Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Kendall County, Volume I, Part 46

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 702

USA > Illinois > Kendall County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Kendall County, Volume I > Part 46

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HAYNIE, Isham Nicolas, soldier and Adju- tant-General, was born at Dover, Tenn., Nov. 18, 1824; came to Illinois in boyhood and received but little education at school, but worked on a farm to obtain means to study law, and was licensed to practice in 1846. Throughout the Mexican War he served as a Lieutenant in the Sixth Illinois Volunteers, but, on his return, resumed practice in 1849, and, in 1850, was elected to the Legislature from Marion County. He graduated from the Kentucky Law School in 1852 and, in 1856, was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas at Cairo. In 1860 he was a candidate for Presidential Elector on the Doug- las ticket. In 1861 he entered the army as Colonel of the Forty-eighth Illinois Infantry, which he had assisted in organizing. He partici- pated in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and was severely wounded at the latter. In 1862 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress as a War Democrat, being defeated by W. J. Allen, and the same year was commissioned Brigadier- General of Volunteers. He resumed practice at Cairo in 1864, and, in 1865, was appointed by Governor Oglesby Adjutant-General as successor to Adjutant-General Fuller, but died in office, at Springfield, November, 1868.

HAYWARD COLLEGE AND COMMERCIAL SCHOOL, at Fairfield, Wayne County; incorpo- rated in 1886; is co-educational; had 160 pupils ir 1898, with a faculty of nine instructors.

HEACOCK, Russell E., pioneer lawyer, was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1770; having lost his father at 7 years of age, learned the carpenter's trade and came west early in life; in 1806 was studying law in Missouri, and, two years later, was licensed to practice in Indiana Territory, of which Illinois then formed a part, locating first

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at Kaskaskia and afterwards at Jonesboro, in Union County ; in 1823 went to Buffalo, N. Y., . but returned west in 1827, arriving where Chi- cago now stands on July 4; in 1828 was living inside Fort Dearborn, but subsequently located several miles up the South Branch of the Chicago River, where he opened a small farm at a place which went by the name of "Heacock's Point." In 1831 he obtained a license to keep a tavern, in 1833 became a Justice of the Peace, and, in 1835, had a law office in the village of Chicago. He took a prominent part in the organization of Cook County, invested liberally in real estate, but lost it in the crash of 1837. He was disabled by par- alysis in 1843 and died of cholera, June 28, 1849. -Reuben E. (Heacock), a son of Mr. Heacock, was member of the State Constitutional Conven- tion of 1847, from Cook County.

HEALTH, BOARD OF, a bureau of the State Government, created by act of May 25, 1877. It consists of seven members, named by the Gov- ernor, who hold office for seven years. It is charged with "general supervision of the inter- ests connected with the health and life of the citizens of the State." All matters pertaining to quarantine fall within its purview, and in this respect it is invested with a power which, while discretionary, is well-nigh autocratic. The same standard holds good, although to a far less ex- tent, as to its supervisory power over conta- gious diseases, of man or beast. The Board also has a modified control over medical practitioners, under the terms of the statute popularly known as the "Medical Practice Act." Through its powers thereunder, it has kept out or expelled from the State an army of irregular practition- ers, and has done much toward raising the stand- ard of professional qualification.

HEALY, George P. A., artist, was born in Boston, July 15, 1808, and early manifested a predilection for art, in which he was encouraged by the painter Scully. He struggled in the face of difficulties until 1836, when, having earned some money by his art, he went to Europe to study, spending two years in Paris and a like period in London. In 1855 he came to Chicago, contemplating a stay of three weeks, but re- mained until 1867. During this time he is said to have painted 575 portraits, many of them being likenesses of prominent citizens of Chicago and of the State. Many of his pictures, deposited in the rooms of the Chicago Historical Society for safe-keeping, were destroyed by the fire of 1871. From 1869 to '91 his time was spent chiefly in Rome. During his several visits to Europe he

painted the portraits of a large number of royal personages, including Louis Phillippe of France, as also, in this country, the portraits of Presidents and other distinguished persons. One of his his- torical pictures was "Webster Replying to Hayne," in which 150 figures are introduced. A few years before his death, Mr. Healy donated a large number of his pictures to the Newberry Library of Chicago. He died in Chicago, June 24, 1894.

