Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 2

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Church, Charles A., 1857-
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 724

USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I > Part 2

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).

604

Soldiers' Widows' Home, Wilmington.

439

Southern Illinois Normal, Carbondale.

505

Southern Illinois Penitentiary and Asylum for Incurable Insane, Chester

502

University Hall, University of Illinois

150

University of Chicago

363

University of Illinois, Urbana. (Group of Buildings) 540

University of Illinois, Urbana. (Group of Buildings) 541

View from Engineering Hall, University of Illinois 281

View on Principal Street, Old Kaskaskia (1891) 315

Views in Lincoln Park, Chicago

Views of Drainage Canal 96

Views of Drainage Canal 97

Western Hospital for' the Insane, Watertown 403

World's Fair Buildings 605

492

Starved Rock

Sheridan Road and on the Boulevards, Chicago

121

Natural History Hall, University of Illinois

PART I. Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois.

ABBOTT, (Lieut .- Gov.) Edward, a British officer, who was commandant at Post Vincennes (called by the British, Fort Sackville) at the time Col. George Rogers Clark captured Kaskas- kia in 1778. Abbott's jurisdiction extended, at least nominally, over a part of the "Illinois Country." Ten days after the occupation of Kas- kaskia, Colonel Clark, having learned that Abbott had gone to the British headquarters at Detroit, leaving the Post without any guard except that furnished by the inhabitants of the village, took advantage of his absence to send Pierre Gibault, the Catholic Vicar-General of Illi- nois, to win over the people to the American cause, which he did so successfully that they at once took the oath of allegiance, and the Ameri- can flag was run up over the fort. Although Fort Sackville afterwards fell into the hands of the British for a time, the manner of its occupa- tion was as much of a surprise to the British as that of Kaskaskia itself, and contributed to the completeness of Clark's triumph. (See Clark, Col. George Rogers, also, Gibault, Pierre.) Gov- ernor Abbott seems to have been of a more humane character than the mass of British officers of his day, as he wrote a letter to General Carleton about this time, protesting strongly against the employment of Indians in carrying on warfare against the colonists on the frontier, on the ground of humanity, claiming that it was a detriment to the British cause, although he was overruled by his superior officer, Colonel Hamilton, in the steps soon after taken to recap- ture Vincennes.

ABINGDON, second city in size in Knox County, at the junction of the Iowa Central and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads; 10 miles south of Galesburg, with which it is con- nected by electric car line; has city waterworks, electric light plant, wagon works, brick and tile works, sash, blind and swing factories, two banks,

three weekly papers, public library, fine high school building and two ward schools. Hedding College, a flourishing institution, under auspices of the M. E. Church, is located here. Population (1900), 2,022; (1910), 2,464.

ACCAULT, Michael (Ak-ko), French explorer and companion of La Salle, who came to tlie "Illinois Country" in 1780, and accompanied Hennepin when the latter descended the Illinois River to its mouth and then ascended the Mis- sissippi to the vicinity of the present city of St. Paul, where they were captured by Sioux. They were rescued by Greysolon Dulhut (for whom the city of Duluth was named), and having dis- covered the Falls of St. Anthony, returned to Green Bay. (See Hennepin.)

ACKERMAN, William K., Railway President and financier, was born in New York City, Jan. 29, 1832, of Knickerbocker and Revolutionary ancestry, his grandfather, Abraham D. Acker- man, having served as Captain of a company of the famous "Jersey Blues," participating with "Mad" Anthony Wayne in the storming of Stony Point during the Revolutionary War, while his father served as Lieutenant of Artillery in the War of 1812. After receiving a high school edu- cation in New York, Mr. Ackerman engaged in mercantile business, but in 1852 became a clerk in the financial department of the Illinois Central Railroad. Coming to Chicago in the service of the Company in 1860, he successively filled the positions of Secretary, Auditor and Treasurer, until July, 1876, when he was elected Vice-Presi- dent and a year later promoted to the Presidency, voluntarily retiring from this position in August, 1883, though serving some time longer in the capacity of Vice-President. During the progress of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago (1892-93) Mr. Ackerman served as Auditor of the Exposition, and was City Comptroller of Chicago under the administration of Mayor Hopkins

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

(1893-95). He was an active member of the Chicago Historical Society, and rendered .valuable service to railroad history by the issue of two brochures on the "Early History of Illinois Railroads," and a "Historical Sketch of the Illinois Central Railroad." · Died Feb. 7, 1905.

