USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I > Part 9
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BELT RAILWAY COMPANY OF CHICAGO, THE, a corporation chartered, Nov. 22, 1882, and the lessee of the Belt Division of the Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad (which see). Its total trackage (all of standard gauge and laid with 66- pound steel rails) is 93.26 miles, distributed as fol- lows: Auburn Junction to Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Junction, 15.9 miles ; branches from Pull- man Junction to Irondale, Ill., etc., 5.41 miles; second track, 14.1 miles; sidings, 57.85 miles. The cost of construction has been $524,549; capi- tal stock, $1,200,000. It has no funded debt. The earnings for the year ending June 30, 1895, were $556,847, the operating expenses $378,012, and the taxes $51,009.
BELVIDERE, an incorporated city, the county- seat of Boone County, situated on the Kishwau- kee River, and on two divisions of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, 78 miles west-northwest of Chicago and 14 miles east of Rockford; is con- nected with the latter city by electric railroad. The city has twelve churches, five graded schools, and three banks (two national). Two daily and two semi-weekly papers are published here. Bel- videre also has very considerable manufacturing interests, including manufactories of sewing ma- chines, bicycles, automobiles, besides a large
milk-condensing factory and two creameries. Population (1890), 3,867; (1900), 6,937.
BEMENT, a village in Piatt County, at inter- section of main line and Chicago Division of Wabash Railroad, 20 miles east of Decatur and 166 miles south-southwest of Chicago; in agri- cultural and stock - raising district; has three grain elevators, broom factory, water-works, elec- tric-light plant, four churches, two banks and weekly paper. Pop. (1890), 1,129; (1900), 1,484.
BENJAMIN, Reuben Moore, lawyer, born at Chatham Centre, Columbia County, N. Y., June 29, 1833; was educated at Amherst College, Am- herst, Mass .; spent one year in the law depart- ment of Harvard, another as tutor at Amherst and, in 1856, came to Bloomington, Ill., where, on an examination certificate furnished by Abraham Lincoln, he was licensed to practice. The first public office held by Mr. Benjamin was that of Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, in which he took a prominent part in shaping the provisions of the new Constitution relating to corporations. In 1873 he was chosen County Judge of McLean County, by repeated re-elections holding the position until 1886, when he resumed private practice. For more than twenty years he has been connected with the law department of Wesleyan University at Blooming- ton, a part of the time being Dean of the Faculty ; is also the author of several volumes of legal text-books.
BENNETT MEDICAL COLLEGE, an Eclectic Medical School of Chicago, incorporated by special charter and opened in the autumn of 1868. Its first sessions were held in two large rooms; its faculty consisted of seven professors, and there were thirty matriculates. More com- modious quarters were secured the following year, and a still better home after the fire of 1871, in which all the college property was destroyed. Another change of location was made in 1874. In 1890 the property then owned was sold and a new college building, in connection with a hos- pital, erected in a more quiet quarter of the city. A free dispensary is conducted by the college. The teaching faculty (1896) consists of nineteen professors, with four assistants and demonstra- tors. Women are admitted as pupils on equal terms with men.
BENT, Charles, journalist, was born in Chi- cago, Dec. 8, 1844, but removed with his family, in 1856, to Morrison, Whiteside County, where, two years later, he became an apprentice to the printing business in the office of "The Whiteside Sentinel." In June, 1864, he enlisted as a soldier
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in the One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois (100- days' regiment) and, on the expiration of his term of service, re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois, being mustered out at Savannah, Ga., in January, 1866, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Then resuming his voca- tion as a printer, in July, 1867, he purchased the office of "The Whiteside Sentinel," in which lie learned liis trade, and has since been the editor of that paper, except during 1877-79 while engaged in writing a "History of Whiteside County." He is a charter member of the local Grand Army Post and served on the staff of the Department Commander; was Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue during 1870-73, and, in 1878, was elected as a Republican to the State Senate for White- side and Carroll Counties, serving four years. Other positions held by him include the office of City Alderman, member of the State Board of Canal Commissioners (1883-85) and Commissioner of the Joliet Penitentiary (1889-93). He has also been a member of the Republican State Central Committee and served as its Chairman 1886-88.
