Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 73

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950

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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

McCLAUGHRY, Robert Wilson, penologist, was born at Fountain Green, Hancock County, Ill., July 22, 1839, being descended from Scotch- Irish ancestry-his grandfather, who was a native of the North of Ireland, having come to America in his youth and served in the War of the Revolu- tion. The subject of this sketch grew up on a farm, attending school in the winter until 1854, then spent the next two winters at an academy, and, in 1856, began a course in Monmouth Col- lege, where he graduated in 1860. The following year he spent as instructor in Latin in the same institution, but, in 1861, became editor of "The Carthage Republican," a Democratic paper, which he made a strong advocate of the cause of the Union, meanwhile, both by his pen and on the stump, encouraging enlistments in the army. About the first of July, 1862, having disposed of his interest in the paper, he enlisted in a company of which he was unanimously chosen Captain, and which, with four other companies organized in the same section, became the nucleus of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteers. The regiment having been completed at Camp Butler, he was elected Major, and going to the field in the following fall, took part in General Sherman's first movement against Vicksburg by way of Chickasaw Bayou, in December, 1862. Later, as a member of Osterhaus' Division of Gen- eral McClernand's corps, he participated with his regiment in the capture of Arkansas Post, and in the operations against Vicksburg which resulted in the capture of that stronghold, in July, 1863. He then joined the Department of the Gulf under command of General Banks, but was compelled by sickness to return north. Having sufficiently recovered, he spent a few months in the recruit- ing service (1864), but, in May of that year, was transferred, by order of President Lincoln, to the Pay Department, as Additional-Paymaster, with the rank of Major, being finally assigned to duty at Springfield, where he remained, paying off Illi- nois regiments as mustered out of the service, until Oct. 13, 1865, when he was honorably dis- charged. A few weeks later he was elected County Clerk of Hancock County, serving four years. In the meantime he engaged in the stone business, as head of the firm of R. W. McClaughry & Co., furnishing stone for the basement of the State Capitol at Springfield and for bridges across the Mississippi at Quincy and Keokuk-later being engaged in the same business at St. Gene- vieve, Mo., with headquarters at St. Louis. Com- pelled to retire by failing health, he took up his residence at Monmouth in 1873, but, in 1874, was

called to the wardenship of the State Peniten- tiary at Joliet. Here he remained until December, 1888, when he resigned to accept the superin- tendency of the Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon, Pa., but, in May, 1891, accepted from Mayor Washburne the position of Chief of Police in Chicago, continuing in service, under Mayor Harrison, until August, 1893, when he became Superintendent of the Illinois State Reformatory at Pontiac. Early in 1897 he was again offered and accepted the position of Warden of the State Penitentiary at Joliet. Here he re- mained until 1899, when he received from Presi- dent Mckinley the appointment of Warden of the Military Prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., which position he now (1899) occupies. Major Mc- Claughry's administration of penal and reforma- tory institutions has been eminently satisfactory, and he has taken rank as one of the most success- ful penologists in the country.

MCCLELLAN, Robert H., lawyer and banker, was born in Washington County, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1823; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, in 1847, and then studied law with Hon. Martin I. Townsend, of Troy, being admitted to the bar in 1850. The same year he removed to Galena, Ill. ; during his first winter there, edited "The Galena Gazette," and the following spring formed a partnership with John M. Douglas, afterwards General Solicitor and President of the Illinois Central Railroad, which ended with the removal of the latter to Chicago, when Mr. McClellan succeeded him as local attorney of the road at Galena. In 1864 Mr. McClellan became President of the Bank of Galena-later the "National Bank of Galena"-remaining for over twenty years. He is also largely interested in local manufac- tories and financial institutions elewhere. He served as a Republican Representative in the Twenty-second General Assembly (1861-62), and as Senator (1876-80), and maintained a high rank as a sagacious and judicious legislator. Liberal, public-spirited and patriotic, his name has been prominently connected with all movements for the improvement of his locality and the advance- ment of the interests of the State.

McCLERNAND, John Alexander, a volunteer officer in the Civil War and prominent Demo- cratic politician, was born in Breckenridge County, Ky., May 30, 1812, brought to Shawnee- town in 1816, was admitted to the bar in 1832, and engaged in journalism for a time. He served in the Black Hawk War, and was elected to the Legislature in 1836, and again in 1840 and '42. The latter year he was elected to Congress, serv-

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dented success, and after conferring upon the agriculturists of the country a boon of inestimable value.

MCCORMICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, a Presbyterian school of theology in Chicago, be- ing the outgrowth of an institution originally con- nected with Hanover College, Ind., in 1830. In 1859 the late Cyrus H. McCormick donated $100,- 000 to the school, and it was removed to Chicago, where it was opened in September, with a class of fifteen students. Since then nearly $300,000 have been contributed toward a building fund by Mr. McCormick and his heirs, besides numerous donations to the same end made by others. The number of buildings is nine, four being for the general purposes of the institution (including dormitories), and five being houses for the pro- fessors. The course of instruction covers three annual terms of seven months each, and includes didactic and polemic theology, biblical and ecclesiastical history, sacred rhetoric and pastoral theology, church government and the sacra- ments, New. Testament literature and exegesis, apologetics and missions, and homiletics. The faculty consists of eight professors, one adjunct professor, and one instructor in elocution and vocal culture. Between 200 and 300 students are enrolled, including post-graduates.

McCULLOCH, David, lawyer and jurist, was born in Cumberland County, Pa., Jan. 25, 1832; received his academic education at Marshall Col- lege, Mercersburg, Pa., graduating in the class of 1852. Then, after spending some six months as a teacher in his native village, he came west, arriving at Peoria early in 1853. Here he con- ducted a private school for two years, when, in 1855, he began the study of law in the office of Manning & Merriman, being admitted to the bar in 1857. Soon after entering upon his law studies he was elected School Commissioner for Peoria County, serving, by successive re-elections, three terms (1855-61). At the close of this period he was taken into partnership with his old precep- tor, Julius Manning, who died, July 4, 1862. In 1877 he was elected Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, under the law authorizing the increase of Judges in each circuit to three, and was re- elected in 1879, serving until 1885. Six years of this period were spent as a Justice of the Appellate Court for the Third Appellate District. On retiring from the bench, Judge McCulloch entered into partnership with his son, E. D. McCulloch, which is still maintained. Politically, Judge McCulloch was reared as a Democrat, but during the Civil War became a Republican. Since 1886

he has been identified with the Prohibition Party, although, as the result of questions arising during the Spanish-American War, giving a cordial support to the policy of President Mckinley. In religious views he is a Presbyterian, and is a mem- ber of the Board of Directors of the McCormick Theological Seminary at Chicago.

MCCULLOUGH, James Skiles, Auditor of Public Accounts, was born in Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pa., May 4, 1843; in 1854 came with his father to Urbana, Ill., and grew up on a farm in that vicinity, receiving such education as could be obtained in the public schools. In 1862, at the age of 19 years, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Seventy-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served during the next three years in the Departments of the Mississippi and the Gulf, meanwhile participating in the campaign against Vicksburg, and, near the close of the war, in the operations about Mobile. On the 9th of April, 1865, while taking part in the assault on Fort Blakely, near Mobile, his left arm was torn to pieces by a grape-shot, compelling its amputation near the shoulder. His final discharge occurred in July, 1865. Returning home he spent a year in school at Urbana, after which he was a student in the Soldiers' College at Fulton, Ill., for two years. He then (1868) entered the office of the County Clerk of Champaign County as a deputy, remain- ing until 1873, when he was chosen County Clerk, serving by successive re-elections until 1896. The latter year he received the nomination of the Republican Party for Auditor of Public Accounts, and, at the November election, was elected by a plurality of 138,000 votes over his Democratic opponent. He was serving his sixth term as County Clerk when chosen Auditor, having received the nomination of his party on each occasion without opposition.

McDANNOLD, John J., lawyer and ex-Con- gressman, was born in Brown County, Ill., August 29, 1851, acquired his early education in the com- mon schools of his native county and in a private school; graduated from the Law Department of the Iowa State University in 1874, and was admitted to the bar in Illinois the same year, commencing practice at Mount Sterling. In 1885 he was made Master in Chancery, in 1886, elected County Judge, and re-elected in 1890, resigning his seat in October, 1892, to accept an election by the Democrats of the Twelfth Illinois District as Representative in the Fifty-third Congress. After retiring from Congress (March 4, 1895), Mr. McDannold removed to Chicago, where he engaged in the practice of his profession.

GEO W MELVILE

MCCORMICK SEMINARY, CHICAGO.

