Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 23

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 23

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WINNETKA, a village of Cook County, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, 1616 miles north of Chicago. It stands eighty feet above the level of Lake Michigan, has good schools (being the seat of the Winnetka Institute), sev- eral churches, and is a popular residence town. Population (19400), 584; (1890), 1,079; (1900), 1,833.

WINSTON, Frederick Hampton, lawyer, was born in Liberty County, Ga., Nov. 20, 1830, was brought to Woodford County, Ky., in 1855, left an orphan at 12. and attended the common

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schools until 18, when, returning to Georgia, he engaged in cotton manufacture. He finally began the study of law with United States Sena- tor W. C. Dawson, and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1852, spent some time in the office of W. M. Evarts in New York, was admitted to the bar and came to Chicago in 1853, where he formed a partnership with Norman B. Judd, afterwards being associated with Judge Henry W. Blodgett: served as general solicitor of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railways-remaining with the latter twenty years. In 1555 he was appointed, by President Cleveland, Minister to Persia, but resigned the following year, and traveled exten- sively in Russia, Scandinavia and other foreign countries. Mr. Winston was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1868. '76 and '84; first President of the Stock Yards at Jersey City, for twelve years President of the Lincoln Park Commission, and a Director of the Lincoln National Bank.

WISCONSIN CENTRAL LINES. The Wiscon- sin Central Company was organized, June 17, 1887, and subsequently acquired the Minnesota, St. Croix & Wisconsin, the Wisconsin & Minne- sota, the Chippewa Falls & Western, the St. Paul & St. Croix Falls, the Wisconsin Central, the Penokee, and the Pack waukee & Montebello Rail- roads, and assumed the leases of the Milwaukee & Lake Winnebago and the Wisconsin & Minne- sota Roads. On July 1, 1888, the company began to operate the entire Wisconsin Central system. with the exception of the Wisconsin Central Railroad and the leased Milwaukee & Lake Win- nebago, which remained in charge of the Wis- consin Central Railroad mortgage trustees until Nov. 1, 1889, when these, too, passed under the control of the Wisconsin Central Company. The Wisconsin Central Railroad Company is a re- organization (Oct. 1, 1879) of a company formed Jan. 1, 1871. The Wisconsin Central and the Wisconsin Central Railroad Companies, though differing in name, are a financial unit; the former holding most of the first mortgage bonds of the latter, and substantially all its notes, stocks and income bonds, but, for legal reasons (such as the protection of land titles), it is necessary that separate corporations be maintained. On April 1, 1890, the Wisconsin Central Company executed a lease to the Northern Pacific Railroad, but this was set aside by the courts, on Sept. 27, 1893, for non-payment of rent, and was finally canceled. On the same day receivers were appointed to

insure the protection of all interests. The total mileage is 415.46 miles, of which the Company owns 258.90-only .10 of a mile in Illinois. 1 line, 5$ 10 miles in length, with 8.44 miles of side-track (total, 66.54 miles), lying wholly within the State of Illinois. is operated by the Chicago & Wisconsin and furnishes the allied line an en- trance into Chicago.

WITHROW. Thomas F., lawyer. was born in Virginia in March. 1-33, removed with his parents to Ohio in childhood. attended the Western Reserve College, and, after the death of his father. taught school and worked as a printer. later, editing a paper at Mount Vernon. In 1855 he removed to Janesville. Wis., where he again engaged in journalistic work. studied law, was admitted to the bar in Iowa in 1837, settled at Des Moines and served as private secretary of Governors Lowe and Kirkwood. In 1860 he became Supreme Court Reporter; served as Chairman of the Republican State Central Com- mittee in 1863 and, in 1566, became associated with the Rock Island Railroad in the capacity of local attorney, was made chief law officer of the Company in 1878, and removed to Chicago, and, in 1×90, was promoted to the position of General Counsel. Died, in Chicago, Feb. 3, 1893.

