USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I > Part 91
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RICHLAND COUNTY, situated in the south- east quarter of the State, and has an area of 361 square miles. It was organized from Edwards County in 1841. Among the early pioneers may be mentioned the Evans brothers, Thaddeus
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Morehouse, Hugh Calhoun and son, Thomas Gardner, James Parker, Cornelius De Long, James Gilmore and Elijah Nelson. In 1820 there were but thirty families in the district. The first frame houses-the Nelson and More- house homesteads-were built in 1821, and, some years later, James Laws erected the first brick house. The pioneers traded at Vincennes, but, in 1825, a store was opened at Stringtown by Jacob May ; and the same year the first school was opened at Watertown, taught by Isaac Chaun- cey. The first church was erected by the Bap- tists in 1822, and services were conducted by William Martin, a Kentuckian. For a long time the mails were carried on horseback by Louis and James Beard, but, in 1824, Mills and Whet- sell established a line of four-horse stages. The principal road, known as the "trace road, " lead- ing from Louisville to Cahokia, followed a buffalo and Indian trail about where the main street of Olney now is. Olney was selected as the county-seat upon the organization of the county, and a Mr. Lilly built the first house there. The chief branches of industry followed by the inhabitants are agriculture and fruit- growing. Population (1880), 15,545; (1890), 15,019; (1900), 16,391.
RIDGE FARM, a village of Vermillion County, at junction of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis and the Toledo, St. Louis & Western Railroads, 174 miles northeast of St. Louis; has electric light plant, planing mill, elevators, bank and two papers. Pop. (1900), 933; (1904), 1,300.
RIDGELY, a manufacturing and mining sub- urb of the city of Springfield. An extensive rolling mill is located there, and there are several coal-shafts in the vicinity. Population(1900), 1,169.
RIDGELY, Charles, manufacturer and capi- talist, born in Springfield, Ill., Jan. 17, 1836; was educated in private schools and at Illinois Col- lege; after leaving college spent some time as a clerk in his father's bank at Springfield, finally becoming a member of the firm and successively Cashier and Vice-President. In 1870 he was Democratic candidate for State Treasurer, but later has affiliated with the Republican party. About 1872 he became identified with the Spring- field Iron Company, of which he has been Presi- dent for many years; has also been President of the Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis and, for sonie time, was a Director of the Wabaslı Rail- road. Mr. Ridgely is also one of the Trustees of Illinois College.
RIDGELY, Nicholas H., early banker, was born in Baltimore, Md., April 27, 1800; after
leaving school was engaged, for a time, in the dry-goods trade, but, in 1829, came to St. Louis to assume a clerkship in the branch of the United States Bank just organized there. In 1835 a branch of the State Bank of Illinois was established at Springfield, and Mr. Ridgely became its cashier, and, when it went into liqui- dation, was appointed one of the trustees to wind up its affairs. He subsequently became Presi- dent of the Clark's Exchange Bank in that city, but this having gone into liquidation a few years later, he went into the private banking business as head of the "Ridgely Bank," which, in 1866, became the "Ridgely National Bank," one of the strongest financial institutions in the State out- side of Chicago. After the collapse of the inter- nal improvement scheme, Mr. Ridgely became one of the purchasers of the "Northern Cross Railroad" (now that part of the Wabash system extending from the Illinois river to Springfield), when it was sold by the State in 1847, paying therefor $21,100. He was also one of the Spring- field bankers to tender a loan to the State at the beginning of the war in 1861. He was one of the builders and principal owner of the Springfield gas-light system. His business career was an eminently successful one, leaving an estate at his death, Jan. 31, 1888, valued at over $2,000,000.
RIDGWAY, a village of Gallatin County, on the Shawneetown Division of the Baltimore & Olio Southwestern Railway, 12 miles northwest of Shawneetown; has a bank and one newspaper. Pop. (1890), 523; (1900), 839; (1903, est.), 1,000.
