Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens, Part 3

Author: Illinois bibliography; Genealogy bibliography
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Review Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 648


USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 3
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 3
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 3


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THOMAS JEFFERSON.


But for four long years his Vice-Presi- dency passed joylessly away, while the partisan strife between Federalist and Re- publican was ever growing hotter. The former party split and the result of the fourth general election was the elevation of Mr. jefferson to the Presidency! with Aaron Burr as Vice-President. These men being at the head of a growing party, their election was hailed everywhere with joy. On the other hand, many of the Federalists turned pale, as they believed what a portion of the pulpit and the press had been preach- ing-that Jefferson was a " scoffing atheist," a "Jacobin," the "incarnation of all evil," " breathing threatening and slaughter!"


Mr. Jefferson's inaugural address con- tained nothing but the noblest sentiments, expressed in fine language, and his personal behavior afterward exhibited the extreme of American, democratic simplicity. His disgust of European court etiquette grew upon him with age. He believed that General Washington was somewhat dis- trustful of the ultimate success of a popular Government, and that, imbued with a little admiration of the forms of a monarchical Government, he had instituted levees, birth- days, pompous meetings with Congress, etc. Jefferson was always polite, even to slaves every where he met them, and carried in his countenance the indications of an ac- commodating disposition.


The political principles of the Jeffersoni- an party now swept the country, and Mr. Jefferson himself swayed an influence which was never exceeded even by Washington. Under his administration, in 1803, the Lou- isiana purchase was made, for $15,000,000, the " Louisiana Territory " purchased com- prising all the land west of the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean.


The year 1804 witnessed another severe loss in his family. His highly accomplished and most beloved daughter Maria sickened and died, causing as great grief in the


stricken parent as it was possible for him to survive with any degree of sanity.


The same year he was re-elected to the Presidency, with George Clinton as Vice- President. During his second term our relations with England became more com. plicated, and on June 22, 1807, near Hamp- ton Roads, the United States frigate Chesapeake was fired upon by the Brit- ish man-of-war Leopard, and was made to surrender. Three men were killed and ten wounded. Jefferson demanded repara- tion. England grew insolent. It became evident that war was determined upon by the latter power. More than 1,200 Ameri- cans were forced into the British service upon the high seas. Before any satisfactory solution was reached, Mr. Jefferson's Presidential term closed. Amid all these public excitements he thought constantly of the welfare of his family, and longed for the time when he could return home to remain. There, at Monticello, his sub- sequent life was very similar to that of Washington at Mt. Vernon. His hospi- tality toward his numerous friends, indul- gence of his slaves, and misfortunes to his property, etc., finally involved him in debt. For years his home resembled a fashion- able watering-place. During the summer, thirty-seven house servants were required ! It was presided over by his daughter, Mrs. Randolph.


Mr. Jefferson did much for the establish- ment of the University at Charlottesville, making it unsectarian, in keeping with the spirit of American institutions, but poverty and the feebleness of old age prevented him from doing what he would. He even went so far as to petition the Legislature for permission to dispose of some of his possessions by lottery, in order to raise the necessary funds for home expenses. It was granted; but before the plan was carried out, Mr. Jefferson died, July 4, 1826, at 12:50 P. M.


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PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.


JAMES MADISON.


AMES MADISON, the fourth President of the ... United States, 1809-'17, was born at Port Con- way, Prince George County, Virginia, March 16, 1751. His father, Colonel James Madison, was a wealthy planter, residing upon a very fine estate called " Montpelier," only twenty-five miles from the home of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. The closest personal and political at- tachment existed between these illustrious men from their early youth until death.


James was the eldest of a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, all of whom attained maturity. His early edu- cation was conducted mostly at home, under a private tutor. Being naturally in- tellectual in his tastes, lie consecrated him- self with unusual vigor to study. At a very early age he made considerable proficiency in the Greek, Latin, French and Spanish languages. In 1769 he entered Princeton College, New Jersey, of which the illus- trious Dr. Weatherspoon was then Presi- dent. He graduated in 1771, with a char-


acter of the utmost purity, and a mind highly disciplined and stored with all the learning which embellished and gave effi- ciency to his subsequent career. After graduating he pursued a course of reading for several months, under the guidance of President Weatherspoon, and in 1772 re- turned to Virginia, where he continued in incessant study for two years, nominally directed to the law, but really including extended researches in theology, philoso- phy and general literature.


