Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 98

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2 > Part 98

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At the close of the war Mr. McCalister spent two years at his trade in Ross County and later worked at farming until his removal to Illinois in 1875. He located at Mechanicsburg and car- ried ou farming in that locality until a few years ago, when he retired from active life. He was an industrious farmer and successful in his operations. He now owns a comfortable home at Mechanicsburg and other property in the vicinity. He is a member of the Christian Church, as is his wife, and both are ready to help any worthy object. Mr. McCalister served one year as Road Commissioner while living in Ohio, but has never taken a very active part in public affairs in Sangamon County, although interested in the general welfare and the duties of good citizenship.

Mr. McCalister was married in Ross County. February 21, 1864. to Mary E. Ross, a native of that county. born July 1, 1846, danghter of Duncan Ross, a native of the same State. Mr. Ross carried on farming there until 1875, when he brought his family to Mechanicsburg Town-

ship, Sangamon County, and there carried on farming the remainder of his life. He served during the Civil War as private in the Sixty- third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He and his wife had seven children, of whom the following five now survive: Mrs. McCalister; Isaac, of Chicago; Jasper, of Redbank, Cal .; David and Newton, of Mechanicsburg.

Ten children were born to Mr. McCalister and wife, of whom eight are now living : Lillian, wife of James M. Cook, of Sherman, III .; Sher- wood, living with his parents; Lydia married Benjamin Crimin and they reside near Roby, Ill .; Major A., of Springfield; Ida M. married Allen Humphrey and they live at Mechanics- burg; George, of Missouri; Sophia, wife of Michael Fennells, of Mechanicsburg; Nellie, wife of Edward Akins, of Lanesville, III. Mr. McCalister and wife have twenty-two grand- children.

McCALISTER, Scott .- Some men, through a pleasing personality, strict integrity and indus- trious habits, are able to forge to the front, in spite of early disadvantages, and at the same time make and retain friends. This is true in the case of Scott McCalister, of Springfield, one of the most popular men of the city. He was born in Ross County, Ohio, September 20, 1870, a son of James and Mary Ellen ( Ross) McCal- ister, natives of Ohio and Sangamon County, Ill., respectively. The father has now retired from agricultural life, and is living with his wife at Mechanicsburg, III. He is a Republi- can, whose duty as a citizen has been confined to private life. His religious affiliations are with the Baptist Church, of which he is a con- sistent member.

Scott McCalister went to the district school near Mechanicsburg, leaving when sixteen years years old to farm for five years. Following this he was a miner in the Springfield coal mines, un- til January 13, 1910, when he embarked in his present enterprise, which he has already put into an excellent condition. This business is not his only investment, for he owns consider- able city realty, and has great faith that it will rapidly increase in value. He is a Republican and liberal in his religious views.

On May 20, 1896, Mr. McCalister was united in marriage with Minnie Ross, born in Sangamou County, Ill., daughter of Isaac and Minnie (Stogdall) Ross, the former of whom lives in Chicago, but the mother died in 1890. Mrs. McCalister was one of a family of two sons and one daughter, all of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. McCalister have two children, Mabel and James, both of whom are attending school. and are_bright young people.

McCART, Thomas .- Agricultural conditions in Sangamon County have changed to such an ex- tent during the past several decades that the enterprising farmer has been compelled to change to a large degree his methods of treating the soil. Discoveries have been made, powerful

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machinery has been invented and innovations introduced, and he who would reap the most heneficial results from his property must be conversant with the change of the times. Among the representative agriculturists of Sangamon County is Thomas McCart, now living retired in his handsome residence in Pawnee, Ill., who for many years carried on farming, and now owns an excellent tract of 300 acres, which is operated hy his son. Mr. McCart Is a native of the Emerald Isle, born April 15, 1835, in County Fermanagh, a son. of Patrick and Annie ( Kelly ) McCart, natives of the same county, where they spent thelr lives and died, as did also their par- ents before them. There were ten children in the family of Patrick and Annie McCart, namely : John, James, Michael, Mary, Eliza- beth, Anna, Patrick, Thomas, Catherine and Bridget, of wbom Michael, Elizabeth, Patrick, Thomas and Bridget came to the United States (Thomas being the only survivor), while Mary, Anna, and Catherine live In the old country.

