Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 32

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

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(OTHER OFFICERS). (a) Members of the State Board of Equalization (one for every Congres- sional District) are elective every four years at the same time as Congressmen. (b) County officers (except County Commissioners not under township organization) hold office for four years and are chosen at the November election as follows: (1) At the general election at which the Governor is chosen -Clerk of the Circuit Court, State's Attorney, Recorder of Deeds (in counties having a population of 60,000 or over), Coroner and County Surveyor. (2) On inter- mediate years-Sheriff, County Judge, Probate Judge (in counties having a population of 70,000 and over), County Clerk, Treasurer, Superintend- ent of Schools, and Clerk of Criminal Court of Cook County. (c) In counties not under town- ship organization a Board of County Commission- ers is elected, one being chosen in November of each year, and each holding office three years. (d) Under the general law the polls open at 8 a. m., and close at 7 p. m. In cities accepting an Act of the Legislature passed in 1885, the hour of opening the polls is 6 a. m., and of closing 4 p. m. (See also Australian Ballot.)

ELECTORS, QUALIFICATIONS OF. (See Suffrage.)

ELGIN, an important city of Northern Illinois, in Kane County, on Fox River and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and Chicago & Northwest- ern Railroads, besides two rural electric lines, 36 miles northwest of Chicago; has valuable water- power and over fifty manufacturing establish- ments, including the National Watch Factory and the Cook Publishing Company, both among the most extensive of their kind in the world; is also a great dairy center with extensive creameries and milk-condensing works. The quotations of its Butter and Cheese Exchange are telegraphed to all the great commercial centers and regulate the prices of these commodities throughout the country. Elgin is the seat of the Northern (Illi- nois) Hospital for the Insane, and has a handsome Government (postoffice) building, fine public library and many handsome residences. It has had a rapid growth in the past twenty years. Population (1890), 17,823; (1900), 22,433.

ELGIN, JOLIET & EASTERN RAILWAY. The main line of this road extends west from Dyer on the Indiana State line to Joliet, thence northeast to Waukegan. The total length of the line (1898) is 192.72 miles, of which 159.93 miles are in Illi- nois. The entire capital of the company, includ- ing stock and indebtedness, amounted (1898), to $13, 799,630-more than $71,000 per mile. Its total earnings in Illinois for the same year were $1,212, - 026, and its entire expenditure in the State, $1,156,146. The company paid in taxes, the same year, $48,876. Branch lines extend southerly from Walker Junction to Coster, where connec- tion is made with the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, and northwesterly from Normantown, on the main line, to Aurora. -(HISTORY). The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Rail- way was chartered in 1887 and absorbed the Joliet, Aurora & Northern Railway, from Joliet to Aurora (21 miles), which had been commenced in 1886 and was completed in 1888, with extensions from Joliet to Spaulding, Ill., and from Joliet to McCool, Ind. In January, 1891, the Company purchased all the properties and franchises of the Gardner, Coal City & Normantown and the Waukegan & Southwestern Railway Companies (formerly operated under lease). The former of these two roads was chartered in 1889 and opened in 1890. The system forms a belt line around Chicago, intersecting all railroads entering that city from every direction. Its traffic is chiefly in the transportation of freight.

ELIZABETHTOWN, the county-seat of Hardin County. It stands on the north bank of the Ohio River, 44 miles above Paducah, Ky., and about

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125 miles southeast of Belleville; has a brick and tile factory, large tie trade, two churches, two flouring mills, a bank, and one newspaper. Pop- ulation (1890), 652; (1900), 668.

ELKHART, a town of Logan County, on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, 18 miles northeast of Springfield; is a rich farming section; has a coal shaft. Population (1890), 414; (1900), 553.

ELKIN, William F., pioneer and early legisla- tor, was born in Clark County, Ky., April 13, 1792; after spending several years in Ohio and Indiana, came to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1825; was elected to the Sixth, Tenth and Eleventh General Assemblies, being one of the "Long Nine" from Sangamon County and, in 1861, was appointed by his former colleague (Abraham Lincoln) Register of the Land Office at Spring- field, resigning in 1872. Died, in 1878.

