Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 21

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972

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WINNEBAGO COUNTY AGAINST REPUDIATION.

Notwithstanding the fact that the citizens of Winnebago County desired annexation to Wis-

consin, in part hy reason of this debt, there was no attempt made to repudiate the debt so long as they remained in the state. On the other hand, the citizens took an unequivocal position against such a ruinous policy. A call was issued for a meeting February 5, 1842, to consider the condition of the public credit. This call was signed by S. M. Church, S. D. Preston, George S. Haskell, Germanicus Kent, D. S. Haight, G. A. Sanford, Francis Burnap and others. It had been surmised that Illinois would refuse to pay its deht. This call was endorsed by a vigorous editorial in the Rockford Pilot, which closed with these words: "As this is a question of vital consideration to every citizen, we trust that a full attendance will be had on that occasion-that by your presence and your voices you may show to the world your opinion in regard to these surmises. Think not that your individual credit is independent of that of your state and nation. All power and all public acts emanate directly from the people, who are the sovereigns of the republic; and whatever honor or shame falls to your state, must be shared among you." The citizens' meeting was in sympathy with this editorial comment; and the moral influence of Winnebago County was thus placed on record against a repudiating policy that would have brought the state into ever- lasting disgrace.

Under the first constitution of Illinois, the commissioners, sheriff and coroner were the only constitutional county officers. The latter two were elected every two years. The other county officers were created by statute. They were filled by appointment made either by the county commissioners' court or by the governor. Previous to 1835 a recorder for each county was appointed by the governor ; and a surveyor was chosen by the commissioners' court. The statute of 1835 made these officers elective on the first Monday in August of that year, and every fourth year thereafter. Previous to 1837 county treasurers and clerks of the commission- ers' courts were appointed by said courts. An act approved February 7th of that year made these offices elective on the first Monday in the following August, on a corresponding day in 1839, and in every fourth year thereafter. Up to 1837 a judge of probate was appointed for each county by the legislature. An act of March 4th made this office elective, with the title of probate justice of the peace, on the

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

first Monday in August of that year, on a cor- responding date in 1839, and in every fourth year thereafter. Under an act approved Feb- ruary 27, 1845, the tenure of office of probate justice of the peace, recorder, clerk of the county commissioners' court, surveyor and treasurer was reduced to two years. This law took effect on the first Monday in August, 1847. Under the constitution of 1848 the term of office of the county and circuit clerks was extended to four years.

CONGRESSIONAL AND SENATORIAL DISTRICTS.

On August 1, 1836, when occurred the first general election in Winnebago County, there were elected with other county officers a mem- ber of Congress and two representatives in the state legislature. Under the apportionment of 1831 the state was divided into three congres- sional districts. In 1836 the Third District, which included Winnebago County, extended from the Wisconsin boundary to a line below Springfield, and entirely across the state from east to west. The northern half of the state was sparsely settled, and comprised one con- gressional district. At the first election in this county William L. May, the Democratic can- didate for Congress, received seventy-three votes, and John T. Stuart, forty-four votes; a majority for May of twenty-nine votes. Mr. May was elected and served two years. His home was at Springfield. Previous to 1840 the senatorial district of which Winnebago formed a part, included the entire Rock river valley, as well as a large tract below the mouth of Rock River. This vast area, extending from Dubuque almost to St. Louis, was entitled to one senator and two representatives in the legislature. The first election in Winnebago County for representatives resulted as follows : John Turner, seventy-four votes; Charles R. Bennett, seventy-three; Elijalı Charles, thirty- four; James Craig, forty ; L. H. Bowen, eight. James Craig and Elijah Charles were elected.

Under an early statute, presidential elections in Illinois were held on the first Monday in November. At the presidential election in 1836, only 158 votes were polled, an increase over the August election of thirty-eight votes. The Har- rison electors received seventy votes, and the Van Buren electors, eighty-eight; a Democratic majority of eighteen.

In 1837 Harvey W. Bundy was elected recorder, to suceed Daniel H. Whitney, of Bel- videre, who had become a resident of the new county of Boone. Herman B. Potter was elected county commissioner to succeed Simon P. Doty, of Belvidere. Charles I. Horsman was elected probate justice of the peace. Milton Kilburn had served as judge of probate the preceding year, under appointment. Nathaniel Loomis was chosen clerk of the commissioners' court ; Robert J. Cross was elected county treasurer.

