Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 117

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388

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WELLS, William, soldier and victim of the Fort Dearborn massacre, was born in Kentucky, about 1770. When a boy of 12, he was captured by the Miami Indians, whose chief, Little Turtle, adopted him, giving him his daughter in mar- riage when he grew to manhood. He was highly esteemed by the tribe as a warrior, and, in 1790, was present at the battle where Gen. Arthur St. Clair was defeated. He then realized that he was fighting against his own race, and informed his father-in-law that he intended to ally himself with the whites. Leaving the Miamis, he made his way to General Wayne, who made him Cap- tain of a company of scouts. After the treaty of Greenville (1795) he settled on a farm near Fort Wayne, where he was joined by his Indian wife. Here he acted as Indian Agent and Justice of the Peace. In 1812 he learned of the contemplated evacuation of Fort Dearborn, and, at the head of thirty Miamis, he set out for the post, his inten- tion being to furnish a body-guard to the non- combatants on their proposed march to Fort Wayne. On August 13, he marched out of the fort with fifteen of his dusky warriors behind

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him, the remainder bringing up the rear. Before a mile and a half had been traveled, the party fell into an Indian ambuscade, and an indiscrimi- nate massacre followed. (See Fort Dearborn.) The Miamis fled, and Captain Wells' body was riddled with bullets, his head cut off and his heart taken out. He was an uncle of Mrs. Heald, wife of the commander of Fort Dearborn.

WELLS, William Harvey, educator, was born in Tolland, Conn., Feb. 27, 1812; lived on a farm until 17 years old, attending school irregularly, but made such progress that he became succes- sively a teacher in the Teachers' Seminary at Andover and Newburyport, and, finally, Principal of the State Normal School at Westfield, Mass. In 1856 he accepted the position of Superintend- ent of Public Schools for the city of Chicago, serving till 1864, when he resigned. He was an organizer of the Massachusetts State Teachers' Association, one of the first editors of "The Massachusetts Teacher" and prominently con- nected with various benevolent, educational and learned societies: was also author of several text- books, and assisted in the revision of "Webster's Unabridged Dictionary." Died. Jan. 21, 1885.

WENONA, city on the eastern border of Mar- shall County, 20 miles south of La Salle; has good schools, a weekly paper, banks, five or six churches and a foundry and machine-shop; is also the seat of Wenona College. Population (1880), 911; (1890). 1,053.

WENTWORTH, John, early journalist and Congressman. was born at Sandwich, N. H., March 5, 1815, graduated from Dartmouth Col- lege in 1836, and came to Chicago the same year, where he became editor of "The Chicago Demo- crat," which had been established by John Cal- houn three years previous. He soon after became proprietor of "The Democrat," of which he con- tinued to be the publisher until it was merged into "The Chicago Tribune." July 24, 1864. He also studied law. and was admitted to the Illinois bar in' 1841. He served in Congress as a Demo- crat from 1843 to 1851, and again from 1853 to 1855. but left the Democratic party on the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. He was elected Mayor of Chicago in 1857, and again in 1860, during his incumbency introducing a number of important municipal reforms; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1862, and twice served on the Board of Education. He again represented Illinois in Congress as a Republican from 1865 to 1867-making fourteen years of service in that body. In 1872 he joined in the Greeley movement. but later renewed his alle-

giance to the Republican party. In 1878 Mr. Went- worth published an elaborate genealogical work in three volumes, entitled "History of the Went- worth Family." A volume of "Congressional Reminiscences" and two by him on "Early Chi- cago," published in connection with the Fergus Historical Series, contain some valuable informa- tion on early local and national history. On account of his extraordinary height he received the sobriquet of "Long John," by which he was familiarly known throughout the State. Died, in Chicago, Oct. 16, 1888.

WEST, Edward M., merchant and banker, was born in Virginia, May 2, 1814; came with his father to Illinois in 1818; in 1829 became a clerk in the Recorder's office at Edwardsville, also served as deputy postmaster, and, in 1833, took a position in the United States Land Office there. Two years later he engaged in mercantile busi- ness, which he prosecuted over thirty years- meanwhile filling the office of County Treasurer, ex-officio Superintendent of Schools, and Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1847. In 1867, in conjunction with W. R. Prickett, he established a bank at Edwardsville, with which he was con- nected until his death, Oct. 31, 1887. Mr. West officiated frequently as a "local preacher" of the Methodist Church, in which capacity he showed much ability as a public speaker.

