Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 119

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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WILMETTE, a town in Cook County, 14 miles north of Chicago, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. It is a handsome suburb of Chicago, located on the shore of Lake Michigan, which is here bordered by a bluff about 100 feet high. Population (1880), 419; (1890), 1,458.

WILMINGTON, a city of Will County, on the Kankakee River and the Chicago & Alton Rail- road, 53 miles from Chicago and 15 south-south- west of Joliet; has considerable manufactures, a national bank, a graded school, several churches and two newspapers. Wilmington is the location of the Illinois Soldiers' Widows' Home. Popu- lation (1880), 1,872; (1890), 1,576.

WILSON, Charles Lush, journalist, was born in Fairfield County, Conn., Oct. 10, 1818, edu- cated in the common schools and at an academy in his native State, and, in 1835, removed to Chi- cago, entering the employment of his older brothers, who were connected with the construc- tion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal at Joliet. His brother, Richard L., having assumed charge of "The Chicago Daily Journal" (the successor of "The Chicago American"), in,1844, Charles L. took a position in the office, ultimately securing a partnership, which continued until the death

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of his brother in 1856, when he succeeded to the ownership of the paper. Mr. Wilson was an ardent friend and supporter of Abraham Lincoln for the United States Senate in 1858, but, in 1860, favored the nomination of Mr. Seward for the Presidency, though earnestly supporting Mr. Lin- coln after his nomination. In 1861 he was appointed Secretary of the American Legation at London, serving with the late Minister Charles Francis Adams, until 1864, when he resigned and resumed his connection with "The Journal." In 1875 his health began to fail, and three years later, having gone to San Antonio, Tex., in the hope of receiving benefit from a change of cli- mate, he died in that city, March 9, 1878 .- Richard Lush (Wilson), an older brother of the preceding, the first editor and publisher of "The Chicago Evening Journal," the oldest paper of consecutive publication in Chicago, was a native of New York. Coming to Chicago with his brother John L., in 1834, they soon after estab- lished themselves in business on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, then in course of construction. In 1844 he took charge of "The Chicago Daily Journal" for a publishing committee which had purchased the material of "The Chicago Ameri- can," but soon after became principal proprietor. In April, 1847, while firing a salute in honor of the victory of Buena Vista, he lost an arm and was otherwise injured by the explosion of the can- non. Early in 1849, he was appointed, hy Presi- dent Taylor, Postmaster of the city of Chicago. but, having failed of confirmation, was compelled to retire in favor of a successor appointed by Millard Fillmore, eleven months later. Mr. Wilson published a little volume in 1842 entitled "A Trip to Santa Fe," and, a few years later, a story of travel under the title, "Short Ravel- lings from a Long Yarn." Died, December, 1856. -John Lush (Wilson), another brother, also a native of New York, came to Illinois in 1834, was afterwards associated with his brothers in busi- ness, being for a time business manager of "The Chicago Journal;" also served one term as Sher- iff of Cook County. Died, in Chicago, April 13, 1888.

WILSON, Isaac Grant, jurist, was born at Middlebury, N. Y., April 26, 1817, graduated from Brown University in 1838, and the same year came to Chicago, whither his father's family had preceded him in 1835. After reading law for two years, he entered the senior class at Cambridge (Mass.) Law School, graduating in 1841. In August of that year he opened an office at Elgin, and, for ten years "rode the cir-

cuit." In 1851 he was elected to the bench of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit to fill a vacancy, and re-elected for a full term in 1855, and again in '61. In November of the latter year he was commissioned the first Colonel of the Fifty- second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but resigned, a few weeks later, and resumed his place upon the bench. From 1867 to 1879 he devoted him- self to private practice, which was largely in the Federal Courts. In 1879 he resumed his seat upon the bench (this time for the Twelfth Cir- cuit), and was at once designated as one of the Judges of the Appellate Court at Chicago, of which tribunal he became Chief Justice in 1881. In 1885 he was re-elected Circuit Judge, but died, about the close of his term, at Geneva, June 8, 1891.

