Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 27

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 27

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DENT, Thomas, lawyer, was born in Putnam County, Ill., Nov. 14, 1831; in his youth was employed in the Clerk's office of Putnam County, meanwhile studying law; was admitted to the bar in 1854, and, in 1856, opened an office in Chi- cago; is still in practice and has served as President, both of the Chicago Law Institute and the State Bar Association.

DES PLAINES, a village of Cook County, at the intersection of the Chicago & Northwestern and the Wisconsin Central Railroads, 17 miles north- west from Chicago; is a dairying region. Popu- lation (1890), 986; (1900), 1,666; (1910), 2,348.

DES PLAINES RIVER, a branch of the Illinois River, which rises in Racine County, Wis., and, after passing through Kenosha County, in that. State, and Lake County, Ill., running nearly parallel to the west shore of Lake Michigan through Cook County, finally unites with the Kankakee, about 13 miles southwest of Joliet, by

its confluence with the latter forming the Illinois River. Its length is about 150 miles. The Chicago Drainage Canal is constructed in the valley of the Des Plaines for a considerable por- tion of the distance between Chicago and Joliet.

DEWEY, (Dr.) Richard S., physician, alienist, was born at Forestville, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1845; after receiving his primary education took a two years' course in the literary and a three years' course in the medical department of the Michigan Univer- sity at Ann Arbor, graduating from the latter in 1869. He then began practice as House Physician and Surgeon in the City Hospital at Brooklyn, N. Y., remaining for a year, after which he visited Europe inspecting hospitals and sanitary methods, meanwhile spending six months in the Prussian military service as Surgeon during the Franco-Prussian War. After the close of the war he took a brief course in the University of Berlin, when, returning to the United States, he was employed for seven years as Assistant Physi- cian in the Northern Hospital for the Insane at Elgin. In 1879 he was appointed Medical Super- intendent of the Eastern Hospital for the Insane at Kankakee, remaining until the accession of John P. Altgeld to the Governorship in 1893. Dr. Dewey's reputation as a specialist in the treatment of the insane has stood among the highest of his class.

DE WITT COUNTY, situated in the central portion of the State; has an area of 440 square miles and a population (1910) of 18,906. The land was originally owned by the Kickapoos and Potta- watomies, and not until 1820 did the first perma- nent white settlers occupy this region. The first to come were Felix Jones, Prettyman Marvel, William Cottrell, Samuel Glenn, and the families of Scott, Lundy and Coaps. Previously, how- ever, the first cabin had been built on the site of the present Farmer City by Nathan Clearwater. Zion Shugest erected the earliest grist-mill and Burrell Post the first saw-mill in the county. Kentuckians and Tennesseeans were the first im- migrants, but not until the advent of settlers from Ohio did permanent improvements begin to be made. In 1835 a school house and Presbyterian church were built at Waynesville. The county was organized in 1839, and-with its capital (Clinton)-was named after one of New York's most distinguished Governors. It lies within the great "corn belt," and is well watered by Salt Creek and its branches. Most of the surface is rolling prairie, interspersed with woodland. Several lines of railway (among them the Illinois Central) cross the county. Clinton had a popu-

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lation of 2,598 in 1890, and Farmer City, 1,367. Both are railroad centers and have considerable trade.

DE WOLF. Calvin, pioneer and philanthropist, was born in Luzerne County, Pa., Feb. 18, 1815; taken early in life to Vermont, and, at 19 years of age, commenced teaching at Orwell, in that State; spent one year at a manual labor school in Ashtabula County, Ohio, and, in 1837, came to Chicago, and soon after began teaching in Will County, still later engaging in the same vocation in Chicago. In 1839 he commenced the study of law with Messrs. Spring & Goodrich and, in 1843, was admitted to practice. In 1854 he was elected a Justice of the Peace, retaining the position for a quarter of a century, winning for himself the reputation of a sagacious and incor- ruptible public officer. Mr. De Wolf was an original abolitionist and his home is said to have been one of the stations on the "underground railroad" in the days of slavery. Died Nov. 28, '99.

DEXTER, Wirt, lawyer, born at Dexter, Mich., Oct. 25, 1831; was educated in the schools of his native State and at Cazenovia Seminary, N. Y. He was descended from a family of lawyers, his grandfather, Samuel Dexter, having been Secre- tary of War, and afterwards Secretary of the Treasury, in the cabinet of the elder Adams. Coming to Chicago at the beginning of his profes- sional career, Mr. Dexter gave considerable attention at first to his father's extensive lumber trade. He was a zealous and eloquent supporter of the Government during the Civil War, and was an active member of the Relief and Aid Society after the fire of 1871. His entire profes- sional life was spent in Chicago, for several years before his death being in the service of the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company as its general solicitor and member of the executive committee of the Board of Directors. Died in Chicago, May 20, 1890.