WEST, Mary Allen, educator and philanthro- pist, was born at Galesburg, Ill., July 31, 1837; graduated at Knox Seminary in 1854 and taught until 1873, when she was elected County Super- intendent of Schools, serving nine years. She took an active and influential interest in educa- tional and reformatory movements, was for two years editor of "Our Home Monthly," in Phila- delphia, and also a contributor to other journals, besides being editor-in-chief of "The Union Sig- nal," Chicago, the organ of the Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Union-in which she held the position of President : was also President, in the latter days of her life, of the Illinois Woman's Press Association of Chicago, that city having become her home in 1885. In 1892. Miss West started on a tour of the world for the benefit of her health, but died at Tokio, Japan, Dec. 1, 1892.

WESTERN HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, an institution for the treatment of the insane, located at Watertown, Rock Island County, in accordance with an act of the General Assembly, approved, May 22, 1895. The Thirty-ninth Gen- eral Assembly made an appropriation of $100,000 for the erection of fire-proof buildings, while Rock Island County donated a tract of 400 acres

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of land valued at $40,000. The site selected by the Commissioners, is a commanding one overlooking the Mississippi River, eight miles above Rock Island, and five and a half miles from Moline, and the buildings are of the most modern style of con- struction. Watertown is reached by two lines of railroad-the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy -- besides the Mississippi River. The erection of buildings was begun in 1896, and they were opened for the reception of patients in 1898. They have a ca- pacity for 800 patients.

WESTERN MILITARY ACADEMY, an insti- tution located at Upper Alton, Madison County, incorporated in 1892; has a faculty of eight mem- bers and reports eighty pupils for 1897-98, with property valued at $70,000. The institution gives instruction in literary and scientific hranches, besides preparatory and business courses.

WESTERN NORMAL COLLEGE, located at Bushnell, McDonough County; incorporated in 1888. It is co-educational, has a corps of twelve instructors and reported 500 pupils for 1897-98, 300 males and 200 females.

WESTERN SPRINGS, a village of Cook County, and residence suburb of the city of Chi- cago, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road, 15 miles west of the initial station. Population (1890), 451; (1896), estimated, 3,500.

WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, located in Chicago and controlled by the Protes- tant Episcopal Church. It was founded in 1883 through the munificence of Dr. Tolman Wheeler, and was opened for students two years later. It has two buildings, of a superior order of archi- tecture-one including the school and lecture rooms and the other a dormitory. A hospital and gymnasium are attached to the latter, and a school for boys is conducted on the first floor of the main building, which is known as Wheeler Hall. The institution is under the general super- vision of Rt. Rev. William E. McLaren, Protes- tant Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Illinois.

WESTFIELD, a village of Clark County, on the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railroad, 10 miles south-southeast of Charleston; has a bank and a newspaper. Population (1890), 510.

WEST SALEM, a town of Edwards County, on the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railroad, 12 miles northeast of Albion; has a bank and a weekly paper. Population (1890), 476.

WETHERELL, Emma Abbott, vocalist, was born in Chicago, Dec. 9, 1849; in her childhood attracted attention while singing with her father (a poor musician) in hotels and on the streets in

Chicago, Peoria and elsewhere; at 18 years of age, went to New York to study, earning her way by giving concerts en route, and receiving aid and encouragement from Clara Louisa Kellogg; in New York was patronized by Henry Ward Beecher and others, and aided in securing the training of European masters. Compelled to sur- mount many obstacles from poverty and other causes, her after success in her profession was phenomenal. Died, during a professional tour, at Salt Lake City, Jan. 5, 1891. Miss Abbott married her manager, Eugene Wetherell, who died before her.

WHEATON, a city, the county-seat of Du Page County, situated on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, 25 miles west of Chicago. Agriculture and stock-raising are the chief pursuits in the surrounding region. The city owns a new water- works plant (costing $60,000), and has a public library valued at $50,000, the gift of a resident, Mr. J. Q. Adams. Besides a handsome court house, it has eight churches, two graded schools, and four weekly newspapers. There are also two carriage factories and a private bank. The city is the seat of Wheaton College (which see). Population (1880), 1,160; (1890), 1,622; (1898), estimated, 2,000.

WHEATON COLLEGE, an educational insti- tution located at Wheaton, Du Page County, and under Congregational control. It was founded in 1853, as the Illinois Institute, and was char- tered under its present name in 1860. Its early existence was one of struggle, but of late years it has been established on a better foundation, in 1898 having $54,000 invested in productive funds, and property aggregating $136.000. The faculty comprises fifteen professors, and, in 1898, there were 321 students in attendance. It is co-edu- cational and instruction is given in business and preparatory studies, as well as the fine arts, music and classical literature.

