USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Jacksonville > Historic Morgan and classic Jacksonville > Part 48
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June 8th, 1863, he adjourned the Legis-
you
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Jature of Illinois, "fully believing that the interests of the state will be best subserved by a speedy adjournment, the past history of the present Assembly holding out no reasonable hope of beneficent results to the citizens of the state or the army in the field from its further continuance."
In June of the same year, upon receiv- ing a letter from a town in the southern part of the state, in which the writer com- plained that traitors in his town had cut down the American flag, and demanded his advice as to what measures should be taken, he promptly wrote the querist as follows: "Whenever you raise the flag on your own soil, or on the publie property of the state or country, or at any public celebration, from honest love to that flag, and patriotic devotion to the country which it symbolizes, and any traitor dares to lay his unhallowed hand upon it to tear it down, then I say shoot him down as you would a dog, and I will pardon you the offence." His whole course during the war was such as to win for him a popular- ity second only to that enjoyed by, per- haps, two other citizens of the state, and to cause his name to be a grateful remem- brance to the whole country.
Ilis term of office expired with the year 1864, and March 5th, 1865, he took his seat in the United States Senate, having been elected as the successor of Richard A. Richardson, Democrat. At the second session of the Thirty ninth Congress, when the bill regulating suffrage in the District of Columbia was brought under consider- ation, in his speech following that of Mr. Cowan, of Pennsylvania, he expressed his views in strong, terse, and logical language, saying among other things: "1 am for universal suffrage. I am not for qualified suffrage; I am not for property suffrage ; I am not for intelligent suffrage, as it is termed, but I am for universal suffrage. That is my doctrine. * * * * *
The question of negro suffrage is now an imperative necessity that the negro should possess it for his own protection ; a necessity that he should possess it that the nation may preserve its power, its strength, and its unity. We have now negro suffrage for the District of Columbia, and I say I believe we have won it for all
the states, and before the 4th of March, 1869 -- before this administration shall close-I hope that the negro in all the loyal states will be clothed with the right of suffrage. That they will be in the ten rebel states I cannot doubt, for patriotism, liberty, justice and humanity demand it.
He served actively and prominently un- til the expiration of his term, March 30, 1871, returning subsequently to Illinois, when he resumed the practice of his pro- fession. In March, 1873, he was appoint- ed a Government Director of the Union Pacific Railroad, in which office he con- tinued until his decease, which occurred at St. Louis, November 27th, 1873.
The family of the distinguished deceased are still numbered among our honored citizens, Mrs. Yates, his widow, occupying the old homestead on East State street, Jacksonville. With her are the two sons, Henry and Richard, Jr -(the latter a bril- liant and popular practitioner-at-law, now holding the office of city attorney)-and one daughter, Mrs. Thomas Woodman
See pages 64, 89, 102, 103, 114, 117, 123, 125, 127, 130 to 136, 156, 158, 181, 182, 261, 265, 266, 267, also steel plate engraving on opposite page.
PRESIDENT EDWARD A. TANNER, D. D., was born November 29, 1837, at Wa- verly, Illinois. He is the youngest child of Jos. A. and Orra S. Tanner, who are old settlers in Morgan county, though formerly from Warren, Connecticut. The ancestors of the family were English. His parents removed to Morgan county about 1834, and located on a farm, where the subject of this sketch spent his boy- hood.
IIe entered Illinois College at the age of fifteen and graduated therefrom in 1857, receiving the degree of A. B., and, three years after, the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him, after the deliv- ery of the master's oration.
After finishing his collegiate course, he taught in the public schools of Waverly and Jacksonville for a period of three years. He was called, in 1861, to the profes. sorship of Latin in Pacitic University, Ore- gon, and filled that position four years. In the meantime, having studied theology
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he was licensed to preach by the Congre- gational Association of Oregon in 1864. In 1865 he was appointed Professor of Latin in Illinois College, which position he held until 1882, when he was promoted to the presidency of the institution. He has also officiated four years as Chaplain of Illinois Central Hospital for the Insane, at Jacksonville. As an eminent educator, Dr. Tanner holds a front rank in the state, and received the degree of D. D. from his alma mater, in 1880, being a scholar of fine classical culture and solid erudition.
