Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 65

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

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lawyer and Judge, born at Palestine, Ill., March 29, 1820; was educated at Indiana State Univer- sity and Hillsboro Academy, admitted to the bar in 1841, and, the following year, commenced practice at Olney; was elected State's Attorney in 1843, through repeated re-elections holding the office ten years; was a member of the Constitu- tional Convention of 1847 and, in 1849, was elected Judge of Richland County ; later assisted in establishing the first newspaper published in Olney, and in organizing the Republican party there in 1856; in 1859 was elected Judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit, serving one term. He was also influential in procuring a charter for

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the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and in the con- struction of the line, being an original corporator and subsequently a Director of the Company. Later he removed to Galesburg, where he died, Nov. 11, 1876. - Edward (Kitchell), another son, was born at Palestine, Ill., Dec. 21, 1829; was educated at Hillsboro Academy until 1846, when he removed with his father's family to Fort Madison, Iowa, but later returned to Hillsboro to continue his studies; in 1852 made the trip across the plains to California to engage in gold mining, but the following year went to Walla Walla, Washington Territory, where he opened a law office; in 1854 returned to Illinois, locating at Olney, Richland County, forming a partnership with Horace Hayward, a relative, in the practice of law. Here, having taken position against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, he became, in 1856, the editor of the first Republican news- paper published in that part of Illinois known as "Egypt," with his brother, Judge Alfred Kitchell, being one of the original thirty-nine Republicans in Richland County. In 1862 he assisted in organizing the Ninety-eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteers at Centralia, which, in the following year having been mounted, became a part of the famous "Wilder Brigade." At first he was com- missioned Lieutenant-Colonel, but succeeded to the command of the regiment after the wounding of Colonel Funkhouser at Chickamauga in Sep- tember, 1863; was finally promoted to the colo- nelcy in July, 1865, and mustered out with the rank of Brigadier-General by brevet. Resuming the practice of his profession at Olney, he was, in 1866, the Republican candidate for Congress in a district strongly Democratic; also served as Collector of Internal Revenue for a short time and, in 1868, was Presidential Elector for the same District. Died, at Olney, July 11, 1869 .-- John Wickliff (Kitchell), youngest son of Wick- liff Kitchell, was born at Palestine, Crawford County, Ill., May 30, 1835, educated at Hillsboro, read law at Fort Madison, Iowa, and admitted to the bar in that State. At the age of 19 years he served as Assistant Clerk of the House of Repre- sentatives at Springfield, and was Reading Clerk of the same body at the session of 1861. Previous to the latter date he had edited "The Montgomery County Herald," and later, "The Charleston Courier." Resigning his position as Reading Clerk in 1861, he enlisted under the first call of President Lincoln in the Ninth Illinois Volun- teers, served as Adjutant of the regiment and afterwards as Captain of his company. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he established

"The Union Monitor" at Hillsboro, which he con- ducted until drafted into the service in 1864, serving until the close of the war. In 1866 he removed to Pana (his present residence), resum- ing practice there; was a candidate for the State Senate the same year, and, in 1870, was the Republican nominee for Congress in that District.

KNICKERBOCKER, Joshua C., lawyer, was born in Gallatin, Columbia County, N. Y., Sept. 26, 1827; brought by his father to Alden, McHenry County, Ill., in 1844, and educated in the com- mon schools of that place; removed to Chicago in 1860, studied law and ,was admitted to practice in 1862; served on the Board of Supervisors and in the City Council and, in 1868, was elected Repre- sentative in the General Assembly, serving one term. He was also a member of the State Board of Education from 1875 to '77, and the latter year was elected Probate Judge for Cook County, serving until his death, Jan. 5, 1890.

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS, a secret semi-mili- tary and benevolent association founded in the City of Washington, D. C., Feb. 19, 1864, Justus H. Rathbone (who died Dec. 9, 1889) being its recognized founder. The order was established in Illinois, May 4, 1869, by the organization of "Welcome Lodge, No. 1," in the city of Chicago. On July 1, 1869, this Lodge had nineteen mem- bers. At the close of the year four additional Lodges had been instituted, having an aggregate membership of 245. Early in the following year, on petition of these five Lodges, approved by the Grand Chancellor, a Grand Lodge of the Order for the State of Illinois was instituted in Chicago, with a membership of twenty-nine Past Chancel- lors as representatives of the five subordinate Lodges-the total membership of these Lodges at that date being 382. December 31, 1870, the total membership in Illinois had increased to 850. June 30, 1895, the total number of Lodges in the State was 525, and the membership 38,441. The assets belonging to the Lodges in Illinois, on Jan. 1, 1894, amounted to $418,151.77.

