Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I, Part 73

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 73

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McCORMICK, Cyrus Hall, inventor and manu- facturer, born in Rockbridge County, Va., Feb. 15, 1809. In youth he manifested unusual mechani- cal ingenuity, and early began attempts at the manufacture of some device for cutting grain, his first finished machine being produced in 1831. Though he had been manufacturing for years in a small way, it was not until 1844 that his first machine was shipped to the West, and, in 1847, he came to Chicago with a view to establishing its manufacture in the heart of the region where its use would be most in demand. One of his early partners in the business was William B. Ogden, afterwards so widely known in connection with. Chicago's railroad history. The business grew on his hands until it became one of the largest manufacturing interests in the United States. Mr. McCormick was a Democrat, and, in 1860, he bought "The Chicago Times." and having united it with "The Herald," which he already owned, a few months later sold the consolidated concern to Wilbur F. Storey. "The Interior," the Northwestern mouthpiece of the Presbyterian faith, had been founded by a joint stock-company in 1870, but was burned out in 1871 and removed to Cincinnati. In January, 1872, it was returned to Chicago, and, at the beginning of the following year, it became the property of Mr. McCormick in conjunction with Dr. Gray, who has been its editor and manager ever since. Mr. McCormick's most liberal work was undoubtedly the endowment of the Presby- terian Theological Seminary in Chicago, which goes by his name. His death occurred, May 13, 1884, after a business life of almost unprece-

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dented success, and after conferring upon the agriculturists of the country a boon of inestimable value.

MeCORMICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, a Presbyterian school of theology in Chicago, be- ing the outgrowth of an institution originally con- nected with Hanover College, Ind., in 1830. In 1859 the late Cyrus H. McCormick donated $100,- 000 to the school, and it was removed to Chicago, where it was opened in September, with a class of fifteen students. Since then nearly $300,000 have been contributed toward a building fund by Mr. McCormick and his heirs, besides numerous donations to the same end made by others. The number of buildings is nine, four being for the general purposes of the institution (including dormitories), and five being houses for the pro- fessors. The course of instruction covers three annual terms of seven months each, and includes didactic and polemic theology, biblical and ecclesiastical history, sacred rhetoric and pastoral theology, church government and the sacra- inents, New Testament literature and exegesis, apologetics and missions, and homiletics. The faculty consists of eight professors, one adjunct professor, and one instructor in elocution and vocal culture. Between 200 and 300 students are enrolled, including post-graduates.

MeCULLOCH, David, lawyer and jurist, was born in Cumberland County, Pa., Jan. 25, 1832; received his academic education at Marshall Col- lege, Mercersburg, Pa., graduating in the class of 1852. Then, after spending some six months as a teacher in his native village, he came west, arriving at Peoria early in 1853. Here he con- ducted a private school for two years, when, in 1855, he began the study of law in the office of Manning & Merriman, being admitted to the bar in 1857. Soon after entering upon his law studies he was elected School Commissioner for Peoria County, serving, by successive re-elections, three terms (1855-61). At the close of this period he was taken into partnership with his old precep- tor, Julius Manning, who died, July 4, 1862. In 1877 he was elected Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, under the law authorizing the increase of Judges in each circuit to three, and was re- elected in 1879, serving until 1885. Six years of this period were spent as a Justice of the Appellate Court for the Third Appellate District. On retiring from the bench, Judge McCulloch entered into partnership with his son, E. D. McCulloch, which is still maintained. Politically, Judge McCulloch was reared as a Democrat, but during the Civil War became a Republican. Since 1886

he has been identified with the Prohibition Party, although, as the result of questions arising during the Spanish-American War, giving a cordial support to the policy of President Mckinley. In religious views he is a Presbyterian, and is a mem- ber of the Board of Directors of the McCormick Theological Seminary at Chicago.