BENTON, county-seat of Franklin County, on Ill. Cent. and Chi. & E. Ill. Railroads; has electric- light plant, water-works, saddle and harness fac- tory, two banks, two flouring mills, shale brick and tile works (projected), four churches and three weekly papers. Pop. (1890), 939; (1900), 1,341.
BERDAN, James, lawyer and County Judge, was born in New York City, July 4, 1805, and educated at Columbia and Yale Colleges, gradu- ating from the latter in the class of 1824. His father, James Berdan, Sr., came west in the fall of 1819 as one of the agents of a New York Emigration Society, and, in January, 1820, visited the vicinity of the present site of Jacksonville, Ill., but died soon after his return, in part from exposure incurred during his long and arduous winter journey. Thirteen years later (1832) his son, the subject of this sketch, came to the same region, and Jacksonville became his home for the remainder of his life. Mr. Berdan was a well- read lawyer, as well as a man of high principle and sound culture, with pure literary and social tastes. Although possessing unusual capabilities, his refinement of character and dislike of osten- tation made him seek rather the association and esteem of friends than public office. In 1849 he was elected County Judge of Morgan County, serving by a second election until 1857. Later he was Secretary for several years of the Tonica & Petersburg Railroad (at that time in course of construction), serving until it was merged into the St. Louis, Jacksonville & Chicago Railroad,
now constituting a part of the Jacksonville di- vision of the Chicago & Alton Railroad; also served for many years as a Trustee of Illinois College. In the latter years of his life he was, for a considerable period, the law partner of ex-Gov- ernor and ex-Senator Richard Yates. Judge Berdan was the ardent political friend and admirer of Abraham Lincoln, as well as an inti- mate friend and frequent correspondent of the poet Longfellow, besides being the correspondent, during a long period of his life, of a number of other prominent literary men. Pierre Irving, the nephew and biographer of Washington Irving, was his brother-in-law through the marriage of a favorite sister. Judge Berdan died at Jackson- ville, August 24, 1884.
BERGEN, (Rev.) John G., pioneer clergyman, was born at Hightstown, N. J., Nov. 27, 1790; studied theology, and, after two years' service as tutor at Princeton and sixteen years as pastor of a Presbyterian church at Madison, N. J., in 1828 came to Springfield, Ill., and assisted in the erection of the first Protestant church in the central part of the State, of which he remained pastor until 1848. Died, at Springfield, Jan. 17, 1872.
BERGGREN, Augustus W., legislator, born in Sweden, August 17, 1840; came to the United States at 16 years of age and located at Oneida, Knox County, Ill., afterwards removing to Gales- burg; held various offices, including that of Sheriff or Knox County (1873-81), State Senator (1881-89)-serving as President pro tem. of the Senate 1887-89, and was Warden of the State penitentiary at Joliet, 1888-91. He was for many years the very able and efficient President of the Covenant Mutual Life Association of Illinois, and is now its Treasurer.
BERGIER, (Rev.) J, a secular priest, born in France, and an early missionary in Illinois. He labored among the Tamaroas, being in charge of the mission at Cahokia from 1700 to his death in 1710.
BERRY, Orville F., lawyer and legislator, was born in McDonough County, Ill., Feb. 16, 1852; early left an orphan and, after working for some time on a farm, removed to Carthage, Hancock County, where he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1877; in 1883 was elected Mayor of Carthage and twice re-elected; was elected to the State Senate in 1888 and '92, and, in 1891, took a prominent part in securing the enactment of the compulsory education clause in the common school law. Mr. Berry presided over the Repub- lican State Convention of 1896, the same year was a candidate for re-election to the State Senate,
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but the certificate was awarded to his Democratic competitor, who was declared elected by 164 plurality. On a contest before the Senate at the first session of the Fortieth General Assembly, the seat was awarded to Mr. Berry on the ground of illegality in the rulings of the Secretary of State affecting the vote of his opponent.