HEATON, William Weed, lawyer and jurist, was born at Western, Oneida County, N. Y., April 18, 1814. After completing his academic studies he engaged, for a short time, in teaching, but soon began the study of law, and, in 1838, was admitted to the bar at Terre Haute, Ind. In 1840 he removed to Dixon, Ill., where he resided until his death. In 1861 he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court for the Twenty-second Circuit, and occupied a seat upon the bench, through repeated re-elections, until his death, which occurred Dec. 26, 1877, while serving as a mem- ber of the Appellate Court for the First District.

HECKER, Friedrich Karl Franz, German pa- triot and soldier, was born at Baden, Germany, Sept. 28, 1811. He attained eminence in his native country as a lawyer and politician ; was a member of the Baden Assembly of 1842 and a leader in the Diet of 1846-47, but, in 1848, was forced, with many of his compatriots, to find a refuge in the United States. In 1849 he settled as a farmer at Summerfield, in St. Clair County, Ill. He took a deep interest in politics and, being earnestly opposed to slavery, ultimately joined the Republican party, and took an active part in the campaigns of 1856 and '60. In 1861 he was commissioned Colonel of the Twenty-fourth Illi- nois Volunteers, and was later transferred to the command of the Eighty-second. He was a brave soldier, and actively participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge and Chancellorsville. In ·1864 he resigned his commission and returned to his farm in St. Clair County. Died, at St. Louis, Mo., March 24, 1881.

HEDDING COLLEGE, an institution incorpo- rated in 1875 and conducted under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Abingdon, Knox County, Ill .; has a faculty of seventeen instructors, and reports (1895-96), 403 students, of whom 212 were male and 181 female. The branches taught include the sciences, the classics, music, fine arts, oratory and preparatory courses. The institution has funds and endowment amounting to $55,000, and property valued at $158,000.

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HEMPSTEAD, Charles S., pioneer lawyer and first Mayor of Galena, was born at Hebron, Tol- land County, Conn., Sept. 10, 1794-the son of Stephen Hempstead, a patriot of the Revolution. In 1809 he came west in company with a brother, descending the Ohio River in a canoe from Mari- etta to Shawneetown, and making his way across the "Illinois Country" on foot to Kaskaskia and finally to St. Louis, where he joined another brother (Edward), with whom he soon began the study of law. Having been admitted to the bar in both Missouri Territory and Illinois, he re- moved to St. Genevieve, where he held the office of Prosecuting Attorney by appointment of the Governor, but returned to St. Louis in 1818-19 and later became a member of the Missouri Legis- lature. In 1829 Mr. Hempstead located at Galena, Ill., which continued to be his home for the re- mainder of his life, and where he was one of the earliest and best known lawyers. The late Minis- ter E. B. Washburne became a clerk in Mr. Hempstead's law office in 1840, and, in 1845, a partner. Mr. Hempstead was one of the pro- moters of the old Chicago & Galena Union Rail- road (now a part of the Chicago & Northwestern), serving upon the first Board of Directors; was elected the first Mayor of Galena in 1841, and, in the early days of the Civil War, was appointed by President Lincoln a Paymaster in the Army. Died, in Galena, Dec. 10, 1874 .- Edward (Hemp- stead), an older brother of the preceding, already mentioned, came west in 1804, and, after holding various positions at Vincennes, Indiana Territory, under Gov. William Henry Harrison, located at St Louis and became the first Territorial Delegate in Congress from Missouri Territory (1811-14). His death occurred as the result of an accident, August 10, 1817 .- Stephen (Hemp- stead), another member of this historic family, was Governor of Iowa from 1850 to '54. Died, Feb. 16, 1883.

HENDERSON, Thomas J., Princeton, Ill., was born at Brownsville, Tenn., Nov. 19, 1824; came to Illinois in 1837, and was reared upon a farm, but received an academic education. In 1847 he was elected Clerk of the County Com- missioners' Court of Stark County, and, in 1849, Clerk of the County Court of the same county, serving in that capacity for four years. Mean- while he had studied law and had been admitted to the bar in 1852. In 1855 and '56 he was a member of the lower house of the Legislature, and State Senator from 1857 to '60. He entered the Union army, in 1862, as Colonel of the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteers, and

served until the close of the war, being brevetted Brigadier-General in January, 1865; served as Presidential Elector for the State-at-large, 1868, and as Congressman, 1875-95; later, as First Vice- President of National Board of Managers of Sol- diers' Homes and had supervision of the Home at Danville, Ill. Died Feb. 5, 1911.

HENDERSON, William H., politician and legis- lator, was born in Garrard County, Ky., Nov. 16, 1793. After serving in the War of 1812, he settled in Tennessee, where he held many positions of public trust, including that of State Senator. In 1836 he removed to Illinois, and, two years later, was elected to the General Assembly as Repre- sentative from Bureau and Putnam Counties, being re-elected in 1840. In 1842 he was the unsuccessful Whig candidate for Lieutenant- Governor, being defeated by John Moore. In 1845 he migrated to Iowa, where he died in 1864.

