Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I, Part 35

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. jt. ed. cn; Wilderman, Alonzo St. Clair, 1839-1904, ed; Wilderman, Augusta A., jt. ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 698

USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I > Part 35

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FOSTER, (Dr.) John Herbert, physician and educator, was born of Quaker ancestry at Hills- borough, N. H., March 8, 1796. His early years were spent on his father's farm, but at the age of 16 he entered an academy at Meriden, N. H., and, three years later, began teaching with an older brother at Schoharie, N. Y. Having spent some sixteen years teaching and practicing medicine at various places in his native State, in 1832 he came west, first locating in Morgan County, Ill. While there he took part in the Black Hawk War, serving as a Surgeon. Before the close of the year he was compelled to come to Chicago to look after the estate of a brother who was an officer in the army and had been killed by an insubordinate soldier at Green Bay. Having thus fallen heir to a considerable amount of real estate, which, in subsequent years, largely appreciated in value, he became identified with early Chicago and ultimately one of the largest real-estate owners of his time in the city. He was an active promoter of education during this period, serving on both City and State Boards. His death occurred, May 18, 1874, in consequence of injuries sustained by being thrown from a vehicle in which he was riding nine days previous.

FOSTER, John Wells, author and scientist, was born at Brimfield, Mass., in 1815, and edu- cated at Wesleyan University, Conn ; later studied law and was admitted to the bar in Ohio, but

FOUKE, Philip B., lawyer and Congressman, was born at Kaskaskia, Ill., Jan. 23, 1818; was chiefly self-educated and began his career as a clerk, afterwards acting as a civil engineer ; about 1841-42 was associated with the publication of "The Belleville Advocate," later studied law, and, after being admitted to the bar, served as Prosecuting Attorney, being re-elected to that office in 1856. Previous to this, however, he had been elected to the lower branch of the Seven- teenth General Assembly (1850), and, in 1858, was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-sixth Congress and re-elected two years later. While still in Congress he assisted in organizing the Thirtieth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, of which he was commissioned Colonel, but resigned on account of ill-health soon after the battle of Shiloh. After leaving the army he removed to New Orleans, where he was appointed Public Adminis- trator and practiced law for some time. He then took up the prosecution of the cotton-claims against the Mexican Government, in which he

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was engaged some seven years, finally removing to Washington City and making several trips to Europe in the interest of these suits. He won his cases, but died soon after a decision in his favor, largely in consequence of overtaxing his brain in their prosecution. His death occurred in Washington, Oct. 3, 1876, when he was buried in the Congressional Cemetery, President Grant and a number of Senators and Congressmen acting as pall-bearers at his funeral.

FOWLER, Charles Henry, Methodist Episcopal Bishop, born in Burford, Conn., August 11, 1837; was partially educated at Rock River Seminary, Mount Morris, finally graduating at Genesee College, N. Y., in 1859. He then began the study of law in Chicago, but, changing his purpose, entered Garrett Biblical Institute, at Evanston, graduating in 1861. Having been admitted to the Rock River Methodist Episcopal Conference lie was appointed successively to Chicago churches till 1872; then became President of the North- western University, holding this office four years, when he was elected to the editorship of "The Christian Advocate" of New York. In 1884 he was elected and ordained Bishop. His residence is in San Francisco, his labors as Bishop being devoted largely to the Pacific States.

FOX RIVER (of Illinois)-called Pishtaka by the Indians-rises in Waukesha County, Wis., and, after running southward through Kenosha and Racine Counties in that State, passes into Illinois. It intersects McHenry and Kane Coun- ties and runs southward to the city of Aurora, below which point it flows southwestward, until it empties into the Illinois River at Ottawa. Its length is estimated at 220 miles. The chief towns on its banks are Elgin, Aurora and Ottawa. It affords abundant water power.

FOXES, an · Indian tribe. (See Sacs and Foxes. )

