Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 13

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126

USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2 > Part 13

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

reaching St. Louis, and, early in the following year, visited Bond County, III., where he made his first entry of land from the Government. Returning to Boston a few months later, he con- tinued in the service of the publishing firm until 1820, when he again came to Illinois, and, in 1521, began farming in Ripley Township, Bond County. Returning East in 1824, he spent the next ten years in the employment of the publish- ing firm, with occasional visits to Illinois. . In 1835 he located permanently near Greenville, Bond County, and engaged extensively in farm- ing and fruit-raising, planting one of the largest apple orchards in the State at that early day. In 1845 he presided as chairman over the National Industrial Convention in New York, and, in 1848, was nominated as the candidate of the National Reform Association for Vice-President on the ticket with Gerrit Smith of New York, but declined. He was also prominent in County and State Agricultural Societies. Mr Wait has been credited with being one of the first (if not the very first) to suggest the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad, which he did as early as 1835; was also one of the prime movers in the construction of the Mississippi & Atlantic Rail- road-now the "Vandalia Line"-giving much time to the latter enterprise from 1846 for many years, and was one of the original incorporators of the St. Louis & Illinois Bridge Company. Died. July 17, 1865.

WALKER, Cyrus, pioneer, lawyer, born in Rockbridge County, Va., May 14, 1791; was taken while an infant to Adair County, Ky., and came to Macomb, Ill., in I$33, being the second lawyer to locate in McDonough County. He had a wide reputation as a successful advocate. especially in criminal cases, and practiced extensively in the courts of Western Illinois and also in Iowa. Died, Dec. 1, 1875. Mr. Walker was uncle of the late Pinkney Il. Walker of the Supreme Court, who studied law with him. He was Whig candidate for Presidential Elector for the State-at-large in 1840.

WALKER, James Barr, clergyman, was born in Philadelphia, July 29, 1805; in his youth served as errand boy in a country store near Pittsburg and spent four years in a printing office : then became clerk in the office of Mordecai M. Noah, in New York, studied law and gradu- ated from Western Reserve College. Ohio; edited various religious papers, including "The Watch- man of the Prairies" |now "The Advance") of Chicago, was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Chicago, and for some time was lecturer on

548

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

"Harmony between Science and Revealed Reli- gion" at Oberlin College and Chicago Theological Seminary. He was author of several volumes, one of which-"The Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation, " published anonymously under the editorship of Prof. Calvin E. Stowe (1855)-ran through several editions and was translated into five different languages, including Hindustanee. Died, at Wheaton, Ill., March 6, 1887.

WALKER, James Monroe, corporation lawyer and Railway President, was born at Claremont, N. H., Feb. 14, 1820. At fifteen he removed with his parents to a farm in Michigan; was educated at Oberlin, Ohio, and at the University of Michi- gan, Ann Arbor, graduating from the latter in 1849. He then entered a law office as clerk and student, was admitted to the bar the next year. and soon after elected Prosecuting Attorney of Washtenaw County; was also local attorney for the Michigan Central Railway, for which, after his removal to Chicago in 1853, he became Gen- eral Solicitor. Two years later the firm of Sedg- wick & Walker, which had been organized in Michigan, became attorneys for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and, until his death, Mr. Walker was associated with this com- pany, either as General Solicitor, General Counsel or President, tilling the latter position from 1870 to 1875. Mr. Walker organized both the Chicago and Kansas City stock-yards, and was President of these corporations, as also of the Wihuington Coal Company, down to the time of his death, which occurred on Jan. 22, 1881, as a result of heart disease.

WALKER, ( Rev.) Jesse, Methodist Episcopal missionary, was born in Rockingham County, Va., June 9, 1766; in 1800 removed to Tennessee. became a traveling preacher in 1802, and, in 1806, came to Illinois under the presiding-elder- ship of Rev. William McKendree (afterwards Bishop), locating first at Turkey Hill, St. Clair County. In 1807 he held a camp meeting near Edwardsville-the first on Illinois soil. Later, he transferred his labors to Northern Illinois; was at Peoria in 1824; at Ottawa in 1825, and devoted much time to missionary work among the Pottawatomies, maintaining a school among them for a time. He visited Chicago in 1826, and there is evidence that he was a prominent resident there for several years, occupying a log house, which he used as a church and living-room, on "Wolf Point" at the junction of the North and South Branches of the Chicago River. While acting as superintendent of the Fox River mis- sion, his residence appears to have been at Plain-

field, in the northern part of Will County. Died, Oct. 5, 1935.