FIRST LAW PARTNER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

At the general August election in 1838, John T. Stuart, of Springfield, was the Whig candi- date for member of Congress. His Democratic opponent was Stephen A. Douglas, who was also of Springfield. Mr. Stuart received a majority of ninety-three in Winnebago County, and was elected. Mr. Stuart was perhaps the first prominent man to recognize the genius of Abraham Lincoln, and by the loan of books he had encouraged him to study law. Mr. Lin- coln, after his admission to the bar in 1837, became the law partner of his benefactor. When Mr. Stuart began to receive political honors, he necessarily gave less attention to his profession. Thus the conduct of the business largely devolved upon Mr. Lincoln. Winnebago County forged so rapidly to the front that in 1838 it was conceded one of the representatives in the General Assembly, and Germanicus Kent was elected and Hon. James Craig was re- elected.

CAMPAIGN-OF 1840.

The presidential campaign of 1840 was one of the most exciting in American political his- tory. The hero of Tippecanoe was the idol of his party, and no leader ever received a more enthusiastic support. Winnebago County had now become a Whig stronghold, and the party waged an aggressive campaign against the Loco-Focos, as the Democrats were then called. April 11, 1840, the Whigs held a convention at Rockford, and nominated a full county ticket. Among the local leaders of this party were Selden M. Church, Jacob Miller, H. B. Potter, G. A. Sanford, Isaac N. Cunningham. Demo- cratic principles were championed by Jason Marsh, Daniel S. Haight, Henry Thurston, P.

JONAS ERICKSON

MRS. JONAS ERICKSON

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Knappen, J. C. Goodhue, H. W. Loomis, C. I. Horsman. Boone County had been organized from the eastern portion of Winnebago, and the western two ranges had been transferred to Stephenson. In the August elections the Whigs polled 637 votes, and the Democrats, 285, with a Whig majority of 352. Thomas Drummond, of Jo Daviess, and Hiram Thornton, of Mercer, both Whigs, carried the county by good majorities for representative, and were elected. I. N. Cunningham was elected sheriff ; Alonzo Platt, coroner ; and Ezra S. Cable, commissioner.

The presidential campaign overshadowed local issues. Mr. Thurston, in his "Reminiscences," gives this interesting sketch of the stirring incidents of that year: "The sparseness of the population, the limited amount accessible of the current literature of the day, to which some of the settlers had been accustomed; the almost entire deprivation of the pleasures of social life among the older people, caused them to enter into a political or local contest with a vim which almost invariably became personal before it was decided. When the fight was ended, tlie pas- sions cooled down, and 'sober second thought' had resumed its sway, it frequently happened that both parties joined in a general pow-wow and celebration. It was so in 1840. The Whigs of this locality imitated the tactics so success- fully practiced throughout the union. They had no cider, either hard or sweet, but they did pos- sess in abundance all the paraphernalia used by the party in the populous parts of the country. They put up a log cabin in regular pioneer style, on the southeast corner of State and Madison streets, for political headquarters, profusely decorated with coon-skins and other regalia pertaining to the times ; imported speakers from Galena, Chicago and intervening points; got up processions, and with Frank Parker blowing an E flat bugle, and China Parker a clarionet- neither of them having the slightest knowledge of music, and each blowing with might and main in a vain effort to drown out his companion- marched about the village wherever they could secure a following. The village drum was in possession of the Democrats, and consequently not available for Whig celebrations." Jacob Miller was the most popular among the local Whig orators. He was familiar with the vernacular of the westerner, and drew his illus- trations from their daily life. At the close of a harangue he would sometimes produce his

fiddle and scrape the "Arkansas Traveler." The whole assembly joined in a general break- down, and the orator of the day was borne in triumph on the shoulders of his friends to the nearest bar.

The presidential election occurred in Novem- ber. The Whigs cast 768 votes in the county, and the Democrats, 321; total, 1,089; Whig majority, 447. Abraham Lincoln was one of the five Whig candidates for presidential elector in Illinois. The facilities for communi- cation were so meagre that the official vote of the state was not known in Rockford until late in December. A messenger from the capital, with the official vote of the state, passed through Rockford ten days in advance of its publication in the Chicago papers, and communicated, it is said, the news to the prominent men of the Democratic party, in each village, for betting purposes. Illinois was one of the seven states that elected Van Buren electors.