FRANCIS, Simeon, pioneer journalist, was born at Wethersfield, Conn., May 14, 1796, learned the printer's trade at New Haven, and, in connection with a partner, published a paper at Buffalo, N. Y. In consequence of the excitement growing out of the abduction of Morgan in 1828, (being a Mason) lie was compelled to suspend, and, coming to Illinois in the fall of 1831, com- menced the publication of "The Sangamo" (now "The Illinois State") "Journal" at Springfield, continuing his connection therewith until 1855, when he sold out to Messrs. Bailhache & Baker. Abraham Lincoln was his close friend and often wrote editorials for his paper. Mr. Francis was active in the organization of the State Agricul-

tural Society (1853), serving as its Recording Secretary for several years. ' In 1859 he moved to Portland, Ore., where he published "The Oregon Farmer," and served as President of the Oregon State Agricultural Society; in 1861 was ap- pointed by President Lincoln, Paymaster in the regular army, serving until 1870, when he retired on half-pay. Died, at Portland, Ore., Oct. 25, 1872 .- Allen (Francis), brother of the preceding, was born at Wethersfield, Conn., April 14, 1815; in 1834, joined his brother at Springfield, Ill., and became a partner in the publication of "The Journal" until its sale, in 1855. In 1861 he was appointed United States Consul at Victoria, B. C., serving until 1871, when he engaged in the fur trade. Later he was United States Consul at Port Stanley, Can., dying there, about 1887 .- Josiah (Francis), cousin of the preceding, born at Wethersfield, Conn., Jan. 17, 1804; was early connected with "The Springfield Journal"; in 1836 engaged in merchandising at Athens, Menard County; returning to Springfield, was elected to the Legislature in 1840, and served one term as Mayor of Springfield. Died in 1867.

FRANKLIN, a village of Morgan County, on the Jacksonville & St. Louis Railroad, 12 miles southeast of Jacksonville. The place has a news- paper and two banks; the surrounding country is agricultural. Population (1880), 316; (1890), 578; (1900), 687.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, located in the south- central part of the State; was organized in 1818, and has an area of 430 square miles. Population (1900), 19,675. The county is well timbered and is drained by the Big Muddy River. The soil is fertile and the products include cereals, potatoes, sorghum, wool, pork and fruit. The county-seat is Benton, with a population (1890) of 939. The county contains no large towns, although large, well-cultivated farms are numerous. The earli- est white settlers came from Kentucky and Ten- nessee, and the hereditary traditions of generous, southwestern hospitality are preserved among the residents of to-day.

FRANKLIN GROVE, a town of Lee County, on Council Bluffs Division of the Chicago & North- western Railway, 88 miles west of Chicago. Grain, poultry, and live-stock are shipped from here. It has banks, water-works, high school, and a weekly paper. Population (1890), 736; (1900), 681.

FRAZIER, Robert, a native of Kentucky, who came to Southern Illinois at an early day and served as State Senator from Edwards County, in the Second and Third General Assemblies, in the

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latter being an opponent of the scheme to make Illinois a slave State. He was a farmer by occu- pation and, at the time he was a member of the Legislature, resided in what afterwards became Wabash County. Subsequently he removed to Edwards County, near Albion, where he died. "Frazier's Prairie," in Edwards County, was named for him.

FREEBURG, a village of St. Clair County, on the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad, 8 miles southeast of Belleville. Population (1880), 1,038; (1890), 848; (1900), 1,214.

FREEMAN, Norman L., lawyer and Supreme Court Reporter, was born in Caledonia, Living- ston County, N. Y., May 9, 1823; in 1831 accom- panied his widowed mother to Ann Arbor, Mich., removing six years afterward to Detroit ; was edu- cated at Cleveland and Ohio University, taught school at Lexington, Ky., while studying law, and was admitted to the bar in 1846; removed to Shawneetown, Ill., in 1851, was admitted to the Illinois bar and practiced some eight years. He then began farming in Marion County, Mo., but, in 1862, returned to Shawneetown and, in 1863, was appointed Reporter of Decisions by the Supreme Court of Illinois, serving until his death, which occurred at Springfield near the beginning of his sixth term in office, August 23, 1894.

FREE MASONS, the oldest secret fraternity in the State-known as the "Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons"-the first Lodge being instituted at Kaskaskia, June, 3, 1806, with Gen. John Edgar, Worshipful Master; Michael Jones, Senior Warden; James Galbraith, Junior War- den; William Arundel, Secretary; Robert Robin- son, Senior Deacon. These are names of persons who were, without exception, prominent in the early history of Illinois. A Grand Lodge was organized at Vandalia in 1822, with Gov. Shad- rach Bond as first Grand Master, but the organi- zation of the Grand Lodge, as it now exists, took place at Jacksonville in 1840. The number of Lodges constituting the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1840 was six, with 157 members; the number of Lodges within the same jurisdiction in 1895 was 713, with a membership of 50,727, of which 47,335 resided in Illinois. The dues for 1895 were $37,834.50; the contributions to members, their widows and orphans, $25,038.41; to non- members, $6,306.38, and to the Illinois Masonic Orphans' Home, $1,315.80 .- Apollo Commandery No. 1 of Knights Templar-the pioneer organi- zation of its kind in this or any neighboring State-was organized in Chicago, May 20, 1845,