BERRY, (Col.) William W., lawyer and sol- dier, was born in Kentucky, Feb. 22, 1834, and educated at Oxford, Ohio. His home being then in Covington, he studied law in Cincinnati, and, at the age of 23, began practice at Louisville, Ky., being married two years later to Miss Georgie Hewitt of Frankfort. Early in 1861 he entered the Civil War on the Union side as Major of the Louisville Legion, and subsequently served in the Army of the Cumberland, marching to the sea with Sherman and, during the period of his service, receiving four wounds. After the close of the war he was offered the position of Gov- ernor of one of the Territories, but, determining not to go further west than Illinois, declined. For three years he was located and in practice at Winchester, Ill., but removed to Quincy in 1874, where he afterwards resided. He always took a warm interest in politics and, in local affairs, was a leader of his party. He was an organizer of the G. A. R. Post at Quincy and its first Com- mander, and, in 1884-85, served as Commander of the State Department of the G. A. R. He organ- ized a Young Men's Republican Club, as he believed that the young minds should take an active part in politics. He was one of the com- mittee of seven appointed by the Governor to locate the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home for Illinois, and, after spending six months inspecting vari- ous sites offered, the institution was finally located at Quincy; was also Trustee of Knox College, at Galesburg, for several years. He was frequently urged by his party friends to run for public office, but it was so much against his nature to' ask for even one vote, that he would not consent. He died at his home in Quincy, inuch regretted, May 6, 1895.
BESTOR, George C., legislator, born in Wash- ington City, April 11, 1811; was assistant docu- ment clerk in the House of Representatives eight years; came to Illinois in 1835 and engaged in real-estate business at Peoria; was twice ap- pointed Postmaster of that city (1842 and 1861) and three times elected Mayor; served as finan- cial agent of the Peoria & Oquawka (now Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad), and a Director of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw; a delegate to the Whig National Convention of 1852; a State
Senator (1858-62), and· an ardent friend of Abra- ham Lincoln. Died, in Washington, May 14, 1872, while prosecuting a claim against the Government for the construction of gunboats during the war.
BETHALTO, a village of Madison County, on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway, 25 miles north of St. Louis. Popula- tion (1880), 628; (1890), 879; (1900), 477.
BETHANY, a village of Moultrie County, on Peoria Division Ill. Cent. Railroad, 18 miles soutlı- east of Decatur; in farming district; has one news- paper and four churches. Pop., mostly American born, (1890), 688; (1900), 873; (1903, est.), 900.
BETTIE STUART INSTITUTE, an institu- tion for young ladies at Springfield, Ill., founded in 1868 by Mrs. Mary McKee Homes, who con- ducted it for some twenty years, until her death. Its report for 1898 shows a faculty of ten instruct- ors and 125 pupils. Its property is valued at $23,500. Its course of instruction embraces the preparatory and classical branches, together with music, oratory and fine arts.
BEVERIDGE, James H., State Treasurer, was born in Washington County, N. Y., in 1828; served as State Treasurer, 1865-67, later acted as Secretary of the Commission which built the State Capitol. His later years were spent in superintending a large dairy farm near Sandwich, De Kalb County, where he died in January, 1896.