KNOWLTON, Dexter A., pioneer and banker, was born in Fairfield, Herkimer County, N. Y., March 3, 1812, taken to Chautauqua County in infancy and passed his childhood and youth on a farm. Having determined on a mercantile ca- reer, he entered an academy at Fredonia, paying his own way; in 1838 started on a peddling tour for the West, and, in the following year, settled at Freeport, Ill., where he opened a general store; in 1843 began investments in real estate, finally laying off sundry additions to the city of Free- port, from which he realized large profits. He

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was also prominently connected with the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad and, in 1850, became a Director of the Company, remaining in office some twelve years. In 1852 he was the Free-Soil candidate for Governor of Illinois, but a few years later became extensively interested in the Con- gress & Empire Spring Company at Saratoga, N. Y .; then, after a four years' residence in Brooklyn, returned to Freeport in 1870, where he engaged in banking business, dying in that city, March 10, 1876.

KNOX, Joseph, lawyer, was born at Blanford, Mass., Jan. 11, 1805; studied law with his brother, Gen. Alanson Knox, in his native town, was admitted to the bar in 1828, subsequently removing to Worcester, in the same State, where he began the practice of his profession. In 1837 he removed west, locating at Stephenson, now Rock Island, Ill., where he continued in practice for twenty-three years. During the greater part of that time he was associated with Hon. John W. Drury, under the firm name of Knox & Drury, gaining a wide reputation as a lawyer throughout Northern Illinois. Among the important cases in which he took part during his residence in Rock Island was the prosecution of the murderers of Colonel Davenport in 1845. In 1852 he served as a Democratic Presidential Elector, but in the next campaign identified himself with the Republican party as a supporter of John C. Fremont for the Presidency. In 1860 he removed to Chicago and, two years later, was appointed State's Attorney by Governor Yates, remaining in office until suc- ceeded by his partner, Charles H. Reed. After coming to Chicago he was identified with a num- ber of notable cases. His death occurred, August 6, 1881.

KNOX COLLEGE, a non-sectarian institution for the higher education of the youth of both sexes, located at Galesburg, Knox County. It was founded in 1837, fully organized in 1841, and graduated its first class in 1846. The number of graduates from that date until 1894, aggregated 867. In 1893 it had 663 students in attendance, and a faculty of 20 professors. Its library con- tains about 6,000 volumes. Its endowment amounts to $300,000 and its buildings are valued at $150,000. Dr. Newton Bateman was at its head for more than twenty years, and, on his res- ignation (1893), John H. Finley, Ph.D., became its President, but resigned in 1899.

KNOX COUNTY, a wealthy interior county west of the Illinois River, having an area of 720 square miles and a population (1910) of 46,159. It was named in honor of Gen. Henry Knox. Its

territorial limits were defined by legislative enactment in 1825, but the actual organization dates from 1830, when Riggs Pennington, Philip Hash and Charles Hansford were named the first Commissioners. Knoxville was the first county- seat selected, and here (in the winter of 1830-31) was erected the first court house, constructed of logs, two stories in height, at a cost of $192. The soil is rich, and agriculture flour- ishes. The present county-seat (1911) is Gales- burg, well known for its educational institutions, the best known of which are Knox College, founded in 1837, and Lombard University, founded in 1851. A flourishing Episcopal Semi- nary is located at Knoxville, and Hedding Col- lege at Abingdon.

KNOXVILLE, a city in Knox County, on the Galesburg-Peoria Division of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad, 50 miles west of Peoria, and 5 miles east of Galesburg; was formerly the county-seat, and still contains the fair grounds and almshouse. The municipal gov- ernment is composed of a mayor, six aldermen, with seven heads of departments. It has electric lighting and street-car service, good water-works, flouring mills, banks, numerous churches, three public schools, one weekly paper, and is the seat of St. Mary's school for girls, and St. Alban's for boys. Pop. (1890), 1,728; (1900), 1,857; (1910), 1,818.