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

CHICAGO UNIVERSITY

... . ...

.. . ...

اد إقا.

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MCDONOUGH COUNTY, organized under an act passed, Jan. 25, 1826, and attached, for judicial purposes, to Schuyler County until 1830. Its present area is 580 square miles-named in honor of Commodore McDonough. The first settlement in the county was at Industry, on the site of which William Carter (the pioneer of the county) built a cabin in 1826. James and John Vance and William Job settled in the vicinity in the following year. Out of this settlement grew Blandinsville. William Pennington located on Spring Creek in 1828, and, in 1831, James M. Campbell erected the first frame house on the site of the present city of Macomb. The first sermon, preached by a Protestant minister in the county, was delivered in the Job settlement by Rev. John Logan, a Baptist. Among the early officers were John Huston, County Treasurer; William Southward, Sheriff; Peter Hale, Coro- ner, and Jesse Bartlett, Surveyor. The first term of the Circuit Court was held in 1830, and presided over by Hon. Richard M. Young. The first railway to cross the county was the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (1857). Since then other lines have penetrated it, and there are numerous railroad centers and shipping points of consider- able importance. Population (1880), 25,037; (1890), 27,467; (1900), 28,412.

MCDOUGALL, James Alexander, lawyer and United States Senator, was born in Bethlehem, Albany County, N. Y., Nov. 19, 1817; educated at the Albany grammar school, studied law and settled in Pike County, Ill., in 1837; was Attor- ney-General of Illinois four years (1843-47) ; then engaged in engineering and, in 1849, organized and led an exploring expedition to the Rio del Norte, Gila and Colorado Rivers, finally settling at San Francisco and engaging in the practice of law. In 1850 he was elected Attorney-General of California, served several terms in the State Legislature, and, in 1852, was chosen, as a Demo- crat, to Congress, but declined a re-election; in 1860 was elected United States Senator from Cali- fornia, serving as a War Democrat until 1867. At the expiration of his senatorial term he retired to Albany, N. Y., where he died, Sept. 3, 1867. Though somewhat irregular in habits, he was, at times, a brilliant and effective speaker, and, dur- ing the War of the Rebellion, rendered valuable aid to the Union cause.

McFARLAND, Andrew, M.D., alienist, was born in Concord, N. H., July 14, 1817, graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1811, and, after being engaged in general practice for a few years, was invited to assume the man-

agement of the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane at Concord. Here he remained some eight years, during which he acquired consider- able reputation in the treatment of nervous and mental disorders. In 1854 he was offered and accepted the position of Medical Superintendent of the Illinois State (now Central) Hospital for the Insane at Jacksonville, entering upon his duties in June of that year, and continuing his connection with that institution for a period of more than sixteen years. Having resigned his position in the State Hospital in June, 1870, he soon after established the Oaklawn Retreat, at Jacksonville, a private institution for the treat- ment of insane patients, which he conducted with a great degree of success, and with which he was associated during the remainder of his life, dying, Nov. 22, 1891. Dr. McFarland's serv- ices were in frequent request as a medical expert in cases before the courts, invariably, however, on the side of the defense. The last case in which he appeared as a witness was at the trial of Charles F. Guiteau, the assassin of President Garfield, whom he believed to be insane.

MCGAHEY, David, settled in Crawford County, Ill., in 1817, and served as Representative from that County in the Third and Fourth General Assemblies (1822-26), and as Senator in the Eighth and Ninth (1832-36). Although a native of Tennessee, Mr. McGahey was a strong opponent of slavery, and, at the session of 1822, was one of those who voted against the pro-slavery Constitu- tion resolution. He continued to reside in Law- rence County until his death in 1851 .- James D. (McGahey), a son of the preceding, was elected to the Ninth General Assembly from Crawford County, in 1834, but died during his term of service.

McGANN, Lawrence Edward, ex-Congressman, was born in Ireland, Feb. 2, 1852. His father having died in 1884, the following year his mother emigrated to the United States, settling at Milford, Mass., where he attended the public schools. In 1865 he came to Chicago, and, for fourteen years, found employment as a shoe- maker. In 1879 he entered the municipal service as a clerk, and, on Jan. 1, 1885, was appointed City Superintendent of Streets, resigning in May, 1891. He was elected in 1892, as a Democrat, to represent the Second Illinois District in the Fifty-second Congress, and re-elected to the Fifty- third. In 1894 he was a candidate for re-election and received a certificate of election by a small majority over Hugh R. Belknap (Republican). An investigation having shown his defeat. he

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magnanimously surrendered his seat to his com- petitor without a contest. He has large business interests in Chicago, especially in street railroad property, being President of an important elec- tric line.