ELLIS, Edward F. W., soldier, was born at Wilton, Maine, April 15, 1819; studied law and was admitted to the bar in Ohio; spent three years (1849-52) in California, serving in the Legislature of that State in 1851, and proving himself an earnest opponent of slavery; returned to Ohio the next year, and, in 1854, removed to Rockford, Ill., where he embarked in the banking business. Soon after the firing on Fort Sumter, he organ- ized the Ellis Rifles, which having been attached to the Fifteenth Illinois, he was elected Lieuten- ant-Colonel of the regiment; was in command at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and was killed while bravely leading on his men.

ELLIS, (Rev.) John Millot, early home mis- sionary, was born in Keene, N. H., July 14, 1793; came to Illinois as a home missionary of the Presbyterian Church at an early day, and served for a time as pastor of churches at Kaskaskia and Jacksonville, and was one of the influential factors in securing the location of Illinois Col- lege at the latter place. His wife also conducted, for some years, a private school for young ladies at Jacksonville, which developed into the Jack- sonville Female Academy in 1833, and is still maintained after a history of over sixty years. Mr. Ellis was later associated with the establish- ment of Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Ind., finally returning to New Hampshire, where, in 1840, he was pastor of a church at East Hanover. In 1844 he again entered the service of the Soci- ety for Promoting Collegiate and Theological Education in the West. Died, August 6, 1855.

ELLSWORTH, Ephraim Elmer, soldier, first victim of the Civil War, was born at Mechanics. ville, Saratoga County, N. Y., April 23, 1837. He came to Chicago at an early age, studied law,

and became a patent solicitor. In 1860 he raised a regiment of Zouaves in Chicago, which became famous for the perfection of its discipline and drill, and of which he was commissioned Colonel. In 1861 he accompanied President Lincoln to Washington, going from there to New York, where he recruited and organized a Zouave regiment composed of firemen. He became its Colonel and the regiment was ordered to Alexan- dria, Va. While stationed there Colonel Ells- worth observed that a Confederate flag was flying above a hotel owned by one Jackson. Rushing to the roof, he tore it down, but before he reached the street was shot and killed by Jackson, who was in turn shot by Frank H. Brownell, one of Ellsworth's men. He was the first Union soldier killed in the war. Died, May 24,1861.

ELMHURST (formerly Cottage Hill), a village of Du Page County, on the Chicago Great Western and Ill. Cent. Railroads, 15 miles west of Chicago; is the seat of the Evangelical Seminary ; has elec- tric. interurban line, two papers, stone quarry, electric light, water and sewerage systems, high school, and churches. Pop. (1900), 1,728.

ELMWOOD, a town of Peoria County, on the Galesburg and Peoria and Buda and Rushville branches of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 26 miles west-northwest of Peoria; the principal industries are coal-mining and corn and tomato canning; has a bank and one newspaper. Population (1890), 1,548; (1900), 1,582.

EL PASO, a city in Woodford County, 17 miles north of Bloomington, 33 miles east of Peoria, at the crossing Illinois Central and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroads; in agricultural district; has two national banks, three grain elevators, two high schools, two newspapers, nine churches. Pop. (1890), 1,353; (1900), 1,441; (1903, est.), 1,600.

EMBARRAS RIVER, rises in Champaign County and runs southward through the counties of Douglas, Coles and Cumberland, to Newton, in Jasper County, where it turns to the southeast, passing through Lawrence County, and entering the Wabash River about seven miles below Vin- cennes. It is nearly 150 miles long.

EMMERSON, Charles, jurist, was born at North Haverhill, Grafton County, N. H., April 15, 1811; came to Illinois in 1833, first settling at Jackson- ville, where he spent one term in Illinois College, then studied law at Springfield, and, having been admitted to the bar, began practice at Decatur, where he spent the remainder of his life except three years (1847-50) during which he resided at Paris, Edgar County. In 1850 he was elected to

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the Legislature, and, in 1853, to the Circuit bench, serving on the latter by re-election till 1867. The latter year he was a candidate for Justice of the Supreme Court, but was defeated by the late Judge Pinkney H. Walker. In 1869 he was elected to the State Constitutional Convention, but died in April, 1870, while the Convention was still in session.

ENFIELD, a town of White County, at the intersection of the Louisville & Nashville.with the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railway, 10 miles west of Carmi; is the seat of Southern Illi- nois College. The town also has a bank and one newspaper. Population (1880), 717; (1890), 870; (1900), 971; (1903, est.), 1,000.