WOLCOTT. (Dr.) Alexander, early Indian Agent, was born at East Windsor, Conn., Feb. 14, 1790; graduated from Yale College in 1809, and, after a course in medicine, was commis- sioned, in 1812, Surgeon's Mate in the United States Army. In 1820 he was appointed Indian Agent at Fort Dearborn (now Chicago), as suc- cessor to Charles Jouett-the first Agent-who had been appointed a United States Judge in Arkansas. The same year he accompanied Gen- eral Lewis Cass and Henry Schoolcraft on their tour among the Indians of the Northwest: was married in 1923 to Ellen Marion Kinzie. a daughter of Col. John Kinzie, the first perma- nent settler of Chicago: in 1:25 was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Peoria County, which then included Cook County; was a Judge of Election in 1830, and one of the purchasers of a block of ground in the heart of the present city of Chicago, at the first sale of lots, hell Sept. 27, 1830. but died before the close of the year. Dr. Wolcott appears to have been a high-minded and honorable man, as well as far in advance of the mass of pioneers in point of education and intel- ligence.

WOMAN'S MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CHI- CAGO. (See Northwestern University Woman's Medical School.)

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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE. (See Suffrage.)

WOOD, Benson, lawyer and Congressman, was born in Susquehanna County, Pa., in 1839; re- ceived a common school and academic education ; at the age of 20 came to Illinois, and, for two years, taught school in Lee County. He then enlisted as a soldier in an Illinois regiment, attaining the rank of Captain of Infantry ; after the war, graduated from the Law Department of the old Chicago University, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He was elected a member of the Twenty-eiglith Gen- eral Assembly (1872) and was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1876 and 1888; also served as Mayor of the city of Effing- ham, where he now resides. In 1894 he was elected to the Fifty-fourth Congress by the Republicans of the Nineteenth Distriet, which has uniformly returned a Democrat, and, in office, proved himself a most industrious and efficient member. Mr. Wood was defeated as a candidate for re-election in 1896.

WOOD, John, pioncer, Lieutenant Governor and Governor, was born at Moravia, N. Y., Dec. 20, 1798-his father being a Revolutionary soldier who had served as Surgeon and Captain in the army. At the age of 21 years young Wood re- moved to Illinois, settling in what is now Adams County, and building the first log-cabin on the site of the present city of Quincy. He was a member of the upper house of the Seventeenth and Light- eenth General Assemblies, and was elected Lieu- tenant-Governor in 1859 on the same ticket with Governor Bissell. and served out the unexpired term of the latter, who died in office. (See Bis- sell, William H.) He was succeeded by Richard Yates in 1861. In February of that year he was appointed one of the five Commissioners from Illinois to the "Peace Conference" at Wash- ington, to consider methods for averting civil war. The following May he was appointed Quartermaster-General for the State by Governor Yates, and assisted most efficiently in fitting out the troops for the field. In June, 1864. he was commissioned Colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Ilinois Volunteers (100-lays' men) and mustered out of service the following Sep- tember. Died, at Quincy, June 11, 1880. He was liberal, patriotic and public-spirited. His fellow-citizens of Quincy erected a monument to his memory, which was appropriately dedicated, July 4, 1883.

WOODFORD COUNTY, situated a little north of the center of the State. bounded on the west by the Illinois River: organized in 1841; area,

540 square miles. The surface is generally level. except along the Illinois River, the soil fertile and well watered. The county lies in the north- ern section of the great coal field of the State. Eureka is the county-seat. Other thriving cities and towns are Metamora, Minonk, El Paso and Roanoke. Corn, oats, wheat, potatoes and barley are the principal crops. The chief mechanical industries are flour manufacture, carriage and wagon-making, and saddlery and harness work. Population (1890), 21,429; (1900), 21,822.

WOODHULL, a village of Henry County, on Keithsburg branch Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 15 miles west of Galva; has a bank, electric lights, water works, brick and tile works, six churches and weekly paper. Pop. (1900), 774.

WOODMAN, Charles W., lawyer and Congress- man, was born in Aalborg, Denmark, March 11, 1844; received his early education in the schools of his native country, but took to the sea in 1860, following the life of a sailor until 1863, when, coming to Philadelphia, he enlisted in the Gulf Squadron of the United States. After the war, he came to Chicago, and, after reading law for some time in the office of James L. Iligh, gradu- ated from the Law Department of the Chicago University in 1871. Some years later he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for some of the lower courts, and, in 1881, was nominated by the Judges of Cook County as one of the Justices of the Peace for the city of Chicago. In 1894 he became the Republican candidate for Congress from the Fourth District and was elected, but failed to secure a renomination in 1896. Died, in Elgin Asylum for the Insane, March 18, 1895.

