Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 96

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 96

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).

SCOTT, John M., lawyer and jurist, was born in St. Clair County, Ill., August 1, 1824; liis father being of Scotch-Irish descent and his mother a Virginian. His attendance upon dis- trict schools was supplemented by private tuition, and his early education was the best that the comparatively new country afforded. He read law at Belleville, was admitted to the bar in 1848, removed to McLean County, which con- tinued to be his home for nearly fifty years. He served as County School Commissioner from 1849 to 1852, and, in the latter year, waselected County Judge. In 1856 he was an unsuccessful Repub- lican candidate for the State Senate, frequently speaking from the same platform with Abraham Lincoln. In 1862 he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, to succeed David Davis on the elevation of the latter to the bench of the United States Supreme Court, and was re-elected in 1867. In 1870, a new judicial election being rendered necessary by the adoption of the new Constitution, Judge Scott was chosen Justice of the Supreme Court

472

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

for a term of nine years; was re-elected in 1879, but declined a renomination in 1888. The latter years of his life were devoted to his private affairs. Died, at Bloomington, Jan. 21, 1898. Shortly before his death Judge Scott published a volume containing a History of the Illinois Supreme Court, including brief. sketches of the early occupants of the Supreme Court bench and early lawyers of the State.

SCOTT, Matthew Thompson, agriculturist and real-estate operator, was born at Lexington, Ky., Feb. 24, 1828; graduated at Centre College in 1846, then spent several years looking after his father's landed interests in Ohio, when he came to Illinois and invested largely in lands for him- self and others. He laid out the town of Chenoa in 1856; lived in Springfield in 1870-72, when he removed to Bloomington, where he organized the McLean County Coal Company, remaining as its head until his death; was also the founder of "The Bloomington Bulletin," in 1878. Died, at Bloomington, May 21, 1891.

SCOTT, Owen, journalist and ex-Congressman, was born in Jackson Township, Effingham County, Ill., July 6, 1848, reared on a farm, and, after receiving a thorough common-school edu- cation, became a teacher, and was, for eight years, Superintendent of Schools for his native county. In January, 1874, he was admitted to the bar, but abandoned practice, ten years later, to engage in newspaper work. His first publi- cation was "The Effingham Democrat," which he left to become proprietor and manager of "The Bloomington Bulletin." He was also publisher of "The Illinois Freemason," a monthly periodi- cal. Before removing to Bloomington he filled the offices of City Attorney and Mayor of Effing- ham, and also served as Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. In 1890 he was elected as a Democrat from the Fourteenth Illinois District to the Fifty-second Congress. In 1892 he was a candidate for re-election, but was defeated by his Republican opponent, Benjamin F. Funk. Dur- ing the past few years, Mr. Scott has been editor of "The Bloomington Leader."

SCOTT COUNTY, lies in the western part of the State adjoining the Illinois River, and has an area of 252 square miles. The region was origi- nally owned by the Kickapoo Indians, who ceded it to the Government by the treaty of Edwardsville, July 30, 1819. Six months later (in January, 1820) a party of Kentuckians settled near Lynnville (now in Morgan County), their names being Thomas Stevens, James Scott, Alfred Miller, Thomas Allen, John Scott and

Adam Miller. Allen erected the first house in the county, John Scott the second and Adam Miller the third. About the same time came Stephen M. Umpstead, whose wife was the first white woman in the county. Other pioneers were Jedediah Webster, Stephen Pierce, Joseph Dens- more, Jesse Roberts, and Samuel Bogard. The country was rough and the conveniences of civi- lization few and remote. Settlers took their corn to Edwardsville to be ground, and went to Alton for their mail. Turbulence early showed itself, and, in 1822, a band of "Regulators" was organized from the best citizens, who meted out a rough and ready sort of justice, until 1830, occasionally shooting a desperado at his cabin door. Scott County was cut off from Morgan and organized in 1839. It contains good farming land, much of it being originally timbered, and it is well watered by the Illinois River and numerous small streams. Winchester is the county-seat. Population of the county (1880), 10,741; (1890), 10,304; (1900), 10,455; (1910), 10,067.

