Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 12

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

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BOURBONNAIS, a village of Kankakee County, on the Illinois Central Railroad, 5 miles north of Kankakee. Population (1890), 510; (1900), 595.

BOUTELL, Henry Sherman, lawyer and Con- gressman, was born in Boston, Mass., March 14, 1856, graduated from the Northwestern Univer- sity at Evanston, Ill., in 1874, and from Harvard in 1876; was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1879, and to that of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1885. In 1884 Mr. Boutell was elected to the lower branch of the Thirty-fourth General Assembly and was one of the "103" who, in the long struggle during the following session, participated in the election of Gen. John A. Logan to the United States Senate for the last time. At a special election held in the Sixth Illinois District in November, 1897, he was elected Representative in Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the sudden death of his pred- ecessor, Congressman Edward D. Cooke, and at the regular election of 1898 was re-elected to the same position, receiving a plurality of 1,116 over

his Democratic competitor and a majority of 719 over all.

BOUTON, Nathaniel S., manufacturer, was born in Concord, N. H., May 14, 1828; in his youth farmed and taught school in Connecticut, but in 1852 came -to Chicago and was employed in a foundry firm, of which he soon afterwards became a partner, in the manufacture of car- wheels and railway castings. Later he became associated with the American Bridge Company's works, which was sold to the Illinois Central Railroad Company in 1857, when he bought the Union Car Works, which he operated until 1863. He then became the head of the Union Foundry Works, which having been consolidated with the Pullman Car Works in 1886, he retired, organizing the Bouton Foundry Company. Mr. Bouton is a Republican, was Commissioner of Public Works for the city of Chicago two terms before the Civil War, and served as Assistant Quartermaster in the Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry (Second Board of Trade Regiment) from 1862 until after the battle of Chickamauga.

BOYD, Thomas A., was born in Adams County, Pa., June 25, 1830, and graduated at Marshall College, Mercersburg, Pa., at the age of 18; studied law at Chambersburg and was admitted to the bar at Bedford in his native State, where he practiced until 1856, when he removed to Illi- nois. In 1861 he abandoned his practice to enlist in the Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, in which he held the position of Captain. At the close of the war he returned to his home at Lewistown, and. in 1866, was elected State Senator and re-elected at the expiration of his term in 1870, serving in the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty- seventh General Assemblies. He was also a Republican Representative from his District in the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses (1877-81). Died, at Lewistown, May 28, 1897.

BRACEVILLE, a town in Grundy County, 61 miles by rail southwest of Chicago. Coal mining is the principal industry. The town has two banks, two churches and good public schools. Population (1890), 2,150; (1900), 1,669.

BRADFORD, village of Stark County, on Buda and Ruslıville branch Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway; is in excellent farming region and has large grain and live-stock trade, excel- lent high school building, fine churches, good hotels and one newspaper. Pop. (1900), 773.

BRADSBY, William H., pioneer and Judge, was born in Bedford County, Va., July 12, 1787. He removed to Illinois early in life, and was the first postmaster in Washington County (at Cov-

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

ington), the first school-teacher and the first Circuit and County Clerk and Recorder. At the time of his death he was Probate and County Judge. Besides being Clerk of all the courts, he was virtually County Treasurer, as he had cus- tody of all the county's money. For several years he was also Deputy United States Surveyor, and in that capacity surveyed much of the south part of the State, as far east as Wayne and Clay Counties. Died at Nashville, Ill, August 21, 1839.

