Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 25

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 25

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).

COUCH, James, pioneer hotel-keeper, was born at Fort Edward, N. Y., August 31, 1800; removed to Chautauqua County, in the same State, where he remained until his twentieth year, receiving a fair English education. After engaging succes- sively, but with indifferent success, as hotel-clerk, stage-house keeper, lumber-dealer, and in the dis- tilling business, in 1836, in company with his younger brother, Ira, he visited Chicago. They both decided to go into business there, first open- ing a small store, and later entering upon their hotel ventures which proved so eminently suc- cessful, and gave the Tremont House of Chicago so wide and enviable a reputation. Mr. Couch superintended for his brother Ira the erection, at various times, of many large business blocks in the city. Upon the death of his brother, in 1857, he was made one of the trustees of his estate, and, with other trustees, rebuilt the Tremont House after the Chicago fire of 1871. In April, 1892, while boarding a street car in the central part of the city of Chicago, he was run over by a truck, receiving injuries which resulted in his death the same day at the Tremont House, in the 92d year of his age .- Ira (Couch), younger brother of the preceding, was born in Saratoga County,

N. Y., Nov. 22, 1806. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to a tailor, and, in 1826, set up in business on his own account. In 1836, while visiting Chicago with his brother James, he determined to go into business there. With a stock of furnishing goods and tailors' supplies, newly bought in New York, a small store was opened. This business soon disposed of, Mr. Couch, with his brother, obtained a lease of the old Tremont House, then a low frame building kept as a saloon boarding house. Changed and refurnished, this was opened as a hotel. It was destroyed by fire in 1839, as was also the larger rebuilt structure in 1849. A second time rebuilt, and on a much larger and grander scale at a cost of $75,000, surpassing anything the West had ever known before, the Tremont House this time stood until the Chicago fire in 1871, when it was again destroyed. Mr. Couch at all times enjoyed an immense patronage, and was able to accumulate (for that time) a large fortune. He purchased and improved a large number of business blocks, then within the business center of the city. In 1853 lie retired from active business, and, in con- sequence of impaired health, chose for the rest of his life to seek recreation in travel. In the winter of 1857, while with his family in Havana, Cuba, he was taken with a fever which soon ended his life. His remains now rest in a mausoleum of masonry in Lincoln Park, Chi- cago.

COULTERVILLE, a town of Randolph County, at the crossing of the .Centralia & Chester and the St. Louis & Paducah branch Illinois Central Railways, 49 miles southeast of St. Louis. Farm- ing and coal-mining are the leading industries. The town has two banks, two creanieries, and a newspaper. Pop. (1900), 650; (1910), 949.

COUNTIES, UNORGANIZED. (See Unorgan- ized Counties.)

COWDEN, a village of Shelby County, at the intersection of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwest- ern and the Toledo, St. Louis & Western Rail- ways, 60 miles southeast of Springfield. Con- siderable coal is mined in the vicinity; has a bank and a weekly paper. Population (1880), 350; (1890), 702; (1900), 751; (1910), 711.

COWLES, Alfred, newspaper manager, was born in Portage County, Ohio, May 13, 1832, grew up on a farm and, after spending some time at Michigan University, entered the office of "The Cleveland Leader" as a clerk ; in 1855 accepted a similar position on "The Chicago Tribune," which had just been bought by Joseph Medill and others, finally becoming a stockholder and busi-

123

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

ness manager of the paper, so remaining until his death in Chicago, Dec. 20, 1889.

COX, Thomas, pioneer, Senator in the First General Assembly of Illinois (1818-22) from Union County, and a conspicuous figure in early State history ; was a zealous advocate of the policy of making Illinois a slave State; became one of the original proprietors and founders of the city of Springfield, and was appointed the first Register of the Land Office there, but was removed under charges of misconduct; after his retirement from the Land Office, kept a hotel at Springfield. In 1836 he removed to Iowa (then a part of Wiscon- sin Territory), became a member of the first Territorial Legislature there, was twice re-elected and once Speaker of the House, being prominent in 1840 as commander of the "Regulators" who drove out a gang of murderers and desperadoes who had got possession at Bellevue, Iowa. Died, at Maquoketa, Iowa, 1843.

