna- ment to his calling before judicial honors gave
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him wider scope for his exceptional abilities. All this was recognized as he was re-elected almost without opposition. Ilis interest in polities was not confined to local issues as dur- ing 1880 he spoke all over Indiana and Ohio for the national ticket and was a delegate to numerous state and national Democratic con- ventions. As early as 1800 he was a recognized power in politics, although then but twenty-four years old, and gave an ardent support to Doug- las. His powers of oratory caused him to be called the Cicero of the Forum., An able ad- vocate, a fearless official, and an eminently suc- cessful lawyer, he brought to the beuch just those qualitles necessary for the impartial ad- ministration of justice, and died in the fullness of his power, crowned with his many deeds of accomplishment. Prior to his election to the bench Judge Pogue was the leading attorney of the county and during the war rendered invaluable service as a member of the Commit- tee on Safety and also assisted in the successful prosecution of Thomas Moss, who was hanged in the old court house. This was the only hanging of Jersey County.
In 1861 Judge Pogue married Mary A. War-
ren, daughter of Hon. George E. Warren, and they had the following children: Harry W. Pogue, Judge of the County Court of Jersey County ; Edmund D. Wolf Pogue of Bartlett, Frazier & Company of Chicago; George D. Pogue, general sales manager for the Fulton Iron Works Company of St. Louis; and Har- riet, a milliner of Jerseyville. Judge Pogue was very much interested in religious work, and did not confine himself to action as a con- sistent member of the Presbyterian Church and a Sunday school teacher and superintendent, but carried his faith into his everyday life, and made people better and nobler for their contact with him. He was Noble Grand of the Odd Fellows. Many years have passed since Judge Pogue was called before the eternal Judge, but the memory of his magnanimity, self-abnegation, high-mindedness and chivalrous spirit lives on and spurs others to like deeds of valor for those who have succeeded him feel that it is obliga- tory for them to strive to carry on the work he commenced and to uphold the principles for which he offered up his strength and the best years of his manhood.
HARRY WARREN POGUE.
.
Unless the modern lawyer is a man of sound judgment, possessed of a liberal education and stern training, combined with a keen insight into human nature, there is not much hope of his meeting with success. The reason for this lies in the spirit of the age with all its com- plexities. Modern jurisprudence has become more and more intricate because of new con- ditions and laws, and the interpretation of them is relegated to the bar and bench. Years of experience, constant reading and natural in- clination must be superinduced upon a careful training for success at the bar, and if this is true with regard to the attorney, it is necessarily all the more forcible when applied to the men- bers of the bench. The records of Jersey County show that never before have there been so many able members of both the bar and bench within its contines. With so many important matters before the country which involve serious problems of jurisprudence it is exceedingly necessary for the men who have them in charge to be able to cope with them, and the history of the courts for the past few years of Jersey County prove that its legal fraternity is uu-
usually capable. One of the men who both as lawyer and judge has rendered efficient service to his county and the people in it, is Judge Harry Warren Pogue, County Judge of Jersey County, residing at Jerseyville. Judge Pogue was born March 17, 1863, and comes of dis- tinguished lines on both sides of the house, being a son of the late Judge William H. Pogue and grandsou of the late Judge George E. War- ren, Mrs. Pogue having been a Miss Warren prior to her marriage. An account of the life and history of these two remarkable men is given elsewhere in this volume, so it is unneces- sary to comment further upon them in this record, except to call attention to the fact that Judge Pogue comes naturally by his legal ability. Finishing his course in the public schools of Jerseyville, he studied law with his father and was admitted to the bar. In 1886 he located at Mt. Vernon and was admitted to practice in the Illinois Appellate Court and soon thereafter was elected State's Attorney of Jersey County. He was in office from 1857 to 1596, and during that period prosecuted with characteristic vigor some of the most powerful gangs that ever in-
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fested a locality. He broke up and sent to the penitentiary an organization known as the Reed gang, formed for the purpose of stealing cattle and hogs, securing sentences varying from five to twenty-eight years. Judge Pogue has been utterly fearless in his career, never giving quarter or seeking to conciliate factions, always holding himself aloof as a representative of justice and one elected to see that the laws were enforced. The policy that resulted in so en- viable a record for him as state's attorney has made him equally famous as county judge, to which office he was elected in 1910, he being the third in his family to hold this important office.
Judge Pogue has been very prominent in the Democratic party, inheriting his political views from his father, and like him has spoken in behalf of his principles and candidates in na- tional campaigns, notably those of 1908 and 1912. Hle has often been called upon to act as delegate to the State, congressional and national conventions, and has upheld the dignity of his party and office upon every occasion. Judge Pogue was an original Wilson man in 1912, de- claring for President Wilson as early as the summer of 1911.