KOERNER, Gustavus, lawyer and Lieutenant- Governor, was born in Germany in 1809, and received a university education. He was a law- yer by profession, and emigrated to Illinois in 1833, settling finally at Belleville. He at once affiliated with the Democratic party, and soon became prominent in politics. In 1842 he was elected to the General Assembly, and three years later was appointed to the bench of the State Supreme Court. In 1852 he was elected Lieuten- ant-Governor on the ticket headed by Joel A. Matteson; but, at the close of his term, became identified with the Republican party and was a staunch Union man during the Civil War, serving for a time as Colonel on General Fremont's and General Halleck's staffs. In 1862 President Lin- coln made him Minister to Spain, a post which he resigned in January, 1865. He was a member of . the Chicago Convention of 1860 that nominated Lincoln for the Presidency; was a Republican Presidential Elector in 1868, and a delegate to the Cincinnati Convention of 1872 that named Horace Greeley for the Presidency. In 1867 he served as President of the first Board of Trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, and, in 1870, was elected to the Legislature a second time. The

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following year he was appointed a member of the first Board of Railroad and Warehouse Commis- sioners, and served as its President. He is the author of "Collection of the Important General Laws of Illinois, with Comments" (in German, St. Louis, 1838); "From Spain" (Frankfort on- the-Main, 1866); "Das Deutsche Element in den Vereiningten Staaten" (Cincinnati, 1880; second edition, New York, 1885) ; and a number of mono- graphs. Died, at Belleville, April 9, 1896.

KOHLSAAT, Christian C., Judge of United States Court, was born in Edwards County, Ill., Jan. 8, 1844-his father being a native of Germany who settled in Edwards County in 1825, while his mother was born in England. The family removed to Galena in 1854, where young Kohlsaat attended the public schools, later taking a course in Chicago University, after which he began the study of law. In 1867 he became a reporter on "The Chicago Evening Journal," was admitted to the bar in the same year, and, in 1868, accepted a position in the office of the County Clerk, where he kept the records of the County Court under Judge Bradwell's administration. During the sessions of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly (1871-72) , he served as First Assistant Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of the House, after which he began practice; in 1881 was the Republican nominee for County Judge, but was defeated by Judge Prendergast; served as member of the Board of West Side Park Commissioners, 1884-90; in 1890 was appointed Probate Judge of Cook County (as successor to Judge Knickerbocker, who died in January of that year), and was elected to the office in November following, and re-elected in 1894, as he was again in 1898. Early in 1899 he was appointed, by President Mckinley, Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, as successor to Judge Grosscup, who had been appointed United States Circuit Judge in place of Judge Showalter, deceased.

KOHLSAAT, Herman H., editor and news- paper publisher, was born in Edwards County, Ill., March 22, 1853, and taken the following year to Galena, where he remained until 12 years of ,age, when the family removed to Chicago. Here, after attending the public schools some three years, he became a cash-boy in the store of Car- son, Pirie & Co., a year later rising to the position of cashier, remaining two years. Then, after having been connected with various business concerns, he became the junior member of the firm of Blake, Shaw & Co., for whom he had been a traveling salesman some five years. In 1880 he

became associated with the Dake Bakery, in con- nection with which he laid the foundation of an extensive business by establishing a system of restaurants and lunch counters in the business portions of the city. In 1891, after a somewhat pro- tracted visit to Europe, Mr. Kohlsaat bought a con- trolling interest in "The Chicago Inter Ocean," but withdrew early in 1894. In April, 1895, he be- came principal proprietor of "The Chicago Times- Herald," as the successor of the late James W. Scott, who died suddenly in New York, soon after effecting a consolidation of Chicago's two Demo- cratic papers, "The Times" and "Herald," in one concern. Although changing the political status of the paper from Democratic to Independent, Mr. Kolilsaat's liberal enterprise has won for it an assured success. He is also owner and pub- lisher of "The Chicago Evening Post." His whole business career has been one of almost phenomenal success attained by vigorous enter- prise and high-minded, honorable methods. Mr. Kohlsaat is one of the original incorporators of the University of Chicago, of which he continues to be one of the Trustees.

