Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I, Part 76

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 76

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

MILITIA. Illinois, taught by the experiences of the War of 1812 and the necessity of providing for protection of its citizens against the incur- sions of Indians on its borders, began the adop- tion, at an early date, of such measures as were then common in the several States for the main- tenance of a State militia. The Constitution of 1818 made the Governor "Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy of this State, " and declared that the militia of the State should "consist of all free male able-bodied persons (negroes, mu-

lattoes and Indians excepted) resident in the State, between the ages of 18 and 45 years," and this classification was continued in the later con- stitutions, except that of 1870, which omits all reference to the subject of color. In each there is the same general provision exempting persons entertaining "conscientious scruples against bearing arms," although subject to payment of an equivalent for such exemption. The first law on the subject, enacted by the first General Assembly (1819), provided for the establishment® of a general militia system for the State; and the fact that this was modified, amended or wholly changed by acts passed at the sessions of 1821, '23, '25, '26, '27, '29, '33, '37 and '39, shows the estimation in which the subject was held. While many of these acts were of a special character, providing for a particular class of organization, the general law did little except to require per- sons subject to military duty, at stated periods, to attend county musters, which were often con- ducted in a very informal manner, or made the occasion of a sort of periodical frolic. The act of July, 1833 (following the Black Hawk War), required an enrollment of "all free, white, male inhabitants of military age (except such as might be exempt under the Constitution or laws)"; divided the State into five divisions by counties, each division to be organized into a certain speci- fied number of brigades. This act was quite elaborate, covering some twenty-four pages, and provided for regimental, battalion and company musters, defined the duties of officers, manner of election, etc. The act of 1837 encouraged the organization of volunteer companies. The Mexi- can War (1845-47) gave a new impetus to this class of legislation, as also did the War of the Rebellion (1861-65). While the office of Adju- tant-General had existed from the first, its duties -except during the Black Hawk and Mexican Wars-were rather nominal, and were discharged without stated compensation, the incumbent being merely Chief-of-staff to the Governor as Commander-in-Chief. The War of the Rebellion at once brought it into prominence, as an impor- tant part of the State Government, which it has since maintained. The various measures passed, during this period, belong rather to the history of the late war than to the subject of this chapter. In 1865, however, the office was put on a different footing, and the important part it had played, during the preceding four years, was recognized by the passage of "an act to provide for the ap- pointment, and designate the work, fix the pay and prescribe the duties, of the Adjutant-General

377

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

of Illinois." During the next four years, its most important work was the publication. of eight volumes of war records, containing a com- plete roster of the officers and mnen of the various regiments and other military organizations from Illinois, with an outline of their movements and a list of the battles in which they were engaged. To the Adjutant-General's office, as now adıninis- tered, is entrusted the custody of the war- records, battle-flags and trophies of the late war. A further step was taken, in 1877, in the passage of an act formulating a military code and provid- ing for more thorough organization. Modifying amendments to this act were adopted in 1879 and 1885. While, under these laws, "all able-bodied inale citizens of this State, between the ages of 18 and 45" (with certain specified exceptions), are declared "subject to military duty, and desig- nated as the Illinois State Militia," provision is made for the organization of a body of "active militia," designated as the "Illinois National Guard," to consist of "not more than eighty-four companies of infantry, two batteries of artillery and two troops of cavalry," recruited by volun- tary enlistments for a period of three years, with right to re-enlist for one or more years. The National Guard, as at present constituted, con- sists of three brigades, with a total force of about 9,000 men, organized into nine regiments, besides the batteries and cavalry already mentioned. Gatling guns are used by the artillery and breech- loading rifles by the infantry. Camps of instruc- tion are held for the regiments, respectively-one or more regiments participating - each year, usually at "Camp Lincoln" near Springfield, when regimental and brigade drills, competitive rifle practice and mock battles are had. An act establishing the "Naval Militia of Illinois," to consist of "not more than eight divisions or com- panies," divided into two battalions of four divi- sions eachı, was passed by the General Assembly of 1893-the whole to be under the command of an officer with the rank of Commander. The commanding officer of each battalion is styled a "Lieutenant-Commander," and both the Com- mander and Lieutenant-Commanders have their respective staffs-their organization, in other respects, being conformable to the laws of the United States. A set of "Regulations," based upon these several laws, has been prepared by the Adjutant-General for the government of the various organizations. The Governor is author- ized, by law, to call out the militia to resist inva- sion. or to suppress violence and enforce execution of the laws, when called upon by the civil author-