WILSON, James Grant, soldier and author, was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, April 28, 1832, and, when only a year old, was brought by his father, William Wilson, to America. The family settled at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where James Grant was educated at College Hill and under private teachers. After finishing his studies he became his father's partner in business, but, in 1855, went abroad, and, shortly after his return, removed to Chicago, where he founded the first literary paper established in the Northwest. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he disposed of his journal to enlist in the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, of which he was commissioned Major and after- wards promoted to the colonelcy. In August, 1863, while at New Orleans, by advice of General Grant, he accepted a commission as Colonel of the Fourth Regiment United States Colored Cavalry, and was assigned, as Aid-de-camp, to the staff of the Commander of the Department of the Gulf, filling this post until April, 1865. When General Banks was relieved, Colonel Wil- son was brevetted Brigadier-General and placed in command at Port Hudson, resigning in July, 1865, since which time his home has been in New York. He is best known as an author, having published numerous addresses, and being a fre- quent contributor to American and European magazines. Among larger works which he has written or edited are "Biographical Sketches of Illinois Officers"; "Love in Letters"; "Life of General U. S. Grant"; "Life and Letters of Fitz Greene Halleck"; "Poets and Poetry of Scotland"; "Bryant and His Friends", and "Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography."

WILSON, James Harrison, soldier and mili- tary engineer, was born near Shawneetown, Ill., Sept. 2, 1837. His grandfather, Alexander Wil-

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son, was one of the pioneers of Illinois, and his father (Harrison Wilson) was an ensign dur- ing the War of 1812 and a Captain in the Black Hawk War. His brother (Bluford Wilson) served as Assistant Adjutant-General of Voluu- teers during the Civil War, and as Solicitor of the United States Treasury during the "whisky ring" prosecutions. James H. was educated in the common schools, at Mckendree College, and the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating from the latter in 1860, and being assigned to the Topographical Engineer Corps. In September, 1861, he was promoted to a First Lieutenancy, then served as Chief Topo- graphical Engineer of the Port Royal expedition until March, 1862; was afterwards attached to the Department of the South, being present at the bombardment of Fort Pulaski; was Aid-de- camp to McClellan, and participated in the bat- tles of South Mountain and Antietam; was made Lieutenant-Colonel of Volunteers in November, 1862; was Chief Topographical Engineer and Inspector-General of the Army of the Tennessee until October, 1863, being actively engaged in the operations around Vicksburg; was made Captain of Engineers in May, 1863, and Brigadier- General of Volunteers, Oct. 31, following. He also conducted operations preliminary to the battle of Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, and for the relief of Knoxville. Later, he was placed in command of the Third Division of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac, serving from May to August, 1864, under General Sheridan. Subsequently he was transferred to the Depart- ment of the Mississippi, where he so distinguished himself that, on April 20, 1865, he was made Major-General of Volunteers. . In twenty-eight days he captured five fortified cities, twenty- three stands of colors, 288 guns and 6,820 prison- ers-among the latter being Jefferson Davis. He was mustered out of the volunteer service in January, 1866, and, on July 28, following, was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Thirty- fifth United States Infantry, being also brevetted Major-General in the regular army. On Dec. 31, 1870, he returned to civil life, and was afterwards largely engaged in railroad and engineering oper- ations, especially in West Virginia. Promptly after the declaration of war with Spain (1898) General Wilson was appointed, by the President, Major-General of Volunteers, serving until its close. He is the author of "China: Travels and Investigations in the Middle Kingdom"; "Life of Andrew J. Alexander"; and the "Life of Gen. «U. S. Grant," in conjunction with Charles A.

Dana. His home, in recent years, has been in New York.

WILSON, John M., lawyer and jurist, was born in New Hampshire in 1802, graduated at Bowdoin College in 1824-the classmate of Frank- lin Pierce and Nathaniel Hawthorne; studied law in New Hampshire and came to Illinois in 1835, locating at Joliet; removed to Chicago in 1841, where he was the partner of Norman B. Judd, serving, at different periods, as attorney of the Chicago & Rock Island, the Lake Shore & Michi- gan Southern and the Chicago & Northwestern Railways; was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Cook County, 1853-59, when he became Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Chicago, serving until 1868. Died, Dec. 7, 1883.

WILSON, Jolın P., lawyer, was born in White- side County, Ill., July 3, 1844; educated in the common schools and at Knox College, Galesburg, graduating from the latter in 1865; two years later was admitted to the bar in Chicago, and speedily attained prominence in his profession. During the World's Fair period he was retained as counsel by the Committee on Grounds and Buildings, and was prominently connected, as counsel for the city, with the Lake Front litiga- tion.