WHEELER, David Hilton, D.D., LL.D., clergy- man, was born at Ithaca, N. Y., Nov. 19, 1829; graduated at Rock River Seminary, Mount. Morris, in 1851; edited "The Carroll County Republican" and held a professorship in Cornell College, Iowa, (1857-61); was United States Con- sul at Geneva, Switzerland, (1861-66) ; Professor of English Literature in Northwestern University (1867-75); edited "The Methodist" in New York, seven years, and was President of Allegheny College (1883-87); received the degree of D.D. from Cornell College in 1867, and that of LL.D. from the Northwestern University in 1881. He is the author of "Brigandage, in South Italy".

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(two volumes, 1864) and "By-Ways of Literature" (1883), besides some translations.

WHEELER, Hamilton K., ex-Congressman, was born at Ballston, N. Y., August 5, 1848, but emigrated with his parents to Illinois in 1852; remained on a farm until 19 years of age, his educational advantages being limited to three months' attendance upon a district school each year. In 1871, he was admitted to the bar at Kankakee, where he has since continued to prac- tice. In 1884 he was elected to represent the Six- teenth District in the State Senate, where he served on many important committees, being Chairman of that on the Judicial Department. In 1892 he was elected Representative in Con- gress from the Ninth Illinois District, on the Republican ticket.

WHEELING, a town on the northern border of Cook County, on the Wisconsin Central Railway. Population (1890), 811.

WHISTLER, (Maj.) John, soldier and builder of the first Fort Dearborn, was born in Ulster, Ire- land, about 1756; served under Burgoyne in the Revolution, and was with the force surrendered by that officer at Saratoga, in 1777. After the peace he returned to the United States, settled at Hagerstown, Md., and entered the United States Army, serving at first in the ranks and being severely wounded in the disastrous Indian cam- paigns of 1791. Later, he was promoted to a captaincy and, in the summer of 1803, sent with his company, to the head of Lake Michigan, where he constructed the first Fort Dearborn within the limits of the present city of Chicago, remaining in command until 1811, when he was succeeded by Captain Heald. He received the brevet rank of Major, in 1815 was appointed military store-keeper at Newport, Ky., and after- wards at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, where he died, Sept. 3, 1829. Lieut. William Whistler, his son, who was with his father, for a time, in old Fort Dearborn-but transferred, in 1809, to Fort Wayne-was of the force included in Hull's surrender at Detroit in 1812. After his exchange he was promoted to a captaincy, to the rank of Major in 1826 and to a Lieutenant-Colo- nelcy in 1845, dying at Newport, Ky., in 1863. James Abbott McNiel Whistler, the celebrated, but eccentric artist of that name, is a grandson of the first Major Whistler.

WHITE, George E., ex-Congressman, was born in Massachusetts in 1848; after graduating, at the age of 16, he enlisted as a private in the Fifty- seventh Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, serv- ing nnder General Grant in the campaign

against Richmond from the battle of the Wilder- ness until the surrender of Lee. Having taken a course in a commercial college at Worcester, Mass., in 1867 he came to Chicago, securing em- ployment in a lumber yard, but a year later began business on his own account, which he has successfully conducted. In 1878 he was elected to the State Senate, as a Republican, from one of the Chicago Districts, and re-elected four years later, serving in that body eight years. He declined a nomination for Congress in 1884, but accepted in 1894, and was elected for the Fifth District, as he was again in 1896, but was defeated, in 1898, by Edward T. Noonan, Demo- crat.

WHITE, Horace, journalist, was born at Cole- brook, N. H., August 10, 1834; in 1853 graduated at Beloit College, Wis., whither his father had removed in 1837; engaged in journalism as city editor of "The Chicago Evening Journal," later becoming agent of the Associated Press, and, in 1857, an editorial writer on "The Chicago Trib- une," during a part of the war acting as its Washington correspondent. He also served, in 1856, as Assistant Secretary of the Kansas National Committee, and, later, as Secretary of the Republican State Central Committee. In 1864 he purchased an interest in "The Tribune," a year or so later becoming editor-in-chief, but retired in October, 1874. After a protracted European tour, he united with Carl Schurz and E. L. Godkin of "The Nation," in the purchase and reorganization of "The New York Evening Post," of which he is now editor-in-chief.