SCRIPPS, John L., journalist, was born near Cape Girardeau, Mo., Feb. 18, 1818; was taken to Rushville, Ill., in childhood, and educated at McKendree College; studied law and came to Chicago in 1847, with the intention of practicing, but, a year or so later, bought a third interest in "The Chicago Tribune," which had been estab- lished during the previous year. In 1852 he ·withdrew from "The Tribune," and, in conjunc- tion with William Bross (afterwards Lieuten- ant-Governor), established "The Daily Demo- cratic Press," which was consolidated with "The Tribune" in July, 1858, under the name of "The Press and Tribune," Mr. Scripps remaining one of the editors of the new concern. In 1861 he was appointed, by Mr. Lincoln, Postmaster of the city of Chicago, serving until 1865, when, having sold his interest in "The Tribune," he engaged in the banking business as a member of the firm of Scripps, Preston & Kean. His health, however, soon showed signs of failure, and he died, Sept. 21, 1866, at Minneapolis, Minn., whither he had gone in hopes of restoration. Mr. Scripps was a finished and able writer who did much to elevate the standard of Chicago journalism.

SCROGGS, George, journalist, was born at Wilmington, Clinton, County, Ohio, Oct. 7, 1842 -- the son of Dr. John W. Scroggs, who came to Champaign County, Ill., in 1851, and, in 1858, took charge of "The Central Illinois Gazette." In 1866-67 Dr. Scroggs was active in securing the location of the State University at Champaign, afterwards serving as a member of the first Board

473

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

of Trustees of that institution. The son, at the age of 15, became an apprentice in his father's printing office, continuing until 1862, when he enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being promoted through the positions of Sergeant-Major and Second Lieutenant, and finally serving on the staffs of Gen. Jeff. C. Davis and Gen. James D. Morgan, but declining a commission as Adju- tant of the Sixtieth Illinois. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and the march with Sherman to the sea, in the latter being severely wounded at Bentonville, N. C. He remained in the service until July, 1865, when he resigned; then entered the Uni- versity at Champaign, later studied law, mean- while writing for "The Champaign Gazette and Union," of which he finally became sole propri- etor. In 1877 he was appointed an Aid-de-Camp on the staff of Governor Cullom, and, the follow- ing year, was elected to the Thirty-first General Assembly, but, before the close of the session (1879), received the appointment of United States Consul to Hamburg, Germany. He was com- pelled to surrender this position, a year later, on account of ill-health, and, returning home, died, Oct. 15, 1880.

SEATONVILLE, a village in Hall Township, Bureau County. Pop. (1900), 909; (1910), 1,370.

SECRETARIES OF STATE. The following is a list of the Secretaries of State of Illinois from its admission into the Union down to the present time (1899), with the date and duration of the term of each incumbent: Elias Kent Kane, 1818-22; Samuel D. Lockwood, 1822-23; David Blackwell. 1823-24; Morris Birkbeck, October, 1824 to January, 1825 (failed of confirmation by the Senate), George Forquer, 1825-28; Alexander Pope Field, 1828-40; Stephen A. Douglas, 1840-41 (served three months-resigned to take a seat on the Supreme bench); Lyman Trumbull, 1841-43; Thompson Campbell, 1843-46; Horace S. Cooley, 1846-50; David L. Gregg, 1850-53; Alexander Starne, 1853-57; Ozias M. Hatch, 1857-65; Sharon Tyndale, 1865-69; Edward Rummel, 1869-73; George H. Harlow, 1873-81; Henry D. Dement, 1881-89; Isaac N. Pearson, 1889-93; William H. Hinrichsen, 1893-97; James A. Rose, 1897 --. Nathaniel Pope and Joseph Phillips were the only Secretaries of Illinois during the Territorial period, the former serving from 1809 to 1816, and the latter from 1816 to 1818. Under the first Con- stitution (1818) the office of the Secretary of State was filled by appointment by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the

Senate, but without limitation as to term of office. By the Constitution of 1848, and again by that of 1870, that officer was made elective by the people at the same time as the Governor, for a term of four years.