ENGLISH, Joseph G., banker, was born at Rising Sun, Ind., Dec. 17, 1820; lived for a time at Perrysville and La Fayette in that State, finally engaging in merchandising in the former; in 1853 removed to Danville, Ill., where he formed a partnership with John L. Tincher in mercantile business; later conducted a private banking busi- ness and, in 1863, established the First National Bank, of which he has been President over twenty years. He served two terms as Mayor of Dan- ville, in 1872 was elected a member of the State Board of Equalization, and, for more than twenty years, has been one of the Directors of the Chicago & Eastern Railroad. At the present time Mr. English, having practically retired from busi- ness, is spending most of his time in the West.

ENOS, Pascal Paoli, pioneer, was born at Windsor, Conn., in 1770; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1794, studied law, and, after spending some years in Vermont, where he served as High Sheriff of Windsor County, in September, 1815, removed West, stopping first at Cincinnati. A year later he descended the Ohio by flat-boat to Shawneetown, Ill., crossed the State by land, finally locating at St. Charles, Mo., and later at St. Louis. Then, having purchased a tract of land in Madison County, Ill., he remained there about two years, when, in 1823, having received from President Monroe the appointment of Receiver of the newly established Land Office at Springfield, he removed thither, making it his permanent home. He was one of the original purchasers of the land on which the city of Springfield now stands, and joined with Maj. Elijah Iles, John Taylor and Thomas Cox, the other patentees, in laying out the town, to which they first gave the name of Calhoun. Mr. Enos remained in office through the administration of President Jolin Quincy Adams, but was removed by President Jackson for political reasons, in 1829. Died, at

Springfield, April, 1832 .- Pascal P. (Enos), Jr., eldest son of Mr. Enos, was born in St. Charles, Mo., Nov. 28, 1816; was elected Representative in the General Assembly from Sangamon County in 1852, and served by appointment of Justice McLean of the Supreme Court as Clerk of the United States Circuit Court, being reappointed by Judge David Davis, dying in office, Feb. 17, 1867 .- Zimri A. (Enos), another son, was born Sept. 29, 1821, is a citizen of Springfield - has served as County Surveyor and Alderman of the city .- Julia R., a daughter, was born in Spring- field, Dec. 20, 1832, is the widow of the late O. M. Hatch, Secretary of State(1857-65).

EPLER, Cyrus, lawyer and jurist, was born at Charleston, Clark County, Ind., Nov. 12, 1825; graduated at Illinois College, Jackson- ville, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1852, being elected State's Attorney the same year; also served as a member of the General Assembly two terms (1857-61) and as Master in Chancery for Morgan County, 1867-73. In 1873 he was elected Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit and was re-elected successively in 1879, '85 and '91, serving four terms, and retiring in 1897. During his entire professional and official career his home has been in Jacksonville.

EQUALITY, a village of Gallatin County, on the Shawneetown Division of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, 11 miles west-northwest of Shawneetown. It was for a time, in early days, the county-seat of Gallatin County and market for the salt manufactured in that vicinity. Some coal is mined in the neighborhood. One weekly paper is published here. Population (1880), 500; (1890), 622; (1900), 898.

ERIE, a village of Whiteside County, on the Rock Island and Sterling Division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 30 miles north- east of Rock Island. Population (1880), 537; (1890), 535; (1900), 768.

EUREKA, the county-seat of Woodford County, incorporated in 1856, situated 19 miles east of Peoria; is in the heart of a rich stock-raising and agricultural district. The principal mechanical industry is a large canning factory. Besides having good grammar and high schools, it is also the seat of Eureka College, under the control of the Christian denomination, in connection with which are a Normal School and a Biblical Insti- tute. The town has a handsome courthouse and a jail, two weekly and one monthly paper. Eureka became the county-seat of Woodford County in 1896, the change from Metamora being

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due to the central location and more convenient accessibility of the former from all parts of the county. Population (1880), 1,185; (1890), 1,481; (1900), 1,661.

EUREKA COLLEGE, located at Eureka, Wood- ford County, and chartered in 1855, distinctively under the care and supervision of the "Christian" or "Campbellite" denomination. The primary aim of its founders was to prepare young men for the ministry, while at the same time affording facilities for liberal culture. It was chartered in 1855, and its growth, while gradual, has been steady. Besides a preparatory department and a business school, the college maintains a collegiate department (with classical and scientific courses) and a theological school, the latter being designed to fit young men for the ministry of the denomi- nation. Both male and female matriculates are received. In 1896 there was a faculty of eighteen professors and assistants, and an attendance of some 325 students, nearly one-third of whom were females. The total value of the institution's property is $144,000, which includes an endow- ment of $45,000 and real estate valued at $85,000.

