Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I, Part 97

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 97

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).

SIDELL, a village of Vermillion County, on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois and Cincinnati, Hamil- ton & Dayton Railroads; has a bank, electric light plant and a newspaper. Pop. (1900), 776.

SIDNEY, a village of Champaign County, on the main line of the Wabash Railway, at the junc- tion of a branch to Champaign, 48 miles east-north- east of Decatur. It is in a farming district ; has a bank and a newspaper. Population, (1900), 564.

SIM, (Dr.) William, pioneer physician, was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1795, came to

481

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

America in early manhood, and was the first phy- sician to settle at Golconda, in Pope County, which he represented in the Fourth and Fifth General Assemblies (1824 and '28). He married a Miss Elizabeth Jack of Philadelphia, making the journey from Golconda to Philadelphia for that purpose on horseback. He had a family of five children, one son, Dr. Francis L. Sim, rising to distinction as a physician, and, for a time, being President of a Medical College at Memphis, Tenn. The elder Dr. Sim died at Golconda, in 1868.

SIMS, James, early legislator and Methodist preacher, was a native of South Carolina, but removed to Kentucky in early manhood, thence to St. Clair County, Ill., and, in 1820, to Sanga- mon County, where he was elected, in 1822, as the first Representative from that county in the Third General Assembly. At the succeeding ses- sion of the Legislature, he was one of those who voted against the Convention resolution designed to prepare the way for making Illinois a slave State. Mr. Sims resided for a time in Menard County, but finally removed to Morgan.

SINGER, Horace M., capitalist, was born in Schnectady, N. Y., Oct. 1, 1823; came to Chicago in 1836 and found employment on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, serving as superintendent of repairs upon the Canal until 1853. While thus employed he became one of the proprietors of the stone-quarries at Lemont, managed by the firm of Singer & Talcott until about 1890, when they became the property of the Western Stone Company. Originally a Democrat, he became a Republican during the Civil War, and served as a member of the Twenty-fifth General Assembly (1867) for Cook County, was elected County Com- missioner in 1870, and was Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee in 1880. He was also associated with several financial institutions, being a director of the First National Bank and of the Auditorium Company of Chi- cago, and a member of the Union League and Calumet Clubs. Died, at Pasadena, Cal., Dec. 28, 1896.

SINGLETON, James W., Congressman, born at Paxton, Va., Nov. 23, 1811; was educated at the Winchester (Va.) Academy, and removed to Illinois in 1833, settling first at Mount Sterling, Brown County, and, some twenty years later, near Quincy. By profession he was a lawyer, and was prominent in political and commercial affairs. In his later years he devoted consider- able attention to stock-raising. He was elected Brigadier-General of the Illinois militia in 1844,

being identified to some extent with the "Mor- mon War"; was a member of the Constitutional Conventions of 1847 and 1862, served six terms in the Legislature, and was elected. on the Demo- cratic ticket, to Congress in 1878, and again in 1880. In 1882 he ran as an independent Demo- crat, but was defeated by the regular nominee of liis party, James M. Riggs. During the War of the Rebellion he was one of the most conspicuous leaders of the "peace party." He constructed the Quincy & Toledo (now part of the Wabash) and the Quincy, Alton & St. Louis (now part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) Railways, being President of both companies. His death occurred at Baltimore, Md., April 4, 1892.

SINNET, John S., pioneer, was born at Lex- ington, Ky., March 10, 1796; at three years of age, taken by his parents to Missouri; enlisted in the War of 1812, but, soon after the war, came to Illinois, and, about 1818, settled in what is now Christian County, locating on land constituting a part of the present city of Taylorville. In 1840 he removed to Tazewell County, dying there, Jan. 13, 1872.

SKINNER, Mark, jurist, was born at Manches- ter, Vt., Sept. 13, 1813; graduated from Middle- bury College in 1833, studied law, and, in 1836, came to Chicago; was admitted to the bar in 1839, became City Attorney in 1840, later Master in Chancery for Cook County, and finally United States District Attorney under President Tyler. As member of the House Finance Committee in the Fifteenth General Assembly (1846-48), he aided influentially in securing the adoption of measures for refunding and paying the State debt. In 1851 he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (now Superior Court) of Cook County, but declined a re-election in 1853. Origi- nally a Democrat, Judge Skinner was an ardent opponent of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill and a liberal supporter of the Government policy dur- ing the rebellion. He liberally aided the United States Sanitary Commission and was identified with all the leading charities of the city. Among the great business enterprises with which he was officially associated were the Galena & Chi- cago Union and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railways (in each of which he was a Director), the Chicago Marine & Fire Insurance Company, the Gas-Light and Coke Company and others. Died, Sept. 16, 1887. Judge Skinner's only sur- viving son was killed in the trenches before Petersburg, the last year of the Civil War.