WHITE, Julius, soldier, was born in Cazen- ovia, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1816; removed to Illinois in 1836, residing there and in Wisconsin, where he was a member of the Legislature of 1849; in 1861 was made Collector of Customs at Chicago, but resigned to assume the colonelcy of the Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteers, which he commanded on the Fremont expedition to South- west Missouri. He afterwards served with Gen- eral Curtiss in Arkansas, participated in the battle of Pea Ridge and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. He was subsequently assigned to the Department of the Shenandoah, but finding his position at Martinsburg, W. Va., untenable. retired to Harper's Ferry, voluntarily serving under Colonel Miles, his inferior in com- mand. When this post was surrendered (Sept. 15, 1862), he was made a prisoner. but released under parole; was tried by a court of inquiry at his own request, and acquitted, the court finding that he had acted with courage and capability.

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He resigned in 1864, and, in March, 1865, was brevetted Major-General of Volunteers. Died, at Evanston, May 12, 1890.

WHITE COUNTY, situated in the southeastern quarter of the State, and bounded on the east by the Wabash River; was organized in 1816, being the tenth county organized during the Territorial period: area, 500 square miles. The county is crossed hy three railroads and drained by the Wabash and Little Wabash Rivers. The surface consists of prairie and woodland, and the soil is, for the most part, highly productive. The princi- pal agricultural products are corn, wheat, oats. potatoes, tobacco, fruit, butter, sorghum and wool. The principal industrial establishments are carriage factories, saw mills and flour mills. Carmi is the county-seat. Other towns are En- field, Grayville and Norris City. Population (1880), 23.087; (1890), 25,005.

WHITEHALL, a city in Greene County, at the intersection of the Chicago & Alton and the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads, 45 miles north of Alton and 24 miles south-southwest of Jacksonville. A foundry, flour mill and two wagon shops are its principal manufacturing establishments. A fine variety of potters' clay abounds in the vicinity, and this has stimulated the manufacture of tile and pottery, which is extensively carried on. The town has four churches, a graded school, two banks and two newspapers-one of them issuing a daily edition. Population (1890), 1.961.

WHITEHOUSE, Henry John, Protestant Epis- copal Bishop, was born in New York City, August 19, 1803; graduated from Columbia College in 1821, and from the (New York) General Theolog- ical Seminary in 1824. After ordination he was rector of various parishes in Pennsylvania and New York until 1851, when he was chosen Assist- ant Bishop of Illinois, succeeding Bishop Chase in 1852. In 1867, by invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, he delivered the opening sermon before the Pan-Anglican Conference held in England. During this visit he received the degree of D. D. from Oxford University, and that of LL.D. from Cambridge. His rigid views as a churchman and a disciplinarian, were illustrated in his prosecution of Rev. Charles Edward Cheney, which resulted in the formation of the Reformed Episcopal Church. He was a brilliant orator and a trenchant and unyielding controver- sialist. Died, in Chicago, August 10, 1874.

WHITESIDE COUNTY, in the northwestern portion of the State bordering on the Mississippi River; created hy act of the Legislature passed in

1836, and named for Capt. Samuel Whiteside, a noted Indian fighter; area, 700 square miles. The surface is level, diversified by prairies and wood- land, and the soil is extremely fertile. The county-seat was first fixed at Lyndon, then at Sterling, and finally at Morrison, its present location. The Rock River crosses the county and furnishes abundant water power for numer- ous factories, turning out agricultural imple- ments, carriages and wagons, furniture, woolen goods, flour and wrapping paper. There are also distilling and brewing interests, besides saw and planing mills. Corn is the staple agricultural product, although all the leading cereals are extensively grown. The principal towns are Morrison, Sterling, Fulton and Rock Falls. Popu- lation (1880), 30,885: (1890), 30,854.

WHITESIDE, William, pioneer and soldier of the Revolution, emigrated from the frontier of North Carolina to Kentucky, and thence, in 1793, to the present limits of Monroe County, III., erecting a fort between Cahokia and Kaskaskia. which became widely known as "Whiteside Station." He served as a Justice of the Peace, and was active in organizing the militia during the War of 1812-14. dying at the old Station in 1815 .- John (Whiteside), a brother of the preced- ing, and also a Revolutionary soldier, came to Illinois at the same time, as also did William B. and Samuel, sons of the two brothers, respec- tively. All of them hecame famous as Indian. fighters. The two latter served as Captains of companies of "Rangers" in the War of 1812, Samuel taking part in the battle of Rock Island in 1814, and contributing greatly to the success of the day. During the Black Hawk War (1832) he attained the rank of Brigadier General. Whiteside County was named in his honor. He made one of the earliest improvements in Ridge Prairie, a rich section of Madison County, and represented that county in the First General Assembly. William B. served as Sheriff of Madi- son County for a number of years. - John D. (Whiteside), another member of this historic family, became very prominent, serving in the lower Honse of the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Fourteenth General Assemblies, and in the Sen- ate of the Tenth, from Monroe County; was a Presidential Elector in 1836, State Treasurer (1837-41) and a member of the State Constitu- tional Convention of 1847. General Whiteside, as he was known, was the second of James Shields in the famous Shields and Lincoln duel (so-called) in 1842, and, as such, carried the challenge of the former to Mr. Lincoln. (See Duels.)