BRADWELL, James Bolesworth, lawyer and editor, was born at Loughborough, England, April 16, 1828, and brought to America in infancy, his parents locating in 1829 or '30 at Utica, N. Y. In 1833 they emigrated to Jacksonville, Ill., but the following year removed to Wheeling, Cook County, settling on a farm, where the younger Bradwell received his first lessons in breaking prairie, splitting rails and tilling the soil. His first schooling was obtained in a country log- school-house, but, later, he attended the Wilson Academy in Chicago, where he had Judge Lo- renzo Sawyer for an instructor. He also took a course in Knox College at Galesburg, then a manual-labor school, supporting himself by work- ing in a wagon and plow shop, sawing wood, etc. In May, 1852, he was married to Miss Myra Colby, a teacher, with whom he went to Mem- phis, Tenn., the same year, where they engaged in teaching a select school, the subject of this sketch meanwhile devoting some attention to reading law. He was admitted to the bar there, but after a stay of less than two years in Mem- phis, returned to Chicago and began practice. In 1861 he was elected County Judge of Cook County, and re-elected four years later, but declined a re-election in 1869. The first half of his term occurring during the progress of the Civil War, he had the opportunity of rendering some vigorous decisions which won for him the reputation of a man of courage and inflexible independence, as well as an incorruptible cham- pion of justice. In 1872 he was elected to the lower branch of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly from Cook County, and re-elected in 1874. He was again a candidate in 1882, and by many believed to have been honestly elected, thoughi his opponent received the certificate. He made a contest for the seat, and the majority of the Committee on Elections reported in his favor; but he was defeated through the treach- ery and suspected corruption of a professed polit- ical friend. He is the author of the law making women eligible to school offices in Illinois and

allowing them to become Notaries Public, and has always been a champion for equal rights for women in the professions and as citizens. He was a Second Lieutenant of the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Illinois Militia, in 1848; presided over the American Woman's Suffrage Associa- tion at its organization in Cleveland; has been President of the Chicago Press Club, of the Chi- cago Bar Association, and, for a number of years, the Historian of the latter; one of the founders and President of the Union League Club, besides being associated with many other social and business organizations. At present (1899) he is editor of "The Chicago Legal News," founded by his wife thirty years ago, and with which he has been identified in a business capacity from its establishment .- Myra Colby (Bradwell), the wife of Judge Bradwell, was born at Manchester, Vt., Feb. 12, 1831-being descended on her mother's side from the Chase family to which Bishop Philander Chase and Salmon P. Chase, the latter Secretary of the Treasury and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by appointment of Abraham Lincoln, belonged. In infancy she was brought to Portage, N. Y., where she remained until she was twelve years of age, when her family re- moved west. She attended school in Kenosha, Wis., and a seminary at Elgin, afterwards being engaged in teaching. On May 18, 1852, she was married to Judge Bradwell, almost immediately going to Memphis, Tenn., where, with the assist- ance of her husband, she conducted a select school for some time, also teaching in the public schools, when they returned to Chicago. In the early part of the Civil War she took a deep interest in the welfare of the soldiers in the field and their families at home, becoming President of the Soldiers' Aid Society, and was a leading spirit in the Sanitary Fairs held in Chicago in 1863 and in 1865. After the war she commenced the study of law and, in 1868, began the publication of "The Chicago Legal News," with which she re- mained identified until her death-also publishing biennially an edition of the session laws after each session of the General Assembly. After passing a most creditable examination, applica- tion was made for lier admission to the bar in · 1871, but denied in an elaborate decision rendered by Judge C. B. Lawrence of the Supreme Court of the State, on the sole ground of sex, as was also done by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1873, on the latter occasion Chief Justice Chase dissenting. She was finally admitted to the bar on March 28, 1892, and was the first lady member of the State Bar Associ-

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

ation. Other organizations with which she was identified embraced the Illinois State Press Association, the Board of Managers of the Sol- diers' Home (in war time), the "Illinois Industrial School for Girls" at Evanston, the Washingtonian Home, the Board of Lady Managers of the World's Columbian Exposition, and Chairman of the Woman's Committee on Jurisprudence of the World's Congress Auxiliary of 1893. Although much before the public during the latter years of her life, she never lost the refinement and graces which belong to a true woman. Died, at her home in Chicago, Feb. 14, 1894.

BRAIDWOOD, a city in Will County, incorpo- rated in 1860; is 58 miles from Chicago, on the Chicago & Alton Railroad; an important coal- mining point, and in the heart of a rich agricultural region. It has a bank and a weekly newspaper. Population (1890), 4,641 ; (1900), 3,279. · BRANSON, Nathaniel W., lawyer, was born in Jacksonville, Ill., May 29, 1837; was educated in the private and public schools of that city and at Illinois College, graduating from the latter in 1857; studied law with David A. Smith, a promi- nent and able lawyer of Jacksonville, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1860, soon after establishing himself in practice at Petersburg, Menard County, where he has ever since resided. In 1867 Mr. Branson was appointed Register in Bankruptcy for the Springfield District - a po- sition which he held thirteen years. He was also elected Representative in the General Assembly in 1872, by re-election in 1874 serving four years in the stormy Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth General Assemblies; was a Delegate from Illinois to the National Republican Convention of 1876, and served for several years most efficiently as a Trustee of the State Institution for the Blind at Jacksonville, part of the time as President of the Board. Politically a conservative Republican, and in no sense an office-seeker, the official po- sitions which he has occupied have come to him unsought and in recognition of his fitness and capacity for the proper discharge of their duties.