BEVERIDGE, John L., ex-Governor, was born in Greenwich, N. Y., July 6, 1824; came to Illi- nois, 1842, and, after spending some two years in Granville Academy and Rock River Seminary, went to Tennessee, where he engaged in teaching while studying law. Having been admitted to the bar, he returned to Illinois in 1851, first locat- ing at Sycamore, but three years later established himself in Chicago. During the first year of the war he assisted to raise the Eighth Regiment Illi- nois Cavalry, and was commissioned first as Cap- tain and still later Major; two years later became Colonel of the Seventeenth Cavalry, which he commanded to the close of the war, being mustered out, February, 1866, with the rank of brevet Brigadier-General. After the war lie held the office of Sheriff of Cook County four years; in 1870 was elected to the State Senate, and, in the following year, Congressman-at-large to succeed General Logan, elected to the United States Senate; resigned this office in January, 1873, having been elected Lieutenant-Governor, and a few weeks later succeeded to the govern- orship by the election of Governor Oglesby to the United States Senate. In 1881 lie was appointed.
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by President Arthur, Assistant United States Treasurer for Chicago, serving until after Cleve- land's first election. His present home (1898), is near Los Angeles, Cal.
BIENVILLE, Jean Baptiste le Moyne, Sieur de, was born at Montreal, Canada, Feb. 23, 1680, and was the French Governor of Louisiana at the time the Illinois country was included in that province. He had several brothers, a number of whom played important parts in the early history of the province. Bienville first visited Louisi- ana, in company with his brother Iberville, in 1698, their object being to establish a French colony near the mouth of the Mississippi. The first settlement was made at Biloxi, Dec. 6, 1699, and Sanvolle, another brother, was placed in charge. The latter was afterward made Governor of Louisiana, and, at his death (1701), he was succeeded by Bienville, who transferred the seat of government to Mobile. In 1704 he was joined by his brother Chateaugay, who brought seven- teen settlers from Canada. Soon afterwards Iberville died, and Bienville was recalled to France in 1707, but was reinstated the following year. Finding the Indians worthless as tillers of the soil, he seriously suggested to the home gov- ernment the expediency of trading off the copper- colored aborigines for negroes from the West Indies, three Indians to be reckoned as equiva- lent to two blacks. In 1713 Cadillac was sent out as Governor, Bienville being made Lieutenant- Governor. The two quarreled. Cadillac was superseded by Epinay in 1717, and, in 1718, Law's first expedition arrived (see Company of the West), and brought a Governor's commission for Bienville. The latter soon after founded New Orleans, which became the seat of government for the province (which then included Illinois), in 1723. In January, 1724, he was again summoned to France to answer charges; was removed in disgrace in 1726, but reinstated in 1733 and given the rank of Lieutenant-General. Failing in vari- ous expeditions against the Chickasaw Indians, he was again superseded in 1743, returning to France, where he died in 1768.
BIGGS, William, pioneer, Judge and legislator, was born in Maryland in 1753, enlisted in the Revolutionary army, and served as an officer under Colonel George Rogers Clark in the expe- dition for the capture of Illinois from the British in 1778. He settled in Bellefontaine (now Monroe County) soon after the close of the war. He was Sheriff of St. Clair County for many years, and later Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He also represented his
county in the Territorial Legislatures of In- diana and Illinois. Died, in St. Clair County, in 1827.
BIGGSVILLE, a village of Henderson County, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 15 miles northeast of Burlington; has a bank and two newspapers; considerable grain and live- stock are shipped here. Population (1880), 358; (1890), 487; (1900), 417.
BIG MUDDY RIVER, a stream formed by the union of two branches which rise in Jefferson County. It runs south and southwest through Franklin and Jackson Counties, and enters the Mississippi about five miles below Grand Tower. Its length is estimated at 140 miles.
BILLINGS, Albert Merritt, capitalist, was born in New Hampshire, April 19, 1814, educated in the common schools of his native State and Vermont, and, at the age of 22, became Sheriff of Windsor County, Vt., Later he was proprietor for a time of the mail stage-coach line between Concord, N. H., and Boston, but, having sold out, invested his means in the securities of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and became identified with the business interests of Chicago. In the '50's he became associated with Cornelius K. Garrison in the People's Gas Company of Chi- cago, of which he served as President from 1859 to 1888. In 1890 Mr. Billings became extensively interested in the street railway enterprises of Mr. C. B. Holmes, resulting in his becoming the pro- prietor of the street railway system at Memphis, Tenn., valued, in 1897, at $3,000,000. In early life he had been associated with Commodore Vanderbilt in the operation of the Hudson River steamboat lines of the latter. In addition to his other business enterprises, he was principal owner and, during the last twenty-five years of his life, President of the Home National and Home Savings Banks of Chicago. Died, Feb. 7, 1897, leaving an estate valued at several millions of dollars.