ities of any city, town or county. This authority, however, is exercised with great discretion, and only when the local authorities are deemed unable to cope with threatened resistance to law Tlie officers of the National Guard, when called into actual service for the suppression of riot or the enforcement of the laws, receive the same com- pensation paid to officers of the United States army of like grade, while the enlisted men receive $2 per day. During the time they are at any encampment, the officers and men alike receive $1 per day, with necessary subsistence and cost of transportation to and from the encampment. (For list of incumbents in Adjutant-General's office, see Adjutants-General; see, also, Spanish- American War )

MILLER, James H., Speaker of the House of Representatives, was born in Ohio, May 29, 1843; in early life came to Toulon, Stark County, Ill., where he finally engaged in the practice of law. At the beginning of the Rebellion he enlisted in the Union army, but before being mustered into the service, received an injury which rendered him a cripple for life. Though of feeble physical organization and a sufferer from ill-health, he was a man of decided ability and much influence. He served as State's Attorney of Stark County (1872-76) and, in 1884, was elected Representative in the Thirty-fourth General Assembly, at the following session being one of the most zealous supporters of Gen. John A. Logan, in the cele- brated contest which resulted in the election of the latter, for the third time, to the United States Senate. By successive re-elections he also served in the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth General Assemblies, during the session of the latter being chosen Speaker of the House, as successor to A. C. Matthews, who had been appointed, during the session, First Comptroller of the Treasury at Washington. In the early part of the summer of 1890, Mr. Miller visited Colorado for the bene- fit of his health, but, a week after his arrival at Manitou Springs, died suddenly, June 27, 1890.

MILLS, Benjamin, lawyer and early poli- tician, was a native of Western Massachusetts, and described by his contemporaries as a highly educated and accomplished lawyer, as well as a brilliant orator. The exact date of his arrival in Illinois cannot be determined with certainty, but he appears to have been in the "Lead Mine Region" about Galena, as early as 1826 or '27, and was notable as one of the first "Yankees" to locate in that section of the State. He was elected a Representative in the Eighth General Assembly (1832), his district embracing the

378

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

counties of Peoria, Jo Daviess, Putnam, La Salle and Cook, including all the State north of Sanga- mon (as it then stood), and extending from the Mississippi River to the Indiana State line. At this session occurred the impeachment trial of Theophilus W. Smith, of the Supreme Court, Mr. Mills acting as Chairman of the Impeachment Committee, and delivering a speech of great power and brilliancy, which lasted two or three days. In 1834 he was a candidate for Congress from the Northern District, but was defeated by William L. May (Democrat), as claimed by Mr. Mill's friends, unfairly. He early fell a victim to consumption and, returning to Massachusetts. died in Berkshire County, in that State, in 1841. Hon. R. H. McClellan, of Galena, says of him: "He was a man of remarkable ability, learning and eloquence," while Governor Ford, in his "History of Illinois," testifies that, "by common consent of all his contemporaries, Mr. Mills was regarded as the most popular and brilliant lawyer of his day at the Galena bar."

MILLS, Henry A., State Senator, was born at New Hartford, Oneida County, N. Y., in 1827; located at Mount Carroll, Carroll County, Ill., in 1856, finally engaging in the banking business at that place. Having served in various local offices, he was, in 1874, chosen State Senator for the Eleventh District, but died at Galesburg before the expiration of his term, July 7, 1877.

MILLS, Luther Laflin, lawyer, was born at North Adams, Mass., Sept. 3, 1848; brought to Chicago in infancy, and educated in the public schools of that city and at Michigan State Uni- versity. In 1868 he began the study of law, was admitted to practice three years later, and, in 1876, was elected State's Attorney, being re- elected in 1880. While in this office he was con- nected with some of the most important cases ever brought before the Chicago courts. Although he has held no official position except that already mentioned, his abilities at the bar and on the rostrum are widely recognized, and his services, as an attorney and an orator, have been in frequent demand.