and the Grand Commandery of the order in Illi- nois in 1857, with James V. Z. Blaney, Grand Commander. In 1895 it was made up of sixty- five subordinate commanderies, with a total membership of 9,355, and dues amounting to $7,754.75. The principal officers in 1895-96 were Henry Hunter Montgomery, Grand Commander; John Henry Witbeck, Grand Treasurer, and Gil- bert W. Barnard, Grand Recorder .- The Spring- field Chapter of Royal Arch-Masons was organized in Springfield, Sept. 17, 1841, and the Royal Arch Chapter of the State at Jacksonville, April 9, 1850, the nine existing Chapters being formally chartered Oct. 14, of the same year. The number of subordinate Chapters, in 1895, was 186, with a total membership of 16,414 .- The Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters, in 1894, embraced 32 subordinate Councils, with a membership of 2,318.

FREEPORT, a city and railway center, the county-seat of Stephenson County, 121 miles west of Chicago; has good water-power from the Peca- tonica River, with several manufacturing estab- lishments, the output including carriages, wagon-wheels, wind-mills, coffee-mills, organs, piano-stools, leather, mineral paint, foundry pro- ducts, chicken incubators and vinegar. The Illi- nois Central Railroad has shops here and the city has a Government postoffice building. Popula- tion (1890), 10,189; (1900), 13,258.

FREEPORT COLLEGE, an institution at Free- port, Ill., incorporated in 1895; is co-educational; had a faculty of six instructors in 1896, with 116 pupils.

FREER, Lemuel Covell Paine, early lawyer, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., Sept. 18, 1815; came to Chicago in 1836, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1840; was a zealous anti-slavery man and an active supporter of the Government during the War of the Rebellion; for many years was President of the Board of Trustees of Rush Medical College. Died, in Chicago, April 14, 1892.

FRENCH, Augustus C., ninth Governor of Illinois (1846-52), was born in New Hampshire, August 2, 1808. After coming to Illinois, he became a resident of Crawford County, and a lawyer by profession. He was a member of the Tenth and Eleventh General Assemblies, and Receiver, for a time, of the Land Office at Pales- tine. He served as Presidential Elector in 1844, was elected to the office of Governor as a Demo- crat in 1846 by a majority of nearly 17,000 over two competitors, and was the unanimous choice of his party for a second term in 1848. His adminis-

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tration was free from scandals. He was appointed Bank Commissioner by Governor Matteson, and later accepted the chair of Law in McKendree College at Lebanon. In 1858 he was the nominee of the Douglas wing of the Democratic party for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex-Gov. John Reynolds being the candidate of the Buchanan branch of the party. Both were defeated. His last public service was as a mem- ber from St. Clair County of the Constitutional Convention of 1862. Died, at Lebanon, Sept. 4, 1864.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. The first premonition of this struggle in the West was given in 1698, when two English vessels entered the mouth of the Mississippi, to take possession of the French Territory of Louisiana, which then included what afterward became the State of Illinois. This expedition, however, returned without result. Great Britain was anxious to have a colorable pretext for attempting to evict the French, and began negotiation of treaties with the Indian tribes as early as 1724, expecting thereby to fortify her original claim, which was based on the right of prior discovery. The numerous shiftings of the political kaleidoscope in Europe prevented any further steps in this direc- tion on the part of England until 1748-49, when the Ohio Land Company received a royal grant of 500,000 acres along the Ohio River, with exclu- sive trading privileges. The Company proceeded to explore and survey and, about 1752, established a trading post on Loramie Creek, 47 miles north of Dayton. The French foresaw that hostilities were probable, and advanced their posts as far east as the Allegheny River. Complaints by the Ohio Company induced an ineffectual remon- strance on the part of Virginia. Among the ambassadors sent to the French by the Governor of Virginia was George Washington, who thus, in early manhood, became identified with Illinois history. His report was of such a nature as to induce the erection of counter fortifications by the British, one of which (at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers) was seized and occupied by the French before its completion. Then ensued a series of engagements which, while not involving large forces of men, were fraught with grave consequences, and in which the French were generally successful. In 1755 occurred "Braddock's defeat" in an expedition to recover Fort Duquesne (where Pittsburg now stands), which had been captured by the French the previous year, and the Government of Great Britain determined to redouble its efforts. The

final result was the termination of French domi- nation in the Ohio Valley. Later came the down- fall of French ascendency in Canada as the result of the battle of Quebec; but the vanquished yet hoped to be able to retain Louisiana and Illinois. But France was forced to indemnify Spain for the loss of Florida, which it did by the cession of all of Louisiana lying west of the Mississippi (includ- ing the city of New Orleans), and this virtually ended French hopes in Illinois. The last military post in North America to be garrisoned by French troops was Fort Chartres, in Illinois Territory, where St. Ange remained in command until its evacuation was demanded by the English.

