USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I > Part 22
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mines employed 23,934 men and boys, of whom 21,350 worked below ground, besides an office force of 389, and paid, in wages, $8,694,397. The total capital invested in these 358 inines was $17,630,351. According to the report of the State Bureau of Labor Statistics for 1898, 881 mines were operated during the year, employing 35,026 men and producing 18,599,299 tons of coal, which was 1,473,459 tons less than the preceding year- the reduction being due to the strike of 1897. Five counties of the State produced more than 1,000,000 tons each, standing in the following order: Sangamon, 1,763,863; St. Clair, 1,600,752; Vermilion, 1,520,699; Macoupin, 1,264,926; La Salle, 1,165,490.
COAL CITY, a town in Grundy County, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, 29 miles by rail south-southwest of Joliet. Large coal mines are operated here, and the town is an im- portant shipping point for their product. It has a bank, a weekly newspaper and five churches. Pop. (1890), 1,672; (1900), 2,607; (1903), about 3,000.
COBB, Emery, capitalist, was born at Dryden, Tompkins County, N. Y., August 20, 1831; at 16, began the study of telegraphy at Ithaca, later acted as operator on Western New York lines, but, in 1852, became manager of the office at Chicago, continuing until 1865, the various com- panies having meanwhile been consolidated into the Western Union. He then made an extensive tour of the world, and, although he liad intro- duced the system of transmitting money by telegraph, lie declined all invitations to return to the key-board. Having made large investments in lands about Kankakee, where he now resides, he has devoted much of his time to agriculture and stock-raising; was also, for many years, a member of the State Board of Agriculture, Presi- dent of the Short-Horn Breeders' Association, and, for twenty years (1873-93), a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. He has done much to improve the city of his adoption by the erection of buildings, the con- struction of electric street-car lines and the promotion of manufactures.
COBB, Silas B., pioneer and real-estate opera- tor, was born at Montpelier, Vt., Jan. 23, 1812; came to Chicago in 1833 on a schooner from Buf- falo, the voyage occupying over a month. Being without means, he engaged as a carpenter upon a building which James Kinzie, the Indian trader, was erecting; later he erected a building of his own in which he started a harness-shop, which he conducted successfully for a number of years. He has since been connected with a number
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of business enterprises of a public character, including banks, street and steam railways, but his largest successes have been achieved in the line of improved real estate, of which he is an exten- sive owner. He is also one of the liberal bene- factors of the University of Chicago, "Cobb Lecture Hall," on the campus of that institution, being the result of a contribution of his amount- ing to $150,000. Died in Chicago, April 5, 1900.
COBDEN, a village in Union County, on the Illinois Central Railroad, 42 miles north of Cairo and 15 miles south of Carbondale. Fruits and vegetables are extensively cultivated and shipped to northern markets. This region is well tim- bered, and Cobden has two box factories employ- ing a considerable number of men; also has several churches, schools and two weekly papers. Population (1890), 994; (1900,) 1,034.
COCHRAN, William Granville, legislator and jurist, was born in Ross County, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1844; brought to Moultrie County, Ill., in 1849, and, at the age of 17, enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, serving in the War of the Rebellion three years as a private. Returning home from the war, he resumed life as a farmer, but early in 1873 began merchandising at Lovington, continuing this business three years, when he began the study of law; in 1879, was admitted to the bar, and has since been in active practice. In 1888 he was elected to the lower liouse of the General Assembly, was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate in 1890, but was re-elected to the House in 1894, and again in 1896. At the special session of 1890, he was chosen Speaker, and was similarly honored in 1895. He is an excellent parliamen- tarian, clear-headed and just in his rulings, and an able debater. In June, 1897, he was elected for a six years' term to the Circuit bench. He is also one of the Trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Normal.
CODDING, Ichabod, clergyman and anti- slavery lecturer, was born at Bristol, N. Y., in 1811; at the age of 17 he was a popular temper- ance lecturer; while a student at Middlebury, Vt., began to lecture in opposition to slavery ; after leaving college served five years as agent and lecturer of the Anti-Slavery Society; was often exposed to mob violence, but always retain- ing his self-control, succeeded in escaping serious injury. In 1842 he entered the Congrega- tional ministry and held pastorates at Princeton, Lockport, Joliet and elsewhere; between 1854 and '58, lectured extensively through Illinois on the Kansas-Nebraska issue, and was a power in
the organization of the Republican party. Died at Baraboo, Wis., June 17, 1866.