MCCULLOUGH, James Skiles, Auditor of Public Accounts, was born in Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pa., May 4, 1843; in 1854 came with his father to Urbana, Ill., and grew up on a farm in that vicinity, receiving such education as could be obtained in the public schools. In 1862, at the age of 19 years, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Seventy-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served during the next three years in the Departments of the Mississippi and the Gulf, meanwhile participating in the campaign against Vicksburg, and, near the close of the war, in the operations about Mobile. On the 9th of April, 1865, while taking part in the assault on Fort Blakely, near Mobile, his left arm was torn to pieces by a grape-shot, compelling its amputation near the shoulder. His final discharge occurred in July, 1865. Returning home he spent a year in school at Urbana, after which he was a student in the Soldiers' College at Fulton, Ill., for two years. He then (1868) entered the office of the County Clerk of Champaign County as a deputy, remain- ing until 1873, when he was chosen County Clerk, serving by successive re-elections until 1896. The latter year he received the nomination of the Republican Party for Auditor of Public Accounts, and, at the November election, was elected by a plurality of 138,000 votes over his Democratic opponent. He was serving his sixth term as County Clerk when chosen Auditor, having received the nomination of his party on each occasion without opposition.

MeDANNOLD, John J., lawyer and ex-Con- gressman, was born in Brown County, Ill., August 29, 1851, acquired his early education in the com- mon schools of his native county and in a private school; graduated from the Law Department of the Iowa State University in 1874, and was admitted to the bar in Illinois the same year, commencing practice at Mount Sterling. In 1885 he was made Master in Chancery, in 1886, elected County Judge, and re-elected in 1890, resigning his seat in October, 1892, to accept an election by the Democrats of the Twelfth Illinois District as Representative in the Fifty-third Congress. After retiring from Congress (March 4, 1895), Mr. McDannold removed to Chicago, where he engaged in the practice of his profession.

ALLERENGININGS

GEO WEMELVILLE

MCCORMICK SEMINARY, CHICAGO.

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

CHICAGO UNIVERSITY

...

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MCDONOUGH COUNTY, organized under an act passed, Jan. 25, 1826, and attached, for judicial purposes, to Schuyler County until 1830. Its present area is 580 square miles-named in honor of Commodore McDonough. The first settlement in the county was at Industry, on the site of which William Carter (the pioneer of the county) built a cabin in 1826. James and Jolın Vance and William Job settled in the vicinity in the following year. Out of this settlement grew Blandinsville. William Pennington located on Spring Creek in 1828, and, in 1831, James M. Campbell erected the first frame house on the site of the present city of Macomb. The first sermon, preached by a Protestant minister in the county, was delivered in the Job settlement by Rev. John Logan, a Baptist. Among the early officers were John Huston, County Treasurer; William Southward, Sheriff; Peter Hale, Coro- ner, and Jesse Bartlett, Surveyor. The first term of the Circuit Court was held in 1830, and presided over by Hon. Richard M. Young. The first railway to cross the county was the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (1857). Since then other lines have penetrated it, and there are numerous railroad centers and shipping points of consider- able importance. Population (1880), 25,037; (1890), 27,467; (1900), 28,412.

MCDOUGALL, James Alexander, lawyer and United States Senator, was born in Bethlehem, Albany County, N. Y., Nov. 19, 1817; educated at the Albany grammar school, studied law and settled in Pike County, Ill., in 1837; was Attor- ney-General of Illinois four years (1843-47) ; then engaged in engineering and, in 1849, organized and led an exploring expedition to the Rio del Norte, Gila and Colorado Rivers, finally settling at San Francisco and engaging in the practice of law. In 1850 he was elected Attorney-General of California, served several terms in the State Legislature, and, in 1852, was chosen, as a Demo- crat, to Congress, but declined a re-election; in 1860 was elected United States Senator from Cali- fornia, serving as a War Democrat until 1867. At the expiration of his senatorial term lie retired to Albany, N. Y., where he died, Sept. 3, 1867. Though somewhat irregular in habits, he was, at times, a brilliant and effective speaker, and, dur- ing the War of the Rebellion, rendered valuable aid to the Union cause.

MCFARLAND, Andrew, M.D., alienist, was born in Concord, N. H., July 14, 1817, graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1841, and, after being engaged in general practice for a few years, was invited to assume the man-

agement of the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane at Concord. Here he remained some eight years, during which he acquired consider- able reputation in the treatment of nervous and mental disorders. In 1854 he was offered and' accepted the position of Medical Superintendent of the Illinois State (now Central) Hospital for the Insane at Jacksonville, entering upon his duties in June of that year, and continuing his connection with that institution for a period of more than sixteen years. Having resigned his position in the State Hospital in June, 1870, he soon after established the Oaklawn Retreat, at Jacksonville, a private institution for the treat- ment of insane patients, which he conducted with a great degree of success, and with which he was associated during the remainder of his life, dying, Nov. 22, 1891. Dr. McFarland's serv- ices were in frequent request as a medical expert in cases before the courts, invariably, however, on the side of the defense. The last case in which he appeared as a witness was at the trial of Charles F. Guiteau, the assassin of President Garfield, whom he believed to be insane.