WALKER, Pinkney H., lawyer and jurist. was born in Adair County, Ky., June 18, 1815. His boyhood was chiefly passed in farm work and as clerk in a general store; in 1831 he came to Illi- nois, settling at Rushville, where he worked in a store for four years. In 1838 he removed to Macomb, where he began attendance at an acad- emy and the study of law with his uncle, Cyrus Walker, a leading lawyer of his time. Ile was admitted to the bar in 1839, practicing at Macomb until 1848, when he returned to Rushville. In 1853 he was elected Judge of the Fifth Judicial Cireuit, to fill a vacancy, and re-elected in 1855. This position he resigned in 1858, having been appointed. by Governor Bissell, to fill the vacaney on the bench of the Supreme Court occasioned by the resignation of Judge Skinner. Two months later he was elected to the same position, and re-elected in 1867 and '76. Ile presided as Chief Justice from January, 1864, to June, '67, and again from June, 1874, to June, "75. Before the expiration of his last term he died, Feb. 7, 1555.

WALL, George Willard, lawyer, politician and Judge, was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, April 22, 1839; brought to Perry County, Ill., in infancy. and received his preparatory education at MeKen. dree College finally graduating from the Uni- versity of Michigan in 1858, and from the Cineminati Law School in 1859, when he began practice at Duquoin, Ill. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1862, and. from 1864 to '68, served as State's Attorney for the Third Judicial District ; was also a Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention of 1869-70. In 1972 he was an unsuccessful Democratic candi- date for Congress, although running ahead of his tieket. In 1877 he was elected to the bench of the Third Circuit, and re-elected in '79, '85 and '91, much of the time since 1877 being on duty upon the Appellate bench. His home is at Duquoin.

WALLACE, (Rev.) Peter, D.D., clergyman and soldier; was born in Mason County, Ky., April 11 1813; taken in infancy to Brown County, Ohio, where he grew up on a farm until 15 years of age, when he was apprenticed to a carpenter: at the age of 20 came to Illinois, where he became a contractor and builder, fol- lowing this occupation for a number of years. He was converted in 1835 at Springfield, Ill , and, some years later, having decided to enter the ministry, was admitted to the Illinois Conference as a deacon by Bishop E. S. Janes in 1555. and

549

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

placed in charge of the Danville Circuit. Two years later he was ordained by Bishop Scott. and, in the next few years, held pastorates at various places in the central and eastern parts of the State. From 1867 to 1874 he was Presiding Elder of the Mattoon and Quincy Districts, and, for six years, held the position of President of the Board of Trustees of Chaddock College at Quincy, from which he received the degree of D.D. in 1981. In the second year of the Civil War he raised a company in Sangamon County, was chosen its Captain and assigned to the Seventy-third Illinois Volunteers, known as the "preachers' regiment"-all of its officers being ministers. In 1864 he was compelled by ill-health to resign his commission. While pastor of the church at Say- brook. Ill., he was offered the position of Post- master of that place, which he decided to accept, and was allowed to retire from the active minis- try. On retirement from office, in 1884. he removed to Chicago. In 1889 he was appointed by Governor Fifer the first Chaplain of the Sol- diers' and Sailors' Home at Quincy, but retired some four years afterward, when he returned to Chicago. Dr. Wallace was an eloquent and effective preacher and continued to preach, at intervals, until within a short time of his decease, which occurred in Chicago, Feb. 21. 1897, in his 84th year. A zealous patriot, he frequently spoke very effectively upon the political rostrum. Originally a Whig, he became a Republican on the organization of that party, and took pride in the fact that the first vote he ever cast was for Abraham Lincoln, for Representative in the Legis- lature, in 1834. He was a Knight Templar. Vice- President of the Tippecanoe Club of Chicago, and, at his death, Chaplain of America Post, No. 708, G. A. R.