RIDGWAY, Thomas S., merchant, banker and politician, was born at Carmi, Ill., August 30, 1826. His father having died when he was but 4 years old and his mother when he was 14, his education was largely acquired through contact with the world, apart from such as he received from his mother and during a year's attendance at a private school. When he was 6 years of age the family removed to Shawneetown, where he ever afterwards made his home. In 1845 he em- barked in business as a merchant, and the firm of Peeples & Ridgway soon became one of the most prominent in Southern Illinois. In 1865 tlie partners closed out their business and organized the first National Bank of Shawneetown, of which, after the death of Mr. Peeples in 1875, Mr. Ridgway was President. He was one of the projectors of the Springfield & Illinois South- eastern Railway, now a part of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern system, and, from 1867 to 1874, served as its President. He was an ardent and active Republican, and served as a delegate
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to every State and National Convention of his party from 1868 to 1896. In 1874 he was elected State Treasurer, the candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction on the same ticket being defeated. In 1876 and 1880 he was an unsuccess- ful candidate for his party's nomination for Gov- ernor. Three times he consented to lead the forlorn hope of the Republicans as a candidate for Congress from an impregnably Democratic stronghold. For several years he was a Director of the McCormick Theological Seminary, at Chi- cago, and, for nineteen years, was a Trustee of the Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbon- dale, resigning in 1893. Died, at Shawneetown, Nov. 17, 1897.
RIGGS, James M., ex-Congressman, was born in Scott County, Ill., April 17, 1839, where he received a common school education, supple- mented by a partial collegiate course. He is a practicing lawyer of Winchester. In 1864 he was elected Sheriff, serving two years. In 1871-72 he represented Scott County in the lower house of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly, and was State's Attorney from 1872 to 1876. In 1882, and again in 1884, he was the successful Democratic candidate for Congress in the Twelfth Illinois District.
RIGGS, Scott, pioneer, was born in North Carolina about 1790; removed to Crawford County, Ill, early in 1815, and represented that county in the First General Assembly (1818-20). In 1825 he removed to Scott County, where he continued to reside until his death, Feb. 24, 1872.
RINAKER, John I., lawyer and Congressman, born in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 18, 1830. Left an orphan at an early age, he came to Illinois in 1836, and, for several years, lived on farms in Sangamon and Morgan Counties; was educated at Illinois and McKendree Colleges, graduating from the latter in 1851; in 1852 began reading law with John M. Palmer at Carlinville, and was admitted to the bar in 1854. In August, 1862, he recruited the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Volunteers, of which he was commis- sioned Colonel. Four months later he was wounded in battle, but served with his regiment through the war, and was brevetted Brigadier- General at its close. Returning from the war he resumed the practice of his profession at Carlin- ville. Since 1858 he has been an active Repub- lican; has twice (1872 and '76) served his party as a Presidential Elector-the latter year for the State-at-large-and, in 1874, accepted a nomina- tion for Congress against William R. Morrison, largely reducing the normal Democratic major-
ity. At the State Republican Convention of 1880 he was a prominent, but unsuccessful, candidat for the Republican nomination for Governor. I: 1894 he made the race as the Republican candi- date for Congress in the Sixteentli District and, although his opponent was awarded the certifi- cate of election, on a bare majority of 60 votes on the face of the returns, a re-count, ordered by the Fifty-fourth Congress, showed a majority for General Rinaker, and he was seated near the close of the first session. He was a candidate for re-election in 1896, but defeated in a strongly Democratic District.
RIPLEY, Edward Payson, Railway President, was born in Dorchester (now a part of Boston), Mass., Oct. 30, 1845, being related, on his mother's side, to the distinguished author, Dr. Edward Payson. After receiving his education in the high school of his native place, at the age of 17 he entered upon a commercial life, as clerk in a wholesale dry-goods establishment in Boston. About the time he became of age, he entered into the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad as a clerk in the freight department in the Boston office, but,a few years later, assumed a responsible position in connection with the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy line, finally becoming General Agent for the business of that road east of Buffalo, though retaining his headquarters at Boston. In 1878 he removed to Chicago to accept the position of General Freight Agent of the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy System, with which he remained twelve years, serving successively as General Traffic Manager and General Manager, until June 1, 1890, when he resigned to become Third Vice-President of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line. This relation was continued until Jan. 1, 1896, when Mr. Ripley accepted the Presidency of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, which (1899) he now holds. Mr. Ripley was a prominent factor in securing the location of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, and, in April, 1891, was chosen one of the Directors of the Exposition, serving on the Executive Committee and the Committee of Ways and Means and Transportation, being Chair- man of the latter.
RIVERSIDE, a suburban town on the Des Plaines River and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway, 11 miles west of Chicago; has handsome parks, several churches, a bank, two local papers and numerous fine residences. Population (1890), 1,000; (1900), 1,551.