ADAMS, John, LL.D., educator and philan- thropist, was born at Canterbury, Conn., Sept. 18, 1772; graduated at Yale College in 1795; taught for several years in his native place, in Plain- field, N. J., and at Colchester, Conn. In 1810 he became Principal of Phillips Academy at An- dover, Mass., remaining there twenty-three years. In addition to his educational duties he participated in the organization of several great charitable associations which attained national importance. On retiring from Phillips Academy in 1833, he removed to Jacksonville, Ill., where, four years afterward, he became the third Prin- cipal of Jacksonville Female Academy, remaining six years. He then became Agent of the Ameri- can Sunday School Union, in the course of the next few years founding several hundred Sunday Schools in different parts of the State. He re- ceived the degree of LL. D. from Yale College in 1854. Died in Jacksonville, April 24, 1863. The subject of this sketch was father of Dr. William Adams, for forty years a prominent Presbyterian clergyman of New York and for seven years (1873- 80) President of Union Theological Seminary.

ADAMS, John McGregor, manufacturer, was born at Londonderry, N. H., March 11, 1834, the son of Rev. John R. Adams, who served as Chap- lain of the Fifth Maine and One Hundred and Twenty-first New York Volunteers during the Civil War. Mr. Adams was educated at Gorham, Me., and Andover, Mass., after which, going to New York City, he engaged as clerk in a dry- goods house at $150 a year. He next entered the office of Clark & Jessup, hardware manufacturers, and in 1858 came to Chicago to represent the house of Morris K. Jessup & Co. He thus became associated with the late John Crerar, the firm of Jessup & Co. being finally merged into that of Crerar, Adams & Co., which, with the Adams & Westlake Co., have done a large business in the manufacture of railway supplies. After the death of Mr. Crerar, Mr. Adams became principal manager of the concern's vast manufacturing business. Died Sept. 18, 1904.

ADAMS, (Dr.) Samuel, physician and edu- cator, was born at Brunswick, Me., Dec. 19, 1806, and educated at Bowdoin College, where he graduated in both the departments of literature and of medicine. Then, having practiced as a

physician several years, in 1838 he assumed the chair of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and Natural History in Illinois College at Jackson- ville, Ill. From 1843 to 1845 he was also Pro- fessor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Medical Department of the same institution, and, during his connection with the College, gave instruction at different times in nearly every branch embraced in the college curriculum, including the French and German languages. Of uncompromising firmness and invincible cour- age in his adherence to principle, he was a man of singular modesty, refinement and amiability in private life, winning the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact, especially the students who came under his instruction. A profound and thorough scholar, he possessed a refined and exalted literary taste, which was illustrated in occasional contributions to scien- tific and literary periodicals. Among productions of his pen on philosophic topics may be enumer- ated articles on "The Natural History of Man in his Scriptural Relations;" contributions to the "Biblical Repository" (1844); "Auguste Comte and Positivism" ("New Englander," 1873), and "Herbert Spencer's Proposed Reconciliation be- tween Religion and Science" ("New Englander," 1875). His connection with Illinois College con- tinued until his death, April, 1877-a period of more than thirty-eight years. A monument to his memory has been erected through the grate- ful donations of his former pupils.

ADAMS, George Everett, lawyer and ex-Con- gressman, born at Keene, N. H., June 18, 1840; was educated at Harvard College, and at Dane Law School, Cambridge, Mass., graduating at the former in 1860. Early in life he settled in Chi- cago, where, after some time spent as a teacher in the Chicago High School, he engaged in the practice of his profession. His first post of pub- lic responsibility was that of State Senator, to which he was elected in 1880. In 1882 he was chosen, as a Republican, to represent the Fourth Illinois District in Congress, and re-elected in 1884, '86 and '88. In 1890 he was again a candi- date, but was defeated by Walter C. Newberry. He is one of the Trustees of the Newberry Library.

ADAMS, James, pioneer lawyer, was born in Hartford, Conn., Jan. 26, 1803; taken to Oswego County, N. Y., in 1809, and, in 1821, removed to Springfield, Ill., being the first lawyer to locate in the future State capital. He enjoyed an ex- tensive practice for the time; in 1823 was elected a Justice of the Peace, took part in the Winne-

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

bago and Black Hawk wars, was elected Probate Judge in 1841, and died in office, August 11, 1843.