Thomas McCart's education was secured in Ireland, and he remained at home until twenty- five years of age, working on the home farm and finding his recreation in hunting and ont-of-door sports, of which he was and always has been exceedingly fond. He left Ireland in September, 1860, and went to Quebec, hut shortly afterward made his way to Boston, Mass., where for two years he was employed in a soap factory. In September, 1862, he came to Illinois, and for one year worked on a farm in Scott County, and from 1864 until 1866 he was similarly engaged in Sangamon County. In 1866 he removed to Christian County, where for one year he rented a farm, tben purchased a tract of forty acres, to which he added from year to year, toiling ceaselessly in an earnest endeaver to sneceed, and by his perseverance in his labor and hls knowledge of agriculture in all its branches, at the time of his retirement, had accumulated an excellent tract of 300 acres, situated on the corners of Sections 14, 22, 23 and 35. On con- cluding to retire from active labor, Mr. McCart placed the farm in the hands of his son, and since that time has lived in Pawnee, enjoying the fruits of his years of industry.

Mr. McCart has always been a stanch Demo- crat in political allegiance, and during a long period served as Justice of the Peace in Chris- tian County, a position which he now holds in Pawnee, in addition to being School Director and Road Overseer. He is a consistent member of the Catholic Church, and as a man and a public-spirited citizen has always been held in the highest esteem.

On November 1. 1866, Mr. McCart was united in marriage, at Virden, Ill., with Margaret Cashen, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, daughter of Peter and Margaret ( Harrington) Cashen, the former of whom died in Ireland. while the latter came with five children to the United States, landing at New Orleans and re- moving thence to Jacksonville, Ill., and later to Christian County, where Mrs. Cashen dled. Be-

side Mrs. McCart the only survivor of this family is Elizabeth, who married Michael Bro- gan and now lives in Salina, Kans. To Mr. and Mrs. McCart there have heen born five ebildren, all of whom are Ilving: James, horn February 2, 1868, has been living in the West for several years; Edward Thomas, born April 16, 1871, and now residing in Christian Connty, was married in October, 1903, at Assumption, Ill., to Mary Davy; John J., born March 14, 1873, and now engaged in farming in Christian Connty, married Susie Buckles and has three children : Francis R., Mary J. and Margaret D .; Margaret A., born August 29, 1875, now re- sides with her parents ; and Francls, born Janu. ary 6, 1879, is single and resides in Oklahoma.

MCCARTHY, James .- Experience ripens a man and teaches him the necessary lessons of life. It is impossible for the inexperienced business man to succeed as does the one who has learned how to regulate supply and demand, control trade and meet existing conditions expeditiously and economically. For this reason the people of Springfield are fortunate in having among their business representatives many who have already passed through their preliminary ex- periences and are prepared to meet all require- ments. One of the veterans in the grocery bnsi- ness is James McCarthy, who has heen connected with this branch of merchandising for a num- ber of years, his field of operations extending over a part of the State. He was born at Clin- ton, Ill., July 27, 1867, a son of Patrick and Catherine ( Mnlville) McCarthy. The father was born in Ireland in 1843 and the mother was a native of the same country. Her death occurred at Pana, Ill., about ten years ago. Coming to Pana, when eighteen years of age, Patrick McCarthy entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Co., and for forty-six years bas remained with it, giving a faithful service that has resulted in his appointment as supervisor of a large division. Ile owns consid- erable property in Pana and vicinity, and is one of the solid men of his locality.

James McCarthy grew up In Pana, attending grammar and high schools. Leaving school, he first worked in a grocery store, later embarking in the same business for himself. His business grew nntil at one time he operated four large grocery houses at Pana, as well as others throughout central Illinois. Selling these prop- erties. in 1906, he went to Decatur, where he again engaged in the same line, hut three years later sold, and moving to Peorla became man- ager of the Consolidated Grocery Company there and also managed stores in Galeshurg and other cities. About two years ago he severed hls other connections to come to Springfield and launch his present enterprise, which is in a flourishing condition, owing to his thorough comprehension of the husiness.