WOODS, Robert Mann, was born at Greenville, Pa., April 17, 1840; came with his parents to Illi- nois in 1842, the family settling at Barry, Pike County. but subsequently residing at Pittsfield. Canton and Galesburg. He was educated at Knox College in the latter place, which was his home from 1849 to 58; later, taught school in Jowa and Missouri until 1861, when he went to Springfield and began the study of law with Milton Hay and Shelby M. Cullom. His law studies having been interrupted by the Civil War, after spending some time in the mustering and disbursing office, he was promoted by Gov- ernor Yates to a place in the executive office. from which he went to the field as Adjutant of the Sixty-fourth Illinois Infantry, known as the "Yates Sharp-Shooters." After participating. with the Army of the Tennessee, in the Atlanta campaign. he took part in the "March to the Sea. " and the campaign in the Carolinas, inchid-

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ing the siege of Savannah and the forcing of the Salkahatchie, where he distinguished himself, as also in the taking of Columbia, Fayetteville, Cheraw, Raleigh and Bentonville. At the latter place he had a horse shot under him and won the brevet rank of Major for gallantry in the field, having previously been commissioned Captain of Company A of his regiment. IIe also served on the staffs of Gens. Giles A. Smith, Benjamin F. Potts, and William W. Belknap, and was the last mustering officer in General Sherman's army. In 1867 Major Woods removed to Chicago, where he was in business for a number of years, serving as chief clerk of Custom House construction from 1872 to 1877. In 1879 he purchased "The Daily Republican" at Joliet, which he conducted successfully for fifteen years. While connected with "The Republican, " he served as Secretary of the Illinois Republican Press Association and in various other positions.

Major Woods was one of the founders of the Grand Army of the Republic, whose birth-place was in Illinois. (See Grand Army of the Repub- lic; also Stephenson, Dr. B. F.) When Dr. Stephenson (who had been Surgeon of the Four- teenth Illinois Infantry), conceived the idea of founding such an order, he called to his assist- ance Major Woods, who was then engaged in writing the histories of Illinois regiments for the Adjutant-General's Report. The Major wrote the Constitution and By-laws of the Order, the charter blanks for all the reports, etc. The first official order bears his name as the first Adjutant- General of the Order, as follows:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. SPRINGFIELD. ILL., APRIL 1, 1566. GENERAL ORDERS ! No. 1. The following named officers are hereby appointed and assigned to duty at these headquarters. They will be obeyed and respected accordingly:

Colonel Jules C. Webber. A D.C. and Chief of Staff.

Colonel John MI. Snyder, Quartermaster-General.

Major Robert M. Woods, Adjutant-General.

Captain John A. Lightfoot, Assistant Adjutant-General. Captain John S. Phelps, Aid-de-Camp.

By order of B. F. Stephenson, Department Commander.

ROBERT M. WOODS, Adjutant-General.

Major Woods afterwards organized the various Departments in the West, and it has been con- ceded that he furnished the money necessary to carry on the work during the first six months of the existence of the Order. He has never accepted a nomination or run for any political office, but is now engaged in financial business in Joliet and Chicago, with his residence in the former place.

WOODSON, David Meade, lawyer and jurist, was born in Jessamine County, Ky., May 18, 1806: was educated in private schools and at Transylvania University, and read law with his father. He served a term in the Kentucky Legis- lature in 1832, and, in 1834, removed to Illinois, settling at Carrollton, Greene County. In 1839 he was elected State's Attorney and, in 1840, a member of the lower house of the Legislature, being elected a second time in 1868. In 1843 he was the Whig candidate for Congress in the Fifth District, but was defeated by Stephen A. Douglas. He was a member of the Constitutional Conventions of 1817 and 1869-70. In 1848 he was elected a Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, remaining in office until 1867. Died, in 1877.

WOODSTOCK, the county-seat of MeHenry County, situated on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, about 51 miles northwest of Chicago and 32 miles east of Rockford. It contains a court house, eight churches, four banks, three newspaper offices, foundry and machine shops, planing mills, canning works, pickle, cheese and butter factories. The Oliver Typewriter Factory islocated here; the town is also the seat of the Todd Seminary for boys. Population (1890), 1,683; (1900), 2,502.