BILLINGS, Henry W., was born at Conway, Mass., July 11, 1814, graduated at Amherst Col- lege at twenty years of age, and began the study of law with Judge Foote, of Cleveland, Ohio, was admitted to the bar two years later and practiced there some two years longer. He then removed to St. Louis, Mo., later resided for a time at Waterloo and Cairo, Ill., but, in 1845, settled at Alton; was elected Mayor of that city in 1851, and the first Judge of the newly organized City Court, in 1859, serving in this position six years. In 1869 he was elected a Delegate from Madison County to the State Constitutional Convention of
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1869-70, but died before the expiration of the ses- sion, on April 19, 1870.
BIRKBECK, Morris, early colonist, was born in England about 1762 or 1763, emigrated to America in 1817, and settled in Edwards County, Ill. He purchased a large tract of land and in- duced a large colony of English artisans, laborers and farmers to settle upon the same, founding the town of New Albion. He was an active, un- compromising opponent of slavery, and was an important factor in defeating the scheme to inake Illinois a slave State. He was appointed Secre- tary of State by Governor Coles in October, 1824, but resigned at the end of three months, a hostile Legislature having refused to confirm him. A strong writer and a frequent contributor to the press, his letters and published works attracted attention both in this country and in Europe. Principal among the latter were: "Notes on a Journey Through France" (1815); "Notes on a Journey Through America" (1818), and "Letters from Illinois" (1818). Died from drowning in 1825, aged about 63 years. (See Slavery and Slave Laws.)
BISSELL, William H., first Republican Gov- ernor of Illinois, was born near Cooperstown, N. Y., on April 25, 1811, graduated in medicine at Philadelphia in 1835, and, after practicing a short time in Steuben County, N. Y., removed to Mon- roe County, Ill. In 1840 he was elected a Repre- sentative in the General Assembly, where he soon attained high rank as a debater. He studied law and practiced in Belleville, St. Clair County, be- coming Prosecuting Attorney for that county in 1844. He served as Colonel of the Second Illinois Volunteers during the Mexican War, and achieved distinction at Buena Vista. He represented Illi- nois in Congress from 1849 to 1855, being first elected as an Independent Democrat. On the pas- sage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, he left the Demo- cratic party and, in 1856, was elected Governor .on the Republican ticket. While in Congress he was challenged by Jefferson Davis after an inter- change of heated words respecting the relative courage of Northern and Southern soldiers, spoken in debate. Bissell accepted the challenge, naming muskets at thirty paces. Mr. Davis's friends objected, and the duel never occurred. Died in office, at Springfield, Ill., March 18, 1860.
BLACK, John Charles, lawyer and soldier, born at Lexington, Miss., Jan. 29, 1839, at eight years of age came with his widowed mother to Illinois; while a student at Wabash College, Ind., in April, 1861, enlisted in the Union army, serv- ing gallantly and with distinction until Aug. 15,
1865, when, as Colonel of the 37th Ill. Vol. Inf., he retired with the rank of BrevetBrigadier-General; was admitted to the bar in 1857, and after practic- ing at Danville, Champaign and Urbana, in 1885 was appointed Commissioner of Pensions, serving until 1889, when he removed to Chicago; served as Congressman-at-large (1893-95), and U. S. District Attorney (1895-99); Commander of the Loyal Legion and of the G. A. R. (Department of Illinois); was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army at the Grand Encampment, 1903. Gen. Black received the honorary degree of A.M. from his Ahna Mater and that of LL. D. from Knox College; in January, 1904, was appointed by President Roosevelt member of the U. S. Civil Service Commission, and chosen its President.