EUSTACE, John V., lawyer and judge, was born in Philadelphia, Sept. 9, 1821; graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1839, and, in 1842, at the age of 21, was admitted to the bar, removing the same year to Dixon, Ill., where he resided until his death. In 1856 he was elected to the General Assembly and, in 1857, became Circuit Judge, serving one term; was chosen Presidential Elector in 1864, and, in March, 1878, was again elevated to the Circuit Bench, vice Judge Heaton, deceased. He was elected to the same position in 1879, and re-elected in 1885, but died in 1888, three years before the expiration of his term.

EVANGELICAL SEMINARY, an institution under the direction of the Lutheran denomina- tion, incorporated in 1865 and located at Elm- hurst, Du Page County. Instruction is given in the classics, theology, oratory and preparatory studies, by a faculty of eight teachers. The number of pupils during the school year (1895-96) was 133-all young men. It has property valued at $59,305. .

EVANS, Henry H., legislator, was born in Toronto, Can., March 9, 1836; brought by his father (who was a native of Pennsylvania) to Aurora, Ill., where the latter finally became fore- man of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy ma- chine shops at that place. In 1862 young Evans enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteers, serving until the close of the

war. Since the war he has become most widely known as a member of the General Assembly, hav- ing been elected first to the House, in 1876, and subsequently to the Senate every four years from 1880 to the year 1898, giving him over twenty years of almost continuous service. He is a large owner of real estate and has been prominently connected with financial and other business enterprises at Aurora, including the Aurora Gas and Street Railway Companies; also served with the rank of Colonel on the staffs of Governors Cullom, Hamilton, Fifer and Oglesby.

EVANS, (Rev.) Jervice G., educator and re- former, was born in Marshall County, Ill., Dec. 19, 1833; entered the ministry of the Methodist. Episcopal Church in 1854, and, in 1872, accepted the presidency of Hedding College at Abingdon, which he filled for six years. He then became President of Chaddock College at Quincy, but the following year returned to pastoral work. In 1889 he again became President of Hedding Col- lege, where (1898) he still remains. Dr. Evans is. a member of the Central Illinois (M. E.) Confer- ence and a leader in the prohibition movement ;. has also produced a number of volumes on reli- gious and moral questions.

EVANS, John, M.D., physician and Governor, was born at Waynesville, Ohio, of Quaker ances- try, March 9, 1814; graduated' in medicine at. Cincinnati and began practice at Ottawa, Ill., but soon returned to Ohio, finally locating at. Attica, Ind. Here he became prominent in the establishment of the first insane hospital in In- diana, at Indianapolis, about 1841-42, becoming a resident of that city in 1845. Three years later, having accepted a chair in Rush Medical College, in Chicago, he removed thither, also serving for a time as editor of "The Northwestern Medical and Surgical Journal." He served as a member of the Chicago City Council, became a successful operator in real estate and in the promotion of various railroad enterprises, and was one of the founders of the Northwestern University, at Evanston, serving as President of the Board of Trustees over forty years. Dr. Evans was one of the founders of the Republican party in Illinois, and a strong personal friend of President Lincoln, from whom, in 1862, he received the appointment. of Governor of the Territory of Colorado, con- tinuing in office until displaced by Andrew John- son in 1865. In Colorado he became a leading factor in the construction of some of the most important railroad lines in that section, including the Denver, Texas & Gulf Road, of which he was for many years the President. He was also

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prominent in connection with educational and church enterprises at Denver, which was his home after leaving Illinois. Died, in Denver, July 3, 1897.