BRAYMAN, Mason, lawyer and soldier, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., May 23, 1813; brought up as a farmer, became a printer and edited "The Buffalo Bulletin," 1834-35; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1836; removed west in 1837, was City Attorney of Monroe, Mich., in 1838 and became editor of "The Louisville Adver- tiser" in 1841. In 1842 he opened a law office in Springfield, Ill., and the following year was appointed by Governor Ford a commissioner to adjust the Mormon troubles, in which capacity

he rendered valuable service. In 1844-45 he was appointed to revise the statutes of the State. Later he devoted much attention to railroad enterprises, being attorney of the Illinois Central Railroad, 1851-55; then projected the construc- tion of a railroad from Bird's Point, opposite Cairo, into Arkansas, which was partially com- pleted before the war, and almost wholly de- stroyed during that period. In 1861 he entered the service as Major of the Twenty-ninth Illinois · Volunteers, taking part in a number of the early battles, including Fort Donelson and Shiloh; was promoted to a colonelcy for meritorious con- duct at the latter, and for a time served as Adjutant-General on the staff of General McCler- nand; was promoted Brigadier-General in Sep- tember, 1862, at the close of the war receiving the brevet rank of Major-General. After the close of the war he devoted considerable atten- tion to reviving his railroad enterprises in the South; edited "The Illinois State Journal," 1872-73; removed to Wisconsin and was ap- pointed Governor of Idaho in 1876, serving four years, after which he returned to Ripon, Wis. Died, in Kansas City, Feb. 27, 1895.

BREESE, a village in Clinton County, on Baltimore & Ohio S. W. Railway, 39 miles east of St. Louis; has coal mines, water system, bank and weekly newspaper. Pop. (1890), 808, (1900), 1,571.

BREESE, Sidney, statesman and jurist, was born at Whitesboro, N. Y., (according to the generally accepted authority) July 15, 1800. Owing to a certain sensitiveness about his age in his later years, it has been exceedingly difficult to secure authentic data on the subject; but his arrival at Kaskaskia in 1818, after graduating at Union College, and his admission to the bar in 1820, have induced many to believe that the date of his birth should be placed somewhat earlier. He was related to some of the most prominent families in New York, including the Livingstons and the Morses, and, after his arrival at Kaskas- kia, began the study of law with his friend Elias Kent Kane, afterwards United States Senator. Meanwhile, having served as Postmaster at Kas- kaskia, he became Assistant Secretary of State, and, in December, 1820, superintended the re- moval of the archives of that office to Vandalia, the new State capital. Later he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney, serving in that position 'from 1822 till 1827, when he became United States District Attorney for Illinois. He was the first official reporter of the Supreme Court, issuing its first volume of decisions; served as Lieutenant-Colonel of volunteers during the

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

Black Hawk War (1832); in 1835 was elected to the circuit bench, and, in 1841, was advanced to the Supreme bench, serving less than two years, when he resigned to accept a seat in the United States Senate, to which he was elected in 1843 as the successor of Richard M. Young, defeating Stephen A. Douglas in the first race of the latter for the office. While in the Senate (1843-49) he served as Chairman of the Committee on Public Lands, and was one of the first to suggest the construction of a transcontinental railway to the Pacific. He was also one of the originators and active promoters in Congress of the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad enterprise. He was Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1851; again became Circuit Judge in 1855 and returned to the Supreme bench in 1857 and served more than one term as Chief Justice, the last being in 1873-74. His home during most of his public life in Illinois was at Carlyle. His death occurred at Pinckneyville, June 28, 1878.