COY, Irus, lawyer, was born in Chenango County, N. Y., July 25, 1832; educated in the common schools and at Central College, Cortland County, N. Y., graduating in law at Albany in 1857. Then, having removed to Illinois, he located in Kendall County and began practice; in 1868 was elected to the lower house of the General Assembly and, in 1872, served as Presidential Elector on the Republican ticket; removed to Chicago in 1871, later serving as attorney of the Union Stock Yards and Transit Company. Died, in Chicago, Sept. 20, 1897.

CRAFTS, Clayton E., legislator and politician, born at Auburn, Geauga County, Ohio, July 8, 1848; was educated at Hiram College and gradu- ated from the Cleveland Law School in 1868, coming to Chicago in 1869. Mr. Crafts served in seven consecutive sessions of the General Assem- bly (1883-95, inclusive) as Representative from Cook County, and was elected by the Democratic majority as Speaker, in 1891, and again in '93.

CRAIG, Alfred M., jurist, was born in Edgar County, Ill., Jan. 15, 1831, graduated from Knox College in 1853, and was admitted to the bar in the following year, commencing practice at Knoxville. He held the offices of State's Attorney and County Judge, and represented Knox County in the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70. In 1873 he was elected to the bench of the Supreme Court, as successor to Justice C. B. Lawrence, and was re-elected in '82 and '91, his last term expiring June 1, 1900. He was a Democrat in politics, but was three times elected as Justice of the Supreme Court in Republican judicial district. Died Sept. 6, 1911.

CRAWFORD, Charles H., lawyer and legisla- tor, was born in Bennington, Vt., but reared in Bureau and La Salle Counties, Ill .; had practiced law for twenty years in Chicago, and been three times elected to the State Senate-1884, '88 and '94-and was author of the Crawford Primary Election Law, enacted in 1885. Died June 4, 1903.

CRAWFORD COUNTY, a southeastern county, bordering on the Wabash, 190 miles nearly due south of Chicago-named for William H. Craw- ford, a Secretary of War. It has an area of 470 square miles; population (1910), 26,281. The first settlers were the French, but later came emigrants from New England. The soil is rich and well adapted to the production of corn and wheat, which are the principal crops. The county was organized in 1816, Darwin being the first county-seat. The present county-seat is Robinson, with a population (1890) of 1,387; centrally located and the point of intersection of two railroads. Other towns of importance are Palestine (population, 734) and Hutsonville (popu- lation, 582). The latter, as well as Robinson, is a grain-shipping point. The Embarras River crosses the southwest portion of the county, and receives the waters of Big and Honey Creeks and Bushy Fork. The county has no mineral resources, but contains some valuable woodland and many well cultivated farms. Tobacco, potatoes, sorghum and wool are among the lead- ing products.

CREAL SPRINGS, a village of Williamson County, on the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad; has a bank and a weekly paper. Popu- lation (1890), 539; (1900), 940; (1910), 936.

CREBS, John M., ex-Congressman, was born in Middleburg, Loudoun County, Va., April 7, 1830. When he was but 7 years old his parents removed to Illinois, where he ever after resided. At the age of 21 he began the study of law, and, in 1852, was admitted to the bar, beginning practice in White County. In 1862 he enlisted in the ' Eighty-seventh Illinois Volunteers, receiving a commission as Lieutenant-Colonel, participating in all the important movements in the Mississippi Valley, including the capture of Vicksburg, and in the Arkansas campaign, a part of the time commanding a brigade. Returning home, he resumed the practice of his profession. In 1866 he was an unsuccessful candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction on the Democratic ticket. He was elected to Congress in 1868 and re-elected in 1870, and, in 1880, was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention, Died, June 26, 1890.

124

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

CREIGHTON, James A., jurist, was born in White County, Ill., March 7, 1846; in childhood removed with his parents to Wayne County, and was educated in the schools at Fairfield and at the Southern Illinois College, Salem, graduating from the latter in 1868. After teaching for a time while studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1870, and opened an office at Fairfield, but, in 1877, removed to Springfield. In 1885 he was elected a Circuit Judge for the Springfield Circuit, was re-elected in 1891, 1897, in 1903 and 1909.