WILSON, Robert L., early legislator, was born in Washington County, Pa., Sept. 11, 1805, taken to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1810, graduated at Frank- lin College in 1831, studied law and, in 1833, removed to Athens (now in Menard County), Ill .; was elected Representative in 1836, and was one of the members from Sangamon County, known as the "Long Nine," who assisted in securing the removal of the State Capital to Springfield. Mr. Wilson removed to Sterling, Whiteside County, in 1840, was elected five times Circuit Clerk and served eight years as Probate Judge. Immedi- ately after the fall of Fort Sumter, he enlisted as private in a battalion in Washington City under command of Cassius M. Clay, for guard duty until the arrival of the Seventh New York Regi- ment. He subsequently assisted in raising troops in Illinois, was appointed Paymaster by Lincoln, serving at Washington, St. Louis, and, after the fall of Vicksburg, at Springfield-being mustered ont in November, 1865. Died, in White- side County, 1880.

WILSON, Robert S., lawyer and jurist, was born at Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pa., Nov. 6, 1812; learned the printer's art, then studied law and was admitted to the bar in Allegheny County, about 1833; in 1836 removed to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he served as Probate Judge

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and State Senator; in 1850 came to Chicago, was elected Judge of the Recorder's Court in 1853, and re-elected in 1858, serving ten years, and proving "a terror to evil-doers." Died, at Law- rence, Mich., Dec. 23, 1882.

WILSON, William, early jurist, was born in Loudoun County, Va., April 27, 1794; studied law with Hon. John Cook, a distinguished lawyer, and minister to France in the early part of the century : in 1817 removed to Kentucky, soon after came to Illinois, two years later locating in White County, near Carmi, which continued to be his home during the remainder of his life. In 1819 he was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court as successor to William P. Foster, who is described by Governor Ford as "a great rascal and no lawyer," and who held office only about nine months. Judge Wilson was re-elected to the Supreme bench, as Chief- Justice, in 1825, being then only a little over 30 years old, and held office until the reorganization of the Supreme Court under the Constitution of 1848-a period of over twenty-nine years, and, with the exception of Judge Browne's, the long- est term of service in the history of the court. He died at his home in White County, April 29, 1857. A Whig in early life, he allied himself with the Democratic party on the dissolution of the former. Hon. James C. Conkling, of Spring- field, says of him, "as a writer, his style was clear and distinct; as a lawyer, his judgment was sound and discriminating."

WINCHESTER, a city and the county-seat of Scott County, founded in 1839, situated on Big Sandy Creek and on the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 29 miles south of Beardstown and 84 miles north by west of St. Louis. The surrounding region is agricultural and largely devoted to wheat growing. Winches- ter is an important shipping point. having three grain elevators besides two flouring mills. The city also has plow and furniture factories, a pack- ing house and a saw-mill. There are four Prot- estant and one Catholic church, a court house, a high school, two banks and two weekly news- papers. Population (1880), 1,626; (1890), 1,542; (1899), estimated, 2,000.

WINDSOR, a city of Shelby County at the cross- ing of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis and the Wabash Railways, 11 miles north- east of Shelbyville. Population (1880), 768; (1890), 888.

WINES, Frederick Howard, clergyman and sociologist, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., April 9, 1838, graduated at Washington (Pa.) College