CODY, Hiram Hitchcock, lawyer and Judge; born in Oneida County, N. Y., June 11, 1824; was partially educated at Hamilton College, and, in 1843, came with his father to Kendall County, Ill. In 1847, he removed to Naperville, where for six years he served as Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court. In 1851 he was admitted to the bar; in 1861, was elected County Judge witli practical unanimity, served as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, and, in 1874, was elected Judge of the Twelfth Judi- cial Circuit. His residence (1896) was at Pasa- dena, Cal.
COLCHESTER, a city of McDonough County, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, midway between Galesburg and Quincy; is the center of a rich farming and an extensive coal- mining region, producing more than 100,000 tons of coal annually. A superior quality of potter's clay is also minea and shipped extensively to other points. The city has brick and drain-tile works, a bank, four churches, two public schools and two weekly papers. Population (1890), 1,643; (1900), 1,635.
COLES, Edward, the second Governor of the State of Illinois, born in Albemarle County, Va., Dec. 15, 1786, the son of a wealthy planter, who had been a Colonel in the Revolutionary War; was educated at Hampden-Sidney and William and Mary Colleges, but compelled to leave before graduation by an accident which interrupted his studies; in 1809, became the private secretary of President Madison, remaining six years, after which he made a trip to Russia as a special mes- senger by appointment of the President. He early manifested an interest in the emancipation of the slaves of Virginia. In 1815 he made his first tour through the Northwest Territory, going as far west as St. Louis, returning three years later and visiting Kaskaskia while the Constitu- tional Convention of 1818 was in session. In April of the following year he set out from his Virginia home, accompanied by his slaves, for Illinois, traveling by wagons to Brownsville, Pa., where, taking flat-boats, he descended the river with his goods and servants to a point below Louisville, where they disembarked, journeying overland to Edwardsville. While descending the Ohio, he informed his slaves that they were free, and, after arriving at their destination, gave to each head of a family 160 acres of land. This generous act was, in after years, made the ground for bitter persecution by his enemies. At
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Edwardsville he entered upon the duties of Register of the Land Office, to which he had been appointed by President Monroe. In 1822 he became the candidate for Governor of those opposed to removing the restriction in the State Constitution against the introduction of slavery, and, although a majority of the voters then favored the measure, he was elected by a small plurality over his highest competitor in conse- quence of a division of the opposition vote between three candidates. The Legislature chosen at the same time submitted to the people a proposition for a State Convention to revise the Constitution, which was rejected at the election of 1824 by a majority of 1,668 in a total vote of 11,612. While Governor Coles had the efficient aid in opposition to the measure of such men as Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, Congressman Daniel P. Cook, Morris Birkbeck, George Forquer, Hooper Warren, George Churchill and others, he was himself a most influential factor in protecting Illinois from the blight of slavery, contributing his salary for his entire term ($4,000) to that end. In 1825 it became his duty to welcome La Fay- ette to Illinois. Retiring from office in 1826, he continued to reside some years on his farm near Edwardsville, and, in 1830, was a candidate for Congress, but being a known opponent of Gen- eral Jackson, was defeated by Joseph Duncan. Previous to 1833, he removed to Philadelphia, where he married during the following year, and continued to reside there until his death, July 7, 1868, having lived to see the total extinction of slavery in the United States. (See Slavery and Slave Laws.)
COLES COUNTY, originally a part of Crawford County, but organized in 1831, and named in honor of Gov. Edward Coles .- lies central to the eastern portion of the State, and embraces 520 square miles, with a population (1900) of 34,146. The Kaskaskia River (sometimes called the Okaw) runs through the northwestern part of the county, but the principal stream is the Embarras (Embraw). The chief resource of the people is agriculture, although the county lies within the limits of the Illinois coal-belt. To the north and west are prairies, while timber abounds in the southeast. The largest crop is of corn, although wheat, dairy products, potatoes, hay, tobacco, sorghum, wool, etc., are also important products. Broom-corn is extensively cultivated. Manufac- turing is carried on to a fair extent, the output embracing sawed lumber, carriages and wagons, agricultural implements, tobacco and snuff, boots and shoes, etc. Charleston, the county-seat, is
centrally located, and has a number of handsome public buildings, private residences and business blocks. It was laid out in 1831, and incorporated in 1865; in 1900, its population was 5,488. Mattoon is a railroad center, situated some 130 miles east of St. Louis. It has a population of 9,622, and is an important shipping point for grain and live-stock. Other principal towns are Ashmore, Oakland and Lerna.