ADAMS COUNTY, an extreme westerly county of the State, situated about midway between its northern and southern extremities, and bounded on the west by the Mississippi River. It was organized in 1825 and named in honor of John Quincy Adams, the name of Quincy being given to the county seat. The United States Census of 1890 places its area at 830 sq. m. and its popula- tion at 61,888. The soil of the county is fertile and well watered, the surface diversified and hilly, especially along the Mississippi bluffs, and its climate equable. The wealth of the county is largely derived from agriculture, although a large amount of manufacturing is carried on in Quincy. Pop. (1900), 67,058; (1910), 64,488.

ADDAMS, John Huy, legislator, was born at Sinking Springs, Berks County, Pa., July 12, 1822; educated at Trappe and Upper Dublin, Pa., and learned the trade of a miller in his youth, which he followed in later life. In 1844, Mr. Addams came to Illinois, settling at Cedarville, Stephenson County, purchased a tract of land and built a saw and grist mill on Cedar Creek. In 1854 he was elected to the State Senate from Stephenson County, serving continuously in that body by successive re-elections until 1870-first as a Whig and afterwards as a Republican. In 1865 he established the Second National Bank of Free- port, of which he continued to be the president until his death, August 17, 1881 .- Miss Jane (Addams), philanthropist, the founder of the "Hull House," Chicago, is a daughter of Mr. Addams.

ADDISON, village, Du Page County; seat of Evangelical Lutheran College, Normal School and Orphan Asylum; has State Bank, stores and public school. Pop. (1900), 591; (1910), 579.

ADJUTANTS-GENERAL. The office of Adju- tant-General for the State of Illinois was first created by Act of the Legislature, Feb. 2, 1865. Previous to the War of the Rebellion the position was rather honorary than otherwise, its duties (except during the Black Hawk War) and its emoluments being alike unimportant. The in- cumbent was simply the Chief of the Governor's Staff. In 1861, the post became one of no small importance. Those who held the office during the Territorial period were: Elias Rector, Robert Morrison, Benjamin Stephenson and Wm. Alex- ander. After the admission of Illinois as a State up to the beginning of the Civil War, the duties (which were almost wholly nominal) were dis- charged by Wm. Alexander, 1819-21; Elijah C. Berry, 1821-28; James W. Berry, 1828-39; Moses

K. Anderson, 1839-57; Thomas S. Mather, 1858-61. Colonel Mather having resigned to enter active service, Judge A. C. Fuller filled the office until January 1, 1865. The first appointee, under the act of 1865, was Isham N. Haynie, who held office until his death in 1869. The Legislature of 1869, taking into consideration that all the Illinois volunteers had been mustered out, and that the duties of the Adjutant-General had been materially lessened, reduced the proportions of the department and curtailed the appropriation for its support. Since the adoption of the military code of 1877, the Adjutant-General's office has occupied a more important and conspicuous position among the departments of the State government. The follow- ing is a list of those who have held office since General Haynie, with the date and duration of their respective terms of office: Hubert Dilger, 1869-73; Edwin L. Higgins, 1873-75; Hiram Hilliard, 1875-81; Isaac H. Elliot, 1881-84, Joseph W. Vance, 1884-91; Jasper N. Reece, 1891-93; Albert Orendorff, 1893-96, C C. Hilton, 1896-97; Jasper N. Recce, 1897-1902 (deceased); James B. Smith, 1902-03; Thomas W. Scott, 1903-09 (deceased); Frank S. Dickson (acting), 1909 -.

AGRICULTURE. Illinois ranks high as an agricultural State. A large area in the eastern portion of the State, because of the absence of timber, was called by the early settlers "the Grand Prairie." Upon and along a low ridge beginning in Jackson County and running across the State is the prolific fruit-growing district of Southern Illinois. The bottom lands extending from Cairo to the mouth of the Illinois River are of a fertility seemingly inexhaustible. The cen- tral portion of the State is best adapted to corn, and the southern and southwestern to the culti- vation of winter wheat. Nearly three-fourths of the entire State-some 42,000 square miles-is up- land prairie, well suited to the raising of cereals. In 1909 Illinois surpassed all other States in the production of oats and corn, the former amounting to 159,064,000 bushels (from 4,346,000 acres, value $60,441,000), and the latter to 369,770,000 bushels (from 10,300,000 acres, value $192,280,- 000), Iowa being second in both of these lines. In wheat raising Illinois ranked eighth, the total amounting to 1,810,000 acres and 31,- 494,000 bushels, value $32,754,000. As a live-stock . producing State for many years it held the highest rank, especially in horses and cattle, but while it is now surpassed by some of the younger grazing States, more attention proportionably is given in Illinois to breeding the higher classes of stock with great success.