He was married June 27, 1861, to Miss Marian L. Brown, a lady of charming social qualities and earnest religious character, a daughter of Dr. I. H. Brown, of Waverly. Her parents were formerly from Connecticut. President Tanner and lady have had a family of six children, one of whom is deceased.
In politics the Professor is a Repub- lican. He is a devoted son of " Illinois College" and still fills with greatest of credit the presidency. His earnest labors in the financial interest of the college have brought thousands of dollars into its treasury.
CHARLES M. MORSE, was born July 21st, 1820, in Wilton, Maine, and is a son of Col. Charles Morse. His education was obtained chiefly at the village school, sup- plemented by an attendance, during four terms, at a higher academy, and frequent- ly interrupted by ill-health.
His father was a farmer and miller, but as the son was physically unable to per- form much labor, very little was required of him. A remark made by the father to a friend, and accidentally overheard by the son, created a great impression on his mind, insomuch that it very materially determined his future course of action. "Charles," he said, "cannot work with his brothers, but we can always depend upon him for closing the gates-he don't leave things half done."
When seventeen years old, he entered the post office at Augusta, the capital city of the state, where he served four years, and where, for weeks together, he had sole charge of the office. Although he differed politically with the postmaster, he never
lost the latter's confidence and esteem, who refused to displace him at the behest of party managers, to make way for a party favorite. Shortly after arriving at man- hood, he married and returned to his native town, where he assisted his father in the management of his business, and ultimately succeeded to it, on the death of his parent in 1845. Immediately upon his return to Wilton, he was elected Town Clerk, which, with other town offices, he held for seven years, when he was chosen a representative in the State Legislature. In 1850, he entered the office of the treas- urer of the Maine Central (then the A. and K.) Railroad Company, and, excepting four months, was connected with that corporation for over fifteen years, serving in various capacities, from Fireman to Superintendent, the longest period being as General Ticket Agent and Cashier, nearly the entire earnings of the company passing through his hands. His services as Superintendent covered three years at two different times. In 1866 he became Superintendent of the St. Louis, Jackson- ville & Chicago Railroad; and in 1868, when that line was leased to the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, he was ap- pointed to the position of Superintendent of a Division, embracing 190 miles of road and is now Freight Division Superinten- dent of the C. & A. with headquarters at Jacksonville.
He is a man of fine literary attainments, although he makes no claim to scholar- ship. He is interested in inaugurating and sustaining all literary and art enter- prises in this city. He is fond of books, possessing a library of choice works, num- bering nearly one thousand volumes, and is a lover of antiquarian research.
He takes great interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the communi- ty in which he resides; and is, in short, a useful, worthy and honorable citizen.
As a Freemason Col. Morse ranks high and never allows himself to grow rusty. He has not only been Eminent Commander of Hospitaler Commandery, Knights Tem- plar, of this city, but has risen to the ex- alted honors of Grand Commander of the Illinois Grand Commandery, Knights Tem plar.
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One who knows our Frater well says of him, that his big-hearted and broad liber- ality is only limited by the length of his purse. That wherever he has lived and whatever his official and social duties might be, he was always trying to help somebody do better and to be better. To which we who know him Masonically will heartily say, Amen.
"With malice towards none, with char- ity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right."
He was brought to Masonic Light in Waterville Lodge, No. 33, in Maine, where he received the third degree March 21, 1853, and afterwards served as Master. July 10, 1856, in Jerusalem Chapter, at Gardiner, in the same State, he aceom- plished the journey over the rough road which pertains to the R. A. Chapter; and at Bangor, in St. John's Commandery, No. 3, on June 13, 1864, he participated for the first time in the solemn service at. tending the reception into the Templar Order.
It is a little remarkable that in his thirty-five years' railroad experience, while traveling much of the time, he was never in an accident where a human being was materially injured, or resulting in any considerable destruction of property.
Mr. Morse is not a member of any church, but is a regular attendant (Congre- gationalist). He traces his genealogy, on the paternal side, through the Morses and Lelands, back to the "Pilgrims," 1630-50, and on the maternal side, through the Scotch-Irish Scales and Mathes, to about 1680
Ilis excellent wife and three daughters, Mrs. John G. Loomis, Mrs. Alfred Sturte- vant and Miss Mattie, are numbered among our citizens, while one son, Charles, is in the Providence Savings Bank, in St. Louis.