SKINNER, Otis Ainsworth, clergyman and author, was born at Royalton, Vt., July 3, 1807;

482

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

taught for some time, became a Universalist minister, serving churches in Baltimore, Boston and New York between 1831 and 1857; then came to Elgin, Ill., was elected President of Lom- bard University at Galesburg, but the following year took charge of a church at Joliet. Died, at Naperville, Sept. 18, 1861. He wrote several vol- umes on religious topics, and, at different times, edited religious periodicals at Baltimore, Haver- hill, Mass., and Boston.

SKINNER, Ozias C., lawyer and jurist, was born at Floyd, Oneida County, N. Y., in 1817; in 1836, removed to Illinois, settling in Peoria County, where he engaged in farming. In 1838 he began the study of law at Greenville, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar of that State in 1840. Eighteen months later he returned to Illinois, and began practice at Carthage, Hancock County, removing to Quincy in 1844. During the "Mor- inon War" he served as Aid-de-camp to Governor Ford. In 1848 he was elected to the lower house of the Sixteenth General Assembly, and, for a short time, served as Prosecuting Attorney for the district including Adams and Brown Coun- ties. In 1851 he was elected Judge of the (then) Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, and, in 1855, suc- ceeded Judge S. H. Treat on the Supreme bench, resigning this position in April, 1858, two months before the expiration of his term. He was a large land owner and had extensive agricultural interests. He built, and was the first President of the Carthage & Quincy Railroad, now a part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system. He was a prominent member of the Constitutional Convention of 1869, serving as Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary. Died in 1877.

SLADE, Charles, early Congressman ; his early history, including date and place of birth, are unknown. In 1820 he was elected Representative from Washington County in the Second General Assembly, and, in 1826, was re-elected to the same body for Clinton and Washington. In 1832 he was elected one of the three Congressmen from Illinois, representing the First District. After attending the first session of the Twenty- third Congress, while on his way home, he was attacked with cholera, dying near Vincennes, Ind., July 11, 1834.

SLADE, James P., ex-State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was born at Westerlo, Albany County, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1837, and spent his boy- hood with his parents on a farm, except while absent at school; in 1856 removed to Belleville, Ill., where he soon became connected with the public schools, serving for a number of years as

Principal of the Belleville High School. While connected with the Belleville schools, he was elected County Superintendent, remaining in office some ten years; later had charge of Almira College at Greenville, Bond County, served six years as Superintendent of Schools at East St. Louis and, in 1878, was elected State Superintend- ent of Public Instruction as the nominee of the Republican party. On retirement from the office of State Superintendent, he resumed lis place at the head of Almira College, but, for the past few years, has been Superintendent of Schools at East St. Louis.

SLAVERY AGITATION OF 1823-24. (See Slavery and Slave Laws.)

SLAVERY AND SLAVE LAWS. African slaves were first brought into the Illinois country by a Frenchman named Pierre F. Renault, about 1722. At that time the present State formed a part of Louisiana, and the traffic in slaves was regulated by French royal edicts. When Great Britain acquired the territory, at the close of the French and Indian War, the former subjects of France were guaranteed security for their per- sons "and effects," and no interference with slavery was attempted. Upon the conquest of Illinois by Virginia (see Clark, George Rogers), the French very generally professed allegiance to that commonwealth, and, in her deed of cession to the United States, Virginia expressly stipulated for the protection of the "rights and liberties" of the French citizens. This was construed as recognizing the right of property in negro slaves. Even the Ordinance of 1787, while pro- hibiting slavery in the Northwest Territory, pre- served to the settlers (reference being especially made to the French and Canadians) "of the Kas- kaskias, St. Vincents and neighboring villages, their laws and customs, now (then) in force, relative to the descent and conveyance of prop- erty." A conservative construction of this clause was, that while it prohibited the extension of slavery and the importation of slaves, the status of those who were at that time in involuntary servitude, and of their descendants, was left un- changed. There were those, however, who denied the constitutionality of the Ordinance in toto, on the ground that Congress had exceeded its powers in its passage. There was also a party which claimed that all children of slaves, born after 1787, were free from birth. In 1794 a con- vention was held at Vincennes, pursuant to a call from Governor Harrison, and a memorial to Con- gress was adopted, praying for the repeal-or, at least a modification-of the sixth clause of the