CRERAR, John, manufacturer and philanthro- pist, was born of Scotch ancestry in New York City, in 1827; at 18 years of age was an employé of an iron-importing firm in that city, subse- quently accepting a position with Morris K. Jessup & Co., in the same line. Coming to Chicago in 1862, in partnership with J. McGregor Adams, he succeeded to the business of Jessup & Co., in that city, also becoming a partner in the Adams & Westlake Company, iron manufactur- ers. He also became interested and an official in various other business organizations, including the Pullman Palace Car Company, the Chicago & Alton Railroad, the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, and, for a time, was President of the Chi- cago & Joliet Railroad, besides being identified . with various benevolent institutions and associ- ations. After the fire of 1871, he was intrusted by the New York Chamber of Commerce with the custody of funds sent for the relief of suffer- ers by that calamity. His integrity and business sagacity were universally recognized. After his death, which occurred in Chicago, Oct. 19, 1889, it was found that, after making munificent bequests to some twenty religious and benevolent associations and enterprises, aggregating nearly a million dollars, besides liberal legacies to relatives, he had left the residue of his estate, amounting to some $2,000,000, for the purpose of founding a public library in the city of Chicago, naming thirteen of his most intimate friends as the first Board of Trustees. No more fitting and lasting monument of so noble and public-spirited a man could have been devised.

CRETE, a village of Will County, on the Chi- cago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, 30 miles south of Chicago. Pop. (1900), 760; (1910), 840.

CROOK, George, soldier, was born near Day- ton, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1828; graduated at the United States Military Academy, West Point, in 1852, and was assigned as brevet Second Lieutenant to the Fourth Infantry, becoming full Second Lieuten- ant in 1853. In 1861 he entered the volunteer service as Colonel of the Thirty-sixth Ohio Infan-

try ; was promoted Brigadier-General in 1862 and Major-General in 1864, being mustered out of the service, January, 1866. During the war he participated in some of the most important battles in West Virginia and Tennessee, fought at Chickamauga and Antietam, and commanded the cavalry in the advance on Richmond in the spring of 1865. On being mustered out of the volunteer service he returned to the regular army, was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Twenty-third Infantry, and, for several years, was engaged in campaigns against the hostile Indians in the Northwest and in Arizona. In 1888 he was appointed Major-General and, from that time to his death, was in command of the Military Division of the Missouri, with headquarters at Chicago, where he died, March 19, 1890.

CROSIAR, Simon, pioneer, was born near Pittsburg, Pa., in the latter part of the last century; removed to Ohio in 1815 and to Illinois in 1819, settling first at Cap au Gris, a French village on the Mississippi just above the mouth of the Illinois in what is now Calhoun County ; later lived at Peoria (1824), at Ottawa (1826), at Shippingport near the present city of La Salle (1829), and at Old Utica (1834); in the mean- while built one or two mills on Cedar Creek in La Salle County, kept a storage and commission house, and, for a time, acted as Captain of a steamboat plying on the Illinois. Died, in 1846.

CRYSTAL LAKE, a village in McHenry County, at the intersection of two divisions of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, 43 miles northwest of Chicago. Population (1880), 546; (1890), 781; (1900), 950; (1910), 1,242.

CUBA, a town in Fulton County, distant 38 miles west-southwest of Peoria, and about 8 miles north of Lewistown. The entire region (includ- ing the town) is underlaid with a good quality of bituminous coal, of which the late State Geologist Worthen asserted that, in seven townships of Fulton County, there are 9,000,000 tons to the square mile, within 150 feet of the surface. Brick and cigars are made here, and the town has two banks, a newspaper, three churches and good schools. Population (1890), 1,114; (1900), 1,198; (1910), 2,019.

CULLEN, William, editor and Congressman, born in the north of Ireland, March 4, 1826; while yet a child was brought by his parents to Pitts- burg, Pa., where he was educated in the public schools. At the age of 20 he removed to La Salle County, Ill, and began life as a farmer. Later he took up his residence at Ottawa. He has served as Sheriff of La Salle County, and held

125

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

otlier local offices, and was for many years a part owner and senior editor of "The Ottawa Repub- lican." From 1881 to 1885, as a Republican, he represented the Eighth Illinois District in Con- gress.

CULLOM, Richard Northcraft, farmer and legislator, was born in the State of Maryland, October 1, 1795, but early removed to Wayne County, Ky., where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Coffey, a native of North Carolina. In 1830 he removed to Illinois, settling near Waslı- ington, Tazewell County, where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life. Although a farmer by vocation, Mr. Cullom was a man of prominence and a recognized leader in public affairs. In 1836 he was elected as a Whig Repre- sentative in the Tenth General Assembly, serving in the same body with Abraham Lincoln, of whom he was an intimate personal and political friend. In 1840 he was chosen a member of the State Senate, serving in the Twelfth and Thir- teenth General Assemblies, and, in 1852, was again elected to the House. Mr. Cullom's death occurred in Tazewell County, Dec. 4, 1872, his wife having died Dec. 5, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Cullom were the parents of Hon. Shelby M. Cullom.