COLFAX, a village of McLean County, on the Kankakee and Bloomington branch of the Illinois Central Railroad, 23 miles northeast of Blooming- ton. Farming and stock-growing are the leading industries; has two banks, one newspaper, three elevators, and a coal mine. Pop. (1900), 1,153.
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, located at Chicago, and organized in 1881. Its first term opened in September, 1882, in a build- ing erected by the trustees at a cost of $60,000, with a faculty embracing twenty-five professors, with a sufficient corps of demonstrators, assist- ants, etc. The number of matriculates was 152. The institution ranks among the leading medical colleges of the West. Its standard of qualifica- tions, for both matriculates and graduates, is equal to those of other first-class medical schools throughout the country. The teaching faculty, of late years, has consisted of some twenty-five professors, who are aided by an adequate corps of assistants, demonstrators, etc.
COLLEGES, EARLY. The early Legislatures of Illinois manifested no little unfriendliness toward colleges. The first charters for institutions of this character were granted in 1833, and were for the incorporation of the "Union College of Illi- nois," in Randolph County, and the "Alton Col- lege of Illinois," at Upper Alton. The first named was to be under the care of the Scotch Covenanters, but was never founded. The second was in the interest of the Baptists, but the charter was not accepted. Both these acts contained jealous and unfriendly restrictions, notably one to the effect that no theological department should be establislied and no pro- fessor of theology employed as an instructor, nor should any religious test be applied in the selec- tion of trustees or the admission of pupils. The friends of higher education, however, made com- mon cause, and, in 1835, secured the passage of an "omnibus bill" incorporating four private colleges-tlie Alton; the Illinois, at Jacksonville; the McKendree, at Lebanon, and the Jonesboro. Similar restrictive provisions as to theological teaching were incorporated in these charters, and a limitation was placed upon the amount of
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property to be owned by any institution, but in many respects the law was more liberal than its predecessors of two years previous. Owing to the absence of suitable preparatory schools, tliese institutions were compelled to maintain prepara- tory departments under the tuition of the college professors. The college last named above (Jones- boro) was to have been founded by the Christian . denomination, but was never organized. The three remaining ones stand, in the order of their formation, McKendree, Illinois, Alton (afterward Shurtleff) ; in the order of graduating initial classes - Illinois, McKendree, Shurtleff. Pre- paratory instruction began to be given in Illinois College in 1829, and a class was organized in the collegiate department in 1831. The Legislature of 1835 also incorporated the Jacksonville Female Academy, the first school for girls chartered in the State. From this time forward colleges and academies were incorporated in rapid succession, many of them at places whose names have long since disappeared from the map of the State. It was at this time that there developed a strong party in favor of founding what were termed, rather euphemistically, "Manual Labor Col- leges." It was believed that the time which a student might be able to "redeem" from study, could be so profitably employed at farm or shop- work as to enable him to earn his own livelihood. Acting upon this theory, the Legislature of 1835 granted charters to the "Franklin Manual Labor College," to be located in either Cook or La Salle County; to the "Burnt Prairie Manual Labor Seminary," in White County, and the "Chatham Manual Labor School," at Lick Prairie, Sanga- mon County. University powers were conferred upon the institution last named, and its charter also contained the somewhat extraordinary pro- vision that any sect might establislı a professor- ship of theology therein. In 1837 six more colleges were incorporated, only one of which (Knox) was successfully organized. By 1840, better and broader views of education had developed, and the Legislature of 1841 repealed all prohibition of the establishing of theological departments, as well as the restrictions previously imposed upon the amount and value of property to be owned by private educational institutions. The whole number of colleges and seminaries incorporated under the State law (1896) is forty- three. (See also Illinois College, Knox College, Lake Forest University, McKendree College, Mon- mouth College, Jacksonville Female Seminary, Monticello Female Seminary, Northwestern Uni- versity, Shurtleff College.)