BRENTANO, Lorenzo, was born at Mannheim, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, Nov. 14, 1813; was educated at the Universities of Heidelberg and Freiburg, receiving the degree of LL.D., and attaining high honors, both profes- sional and political. He was successively a member of the Baden Chamber of Deputies and of the Frankfort Parliament, and always a leader of the revolutionist party. In 1849 he became President of the Provisional Republican Gov- ernment of Baden, but was, before long, forced to find an asylum in the United States. He first settled in Kalamazoo County, Mich., as a farmer, but, in 1859, removed to Chicago, where he was admitted to the Illinois bar, but soon entered the field of journalism, becoming editor and part proprietor of "The Illinois Staats Zeitung." He held various public offices, being elected to the Legislature in 1862, serving five years as Presi- dent of the Chicago Board of Education, was a Republican Presidential Elector in 1868, and United States Consul at Dresden in 1872 (a gen- eral amnesty having been granted to the participants in the revolution of 1848), and Representative in Congress from 1877 to 1879. Died, in Chicago, Sept. 17, 1891.

BRIDGEPORT, a town of Lawrence County, on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, 14 miles west of Vincennes, Ind. It has a bank and one weekly paper. Population (1900), 487.

BRIDGEPORT, a former suburb (now a part of the city) of Chicago, located at the junction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal with the South Branch of the Chicago River. It is now the

center of the large slaughtering and packing industry.

BRIDGEPORT & SOUTH CHICAGO RAIL- WAY. (See Chicago & Northern Pacific Railroad.)

BRIGHTON, a village of Macoupin County, at the intersection of the Chicago & Alton and the Rock Island and St. Louis branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railways; coal is mined here; has a newspaper. Population (1880), 691; (1890), 697; (1900), 660.

BRIMFIELD, a town of Peoria County, on the Buda and Rushville branch of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railway, 38 miles south of Buda; coal-mining and farming are the chief industries. It has one weekly paper and a bank. Population (1880), 832; (1890), 719; (1900), 677.

BRISTOL, Frank Milton, clergyman, was born in Orleans County, N. Y., Jan. 4, 1851; came to Kankakee, Ill., in boyhood, and having lost his father at 12 years of age, spent the following years in various manual occupations until about nineteen years of age, when, having been con- verted, he determined to devote his life to the ministry. Through the aid of a benevolent lady, he was enabled to get two years' (1870-72) instruc- tion at the Northwestern University, at Evans- ton, afterwards supporting himself by preaching at various points, meanwhile continuing his studies at the University until 1877. After com- pleting his course he served as pastor of some of the most prominent Methodist churches in Chi- cago, his last charge in the State being at Evans- ton. In 1897 he was transferred to Washington City, becoming pastor of the Metropolitan M. E. Church, attended by President Mckinley. Dr. Bristol is an author of some repute and an orator of recognized ability.

BROADWELL. Norman M., lawyer, was born in Morgan County, Ill., August 1, 1825; was edu- cated in the common schools and at McKendree and Illinois Colleges, but compelled by failing health to leave college without graduating; spent some time in the book business, then began the study of medicine with a view to benefiting his own health, but finally abandoned this and, about 1850, commenced the study of law in the office of Lincoln & Herndon at Springfield. Having been admitted to the bar, he practiced for a time at Pekin, but, in 1854, returned to Springfield, where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1860 he was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives from Sangamon County, serving in the Twenty-second General Assembly. Other offices held by him included those of County Judge (1863-65) and Mayor of the city of Spring-

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

field, to which last position he was twice elected (1867 and again in 1869). Judge Broadwell was one of the most genial of men, popular, high- minded and honorable in all his dealings. Died, in Springfield, Feb. 28, 1893.

BROOKS, John Flavel, educator, was born in Oneida County, New York, Dec. 3, 1801; graduated at Hamilton College, 1828; studied three years in the theological department of Yale College; was ordained to the Presbyterian min- istry in 1831, and came to Illinois in the service of the American Home Missionary Society. After preaching at Collinsville, Belleville and other points, Mr. Brooks, who was a member of the celebrated "Yale Band," in 1837 assumed the principalship of a Teachers' Seminary at Waverly, Morgan County, but three years later removed to Springfield, where he established an academy for both sexes. Although finally compelled to abandon this, he continued teaching with some interruptions to within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1886. He was one of the Trus- tees of Illinois College from its foundation up to his death.