McHENRY, a village in McHenry County, situ- ated on the Fox River and the Chicago & North- western Railway. The river is here navigable for steamboats of light draft, which ply between the town and Fox Lake, a favorite resort for sports- men. The town has bottling works, a creamery, marble and granite works, cigar factory, flour mills, brewery, bank, four churches, and one weekly paper. Pop. (1890), 979; (1900), 1,013.

McHENRY, William, legislator and soldier of the Black Hawk War, came from Kentucky to Illinois in 1809, locating in White County, and afterwards became prominent as a legislator and soldier in the War of 1812, and in the Black Hawk War of 1832, serving in the latter as Major of the "Spy Battalion" and participating in the battle of Bad Axe. He also served as Represent- ative in the First, Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Gen- eral Assemblies, and as Senator in the Sixth and Seventh. While serving his last term in the House (1835), he died and was buried at Vandalia, then the State capital. McHenry County-organ- ized by act of the Legislature, passod at a second session during the winter of 1835-36-was named in his honor

McHENRY COUNTY, lies in the northern por- tion of the State, bounded on the north by Wis- consin-named for Gen. William McHenry. Its area is 624 square miles. With what is now the County of Lake, it was erected into a county in 1836, the county-seat being at McHenry. Three years later the eastern part was set off as the County of Lake, and the county-seat of McHenry County removed to Woodstock, the geograph- ical center. The soil is well watered by living springs and is highly productive. Hardwood groves are numerous. Fruits and berries are extensively cultivated, but the herbage is espe- cially adapted to dairying, Kentucky blue grass being indigenous. Large quantities of milk are daily shipped to Chicago, and the annual pro- duction of butter and cheese reaches into the millions of pounds. The geological formations comprise the drift and the Cincinnati and Niagara groups of rocks. Near Fox River are found gravel ridges. Vegetable remains and logs of wood have been found at various depths in the drift deposits; in one instance a cedar log, seven inches in diameter, having been discovered forty- two feet below the surface. Peat is found every-

where, although the most extensive deposits are in the northern half of the county, where they exist in sloughs covering several thousands of acres. Several lines of railroad cross the county, and every important village is a railway station. Woodstock, Marengo, and Harvard are the prin- cipal towns. Population (1880), 24,908; (1890), 26,114; (1900), 29,759.

McINTOSH, (Capt.) Alexander, was born in Fulton County, N. Y., in 1822; at 19 years of age entered an academy at Galway Center, remaining three years ; in 1845 removed to Joliet, Ill., and, two years later, started "The Joliet True Democrat," but sold out the next year, and, in 1849, went to California. Returning in 1852, he bought back "The True Democrat," which he edited until 1857, meanwhile (1856) having been elected Clerk of the Circuit Court and Recorder of Will County. In 1863 he was appointed by President Lincoln Captain and Assistant Quarter- master, serving under General Sherman in 1864 and in the "March to the Sea," and, after the war, being for a time Post Quartermaster at Mobile. Having resigned in 1866, he engaged in mercantile business at Wilmington, Will County ; but, in 1869, bought "The Wilmington Independ- ent," which he published until 1873. The next year he returned to Joliet, and, a few months after, became political editor of "The Joliet Republican," and was subsequently connected, in a similar capacity, with other papers, including "The Phoenix" and "The Sun" of the same city. Died, in Joliet, Feb. 2, 1899.

McKENDREE, William, Methodist Episcopal Bishop, was born in Virginia, in 1757, enlisted as a private in the War of the Revolution, but later served as Adjutant and in the commissary depart- ment. He was converted at 30 years of age, and the next year began preaching in his native State, being advanced to the position of Presiding Elder; in 1800 was transferred to the West, Illi- nois falling within his District. Here he remained until his elevation to the episcopacy in 1808. McKendree College, at Lebanon, received its name from him, together with a donation of 480 acres of land. Died, near Nashville, Tenn., March 5, 1835.