483

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

Ordinance of 1787. The first Congressional Com- mittee, to which this petition was referred, reported adversely upon it; but a second commit- tee recommended the suspension of the operation of the clause in question for ten years. But no action was taken by the National Legislature, and, in 1807, a counter petition, extensively. signed, was forwarded to that body, and Congress left the matter in statu quo. It is worthy of note that some of the most earnest opponents of the measure were Representatives from Southern -Slave States, John Randolph, of Virginia, being one of them. The pro-slavery party in the State then prepared what is popularly known as the "Indenture Law," which was one of the first acts adopted by Governor Edwards and his Council, and was re-enacted by the first Territorial Legis- lature in 1812. It was entitled, "An Act relating to the Introduction of Negroes and Mulattoes into this Territory," and gave permission to bring slaves above 15 years of age into the State, when they might be registered and kept in servitude within certain limitations. Slaves under that age might also be brought in, registered, and hield in bondage until they reached the age of 35, if males, and 30, if females. The issue of registered slaves were to serve their mother's master until the age of 30 or 28, according to sex. The effect of this legislation was rapidly to increase the number of slaves. The Constitution of 1818 pro- hibited the introduction of slavery thereafter- that is to say, after its adoption. In 1822 the slave-holding party, with their supporters, began to agitate the question of so amending the organic law as to make Illinois a slave State. To effect such a change the calling of a convention was necessary, and, for eighteen months, the struggle between "conventionists" and their opponents was bitter and fierce. The question was submitted to a popular vote on August 2, 1824, the result of the count showing 4,972 votes for such convention and 6,640 against. This decisive result settled the question of slave-hold- ing in Illinois for all future time, though the existence of slavery in the State continued to be recognized by the National Census until 1840. The number, according to the census of 1810, was 168; in 1820 they had increased to 917. Then the number began to diminish, being reduced in 1830 to 747, and, in 1840 (the last census which shows any portion of the population held in bondage), it was 331.

Hooper Warren-who has been mentioned else- where as editor of "The Edwardsville Spectator," and a leading factor in securing the defeat of the

scheme to make Illinois a slave State in 1822-in an article in the first number of "The Genius of Liberty" (January, 1841), speaking of that con- test, says there were, at its beginning, only three papers in the State-"The Intelligencer" at Van- dalia, "The Gazette" at Shawneetown, and "Tlie Spectator" at Edwardsville. The first two of these, at the outset, favored the Convention scheme, while "The Spectator" opposed it. The management of the campaign on the part of the pro-slavery party was assigned to Emanuel J. West, Theophilus W. Smith and Oliver L. Kelly, and a paper was established by the name of "The Illinois Republican," with Smith as editor. Among the active opponents of the measure were George Churchill, Thomas Lippincott, Samuel D. Lockwood, Henry Starr (afterwards of Cincin- nati), Rev. John M. Peck and Rev. James Lemen, of St. Clair County. Others who con- tributed to the cause were Daniel P. Cook, Morris Birkbeck, Dr. Hugh Steel and -- Burton of Jackson County, Dr. Henry Perrine of Bond; William Leggett of Edwardsville (afterwards editor of "The New York Evening Post"), Ben- jamin Lundy (then of Missouri), David Blackwell and Rev. John Dew, of St. Clair County. Still others were Nathaniel Pope (Judge of the United States District Court), William B. Archer, Wil- liam H. Brown and Benjamin Mills (of Vandalia), John Tillson, Dr. Horatio Newhall, George For- quer, Col. Thomas Mather, Thomas Ford, Judge David J. Baker, Charles W. Hunter and Henry H. Snow (of Alton). This testimony is of interest as coming from one who probably had more to do with defeating the scheme, with the exception of Gov. Edward Coles. Outside of the more elabor- ate Histories of Illinois, the most accurate and detailed accounts of this particular period are to be found in "Sketch of Edward Coles" by the late E. B. Washburne, and "Early Movement in Illi- nois for the Legalization of Slavery," an ad- dress before the Chicago Historical Society (1864), by Hon. William H. Brown, of Chicago. (See also, Coles, Edward; Warren, Hooper; Brown, William H .; Churchill, George; Lippincott, Thomas; and Newspapers, Early, elsewhere in this volume. )