KROME, William Henry, lawyer, born of Ger- man parentage, in Louisville, Ky., July 1, 1842; in 1851 was brought by his father to Madison County, Ill., where he lived and worked for some years on a farm. He acquired his education in the common schools and at McKendree College, graduating from the latter in 1863. After spend- ing his summer months in farm labor and teach- ing school during the winter, for a year or two, he read law for a time with Judge M. G. Dale of Edwardsville, and, in 1866, entered the law department of Michigan University, gradu- ating in 1869, though admitted the year previous to practice by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Mr. Krome has been successively the partner of Judge John G. Irwin, Hon. W. F. L. Hadley (late Congressman from the Eighteenth District) and C. W. Terry. He has held the office of Mayor of Edwardsville (1873), State Senator (1874-78), and, in 1893, was a prominent candidate before the Democratic judicial convention for the nomina- tion for Justice of the Supreme Court, to succeed Justice Scholfield, deceased. He is also President of the Madison County State Bank.

KUEFFNER, William C., lawyer and soldier, was born in Germany and came to St. Clair County, Ill., in 1861. Early in 1865 he was com- missioned Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty- ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, one of the latest regiments organized for the Civil War, and was soon after promoted to the rank of Brevet

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Brigadier-General, serving until January, 1866. Later, General Kueffner studied law at St. Louis, and having graduated in 1871, established himself in practice at Belleville, where he has since resided. He was a successful contestant for a seat in the Republican National Convention of 1880 from the Seventeenth District.

KUYKENDALL, Andrew J., lawyer and legis- lator, was born of pioneer parents in Gallatin (now Hardin) County, Ill., March 3, 1815; was self-educated chiefly, but in his early manhood adopted the law as a profession, locating at Vienna in Johnson County, where he continued to reside to the end of his life. In 1842 he was elected a Representative in the Thirteenth Gen- eral Assembly, and re-elected two years later; in 1850 became State Senator, serving continuously in the same body for twelve years; in 1861 en- listed, and was commissioned Major, in the Thirty-first Illinois Volunteers (Gen. John A. Logan's regiment), but was compelled to resign, in May following, on acount of impaired health. Two years later (1864) he was elected Represent- ative in the Thirty-ninth Congress, serving one term; and, after several years in private life, was again returned to the State Senate in 1878, serving in the Thirty-first and Thirty-second General Assemblies. In all, Major Kuykendall saw twenty years' service in the State Legislature, of which sixteen were spent in the Senate and four in the House, besides two years in Congress. A zealous Democrat previous to the war, he was an ardent supporter of the war policy of the Govern- ment, and, in 1864, presided over the "Union" (Republican) State Convention of that year. He was also a member of the Senate Finance Com- mittee in the session of 1859, which had the duty of investigating the Matteson "canal scrip fraud." Died, at Vienna, Ill., May 11, 1891.

LABOR TROUBLES. 1. THE RAILROAD STRIKE OF 1877 .- By this name is generally char- acterized the labor disturbances of 1877, which, beginning at Pittsburg in July, spread over the entire country, interrupting transportation, and, for a time, threatening to paralyze trade. Illi- nois suffered severely. The primary cause of the troubles was the general prostration of business resulting from the depression of values, which affected manufacturers and merchants alike. A reduction of expenses became necessary, and the wages of employés were lowered. Dissatisfaction and restlessness on the part of the latter ensued, which found expression in the ordering of a strike among railroad operatives on a larger scale than

had ever been witnessed in this country. In Illi- nois, Peoria, Decatur, Braidwood, East St. Louis, Galesburg, La Salle and Chicago were the prin- cipal points affected. In all these cities angry, excited men formed themselves into mobs, which tore up tracks, took possession of machine shops, in some cases destroyed roundhouses, applied the torch to warehouses, and, for a time, held com- merce by the throat, not only defying the law, but even contending in arms against the military sent to disperse them. The entire force of the State militia was called into service, Major- General Arthur C. Ducat being in command. The State troops were divided into three brigades, commanded respectively by Brigadier-Generals Torrence, Bates and Pavey. General Ducat assumed personal command at Braidwood, where were sent the Third Regiment and the Tenth Battalion, who suppressed the riots at that point with ease. Col. Joseph W. Stambaugh and Lieut .- Col. J. B. Parsons were the respective regimental commanders. Generals Bates and Pavey were in command at East St. Louis, where the excitement was at fever heat, the mobs terrorizing peaceable citizens and destroy- ing much property. Governor Cullom went to this point in person. Chicago, however, was the chief railroad center of the State, and only prompt and severely repressive measures held in check one of the most dangerous mobs which ever threatened property and life in that city. The local police force was inadequate to control the rioters, and Mayor Heath felt himself forced to call for aid from the State. Brig .- Gen. Joseph T. Torrence then commanded the First Brigade, I. N. G., with headquarters at Chicago. Under instructions from Governor Cullom, he promptly and effectively co-operated with the municipal authorities in quelling the uprising. He received valuable support from volunteer companies, some of which were largely composed of Union veter- ans. The latter were commanded by such ex- perienced commanders as Generals Reynolds, Martin Beem, and O. L. Mann, and Colonel Owen Stuart. General Lieb also led a company of veterans enlisted by himself, and General Shaff- ner and Major James H. D. Daly organized a cavalry force of 150 old soldiers, who rendered efficient service. The disturbance was promptly subdued, transportation resumed, and trade once more began to move in its accustomed channels.

