Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 118

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell
Number of Pages: 876

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WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, located in Chicago and controlled by the Protes- tant Episcopal Church. It was founded in 1883 through the munificence of Dr. Tolman Wheeler, and was opened for students two years later. It has two buildings, of a superior order of archi- tecture -- one including the school and lecture rooms and the other a dormitory. A hospital and gymnasium are attached to the latter, and a school for boys is conducted on the first floor of the main building, which is known as Wheeler Hall. The institution is under the general super- vision of Rt. Rev. William E. McLaren, Protes- tant Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Illinois. -

WESTFIELD, village of Clark County, on Cin., Ham. & Dayton R. R., 10 m. s -e. of Charleston ; seat of Westfield College; has a bank, five churches and two newspapers. Pop. (1900), 820.

WEST SALEM, a town of Edwards County, on the Peoria-Evansville Div. Ill. Cent. R. R., 12 miles northeast of Albion; has a bank and a weekly paper. Pop. (1890), 476; (1900), 700.

'WETHERELL, Emma Abbott, vocalist, was born in Chicago, Des. 9, 1849; in her childhood attracted attention while singing with her father (a poor musician) in hotels and on the streets in

Chicago, Peoria and elsewhere; at 18 years of age, went to New York to study, earning her way by giving concerts en route, and receiving aid and encouragement from Clara Louisa Kellogg; in New York was patronized by Henry Ward Beecher and others, and aided in securing the training of European masters. Compelled to sur- mount many obstacles from poverty and other causes, her after success in her profession was phenomenal. Died, during a professional tour, at Salt Lake City, Jan. 5, 1891. Miss Abbott married her manager, Eugene Wetherell, who died before her.

WHEATON, a city and the county-seat of Du Page County, situated on the Chicago & North -- western Railway, 25 miles west of Chicago. Agri- culture and stock-raising are the chief industries in the surrounding region. The city owns a new water-works plant (costing $60,000) and has a public library valued at $75,000, the gift of a resident, Mr. John Quincy Adams; has a court house, electric light plant, sewerage and drainage system, seven churches, three graded schools, four weekly newspapers and a State bank. Wheaton is the seat of Wheaton College (which see). Population (1880), 1,160; (1890), 1,622; (1900), 2,345.

WHEATON COLLEGE, an educational insti- tution located at Wheaton, Du Page County, and under Congregational control. It was founded in 1853, as the Illinois Institute, and was char- tered under its present name in 1860. Its early existence was one of struggle, but of late years it has been established on a better foundation, in 1898 having $54,000 invested in productive funds, and property aggregating $136,000. The faculty comprises fifteen professors, and, in 1898, there were 321 students in attendance. It is co-edu- cational and instruction is given in business and preparatory studies, as well as the fine arts, music and classical literature.

WHEELER, David Hilton, D.D., LL.D., clergy- man, was born at Ithaca, N. Y., Nov. 19, 1829; graduated at Rock River Seminary, Mount Morris, in 1851; edited "The Carroll County Republican" and held a professorship in Cornell College, Iowa, (1857-61); was United States Con- sul at Geneva, Switzerland, (1861-66) ; Professor of English Literature in Northwestern University (1867-75); edited "The Methodist" in New York, seven years, and was President of Allegheny College (1883-87); received the degree of D.D. from Cornell College in 1867, and that of LL.D. from the Northwestern University in 1881. He is the author of "Brigandage in South Italy"

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(two volumes, 1864) and "By-Ways of Literature" (1883), besides some translations.

WHEELER, Hamilton K., ex-Congressman, was born at Ballston, N. Y., August 5, 1848, but emigrated with his parents to Illinois in 1852; remained on a farm until 19 years of age, his educational advantages being limited to three montlıs' attendance upon a district school each year. In 1871, he was admitted to the bar at Kankakee, where he has since continued to prac- tice. In 1884 he was elected to represent the Six- teenth District in the State Senate, where he served on many important committees, being Chairman of that on the Judicial Department. In 1892 he was elected Representative in Con- gress from the Ninth Illinois District, on the Republican ticket.

WHEELING, a town on the northern border of Cook County, on the Wisconsin Central Railway. Population (1890), 811; (1900), 331.