HENDERSON COUNTY, a county comprising 380 square miles of territory, located in the west- ern section of the State and bordering on the Mis- sissippi River. The first settlements were made about 1827-28 at Yellow Banks, now Oquawka. Immigration was checked by the Black Hawk War, but revived after the removal of the Indians across the Mississippi. The county was set off from Warren in 1841, with Oquawka as the county-seat. Population (1880), 10,722; (1890), 9,876. The soil is fertile, and underlaid by lime- stone. The surface is undulating, and well tim- bered. Pop. (1900), 10,836; (1910), 9,734.

HENNEPIN, the county-seat Putnam County, situated on the left bank of the Illinois River, about 28 miles below Ottawa, 100 miles southwest of Chicago, and 3 miles southeast of Bureau Junction.' It has a courthouse, a bank, two grain elevators, three churches, a graded school, a newspaper. It is a prominent shipping point for produce by the river. The Hennepin Canal, in process of construction (1902-07) from Illinois River to the Mississippi at the mouth of Rock River. leaves the Illinois about two miles above Hennepin. Population (1880), 623; (1890), 574; (1900), 523; (1910), 451.

HENNEPIN, Louis, a Franciscan (Recollect) friar and explorer, born at Ath, Belgium, about 1640. After several years of clerical service in Belgium and Holland, he was ordered (1675) by his ecclesiastical superiors to proceed to Canada. In 1679 he accompanied La Salle on his explo- rations of the great lakes and the upper Missis- sippi. Having reached the Illinois by way of Lake Michigan, early in the following year (1680), La Salle proceeded to construct a fort on the east

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side of the Illinois River, a little below the present site of Peoria, which afterwards received the name of Fort Creve-Cœur. In February, 1680, Father Hennepin was dispatched by La Salle, with two companions, by way of the mouth of the Illinois, to explore the upper Mis- sissippi. Ascending the latter stream, his party was captured by the Sioux and carried to the villages of that tribe among the Minnesota lakes, but finally rescued. During his captivity he discovered the Falls of St. Anthony, which he named. After his rescue Hennepin returned to Quebec, and thence sailed to France. There he published a work describing La Salle's first expedition and his own explorations. Although egotistical and necessarily incorrect, this work was a valuable contribution to history. Because of ecclesiastical insubordination he left France for Holland. In 1697 he published an extraordi- nary volume, in which he set forth claims as a discoverer which have been wholly discredited. His third and last work, published at Utrecht, in 1698, was entitled a "New Voyage in a Country Larger than Europe." It was a compilation describing La Salle's voyage to the mouth of the Mississippi. His three works have been trans- lated into twenty-four different languages. He died, at Utrecht, between 1702 and 1705.

HENNEPIN CANAL. (See Illinois & Missis- sippi Canal. )

HENRY, a city in Marshall County, on the Illi- nois River and the Peoria branch of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, 33 miles north- northeast of Peoria; is a thriving commercial center; has grain elevators, flour mills, a creamery, banks and two newspapers. Pop. (1900), 1,637; (1910), 1,687.

HENRY, James D., pioneer and soldier, was born in Pennsylvania, came to Illinois in 1822, locating at Edwardsville, where, being of limited educa- tion, he labored as a mechanic during the day and attended school at night; engaged in mer- chandising, removed to Springfield in 1826, and was soon after elected Sheriff; served in the Win- nebago War (1827) as Adjutant, and, in the Black Hawk War (1831-32) as Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel, finally being placed in command of a brigade at the battle of Wisconsin and the Bad Axe, his success in both winning for him great popularity. His exposures brought on disease of the lungs, and, going South, he died at New Orleans, March 4, 1834.

HENRY COUNTY, one of the middle tier of counties of Northern Illinois, near the western border of the State, having an area of 830 square

miles,-named for Patrick Henry. The Ameri- can pioneer of the region was Dr. Baker, who located in 1835 on what afterwards became the town of Colona. During the two years following several colonies from the eastern States settled at different points (Geneseo, Wethersfield, etc.). The act creating it was passed in 1825, though organization was not completed until 1837. The first county court was held at Dayton. Subse- quent county-seats have been Richmond (1837) ; Geneseo (1840); Morristown (1842); and Cam- bridge (1843). Population (1870), 36,597; (1890), 33,338; (1900), 40,049; (1910), 41,736.