RIVERTON, a village in Clear Creek Town- ship, Sangamon County, at the crossing of the
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Wabash Railroad over the Sangamon River, 612 miles east-northeast of Springfield. It has four churches, a nursery, and two coal mines Popu- lation (1880), 705; (1890), 1,127, (1900), 1 511; (1903, est.), about £,000.
RIVES, John Cook, early banker and journal- ist, was born in Franklin County, Va., May 24, 1795; in 1806 removed to Kentucky, where he grew up under care of an uncle, Samuel Casey. He received a good education and was a man of high character and attractive manners. In his early manhood he came to Illinois, and was con- nected, for a time, with the Branch State Bank at Edwardsville, but, about 1824, removed to Shawneetown and held a position in the bank there; also studied law and was admitted to practice. Finally, having accepted a clerkship in the Fourth Auditor's Office in Washington, he removed to that city, and, in 1830, became associated with Francis P. Blair, Sr., in the establishment of "The Congressional Globe" (the predecessor of "The Congressional Record"), of which he finally became sole proprietor, so remaining until 1864. Like his partner, Blair, althoughi a native of Virginia and a life-long Democrat, he was intensely loyal, and contrib- uted liberally of his means for the equipment of soldiers from the District of Columbia, and for the support of their families, during the Civil War. His expenditures for these objects have been estimated at some $30,000. Died, in Prince George's County, Md., April 10, 1864.
ROANOKE, a village of Woodford County, on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, 26 miles northeast of Peoria; is in a coal district; has two banks, a coal mine, and one newspaper. Population (1880), 355; (1890), 831; (1900), 966.
ROBB, Thomas Patten, Sanitary Agent, was born in Bath, Maine, in 1819; came to Cook County, Ill., in 1838, and, after arriving at man- hood, established the first exclusive wholesale grocery house in Chicago, remaining in the busi- ness until 1850. He then went to California, establishing himself in mercantile business at Sacramento, where lie remained seven years, meanwhile being elected Mayor of that city. Returning to Chicago on the breaking out of the war, lie was appointed on the staff of Governor Yates with the rank of Major, and, while serv- ing in this capacity, was instrumental in giving General Grant the first duty he performed in the office of the Adjutant-General after his arrival from Galena. Later, he was assigned to duty as Inspector-General of Illinois troops with the rank of Colonel, having general charge of sanitary
affairs until the close of the war, when he was appointed Cotton Agent for the State of Georgia, and, still later, President of the Board of Tax Commissioners for that State. Other positions held by him were those of Postmaster and Col- lector of Customs at Savannah, Ga .; he was also one of the publishers of "The New Era," a Republican paper at Atlanta, and a prominent actor in reconstruction affairs. Resigning the Collectorship, lie was appointed by the President United States Commissioner to investigate Mexi- can outrages on the Rio Grande border; was sub- sequently identified with Texas railroad interests as the President of the Corpus Christi & Rio Grande Railroad, and one of the projectors of the Chicago, Texas & Mexican Central Railway, being thus engaged until 1872. Later he returned to California, dying near Glenwood, in that State, April 10, 1895, aged 75 years and 10 months.
ROBERTS, William Charles, clergyman and educator, was born in a small village of Wales, England., Sept. 23, 1832; received his primary education in that country, but, removing to America during his minority, graduated from Princeton College in 1855, and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1858. After filling vari- ous pastorates in Delaware, New Jersey and Ohio, in 1881 he was elected Corresponding Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, the next year being offered the Presidency of Rutgers College, which he declined. In 1887 he accepted the presidency of Lake Forest Univer- sity, which he still retains. From 1859 to 1863 he was a Trustee of Lafayette College, and, in 1866, was elected to a trusteeship of his Alma Mater. He has traveled extensively in the Orient, and was a member of the first and third councils of the Reformed Churches, held at Edin- burgh and Belfast. Besides occasional sermons and frequent contributions to English, Ameri- can, German and Welsh periodicals, Dr. Roberts has published a Welsh translation of the West- minster shorter catechism and a collection of letters on the great preachers of Wales, which appeared in Utica, 1868. He received the degree of D.D., from Union College in 1872, and that of LL.D., from Princeton, in 1887.