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. The Illi- nois State Agricultural Society organized in 1853 with James N Brown, of Sangamon, first President; Simeon Francis, Recording Secretary. William Kennicott, Corresponding Secretary, and John Williams, Treasurer; by act of the Legislature, April 15, 1872, became The Illinois State Agri- cultural Department. For forty years State Fairs were held annually (except two years during the Civil War), at different points, usually at the same place for two successive years. In January, 1894, the State Board decided to locate the Fair per- manently on grounds just north of the city of Springfield, donated by the city and Sangamon County, and all Fairs have since been held there. These grounds, embracing an area of 156 acres, are supplied with substantial buildings constructed of stone, brick, steel and glass, to which additions have been made every year, until they are the most extensive and best equipped of their kind in the country, the increase in receipts and attendance, as well as exhibits of agricultural products, live stock, implements and mechanic arts keeping pace with other improvements. The administrative Board consists of the President and a Vice President from each Congressional District (now 25 in number), chosen by delegates from the County Societies within the respective districts, with a Secretary and a Treasurer, elected biennially but not members of the Board. It has ample office room in the State Capitol, where the records and a large library are kept, and liberal appropriations are made for its support. Nearly fifty volumes of annual reports of Trans- actions of the Board (1911) have been published.

AKERS, Peter, D. D., Methodist Episcopal clergyman, born of Presbyterian parentage, in Campbell County, Va., Sept. 1, 1790; was edu- cated in the common schools, and, at the age of 16, began teaching, later pursuing a classical course in institutions of Virginia and North Carolina. Having removed to Kentucky, after a brief season spent in teaching at Mount Sterling in that State, he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1817. Two years later he began the publication of a paper called "The Star," which was continued for a short time. In 1821 he was converted and joined the Methodist church, and a few months later began preaching. In 1832 he removed to Illinois, and, after a year spent in work as an evangelist, he assumed the Presidency of McKendree College at Lebanon, remaining during 1833-34; then established a "manual labor school" near Jacksonville, which he maintained for a few years. From 1837 to 1852 was spent as stationed minister or Presiding

Elder at Springfield, Quincy and Jacksonville. In the latter year he was again appointed to the Presidency of McKendree College, where he remained five years. He was then (1857) trans- ferred to the Minnesota Conference, but a year later was compelled by declining health to assume a superannuated relation. Returning to Illinois about 1865, he served as Presiding Elder of the Jacksonville and Pleasant Plains Districts, but was again compelled to accept a superannuated relation, making Jacksonville his home, where he died, Feb. 21, 1886. While President of Mc- Kendree College, he published his work on "Bib- lical Chronology," to which he had devoted many previous years of his life, and which gave evi- dence of great learning and vast research. Dr. Akers was a man of profound convictions, exten- sive learning and great eloquence. As a pulpit orator and logician he probably had no superior in the State during the time of his most active service in the denomination to which he belonged.

AKIN, Edward C., lawyer and Attorney-Gen- eral, was born in Will County, Ill., in 1852, and educated in the public schools of Joliet and at Ann Arbor, Mich. For four years he was paying and receiving teller in the First National Bank of Joliet, but was admitted to the bar in 1878 and has continued in active practice since. In 1887 he entered upon his political career as the Republi- can candidate for City Attorney of Joliet, and was elected by a majority of over 700 votes, although the city was usually Democratic. The follow- ing year he was the candidate of his party for State's Attorney of Will County, and was again elected, leading the State and county ticket by 800 votes-being re-elected to the same office in 1892. In 1895 he was the Republican nominee for Mayor of Joliet, and, although opposed by a citizen's ticket headed by a Republican, was elected over his Democratic competitor by a deci- sive majority. His greatest popular triumph was in 1896, when he was elected Attorney-General on the Republican State ticket by a plurality over his Democratic opponent of 132,248 and a majority over all competitors of 111,255. His legal abilities are recognized as of a very high order, while his personal popularity is indicated by his uniform success as a candidate, in the face, at times, of strong political majorities.

ALBANY, a village of Whiteside County, lo- cated on the Mississippi River and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (Rock Island branch). Pop. (1890), 611; (1900), 621; (1910), 618.

ALBION, county-seat of Edwards County, on Southern Railway, midway between St. Louis

EXPERIMENT FARM-UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

EXPERIMENT FARM (THE VINEYARD) UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

EXPERIMENT FARM (ORCHARD CULTIVATION) UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

and Louisville; seat of Southern Collegiate In- stitute; has plant for manufacture of vitrified . shale paving brick, two newspapers, creamery, flouring mills, and is important shipping point for live stock; is in a rich fruit-growing district ; has five churches and splendid public schools. Population (1900), 1,162; (1910); 1,281.