SECRET TREASONABLE SOCIETIES. Early in the War of the Rebellion there sprang up, at various points in the Northwest, organizations of persons disaffected toward the National Govern- ment. They were most numerous in Ohio, Indi- ana, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri. At first they were known by such titles as "Circles of Honor," "Mutual Protective Associations," etc. But they had kindred aims and their members were soon united in one organization, styled "Knights of the Golden Circle." Its secrets having been partially disclosed, this body ceased to exist-or, it would be more correct to say, changed its name-being soon succeeded (1863) by an organization of similar character, called the "American Knights." These societies, as first formed, were rather political than military. The "American Knights" had more forcible aims, but this, in turn, was also exposed, and the order was re-organized under the name of "Sons of Liberty." The last named order started in Indiana, and, owing to its more perfect organi- zation, rapidly spread over the Northwest, acquiring much more strength and influence than its predecessors had done. The ultimate author- ity of the organization was vested in a Supreme Council, whose officers were a "supreme com- mander," "secretary of state," and "treasurer." Each State represented formed a division, under a "deputy grand commander." States were divided into military districts, under "major-generals." County lodges were termed "temples." The order was virtually an officered army, and its aims were aggressive. It had its commander-in- chief, its brigades and its regiments. Three degrees were recognized, and the oaths of secrecy taken at each initiation surpassed, in binding force, either the oath of allegiance or an oatlı taken in a court of justice. The maintenance of slavery, and forcible opposition to a coercive policy by the Government in dealing with seces- sion, were the pivotal doctrines of the order. Its methods and purposes were to discourage enlist- ments and resist a draft; to aid and protect deserters; to disseminate treasonable literature; to aid the Confederates in destroying Government property. Clement L. Vallandigham, the expat- riated traitor, was at its head, and, in 1864, claimed that it had a numerical strength of 400,- 000, of whom 65,000 were in Illinois. Many overt

474

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

acts were committed, but the organization, hav- ing been exposed and defeated in its objects, dis- banded in 1865. (See Camp Douglas Conspiracy.)

SELBY, Paul, editor, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, July 20, 1825; removed with his parents, in 1837, to Van Buren County, Iowa, but, at the age of 19, went to Southern Illinois, where he spent four years teaching, chiefly in Madison County. In 1848 he entered the preparatory department of Illinois College at Jacksonville, but left the institution during his junior year to assume the editorship of "The Morgan Journal," at Jacksonville, with which he remained until the fall of 1858, covering the period of the organization of the Republican party, in which "The Journal" took an active part. He was a member of the Anti-Nebraska (afterwards known as Republican) State Convention, which met at Springfield, in October, 1854 (the first ever held in the State), and, on Feb. 22, 1856, attended and presided over a conference of Anti-Nebraska editors of the State at Decatur, called to devise a line of policy for the newly organizing Repub- lican party. (See Anti-Nebraska Editorial Convention.) This body appointed the first Republican State Central Committee and desig- nated the date of the Bloomington Convention of May 29, following, which put in nomination the first Republican State ticket ever named in Illinois, which ticket was elected in the following November (See Bloomington Convention.) In 1859 he prepared a pamphlet giving a history of the celebrated Canal scrip fraud, which was widely circulated. (See Canal Scrip Fraud.) Going South in the fall of 1859, he was engaged in teaching in the State of Louisiana until the last of June, 1861. Just two weeks before the fall of Fort Sumter he was denounced to his Southern neighbors as an "abolitionist" and falsely charged with having been connected with the "underground railroad," in letters from secession sympathizers in the North, whose per- sonal and political enmity he had incurred while conducting a Republican paper in Illinois, some of whom referred to Jefferson Davis, Senator Slidell, of Louisiana, and other Southern leaders as vouchers for their characters. He at once invited an investigation by the Board of Trus- tees of the institution, of which he was the Principal, when that body-although composed, for the most part, of Southern men-on the basis of testimonials from prominent citizens of Jack- sonville, and other evidence, adopted resolutions declaring the charges prompted by personal hos- tility, and delivered the letters of his accusers into

his hands. Returning North with his family in July, 1861, he spent some nine months in the com- missary and transportation branches of the ser- vice at Cairo and at Paducah, Ky. In July, 1862, he became associate editor of "The Illinois State Journal" at Springfield, remaining until Novem- bèr, 1865. The next six months were spent as Assistant Deputy Collector in the Custom House at New Orleans, but, returning North in June, 1866, he soon after became identified with the Chicago press, serving, first upon the staff of "The Evening Journal" and, later, on "The Repub- lican." In May, 1868, he assumed the editorship of "The Quincy Whig," ultimately becoming part proprietor of that paper, but, in January, 1874, resumed his old place on "The State Jour- nal," four years later becoming one of its propri- etors. In 1880 he was appointed by President Hayes Postmaster of Springfield, was reappointed by Arthur in 1884, but resigned in 1886. Mean- while he had sold his interest in "The Journal," but the following year organized a new company for its purchase, when he resumed his former position as editor. In 1889 he disposed of his holding in "The Journal," finally removing to Chicago, where he has been employed in literary work. In all he has been engaged in editorial work over thirty-five years, of which eighteen were spent upon "The State Journal." In 1860 Mr. Selby was complimented by his Alma Mater with the honorary degree of A. M. He has been twice married, first to Miss Erra Post, of Spring- field, who died in November, 1865, leaving two daughters, and, in 1870, to Mrs. Mary J. Hitch- cock, of Quincy, by whom he had two children, both of whom died in infancy.