FRENCH GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. French Governors began to be appointed by the Company of the Indies (which see) in 1722, the "Illinois Country" having previously been treated as a dependency of Canada. The first Governor ( or "commandant") was Pierre Duque de Boisbriant, who was commandant for only three years, when he was summoned to New Orleans (1725) to suc- ceed de Bienville as Governor of Louisiana. Capt. du Tisne was in command for a short time after his departure, but was succeeded by another Captain in the royal army, whose name is vari- ously spelled de Liette, de Lielte, De Siette and Delietto. He was followed in turn by St. Ange (the father of St. Ange de Bellerive), who died in 1742. In 1732 the Company of the Indies surren- dered its charter to the crown, and the Governors of the Illinois Country were thereafter appointed directly by royal authority. Under the earlier Governors justice had been administered under the civil law; with the change in the method of appointment the code known as the "Common Law. of Paris" came into effect, although not rigidly enforced because found in many particu- lars to be ill-suited to the needs of a new country. The first of the Royal Governors was Pierre d' Artaguiette, who was appointed in 1734, but was captured while engaged in an expedition against the Chickasaws, in 1736, and burned at the stake. (See D'Artaguiette.) He was followed by Alphonse de la Buissoniere, who was succeeded, in 1740, by Capt. Benoist de St. Claire. In 1742 he gave way to the Chevalier Bertel or Berthet, but was reinstated about 1748. The last of the French Governors of the "Illinois Country" was Louis St. Ange de Bellerive, who retired to St. Louis, after turning over the command to Cap- tain Stirling, the English officer sent to supersede him, in 1765. (St. Ange de Bellerive died, Dec. 27, 1774.) The administration of the French commandants, while firm, was usually conserva-

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tive and benevolent. Local self-government was encouraged as far as practicable, and, while the Governors' power over commerce was virtually unrestricted, they interfered but little with the ordinary life of the people.

FREW, Calvin Hamill, lawyer and State Sena- tor, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, educated at Finley (Ohio) High School, Beaver (Pa.) Academy and Vermilion Institute at Hayesville, Ohio .; in 1862 was Principal of the High School at Kalida, Ohio, where he began the study of law, which he continued the next two years with Messrs. Strain & Kidder, at Monmouth, Ill., meanwhile acting as Principal of a high school at Young America; in 1865 removed to Paxton, Ford County, which has since been his home, and the same year was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Illi- nois. Mr. Frew served as Assistant Superintend- ent of Schools for Ford County (1865-68); in 1868 was elected Representative in the Twenty-sixth General Assembly, re-elected in 1870, and again in '78. While practicing law he has been con- nected with some of the most important cases before the courts in that section of the State, and his fidelity and skill in their management are testified by members of the bar, as well as Judges upon the bench. Of late years he has devoted his attention to breeding trotting horses, with a view to the improvement of his health but not with the intention of permanently abandoning his profession.

FRY, Jacob, pioneer and soldier, was born in Fayette County, Ky., Sept. 20, 1799; learned the trade of a carpenter and came to Illinois in 1819, working first at Alton, but, in 1820, took up his residence near the present town of Carrollton, in which he built the first house. Greene County was not organized until two years later, and this border settlement was, at that time, the extreme northern white settlement in Illinois. He served as Constable and Deputy Sheriff (simultaneously) for six years, and was then elected Sheriff, being five times re-elected. He served through the Black Hawk War (first as Lieutenant-Colonel and afterwards as Colonel), having in his regiment Abraham Lincoln, O. H. Browning, John Wood (afterwards Governor) and Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame. In 1837 he was appointed Commissioner of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and re-appointed in 1839 and '41, later becoming Acting Commissioner, with authority to settle up the business of the former commission, which was that year legislated out of office. He was afterwards appointed Canal Trustee by Governor Ford, and, in 1847, retired from connection with