DICKEY, Hugh Thompson, jurist, was born in New York City, May 30, 1811; graduated from Columbia College, read law and was admitted to the bar. He visited Chicago in 1836, and four years later settled there, becoming one of its most influential citizens. Upon the organization of the County Court of Cook County in 1845, Mr. Dickey was appointed its Judge. In Septem- ber, 1848, he was elected Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, practically without partisan opposition, serving until the expiration of his term in 1853. He was prominently identified with several important commercial enterprises, was one of the founders of the Chicago Library

Association, and one of the first Trustees of the Illinois General Hospital of the Lakes, now Mercy Hospital. In 1885 he left Chicago to take up his residence in his native city, New York, where he died, June 2, 1892.

DICKEY, Theophilus Lyle, lawyer and jurist, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Nov. 12, 1812, the grandson of a Revolutionary soldier, gradu- ated at the Miami (Ohio) University, and re- moved to Illinois in 1834, settling at Macomb, McDonough County, where he was admitted to the bar in 1835. In 1836 he moved to Rushville, where he resided three years, a part of the time editing a Whig newspaper. Later he became a resident of Ottawa, and, at the opening of the Mexican War, organized a company of volun- teers, of which he was chosen Captain. In 1861 he raised a regiment of cavalry which was mustered into service as the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and of which he was commissioned Colonel, taking an active part in Grant's cam -. paigns in the West. In 1865 he resigned his commission and resumed the practice of his profession at Ottawa. In 1866 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Congressman for the State-at-large in opposition to John A. Logan, and, in 1868, was tendered and accepted the posi- tion of Assistant Attorney-General of the United States, resigning after eighteen months' service. In 1873 he removed to Chicago, and, in 1874, was made Corporation Counsel. In December, 1875, he was elected to the Supreme Court, vice W. K. McAllister, deceased; was re-elected in 1879, and died at Atlantic City, July 22, 1885.

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, THE, known also as the Christian Church and as "Campbellites," having been founded by Alexander Campbell. Many members settled in Illinois in the early 30's, and, in the central portion of the State, the denomination soon began to flourish greatly. Any one was admitted to membership who made what is termed a scriptural confession of faith and was baptized by immersion. Alexander Campbell was an eloquent preacher and a man of much native ability, as well as a born conver- sationalist. The sect has steadily grown in numbers and influence in the State. The United States Census of 1890 showed 641 churches in the State, with 368 ministers and an aggregate mem- bership of 61,587, having 550 Sunday schools, with 50,000 pupils in attendance. The value of the real property, which included 552 church edifices (with a seating capacity of 155,000) and 30 parson- ages, was $1,167,675. The denomination supports Eureka College, with an attendance of between

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400 and 500 students, while its assets are valued at $150,000. Total membership in the United States, estimated at 750,000.

DIXON, an incorporated city, the county-seat of Lee County. It lies on both sides of Rock River and is the point of intersection of the Illi- nois Central and the Chicago & Northwestern Railroads; is 98 miles west of Chicago. Rock River furnishes abundant water power and the manufacturing interests of the city are very ex- tensive, including large plow works, wire-cloth factory, wagon factory; also has electric light and power plant, three shoe factories, planing mills, and a condensed milk factory. There are two National and one State bank, eleven churches, a hospital, and three newspapers. In schools the city particularly excels, having sev- eral graded (grammar) schools and two colleges. The Chautauqua Assembly holds its meeting here annually. Population (1900), 7,917; (1910), 7.216.