The Rock River Express of December 4, 1840, published this advertisement in display type : "For Salt River, the steamboat Van Buren, only four years old, will leave on the 4th of March next, for Salt River. For freight or passage, apply to the White House. Hypocrites will be in attendance to amuse tlie passengers free of charge." The local campaign closed with a "Harrison ball," at the Washington House, Feb- ruary 9, 1841. On the evening of March 3d the Democrats gave a Van Buren ball "in honor of the able and enlightened administration of Martin Van Buren."

RESOLUTIONS ON DEATH OF PRESIDENT HARRISON.

On April 4, 1841, just one month after his inauguration, President Harrison suddenly died. The event filled the country with sorrow. At a mecting of the citizens held in Rockford on the 19th, a committee, which represented both politi- cal parties, was chosen to submit resolutions on the death of the president to a mass-meeting of the citizens. These resolutions were unani- mnously adopted.

In the spring of 1841 a bitter local fight was made on the election of justices of the peace in Rockford Precinct. The candidates were Dr. Haskell, Peter H. Watson and John T. Shaler. Two justices were to be elected ; but to satisfy all aspirants, it was proposed to elect later a third justice for the precinct. The business

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

did not require another justice, but it was thought such an arrangement would be politi- cally convenient. The court, however, held that the election of Mr. Watson was illegal, and no third justice was ever elected in the precinct.

In the congressional election held in August, 1841, the candidates were John T. Stuart and J. H. Ralston. Winnebago County cast 493 votes for the former, and 223 for the latter. Mr. Stuart was re-elected. William Hulin was elected county commissioner.

In 1842 Judge Thomas Ford was elected governor by the Democrats. That party in Winnebago County nominated the following ticket : senator for Winnebago and Ogle coun- ties, James Mitchell; for representative, John A. Brown, editor of the Rockford Pilot; sheriff, John; Paul; commissioner, Spencer Post; cor- oner, Nathaniel Loomis. The Whigs nominated Spooner Ruggles for senator ; George W. Lee, representative; G. A. Sanford, sheriff; Isaac M. Johnson, commissioner; Harvey Gregory, coroner. Mr. Lee withdrew, and Darius Adams, of Pecatonica, was substituted. Spooner Ruggles, Darius Adams, Spencer Post, G. A. Sanford and Nathaniel Loomis were elected to the respective offices.

APPORTIONMENT ACT OF 1843.

By the act of March 1, 1843, the state was divided into seven congressional districts. The first election under this apportionment was held on the first Monday in August of the same year. Under this apportionment, Winnebago and Hancock counties were in the sixth dis- trict. Hancock County was the seat of the Mormon settlement, under the leadership of Joseph Smith. The Mormons generally voted the Democratic ticket; and with their support, Joseph Hogue, of Galena, was elected member of Congress. His Whig opponent was Cyrus Walker, of McDonough County. At the county election Ezra S. Cable was elected commis- sioner ; William Hulin, recorder ; S. M. Church, clerk; Bela Shaw, probate justice; Ephraim Wyman, treasurer; Volney A. Marsh, school commissioner ; Duncan Ferguson, surveyor.

FURTHER POLITICAL CHANGES.

The presidential election of 1844 was scarcely less exciting than that of four years previous.

The Whigs carried the county for Henry Clay, the idol of the party. The Whig ticket received 546 votes; the Democratic, 368; a majority of 178 for Mr. Clay. In August Mr. Hogue was re-elected member of Congress, over Martin P. Sweet, of Freeport. The Rockford Forum of August 14th denounced the apportionment act, which placed the Mormon stronghold in this district, and thus legislated it into the Demo- cratic, ranks. Anson S. Miller was elected mem- ber of the legislature; Anson Barnum, sheriff ; Artemas Hitchcock, coroner. In 1846 Thomas J. Turner, of Freeport, Democrat, was elected member of Congress over James Knox, of Knox County. Wait Talcott received 226 votes as the candidate of the Liberty party. Anson S. Miller, of Winnebago, was elected state sen- ator as a Whig; Robert J. Cross, representa- tive; Hiram R. Maynard, sheriff ; and Artemas Hitchcock, coroner. After the Mormons re- moved from Hancock County the district again became Whig, and in 1848 the party elected Edward D. Baker, of Galena, member of Con- gress. In 1850, Thompson Campbell, of Galena, was elected member of Congress. At the same time Richard S. Molony, of Belvidere, was elected to represent the adjoining eastern dis- trict, which then included Chicago.