The Church of England was the estab- lished church in Virginia, invested with all the prerogatives and immunities which it enjoyed in the fatherland, and other de- nominations labored under serious disabili- ties, the enforcement of which was rightly or wrongly characterized by them as per- secution. Madison took a prominent stand in behalf of the removal of all disabilities, repeatedly appeared in the court of his own county to defend the Baptist nonconform- ists, and was elected from Orange County to the Virginia Convention in the spring of 1766, when he signalized the beginning of his public career by procuring the passage of an amendment to the Declaration of Rights as prepared by George Mason, sub- stituting for " toleration" a more emphatic assertion of religious liberty.


Jacin elladion


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JAMES MADISON.


In 1776 he was elected a member of the Virginia Convention to frame the Constitu- tion of the State. Like Jefferson, he took but little part in the public debates. His main strength lay in his conversational in- fluence and in his pen. In November, 1777, he was chosen a member of the Council of State, and in March, 1780, took his seat in the Continental Congress, where he first gained prominence through his energetic opposition to the issue of paper money by the States. He continued in Congress three years, one of its most active and influential members.


In 1784 Mr. Madison was elected a mem- ber of the Virginia Legislature. He ren- dered important service by promoting and participating in that revision of the statutes which effectually abolished the remnants of the feudal system subsistent up to that time in the form of entails, primogeniture, and State support given the Anglican Church ; and his " Memorial and Remon- strance" against a general assessment for the support of religion is one of the ablest papers which emanated from his pen. It settled the question of the entire separation of church and State in Virginia.


Mr. Jefferson says of him, in allusion to the study and experience through which he had already passed :


" Trained in these successive schools, he acquired a habit of self-possession which placed at ready command the rich resources of his luminous and discriminating mind and of his extensive information, and rendered him the first of every assembly of which he afterward became a member. Never wan- dering from his subject into vain declama- tion, but pursuing it closely in language pure, classical and copious, soothing al- ways the feelings of his adversaries by civili- ties and softness of expression, he rose to the eminent station which he held in the great National Convention of 1787; and in that of Virginia, which followed, he sustained the


new Constitution in all its parts, bearing off the palm against the logic of George Mason and the fervid declamation of Patrick Henry. With these consummate powers were united a pure and spotless virtue which no calumny has ever attempted to sully. Of the power and polish of his pen, and of the wisdom of his administration in the highest office of the nation, I need say nothing. They have spoken, and will for- ever speak, for themselves."


In January, 1786, Mr. Madison took the initiative in proposing a meeting of State Commissioners to devise measures for more satisfactory commercial relations between the States. A meeting was held at An- napolis to discuss this subject, and but five States were represented. The convention issued another call, drawn up by Mr. Madi- son, urging all the States to send their dele- gates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draught a Constitution for the United States. The delegates met at the time ap- pointed, every State except Rhode Island being represented. George Washington was chosen president of the convention, and the present Constitution of the United States was then and there formed. There was no mind and no pen more active in framing this immortal document than the mind and pen of James Madison. He was, perhaps, its ablest advocate in the pages of the Federalist.


Mr. Madison was a member of the first four Congresses, 1789-'97, in which he main- tained a moderate opposition to Hamilton's financial policy. He declined the mission to France and the Secretaryship of State, and, gradually identifying himself with the Republican party, became from 1792 its avowed leader. In 1796 he was its choice for the Presidency as successor to Wash- ington. Mr. Jefferson wrote: "There is not another person in the United States with whom, being placed at the helm of our affairs, iny mind would be so completely at


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PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.


rest for the fortune of our political bark." But Mr. Madison declined to be a candi- date. His term in Congress had expired, and he returned from New York to his beautiful retreat at Montpelier.