McKENDREE COLLEGE, one of the earliest of Illinois colleges, located at Lebanon and incorpo- rated in 1835. Its founding was suggested by Rev. Peter Cartwright, and it may be said to have had its inception at the Methodist Episcopal Conference held at Mount Carmel, in September, 1827. The first funds for its establishment were subscribed by citizens of Lebanon, who contrib-

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uted from their scanty means, $1,385. Instruc- tion began, Nov. 24, 1828, under Rev. Edward Ames, afterwards a Bishop of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In 1830 Bishop Mckendree made a donation of land to the infant institution, and the school was named in his honor. It cannot be said to have become really a college until 1836, and its first class graduated in 1841. University powers were granted it by an amendment to its charter in 1839. At present the departments are as follows: Preparatory, business, classical, scientific, law, music and oratory. The institu- tion owns property to the value of $90,000, includ- ing an endowment of $25,000, and has about 200 students, of both sexes, and a faculty of ten instructors. (See Colleges, Early.)

McLAREN, William Edward, Episcopal Bishop, was born at Geneva, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1831; gradu- ated at Washington and Jefferson College (Wash- ington, Pa.) in 1851, and, after six years spent in teaching and in journalistic work, entered Alle- gheny Theological Seminary, graduating and entering the Presbyterian ministry in 1860. For three years he was a missionary at Bogota, South America, and later in charge of churches at Peoria, Ill., and Detroit, Mich. Having entered the Protestant Episcopal Church, he was made a deacon in July, 1872, and ordained priest the fol- lowing October, immediately thereafter assuming the pastorate of Trinity Church, Cleveland, Ohio. In July, 1875, he was elected Bishop of the Prot- estant Episcopal Diocese of Illinois, which then included the whole State. Subsequently, the dioceses of Quincy and Springfield were erected therefrom, Bishop McLaren remaining at the head of the Chicago See. During his episcopate, church work has been active and effective, and the Western Theological Seminary in Chicago bas been founded. His published works include numerous sermons, addresses and poems, besides a volume entitled "Catholic Dogma the Antidote to Doubt" (New York, 1884).

MCLAUGHLIN, Robert K., early lawyer and State Treasurer, was born in Virginia, Oct. 25, 1779; before attaining his majority went to Ken- tucky, and, about 1815, removed to Illinois, set- tling finally at Belleville, where he entered upon the practice of law. The first public position held by him seems to have been that of Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of both Houses of the Third (or last) Territorial Legislature (1816-18). In August, 1819, he entered upon the duties of State Treasurer, as successor to John Thomas, who had been Treasurer during the whole Territorial period, serving until January, 1823. Becoming a

citizen of Vandalia, by the removal thither of the State capital a few months later, he continued to reside there the remainder of his life. He subse- quently represented the Fayette District as Representative in the Fifth General Assembly, and as Senator in the Sixth, Seventh and Tenth, and, in 1837, became Register of the Land Office at Vandalia, serving until 1845. Although an uncle of Gen. Joseph Duncan, he became a can- didate for Governor against the latter, in 1834, standing third on the list. ' He married a Miss Bond, a niece of Gov. Shadrach Bond, under whose administration he served as State Treasurer. Died, at Vandalia, May 29, 1862.

McLEAN, a village of McLean County, on the Chicago & Alton Railway, 14 miles southwest of Bloomington, in a farming, dairying and stock- growing district; has one weekly paper. Popu- lation (1890), 500; (1900), 532.

McLEAN, John, early United States Senator, was born in North Carolina in 1791, brought by his father to Kentucky when four years old, and. at 23, was admitted to the bar and removed to Illinois, settling at Shawneetown in 1815. Pos. sessing oratorical gifts of a high order and an almost magnetic power over men, coupled with strong common sense, a keen sense of humor and, great command of language, he soon attained prominence at the bar and as a popular speaker. In 1818 he was elected the first Representative in Congress from the new State, defeating Daniel P. Cook, but served only a few months, being de- feated by Cook at the next election. He was three times elected to the Legislature, serving once as Speaker. In 1824 he was chosen United States Senator to succeed Governor Edwards (who had resigned), serving one year. In 1828 he was elected for a second time by a unanimous vote, but lived to serve only one session, dying at Shawneetown, Oct. 4, 1830. In testimony of the public appreciation of the loss which the State had sustained by his death, McLean County was named in his honor.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 73

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 950

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950