Mr. McCarthy was married, January 9. 1888. at Pana, Ill., to Clara D. Sihley. Her parents are residents of Springfield her father having

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

retired from active pursuits. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy, Armand, in the employ of the Great Eastern Supply Con- pany, and Bernice, in the employ of the Hern- con dry-goods store. A consistent Catholic, Mr. McCarthy is interested in church and society work, beolnging to the Galesburg Council, Knights of Columbus, and the Modern Wood- meu, Camp No. 244, of Pana. He is a Repub- lican but has been too much occupied with his own affairs to engage in public matters. Shrewd, keen, a good manager and a thorough business man, Mr. McCarthy is numbered among the successful men of Springfield.

MCCARTHY, John C .- Fully eighty per cent of the Immigrants to Illinois of a quarter century or more ago, looked towards agriculture as a means of solving the problem of getting a start in their new homes. Many had already learned to farm, and others felt sure that the soil of the great prairie state would yield abundant harvest in return for their trouble and hard work. They were not mistaken, for some of the most substantiai fortunes have been won from the ground, and when farming did not pay, kindred lines did. One of the retired farmers of Springfield who proved to his own satisfaction what Sangamon County could do for those who had faith in its future. is John C. McCarthy, one of the substantiai men of his iocaiity. He was born in Ireland, November 29, 1833, a son of Charles and Ellen (Deneen ) McCarthy, natives of freiand, and farming peo- ple who lived and died in their native iand.

After receiving an education in the public schools of his native parish, and being tanght to farm on his father's place, John C. McCarthy came to the United States, landing lu New York. whence he went to Pittsburg, but in short order he left to come west to Springfield. For the first few years he was in Sangamon County he worked for farmers, then. having saved some money, . he bought land and added to It until he was one of the wealthy landowners of his region. He finally retired to Springfield, where he bought a nice home on West Washington Street. He aiso owns other desirable residence and business property in the city.

On February 23, 1876. occurred the marriage. in Springfield, of Mr. McCarthy and Johanna Suilivan, born in freiand. Her pareuts were natives of County Cork who never came to this country. Mrs. McCarthy passed away Septem- ber 13. 1907, a most worthy, good woman, and devoted to her home and family. Three chil- dren were born to her and her husband: John J .. bookkeeper for the Klahoit Shoe Company, married Lucy Trotter. fonr children ; Nellie A. and Catherine, both living at home. Mr. Mc- Carthy is a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, in which he stands high. He has ai- ways been a Democrat. aud supports the candi- dates of his party loyaliy. Aithough he has at- talned an advanced age, he is enjoying good

health and is surrounded by the comforts of his own industry earned.

McCARTNEY, James. (Vol. I, p. 358.)

McCLERNAND, Maj. Gen. John Alexander, was born in Breckinridge County, Ky., May 30, 1812, died at Springfield, Ill., September 20, 1900.

The Black Hawk War (1832) found yonng McClernand occupied in the study and practice of law in Shawneetown, Ill., but with the in- stinets of a born soidier, and with a patriotism that burned fiercely until the hour of his death, he volunteered for this Indian war, which meant so much to the safety of the pioneers and to the progress of Illinois. This service bronght him a well-earned reputation for energy, fearlessness aud skill, and cultivated a natural aggressive- ness, which later became so strikIngly prontineut in his career in the Civil War.

Appointed a Brigadier General, while serving as a Representative iu Congress, he took the field for the Union at Cairo, Ill., in September, 1861. and under Grant bore the principal sub- ordinate part at the battle of Belmont in the foiiowing November. Here his coolness under fire, the resourcefulness of his active and ag- gressive mind in combating and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and his marked ability to inspire the enthusiasm of vic- tory where others saw only defeat, gained for him the loyalty and confidence of his soldiers that he ever afterwards maintained, and which served hlm and his cause such signal service on many a hard-fought field to foilow.

Advanced to the command of a division, Mc- Clernand led in the attacks upon Forts Henry and Donelson in February, 1862, aud beyond question largely contributed to those decisive victories. His skill in posting his troops on February 13 and 14 in frout of the enemy's in- trenchments at Donelson, and the desperateness with which he fought his command on the 15th prevented the Confederates, who had massed practicaily their entire force against the Union right, commanded by McClernand, from cutting their way out and escaping. During the san- guinary conflict that occurred at this thine an unfortunate combination of circumstances came near depriving the Army and Naval Command- ers, Grant and Foote, of the full fruits of their well-planned campaign.