In 1794 Mr. Madison married a young widow of remarkable powers of fascination -Mrs. Todd. Her maiden name was Doro- thy Paine. She was born in 1767, in Vir- ginia, of Quaker parents, and had been educated in the strictest rules of that sect. When but eighteen years of age she married a young lawyer and moved to Philadelphia, where she was introduced to brilliant scenes of fashionable life. She speedily laid aside the dress and address of the Quakeress, and became one of the most fascinating ladies of the republican court. In New York, after the death of her husband, she was the belle of the season and was surrounded with admirers. Mr. Madison won the prize. She proved an invaluable helpmate. In Washington she was the life of society. If there was any diffident, timid young girl just making her appearance, she found in Mrs. Madison an encouraging friend.


During the stormy administration of John Adams Madison remained in private life, but was the author of the celebrated " Reso- lutions of 1798," adopted by the Virginia Legislature, in condemnation of the Alien and Sedition laws, as well as of the " report" in which he defended those resolutions, which is, by many, considered his ablest State paper.


The storm passed away; the Alien and Sedition laws were repealed, John Adams lost his re-election, and in 1801 Thomas Jef- ferson was chosen President. The great re- action in public sentiment which seated Jefferson in the presidential chair was large- ly owing to the writings of Madison, who was consequently well entitled to the post of Secretary of State. With great ability he discharged the duties of this responsible


office during the eight years of Mr. Jeffer. son's administration.


As Mr. Jefferson was a widower, and neither of his daughters could be often with him, Mrs. Madison usually presided over the festivities of the White House; and as her husband succeeded Mr. Jefferson, hold- ing his office for two terms, this remarkable woman was the mistress of the presidential mansion for sixteen years.


Mr. Madison being entirely engrossed by the cares of his office, all the duties of so- cial life devolved upon his accomplished wife. Never were such responsibilities more ably discharged. The most bitter foes of her husband and of the administra- tion were received with the frankly prof- fered hand and the cordial smile of wel- come; and the influence of this gentle woman in allaying the bitterness of party rancor became a great and salutary power in the nation.


As the term of Mr. Jefferson's Presidency "drew near its close, party strife was roused to the utmost to elect his successor. It was a death-grapple between the two great parties, the Federal and Republican. Mr. Madison was chosen President by an elec. toral vote of 122 to 53, and was inaugurated March 4, 1809, at a critical period, when the relations of the United States with Great Britain were becoming embittered, and his first term was passed in diplomatic quarrels, aggravated by the act of non-intercourse of May, 1810, and finally resulting in a decla- ration of war.


On the 18th of June, 1812, President Madison gave his approval to an act of Congress declaring war against Great Brit- ain. Notwithstanding the bitter hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country in general approved; and in the autumn Madison was re-elected to the Presidency by 128 electoral votes to 89 in favor of George Clinton.


March 4, 1817, Madison yielded the Presi-


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JAMES MADISON.


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dency to his Secretary of State and inti- mate friend, James Monroe, and retired to his ancestral estate at Montpelier, where he passed the evening of his days surrounded by attached friends and enjoying the merited respect of the whole nation. He took pleasure in promoting agriculture, as president of the county society, and in watching the development of the University of Virginia, of which he was long rector and visitor. In extreme old age he sat in 1829 as a member of the convention called to re- form the Virginia Constitution, where his appearance was hailed with the most gen- uine interest and satisfaction, though he was too infirm to participate in the active work of revision. Small in stature, slender and delicate in form, with a countenance full of intelligence, and expressive alike of mildness and dignity, he attracted the atten- tion of all who attended the convention, and was treated with the utinost deference. He seldom addressed the assembly, though he always appeared self-possessed, and watched with unflagging interest the prog- ress of every measure. Though the con- vention sat sixteen weeks, he spoke only twice; but when he did speak, the whole house paused to listen. His voice was feeble though his enunciation was very dis- tinct. One of the reporters, Mr. Stansbury, relates the following anecdote of Mr. Madi- son's last speech:


" The next day, as there was a great call for it, and the report had not been returned for publication, I sent my son with a re- spectful note, requesting the manuscript. My son was a lad of sixteen, whom I had taken with me to act as amanuensis. On delivering my note, he was received with the utmost politeness, and requested to come up into Mr. Madison's room and wait while his eye ran over the paper, as com- pany had prevented his attending to it. He did so, and Mr. Madison sat down to correct the report. The lad stood near him so that


his eye fell on the paper. Coming to a certain sentence in the speech, Mr. Madison erased a word and substituted another ; but hesitated, and not feeling satisfied with the second word, drew his pen through it also. My son was young, ignorant of the world, and unconscious of the solecism of which he was about to be guilty, when, in all simplic- ity, he suggested a word. Probably no other person then living would have taken such a liberty. But the sage, instead of regarding such an intrusion with a frown, raised his eyes to the boy's face with a pleased surprise, and said, ' Thank you, sir ; it is the very word,' and immediately in- serted it. I saw him the next day, and he mentioned the circumstance, with a compli- ment on the young critic."


Mr. Madison died at Montpelier, June 28, 1836, at the advanced age of eighty-five. While not possessing the highest order of talent, and deficient in oratorical powers, he was pre-eminently a statesman, of a well- balanced mind. His attainments were solid, his knowledge copious, his judgment gener- ally sound, his powers of analysis and logi- cal statement rarely surpassed, his language and literary style correct and polished, his conversation witty, his temperament san- guine and trustful, his integrity unques- tioned, his manners simple, courteous and winning. By these rare qualities he con -. ciliated the esteem not only of friends, but. of political opponents, in a greater degree than any American statesman in the present century.


Mrs. Madison survived her husband thir- teen years, and died July 12, 1849, in the eighty-second year of her age. She was one of the most remarkable women our coun- try has produced. Even now she is ad- miringly remembered in Washington as "Dolly Madison," and it is fitting that her memory should descend to posterity in company with thatof the companion of her life.


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PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.


JAMES MONROE.


AMES MONROE, the fifth President of the United States, 1817-'25, was born in Westmoreland County Virginia, April 28, 1758. He was a son of Spence Monroe, and a descendant of a Scottish ·cavalier fam- ily. Like all his predeces- sors thus far in the Presi- dential chair, he enjoyed all the advantages of educa- tion which the country could then afford. He was early sent to a fine classical school, and at the age of six- teen entered William and Mary College .. In 1776, when he had been in college but two years, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and our feeble militia, with- out arms, amunition or clothing, were strug- gling against the trained armies of England. James Monroe left college, hastened to General Washington's headquarters at New York and enrolled himself as a cadet in the army.


At Trenton Lieutenant Monroe so dis- tinguished himself, receiving a wound in his shoulder, that he was promoted to a Cap- taincy. Upon recovering from his wound, he was invited to act as aide to Lord Ster- ling, and in that capacity he took an active part in the battles of Brandywine, Ger- mantown and Monmouth. At Germantown


he stood by the side of Lafayette when the French Marquis received his wound. Gen- eral Washington, who had formed a high idea of young Monroe's ability, sent him to Virginia to raise a new regiment, of which he was to be Colonel; but so exhausted was Virginia at that time that the effort proved unsuccessful. He, however, received his commission.


Finding no opportunity to enter the army as a commissioned officer, he returned to his original plan of studying law, and entered the office of Thomas Jefferson, who was then Governor of Virginia. He developed a very noble character, frank, manly and sincere. Mr. Jefferson said of him:


"James Monroe is so perfectly honest that if his soul were turned inside out there would not be found a spot on it."


In 1782 he was elected to the Assembly of Virginia, and was also appointed a mem- ber of the Executive Council. The next year he was chosen delegate to the Conti- nental Congress for a term of three years. He was present at Annapolis when Wash- ington surrendered his commission of Com- mander-in-chief.


With Washington, Jefferson and Madison he felt deeply the inefficiency of the old Articles of Confederation, and urged the formation of a new Constitution, which should invest the Central Government with something like national power. Influenced by these views, he introduced a resolution


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JAMES MONROE.


that Congress should be empowered to regulate trade, and to lay an impost duty of five per cent. The resolution was refer- red to a committee of which he was chair- man. The report and the discussion which rose upon it led to the convention of five States at Annapolis, and the consequent general convention at Philadelphia, which, in 1787, drafted the Constitution of the United States.