WORCESTER, Linus E., State Senator, was born in Windsor, Vt., Dec. 3, 1811, was educated in the common schools of his native State and at Chester Academy, came to Illinois in 1836, and, after teaching three years, entered a dry-goods store at Whitehall as clerk, later becoming a partner. Ile was also engaged in various other branches of business at different times, including the drug, hardware, grocery, agricultural imple- ment and lumber business. In 1843 he was appointed Postmaster at Whitehall, serving twelve years; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1847, served as County Judge for six years from 1853, and as Trustee of the Insti- tution for the Deaf and Dumb, at Jacksonville, from 1859, by successive reappointments, for twelve years. In 1856 he was elected, as a Demo- crat, to the State Senate, to succeed John MI. Palmer, resigned; was re-elected in 1860, and, at the session of 1565, was one of the five Demo- cratie members of that body who voted for the ratification of the Emancipation Amendment of the National Constitution. He was elected County Judge a second tane, in 1963, and re- elected in 1867, served as delegate to the Demo- cratic National Convention of 1526, and, for more than thirty years, was one of the Directors of the Jacksonville branch of the Chicago & Alten

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Railroad, serving from the organization of the corporation until his death, which occurred Oct. 19, 1891.

WORDEN, a village of Madison County, on the Wabash and the Jacksonville, Louisville & St. Louis Railways, 32 miles northeast of St. Louis. Population (1800), 522; (1900), 544

WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. An exhibition of the scientific, liberal and mechan- ical arts of all nations, held at Chicago, between May 1 and Oct. 31, 1893. The project had its inception in November, 1885, in a resolution adopted by the directorate of the Chicago Inter- State Exposition Company. On July 6, 1888, the first well defined action was taken, the Iroquois Club, of Chicago, inviting the co-operation of six other leading clubs of that city in "securing the location of an international celebration at Chi- cago of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus." In July, 1889, a decisive step was taken in the appointment by Mayor Cregier, under resolution of the City Council, of a committee of 100 (afterwards increased to 256) citizens, who were charged with the duty of promoting the selection of Chicago as the site for the Exposition. New York, Washington and St. Louis were competing points, but the choice of Congress fell upon Chicago, and the act establish- ing the World's Fair at that city was signed by President Harrison on April 25. 1890. Under the requirements of the law, the President appointed eight Commissioners-at-large, with two Commis- sioners and two alternates from each State and Territory and the District of Columbia. Col. George R. Davis, of Chicago, was elected Direc- tor-General by the body thus constituted. Ex- Senator Thomas M. Palmer, of Michigan, was chosen President of the Commission and John T. Dickinson, of Texas, Secretary. This Commis- sion delegated much of its power to a Board of Reference and Control, who were instructed to act with a similar number appointed by the World's Columbian Exposition. The latter organization was an incorporation, with a direc- torate of forty-five members. elected annually by the stockholders. Lyman J. Gage, of Chicago. was the first President of the corporation, and was succeeded by W. T. Baker and Harlow N. Higinbotham.

In addition to these bodies, certain powers were vested in a Board of Lady Managers, composed of two members, with alternates, from each State and Territory, besides nine from the city of Chicago. Mrs. Potter Palmer was chosen President of the latter. This Board was particu-

larly charged with supervision of women's par- ticipation in the Exposition, and of the exhibits of women's work.

The supreme executive power was vested in the Joint Board of Control. The site selected was Jackson Park. in the South Division of Chi- cago, with a strip connecting Jackson and Washington Parks, known as the "Midway Plaisance," which was surrendered to "conces- sionaires" who purchased the privilege of giving exhibitions, or conducting restaurants or selling- booths thereon. The total area of the site was 633 acres, and that of the buildings -- not reckon- ing those erected by States other than Illinois, and by foreign governments-was about 200 acres. When to this is added the acreage of the foreign and State buildings, the total space under roof approximated 250 acres. These fig- ures do not include the buildings erected by private exhibitors, caterers and venders, which would add a small percentage to the grand total. Forty-seven foreign Governments made appropri- ations for the erection of their own buildings and other expenses connected with official represen- tation. and there were exhibitors from eighty-six nations. The United States Government erected its own building, and appropriated $500,000 to defray the expenses of a national exhibit, besides $2,500,000 toward the general cost of the Exposi- tion. The appropriations by foreign Governments aggregated about $6,500.000. and those by the States and Territories, $6, 120,000 -- that of Illinois being 8800,000. The entire outlay of the World's Columbian Exposition Company, up to March 31. 1894, including the cost of preliminary organiza tion, construction, operating and post . Exposition expenses, was $27, 151,800. This is, of course. exclusive of foreign and State expenditures. which would swell the aggregate cost to nearly $45.000,000. Citizens of Chicago subscribed 85.608,206 toward the capital stock of the Exposi- tion Company, and the municipality. $5.000.000. which was raised by the sale of bonds. (See Thirty sixth General Assembly.)