CULLOM, Shelby Moore, United States Sena- tor, was born in Wayne County, Ky., Nov. 22, 1829. His parents removed to Tazewell County, Ill., in 1830, where his father became a member of the Legislature and attained prominence as a public man. After two years spent in Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, varied by some experience as a teacher, in 1853 the subject of this sketch went to Springfield to enter upon the study of law in the office of Stuart & Edwards. Being admitted to the bar two years afterward, he was almost immediately elected City Attor- ney, and, in 1856, was a candidate on the Fill- more ticket for Presidential Elector, at the same time being elected to the Twentieth General Assembly for Sangamon County, as he was again, as a Republican, in 1860, being supported alike by the Fillmore men and the Free-Soilers. At the session following the latter election, he was chosen Speaker of the House, which was his first important political recognition. In 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln a member of the War Claims Commission at Cairo, serving in this capacity with Governor Boutwell of Massachu- setts and Charles A. Dana of New York. He was also a candidate for the State Senate the same year, but then sustained his only defeat. Two years later (1864) he was a candidate for Con-

gress, defeating his former preceptor, Hon. John T. Stuart, being re-elected in 1866, and again in 1868, the latter year over B. S. Edwards. He was a delegate to the National Republican Con- vention of 1872, and, as Chairman of the Illinois delegation, placed General Grant in nomination for the Presidency, holding the same position again in 1884 and in 1892; was elected to the Illi- nois House of Representatives in 1872 and in 1874, being chosen Speaker a second time in 1873, as he was the unanimous choice of his party for Speaker again in 1875; in 1876 was elected Gov- ernor, was re-elected in 1880, and, in 1883, elected to the United States Senate as successor to Hon. David Davis. By four successive re-elections since 1885, he is now serving his fifth term, which will expire in 1913. In 1898, by special appointment of President Mckinley, Senator Cullom served upon a Commission to investigate the condition of the Hawaiian Islands and report a plan of government for this new division of the American Republic. Other important measures with which his name has been promi- nently identified have been the laws for the sup- pression of polygamy in Utah and for the creation of the Inter-State Commerce Commission. At present he is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, and has been a prominent member of other important Committees. His career has been conspicuous for his long public service, the large number of important offices which he has held, the almost unbroken uniform- ity of his success when a candidate, and his com- plete exemption from scandals of every sort. No man in the history of the State has been so frequently elected to the United States Senate, and only three-Senators Douglas, Trumbull and Logan-were each elected for three terms; though only one of these (Senator Trumbull) lived to serve out the full period for which he was elected.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, situated in the southeast quarter of the State, directly south of Coles County, from which it was cut off in 1843. Its area is 350 square miles, and population (1900), 16,124. The county-seat was at Greenup until 1855, when it was transferred to Prairie City, which was laid off in 1854 and incorporated as a town in 1866. The present county-seat is at Toledo (population, 1890, 676). The Embarras River crosses the county, as do also three lines of railroad. Neoga, a mining town, has a popula- tion of 829. The county received its name from the Cumberland Road, whichi, as originally pro jected, passed through it. Pop. (1910), 14,281.

126

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

CUMMINS, (Rev.) David, Bishop of the Re- formed Protestant Episcopal Church, was born near Smyrna, Del., Dec. 11, 1822; gradu- ated at Dickinson College, Pa., in 1841, and became a licentiate in the Methodist ministry, but, in 1846, took orders in the Episcopal Church; afterwards held rectorships in Balti- more, Norfolk, Richmond and the Trinity Episcopal Church of Chicago, in 1866 being con- secrated Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky. As a recognized leader of the Low- Church or Evangelical party, he early took issue with the ritualistic tendencies of the High-Church party, and, having withdrawn from the Episcopal Church in 1873, became the first Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal organization. He was zeal- ous, eloquent and conscientious, but overtaxed his strength in his new field of labor, dying at Luth- erville, Md., June 26, 1876. A memoir of Bishop Cummins, by his wife, was publishedin 1878.

CUMULATIVE VOTE. (See Minority Repre- sentation.)