WALLACE, William Henry Lamb, lawyer and soldier, was born at Urbana, Ohio, July 8, 1821; brought to Illinois in 1833, his father settling near La Salle and, afterwards, at Mount Morris. Ogle County, where young Wallace attended the Rock River Seminary; was admitted to the bar in 1845; in 1846 enlisted as a private in the First Illi- nois Volunteers (Col. John J. Hardin's regiment), for the Mexican War, rising to the rank of Adju- tant and participting in the battle of Buena Vista (where his commander was killed), and in other engagements. Returning to his profession at Ottawa, he served as District Attorney (1852-56), then became partner of his father-in-law, Col. T. Lyle Dickey, afterwards of the Supreme Court. In April, 1861, he was one of the first to answer the call for troops by enlisting, and became Colo-

nel of the Eleventh Illinois (three-months' men), afterwards re-enlisting for three years. As commander of a brigade he participated in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, in Feb- ruary, 1862. receiving promotion as Brigadier- General for gallantry. At Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh), as commander of Gen. C. F. Smith's Division, devolving on him on account of the illness of his superior officer, he showed great courage, but fell mortally wounded, dying at Charleston, Tenn., April 10, 1802. His career promised great brilliancy and his loss was greatly deplored. - Martin R. M. ( Wallace), brother of the preceding, was born at Urbana. Ohio, Sept. 29, 1829, came to La Salle County, Ill., with his father's family and was educated in the local schools and at Rock River Seminary : studied law at Ottawa, and was admitted to the bar in 1856. soon after locating in Chicago. In 1861 he assisted in organizing the Fourth Regiment Illi- nois Cavalry. of which he became Lieutenant- Colonel, and was complimented, in 1865, with the rank of brevet Brigadier-General. After the war he served as Assessor of Internal Revenue (1866-69): County Judge (1809-71) ; Prosecuting Attorney (1844); and. for many years past, has been one of the Justices of the Peace of the city of Chicago.

WALNUT, a town of Bureau County, on the Mendota and Fulton branch of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad, 26 miles west of Mendota; is in a farming and stock-raising dis- triet ; has two banks and two newspapers. Popu- lation (1890). 605; (1900), 791.

WAR OF 1-12. Upon the declaration of war by Congress, in June, 1812, the Pottawatomies, and most of the other tribes of Indians in the Territory of Illinois, strongly sympathized with the British. The savages had been hostile and restless for some time previous, and blockhouses and family forts had been erected at a number of points. especially in the settlements most exposed to the incursions of the savages. Gov- ernor Edwards, becoming apprehensive of an outbreak, constructed Fort Russell. a few miles from Edwardsville. Taking the field in person, he made this his headquarters, and collected a force of 250 mounted volunteers, who were later reinforced by two companies of rangers, under Col. William Russell, numbering about 100 men. An independent company of twenty-one spies, of which John Reynolds-afterwards Governor- was a member, was also formed and led by Capt. Samuel Judy. The Governor organized his little army into two regiments under Colonels Rector

550

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

and Stephenson, Colonel Russell serving as second to the commander-in-chief. other mem- bers of his staff being Secretary Nathaniel Pope and Robert K. Mclaughlin. On Oct. 18, 1812, Governor Edwards, with his men, set out for Peoria, where it was expected that their force would meet that of General Hopkins, who had been sent from Kentucky with a force of 2,000 men. En route, two Kickapoo villages were burnel, and a number of Indians unnecessarily slain by Edwards' party. Hopkins had orders to disperse the Indians on the Illinois and Wabash Rivers, and destroy their villages. He deter- mined, however, on reaching the headwaters of the Vermilion to proceed no farther. Governor Edwards reached the head of Peoria Lake, but, failing to meet Hopkins, returned to Fort Russell. About the same time Capt. Thomas E. Craig led a party, in two boats, up the Illinois River to Peoria. His boats, as he alleged, having been fired upon in the night by Indians, who were har- bored and protected by the French citizens of Peoria, he burned the greater part of the village, and capturing the population, carried them down the river, putting them on shore, in the early part of the winter, just below Alton. Other desultory expeditions marked the campaigns of 1813 and 1814. The Indians meanwhile gaining courage. remote settlements were continually harassed by marauding bands. Later in 1814, an expedi- tion, led by Major (afterwards President ) Zachary Taylor, ascended the Mississippi as far as Rock Island, where he found a large force of Indians, supported by British regulars with artillery. Finding himself unable to cope with so formida- ble a foe, Major Taylor retreated down the river. On the site of the present town of Warsaw he threw up fortifications, which he named Fort Edwards, from which point he was subsequently compelled to retreat. The same year the British, with their Indian allies, descended from Macki- nac, captured Prairie du Chien, and burned Forts Madison and Johnston, after which they retired to Cap au Gris. The treaty of Ghent, signed Dec. 24, 1814, closed the war, although no formal treaties were made with the tribes until the year following.