JONATHAN BALDWIN TURNER .-
Few if any among present residents of Jacksonville are better known. He was born at Templeton, Mass., Dec. 7th, 1805. His ancestors were among the emigrants on the Mayflower. He studied at Yale, in which university he took a high rank, and where his determined energy and vigorous mind gave early promise of a
useful and illustrious future. In October 1835, he married Rhodolphia S. Kibbe, and in succeeding years became the father of seven children. He accepted the situa- tion of teacher in various schools in Mass- achusetts, and at New Haven, Connecticut, before his graduation, and won the en- comiums of his associates and the love of his pupils.
He came to Illinois as teacher in Illinois College in 1832 and was soon after chosen one of the Professors in that institution, holding the position for fifteen years, when failing health, and what was then deemed over-zealous resistance to slavery and sectarianism, compelled his resigna- tion. He was deeply interested in educa- tional problems, and as early as 1833 de- livered in the state a series of lectures for the purpose of arousing popular sentiment in favor of a broad and permanent system of common schools. While thus philan thropically engaged, during college vaca- tions, on horseback and on foot through this then sparsely settled commonwealth, on the vast timberless prairies, he con- cluded that they would remain undevel- oped so long as the people were without the means of enclosing their farms. This led him to the study of some device as a substitute for timber for fences. In his experiments at this public labor he ex- hausted his means and effects, and was re- paid by the silly jeers of the incredulous. Hle tried various plants with little success for a long time, until he found the Osage Orange ; and this for a considerable period was always spoken of as "Professor Tur- ner's Folly," but at length, by the force of successful experiments, incredulity was compelled to admit the great benefits of his discovery.
lle interested himself in the advance- ment of agriculture, and was one of the originators of the modern methods for planting corn by machinery, and for the extensive use of machinery in the general cultivation of the ground. He was rest- lessly active, contributing, to various mag- azines and journals, papers on "Micro- scopic Insects," "Fungoid growths and Diseases of Plants and Trees," on "The Preparation and Kotation of Crops," on "The Analysis of Soils," and on kindred
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subjects, they were filled with practical suggestions of incalculable value to his fellow-men. His political discussions have at all times attracted the attention and study of statesmen. Daniel Webster pronounced his essay on "Currency" one of the ablest papers he had ever read on that subject. His "Mormonism in All Ages," published in this country, and re- produced in Europe, was one of the keenest expositions of the character of a community which has so long defied civil and military power. His numerous lec- tures, speeches, essays and papers against all modes of slavery and sectarianism and party drill, whether in church or in state, and his persistent defense of the absolute freedom of the individual man as against all unjust corporate power, are equally pointed and characteristic.
As a lecturer and essayist he was voluminous, and widely varied in his pro- ductions ; and his discourses on "Practical Education," "The Three Races of Men," "The Ocean Currents and Open Sea at the Poles," "Meteorology,""Practical Culture," "Metaphysical Analysis," "On Matter, Force and Spirit," have been printed and distributed by the State Natural History, ITorticultural and Agricultural and other societies and periodicals. He was among the earliest advocates in Illinois of a United States Agricultural Bureau; and in 1851 produced a series of lectures and papers on the necessity for educating the working classes by means of schools and universities endowed by the State, which led to the endowment of our national sys- tem of industrial institutions.
He was a strong advocate of a State Normal School. He is a man of broad church views, and abhors close sectari- anism. His life-long study has been that of ameliorating the condition of the work- ing classes through the medium of tech- nical and variously graded industrial schools. His various labors have secured to his enjoyment a comfortable fortune, and though he has retired from the more active duties of life, he exhibits the same deep interest in the questions which from early age employed his thoughts. He is regarded in most honorable esteem by his fellow-citizens; and is solaced in his de-
clining years by witnessing the fruits of those institutions which, in labor prompt- ed by the true spirit of philanthropy, he aided in founding.
For some time past he has almost wholly withdrawn from all private business and all public effort to devote his time more exclusively to a renewed and thorough re- examination and review of the real ground- work and basis of those great religious, social, civil, philosophical and educational questions which have so much engrossed the public mind and his own past life.