BROSS, William, journalist, was born in Sus- sex County, N. J., Nov. 14, 1813, and graduated with honors from Williams College in 1838, hav- ing previously developed his physical strength by much hard work upon the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and in the lumbering trade. For five years after graduating he was a teacher, and settled in Chicago in 1848. There he first engaged in bookselling, but later embarked in journalism. His first publication was "The Prairie Herald," a religious paper, which was discontinued after two years. In 1852, in connection with John L. Scripps, he founded "The Democratic Press," which was consolidated with "The Tribune" in 1858, Mr. Bross retaining his connection with tlie new concern. He was always an ardent free- soiler, and a firm believer in the great future of Chicago and the Northwest. He was an enthusi- astic Republican, and, in 1856 and 1860, served as an effective campaign orator. In 1864 he was the successful nominee of his party for Lieuten- ant-Governor. This was his only official position outside of a membership in the Chicago Common Council in 1855. As a presiding officer, he was dignified yet affable, and his impartiality was shown by the fact that no appeals were taken from his decisions. After quitting public life he devoted much time to literary pursuits, deliver- ing lectures in various parts of the country. Among his best known works are a brief "His- tory of Chicago," "History of Camp Douglas,"

and "Tom Quick." Died, in Chicago, Jan. 27, 1890.

BROWN, Henry, lawyer and historian, was born at Hebron, Tolland County, Conn., May 13, 1789-the son of a commissary in the army of General Greene of Revolutionary fame; gradu- ated at Yale College, and, when of age, removed to New York, later studying law at Albany, Canandaigua and Batavia, and being admitted to the bar about 1813, when he settled down in practice at Cooperstown; in 1816 was appointed Judge of Herkimer County, remaining on the bench until about 1824. He then resumed prac- tice at Cooperstown, continuing until 1836, when he removed to Chicago. The following year he was elected a Justice of the Peace, serving two years, and, in 1842, became Prosecuting Attorney of Cook County. During this period he was engaged in writing a "History of Illinois," which was published in New York in 1844 This was regarded at the time as the most voluminous and best digested work on Illinois history that had as yet been published. In 1846, on assuming the Presidency of the Chicago Lyceum, he delivered an inaugural entitled "Chicago, Present and Future," which is still preserved as a striking prediction of Chicago's future greatness. Origi- nally a Democrat, he became a Freesoiler in 1848. Died of cholera, in Chicago, May 16, 1849.

BROWN, James B., journalist, was born in Gilmanton, Belknap County, N. H., Sept. 1, 1833-his father being a member of the Legisla- ture and Selectman for his town. The son was educated at Gilmanton Academy, after which he studied medicine for a time, but did not gradu- ate. In 1857 he removed West, first settling at Dunleith, Jo Daviess County, Ill., where he became Principal of the public schools; in 1861 was elected County Superintendent of Schools for Jo Daviess County, removing to Galena two years later and assuming the editorship of "The Gazette" of that city. Mr. Brown also served as Postmaster of Galena for several years. Died, Feb. 13, 1896.

BROWN, James N., agriculturist and stock- man, was born in Fayette County, Ky., Oct. 1, 1806; came to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1833, locating at Island Grove, where lie engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising. He served as Representative in the General Assem- blies of 1840, '42, '46, and '52, and in the last was instrumental in securing the incorporation of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, of which he was chosen the first President, being re-elected in 1854. He was one of the most enterprising grow-

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

ers of blooded cattle in the State and did much to introduce them in Central Illinois; was also an earnest and influential advocate of scientific education for the agricultural classes and an efficient colaborer with Prof. J. B. Turner, of Jacksonville, in securing the enactment by Con- gress, in 1862, of the law granting lands for the endowment of Industrial Colleges, out of which grew the Illinois State University and institu- tions of like character in other States. Died, Nov. 16, 1868.

BROWN, William, lawyer and jurist, was born June 1, 1819, in Cumberland, England, his par- ents emigrating to this country when he was eight years old, and settling in Western New York. He was admitted to the bar at Rochester, in October, 1845, and at once removed to Rock- ford, Ill., where he commenced practice. In 1852 he was elected State's Attorney for the Four- teenth Judicial Circuit, and, in 1857, was chosen Mayor of Rockford. In 1870 he was elected to the bench of the Circuit Court as successor to Judge Sheldon, later was promoted to the Su- preme Court, and was re-elected successively in 1873, in '79 and '85. Died, at Rockford, Jan. 15, 1891.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 12

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