WAR OF THE REBELLION. At the outbreak of the Civil War. the executive chair, in Illinois, was occupied by Gov. Richard Yates. Immedi- ately upon the issuance of President Lincoln's first call for troops ( April 15, 1861), the Governor issued his proclamation summoning the Legisla- ture together in special session and, the same day, issued a call for "six regiments of militia."

the quota assigned to the State under call of the President. Public excitement was at fever heat. and dormant patriotism in both sexes was aroused as never before. Party lines were broken down and, with comparatively few excep- tions, the mass of the people were actuated by a common sentiment of patriotism. On April 19, Governor Yates was instructed, by the Secretary of War. to take possession of Cairo as an important strategie point. At that time, the State militia organizations were few in number and poorly equipped, consisting chietly of independent com- panies in the larger cities. The Governor acted with great promptitude, and, on April 21, seven companies, numbering 595 men, commanded by Gen. Richard K. Swift of Chicago, were en route to Cairo. The first volunteer company to tender its services, in response to Governor Yates' proc- lamation, on April 16, was the Zouave Grays of Springfield. Eleven other companies were ten- dered the same day, and, by the evening of the 18th, the number had been increased to fifty. Simultaneously with these proceedings, Chicago bankers tendered to the Governor a war loan of $500,000, and those of Springfield, $100,000. The Legislature, at its special session, passed acts in- creasing the efficiency of the militia law, and provided for the creation of a war fund of $2. - 000,000. Besides the six regiments already called for, the raising of ten additional volunteer regi- ments and one battery of light artillery was authorized. The last of the six regiments, apportioned to Illinois under the first presidential call, was dispatched to Cairo early in May. The six regiments were numbered the Seventh to Twelfth, inclusive-the earlier numbers, First to Sixth, being conceded to the six regiments which had served in the war with Mexico. The regi- ments were commanded, respectively, by Colonels John Cook. Richard J. Oglesby, Eleazer A. Paine, James D. Morgan, William II. L. Wallace, and John Mc Arthur, constituting the "First Brigade of Illinois Volunteers." Benjamin M. Prentiss, having been chosen Brigadier-General on arrival at Cairo, assumed command, relieving General Swift. The quota under the second eall, consist- ing of ten regiments, was mustered into service within sixty days, 200 companies being tendered immediately. Many more volunteered than could be accepted, and large numbers crossed to Mis- souri and enlisted in regiments forming in that State. During June and July the Secretary of War authorized Governor Yates to recruit twenty- twoadditional regiments (seventeen infantry and five cavalry), which were promptly raised. On

551

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

July 22, the day following the defeat of the Union army at Bull Run, President Lincoln called for 500,000 more volunteers. Governor Yates im- mediately responded with an offer to the War Department of sixteen more regiments (thirteen of infantry and three of cavalry ), and a battalion of artillery, adding, that the State claimed it as her right, to do her full share toward the preser- vation of the Union. Under supplemental author- ity, received from the Secretary of War in August, 1861, twelve additional regiments of in- fantry and five of cavalry were raised. and, by De- cember, 1861, the State had 43,000 volunteers in the field and 17,000 in camps of instruction. Other calls were made in July and August, 1862, each for 300,000 men. Illinois' quota, under both calls, was over 52,000 men, no regard being paid to the fact that the State had already furnished 16,000 troops in excess of its quotas under previ- ous calls. Unless this number of volunteers was raised by September 1, a draft would be ordered. The tax was a severe one, inasmuch as it would fall chiefly upon the prosperous citizens, the float- ing population. the idle and the extremely poor having already followed the army's march, either as soldiers or as camp-followers. But recruiting was actively carried on, and, aided by liberal bounties in many of the counties, in less than a fortnight the 52,000 new troops were secured, the volunteers coming largely from the substantial classes - agricultural, mercantile, artisan and professional. By the end of December, fifty-nine regiments and four batteries had been dispatched to the front, besides a considerable number to fill up regiments already in the field, which had suf- fered severely from battle, exposure and disease. At this time, Illinois had an aggregate of over 135,000 enlisted men in the field. The issue of President Lincoln's preliminary proclamation of emancipation, in September, 1862, was met by a storm of hostile criticism from his political opponents, who-aided by the absence of so large a proportion of the loyal population of the State in the field-were able to carry the elec- tions of that year. Consequently, when the Twenty-third General Assembly convened in regular session at Springfield, on Jan. 5, 1863, a large majority of that body was not only opposed to both the National and State administrations, but avowedly opposed to the further prosecution of the war under the existing policy. The Leg- islature reconvened in June, but was prorogued by Governor Yates Between Oct. 1, 1963, and July 1, 1864. 16,000 veterans re-enlisted and 87,000 new volunteers were enrolled; and, by the