EVANSTON, a city of Cook County, situated 12 miles north of Chicago, on the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul and the Chicago & Northwestern Railroads. The original town was incorporated Dec. 29, 1863, and, in March, 1869, a special act was passed by the Legislature incorporating it as a city, but rejected by vote of the people. On Oct. 19, 1872, the voters of the corporate town adopted village organizations under the General Village and City Incorporation Act of the same year. Since then annexations of adjacent terri- tory to the village of Evanston have taken place as follows: In January, 1873, two small districts by petition; in April, 1874, the village of North Evanston was annexed by a majority vote of the electors of both corporations; in April, 1886, there was another annexation of a small out-lying district by petition; in February, 1892, the ques- tion of the annexation of South Evanston was submitted to the voters of both corporations and adopted. On March 29, 1892, the question of organization under a city government was sub- mitted to popular vote of the consolidated corpo- ration and decided in the affirmative, the first city election taking place April 19, following. The population of the original corporation of Evanston, according to the census of 1890, was 12,072, and of South Evanston, 3,205, making tlie total population of the new city 15,967. Judged by the census returns of 1900, the consolidated city has had a healthy growth in the past ten years, giving it, at the end of the century, a population of 19,259. Evanston is one of the most attractive residence cities in Northern Illinois and famed for its educational advantages. Besides having an admirable system of graded and high schools, it is the seat of the academic and theological departments of the Northwestern University, the latter being known as the Garrett Biblical Institute. The city has well paved streets, is lighted by both gas and electricity, and maintains its own system of water works. Prohibition is strictly enforced within the corporate limits under stringent municipal ordinances, and the charter of the Northwestern University forbidding the sale of intoxicants within four miles of that institution. As a consequence, it is certain to attract the most desirable class of people, whether consisting of those seeking permanent homes or simply contemplating temporary residence for the sake of educational advantages.

EWING, William Lee Davidson, early lawyer and politician, was born in Kentucky in 1795, and caine to Illinois at an early day, first settling at Shawneetown. As early as 1820 he appears from a letter of Governor Edwards to President Mon- roe, to have been holding some Federal appoint- ment, presumably that of Receiver of Public Moneys in the Land Office at Vandalia, as con- temporary history shows that, in 1822, he lost a deposit of $1,000 by the robbery of the bank there. He was also Brigadier-General of the State militia at an early day, Colonel of the "Spy Battalion" during the Black Hawk War, and, as Indian Agent, superintended the removal of the Sacs and Foxes west of the Mississippi. Other posi- tions held by him included Clerk of the House of Representatives two sessions (1826-27 and 1828-29) ; Representative from the counties composing the Vandalia District in the Seventh General Assem- bly (1830-31), when he also became Speaker of the House; Senator from the same District in the Eighth and Ninth General Assemblies, of which he was chosen President pro tempore. While serving in this capacity he became ex-officio Lieutenant-Governor in consequence of the resig- nation of Lieut .- Gov. Zadoc Casey to accept a seat in Congress, in March, 1833, and, in Novem- ber, 1834, assumed the Governorship as successor to Governor Reynolds, who had been elected to Congress to fill a vacancy. He served only fifteen days as Governor, when he gave place to Gov. Joseph Duncan, who had been elected in due course at the previous election. A year later (December, 1835) he was chosen United States Senator to succeed Elias Kent Kane, who had died in office. Failing of a re-election to the Senatorship in 1837, he was returned to the House of Representatives from his old district in 1838, as he was again in 1840, at each session being chosen Speaker over Abraham Lincoln, who was the Whig candidate. Dropping out of the Legis- lature at the close of his term, we find him at the beginning of the next session (December, 1842) in his old place as Clerk of the House, but, before the close of the session (in March, 1843), appointed Auditor of Public Accounts as successor to James Shields, who had resigned. While occupying the office of Auditor, Mr. Ewing died, March 25, 1846. His public career was as unique as it was remark- able, in the number and character of the official positions held by him within a period of twenty- five years.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. (See State officers under heads of "Governor," "Lieutenant-Gov- ernor," etc.)

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EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY, ILLINOIS CHARITABLE. This institution is an outgrowth of a private charity founded at Chicago, in 1858, by Dr. Edward L. Holmes, a distinguished Chi- cago oculist. In 1871 the property of the institu- tion was transferred to and accepted by the State, the title was changed by the substitution of the word "Illinois" for "Chicago, " and the Infirmary became a State institution. The fire of 1871 destroyed the building, and, in 1873-74, the State erected another of brick, four stories in height, at the corner of West Adams and Peoria Streets, Chicago. The institution receives patients from all the counties of the State, the same receiving board, lodging, and medical aid, and (when neces- sary) surgical treatment, free of charge. The number of patients on Dec. 1, 1897, was 160. In 1877 a free eye and ear dispensary was opened under legislative authority, which is under charge of some eminent Chicago specialists.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 32

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