BLACKBURN UNIVERSITY, located at Car- linville, Macoupin County. It owes its origin to the efforts of Dr. Gideon Blackburn, who, having induced friends in the East to unite with him in the purchase of Illinois lands at Government price, in 1837 conveyed 16,656 acres of these lands, situated in ten different counties, in trust for the founding of an institution of learning, intended particularly "to qualify young men for , the gospel ministry." The citizens of Carlinville donated funds wherewith to purchase eighty acres of land, near that city, as a site, which was included in the deed of trust. The enterprise lay dormant for many years, and it was not until 1857 that the institution was formally incorpo- rated, and ten years later it was little more than a high school, giving one course of instruction considered particularly adapted to prospective students of theology. At present (1898) there are about 110 students in attendance, a faculty of twelve instructors, and a theological, as well as preparatory and collegiate departments. The institution owns property valued at $110,000, of which $50,000 is represented by real estate and $40,000 by endowment funds.
BLACK HAWK, a Chief of the Sac tribe of Indians, reputed to have been born at Kaskaskia in 1767. (It is also claimed that he was born on Rock River, as well as within the present limits of Hancock County.) Conceiving that his people had been wrongfully despoiled of lands belonging to them, in 1832 he inaugurated what is com- monly known as the Black Hawk War. His Indian name was Makabaimishekiakiak, signify- ing Black Sparrow Hawk. He was ambitious, but susceptible to flattery, and while having many of the qualities of leadership, was lacking in moral force. He was always attached to British inter- ests, and unquestionably received British aid of a
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substantial sort. After his defeat he was made the ward of Keokuk, another Chief, which humiliation of his pride broke his heart. He died on a reservation set apart for him in Iowa, in 1838, aged 71. His body is said to have been exhumed nine months after death, and his articu- lated skeleton is alleged to have been preserved in the rooms of the Burlington (Ia.) Historical Society until 1855, when it was destroyed by fire. (See also Black Hawk War: Appendix.)
BLACKSTONE, Timothy B., Railway Presi- dent, was born at Branford, Conn., March 28, 1829. After receiving a common school educa- tion, supplemented by a course in a neighboring academy, at 18 he began the practical study of engineering in a corps employed by the New York & New Hampshire Railway Company, and the same year became assistant engineer on the Stockbridge & Pittsfield Railway. While thus employed he applied himself diligently to the study of the theoretical science of engineering, and, on coming to Illinois in 1851, was qualified to accept and fill the position of division engineer (from Bloomington to Dixon) on the Illinois Cen- tral Railway. On the completion of the main line of that road in 1855, he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Joliet & Chicago Railroad, later becoming financially interested therein, and being chosen President of the corporation on the completion of the line. In January, 1864, the Chicago & Joliet was leased in perpetuity to the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. Mr. Black- stone then became a Director in the latter organi- zation and, in April following, was chosen its President. This office he filled uninterruptedly until April 1,1899, when the road passed into the hands of a syndicate of other lines. He was also one of the original incorporators of the Union Stock Yards Company, and was its President from 1864 to 1868. His career as a railroad man was con- spicuous for its long service, the uninterrupted success of his management of the enterprises entrusted to his hands and his studious regard for the interests of stockholders. This was illustrated by the fact that, for some thirty years, the Chicago & Alton Railroad paid dividends on its preferred and common stock, ranging from 6 to 812 per cent per annum, and, on disposing of his stock conse- quent on the transfer of the line to a new corpora- tion in 1899, Mr. Blackstone rejected offers for liis stock-aggregating nearly one-third of the whole -which would have netted him $1,000,000 in excess of the amount received, because he was unwilling to use his position to reap an advantage over smaller stockholders. Died, May 26, 1900.
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