HERNDON, Archer G., one of the celebrated "Long Nine" meinbers of the General Assembly of 1836-37, was born in Culpepper County, Va., Feb. 13, 1795; spent his youth in Green County, Ky., came to Madison County, Ill., 1820, and to Sangamon in 1821, becoming a citizen of Spring- field in 1825, where he engaged in mercantile business; served eight years in the State Senate (1834-42), and as Receiver of the Land Office 1842-49. Died, Jan. 3, 1867. Mr. Herndon was the father of William H. Herndon, the law part- ner of Abraham Lincoln.

HERNDON, William H., lawyer, was born at Greensburg, Ky., Dec. 25, 1818; brought to Illi- nois by his father, Archer G. Herndon, in 1820, and to Sangamon County in 1821; entered Illinois College in 1836, but remained only one year on account of his father's hostility to the supposed abolition influences prevailing at that institution ; spent several years as clerk in a store at Spring- field, studied law two years with the firm of Lin- coln & Logan (1842-44), was admitted to the bar and became the partner of Mr. Lincoln, so con- tinuing until the election of the latter to the Presidency. Mr. Herndon was a radical oppo- nent of slavery and labored zealously to promote the advancement of his distinguished partner. The offices he held were those of City Attorney, Mayor and Bank Commissioner under three Gov- ernors. Some years before his death he wrote, and, in conjunction with Jesse W. Weik, published a Life of Abraham Lincoln in three volumes- afterwards revised and issued in a two-volume edition by the Messrs. Appleton, New York. Died, near Springfield, March 18, 1891.

HERRIN, a city of Williamson County, 10 miles northwest of Marion; junction of three lines of railroad and center of coal-mining district; has banks, powder plant, machine shops and foundry; two weekly newspapers. Pop. (1910), 6,861.

HERRINGTON, Augustus M., lawyer and poli- tician, was born at or near Meadville, Pa., in 1823;

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when ten years of age was brought by his father to Chicago, the family removing two years later (1835) to Geneva, Kane County, where the elder Herrington opened the first store. Augustus was admitted to the bar in 1844; obtained great promi- nence as a Democratic politician, serving as Presidential Elector for the State-at-large in 1856, and as a delegate to Democratic National Conventions in 1860, '64, '68, '76 and '80, and was almost invariably a member of the State Conven- tions of his party during the same period. He also served for many years as Solicitor of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. Died, at Ge- neva, Kane County, August 14, 1883 .- James (Herrington), brother of the preceding, was born in Mercer County, Pa., June 6, 1824; came to Chicago in 1833, but, two years later, was taken by his parents to Geneva, Kane County. In 1843 he was apprenticed to the printing business on the old "Chicago Democrat" (John Wentworth, publisher), remaining until 1848, when he returned to Geneva, where he engaged in farming, being also connected for a year or two with a local paper. In 1849 he was elected County Clerk, re- maining in office eight years; also served three terms on the Board of Supervisors, later serving continuously in the lower branch of the General Assembly from 1872 to 1886. He was also a mem- ber of the State Board of Agriculture and a fre- quent delegate to Democratic State Conventions. Died, July 7, 1890 .- James Herrington, Sr., father of the two preceding, was a Representative in the Fifteenth General Assembly (1846-48) for the District embracing the counties of Kane, McHenry, Boone and De Kalb.

HERTZ, Henry L., ex-State Treasurer, was born at Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1847; gradu- ated from the University of Copenhagen in 1866, and after pursuing the study of medicine for two years, emigrated to this country in 1869. After various experiences in selling sewing-machines, as bank-clerk, and as a farm-hand, in 1876 Mr. Hertz was employed in the Recorder's office of Cook County ; in 1878 was record-writer in the Criminal Court Clerk's office; in 1884 was elected Coroner of Cook County, and re-elected in 1888. In 1892, as Republican candidate for State Treas- urer, he was defeated, but, in 1896, again a candidate for the same office, was elected by a majority of 115,000, serving until 1899. He is now a resident of Chicago.