SEMPLE, James, United States Senator, was born in Green County, Ky., Jan. 5, 1798, of Scotch descent; after learning the tanner's trade, studied law and emigrated to Illinois in 1818, removing to Missouri four years later, where he was ad- mitted to the bar. Returning to Illinois in 1828, he began practice at Edwardsville, but later became a citizen of Alton. During the Black Hawk War he served as Brigadier-General. He was thrice elected to the lower house of the Legislature (1832, '34 and '36), and was Speaker during the last two terms. In 1833 he was elected Attorney-General by the Legislature, but served only until the following year, and, in 1837, was appointed Minister to Granada, South America. In 1843 he was appointed, and after- wards elected, United States Senator to fill the unexpired term of Samuel McRoberts, at the expiration of his term (1847) retiring to private

475

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

life. He laid out the town of Elsah, in Jersey County, just south of which he owned a large estate on the Mississippi bluffs, where he died. Dec. 20, 1866.

SENECA (formerly Crotty), a village of La Salle County, situated on the Illinois River, the Illinois & Michigan Canal and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the "Big Four" Railways, 13 miles east of Ottawa; has a bank, some manufac- tures, coal mines, and one newspaper. Pop. (1900), 1,036; (1910), 1,005.

SESSER, a village (incorp. 1906) in coal mining district in Franklin County. Pop. (1910), 1,292.

SENN, (Dr.) Nicholas, physican and surgeon, was born in the Canton of St. Gaul, Switzerland, Oct. 31, 1844; was brought to America at 8 years of age, his parents settling at Washington, Wis. He received a grammar school education at Fond du Lac, and, in 1864, began the study of medi- cine, graduating at the Chicago Medical College in 1868. After some eighteen months spent as resident physician in the Cook County Hospital, he began practice at Ashford, Wis., but removed to Milwaukee in 1874, where he became attending physician of the Milwaukee Hospital. In 1877 he visited Europe, graduated the following year from the University of Munich, and, on his return, became Professor of the Principles of Surgery and Surgical Pathology in Rush Medical College in Chicago-also has held the chair of the Prac- tice of Surgery in the same institution. Dr. Senn has achieved great success and won an international reputation in the treatment of difficult cases of abdominal surgery. He is the author of a number of volumes on different branches of surgery which are recognized as standard authorities. A few years ago he pur- chased the extensive library of the late Dr. Will- iam Baum, Professor of Surgery in the University of Gottingen, which he presented to the New- berry Library of Chicago. In 1893, Dr. Senn was appointed Surgeon-General of the Illinois National Guard, and has also been President of the Association of Military Surgeons of the National Guard of the United States, besides . being identified with various other medical bodies. Soon after the beginning of the Spanish- American War, he was appointed, by President Mckinley, a Surgeon of Volunteers with the rank of Colonel, and rendered most efficient service in the military branch at Camp Chickamauga and in the Santiago campaign. Died Jan. 2, 1908.

SEXTON, (Col.) James A., Commander-in- Chief of Grand Army of the Republic, was born in the city of Chicago, Jan. 5, 1844; in April,