in 1857, and, after serving as tutor there for a short time, entered Princeton Theological Semi- nary, but was compelled temporarily to discon- tinne his studies on account of a weakness of the eyes. The Presbytery of St. Louis licensed him to preach in 1860, and, in 1862, he was com- missioned Hospital Chaplain in the Union army. During 1862-64 he was stationed at Springfield, Mo., participating in the battle of Springfield on Jan. 8, 1863, and being personally mentioned for bravery on the field in the official report. Re- entering the seminary at Princeton in 1864, he graduated in 1865, and at once accepted a call to the pulpit of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Ill., which he filled for four years. In 1869 he was appointed Secretary of the newly created Board of Commissioners of Public Chari- ties of Illinois, in which capacity he continued until 1893, when he resigned. For the next four years he was chiefly engaged in literary work, in lecturing before universities on topics connected with social science, in aiding in the organization of charitable work, and in the conduct of a thorough investigation into the relations between liquor legislation and crime. At an early period he took a prominent part in organizing the various Boards of Public Charities of the United States into an organization known as the National Conference of Charities and Corrections, and, at the Louisville meeting (1883), was elected its President. At the International Penitentiary Congress at Stockholm (1878) he was the official delegate from Illinois. On his return, as a result of his observations while abroad, he submitted to the Legislature a report strongly advocating the construction of the Kankakee Hospital for the Insane, then about to be built, upon the "detached ward" or "village" plan, a departure from then existing methods, which marks an era in the treatment of insane in the United States. Mr. Wines conducted the investigation into the condition and number of the defective, depend- ent and delinquent classes throughout the coun- try, his report constituting a separate volume under the "Tenth Census," and rendered a simi- lar service in connection with the eleventh census (1890). In 1887 he was elected Secretary of the National Prison Association, succeeding to the post formerly held by his father, Enoch Cobb Wines, D.D., LL.D. After the inauguration of Governor Tanner in 1897, he resumed his former position of Secretary of the Board of Public Charities, remaining until 1899, when he again tendered his resignation, having received the appointment to the position of Assistant Director

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of the Twelfth Census, which he now holds. He is the author of "Crime and Reformation" (1895); of a voluminous series of reports; also of numer- ous pamphlets and brochures, among which may be mentioned "The County Jail System; An Argument for its Abolition" (1878) ; "The Kanka- kee Hospital" (1882); "Provision for the Insane in the United States" (1885); "Conditional Liberation, or the Paroling of Prisoners" (1886), and "American Prisons in the Tenth Census" (1888).

WINES, Walter B., lawyer (brother of Freder- ick H. Wines), was born in Boston, Mass., Oct. 10, 1848, received his primary education at Willis- ton Academy, East Hampton, Mass., after which he entered Middlebury College, Vt., taking a classical course and graduating there. He after- wards became a student in the law department of Columbia College, N. Y., graduating in 1871, being admitted to the bar the same year and commencing practice in New York City. In 1879 he came to Springfield, Ill., and was, for a time, identified with the bar of that city. Later, he removed to Chicago, where he has been engaged in literary and journalistic work.

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, sitnated in the "northern tier,". bordering on the Wisconsin State line; was organized, under an act passed in 1836, from La Salle and Jo Daviess Counties, and has an area of 552 square miles. The county is drained by the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers. The surface is rolling prairie and the soil fertile. The geology is simple, the quaternary deposits being underlaid by the Galena blue and buff limestone, adapted for building purposes. All the cereals are raised in abundance, the chief product being corn. The Winnebago Indians (who gave name to the county) formerly lived on the west side of the Rock River, and the Potta- watomies on the east, but both tribes removed westward in 1835. (As to manufacturing inter- ests, see Rockford.) Population (1880), 30,505; (1890), 39,938.

WINNEBAGO WAR. The name given to an Indian disturbance which had its origin in 1827, during the administration of Gov. Ninian Edwards. The Indians had been quiet since the conclusion of the War of 1812, but a few isolated outrages were sufficient to start terrified "run- ners" in all directions. In the northern portion of the State, from Galena to Chicago (then Fort Dearborn) the alarm was intense. The meagre militia force of the State was summoned and volunteers were called for. Meanwhile, 600 United States Regular Infantry, under command

of Gen. Henry Atkinson, put in an appearance. Besides the infantry, Atkinson had at his disposal some 130 mounted sharpshooters. The origin of the disturbance was as follows: The Winne- bagoes attacked a band of Chippewas, who were (by treaty) under Government potection, several of the latter being killed. For participation in this offense, four Winnebago Indians were sum- marily apprehended, surrendered to the Chippe- was and shot. Meanwhile, some dispute had arisen as to the title of the lands, claimed by the Winnebagoes in the vicinity of Galena, which had been occupied by white miners. Repeated acts of hostility and of reprisal, along the Upper Mississippi, intensified mutual distrust. A gather- ing of the Indians around two keel-boats, laden with supplies for Fort Snelling, which had anchored near Prairie du Chien and opposite a Winnebago camp, was regarded by the whites as a hostile act. Liquor was freely distributed, and there is historical evidence that a half-dozen drunken squaws were carried off and shamefully maltreated. Several hundred warriors assembled to avenge the deception which had been practiced upon them. They laid in ambush for the boats on their return trip. The first passed too rapidly to be successfully assailed, but the second grounded and was savagely, yet unsuccessfully, attacked. The presence of General Atkinson's forces prevented an actual outbreak, and, on his demand, the great Winnebago Chief. Red Bird, with six other leading men of the tribe, sur- rendered themselves as hostages to save their nation from extermination. A majority of these were, after trial, acquitted. Red Bird, however, unable to endure confinement, literally pined to death in prison, dying on Feb. 16, 1828. He is described as having been a savage of superior intelligence and noble character. A treaty of peace was concluded with the Winnebagoes in a council held at Prairie du Chien, a few months later, but the affair seems to have produced as mnuch alarm among the Indians as it did among the whites. (For Winnebago Indians see page 576.)