The site, while admirably adapted to the pur- pose, was, when chosen, a marshy tlat, crossed by low sand ridges, upon which stood occasional «lumps of stunted scrub oaks. Before the gates of the great fair were opened to the public, the entire area had been transformed into a dream of beauty. Marshes had been drained, filled in and sodded : driveways and broad walks constructed ; artificial ponds and lagoons dug and embanked. and all the highest skill of the landscape garden- er's art hul been called into play to produce

MAP OF THE GROUNDS OF THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION AT Jackson Park showing the General Arrangement of Buildings and Grounds

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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

varied and striking effects. But the task had been a Herculean one. There were seventeen principal (or, as they may be called, depart- mental) buildings, all of beautiful and ornate design, and all of vast size. They were known as the Manufacturers' and Liberal Arts, the Machinery, Electrical, Transportation, Woman's, Horticultural, Mines and Mining, Anthropolog- ical, Administration, Art Galleries, Agricultural, Art Institute, Fisheries, Live Stock, Dairy and Forestry buildings, and the Music Hall and Ca- sino. Several of these had large annexes. The Manufacturers' Building was the largest. It was rectangular (16$7 x 787 feet), having a ground area of 31 acres and a floor and gallery area of 44 acres. Its central chamber was 1280x380 feet, with a nave 107 feet wide, both hall and nave being surrounded by a gallery 50 feet wide. It was four times as large as the Roman Coliseum and three times as large as St. Peter's at Rome; 17,000.000 feet of lumber, 13,000,000 pounds of steel, and 2,000,000 pounds of iron had been used in its construction, involving a cost of $1,800,000.

It was originally intended to open the Exposi- tion, formally, on Oct. 21, 1892, the quadri-centen- nial of Columbus' discovery of land on the Western Hemisphere, but the magnitude of the undertaking rendered this impracticable. Con- sequently, while dedicatory ceremonies were held on that day, preceded by a monster procession and followed by elaborate pyrotechnic displays at night, May 1, 1893, was fixed as the opening day -the machinery and fountains being put in oper- ation, at the touch of an electric button by Presi- dent Cleveland. at the close of a short address. The total number of admissions from that date to Oct. 31, was 27,530,460-the largest for any single day being on Oct. 9 (Chicago Day) amount- ing to 761,941. The total receipts from all sources (including National and State appropriations, subscriptions, etc.), amounted to $28,151, 168.75, of which $10, 626,330.16 was from the sale of tick ets, and $3,699,581.43 from concessions. The aggregate attendance fell short of that at the Paris Exposition of 1889 by about 500,000, while the receipts from the sale of tickets and con- cessions exceeded the latter by nearly $5, 800,000. Subseribers to the Exposition stock received a return of ten per cent on the same.

The Illinois building was the first of the State buildings to be completed. It was also the largest and most costly, but was severely criti- cised from an architectural standpoint. The exhibits showed the internal resources of the State, as well as the development of its govern-

mental system, and its progress in civilization from the days of the first pioneers. The entire Illinois exhibit in the State building was under charge of the State Board of Agriculture, who devoted one-tenth of the appropriation, and a like proportion of floor space, to the exhibition of the work of Illinois women as scientists, authors, artists, decorators, etc. Among special features of the Illinois exhibit were: State trophies and relies, kept in a fire-proof memorial hall; the dis- play of grains and minerals, and an immense topographical map (prepared at a cost of $15,000), drafted on a scale of two miles to the inch, show- ing the character and resources of the State, and correcting many serions cartographical errors previously undiscovered.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 23

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