DIXON, John, pioneer-the first white settler in Lee County, Ill., was born at Rye, West- chester County, N. Y., Oct. 9, 1784; at 21 removed to New York City, where he was in business some fifteen years. In 1820 he set out with his family for the West, traveling by land to Pittsburg, and thence by flat-boat to Shawneetown. Having disembarked his horses and goods here, he pushed out towards the northwest, passing the vicinity of Springfield, and finally locating on Fancy Creek, some nine miles north of the present site of that city. Here he remained some five years, in that time serving as foreman of the first Sanga- mon County Grand Jury. The new county of Peoria having been established in 1825, he was offered and accepted the appointment of Circuit Clerk, removing to Fort Clark, as Peoria was then called. Later he became contractor for carrying the mail on the newly established route between Peoria and Galena. Compelled to pro- vide means of crossing Rock River, he induced a French and Indian half-breed, named Ogee, to take charge of a ferry at a point afterwards known as Ogee's Ferry. The tide of travel to the lead-mine region caused both the mail-route and the ferry to prove profitable, and, as the half- breed ferryman could not endure prosperity, Mr. Dixon was forced to buy him out, removing his family to this point in April, 1830. Here he established friendly relations with the Indians, and, during the Black Hawk War , two years later, was enabled to render valuable service to the State. His station was for many years one of the most important points in Northern Illinois, and among the men of national reputation who

were entertained at different times at his home. may be named Gen. Zachary Taylor, Albert Sid- ney Johnston, Gen. Winfield Scott, Jefferson Davis, Col. Robert Anderson, Abraham Lincoln, Col. E. D. Baker and many more. He bought the land where Dixon now stands in 1835 and laid off the town; in 1838 was elected by the Legislature a member of the Board of Public Works, and, in 1840, secured the removal of the land office from Galena to Dixon. Colonel Dixon was a delegate from Lee County to the Republican State Con- vention at Bloomington, in May, 1856, and, although then considerably over 70 years of age, spoke from the same stand with Abraham Lin- coln, his presence producing much enthusiasm. His death occurred, July 6, 1876.

DOANE, John Wesley, merchant and banker, was born at Thompson, Windham County, Conn., March 23, 1833; was educated in the common schools, and, at 22 years of age, came to Chicago and opened a small grocery store which, by 1870, had become one of the most extensive concerns of its kind in the Northwest. It was swept out of existence by the fire of 1871, but was re-estab- lished and, in 1872, transferred to other parties, although Mr. Doane continued to conduct an importing business in many lines of goods used in the grocery trade. Having become interested in the Merchants' Loan & Trust Company, he was elected its President and continued to act in that capacity. He was also a stockholder and a Director of the Pullman Palace Car Company, the Allen Paper Car Wheel Company and the Illinois Central Railroad, and was a leading promoter of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893-being one of those who guaranteed the $5,000,000 raised by citizens of Chicago to assure the success of the enterprise. Died March 23, 1901.

DOLTON STATION, a village of Cook County, on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, the Chicago & Western Indiana, and the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroads, 16 miles south of Chicago; has a carriage factory, a weekly paper, churches and a graded school. Population (1880) 448; (1890), 1,110; (1900), 1,229; (1910), 1,869.

DONGOLA, a village in Union County, on the Illinois Central Railroad, 27 miles north of Cairo. Pop. (1890), 733; (1900), 681; (1910), 702.

DOOLITTLE, James Rood, United States Senator, was born in Hampton, Washington County, N. Y., Jan 3, 1815; educated at Middle- bury and Geneva (now Hobart) Colleges, admitted to the bar in 1837 and practiced at Rochester and Warsaw, N. Y .; was elected District Attorney of Wyoming County, N. Y., in 1845, and in 1851

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removed to Wisconsin; two years later was elected Circuit Judge, but resigned 'in 1856, and the following year was elected as a Democratic- Republican to the United States Senate, being re-elected as a Republican in 1863. Retiring from public life in 1869, he afterwards resided .chiefly at Racine, Wis., though practicing in the courts of Chicago. He was President of the National Union Convention at Philadelphia in 1866, and of the National Democratic Convention of 1872 in Baltimore, which endorsed Horace Greeley for President. Died, at Edgewood, R. I., July 27, 1897.

DORE, John Clark, first Superintendent of Chicago City Schools, was born at Ossipee, N. H., March 22, 1822; began teaching at 17 years of age and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1847; then taught several years and, in 1854, was offered and accepted the position of Superintend- ent of City Schools of Chicago, but resigned two years later. Afterwards engaging in business, he served as Vice-President and President of the Board of Trade, President of the Com- mercial Insurance Company and of the State Savings Institution; was a member of the State Senate, 1868-72, and has been identified with various benevolent organizations of the city of Chicago. Died in Boston, Mass., Dec., 14, 1900.