His army being iu position, Grant left the field to consult with Foote on the latter's gun boat. Not foreseeing that the enemy would attempt to force his way out, he gave orders to part of the iine, at least, and certainiy to Smith, who com- manded his left division, not to bring on an en- gagement without further orders. Doubtless he contemplated arranging with Foote for a com- bined and simultaneous attack by land and river, and assuming that the enemy had remained on tbe defensive, the measures adopted would seem to have been wise, but the enemy did not remain on the defensive; on the contrary he huried

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nearly his entire force on McClernand's Divisiou ; hence its desperate fighting, while other parts of the Uniou line, with miuor exceptions, stood looking on. As events developed, the order re- ferred to was unfortunate, costly, aud nearly enabled the Confederates to escape. On Gen- eral Grant's return he ordered Smith to assault. This, of course, relieved the pressure on Mc- Clernaud and, indeed, nailed victory to the Northern standards. If this battle had been fought later in the war, probably neither Smith nor Wallace, commanding left and center, able and gallant soldiers, would have hesitated to set aside orders given to cover conditions that no longer existed, and at once moved to the assault wben the roar of the battle on their right reached them.

The battle of Shilob, April 6 and 7, 1862, one of the most desperately fought of the war, and, indeed, of all times, came near being a great Southern victory. That it was not is due wbolly to the stubborn gallantry on the first day of the better elements of the Army of the Teunessee. As the enemuy nnexpectedly ad- vanced on the 6th under the able leadership of Albert Sidney Jobnston, surprise and terror passed rapidly through the Union ranks, and swept a great mass of panic-stricken men back to the vicinity of the steamboat landing. Many were seized with terror who, on previons and later battlefields, fought with courage. During all that long and terrible first day when the Nortbern troops were driven from position to position. and when those who appreciated the situation prayed for Buell or night, none fought barder, with death aud pauic surrounding them on all sides, than McClernand and the greater part of his gallant division. These are facts, and are susceptible of proof to auy lover of truth who will put aside a lot of trash written under the name of history, and turn to the Re- bellion Records, officially publisbed by the Gov- ernment. An intelligent and diligent reader will have little difficulty in sifting the wheat from the chaff if he will read those "Records," where the despatebes, orders and reports of the war are found verbatim, with the comments and criticisms they called fortb at the time by men who were actually participating in the great drama. Nearly twenty years later General Buell told a son of General McClernand that, when he arrived on the field in person on the evening of the 6th, MeClernand's Division was the only one with any fair organization ieft.

With Grant and Sherman, and other officers of high rank who were present, McClernand must share tbe just criticism of permitting tbe Army to be surprised ; but bis share is materially less than that of the two named, because Grant commanded and It was his bounden duty to pre- vent surprise, which could bave been done, and Sherman's division helng nearer the enemy, the importance of proper reconnoissance and ont- post by his division was more evident.

In September, 1862, McClernand submitted to

the President and Secretary of War a plan to capture Vicksburg from the rear, by ascending the Yazoo, and thus open the Mississippi, and later to cut tbe Confederacy in two parts by ad- vancing from the Mississippi River eastward, and from Mobile, wbich be would seize, toward Opelika, and in this way permanently break the only rail communications left open between the eastern and western States of the Confederacy.

The Vicksburg proposition, at least, was favor- ably considered, and McClernand was ordered to Illinois to raise the necessary troops therefor. He raised and forwarded, principally from illi- nols, Indiana and Iowa, some forty thousand. He expected to comumand this expedition, and a pursual of the official records will show he was fully justified in this assumption. However, in the end be did not.

McClernand assumed command at Milliken's Bend, La., Jauuary 4, 1863. The troops there had a few days before been repulsed under Sherman at Chickasaw Bayou, in an attempt to take Vicksburg from the rear. Iu order to en- courage tbe beaten troops, as well as to deal the euemy a beavy blow, McClernand moved the Army against Fort Hindman,. a strongly forti- fied position on the Arkansas River, more gen- erally known as Arkansas Post. Here, on the 11tb, he met with complete success, capturing the fort with five thousand prisoners, a number of cannou, small arms, and munitions of war. President Lincoln congratulated tbe successful General and his troops for the victory gamed at a time when "disaster after disaster was be- falling our arms." Governor Yates, of Illinois wrote, "Your success on the Arkansas was both brilliant and valnahle, and is fully appreciated by the country and the Government."