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WHITING, Lorenzo D., legislator, was born in Wayne County, N. Y., Nov. 17, 1819; came to Illinois in 1838, but did not settle there perma- nently until 1849, when he located in Bureau County. He was a Representative from that county in the Twenty-sixth General Assembly (1869), and a member of the Senate continuously from 1871 to 1887, serving in the latter through eight General Assemblies. Died at his home near Tiskilwa, Bureau County, Ill., Oct. 10, 1889.

WHITING, Richard H., Congressman, was born at West Hartford, Conn., June 17, 1826, and received a common school education. In 1862 he was commissioned Paymaster in the Volunteer Army of the Union, and resigned in 1866. Hav- ing removed to Illinois, he was appointed Assist- ant Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Fifth Illinois District, in February, 1870, and so contin- ued until the abolition of the office in 1873. On retiring from the Assessorship he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue, and served until March 4, 1875, when he resigned to take his seat as Republican Representative in Congress from the Peoria District, to which he had been elected in November, 1874. After the expiration of his term he held no public office, but was a member of the Republican National Convention of 1884. Died, at the Continental Hotel, in New York City, May 24, 1888.

WHITNEY, James W., pioneer lawyer and early teacher, known by the nickname of "Lord Coke"; came to Illinois in Territorial days (be- lieved to have been about 1800) ; resided for some time at or near Edwardsville, then became a teacher at Atlas, Pike County, and, still later, the first Circuit and County Clerk of that county. Though nominally a lawyer, he had little if any practice. He acquired the title, by which he was popularly known for a quarter of a century, by his custom of visiting the State Capital, during the sessions of the General Assembly, when he would organize the lobbyists and visit- ors about the capital-of which there were an unusual number in those days-into what was called the "Third House." Having been regu- Iarly chosen to preside under the name of "Speaker of the Lobby. " he would deliver a mes- sage full of practical hits and jokes, aimed at members of the two houses and others, which would be received with cheers and laughter. The meetings of the "Third House," being held in the evening, were attended by many members and visitors in lieu of other forms of entertain- ment. Mr. Whitney's home. in his latter years,

was at Pittsfield. He resided for a time at Quincy. Died, Dec. 13, 1860, aged over 80 years.

WHITTEMORE, Floyd K., State Treasurer, is a native of New York, came at an early age, with his parents, to Sycamore, Ill., where he was edu- cated in the high school there. He purposed becoming a lawyer, but, on the election of the late James H. Beveridge State Treasurer, in 1864, accepted the position of clerk in the office. Later, he was employed as a clerk in the banking house of Jacob Bunn in Springfield, and, on the organization of the State National Bank, was chosen cashier of that Institution, retaining the position some twenty years. After the appoint- ment of Hon. John R. Tanner to the position of Assistant Treasurer of the United States, at Chi- cago, in 1892, Mr. Whittemore became cashier in that office, and, in 1865, Assistant State Treas- rure under the administration of State Treasurer Henry Wulff. In 1898 he was elected State Treasurer, receiving a plurality of 43,450 over his Democratic opponent.

WICKERSHAM, (Col.) Dudley, soldier and merchant, was born in Woodford County, Ky., Nov. 23, 1819; came to Springfield, Ill., in 1843, and served as a member of the Fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers (Col. E. D. Baker's) through the Mexican War. On the return of peace he engaged in the dry-goods trade in Springfield, until 1861, when he enlisted in the Tenth Regi- ment Illinois Cavalry, serving, first as Lieutenant- Colonel and then as Colonel, until May, 1864, when, his regiment having been consolidated with the Fifteenth Cavalry, he resigned. After the war, he held the office of Assessor of Internal Revenue for several years, after which he en- gaged in the grocery trade. Died, in Springfield, August 8, 1898.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 117

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1388

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388