At this time there was a controversy be- tween New York and Massachusetts in reference to their boundaries. The high esteem in which Colonel Monroe was held is indicated by the fact that he was ap- pointed one of the judges to decide the controversy. While in New York attend- ing Congress, he married Miss Kortright, a young lady distinguished alike for her beauty and accomplishments. For nearly fifty years this happy union remained un- broken. In London and in Paris, as in her own country, Mrs. Monroe won admiration and affection by the loveliness of her per- son, the brilliancy of her intellect, and 'the amiability of her character.


Returning to Virginia, Colonel Monroe commenced the practice of law at Freder- icksburg. He was very soon elected to a seat in the State Legislature, and the next year he was chosen a member of the Vir- ginia convention which was assembled to decide upon the acceptance or rejection of the Constitution which had been drawn up at Philadelphia, and was now submitted to the several States. Deeply as he felt the imperfections of the old Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution, thinking, with many others of the Republi- can party, that it gave too much power to the Central Government, and not enough to the individual States.


In 1789 he became a member of the United States Senate, which office he held acceptably to his constituents, and with honor to himself for four years.


Having opposed the Constitution as not leaving enough power with the States, he, of course, became more and more identi- fied with the Republican party. Thus he found himself in cordial co-operation with Jefferson and Madison. The great Repub- lican party became the dominant power which ruled the land.


George Washington was then President. England had espoused the cause of the Bourbons against the principles of the French Revolution. President Washing- ton issued a proclamation of neutrality be- tween these contending powers. France had helped us in the struggle for our lib- erties. All the despotisms of Europe were now combined to prevent the French from escaping from tyranny a thousandfold worse than that which we had endured. Colonel Monroe, more magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that we should help our old allies in their extremity. He vio- lently opposed the President's procla- mation as ungrateful and wanting in magnanimity.


Washington, who could appreciate such a character, developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness by appointing that very James Monroe, who was denouncing the policy of the Government, as the Minis- ter of that Government to the republic of France. He was directed by Washington to express to the French people our warm- est sympathy, communicating to them cor- responding resolves approved by the Pres- ident, and adopted by both houses of Congress.


Mr. Monroe was welcomed by the Na- tional Convention in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of respect and affection. He was publicly introduced to that body, and received the embrace of the President, Merlin de Douay, after having been addressed in a speech glowing with congratulations, and with expressions of desire that harmony might ever exist be


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PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.


tween the two nations. The flags of the two.republics were intertwined in the hall of the convention. Mr. Monroe presented the American colors, and received those of France in return. The course which he pursued in Paris was so annoying to Eng- land and to the friends of England in this country that, near the close of Wash- ington's administration, Mr. Monroe, was recalled.


After his return Colonel Monroe wrote a book of 400 pages, entitled " A View of the Conduct of the Executive in Foreign Af- fairs." In this work he very ably advo- cated his side of the question; but, with the magnanimity of the man, he recorded a warm tribute to the patriotism, ability and spotless integrity of John Jay, between whom and himself there was intense antag- onism ; and in subsequent years he ex- pressed in warmest terms his perfect veneration for the character of George Washington.


Shortly after his return to this country Colonel Monroe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held that office for three years, the period limited by the Constitu- tion. In 1802 he was an Envoy to France, and to Spain in 1805, and was Minister to England in 1803. In 1806 he returned to his quiet home in Virginia, and with his wife and children and an ample competence from his paternal estate, enjoyed a few years of domestic repose.


In 1809 Mr. Jefferson's second term of office expired, and many of the Republican party were anxious to nominate James Monroe as his successor. The majority were in favor of Mr. Madison. Mr. Mon- roe withdrew his name and was soon after chosen a second time Governor of Virginia. He soon resigned that office to accept the position of Secretary of State, offered him by President Madison. The correspond- ence which he then carried on with the British Government demonstrated that




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