MCGAHEY, David, settled in Crawford County, Ill., in 1817, and served as Representative from that County in the Third and Fourth General Assemblies (1822-26), and as Senator in the Eighth and Ninth (1832-36). Although a native of Tennessee, Mr. McGahey was a strong opponent of slavery, and, at the session of 1822, was one of those who voted against the pro-slavery Constitu- tion resolution. He continued to reside in Law- rence County until his death in 1851 .- James D. (McGahey), a son of the preceding, was elected to the Ninth General Assembly from Crawford County, in 1834, but died during his term of service.

McGANN, Lawrence Edward, ex-Congressman, was born in Ireland, Feb. 2, 1852. His father having died in 1884, the following year his inother emigrated to the United States, settling at Milford, Mass., where he attended the public schools. In 1865 he came to Chicago, and, for fourteen years, found employment as a shoe- maker. In 1879 he entered the municipal service as a clerk, and, on Jan. 1, 1885, was appointed City Superintendent of Streets, resigning in May, 1891. He was elected in 1892, as a Democrat, to represent the Second Illinois District in the Fifty-second Congress, and re-elected to the Fifty- third. In 1894 he was a candidate for re-election and received a certificate of election by a small majority over Hugh R. Belknap (Republican). An investigation having shown his defeat. he

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magnanimously surrendered his seat to his com- petitor without a contest. He has large business interests in Chicago, especially in street railroad property, being President of an important elec- tric line.

McHENRY, a village in McHenry County, situ- ated on the Fox River and the Chicago & North- western Railway. The river is here navigable for steamboats of light draft, which ply between the town and Fox Lake, a favorite resort for sports- men. The town has bottling works, a creamery, marble and granite works, cigar factory, flour mills. brewery, bank, four churches, and one weekly paper. Pop. (1890), 979; (1900), 1,013.

McHENRY, William, legislator and soldier of the Black Hawk War, came from Kentucky to Illinois in 1809, locating in White County, and afterwards became prominent as a legislator and soldier in the War of 1812, and in the Black Hawk War of 1832, serving in the latter as Major of the "Spy Battalion" and participating in the battle of Bad Axe. He also served as Represent- ative in the First, Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Gen- eral Assemblies, and as Senator in the Sixth and Seventh. While serving his last term in the House (1835), he died and was buried at Vandalia, then the State capital. McHenry County-organ- ized by act of the Legislature, passod at a second session during the winter of 1835-36-was named in his honor

McHENRY COUNTY, lies in the northern por- tion of the State, bounded on the north by Wis- consin-named for Gen. William McHenry. Its area is 624 square miles. With what is now the County of Lake, it was erected into a county in 1836, the county-seat being at McHenry. Three years later the eastern part was set off as the County of Lake, and the county-seat of McHenry County removed to Woodstock, tlie geograph- ical center. The soil is well watered by living springs and is highly productive. Hardwood groves are numerous. Fruits and berries are extensively cultivated, but the herbage is espe- cially adapted to dairying, Kentucky blue grass being indigenous. Large quantities of milk are daily shipped to Chicago, and the annual pro- duction of butter and cheese reaches into the millions of pounds. The geological formations comprise the drift and the Cincinnati and Niagara groups of rocks. Near Fox River are found gravel ridges. Vegetable remains and logs of wood have been found at various depths in the drift deposits; in one instance a cedar log, seven inches in diameter, having been discovered forty- two feet below the surface. Peat is found every-

where, although the most extensive deposits are in the northern half of the county, where they exist in sloughs covering several thousands of acres. Several lines of railroad cross the county, and every important village is a railway station. Woodstock, Marengo, and Harvard are the prin- cipal towns. Population (1880), 24,908; (1890), 26,114; (1900), 29,759.