date last mentioned, Illinois had furnished to the Union army 244,496 men, being 14,596 in ex- cess of the allotted quotas, constituting fifteen per cent of the entire population. These were comprised in 151 regiments of infantry, 17 of cavalry and two complete regiments of artillery, besides twelve independent batteries. The total losses of Illinois organizations, during the war, has been reported at 31.834, of which 5,874 were killed in battle, 4,020 died from wounds, 22,786 from disease and 2,151 from other causes-being a total of thirteen per cent of the entire force of the State in the service. The part which Illinois played in the contest was conspicuous for patriot- ism, promptness in response to every call, and the bravery and efficiency of its troops in the field-reflecting honor upon the State and its his- tory. Nor were its loyal citizens-who, while staying at home, furnished moral and material support to the men at the front-less worthy of praise than those who volunteered. By uphold- ing the Government-National and State-and by their zeal and energy in collecting and sending forward immense quantities of supplies-surgical, medical and other-often at no little sacrifice, they contributed much to the success of the Union arms. (See also Camp Douglas; Camp Douglas Conspiracy; Secret Treasonable Soci- eties.)

WAR OF THE REBELLION (HISTORY OF ILLI- NOIS REGIMENTS). The following is a list of the various military organizations mustered into the service during the Civil War (1861-65), with the terms of service and a summary of the more important events in the history of each, while in the field:

SEVENTH INFANTRY. Illinois having sent six regiments to the Mexican War, by courtesy the numbering of the regiments which took part in the war for the Union began with number Seven. A number of regiments which responded to the first call of the President, claimed the right to be recognized as the first regiment in the field, but the honor was finally accorded to that organized at Springfield by Col. John Cook, and hence his regiment was numbered Seventh. It was mustered into the service. April 25, 1861, and remained at Mound City during the three months' service, the period of its first enlistment. It was subsequently reorganized and mustered for the three years' service. July 25, 1561, and was engaged in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Cherokee. Allatoona Pass, Salkahatchie Swamp, Bentonville and Columbia. The regi- ment re-enlisted as veterans at Pulaski, Tenn.,

552

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

Dec. 22, 1863; was mustered out at Louisville, July 9, 1865, and paid off and discharged at Springfield, July 11.

EIGHTH INFANTRY. Organized at Springfield, and mustered in for three months' service, April 26, 1861. Richard J. Oglesby of Decatur, being appointed Colonel. It remained at Cairo during its term of service, when it was mustered out. July 25, 1861, it was reorganized and inustered in for three years' service. It participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Port Gibson, Thompson Hill, Raymond, Champion Hill, Vicks- burg, Brownsville, and Spanish Fort; re-enlisted as veterans, March 24, 1864; was mustered out at Baton Rouge, May 4, 1866, paid off and dis- charged, May 13, having served five years.

NINTH INFANTRY. Mustered into the service at Springfield. April 26, 1861, for the term of three months. under Col. Eleazer A. Paine. It was reorganized at Cairo, in August, for three years, being composed of companies from St. Clair, Madison, Montgomery, Pulaski, Alexander and Mereer Counties; was engaged at Fort Donel- son, Shiloh, Jackson (Tenn.), Meed Creek Swamps, Salem, Wyatt, Florence, Montezuma, Athens and Grenada. The regiment was mounted, March 15, 1863, and so continued during the remainder of its service. Mustered out at Louis- ville. July 9, 1865.

TENTH INFANTRY. Organized and mustered into the service for three months, on April 29, 1861, at Cairo, and on July 29. 1861, was mustered into the service for three years, with Col. James D. Morgan in command. It was engaged at Sykeston, New Madrid. Corinth. Missionary Ridge. Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Rome, Kenesaw, Chattahoochie. Savannah and Bentonville. Re- enlisted as veterans. Jan. 1, 1864, and mustered out of service, July 4. 1865, at Louisville, and received final discharge and pay, July 11, 1865, at Chicago.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 13

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1126

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126