ROBINSON, an incorporated city and the county-seat of Crawford Courty, 25 miles north- west of Vincennes, Ind., and 44 miles south of Paris, Ill .; is on two lines of railroad and in the heart of a fruit and agricultural region The city lias water-works, electric lights, two banks and three weekly newspapers Population (1890) 1,387; (1900), 1,683; (1904), about 2,000.
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ROBINSON, James C., lawyer and former Congressman, was born in Edgar County, Ill., in 1822, read law and was admitted to the bar in 1850. He served as a private during the Mexican War, and, in 1858, was elected to Congress as a Democrat, as he was again in 1860, '62, '70 and '72. In 1864 he was the Democratic nominee for Governor. He was a fluent speaker, and attained considerable distinction as an advocate in crimi- nal practice. Died, at Springfield, Nov. 3, 1886.
ROBINSON, John M., United States Senator, born in Kentucky in 1793, was liberally educated and became a lawyer by profession. In early life he settled at Carmi, Ill., where he married. He was of fine physique, of engaging inanners, and personally popular. Through his association with the State militia he earned the title of "General." In 1830 he was elected to the United States Senate, to fill the unexpired term of John McLean. His immediate predecessor was David Jewett Baker, appointed by Governor Edwards, who served one month but failed of election by the Legislature. In 1834 Mr. Robinson was re- elected for a full term, which expired in 1841. In 1843 he was elected to a seat upon the Illinois Supreme bench, but died at Ottawa, April 27, of the same year, within three months after his elevation.
ROCHELLE, a city of Ogle County and an intersecting point of the Chicago & Northwestern and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railways. It is 75 miles west of Chicago, 27 miles south of Rockford, and 23 miles east by north of Dixon. It is in a rich agricultural and stock-raising region, rendering Rochelle an important ship- ping point. Among its industrial establish- ments are water-works, electric lights, a flouring inill and silk-underwear factory. The city has three banks, five churches and three newspapers. Pop. (1890), 1,789; (1900), 2,073; (1903), 2,500.
ROCHESTER, a village and early settlement in Sangamon County, laid out in 1819; in rich agricultural district, on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, 712 miles southeast of Springfield ; has a bank, two churches, one school, and a newspaper. Population (1900), 365
ROCK FALLS, a city in Whiteside County, on Rock River and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad; has excellent water-power, a good public school system with a high school, banks and a weekly newspaper. Agricultural imple- ments, barbed wire, furniture, flour and paper are its chief manufactures. Water for the navigable feeder of the Hennepin Canal is taken from Rock River at this point. Pop. (1900), 2,176.
ROCKFORD, a flourishing manufacturing city, the county-seat of Winnebago County ; lies on both sides of the Rock River, 92 miles west of Chicago. Four trunk lines of railroad-the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy, the Chicago & North- western, the Illinois Central and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul-intersect here. Excellent water-power is secured by a dam across the river, and communication between the two divisions of the city is facilitated by three railway and three highway bridges. Water is provided from five artesian wells, a reserve main leading to the river. The city is wealthy, prosperous and pro- gressive. The assessed valuation of property, in 1893, was $6,531,235. Churches are numerous and schools, both public and private, are abundant and well conducted. The census of 1890 showed $7,715,069 capital invested in 246 manufacturing establishments, which employed 5, 223 persons and turned out an annual product valued at $8,888,- 904. The principal industries are the manufac- ture of agricultural implements and furniture, though watches, silver-plated ware, paper, flour and grape sugar are among the other products. Pop. (1880), 13,129; (1890), 23,584; (1900), 31,051.
ROCKFORD COLLEGE, located at Rockford, Ill., incorporated in 1847; in 1898 had a faculty of 21 instructors with 161 pupils. The branches taught include the classics, music and fine arts. It has a library of 6,150 volumes, funds and en- dowment aggregating $50,880 and property valued at $240,880, of which $150,000 is real estate.
ROCK ISLAND, the principal city and county- seat of Rock Island County, on the Mississippi River, 182 iniles west by south from Chicago; is the converging point of five lines of railroad, and the western terminus of the Hennepin Canal. The name is derived from an island in the Missis- sippi River, opposite the city, 3 miles long, which belongs to the United States Government and contains an arsenal and armory. The river channel north of the island is navigable, the southern channel having been dammned by the Government, thereby giving great water power to Rock Island and Moline. A combined railway and highway bridge spans the river from Rock Island to Davenport, Iowa, crossing the island, while a railway bridge connects the cities a mile below. The island was the site of Fort Arm- strong during the Black Hawk War, and was also a place for the confinement of Confederate prison- ers during the Civil War. Rock Island is in a re- gion of much picturesque scenery and has exten- sive manufactures of lumber, agricultural imple-
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ments, iron, carriages and wagons and oilcloth; also five banks and three newspapers, two issuing daily editions. Pop. (1890), 13,634; (1900), 19,493.
ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, in the north western section of the State bordering upon the Missis- sippi River (which constitutes its northwestern boundary for more than 60 miles), and having an area of 440 square miles. In 1816 the Govern- ment erected a fort on Rock Island (an island in the Mississippi, 3 miles long and one-half to three-quarters of a mile wide), naming it Fort Armstrong. It has always remained a military post, and is now the seat of an extensive arsenal and work-shops. In the spring of 1828, settle- ments were made near Port Byron by John and Thomas Kinney, Archibald Allen and George Harlan. Other early settlers, near Rock Island and Rapids City, were J. W. Spencer, J. W. Bar- riels, Benjamin F. Pike and Conrad Leak; and among the pioneers were Wells and Michael Bart- lett, Joel Thompson, the Simms brothers and George Davenport. The country was full of Indians, this being the headquarters of Black Hawk and the initial point of the Black Hawk War. (See Black Hawk, and Black Hawk War.) By 1829 settlers were increased in number and county organization was effected in 1835, Rock Island (then called Stephenson) being made the county-seat. Joseph Conway was the first County Clerk, and Joel Wells, Sr., the first Treas- urer. The first court was held at the residence of John W. Barriels, in Farnhamsburg. The county is irregular in shape, and the soil and scenery greatly varied. Coal is abundant, the water-power inexhaustible, and the county's mining and manufacturing interests are very extensive. Several lines of railway cross the county, affording admirable transportation facili- ties to both eastern and western markets. Rock Island and Moline (which see) are the two prin- cipal cities in the county, though there are several other important points. Coal Valley is the center of large mining interests, and Milan is also a manufacturing center. Port Byron is one of the oldest towns in the county, and has con- siderable lime and lumber interests, while Water- . town is the seat of the Western Hospital for the Insane. Population of the county (1880), 38,302; (1890), 41,917; (1900), 55.249.
ROCK ISLAND & PEORIA RAILWAY, a standard-guage road, laid with steel rails, extend- ing from Rock Island to Peoria, 91 miles. It is lessee of the Rock Island & Mercer County Rail- road, running from Milan to Cable, Ill., giving it a total length of 118 miles-with Peoria Terminal,
121.10 miles .- (HISTORY.) The company is a reorganization (Oct. 9, 1877) of the Peoria & Rock Island Railroad Company, whose road was sold under foreclosure, April 4, 1877. The latter Road was the result of the consolidation, in 1869, of two corporations-the Rock Island & Peoria and the Peoria & Rock Island Railroad Compa- nies-the new organization taking the latter name. The road was opened through its entire length, Jan. 1, 1872, its sale under foreclosure and reorganization under its present name taking place, as already stated, in 1877. The Cable Branch was organized in 1876, as the Rock Island & Mercer County Railroad, and opened in De- cember of the same year, sold under foreclosure in 1877, and leased to the Rock Island & Peoria Rail- road, July 1, 1885, for 999 years, the rental for the entire period being commuted at $450,000 .- (FINANCIAL.) The cost of the entire road and equipment was $2,654,487. The capital stock (1898) is $1,500.000; funded debt, $600,000; other forms of indebtedness increasing the total capital invested to $2,181,066.
ROCK RIVER, a stream which rises in Wash- ington County, Wis., and flows generally in a southerly direction, a part of its course being very sinuous. After crossing the northern boundary of Illinois, it runs southwestward, intersecting the counties of Winnebago, Ogle, Lee, Whiteside and Rock Island, and entering the Mississippi three miles below the city of Rock Island. It is about 375 miles long, but its navigation is partly obstructed by rapids, which, however, furnish abundant water-power. The principal towns on its banks are Rockford, Dixon and Sterling. Its valley is wide, and noted for its beauty and fertility.
ROCKTON, a village in Winnebago County, at the junction of two branches of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, on Rock River, 13 miles north of Rockford; has manufactures of paper and agricultural implements, a feed mill, and local paper. Pop. (1890), 892; (1900), 936.
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