MILLSTADT, a town in St. Clair County, on branch of Mobile & Ohio Railroad, 14 miles south- southeast of St. Louis; has electric lights, churches, schools, bank, newspaper, coal mines, and manufactures flour, beer and butter. Popu- lation (1890), 1,186; (1900), 1,172.

MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY. (See Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway.)

MINER, Orlin H., State Auditor, was born in Vermont, May 13, 1825; from 1834 to '51 he lived

in Ohio, the latter year coming to Chicago, where he worked at his trade of watch maker. In 1855 he went to Central America and was with Gen- eral William Walker at Greytown. Returning to Illinois, he resumed his trade at Springfield; in 1857 he was appointed, by Auditor Dubois, chief clerk in the Auditor's office, serving until 1864, when he was elected State Auditor as successor to his chief. Retiring from office in 1869, he gave attention to his private business. He was one of the founders and a Director of the Spring- field Iron Company. Died in 1879.

MINIER, a village of Tazewell County, at tlie intersection of the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago & Alton and the Terre Haute & Peoria Railroads, 26 miles southeast of Peoria; is in fine farming district and has several grain elevators, some manufactures, two banks and a newspaper. Population (1890), 664; (1900), 746.

MINONK, a city in Woodford County, 29 miles north of Bloomington and 53 miles northeast of Peoria, on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Illinois Central Railways. The surrounding region is agricultural, though much coal is mined in the vicinity. The city has brick yards, tile factories, steam flouring-mills, several grain elevators, two private banks and two weekly newspapers. Population (1880), 1,913; (1890), 2,316; (1900), 2,546.

MINORITY REPRESENTATION, a method of choosing members of the General Assembly and other deliberative bodies, designed to secure rep- resentation, in such bodies, to minority parties. In Illinois, this method is limited to the election of members of the lower branch of the General Assembly - except as to private corporations, which may, at their option, apply it in the election of Trustees or Directors. In the apportionment of members of the General Assembly (see Legis- lative Apportionment), the State Constitution requires that the Senatorial and Representative Districts shall be identical in territory, each of such Districts being entitled to choose one Sena- tor and three Representatives. The provisions of the Constitution, making specific application of the principle of "minority representation" (or "cumulative voting," as it is sometimes called), declares that, in the election of Representatives, "each qualified voter may cast as many votes for one candidate as there are Representatives, or (he) may distribute the same, or equal parts thereof, among the candidates as he shall see fit." (State Constitution, Art. IV, sections 7 and 8.) In practice, this provision gives the voter power to cast three votes for one candidate; two

379

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

votes for one candidate and one for another, or one and a half votes to each of two candidates, or he may distribute his vote equally among three candidates (giving one to each); but no other division is admissible without invalidating his ballot as to this office. Other forms of minor- ity representation have been proposed by various writers, among whom Mr. Thomas Hare, John Stuart Mill, and Mr. Craig, of England, are most prominent; but that adopted in Illinois seems to be the simplest and most easy of application.

MINSHALL, William A., legislator and jurist, a native of Ohio who came to Rushville, Ill., at an early day, and entered upon the practice of law; served as Representative in the Eighth, Tenth and Twelfth General Assemblies, and as Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention of 1847. He was elected Judge of the Circuit Court for the Fifth Circuit, under the new Con- stitution, in 1848, and died in office, early in 1853, being succeeded by the late Judge Pinkney H. Walker.

MISSIONARIES, EARLY. The earliest Chris- tian missionaries in Illinois were of the Roman Catholic faith. As a rule, these accompanied the French explorers and did not a little toward the extension of French dominion. They were usually members of one of two orders-the "Recollects," founded by St. Francis, or the "Jesuits," founded by Loyola. Between these two bodies of ecclesi- astics existed, at times, a strong rivalry ; the former having been earlier in the field, but hav- ing been virtually subordinated to the latter by Cardinal Richelieu. The controversy between the two orders gradually involved the civil authorities, and continued until the suppression of the Jesuits, in France, in 1764. The most noted of the Jesuit missionaries were Fathers Allouez, Gravier, Marquette, Dablon, Pinet, Rasle, Lamo- ges, Binneteau and Marest. Of the Recollects, the most conspicuous were Fathers Membre, Douay, Le Clerq, Hennepin and Ribourde. Besides these, there were also Father Bergier and Montigny, who, belonging to no religious order, were called secular priests. The first Catholic mission, founded in Illinois, was probably that at the original Kaskaskia, on the Illinois, in the present county of La Salle, where Father Mar- quette did missionary work in 1673, followed by Allouez in 1677. (See Allouez, Claude Jean.) The latter was succeeded, in 1688, by Father Grav- ier, who was followed, in 1692, by Father Sebas- tian Rasle, but who, returning in 1694, remained until 1695, when he was succeeded by Pinet and Binneteau. In 1700 Father Marest was