CURTIS, Harvey, clergyman and educator, was born in Adams, Jefferson County, N. Y., May 30, 1806; graduated at Middlebury College, Vt., in 1831, with the highest honors of his class; after three years at Princeton Theological Seminary, was ordained pastor of the Congregational church at Brandon, Vt., in 1836. In 1841 he accepted an appointment as agent of the Home Missionary Society for Ohio and Indiana, between 1843 and 1858 holding pastorates at Madison, Ind., and Chicago. In the latter year he was chosen President of Knox College, at Galesburg, dying there, Sept. 18, 1862.

CURTIS, William Elroy, journalist, was born at Akron, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1850; graduated at Western Reserve College in 1871, meanwhile learning the art of typesetting; later served as a reporter on "The Cleveland Leader" and, in 1872, took a subordinate position on "The Chicago Inter Ocean," finally rising to that of managing- editor. While on "The Inter Ocean" he accom- panied General Custer in his campaign against the Sioux, spent several months investigating the "Ku-Klux" and "White League" organiza- tions in the South, and, for some years, was "The Inter Ocean" correspondent in Washington. Having retired from "The Inter Ocean," he became Secretary of the "Pan-American Con- gress" in Washington, and afterwards made the tour of the United States with the South and Central American representatives in that Con- gress. During the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago he had general supervision of the

Latin-American historical and archaeological exhibits. Mr. Curtis has visited nearly every Central and South American country and has written elaborately on these subjects for the magazines and for publication in book form; has also published a "Life of Zachariah Chandler" and a "Diplomatic History of the United States and Foreign Powers." Mr. Curtis spent his last years as correspondent of "The Chicago Record- Herald," writing extensively from various parts of the world. Died Sept. 6, 1911.

CUSHMAN, (Col.) William H. W., financier and manufacturer, was born at Freetown, Mass., May 13, 1813; educated at the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy, Norwich, Vt .; at 18 began a mercantile career at Middlebury, and, in 1824, removed to La Salle County, Ill., where he opened a country store, also built a mill at Vermilionville; later was identified with many large financial enterprises which generally

proved successful, thereby accumulating a for- tune at one time estimated at $3,000,000. He was elected as a Democrat to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth General Assemblies (1842 and '44) and, for several years, held a commission as Captain of the Ottawa Cavalry (militia). The Civil War coming on, he assisted in organizing the Fifty-third Illinois Volunteers, and was com- missioned its Colonel, but resigned Sept. 3, 1862. He organized and was principal owner of the Bank of Ottawa, which, in 1865, became the First National Bank of. that city; was the leading spirit in the Hydraulic Company and the Gas Company at Ottawa, built and operated the Ottawa Machine Shops and Foundry, speculated largely in lands in La Salle and Cook Counties- his operations in the latter being especially large about Riverside, as well as in Chicago, was a principal stockholder in the bank of Cush- man & Hardin in Chicago, had large interests in the lumber trade in Michigan, and was one of the builders of the Chicago, Paducah & South- western Railroad. The Chicago fire of 1871, however, brought financial disaster upon him, which finally dissipated his fortune and de- stroyed his mental and physical health. His death occurred at Ottawa, Oct. 28, 1878.

DALE, Michael G., lawyer, was born in Lan- caster, Pa., spent his childhood and youth in the public schools of his native city, except one year in West Chester Academy, when he entered Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, graduating there in 1835. He then began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1837; coming to

127

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

Illinois the following year, he was retained in a suit at Greenville, Bond County, which led to his employment in others, and finally to opening an office there. In 1839 he was elected Probate Judge of Bond County, remaining in office four- teen years, meanwhile being commissioned Major of the State Militia in 1844, and serving as mem- ber of a Military Court at Alton in 1847; was also the Delegate from Bond County to the State Con- stitutional Convention of 1847. In 1853 he re- signed the office of County Judge in Bond County to accept that of Register of the Land office at Edwardsville, where he continued to reside, fill- ing the office of County Judge in Madison County five or six terms, besides occupying some subordi- nate positions. Judge Dale married a daughter of Hon. William L. D. Ewing. Died at Edwards- ville, April 1, 1895.

DALLAS CITY, in Hancock and Henderson Counties, at the intersection of Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- roads, 16 miles south of Burlington. It has manu- factories of lumber, buttons, carriages and wagons, and two weekly newspapers. . Pop. (1890), 747; (1900), 970; (1910), 1,288.

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 25

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