WHISTLER, (Maj.) John, soldier and builder of the first Fort Dearborn, was born in Ulster, Ire- land, about 1756; served under Burgoyne in the Revolution, and was with the force surrendered by that officer at Saratoga, in 1777. After the peace he returned to the United States, settled at Hagerstown, Md., and entered the United States Army, serving at first in the ranks and being severely wounded in the disastrous Indian cam- paigns of 1791. Later, he was promoted to a captaincy and, in the summer of 1803, sent with his company, to the head of Lake Michigan, where he constructed the first Fort Dearborn within the limits of the present city of Chicago, remaining in command until 1811, when he was succeeded by Captain Heald. He received the brevet rank of Major, in 1815 was appointed military store-keeper at Newport, Ky., and after- wards at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, where he died, Sept. 3, 1829. Lieut. William Whistler, his son, who was with his father, for a time, in old Fort Dearborn-but transferred, in 1809, to Fort Wayne-was of the force included in Hull's surrender at Detroit in 1812. After his exchange he was promoted to a captaincy, to the rank of Major in 1826 and to a Lieutenant-Colo- nelcy in 1845, dying at Newport, Ky., in 1863. James Abbott McNiel Whistler, the celebrated, but eccentric artist of that name, is a grandson of the first Major Whistler.

WHITE, George E., ex-Congressman, was born in Massachusetts in 1848; after graduating, at the age of 16, he enlisted as a private in the Fifty- seventh Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, serv- ing under General Grant in the campaign

against Richmond from the battle of the Wilder- ness until the surrender of Lee. Having taken a course in a commercial college at Worcester, Mass., in 1867 he came to Chicago, securing em- ployment in a lumber yard, but a year later began business on his own account, which he has successfully conducted. In 1878 he was elected to the State Senate, as a Republican, from one of the Chicago Districts, and re-elected four years later, serving in that body eight years. He declined a nomination for Congress in 1884, but accepted in 1894, and was elected for the Fifth District, as he was again in 1896, but was defeated, in 1898, by Edward T. Noonan, Demo- crat.

WHITE, Horace, journalist, was born at Cole- brook, N. H., August 10, 1834; in 1853 graduated at Beloit College, Wis., whither his father had removed in 1837; engaged in journalism as city editor of "The Chicago Evening Journal," later becoming agent of the Associated Press, and, in 1857, an editorial writer on "The Chicago Trib- une," during a part of the war acting as its Washington correspondent. He also served, in 1856, as Assistant Secretary of the Kansas National Committee, and, later, as Secretary of the Republican State Central Committee. In 1864 he purchased an interest in "The Tribune," a year or so later becoming editor-in-chief, but retired in October, 1874. After a protracted European tour, he united with Carl Schurz and E. L. Godkin of "The Nation," in the purchase and reorganization of "The New York Evening Post," of which he is now editor-in-chief.

WHITE, Julius, soldier, was born in Cazen- ovia, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1816; removed to Illinois in 1836, residing there and in Wisconsin, where he was a member of the Legislature of 1849; in 1861 was made Collector of Customs at Chicago, but resigned to assume the colonelcy of the Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteers, which he commanded on the Fremont expedition to South- west Missouri. He afterwards served with Gen- eral Curtiss in Arkansas, participated in the battle of Pea Ridge and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. He was subsequently assigned to the Department of the Shenandoah, but finding his position at Martinsburg, W. Va., untenable, retired to Harper's Ferry, voluntarily serving under Colonel Miles, his inferior in com- mand. When this post was surrendered (Sept. 15, 1862), he was made a prisoner, but released under parole; was tried by a court of inquiry at his own request, and acquitted, the court finding that he had acted with courage and capability.

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He resigned in 1864, and, in March, 1865, was brevetted Major-General of Volunteers. Died, at Evanston, May 12, 1890.

WHITE COUNTY, situated in the southeastern quarter of the State, and bounded on the east by the Wabash River; was organized in 1816, being the tenth county organized during the Territorial period: area, 500 square miles. The county is crossed by three railroads and drained by the Wabash and Little Wabash Rivers. The surface consists of prairie and woodland, and the soil is, for the most part, highly productive. The princi- pal agricultural products are corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, tobacco, fruit, butter, sorghum and wool. The principal industrial establishments are carriage factories, saw mills and flour mills. Carmi is the county-seat. Other towns are En- field, Grayville and Norris City. Population (1880), 23,087; (1890), 25,005; (1900), 25,386.

WHITEHALL, a city in Greene County, at the intersection of the Chicago & Alton and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads, 65 miles north of St. Louis and 24 miles south-southwest of Jacksonville; in rich farming region; has stoneware and sewer-pipe factories, foundry and machine shop, flour mill, elevators, wagon shops, creamery, water system, sanitarium, heating, electric light and power system, nurseries and fruit-supply houses, and two poultry packing houses; also has five churches, a graded school, two banks and three newspapers-one daily. Pop- ulation (1890), 1,961; (1900), 2,030.