McINTOSH, (Capt.) Alexander, was born in Fulton County, N. Y., in 1822; at 19 years of age entered an academy at Galway Center, remaining three years; in 1845 removed to Joliet, Ill., and, two years later, started "The Joliet True Democrat," but sold out the next year, and, in 1849, went to California. Returning in 1852, he bought back "The True Democrat," which he edited until 1857, meanwhile (1856) having been elected Clerk of the Circuit Court and Recorder of Will County. In 1863 he was appointed by President Lincoln Captain and Assistant Quarter- inaster, serving under General Sherman in 1864 and in the "March to the Sea," and, after the war, being for a time Post Quartermaster at Mobile. Having resigned in 1866, he engaged in mercantile business at Wilmington, Will County ; but, in 1869, bought "The Wilmington Independ- ent," which he published until 1873. The next year lie returned to Joliet, and, a few months after, became political editor of "The Joliet Republican," and was subsequently connected, in a similar capacity, with other papers, including "The Phoenix" and "The Sun" of the same city. Died, in Joliet, Feb. 2, 1899.

McKENDREE, William, Methodist Episcopal Bishop, was born in Virginia, in 1757, enlisted as a private in the War of the Revolution, but later served as Adjutant and in the commissary depart- ment. He was converted at 30 years of age, and the next year began preaching in his native State, being advanced to the position of Presiding Elder; in 1800 was transferred to the West, Illi- nois falling within his District. Here he remained until his elevation to the episcopacy in 1808. McKendree College, at Lebanon, received its name from him, together with a donation of 480 acres of land. Died, near Nashville, Tenn., March 5, 1835.

McKENDREE COLLEGE, one of the earliest of Illinois colleges, located at Lebanon and incorpo- rated in 1835. Its founding was suggested by Rev. Peter Cartwright, and it may be said to have had its inception at the Methodist Episcopal Conference held at Mount Carmel, in September, 1827. The first funds for its establisliment were subscribed by citizens of Lebanon, who contrib-

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uted from their scanty means, $1,385. Instruc- tion began, Nov. 24, 1828, under Rev. Edward Ames, afterwards a Bishop of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In 1830 Bishop McKendree made a donation of land to the infant institution, and the school was named in his honor. It cannot be said to have become really a college until 1836, and its first class graduated in 1841. University powers were granted it by an amendment to its charter in 1839. At present the departments are as follows: Preparatory, business, classical, scientific, law, music and oratory. The institu- tion owns property to the value of $90,000, includ- ing an endowment of $25,000, and has about 200 students, of both sexes, and a faculty of ten instructors. (See Colleges, Early.)

McLAREN, William Edward, Episcopal Bishop, was born at Geneva, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1831 ; gradu- ated at Washington and Jefferson College (Wash- ington, Pa.) in 1851, and, after six years spent in teaching and in journalistic work, entered Alle- gheny Theological Seminary, graduating and entering the Presbyterian ministry in 1860. For three years he was a missionary at Bogota, South America, and later in charge of churches at Peoria, Ill., and Detroit, Mich. Having entered the Protestant Episcopal Church, he was made a deacon in July, 1872, and ordained priest the fol- lowing October, immediately thereafter assuming the pastorate of Trinity Church, Cleveland, Ohio. In July, 1875, he was elected Bishop of the Prot- estant Episcopal Diocese of Illinois, which then included the whole State. Subsequently, the dioceses of Quincy and Springfield were erected therefrom, Bishop McLaren remaining at the head of the Chicago See. During his episcopate, church work has been active and effective, and the Western Theological Seminary in Chicago has been founded. His published works include numerous sermons, addresses and poems, besides a volume entitled "Catholic Dogma the Antidote to Doubt" (New York, 1884).

MCLAUGHLIN, Robert K., early lawyer and State Treasurer, was born in Virginia, Oct. 25, 1779; before attaining his majority went to Ken- tucky, and, about 1815, removed to Illinois, set- tling finally at Belleville, where he entered upon the practice of law. The first public position held by him seems to have been that of Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of both Houses of the Third (or last) Territorial Legislature (1816-18). In August, 1819, he entered upon the duties of State Treasurer, as successor to John Thomas, who had been Treasurer during the whole Territorial period, serving until January, 1823. Becoming a

citizen of Vandalia, by the removal thither of the State capital a few months later, he continued to reside there the remainder of his life. He subse- quently represented the Fayette District as Representative in the Fifth General Assembly, and as Senator in the Sixth, Seventh and Tenth, and, in 1837, became Register of the Land Office at Vandalia, serving until 1845. Although an uncle of Gen. Joseph Duncan, he became a can- didate for Governor against the latter, in 1834, standing third on the list. He married a Miss Bond, a niece of Gov. Shadrach Bond, under whose administration he served as State Treasurer. Died, at Vandalia, May 29, 1862.