SLOAN, Wesley, legislator and jurist, was born in Dorchester County, Md., Feb. 20,, 1806. At the age of 17, having received a fair academic education, he accompanied his parents to Phila- delphia, where, for a year, he was employed in a wholesale grocery. His father dying, he returned to Maryland and engaged in teaching, at the same time studying law, and being admitted to

484

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

the bar in 1831. He came to Illinois in 1838, going first to Chicago, and afterward to Kaskas- kia, finally settling at Golconda in 1839, which continued to be his home the remainder of his life. In 1848 he was elected to the Legislature, and re-elected in 1850, '52, and '56, serving three times as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He was one of the members of the first State Board of Education, created by Act of Feb. 18, 1857, and took a prominent part in the founding and organization of the State educational insti- tutions. In 1857 lie was elected to the bench of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, and re-elected in 1861, but declined a re-election for a third term. Died, Jan. 15, 1887.

SMITH, Abner, jurist, was born at Orange, Franklin County, Mass., August 4, 1843, of an old New England family, whose ancestors came to Massachusetts Colony about 1630; was edu- cated in the public schools and at Middlebury College, Vt., graduating from the latter in 1866. After graduation he spent a year as a teacher in Newton Academy, at Shoreham, Vt., coming to Chicago in 1867, and entering upon the study of law, being admitted to the bar in 1868. The next twenty-five years were spent in the practice of his profession in Chicago, within that time serv- ing as the attorney of several important corpo- rations. In 1893 he was elected a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and re-elected in 1897, his term of service continuing until 1903

SMITH, (Dr.) Charles Gilman, physician, was born at Exeter, N. H., Jan. 4, 1828, received his early education at Phillips Academy, in his native place, finally graduating from Harvard Univer- sity in 1847. He soon after commenced the study of medicine in the Harvard Medical School, but completed his course at the University of Penn- sylvania in 1851. After two years spent as attending physician of the Alms House in South Boston, Mass., in 1853 he came to Chicago, where he soon acquired an extensive practice. During the Civil War he was one of six physicians employed by the Government for the treatment of prisoners of war in hospital at Camp Douglas. In 1868 he visited Europe for the purpose of observing the management of hospitals in Ger- many, France and England, on his return being invited to lecture in the Woman's Medical College in Chicago, and also becoming consulting phy- sician in the Women's and Children's Hospital, as well as in the Presbyterian Hospital-a position which he continued to occupy for the remainder of his life, gaining a wide reputation in the treat-

ment of women's and children's diseases. Died, Jan. 10, 1894.

SMITH, David Allen, lawyer, was born near Richmond, Va., June 18, 1809; removed with his father, at an early day, to Pulaski, Tenn .; at 17 went to Courtland, Lawrence County, Ala., where he studied law with Judge Bramlette and began practice. His father, dying about 1831, left him the owner of a number of slaves whom, in 1837, he brought to Carlinville, Ill., and emanci- pated, giving bond that they should not become a charge to the State. In 1839 he removed to Jacksonville, where he practiced law until his death. Col. John J. Hardin was his partner at the time of his death on the battle-field of Buena Vista. Mr. Smith was a Trustee and generous patron of Illinois College, for a quarter of a cen- tury, but never held any political office. As a lawyer lie was conscientious and faithful to the interests of his clients; as a citizen, liberal, pub- lic-spirited and patriotic. He contributed liber- ally to the support of the Government dur- ing the war for the Union. Died, at Anoka, Minn., July 13, 1865, where he had gone to accompany an invalid son. - Thomas William (Smith), eldest son of the preceding, born at Courtland, Ala., Sept. 27, 1832; died at Clear- water, Minn., Oct. 29, 1865. He graduated at Illinois College in 1852, studied law and served as Captain in the Tenth Illinois Volunteers, until, broken in health, he returned home to die.

SMITH, Dietrich C., ex-Congressman, was born at Ostfriesland, Hanover, April 4, 1840, in boyhood came to the United States, and, since 1849, has been a resident of Pekin, Tazewell County. In 1861 he enlisted in the Eighth Illi- nois Volunteers, was promoted to a Lieutenancy, and, while so serving, was severely wounded at Shiloh. Later, he was attached to the One Hun- dred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and was mustered out of service as Captain of Company C of that regiment. His business is that of banker and manufacturer, besides which lie has had con- siderable experience in the construction and management of railroads. He was a member of the Thirtieth General Assembly, and, in 1880, was elected Representative in Congress from what was then the Thirteenth District, on the Repub- lican ticket, defeating Adlai E. Stevenson, after- wards Vice-President. In 1882, his county (Taze- well) having been attached to the district for many years represented by Wm. M. Springer, he was defeated by the latter as a candidate for re- election.