WHITEHOUSE, Henry John, Protestant Epis- copal Bishop, was born in New York City, August 19, 1803; graduated from Columbia College in 1821, and from the (New York) General Theolog- ical Seminary in 1824. After ordination he was rector of various parishes in Pennsylvania and New York until 1851, when he was chosen Assist- ant Bishop of Illinois, succeeding Bishop Chase in 1852. In 1867, by invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, he delivered the opening sermon before the Pan-Anglican Conference held in England. During this visit he received the degree of D.D. from Oxford University, and that of LL.D. from Cambridge. His rigid views as a churchman and a disciplinarian, were illustrated. in his prosecution of Rev. Charles Edward Cheney, which resulted in the formation of the Reformed Episcopal Church. He was a brilliant orator and a trenchiant and unyielding controver- sialist. Died, in Chicago, August 10, 1874.

WHITESIDE COUNTY, in the northwestern portion of the State bordering on the Mississippi River; created by act of the Legislature passed in

1836, and named for Capt. Samuel Whiteside, a noted Indian fighter; area, 700 square miles. The surface is level, diversified by prairies and wood- land, and the soil is extremely fertile. The county-seat was first fixed at Lyndon, then at Sterling, and finally at Morrison, its present location. The Rock River crosses the county and furnishes abundant water power for numer- ous factories, turning out agricultural imple- ments, carriages and wagons, furniture, woolen goods, flour and wrapping paper. There are also distilling and brewing interests, besides saw and planing mills. Corn is the staple agricultural product, although all the leading cereals are extensively grown. The principal towns are Morrison, Sterling, Fulton and Rock Falls. Popu- lation (1880), 30,885; (1890), 30,854; (1900), 34.710.

WHITESIDE, William, pioneer and soldier of the Revolution, emigrated from the frontier of North Carolina to Kentucky, and thence, in 1793, to the present limits of Monroe County, Ill., erecting a fort between Cahokia and Kaskaskia, which became widely known as "Whiteside Station." He served as a Justice of the Peace, and was active in organizing the militia during the War of 1812-14, dying at the old Station in 1815 .- John (Whiteside), a brother of the preced- ing, and also a Revolutionary soldier, came to Illinois at the same time, as also did William B. and Samuel, sons of the two brothers, respec- tively. All of them became famous as Indian fighters. The two latter served as Captains of companies of "Rangers" in the War of 1812, Samuel taking part in the battle of Rock Island in 1814, and contributing greatly to the success of the day. During the Black Hawk War (1832) he attained the rank of Brigadier-General. Whiteside County was named in his honor. He made one of the earliest improvements in Ridge Prairie, a rich section of Madison County, and represented that county in the First General Assembly. William B. served as Sheriff of Madi- son County for a number of years. - John D. (Whiteside), another member of this historic family, became very prominent, serving in the lower House of the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Fourteenth General Assemblies, and in the Sen- ate of the Tenth, from Monroe County; was a Presidential Elector in 1836, State Treasurer (1837-41) and a member of the State Constitu- tional Convention of 1847. General Whiteside, as he was known, was the second of James Shields in the famous Shields and Lincoln duel (so-called) in 1842, and, as such, carried the challenge of the former to Mr. Lincoln. (See Duels.)

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WHITING, Lorenzo D., legislator, was born in Wayne County, N. Y., Nov. 17, 1819; came to Illinois in 1838, but did not settle there perma- nently until 1849, when he located in Bureau County. He was a Representative from that county in the Twenty-sixth General Assembly (1869), and a member of the Senate continuously from 1871 to 1887, serving in the latter through eight General Assemblies. Died at his home near Tiskilwa, Bureau County, Ill., Oct. 10, 1889.

WHITING, Richard H., Congressman, was born at West Hartford, Conn., June 17, 1826, and received a common school education. In 1862 he was commissioned Paymaster in the Volunteer Army of the Union, and resigned in 1866. Hav- ing removed to Illinois, he was appointed Assist- ant Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Fifth Illinois District, in February, 1870, and so contin- ued until the abolition of the office in 1873. On retiring from the Assessorship he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue, and served until March 4, 1875, when he resigned to take his seat as Republican Representative in Congress from the Peoria District, to which he had been elected in November, 1874. After the expiration of his term he held no public office, but was a member of the Republican National Convention of 1884. Died, at the Continental Hotel, in New York City, May 24, 1888.