canal management. In 1850 he went to Cali- fornia, where he engaged in mining and trade for three years, meanwhile serving one term in the State Senate. In 1857 he was appointed Col- lector of the Port at Chicago by President Buch- anan, but was removed in 1859 because of his friendship for Senator Douglas. In 1860 he returned to Greene County ; in 1861, in spite of his advanced age, was commissioned Colonel of the Sixty-first Illinois Volunteers, and later partici- pated in numerous engagements (among them the battle of Shiloh), was captured by Forrest, and ultimately compelled to resign because of im- paired health and failing eyesight, finally becom- ing totally blind. He died, June 27, 1881, and was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, near Spring- field. Two of Colonel Fry's sons achieved dis- tinction during the Civil War .- James Barnet (Fry), son of the preceding, was born at Car- rollton, Ill., Feb. 22, 1827; graduated at West Point Military Academy, in 1847, and was assigned to artillery service; after a short experi- ence as Assistant Instructor, joined his regiment, the Third United States Artillery, in Mexico, remaining there through 1847-48. Later, he was employed on frontier and garrison duty, and again as Instructor in 1853-54, and as Adjutant of the Academy during 1854-59; became Assistant Adjutant-General, March 16, 1861, then served as Chief of Staff to General McDowell and General Buell (1861-62), taking part in the battles of Bull Run, Shiloh and Corinth, and in the campaign in Kentucky; was made Provost-Marshal-General of the United States, in March, 1863, and con- ducted the drafts of that year, receiving the rank of Brigadier-General, April 21, 1864. He con- tinued in this office until August 30, 1866, during which time he put in the army 1,120,621 men, arrested 76,562 deserters, collected $26,366,316.78 and made an exact enrollment of the National forces. After the war he served as Adjutant- General with the rank of Colonel, till June 1, 1881, when he was retired at his own request. Besides his various official reports, lie published a "Sketch of the Adjutant-General's Department, United States Army, from 1775 to 1875," and "His- tory and Legal Effects of Brevets in the Armies of Great Britain and the United States, from their origin in 1692 to the Present Time," (1877). Died, in Newport, R. I., July 11, 1894 .- William M. (Fry), another son, was Provost Marshal of the North Illinois District during the Civil War, and rendered valuable service to the Government.

FULLER, Allen Curtis, lawyer, jurist and Adjutant-General, was born in Farmington,

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Conn., Sept. 24, 1822; studied law at Warsaw, N. Y., was admitted to practice, in 1846 came to Belvidere, Boone County, Ill., and, after practic- ing there some years, was elected Circuit Judge in 1861. A few months afterward he was induced to accept the office of Adjutant-General by appointment of Governor Yates, entering upon the duties of the office in November, 1861. At first it was understood that his acceptance was only temporary, so that he did not formally resign his place upon the bench until July, 1862. He continued to discharge the duties of Adjutant- General until January, 1865, when, having been elected Representative in the General Assembly, he was succeeded in the Adjutant-General's office by General Isham N. Haynie. He served as Speaker of the House during the following ses- sion, and as State Senator from 1867 to 1873- in the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty- seventh General Assemblies. He was also elected a Republican Presidential Elector in 1860, and again in 1876. Since retiring from office, General Fuller has devoted his attention to the practice of his profession and looking after a large private business at Belvidere.

FULLER, Charles E., lawyer and legislator, was born at Flora, Boone County, Ill., March 31, 1849; attended the district school until 12 years of age, and, between 1861 and '67, served as clerk in stores at Belvidere and Cherry Valley. He then spent a couple of years in the book business in Iowa, when (1869) he began the study of law with Hon. Jesse S. Hildrup, at Belvidere, and was admitted to the bar in 1870. Since then Mr. Fuller has practiced his profession at Belvi- dere, was Corporation Attorney for that city in 1875-76, the latter year being elected State's Attorney for Boone County. From 1879 to 1891 he served continuously in the Legislature, first as State Senator in the Thirty-first and Thirty- second General Assemblies, then as a member of the House for three sessions, in 1888 being returned to the Senate, where he served the next two sessions. Mr. Fuller established a high reputation in the Legislature as a debater, and was the candidate of his party (the Republican) for Speaker of the House in 1885. He was also a delegate to the Republican National Convention of 1884. Mr. Fuller was elected Judge of the Circuit Court for the Seventeenth Circuit at the judicial election of June, 1897.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I, Part 35

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. jt. ed. cn; Wilderman, Alonzo St. Clair, 1839-1904, ed; Wilderman, Augusta A., jt. ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 698

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. jt. ed. cn; Wilderman, Alonzo St. Clair, 1839-1904, ed; Wilderman, Augusta A., jt. ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 698