In the presidential election of 1852 Winne- bago County maintained its position as a Whig stronghold. The presidential electors received 1,023 votes; the Democratic electors, 820; Free Soil electors, 725. Under the apportionment of August 22, 1852, the legislature divided the state into nine congressional districts. The First Dis- trict comprised the counties of Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Ogle. The campaign of 1852 was signalized by the election of E. B. Washburne as a member of Congress from the First Dis- trict. Mr. Washburne received 1.102 votes in Winnebago County; Thompson Campbell, his Democratic opponent, 851; and Newman Campbell, 610 votes. Abraham I. Enoch was elected a member of the legislature from the Forty-seventh Senatorial district. His vote in Winnebago County was 1,063. Mr. Enoch was born in Dayton, Ohio, July 24, 1819, came to this county with his father's family in 1835, and settled in Guilford Township. He was hon- ored by several public offices, and in 1866 he was again elected a member of the legislature. He removed to Rockford in 1867, and began

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

the manufacture of plows. In 1844 Mr. Enoch married Catharine J. Davis. They had seven daughters : Mrs. D. C. Putnam, Mrs. H. H. Carpenter, Mrs. Charles A. Works, and Misses Clara, Harriett A., Emma A. and Lois A. Mr. Enoch died in 1883. William Brown was elected state's attorney. Charles H. Spafford was elected circuit clerk, and King H. Milliken, sheriff. At the county clection in 1853 the en- tire Whig ticket was successful, and Selden M. Church was elected county judge.

Rockford's claim to the first Republican con- gressional nomination in Illinois is indisput- able. When the Kansas-Nebraska bill was passed by Congress in May, 1854, there was a general feeling in the old Whig and Democratic parties that the encroachments of the slave- power demanded more vigorous resistance. The citizens of Winnebago County, who were largely of New England blood and traditions, were in sympathy with the general uprising. With this end in view, a call was issued August 8, 1854, to the voters of the First Congressional district, consisting of Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnc- bago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Ogle counties. The call was signed by forty-six citizens of Rockford and vicinity, as follows : U. M. Warner, George Haskell, J. K. Smith, R. P. Lane, S. M. Church, Benjamin A. Rose, Anson S. Miller, William Hulin, William Ly- man, J. H. Manny, M. Mandeville, I. N. Cun- ningham, Melancthon Starr, William Brown, Wait Talcott, W. H. Johnson, Jason Marsh, Milton Kilburn, Newton Crawford, Cyrus F. Miller, Thomas D. Robertson, B. F. Spaulding, John Platt, Samuel Pierson, E. W. Blaisdell, Jr., D. W. Ticknor, Duncan Ferguson, G. W. Reynolds, B. G. Wheeler, Silas G. Tyler, C. H. Richings, Jesse Blinn, Horace Miller, R. Spurr, C. N. Andrews, John Travis, F. Burnap, Thomas J. Rudd, William Lathrop, John S. Coleman, Lucius Clark, D. Dow, H. R. Maynard, C. A. Huntington, A. I. Enoch, C. W. Sheldon. The last survivor of this historic group was C. W. Sheldon, who died February 3, 1914.

TEXT OF THE CALL.

"To the Electors of the First Congressional District: In view of the rapidly increasing influence of the Slave-Power, as developed in the recent act of Congress, and the treachery of so large a number of representatives chosen to

guard the interests of freemen, the undersigned citizens of Winnebago County most urgently request the electors of this congressional dis- trict who have the interests of our common country at heart, irrespective of party, to meet at the courthouse in Rockford on Wednesday, the 30th of August, instant, either by delegates or in mass, to consult upon the great question now at issue, and to adopt such measures as shall be deemed most efficient for combining our efforts and energies at the approaching con- gressional and state elections, so as to prevent the still further extension of slavery, and to protect the great interests of free labor and free men from being sacrificed to the interest or ambition of trading politicians."

The historic meeting was called to order in the courthouse, and from there adjourned to the grove west of the Baptist church, between Court and Winnebago streets. E. B. Washburne had been elected a member of Congress as a Whig two years before and was a candidate for re-election. There were other Richmonds in the field: Turner and Sweet, of Freeport ; Loop, of Rockford; and Hurlbut, of Belvidere. None of these were openly avowed candidates, but each was anxious for the prize. There was ambition mixed with patriotism. It was a time of breaking up of old parties, and the future was uncertain. How far would it be safe to declare against the action of Congress? This was a serious question. The leaders were against Washburne, but the people were with him. Mr. Washburne was nominated as a Re- publican by this mass convention.