1861, being then only a little over 17, enlisted as a private soldier under the first call for troops issued by President Lincoln; at the close of his term was appointed a Sergeant, with authority to recruit a company which afterwards was attached to the Fifty-first Volunteer Infantry. Later, he was transferred to the Sixty-seventh with the rank of Lieutenant, and, a few months after, to the Seventy-second with a commission as Captain of Company D, which he had recruited. As com- mander of his regiment, then constituting a part of the Seventeenth Army Corps, he participated in the battles of Columbia, Duck Creek, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, and in the Nash- ville campaign. Both at Nashville and Franklin he was wounded, and again, at Spanish Fort, by a piece of shell which broke his leg. His regiment took part in seven battles and eleven skirmishes, and, while it went out 967 strong in officers and men, it returned with only 332, all told, although it had been recruited by 234 men. He was known as "The boy Captain," being only 18 years old when he received his first commission, and 21 when, after participating in the Mobile cam- paign, he was mustered out with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After the close of the war he engaged in planting in the South, purchasing a plantation in Lowndes County, Ala., but, in 1867, returned to Chicago, where he became a member of the firm of Cribben, Sexton & Co., stove manufacturers, from which he retired in 1898. In 1884 he served as Presidential Elector on the Republican ticket for the Fourth District, and, in 1889, was appointed, by President Harrison, Postmaster of the city of Chicago, serving over five years. In 1888 he was chosen Department Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic for the State of Illinois, and, ten years later, to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the order, which he held at the time of his death. He had also been, for a number of years, one of the Trus- tees of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Quincy, and, during most of the time, President of the Board. Towards the close of the year 1898, he was appointed by President Mckinley a member of the Commission to investigate the conduct of the Spanish-American War, but, before the Com- mission had concluded its labors, was taken with "the grip," which developed into pneumonia, from which he died in Washington, Feb. 5, 1899.

SEYMOUR, George Franklin, Protestant Epis- copal Bishop, was born in New York City, Jan. 5, 1829; graduated from Columbia College in 1850, and from the General Theological Seminary (New York) in 1854. He received both minor

476

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

and major orders at the hands of Bishop Potter, being made deacon in 1854 and ordained priest in 1855. For several years he was engaged in mis- sionary work. During this period he was promi- nently identified with the founding of St. Stephen's College. After serving as rector in various parishes, in 1865 he was made Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the New York Semi- nary, and, ten years later, was chosen Dean of the institution, still retaining his professorship. Racine College conferred upon him the degree of S.T.D., in 1867, and Columbia that of LL.D. in 1878. In 1874 he was elected Bishop of Illinois, but failed of confirmation in the House of Depu- ties. Upon the erection of the new diocese of Springfield (1877) he accepted and was conse- crated Bishop at Trinity Church, N. Y., June 11, 1878. He was a prominent member of the Third Pan-Anglican Council (London, 1885), and has done much to foster the growth and extend the influence of his church in his diocese.

SHABBONA, a village of De Kalb County, on the Iowa Division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 25 miles west of Aurora. Pop. (1900), 587; (1910), 594.

SHABONA (or Shabbona), an Ottawa Chief, was born near the Maumee River, in Ohio, about 1775, and served under Tecumseh from 1807 to the battle of the Thames in 1813. In 1810 he accompanied Tecumseh and Capt. Billy Caldwell (see Sauganash) to the homes of the Pottawato- mies and other tribes within the present limits of Illinois and Wisconsin, to secure their co-oper- ation in driving the white settlers out of the country. At the battle of the Thames, he was by the side of Tecumseh when he fell, and both he and Caldwell, losing faith in their British allies, soon after submitted to the United States through General Cass at Detroit. Shabona was opposed to Black Hawk in 1832, and did much to thwart the plans of the latter and aid the whites. Hav- ing married a daughter of a Pottawatomie chief, who had a village on the Illinois River east of the present city of Ottawa, he lived there for some time, but finally removed 25 miles north to Shabona's Grove in De Kalb County. Here he remained till 1837, when he removed to Western Missouri. Black Hawk's followers having a reservation near by, hostilities began between them, in which a son and nephew of Shabona were killed. He finally returned to his old home in Illinois, but found it occupied by whites, who drove him from the grove that bore his name. Some friends then bought for him twenty acres of land on Mazon Creek, near Morris, where he

died, July 27, 1859. He is described as a noble specimen of his race. A life of him has been published by N. Matson (Chicago, 1878).

SHANNON, a village of Carroll County, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, 18 miles southwest of Freeport. It is an important trade center, has a bank and one newspaper. Popu- lation (1900), 678; (1910), 633.

SHAW, Aaron, former Congressman, born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1811; was educated at the Montgomery Academy, studied law and was admitted to the bar at Goshen in that State. In 1833 he removed to Lawrence County, Ill. He has held various important public offices. He was a member of the first Internal Improvement Convention of the State; was chosen State's Attorney by the Legislature, in which body he served two terms; served four years as Judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit; was elected to the Thirty-fifth Congress in 1856, and to the Forty-eighth in 1882, as a Democrat.

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 96

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