Subsequently McClernaud returned to the Mississippi and was assigned to the Thirteenth Army Corps, under Grant, who assumed im- mediate command of all the forces operating against Vicksburg. The time until March 29 was mainly spent in digging a canal in the at- tempt to deflect the Mississippi away from Vicksburg, but without success. Finally Gen. Grant decided to run the batteries at Vicksburg with sufficient vessels to cross his Army to the east bank of the river, below the enemy's strong- hold. The Thirteenth Corps initiated the move- ment across the peninsula from Milliken's Bend to New Carthage. Many obstacles, with con- siderahle fighting, were met and overcome. The Army was finally landed on the east bank of the Mississippi, and the struggle for Vicksburg com- meuced in terrible earnestness. This Is gener- ally and justly considered Grant's most brilliant campaign. All the honors that pertain to the position of the General-in-Chief are his, and they are great, hut the responsibility for any failures that followed honest, skillful and gallant attempts to execute his orders is likewise his, and must he so assigned.

In the marches and battles that followed the crossing of the Mississippi, McClernand and bis corps (Thirteenth) did their full duty and did

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It well. The loug list of houored dead, the testimouy of many eye-witnesses, and the official "Rebellion Records" all attest this. Port Gib- son, fought mainly by the Thirteenth Corps, was skillfully won, and caused the eueiny to evacuate Grand Gulf, and retire upou Vicksburg aud Ed- ward's Statiou.

When the objective point of Grant's army was changed May 12, from Edward's Station to Jackson, Miss., to beat back the Confederates in that directiou before closing In on Vicksburg, McClernand's Corps, facing the enemy at Ed- ward's Station, had to be withdrawn with great care. Grant states that McClernand accom- plished this delicate movement with skill. On May 15, McClernand's and McPherson's Corps won an importent battle at Champion Hill, and on the following day the Thirteenth Corps beat the enemy at the Big Black River, capturing some 1500 prisoners and 18 caunon, with a loss of only 373 killed, wounded and muissing.

After brilliantly driving the foe withiu his lui- trenchiuents at Vicksburg, Grant thought to carry that stronghold by assault. With this purpose in view he ordered two assaults all along the line, the first on the 19th and the second on the 22nd. Both failed, with heavy losses. The first assault was ordered before the army. had gained a favorable position from which to make it.

On the evening of the 21st Grant uotified Mc- Clernand that "a simultaneous attack will be made tomorrow, at ten o'clock a. . m., by all the army corps of this Army." It was made, as ordered. and gallantly made too. Had success been achieved the laurels would have justly be- longed to Grant. It failed, and no amount of argument can shift the responsibility from his shoulders. In his memoirs he expresses a re- gret that he ordered the assault. Where all failed, the Thirteenth Corps came nearer gain- ing success than any other. McClernand's men carrled the ditch and slope of a heavy earth- work, and planted their colors on the latter. The enemy began concentrating against them to check their advance, and the battle there raged with great fury." At noon McCleruand notified the Commanding General that he was in partial possession of two forts. Re-enforcements were ordered to him, but did not arrive in time to be useful. Upon receiving McClernand's reports, Grant ordered the assault to be renewed along other parts of the line, but nothing substantial was gained.

Viewing the conflict In the calmness that comes with passing years, it appears that Mc- Clernand should have beeu promptly and heav- ily re-enforced, or that Gen. Graut should have suspended operations aloug his entire line. That McClearnand did make a considerable im- pression on the euemy's position is au estab- lished fact. Maj. Bluford Wilson, who first carried the news of this success to the Corps Commander, still lives, and is al: honored and respected citizen of Springfield, Ill., and one of that city's foremost men.

A coutroversy later arose about the amount of the success gained by McClernand, and as to whether or not the renewal of tue assault along other parts of the line should have been ordered. In this connectlon it is Important to bear in mniud that Grant himself ordered the renewed assault ; he commanded, and the responsibility is his. It is also important to note that he states that, from his position, he thought lie could observe the action along McClernand's front as well as that Corps Commander. Never- theless, he ordered the reuewed assault, the re- sponsibility for which cannot be shifted to an- other.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 98

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774