The claim that this was a real Republican convention is sustained by a paragraph from the official minutes, signed by U. D. Meacham, of Freeport, one of the secretaries. This para- graph says: "On motion Hon. E. B. Wash- burne was nominated by acclamation as the candidate of the Republican party of the First Congressional district of Illinois, for Congress, to be supported at the coming election." A local newspaper, in an editorial comment on the convention, said: "After settling a few other matters, the convention adjourned, and the Republican party was supposed to be born." Thus was made the very first Republican nomi- nation for member of Congress in Illinois. The regular Whig convention for the district was held September 6, and Mr. Washburne was also made the nominee. The strong anti-slavery senti-

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

ment of both parties had been intensified by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas, and the passage of the Illinois Black Laws, through the influence of John A. Logan. Like Saul of Tar- sus before he saw a great light, Logan was dominated by prejudice; and, like Paul after his change, he bravely befriended those he for- merly oppressed. General Logan always had the courage of his convictions ; and his political change was sincere. At the election in Novem- ber, Wait Talcott was elected state senator; William Lyman, representative.

At the presidential election in November, 1856. Winnebago County gave John C. Fremont a magnificent vote. Every town in the county was carried for the Pathfinder, and the county gave a majority of 3,179 for Fremont over Buchanan. The First Congressional district gave large majorities for Fremont and Wash- burne. William Lathrop was elected repre- sentative; Samuel I. Church, sheriff. Mr. Church was brother of Judge Church, and came to Rockford in 1848. He purchased a quarter of the school section ; later he made it his home, where he died in 1886.

The famous Lincoln-Douglas debate was an event of local interest as well as national sig- nificance. In April. 1858, the Illinois State Democratic convention endorsed Stephen A. Douglas for the United States senate. Abraham Lincoln was nominated by the Republican party at Springfield, June 17, 1858, and on July 24 Mr. Lincoln sent a challenge to Judge Douglas to discuss the political issues of the day in a series of joint debates. The latter accepted the challenge, and named one city in each con- gressional district, except the second and sixth, where they had already spoken. Ottawa, Free- port, Galesburg, Quincy, Alton, Jonesboro and Charleston were the points chosen for these discussions.

The second and most famous debate was held at Freeport, August 27, 1858. and was the greatest political event ever held in this congressional district. Thousands were in at- tendance from the northern counties, and the excitement was intense. A special train was made up at Marengo, and run over the Galena & Chicago Union road. It consisted of eighteen coaches, eight of which were filled with Rock- ford citizens.

On October 27, 1858, Salmon P. Chase ad-

dressed the citizens of Rockford, on the political issues of the day, in Metropolitan Hall. The election occurred on the 2d of November and Mr. Lincoln received a majority of over 4,000 of the popular vote, yet the returns from the legislative districts foreshadowed liis defeat. At the senatorial election in the legislature, Judge Douglas received fifty-four votes, and Mr. Lincoln forty-six-one of the results of the unfair apportionment law then in operation.

CRITICAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. -

The presidential election of 1860 marked an epoch in American history. The nation had come to the parting of the ways. Mr. Lincoln's prophecy that the government could not perma- nently endure half slave and half free, was about to be demonstrated before the world. Mr. Lincoln, by reason of his profound insight into the political situation, which he had shown in his debates with Judge Douglas, was the logical candidate of his party. The nomination of Mr. Lincoln was received with great enthusiasm by the citizens of Rockford. In August the Rockford Wide Awake Club was organized. Its object was co-operation for the success of Re- publican principles and the election of Mr. Lin- coln. Rockford chose September 1 as Repub- lican rally day. The Wide Awake clubs from neighboring towns were present. The special attraction was Cassins M. Clay, the celebrated orator of Kentucky. The exercises were hield on the courthouse square, and it was estimated that fully 12,000 people were in attendance. The first speech was made by Hon. James H. Baker, secretary of state of Minnesota. Mr. Clay was introduced by Judge S. M. Church. During September and October, a series of joint discussions was held by Judge Allen C. Fuller, of Belvidere, and John A. Rawlins, of Galena, on the political issues of the day, and among those who made addresses in Rockford during the campaign were Judge Lyman Trumbull. Ste- phen A. Hurlbut, Governor Bebb, Melancthon Smith, Colonel Ellis. James L. Loop and Judge Church. Richard Yates and Owen Lovejoy made speeches at Belvidere. One joint debate was held in each county of the First Congres- sional district. Judge Fuller was the Repub- lican candidate for presidential elector, and Mr. Rawlins was the candidate of the Douglas Democracy. One discussion was held in Rock-

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 21

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 972

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972