HESING, Antone Caspar, journalist and politi- cian, was born in Prussia in 1823; left an orphan at the age of 15, he soon after emigrated to America, landing at Baltimore and going thence to Cin-

cinnati. From 1840 to 1842 he worked in a gro- cery store in Cincinnati, and later opened a small hotel. In 1854 he removed to Chicago, where he was for a time engaged in the manufacture of brick. In 1860 he was elected Sheriff of Cook County, as a Republican. In 1862 he purchased an interest in "The Chicago Staats Zeitung," and in 1867 became sole proprietor. In 1871 he admitted his son, Washington Hesing, to a part- nership, installing him as general manager. Died, in Chicago, March 31, 1895 .- Washington (Hesing), son of the preceding, was born in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, May 14, 1849, educated at Chicago and Yale College, graduating from the latter in 1870. After a year spent in study abroad, he returned to Chicago and began work upon "The Staats Zeitung," later becoming managing editor, and finally editor-in-chief. While yet a young man he was made a member of the Chicago Board of Education, but declined to serve a second term. In 1872 he entered actively into politics, making speeches in both English and German in support of General Grant's Presi- dential candidacy. Later he affiliated with the Democratic party, as did his father, and, in 1893, was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for the Chicago mayoralty, being defeated by Carter H. Harrison. In December, 1893, he was appointed by President Cleveland Postmaster of the city of Chicago, serving four years. His administration was characterized by a high degree of efficiency and many improve- ments in the service were adopted, one of the most important being the introduction of postal cars on the street-railroads for the collection of mail matter. In April, 1897, he became an Inde- pendent candidate for Mayor, but was defeated by Carter H. Harrison, the regular Democratic nominee. Died, Dec. 18, 1897.

HEYWORTH, a village of McLean County, on the Illinois Central Railway, 10 miles south of Bloomington; has a bank, churches, gas wells, and a newspaper. Pop. (1900), 683; (1910), 681.

HIBBARD, Homer Nash, lawyer, was born at Bethel, Windsor County, Vt., Nov. 7, 1824, his early life being spent upon a farm and in attend- ance upon the common schools. After a short term in an academy at Randolph, Vt., at the age of 18 he began the study of law at Rutland-also fitting himself for college with a private tutor. Later, having obtained means by teaching, he took a course in Castleton Academy and Ver- mont University, graduating from the latter in 1850. Then, having spent some years in teach- ing, lie entered the Dane Law School at Harvard,

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later continuing his studies at Burlington and finally, in the fall of 1853, removing to Chicago. Here he opened a law office in connection with his old classmate, the late Judge John A. Jame- son, but early in the following year removed to Freeport, where he subsequently served as City Attorney, Master in Chancery and President of the City School Board. Returning to Chicago in 1860, lie became a member of the law firm of Cornell, Jameson & Hibbard, and still later the head of the firm of Hibbard, Rich & Noble. In 1870 he was appointed by Judge Drummond Register in Bankruptcy for the Chicago District, serving during the life of the law. He was also, for some time, a Director of the National Bank of Illinois, and Vice-President of the American Insurance Company. Died, Nov. 14, 1897.

HICKS, Stephen G., lawyer and soldier of three wars, was born in Jackson County, Ga., Feb. 22, 1807-the son of John Hicks, one of the seven soldiers killed at the battle of New Orleans, Jan. 8, 1815. Leaving the roof of a step-father at an early age, he found his way to Illinois, working for a time in the lead mines near Galena, and later at the carpenter's trade with an uncle; served as a Sergeant in the Black Hawk War, finally locating in Jefferson County, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar. Here he was elected to the lower branch of the Twelfth General Assembly (1840) and re-elected succes- sively to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth. Early in the Mexican War (1846) he recruited a com- pany for the Third Regiment, of which he was chosen Captain, a year later becoming Lieuten- ant-Colonel of the Sixth. At the beginning of the Civil War Colonel Hicks was practicing his profession at Salem, Marion County. He promptly raised a company which became a part of the Fortieth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, of which he was commissioned Colonel. The regi- ment saw active service in the campaign in West- ern Tennessee, including the battle of Shiloh, where Colonel Hicks was dangerously wounded through the lungs, only recovering after some months in hospital and at his home. He rejoined his regiment in July following, but found him- self compelled to accept an honorable discharge, a few months later, on account of disability. Having finally recovered, he was restored to his old command, and served to the close of the war. In October, 1863, he was placed in command at Paducah, Ky., where he remained eighteen months, after which he was transferred to Colum- bus, Ky. While in command at Paducah, the place was desperately assaulted by the rebel

Colonel Forrest, but successfully defended, tlie rebel assailants sustaining a loss of some 1,200 killed and wounded. After the war Colonel . Hicks returned to Salem, where he died, Dec. 14, 1869, and was buried, in accordance with his request, in the folds of the American flag. Born on Washington's birthday, it is a somewhat curious coincidence that the death of this brave soldier should have occurred on the anniversary of that of the "Father of His Country."

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Kendall County, Volume I, Part 46

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 702

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 702