ALCORN, James Lusk, was born near Gol- conda, Ill., Nov. 4, 1816; early went South and held various offices in Kentucky and Mississippi, including member of the Legislature in each; was a member of the Mississippi State Conven- tions of 1851 and 1861, and by the latter appointed a Brigadier-General in the Confederate service, but refused a commission by Jefferson Davis because his fidelity to the rebel cause was doubted. At the close of the war he was one of the first to accept the reconstruction policy; was elected United States Senator from Mississippi in 1865, but not admitted to his seat. In 1869 he was chosen Governor as a Republican, and two years later elected United States Senator, serving until 1877. Died, Dec. 20, 1894.

ALDRICH, J. Frank, Congressman, was born at Two Rivers, Wis., April 6, 1853, the son of William Aldrich, who afterwards became Con- gressman from Chicago; was brought to Chicago in 1861, attended the public schools and the Chi- cago University, and graduated from the Rensse- laer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N. Y., in 1877, receiving the degree of Civil Engineer. Later he engaged in the linseed oil business in Chicago. Becoming interested in politics, he was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Cook County, serving as President of that body during the reform period of 1887; was also a member of the County Board of Education and Chairman of the Chicago Citizens' Committee, appointed from the various clubs and commer- cial organizations of the city, to promote the for- mation of the Chicago Sanitary District. From May 1, 1891, to Jan. 1, 1893, he was Commissioner of Public Works for Chicago, when he resigned his office, having been elected (Nov., 1892) a member of the Fifty-third Congress, on the Republican ticket, from the First Congressional District; was re-elected in 1894, retiring at the close of the Fifty-fourth Congress. In 1898 he was appointed to a position in connection with the office of Comptroller of the Currency at Washington.

ALDRICH, William, merchant and Congress- man, was born at Greenfield, N. Y., Jan. 20, 1820. His early common school training was supple- mented by private tuition in higher branches of

mathematics and in surveying, and by a term in an academy. Until he had reached the age of 26 years he was engaged in farming and teaching, but, in 1846, turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. In 1851 he removed to Wisconsin, where, in addition to merchandising, he engaged in the manufacture of furniture and woodenware, and where he also held several important offices, being Superintendent of Schools for three years, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors one year, besides serving one term in the Legisla- ture. In 1860 he removed to Chicago, where he embarked in the wholesale grocery business. In 1875 he was elected to the City Council, and, in 1876, chosen to represent his district (the First) in Congress, as a Republican, being re-elected in 1878, and again in 1880. Died in Fond du Lac, Wis., Dec. 3, 1885.

ALEDO, county-seat of Mercer County; is in the midst of a rich farming and bituminous coal region; fruit-growing and stock-raising are also extensively carried on, and large quantities of these cominodities are shipped here; has two newspapers and ample school facilities. Popula- tion (1890), 1,601; (1900), 2,081; (1910), 2,144.

ALEXANDER, John T., agriculturist and stock-grower, was born in Western Virginia, Sept. 15, 1820; removed with his father, at six years of age, to Ohio, and to Illinois in 1848. Here he bought a tract of several thousand acres of land on the Wabash Railroad, 10 miles east of Jacksonville, which finally developed into one of the richest stock-farms in the State. After the war he became the owner of the celebrated "Sullivant farm," comprising some 20,000 acres on the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad in Champaign County, to which he transferred his stock interests, and although overtaken by re- verses, left a large estate. Died, August 22, 1876.

ALEXANDER, Milton K., pioneer, was born in Elbert County, Ga., Jan. 23, 1796; emigrated with his father, in 1804, to Tennessee, and, while still a boy, enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812, serving under the command of General Jackson until the capture of Pensacola, when he entered upon the campaign against the Seminoles in Florida. In 1823 he removed to Edgar County, Ill., and engaged in mercantile and agricultural pursuits at Paris; serving also as Postmaster there some twenty-five years, and as Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court from 1826 to '37. In 1826 he was commissioned by Governor Coles, Colonel of the Nineteenth Regiment, Illinois State Militia ; in 1830 was Aide-de-Camp to Gov- ernor Reynolds, and, in1832, took part in the Black

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 Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 2

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Church, Charles A., 1857- Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 724

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Church, Charles A., 1857-
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 724