DOUGHERTY, John, lawyer and Lieutenant- Governor, was born at Marietta, Ohio, May 6, 1806; brought by his parents, in 1808, to Cape Girardeau, Mo., where they remained until after the disastrous earthquakes in that region in 1811-12, when, his father having died, his mother removed to Jonesboro, Ill. Here he finally read law with Col. A. P. Field, afterwards Secretary of State, being admitted to the bar in 1831 and early attaining prominence as a successful criminal lawyer. He soon became a recognized political leader, was elected as a member of the House to the Eighth General Assembly (1832) and re-elected in 1834, '36 and '40, and again in 1856, and to the Senate in 1842, serving in the latter body until the adoption of the Constitution of 1848. Originally a Democrat, he was, in 1858, the Administration (Buchanan) candidate for State Treasurer, as opposed to the Douglas wing of the party, but, in 1861, became a strong sup- porter of Abraham Lincoln. He served as Presi- dential Elector on the Republican ticket in 1864 and in 1872 (the former year for the State- at- large), in 1868 was elected Lieutenant-Governor and, in 1877, to a seat on the criminal bench, serving until June, 1879. Died, at Jonesboro, Sept. 7, 1879.

DOUGLAS, John M., lawyer and Railway President, was born at Plattsburg, Clinton County, N. Y., August 22, 1819; read law three years in his native city, then came west and settled at Galena, Ill., where he was admitted to the bar in 1841 and began practice. In 1856 he removed to Chicago, and, the following year, became one of the solicitors of the Illinois Central Railroad, with which he had been associated as an attorney at Galena. Between 1861 and 1876 he was a Director of the Company over twelve years; from 1865 to 1871 its President, and again for eighteen months in 1875-76, when he retired permanently. Mr. Douglas' contemporaries speak of him as a lawyer of great ability, as well as a capable executive officer. Died, in Chicago, March 25, 1891.

DOUGLAS, Stephen Arnold, statesman, was born at Brandon, Vt., April 23, 1813. In tonse- quence of the death of his father in infancy, his early educational advantages were limited. When fifteen he applied himself to the cabinet- maker's trade, and, in 1830, accompanied his mother and step-father to Ontario County, N. Y. In 1832 he began the study of law, but started for the West in 1833. He taught school at Win- chester, Ill., reading law at night and practicing before a Justice of the Peace on Saturdays. . He was soon admitted to the bar and took a deep interest in politics. In 1835 he was elected Prose- cuting Attorney for Morgan County, but a few months later resigned this office to enter the lower house of the Legislature, to which he was elected in 1836. In 1838 he was a candidate for Congress, but was defeated by John T. Stuart, his Whig opponent; was appointed Secretary of State in December, 1840, and, in February, 1841, elected Judge of the Supreme Court. He was elected to Congress in 1842, '44 and '46, and, in the latter year, was chosen United States Sena- tor, taking his seat March 4, 1847, and being re-elected in 1853 and '59. His last canvass was rendered memorable through his joint debate, in 1858, before the people of the State with Abraham Lincoln, whom he defeated before the Legisla- ture. He was a candidate for the presidential nomination before the Democratic National Conventions of 1852 and '56. In 1860, after having failed of a nomination for the Presidency at Charleston, S. C., through the operation of the "two thirds rule," he received the nomination from the adjourned convention held at Baltimore six weeks later-though not until the delegates from nearly all the Southern States had with- drawn, the seceding delegates afterwards nomi-

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nating John C. Breckenridge. Although defeated for the Presidency by Lincoln, his old-time antagonist, Douglas yielded a cordial support to the incoming administration in its' attitude toward the seceded States, occupying a place of honor beside Mr. Lincoln on the portico of the capitol during the inauguration ceremonies. As politician, orator and statesman, Douglas had few superiors. Quick in perception, facile in expedients, ready in resources, earnest and fearless in utterance, he was a born "leader of men." His shortness of stature, considered in relation to his extraordinary mental acumen, gained for him the sobriquet of the "Little Giant." He died in Chicago, June 3, 1861.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, lying a little east of the center of the State, embracing an area of 410 square miles and having a population (1910) of 19,591. The earliest land entry was made by Harrison Gill, of Kentucky, whose patent was signed by Andrew Jackson. Another early settler was John A. Richman, a West Virginian, who erected one of the first frame houses in the county in 1829. The Embarras and Kas- kaskia Rivers flow through the county, which is also crossed by the Wabash and Illinois Central Railways. Douglas County was organized in 1859 (being set off from Coles) and named in honor of Stephen A. Douglas, then United States Senator from Illinois. After a sharp struggle Tus- cola was made the county-seat. It has been visited by several disastrous conflagrations, but is a thriving town, credited, in 1890, with a population of 1,897. Other important towns are Arcola (population, 1,733), and Camargo, which was originally known as New Salem.