COLLIER, Robert Laird, clergyman, was born in Salisbury, Md., August 7, 1837; graduated at Boston University, 1858; soon after became an itinerant Methodist minister, but, in 1866, united with the Unitarian Church and officiated as pastor of churches in Chicago, Boston and Kan- sas City, besides supplying pulpits in various cities in England (1880-85). In 1885, lie was appointed United States Consul at Leipsic, but later served as a special commissioner of the Johns Hopkins University in the collection of labor statistics in Europe, meanwhile gaining a wide reputation as a lecturer and magazine writer. His published works include: "Every- Day Subjects in Sunday Sermons" (1869) and "Meditations on the Essence of Christianity" (1876). Died near his birthplace, July 27, 1890.
COLLINS, Frederick, manufacturer, was born in Connecticut, Feb. 24, 1804. He was the young- est of five brothers who came with their parents from Litchfield, Conn , to Illinois, in 1822, and settled in the town of Unionville-now Collins- ville - in the southwestern part of Madison County. They were enterprising and public- spirited business men, who engaged, quite extensively for the time, in various branches of manufacture, including flour and whisky. This was an era of progress and development, and becoming convinced of the injurious character of the latter branch of their business, it was promptly abandoned. The subject of this sketch was later associated with his brother Michael in the pork-packing and grain business at Naples, the early Illinois River terminus of the Sangamon & Morgan (now Wabash) Railroad, but finally located at Quincy in 1851, where he was engaged in manufacturing business for many years. He was a man of high business probity and religious principle, as well as a determined opponent of the institution of slavery, as shown by the fact that he was once subjected by his neighbors to the intended indignity of being hung in effigy for the crime of assisting a fugitive female slave on the road to freedom. In a speechi made in 1834, in commemoration of the act of emancipation in the West Indies, he gave utterance to the following prediction: "Methinks the time is not far distant when our own country will celebrate a day of emancipation within her own borders, and con- sistent songs of freedom shall indeed ring throughout the length and breadth of the land." He lived to see this prophecy fulfilled, dying at Quincy, in 1878. Mr. Collins was the candidate of the Liberty Men of Illinois for Lieutenant-Gov. ernor in 1842.
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COLLINS, James H., lawyer and jurist, was born in Cambridge, Washington County, N. Y., but taken in early life to Vernon, Oneida County, where he grew to manhood. After spending a couple of years in an academy, at the age of 18 lie began the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1824, and as a counsellor and solicitor in 1827, coming to Chicago in the fall of 1833, mak- ing a part of the journey by the first stage-coach from Detroit to the present Western metropolis. After arriving in Illinois, he spent some time in exploration of the surrounding country, but returning to Chicago in 1834, he entered into partnership with Judge Jolin D. Caton, who had been his preceptor in New York, still later being a partner of Justin Butterfield under the firm name of Butterfield & Collins. He was con- sidered an eminent authority in law and gained an extensive practice, being regarded as espe- cially strong in chancery cases as well as an able pleader. Politically, he was an uncompromising anti-slavery man, and often aided runaway slaves in securing their liberty or defended others who did so. He was also one of the original promoters of the old Galena & Chicago Union Railroad and one of its first Board of Directors. Died, suddenly of cholera, while attending court at Ottawa, in 1854.
COLLINS, Loren C., jurist, was born at Wind- sor, Conn., August 1, 1848; at the age of 18 accompanied his family to Illinois, and was educated at the Northwestern University. He read law, was admitted to the bar, and soon built up a remunerative practice. He was elected to the Legislature in 1878, and through his ability as a debater and a parliamentarian, soon became one of the leaders of his party on the floor of the lower house. He was re-elected in 1880 and 1882, and, in 1883, was chosen Speaker
In of the Thirty-third General Assembly. December, 1884, he was appointed a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Barnum, was elected to succeed himself in 1885, and re-elected in 1891, but resigned in 1894, since that time devoting his attention to regular practice in the city of Chicago.