WHITNEY, James W., pioneer lawyer and early teacher, known by the nickname of "Lord Coke"; came to Illinois in Territorial days (be- lieved to have been about 1800) ; resided for some time at or near Edwardsville, then became a teacher at Atlas, Pike County, and, still later, the first Circuit and County Clerk of that county. Though nominally a lawyer, he had little if any practice. He acquired the title, by which he was popularly known for a quarter of a century, by his custom of visiting the State Capital, during the sessions of the General Assembly, when he would organize the lobbyists and visit- ors about the capital-of which there were an unusual number in those days-into what was called the "Third House." Having been regu- larly chosen to preside under the name of "Speaker of the Lobby," he would deliver a mes- sage full of practical hits and jokes, aimed at members of the two houses and others, which would be received with cheers and laughter. The meetings of the "Third House," being held in the evening, were attended by many members and visitors in lieu of other forms of entertain- ment. Mr. Whitney's home, in his latter years,

was at Pittsfield. He resided for a time at Quincy. Died, Dec. 13, 1860, aged over 80 years.

WHITTEMORE, Floyd K., State Treasurer, is a native of New York, came at an early age, with his parents, to Sycamore, Ill., where lie was edu- cated in the high school there. He purposed becoming a lawyer, but, on the election of the late James H. Beveridge State Treasurer, in 1864, accepted the position of clerk in the office. Later, he was employed as a clerk in the banking house of Jacob Bunn in Springfield, and, on the organization of the State National Bank, was chosen cashier of that Institution, retaining the position some twenty years. After the appoint- ment of Hon. John R. Tanner to the position of Assistant Treasurer of the United States, at Chi- cago, in 1892, Mr. Whittemore became cashier in that office, and, in 1865, Assistant State Treas- rure under the administration of State Treasurer Henry Wulff. In 1898 he was elected State Treasurer, receiving a plurality of 43,450 over his Democratic opponent.

WICKERSHAM, (Col.) Dudley, soldier and merchant, was born in Woodford County, Ky., Nov. 22, 1819; came to Springfield, Ill., in 1843, and served as a member of the Fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers (Col. E. D. Baker's) through the Mexican War. On the return of peace he engaged in the dry-goods trade in Springfield, until 1861, when he enlisted in the Tenth Regi- ment Illinois Cavalry, serving, first as Lieutenant- Colonel and then as Colonel, until May, 1864, when, his regiment having been consolidated with the Fifteenth Cavalry, he resigned. After the war, he held the office of Assessor of Internal Revenue for several years, after which he en- gaged in the grocery trade. Died, in Springfield, August 8, 1898.

WIDEN, Raphael, pioneer and early legislator, was a native of Sweden, who, having been taken to France at eight years of age, was educated for a Catholic priest. Coming to the United States in 1815, he was at Cahokia, Ill., in 1818, where, during the same year, he married into a French family of that place. He served in the House of Representatives from Randolph County, in the Second and Third General Assemblies (1820.24), and as Senator in the Fourth and Fifth (1824-28). During his last term in the House, he was one of those who voted against the pro-slavery Con- vention resolution. He died of cholera, at Kas- kaskia, in 1833.

WIKE, Scott, lawyer and ex-Congressman, was born at Meadville, Pa., April 6, 1834; at 4 years of age removed with his parents to Quincy, Ill.,

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and, in 1844, to Pike County. Having graduated from Lombard University, Galesburg, in 1857, he began reading law with Judge O. C. Skinner of Quincy. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, but, before commencing practice, spent a year at Harvard Law School, graduating there in 1859. Immediately thereafter he opened an office at Pittsfield, Ill., and has resided there ever since. In politics he has always been a strong Democrat. He served two terms in the Legislature (1863-67) and, in 1874, was chosen Representative from his District in Congress, being re-elected in 1888 and, again, in 1890. In 1893 he was appointed by President Cleveland Third Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, which position he continued to fill until March, 1897, when he resumed the practice of law at Pittsfield. Died Jan. 15, 1901.

WILEY, (Col.) Benjamin Ladd, soldier, was born in Smithfield, Jefferson County, Ohio, March 25, 1821, came to Illinois in 1845 and began life at Vienna, Johnson County, as a teacher. In 1846 he enlisted for the Mexican War, as a member of the Fifth (Colonel Newby's) Regiment Illinois Volunteers, serving chiefly in New Mexico until mustered out in 1848. A year later he removed to Jonesboro, where he spent some time at the carpenter's trade, after which he became clerk in a store, meanwhile assisting to edit "The Jonesboro Gazette" until 1853; then became traveling salesman for a St. Louis firm, but later engaged in the hardware trade at Jonesboro, in which he continued for several years. In 1856 he was the Republican candidate for Congress for the Ninth District, receiving 4,000 votes, while Fremont, the Republican can- didate for President, received only 825 in the same district. In 1857 he opened a real estate office in Jonesboro in conjunction with David L. Phillips and Col. J. W. Ashley, with which he was connected until 1860, when he removed to Makanda, Jackson County. In September, 1861, he was mustered in as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, later serving in Missouri and Arkansas under Generals Steele and Curtiss, being, a part of the time, in command of the First Brigade of Cavalry, and, in the advance on Vicks- burg, having command of the right wing of General Grant's cavalry. Being disabled by rheumatism at the end of the siege, he tendered his resignation, and was immediately appointed Enrolling Officer at Cairo, serving in this capac- ity until May, 1865, when he was mustered out. In 1869 he was appointed by Governor Palmer one of the Commissioners to locate the Southern Illinois Hospital for the Insane, and served as