2. THE STRIKE OF 1894 .- This was an uprising which originated in Chicago and was incited by a comparatively young labor organization called the American Railway Union. In its inception it

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was sympathetic, its ostensible motive, at the outset, being the righting of wrongs alleged to have been suffered by employés of the Pullman Palace Car Company. The latter quit work on May 11, and, on June 22, the American Railway Union ordered a general boycott against all rail- road companies hauling Pullman cars after June 26. The General Managers of the lines entering Chicago took prompt action (June 25) looking toward mutual protection, protesting against the proposed boycott, and affirming their resolution to adhere to existing contracts, any action on the part of the strikers to the contrary notwithstand- ing. Trouble began on the 26th. The hauling of freight was necessarily soon discontinued; sub- urban traffic was interrupted; switching had to be done by inexperienced hands under police or military protection (officials and clerks some- times throwing the levers), and in the presence of large crowds of law-defying hoodlums gathered along the tracks, avowedly through sympathy with the strikers, but actually in the hope of plunder. Trains were sidetracked, derailed, and, in not a few instances, valuable freight was burned. Passengers were forced to undergo the inconvenience of being cooped up for hours in crowded cars, in transit, without food or water, sometimes almost within sight of their destina- tion, and sometimes threatened with death should they attempt to leave their prison houses. The mobs, intoxicated by seeming success, finally ven- tured to interfere with the passage of trains carrying the United States mails, and, at this juncture, the Federal authorities interfered. President Cleveland at once ordered the protec- tion of all mail trains by armed guards, to be appointed by the United States Marshal. An additional force of Deputy Sheriffs was also sworn in by the Sheriff of Cook County, and the city , police force was augmented. The United States District Court also issued a restraining order, directed against the officers and members of the American Railway Union, as well as against all other persons interfering with the business of railroads carrying the mails. Service was readily accepted by the officers of the Union, but the copies distributed among the insurgent mob were torn and trampled upon. Thereupon the Presi- dent ordered Federal troops to Chicago, both to protect Government property (notably the Sub- treasury) and to guard mail trains. The Gov- ernor (John P. Altgeld) protested, but without avail. A few days later, the Mayor of Chicago requested the State Executive to place a force of State militia at his control for the protection of

property and the prevention of bloodshed. Gen. eral Wheeler, with the entire second division of the I. N. G., at once received orders to report to the municipal authorities. The presence of the militia greatly incensed the turbulent crowds, yet it proved most salutary. The troops displayed exemplary firmness under most trying circum- stances, dispersing jeering and threatening crowds by physical force or bayonet charges, the rioters being fired upon only twice. Gradually order was restored. The disreputable element subsided, and wiser and more conservative coun- sels prevailed among the ranks of the strikers. Impediments to traffic were removed and trains were soon running as though no interruption had occurred. The troops were withdrawn (first the Federal and afterwards those of the State), and the courts were left to deal with the subject in accordance with the statutes. The entire execu- tive board of the American Railway Union were indicted for conspiracy, but the indictments were never pressed. The officers, however, were all found guilty of contempt of court in having dis- obeyed the restraining order of the Federal court, and sentenced to terms in the county jail. Eugene V. Debs, the President of the Union, was convicted on two charges and given a sentence of six months on each, but the two sentences were afterward made concurrent. The other members of the Board received a similar sentence for three months each. All but the Vice-President, George W. Howard, served their terms at Woodstock, McHenry County. Howard was sent to the Will County jail at Joliet.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 65

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