Although four score years of age he is still in such health as to be, in active home life and to mingle with his fellow-citizens upon all public occasions He has sur- vived his beloved wife, but occupies the old home on West College Avenue, in our city. With him is his youngest son- Frederick C., and his wife, nee Alexander. His daughter Mrs. Dr. H. F Carriel is also among our citizens. His sons, Wm. and Rodolphus, have departed this life, others -John, Charles and Howard are living use- ful lives in different parts of this land.
Prof. Turner and his most intimate friends feel that eventually if not now his writings on religious subjects, will be deemed by far the most important of all his publications. This series of books which he claims "have been passed in utter silence by the settled policy of the sects, Catholic, Protestant and Mormon," is as follows:
(I.) "Mormonism in all ages" written and published in the vacation of 1842.
(II.) "Christ's Creed and Charter of the Kingdom of the Heavens" published in 1847 in which the author says he ap- plys the "same principles to all ecclesi- astical sects. Here I hit the near ox, as well as the off ox." The entire edition was sold and read.
(III ) "Christs Words," as related to Philosophy, Law and Religion, and every human or social need-a book of over four hundred pages, now out of print.
The last mentioned is now called for more than the others and more than when written.
See pages 81, 85, 99, 102, 133, 136, 137, 138, 139, 148, 157, 178, 226, 243, 259, 266, 309.
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REV. WILLIAM COFFIN, A. M., at one time in the faculty of Illinois College, is well remembered by many of the present citizens of Jacksonville although his home has been in Batavia, Kane county, for the last thirty years. Of genial disposition, versatile talents, attractive social qualities and with wife and children that any man might be happy with and proud of, it is not to be wondered at that he has made a host of friends, here and elsewhere. As preacher in the pulpit, professor in the chair, banker in the counting room, pater familiax in the quiet Christian home, or friend in social circles, he has ever been honored and loved. He was born in Wis- cassett, Maine, on the 19th of January, 1822, and at the age of fourteen, in 1836, he came to Jacksonville, with his father's family. Here his education was continued and he was graduated from Illinois College five years later, viz: in 1841. Three years after this he was a member of the faculty filling the chair of Mathematics, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy in his Alma Mater from 1844 to 1852. In 1847 he was most happily united in marriage with a lovely Christian woman, now gone to her Heavenly reward, Mary E. Lockwood, eldest daughter of the late Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, whose life and labors have been fully mentioned al-
ready in these pages. Of the children by this marriage, Lockwood is married and living in Chicago, William, also married, is in netive business life, Charlie was grad- uated from Yale with honors and is now in Chicago, Nellie is filling well her station as a pastor's wife in Rochester, Minn., Frank was suddenly taken from earth last year, John and Mattie, the two youngest, are at home. Their beloved mother was taken from them in 1877. Mr. Coffin was married again in 1883, to Miss Sophia M. Sawyer, with whom he is living in Batavia at the present time.
We are glad to be able to give the readers of Historic Morgan, through an artist's skill, a glance at the face so famil- iar to oll time residents of Jacksonville.
See page 277.
JOSHUA MOORE .- There are lives, so unostentatious and independent that those living about them fail to realize at the time, the good if not the great work ac- complished by them. Joshua Moore's life was an exemplification of this class. He was a dweller in this county about 1835, at Beardstown, before the separation of Cass county, and at Naples a few years later, just about the time, if not before, Scott county was set off from Morgan. But it was after July 9 1857, that, having purchased what was known as "Mr. Ows- ley's" house, Mr. Moore took up his final residence in this city and county. We note hereafter, from an article appearing as leading editorial in the Daily Journal, of Oct. 2nd, 1871, the following obituary :
As previously announced in the Jour- nal, on Thursday morning last at 10 o'clock, Joshua Moore, Esq., an old and respected citizen of Jacksonville, depart- this life. Long cherished as one of the most reliable and exemplary residents of Jacksonville, it is appropriate at this time to give n brief sketch of his life.
Mr. Moore was born August 5th, 1807, near Mt. Holly, N. J.