Secretary of the Board until the institution was opened at Anna, in May, 1871. In 1869 he was defeated as a candidate for County Judge of Jackson County, and, in 1872, for the State Sen- ate, by a small majority in a strongly Democratic District; in 1876 was the Republican candidate for Congress, in the Eighteenth District, against William Hartzell, but was defeated by only twenty votes, while carrying six out of the ten counties comprising the District. In the latter years of his life, Colonel Wiley was engaged quite extensively in fruit-growing at Makanda, Jack- son County, where he died, March 22, 1890.

WILKIE, Franc Bangs, journalist, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., July 2, 1830; took a partial course at Union College, after which he edited papers at Schenectady, N. Y., Elgin, Ill., and Davenport and Dubuque, Iowa; also serving, during a part of the Civil War, as the western war correspondent of "The New York Times." In 1863 he became an editorial writer on "The Chicago Times," remaining with that paper, with the exception of a brief interval, until 1888 -a part of the time as its European correspond- ent. He was the author of a series of sketches over the nom de plume of "Poliuto," and of a volume of reminiscences under the title, "Thirty-five Years of Journalism," published shortly before his death, which took place, April 12, 1892.

WILKIN, Jacob W., Justice of the Supreme Court, was born in Licking County, Ohio, June 7, 1837; removed with his parents to Illinois, at 12 years of age, and was educated at McKendree College; served three years in the War for the Union; studied law with Judge Scholfield and was admitted to the bar in 1866. In 1872, he was chosen Presidential Elector on the Republican ticket, and, in 1879, elected Judge of the Circuit Court and re-elected in 1885-the latter year being assigned to the Appellate bench for the Fourth District, where he remained until his election to the Supreme bench in 1888, being re-elected to the latter office in 1897. His home is at Danville.

WILKINSON, Ira O., lawyer and Judge, was born in Virginia in 1822, and accompanied his father to Jacksonville (1835), where he was edu- cated. During a short service as Deputy Clerk of Morgan County, he conceived a fondness for the profession of the law, and, after a course of study under Judge William Thomas, was admitted to practice in 1847. Richard Yates (afterwards Gov- ernor and Senator) was his first partner. In 1845 he removed to Rock Island, and, six years later,

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was elected a Circuit Judge, being again closen to the same position in 1861. At the expiration of his second term he removed to Chicago. Died, at Jacksonville, August 24, 1894.

WILKINSON, John P., early merchant, was born, Dec. 14, 1790, in New Kent County, Va., emigrated first to Kentucky, and, in 1828, settled in Jacksonville, Ill., where he engaged in iner- cantile business. Mr. Wilkinson was a liberal friend of Illinois College and Jacksonville Female Academy, of each of which he was a Trustee from their origin until his death, which occurred, during a business visit to St. Louis, in December, 1841.

WILL, Conrad, pioneer physician and early legislator, was born in Philadelphia, June 4, 1778; about 1804 removed to Somerset County Pa., and, in 1813, to Kaskaskia, Ill. He was a physician by profession, but having leased the saline lands on the Big Muddy, in the vicinity of what after- wards became the town of Brownsville, lie engaged in the manufacture of salt, removing thither in 1815, and becoming one of the founders of Brownsville, afterwards the first county-seat of Jackson County. On the organization of Jackson County, in 1816, he became a member of the first Board of County Commissioners, and, in 1818, served as Delegate from that county in the Convention which framed the first State Consti- tution. Thereafter he served continuously as a member of the Legislature from 1818 to '34-first as Senator' in the First General Assembly, then as Representative in the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth, and again as Senator in the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth-his career being conspicuous for long service. He died in office, June 11, 1834. Dr. Will was short of stature, fleshy, of jovial disposition and fond of playing practical jokes upon his associates, but very popular, as shown by his successive elections to the Legislature. He has been called "The Father of Jackson County." Will County, organized by act of the Legislature two years after his death, was named in his honor.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 118

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Number of Pages: 876

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell
Number of Pages: 876