COLLINS, William H., retired manufacturer, born at Collinsville, Ill., March 20, 1831; was educated in the common schools and at Illinois College, later taking a course in literature, philosophy and theology at Yale College; served as pastor of a Congregational church at La Salle several years; in 1858, became editor and propri- etor of "The Jacksonville Journal," which he
conducted some four years. The Civil War hav- ing begun, he then accepted the chaplaincy of the Tenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, but resigning in 1863, organized a company of the One Hundred and Fourth Volunteers, of which he was chosen Captain, participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Later he served on the staff of Gen. John M. Palmer and at Fourteenth Army Corps headquarters, until after the fall of Atlanta. Then resigning, in November, 1864, he was appointed by Secretary Stanton Provost- Marshal for the Twelfth District of Illinois, con- tinuing in this service until the close of 1865, when he engaged in the manufacturing business as head of the Collins Plow Company at Quincy. This business he conducted successfully some twenty-five years, when he retired. Mr. Collins has served as Alderman and Mayor, ad interim, of the city of Quincy; Representative in the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth General Assem- blies-during the latter being chosen to deliver the eulogy on Gen. John A. Logan; was a promi- nent candidate for the nomination for Lieutenant Governor in 1888, and the same year Republican candidate for Congress in the Quincy District; in 1894, was the Republican nominee for State Senator in Adams County, and, though a Repub- lican, has been twice elected Supervisor in a strongly Democratic city.
COLLINSVILLE, a city on the southern border of Madison County, 13 miles (by rail) east-north- east of St. Louis, on the "Vandalia Line" (T. H. & I. Ry.), about 11 miles south of Edwardsville. The place was originally settled in 1817 by four brothers named Collins from Litchfield, Conn., who established a tan-yard and erected an ox-mill for grinding corn and wheat and sawing lumber The town was platted by surviving members of this family in 1836. Coal-mining is the principal industry, and one or two mines are operated within the corporate limits. The city has zinc works, as well as flour mills and brick and tile factories, two building and loan associations, a lead smelter, stock bell factory, electric street railways, seven churches, two banks, a high school, and a newspaper office. Population (1890), 3,498; (1900), 4,021; (1903, est.), 7,500.
COLLYER, Robert, clergyman, was born at Keighly, Yorkshire, England, Dec. 8, 1823; left school at eight years of age to earn his living in a factory ; at fourteen was apprenticed to a black- smith and learned the trade of a hammer-maker. His only opportunity of acquiring an education during this period, apart from private study, was
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in a night-school, which he attended two winters. In 1849 he became a local Methodist preacher, came to the United States the next year, settling in Pennsylvania, where he pursued his trade, preaching on Sundays. His views on the atone- ment having gradually been changed towards Unitarianism, his license to preach was revoked by the conference, and, in 1859, he united with the Unitarian Church, having already won a wide reputation as an eloquent public speaker. Coming to Chicago, he began work as a mission- ary, and, in 1860, organized the Unity Church, beginning with seven members, though it has since become one of the strongest and most influ- ential churches in the city. In 1879 he accepted a call to a church in New York City, where he still remains. Of strong anti-slavery views and a zealous Unionist, he served during a part of the Civil War as a camp inspector for the Sanitary Commission. Since the war he has repeatedly visited England, and has exerted a wide influence as a lecturer and pulpit orator on both sides of the Atlantic. He is the author of a number of volumes, including "Nature and Life" (1866) ; "A Man in Earnest: Life of A. H. Conant" (1868); "A History of the Town and Parish of Ilkely" (1886), and "Lectures to Young Men and Women" (1886).
COLTON, Chauncey Sill, pioneer, was born at Springfield, Pa., Sept. 21, 1800; taken to Massachu- setts in childhood and educated at Monson in that State, afterwards residing for many years, dur- ing his manhood, at Monson, Maine. He came to Illinois in 1836, locating on the site of the present city of Galesburg, where he built the first store and dwelling house; continued in general mer- chandise some seventeen or eighteen years, mean- while associating his sons with him in business under the firm name of C. S. Colton & Sons. Mr. Colton was associated with the construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad from the beginning, becoming one of the Directors of the Company; was also a Director of the First National Bank of Galesburg, the first organizer and first President of the Farmers' and Mechan- ics' Bank of that city, and one of the Trustees of Knox College. Died in Galesburg, July 27, 1885. -Francis (Colton), son of the preceding; born at Monson, Maine, May 24, 1834, came to Gales- burg with his father's family in 1836, and was educated at Knox College, graduating in 1855, and receiving the degree of A.M. in 1858. After graduation, he was in partnership with his father some seven years, also served as Vice-President of the First National Bank of Galesburg, and, in
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