On January 6, 1892, Judge Pogue was married
to Maud Knapp, daughter of Dr. George Knapp and granddaughter of Dr. A. R. Knapp, a pioneer physician who died in 1861. Mrs. Pogue's father died in 1895. Judge and Mrs. Pogue have a daughter, Eleanor, aged thirteen years. Judge Pogue is a Knight Templar Mason, and also belongs to the Elks, Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Pogue is a consistent member of the Presby- terian church. Outside his professional duties Judge Pogue has taken a deep interest in the pioneer history of Jersey County and has a notable collection of portraits of these early settlers numbering some 153 portraits. The collection as framed is 72x80 inches, and hangs in the court house. It represents nearly all of the leading pioneers of Jersey County prior to 1840 and is a very valuable historical relic. In his wide knowledge of law Judge Pogue bas covered many topics, and is a recognized au- thority upon whatever subject he is willing to take up. His ideals of the judicial profession are high and in practice he lives up to them, and is a leader in all movements looking to- wards a betterment of existing conditions in the courts and the community, and is a man whose influence cannot be lightly estimated for it is far-reaching and powerful in its effect.
GEORGE E. WARREN.
The moral obligation imposed upon the great of earth is heavy and never meets proper appre- ciation until the one who has spent his life in demonstrating that he appreciates his account- ableness to his Creator and proven his fealty to the people whom he represents, has passed over the tideless, shoreless sea of eternity whose bottomless depths have never reflected the sail of a returning vessel. Among those whom con- temporary history shows were unexceptionable men whose inalienable right to distinction rested upon their deeds and worthy lives, the name of the Hon. George E. Warren stands out with remarkable clearness. Ilis dominion over his associates was complete, although his ac- quisition of authority was gained only through real merit and accomplishment, and he is re- membered with worthy pride by the older rest- dents of Jersey County. From boyhood he laid a firm foundation of real value, upon which he built his superstructure, and his life achieve- ments show that he builded even better than he knew. As long as Jersey County continues to boid its place among the component parts of
Illinois, Mr. Warren's name will stand forth with startling distinction in the roster of the famous men of his age and locality. George E. Warren was born in Scott County, Ohio, August 16, 1817, a son of Dr. Thomas and Martha (De Wolf : Warren. When he was one year old, his parents moved to the De Wolf homestead at Bristol, R. I. The De Wolf family came of French Huguenot extraction, while the Warren family was of Puritan foundation. Matthias F. De Wolf owned the privateer "Yankee" that figured so prominently in the War of 1812, win- ning about one million dollars in prize money, as well as several merchant ships.
In 1835 Dr. Warren came to what is now Jersey County, Il., his wife having died in 1829 in Rhode Island, where she was buried. Dr. Warren died at the home of his son, Judge Warren. He was a highly educated man of rare culture. Judge Warren entered Brown Univer- sity of Rhode Island when only fourteen years old for a four year course, but in 1835, came west with his father. He read law at Carrol- tou, while serving as deputy circuit clerk, dur-
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ing which period he made nearly all the records of the office, so that his time was fully ocenpied by his several duties. Admitted to the bar in 1839, he moved almost immediately thereafter to Alton, but in 1940, located on land his father had entered from the government, two miles east of Jerseyville. the settlement being origt- nally called Hickory Grove. Everything was very primitive at that time, and he lived in a log cabin, and when the larder was empty, took his gun and killed a deer to replenish it. Wolves scratched on the door frequently. Judge Warren's abilities received carly recogui- tion for he was elected justice of the peace In 1841 and held that office until 1549, when he was elected county judge on the Whig ticket for a period of eight years, and served until 155S. In 1862, he and his son-in-law, Judge W. II. Pogue, formed a partnership for a general law practice which was interrupted by Judge War- ren's appointment as a United States conunis- sioner in 1866. A strong Union man, he gave his unqualified support to the cause, and never was too busy with other matters to render any aid that lay in his power to his distressed coun- try. A warm friend and admirer of John A. Logan, he gave him a valuable support. After the formation of the new party, he became a strong Republican and served in the State As- sembly for two terms, during that period par- ticipating in the remarkable session which elected Jobn A. Logan United States Senator. General Logan always recognized how much he owed to Judge Warren's support of him upon all occasions. Another instance of the high respect in which Judge Warren was held was evinced in his election as mayor of Jersey-
ville on the Republican ticket, in a strong Dento- cratie district.
On August 16, 1837, Judge Warren married Harriet S. Allen, daughter of Samuel Allen, collector of the port of Bristol, R. I., which was the most important port on the Atlantic at that time. On his maternal side, Samuel Allen was a De Wolf, so that Judge Warren and his wife were second cousins. They had a family of nine children, eight of whom grew to ma- turity, and seven are surviving in 1912, one being Mrs. Pogue, widow of Judge W. H. Pogue of Jerseyville. Judge Warren was active as a member and elder of the Presbyterian Church, and was a most excellent man in every respect. Hle was very learned in the law, had an intellect of great exactness and clearness, a sound and instructed judgment and wonderful tenacity of purpose. In a consultation his judgment was as valuable as any that could be furnished, and be reaped his reward in a large and lucrative practice. His death occurred December 22. 191, and he was buried on Christmas day of that year. In his private life, Judge Warren was a man of generous sympathies and wide culture. Giving liberally, although usually where his gifts were known only to himself and the receivers, he proved the truth of his religious professions, and took pleasure in the thought that he was of use to others. No man was truer or deeper in his attachments, though he sought society in the circle of his friends. He was a Christian gentleman of the old school of courtesy and kindness and as a noble man, able lawyer, learned judge, distinguished public official and public-spirted citizen, he will always be remembered by the people of the locality for which he did so much.
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