in charge of the mission, and the number of Indians among whom he labored was, that year, considerably diminished by the emigration of the Kaskaskias to the south. Father Gravier, about this time, labored among the Peorias, but was incapacitated by a wound received from the medicine man of the tribe, which finally resulted in his death, at Mobile, in 1706. The Peoria station remained vacant for a time, but was finally filled by Father Deville. Another early Catholic mis- sion in Illinois was that at Cahokia. While the precise date of its establishment cannot be fixed with certainty, there is evidence that it was in existence in 1700, being the earliest in that region. Among the early Fathers, who ministered to the savages there, were Pinet, St. Cosme, Bergier and Lamoges. This mission was at first called the Tamaroa, and, later, the mission of St. Sulpice. It was probably the first permanent mission in the Illinois Country. Among those in charge, down to 1718, were Fathers de Montigny, Damon (prob- ably), Varlet, de la Source, and le Mercier. In 1707, Father Mermet assisted Father Marest at Kaskaskia, and, in 1720, that mission became a regularly constituted parish, the incumbent being Father de Beaubois. Rev. Philip Boucher preached and administered the sacraments at Fort St. Louis, where he died in 1719, having been preceded by Fathers Membre and Ribourde in 1680, and by Fathers Douay and Le Clerq in 1687-88. The persecution and banishment of the early Jesuit missionaries, by the Superior Council of Louisiana (of which Illinois had formerly been a part), in 1763, is a curious chapter in State his- tory. That body, following the example of some provincial legislative bodies in France, officially declared the order a dangerous nuisance, and decreed the confiscation of all its property, in- cluding plate and vestments, and the razing of its churches, as well as the banishment of its members. This decree the Louisiana Council undertook to enforce in Illinois, disregarding the fact that that territory had passed under the jurisdiction of Great Britain. The Jesuits seem to have offered no resistance, either physical or legal, and all members of the order in Illinois were ruthlessly, and without a shadow of author- ity, carried to New Orleans and thence deported to France. Only one-Father Sebastian Louis Meurin-was allowed to return to Illinois ; and he, only after promising to recognize the ecclesiastical authority of the Superior Council as supreme, and to hold no communication with Quebec or Rome. The labors of the missionaries, apart from spiritual results, were of great value. They

380

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

perpetuated tlie records of early discoveries, reduced the language, and even dialects, of the aborigines, to grammatical rules, and preserved the original traditions and described the customs of the savages. (Authorities: Shea and Kip's "Catholic Missions," "Magazine of Western His- tory," Winsor's "America, " and Shea's "Catholic Church in Colonial Days.")