DOWNERS GROVE, village, Du Page County, on C., B. & Q. R. R., 21 miles south-southwest from Chicago, incorporated 1873; has water-works, elec- tric lights, furniture factory, good schools, bank and a newspaper. Pop. (1900), 2,103; (1910), 2,601.

DOWNING, Finis Ewing, ex-Congressman and lawyer, was born at Virginia, Ill., August 24, 1846; reared on a farm and educated in the public and private schools of his native town; from 1865 was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1880, when he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cass County, serving three successive terms; read law and was admitted to the bar in Decem- ber, 1887. In August, 1891, he became interested in "The Virginia Enquirer" (a Democratic paper), which he has since conducted; was elected Secretary of the State Senate in 1893, and, in 1894, was returned as elected to the Fifty- fourth Congress from the Sixteenth District by a

plurality of forty votes over Gen. John I. Rinaker, the Republican nominee. A contest and recount of the ballots resulted, however, in awarding the seat to General Rinaker. In 1896 Mr. Downing was the nominee of his party for Secretary of State, but was defeated with the rest of his ticket.

DRAKE, Francis Marion, soldier and Governor, was born at Rushville, Schuyler County, Ill., Dec. 30, 1830; early taken to Drakesville, Iowa, which his father founded; entered mercantile life at 16 years of age; crossed the plains to Cali- fornia in 1852, had experience in Indian warfare and, in 1859, established himself in business at Unionville, Iowa; served through the Civil War, becoming Lieutenant-Colonel and retiring in 1865 with the rank of Brigadier-General by brevet. He re-entered mercantile life after the war, was admitted to the bar in 1866, subsequently engaged in railroad building and, in 1881, contrib- buted the bulk of the funds for founding Drake University; was elected Governor of Iowa in 1895, serving until Jan., 1898. Died Nov. 20, 1903.

DRAPER, Andrew Sloan, LL.D., lawyer and educator, was born in Otsego County, N. Y., June 21, 1848-being a descendant, in-the eighth generation, from the "Puritan," James Draper, who settled in Boston in 1647. In 1855 Mr. Draper's parents settled in Albany, N. Y., where he attended school, winning a scholarship in the Albany Academy in 1863, and graduating from that institution in 1866. During the next four years he was employed in teaching, part of the time as an instructor at his alma mater; but, in 1871, graduated from the Union College Law Department, when he began practice. The rank he attained in the profession was indicated by his appointment by President Arthur, in 1884, one of the Judges of the Alabama Claims Com- mission, upon which he served until the conclu- sion of its labors in 1886. He had previously served in the New York State Senate (1880) and, in 1884, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention, also serving as Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee the same year. After his return from Europe in 1886, he served as State Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion of New York until 1892, and, in 1889, and again in 1890, was President of the National Association of School Superintendents. Soon after retiring from the State Superintendency in New York, he was chosen Superintendent of Public Schools for the city of Cleveland, Ohio, remaining in that position until 1894, when he was elected President of the University of Illinois at Champaign, where lie now is. His adminis-

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tration has been characterized by enterprise and sagacity, and has tended to promote the popular- ity and prosperity of the institution.

DRESSER, Charles, clergyman, was born at Pomfret, Conn., Feb. 24, 1800; graduated from Brown University in 1823, went to Virginia, where he studied theology and was ordained a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church. In 1838 he removed to Springfield, and became rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church there, retiring in 1858. On Nov. 4, 1842, Mr. Dresser performed the ceremony uniting Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd in marriage. He died, March 25, 1865.

DRUMMOND, Thomas, jurist, was born at Bristol Mills, Lincoln County, Maine, Oct. 16, 1809. After graduating from Bowdoin College, in 1830, he studied law at Philadelphia, where he was admitted to the bar in 1833. He settled at Galena, Ill., in 1835, and was a member of the General Assembly in 1840-41. In 1850 he was appointed United States District Judge for the District of Illinois as successor to Judge Nathaniel Pope, and four years later removed to Chicago. Upon the division of the State into two judicial districts, in 1855, he was assigned to the North- ern. In 1869 he was elevated to the bench of the United States Circuit Court, and presided over the Seventh Circuit, which at that time included the States of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. In 1884-at the age of 75-he resigned, living in retirement until his death, which occurred at Wheaton, Ill., May 15, 1890.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 27

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