McLEAN, a village of McLean County, on the Chicago & Alton Railway, 14 miles southwest of Bloomington, in a farming, dairying and stock- growing district; has one weekly paper. Popu- lation (1890), 500; (1900), 532.

McLEAN, John, early United States Senator, was born in North Carolina in 1991, brought by his father to Kentucky when four years old, and. at 23, was admitted to the bar and removed to Illinois, settling at Shawneetown in 1815. Pos- sessing oratorical gifts of a high order and an almost magnetic power over men, coupled with strong common sense, a keen sense of humor and, great command of language, he soon attained prominence at the bar and as a popular speaker. In 1818 he was elected the first Representative in Congress from the new State, defeating Daniel P. Cook, but served only a few months, being de- feated by Cook at the next election. He was three times elected to the Legislature, serving once as Speaker. In 1824 he was chosen United States Senator to succeed Governor Edwards (who had resigned), serving one year. In 1828 he was elected for a second time by a unanimous vote, but lived to serve only one session, dying at Shawneetown, Oct. 4, 1830. In testimony of the public appreciation of the loss which the State had sustained by his death, McLean County was named in his honor.

MCLEAN COUNTY, the largest county of the State, having an area of 1166 square miles, is central as to the region north of the latitude of St. Louis and about midway between that city and Chicago-was named for John McLean, an early United States Senator. The early immi- grants were largely from Ohio, although Ken- tucky and New York were well represented. The county was organized in 1830, the population at that time being about 1,200. The greater portion of the surface is high, undulating prairie, with occasional groves and belts of timber. On the

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creek bottoms are found black walnut, sycamore, buckeye, black ash and elm, while the sandy ridges are covered with scrub oak and black-jack. The soil is extremely fertile (generally a rich, brown loam), and the entire county is underlaid with coal. The chief occupations are stock-rais- ing, coal-mining, agriculture and manufactures. Sugar and Mackinaw Creeks, with their tribu- taries, afford thorough drainage. Sand and gravel beds are numerous, but vary greatly in depth. At Chenoa one has been found, in boring for coal, thirty feet thick, overlaid by forty-five feet of the clay common to this formation. The upper seam of coal in the Bloomington shafts is No. 6 of the general section, and the lower, No. 4; the latter averaging four feet in thickness. The principal towns are Bloomington (the county- seat), Normal, Lexington, LeRoy and Chenoa. Population (1890), 63,036; (1900), 67,843.

MCLEANSBORO, a city and the county-seat of Hamilton County, upon a branch of the Louis- ville & Nashville Railroad, 102 miles east south- east of St. Louis and about 48 miles southeast of Centralia. The people are enterprising and pro- gressive, the city is up-to-date and prosperous, supporting three banks and six churches. Two weekly newspapers are published here. Popula- tion (1880), 1,341; (1890), 1,355; (1900), 1,758.

McMULLIN, James C., Railway Manager, was born at Watertown. N. Y., Feb. 13, 1836; began work as Freight and Ticket Agent of the Great Western Railroad (now Wabash), at Decatur, Ill., May, 1857, remaining until 1860, when he accepted the position of Freight Agent of the Chicago & Alton at Springfield. Here he re- mained until Jan. 1, 1863, when he was trans- ferred in a similar capacity to Chicago; in September, 1864, became Superintendent of the Northern Division of the Chicago & Alton, after- wards successively filling the positions of Assist- ant General Superintendent (1867), General Superintendent (1868-78) and General Manager (1878-83). The latter year he was elected Vice- President, remaining in office some ten years, when ill-health compelled his retirement. Died, in Chicago, Dec. 30, 1896.

McMURTRY, William, Lieutenant-Governor, was born in Mercer County, Ky., Feb. 20, 1801; removed from Kentucky to Crawford County, Ind., and, in 1829, came to Knox County, Ill., settling in Henderson Township. He was elected Representative in the Tenth General Assembly (1836), and to the Senate in 1842, serving in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth General Assemblies. In 1848 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor on

the same ticket with Gov. A. C. French, being the first to hold the office under the Constitution adopted that year. In 1862 he assisted in raising the One Hundred and Second Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and, although advanced in years, was elected Colonel, but a few weeks later was compelled to accept a discharge on account of failing health. Died, April 10, 1875.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I, Part 73

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