His parents and only sister died when he was quite young, and he then went to an uncle's and remained with him till of age. Having means left him he was de- sirous of entering business, and soon after becoming of age, went to Philadel- phia to acquire a knowledge of bus- iness, neting in the capacity of clerk in the dry goods trade. In a short time, however, he started on his own account, remaining in Philadelphia some time. In
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1832 he came west, as far as Logansport, Indiana, for his health, making the dis- tance partly in a "Dearborn" and partly on horse back. Returning to Philadel- phia, and resuming business he came to St. Louis in 1835. Remaining there a short time he came to Beardstown, in this state, where he engaged in bus- iness. Afterward he returned to St. Louis, and engaged in the same line there, for a short time; removing thence to Naples, Ill, where he remained till about 1843. In 1840 he was married to Miss Margaret McMackin, of this city. During his residence in Naples, Hon. Mark L. Delahay, of Kansas, was in his employ as clerk; as were also Hons. R. Mooers, Thomas Hollowbush and Judge Moses. In 1843 Mr. Moore removed to Perry, keeping his establishment in Na- ples. He prosecuted his business suc- cessfully in both places, and won for him- self many warm friends.
In 1850 he joined the Presbyterian church, at Perry, and contributed largely to its support. He was elected elder and trustee, and was always looked up to as an irreproachable christian.
In 1858 he removed to Jacksonville, in- tending to retire from business, which he did in 1865.
Mr. M. became a member of Dr. Glov- er's church after removing to this city, but joined the Westminster church in 1864, where he was elected a trustee and an elder. In 1860 he was elected trustee of Illinois College
During the war he manifested the warmest interest in the cause of the Un- ion, and gave his money freely for the support of the sick and wounded. He also as a matter of duty, invested largely in government bonds, and has been a lib- eral donor to all the educational institu- tions of this city, as well as to all its pub- lic enterprizes.
During the past three years ill health has prevented him being his former self; but the last few months had been very encouraging as to his complete recovery.
All hopes, however, have proved delu- sive, and to-day the community mourns the loss of an upright man and a good citizen. Though gone from our midst. the memory of his kindly spirit and chris- tian graces will remain as a bright exam- ple to all who have come within the circle of his influence.
WILLIAM D. SANDERS is a native of Huron county, Ohio, and the son of Dr. Moses C. Sanders, a distinguished physi- cian and surgeon. He prepared for an academic career at Huron Institute, Milan, Ohio, and in 1841 entered the Western Reserve College, at Hudson, and received its degree in 1845. During the three years
immediately following his graduation, he was Principal of the Richfield Academy, in Summit county, Ohio. In 1848 he en- tered the Hudson Theological Seminary, completing its course of study in 1851.
During this period there occurred a crisis in the financial affairs of this insti- tution, which threatened its complete ruin, and in this emergency he was importuned by both trustees and faculty to lead a forlorn hope for its rescue. He was ab- sent from the institution in this generous service over a year, and in this time exe- cuted a plan which rescued the college from great peril, and added over one hun- dred thousand dollars to its resources. Upon the ending of his studies in this in- stitution, he was married, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Cornelia R. Smith, and soon after was ordained to the ministry by the Pres- bytery of Portage, and took charge of a church in Ravenna, Ohio. Here he labored for three years with very remarkable suc- cess, and was then called to the chair of Rhetoric, Elocution and English Litera- ture, in Illinois College, at Jacksonville, Illinois.
He entered upon the duties of this pro- fessorship in the autumn of 1854, and per- formed them with enthusiasm and fidelity for the protracted period of fifteen years. While thus laboring, he was called upon to aid the institution in its embarrassed financial situation, and though the work was an exceedingly grave and difficult one, his efforts were quite successful. Upon his resignation of his professorship in 1869, an appropriate tribute to his talents, his culture, and his generous ser- vices was paid him by the trustees of the college.
During the Civil War, his allegiance to the Government was never in doubt, and one of the most eloquent of patriotic ap- peals was pronounced by him in Strawn's Opera House, to the Hardin and Union Guards, on the Sabbath preceding their departure for the field. Among other oratorical efforts which gave him great celebrity were his welcomes to General McClernand in 1862, to General Benjamin Grierson in 1863, his oration at Carlinville in the same year, and his discourse at Quincy, upon the fall of Richmond.
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