MISSISSIPPI RIVER. (Indian name, "Missi Sipi, " the "Great Water.") Its head waters are in the northern part of Minnesota, 1,680 feet above tide-water. Its chief source is Itasca Lake, which is 1,575 feet higher than the sea, and which is fed by a stream having its source within one mile of the head waters of the Red River of the North. Front thiis sheet of water to the mouth of the river, the distance is variously estimated at from 3,000 to 3,160 miles. Lake Itasca is in lat. 47° 10' north and lon. 95' 20' west from Greenwich. The river at first runs north- ward, but soon turns toward the east and expands into a series of small lakes. Its course, as far as Crow Wing, is extremely sinuous, below which point it runs soutliward to St. Cloud, thence south- east ward to Minneapolis, where occur the Falls of St. Anthony, establishing a complete barrier to navigation for the lower Mississippi. In less than a mile the river descends 66 feet, including a per- pendicular fall of 17 feet, furnishing an inimense water-power, which is utilized in operating flour- ing-mills and other manufacturing establislı- ments. A few miles below St. Paul it reaches the western boundary of Wisconsin, where it expands into the long and beautiful Lake Pepin, bordered by picturesque limestone bluffs, some 400 feet high. Below Dubuque its general direc- tion is southward, and it forms the boundary between the States of Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and the northern part of Louisiana, on the west, and Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mis- sissippi, on the east. After many sinuous turn. ings in its southern course, it enters the Gulf of Mexico by three principal passes, or mouths, at the southeastern extremity of Plaquemines Parish, La., in lat. 29° north and lon. 89º 12' west. Its principal affluents on the right are the Minnesota, Iowa, Des Moines, Missouri, Arkansas and Red Rivers, and, on the left, the Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio. The Missouri River is longer than that part of the Mississippi above the point of junction, the distance from its source to the delta of the latter being about 4,300 miles, which exceeds that of any other river in the world. The width of the stream at St. Louis is about 3,500 feet, at the mouth of the Ohio nearly 4,500

feet, and at New Orleans about 2,500 feet. The mean velocity. of the current between St. Louis and the Gulf of Mexico is about five to five and one-half miles per hour. The average deptli below Red River is said to be 121 feet, though, in the vicinity of New Orleans, the maximum is said to reach 150 feet. The principal rapids below the Falls of St. Anthony are at Rock Island and the Des Moines Rapids above Keokuk, the foriner having twenty-two feet fall and the latter twenty-four feet. A canal around the Des Moines Rapids, along the west bank of the river, aids navigation. The alluvial banks which pre- vail on one or both shores of the lower Mississippi, often spread out into extensive "bottoms" whichi are of inexhaustible fertility. The most impor- tant of these above the mouth of the Ohio, is the "American Bottom," extending along the east bank from Alton to Cliester. Immense sunis have been spent in the construction of levees for the protection of the lands along the lower river from overflow, as also in the construction of a system of jetties at the mouth, to improve navi- gation by deepening the channel.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE, THE, one of the best constructed railroad bridges in the West, spanning the Mississippi from Pike, Ill., to Loui- siana, Mo. The construction company was char- tered, April 25, 1872, and the bridge was ready for the passage of trains on Dec. 24, 1873. On Dec. 3, 1877, it was leased in perpetuity by the Chicago & Alton Railway Company, which holds all its stock and $150,000 of its bonds as an investment, paying a rental of $60,000 per annum, to be applied in the payment of 7 per cent interest on stock and 6 per cent on bonds. In 1894, $71,000 was paid for rental, $16,000 going toward a sinking fund.

MOBILE & OHIO RAILROAD. This company operates 160.6 miles of road in Illinois, of whichi 151.6 are leased from the St. Louis & Cairo Rail- road. (See St. Louis & Cairo Railroad.)

MOLINE, a flourishing manufacturing city in Rock Island County, incorporated in 1872, on tlie Mississippi above Rock Island and opposite Davenport, Iowa; is 168 miles southi of west from Chicago, and the intersecting point of three trunk lines of railway. Moline, Rock Island and Davenport are connected by steam and street railways, bridges and ferries. All three obtainl water-power from the Mississippi. The region around Moline is ricli in coal, and several pro- ductive mines are operated in the vicinity. It is an important manufacturing point, its chief ont- puts being agricultural implements, filters, malle- able iron, steam engines, vehicles, lumber, organs

381

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

(pipe and reed), paper, lead-roofing, wind-mills, milling machinery, and furniture. The city has admirable water-works, several churches, good schools, gas and electric light plants, a public library, five banks, three daily and weekly papers. It also has an extensive electric power plant, electric street cars and interurban line. Population (1890), 12,000; (1900), 17,248.

MOLONEY, Maurice T., ex-Attorney-General, was born in Ireland, in 1849; came to America in 1867, and, after a course in the Seminary of "Our Lady of the Angels" at Niagara Falls, studied theology; then taught for a time in Virginia and studied law at the University of that State, graduating in 1871, finally locating at Ottawa, Ill., where he served three years as State's Attor- ney of La Salle County, and, in 1892, was nomi- nated and elected Attorney-General on the Democratic State ticket, serving until January, 1897.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I, Part 76

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