485

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

SMITH, George, one of Chicago's pioneers and early bankers, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scot- land, March 8, 1808. It was his early intention to study medicine, and he entered Aberdeen Col- lege with this end in view, but was forced to quit the institution at the end of two years, because of impaired vision. In 1833 he came to America, and, in 1834, settled in Chicago, where he resided until 1861, meanwhile spending one year in Scot- land. He invested largely in real estate in Chi- cago and Wisconsin, at one time owning a considerable portion of the present site of Mil- waukee. In 1837 he secured the charter for the Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company, whose headquarters were at Milwaukee. He was really the owner of the company, although Alex- ander Mitchell, of Milwaukee, was its Secretary. Under this charter Mr. Smith was able to issue $1,500,000 in certificates, which circulated freely as currency. In 1839 he founded Chicago's first private banking house. About 1843 lie was inter- ested in a storage and commission business in Chicago, with a Mr. Webster as partner. He was a Director in the old Galena & Chicago Union Railroad (now a part of the Chicago & Northwestern), and aided it, while in course of construction, by loans of money; was also a charter member of the Chicago Board of Trade, organized in 1848. In 1854, the State of Wiscon- sin having prohibited the circulation of the Wis- consin Marine and Fire Insurance certificates above mentioned, Mr. Smith sold out the com- pany to his partner, Mitchell, and bought two Georgia bank charters, which, together, em- powered him to issue $3,000,000 in currency. The notes were duly issued in Georgia, and put into circulation in Illinois, over the counter of George Smith & Co.'s Chicago bank. About 1856 Mr. Smith began winding up his affairs in Chicago, meanwhile spending most of his time in Scotland, but, returning in 1860, made extensive invest- ments in railroad and other American securities, which netted him large profits. The amount of capital which he is reputed to have taken with him to his native land has been estimated at $10,000,000, though lie retained considerable tracts of valuable lands in Wisconsin and about Chicago. Among those who were associated with him in business, either as employés or otherwise, and who have since been prominently identified with Chicago business affairs, were Hon. Charles B. Farwell, E. I. Tinkham (after- wards a prominent banker of Chicago), E. W. Willard, now of Newport, R. I., and others. Mr. Smith made several visits, during the last forty

years, to the United States, but divided his time chiefly between Scotland (where he was the owner of a castle) and London. Died Oct. 7, 1899.

SMITH, George W., soldier, lawyer and State Treasurer, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., Jan. 8, 1837. It was his intention to acquire a col- legiate education, but his father's business embarrassments having compelled the abandon- ment of his studies, at 17 of years age he went to Arkansas and taught school for two years. In 1856 he returned to Albany and began the study of law, graduating from the law school in 1858. In October of that year he removed to Chicago, where he remained continuously in practice, with the exception of the years 1862-65, when he was serving in the Union army, and 1867-68, when he filled the office of State Treasurer. He was mus- tered into service, August 27, 1862, as a Captain in the Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry-the second Board of Trade regiment. At Stone River, he was seriously wounded and captured. After four days' confinement, he was aided by a negro to escape. He made his way to the Union lines, but was granted leave of absence, being incapaci- tated for service. On his return to duty he joined his regiment in the Chattanooga cam- paign, and was officially complimented for his bravery at Gordon's Mills. At Mission Ridge he was again severely wounded, and was once more personally complimented in the official report. At Kenesaw Mountain (June 27, 1864), Capt. Smith commanded the regiment after the killing of Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, and was pro- moted to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy for bravery on the field. He led the charge at Franklin, and was brevetted Colonel, and thanked by the com- mander for his gallant service. In the spring of 1865 he was brevetted Brigadier-General, and, in June following, was mustered out. Returning to Chicago, lie resumed the practice of his pro- fession, and gained a prominent position at the bar. In 1866 he was elected State Treasurer, and, after the expiration of his term, in January, 1869, held no public office. General Smith was, for many years, a Trustee of the Chicago Histor- ical Society, and Vice-President of the Board. Died, in-Chicago, Sept. 16, 1898.

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 97

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