WINNETKA, a village of Cook County, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, 161/2 miles north of Chicago. It stands eighty feet above the level of Lake Michigan, has good schools (being the seat of the Winnetka Institute), sev- eral churches, and is a popular residence town. Population (1880), 584; (1890), 1,079.

WINSTON, Frederick Hampton, lawyer, was born in Liberty County, Ga., Nov. 20, 1830, was brought to Woodford County, Ky., in 1835, left an orphan at 12, and attended the common

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schools until 18, when, returning to Georgia, he engaged in cotton manufacture. He finally began the study of law with United States Sena- tor W. C. Dawson, and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1852; spent some time in the office of W. M. Evarts in New York, was admitted to the bar and came to Chicago in 1853, where he formed a partnership with Norman B. Judd, afterwards being associated with Judge Henry W. Blodgett; served as general solicitor of the Lake Shore and Michigan Sonthern, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railways-remaining with the latter twenty years. In 1885 he was appointed, by President Cleveland, Minister to Persia, but resigned the following year, and traveled exten- sively in Russia, Scandinavia and other foreign countries. Mr. Winston was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1868, '76 and '84; first President of the Stock Yards at Jersey City, for twelve years President of the Lincoln Park Commission, and a Director of the Lincoln National Bank.

WISCONSIN CENTRAL LINES. The Wiscon- sin Central Company was organized, June 17, 1887, and subsequently acquired the Minnesota, St. Croix & Wisconsin, the Wisconsin & Minne- sota, the Chippewa Falls & Western, the St. Paul & St. Croix Falls, the Wisconsin Central, the Penokee, and the Packwaukee & Montebello Rail- roads, and assumed the leases of the Milwaukee & Lake Winnebago and the Wisconsin & Minne- sota Roads. On July 1, 1888, the company began to operate the entire Wisconsin Central system, with the exception of the Wisconsin Central Railroad and the leased Milwaukee & Lake Win- nebago, which remained in charge of the Wis- consin Central Railroad mortgage trustees nntil Nov. 1, 1889, when these, too, passed under the control of the Wisconsin Central Company. The Wisconsin Central Railroad Company is a re- organization (Oct. 1, 1879) of a company formed Jan. 1, 1871. The Wisconsin Central and the Wisconsin Central Railroad Companies, though differing in name, are a financial unit; the former holding most of the first mortgage bonds of the latter, and substantially all its notes, stocks and income bonds, but, for legal reasons (such as the protection of land titles), it is necessary that separate corporations be maintained. On April 1, 1890, the Wisconsin Central Company executed a lease to the Northern Pacific Railroad, but this was set aside by the courts, on Sept. 27, 1893, for non-payment of rent, and was finally canceled. On the same day receivers were appointed to

insure the protection of all interests. The total mileage is 415.46 miles, of which the Company owns 258.90-only .10 of a mile in Illinois. A line, 58.10 miles in length, with 8.44 miles of side-track (total, 66.54 miles), lying wholly within the State of Illinois, is operated by the Chicago & Wisconsin and furnishes the allied line an en- trance into Chicago.

WITHROW, Thomas F., lawyer, was born in Virginia in March, 1833, removed with his parents to Ohio in childhood, attended the Western Reserve College, and, after the death of his father, taught school and worked as a printer, later, editing a paper at Mount Vernon. In 1855 he removed to Janesville, Wis., where he again engaged in journalistic work, studied law, was admitted to the bar in Iowa in 1857, settled at Des Moines and served as private secretary of Governors Lowe and Kirkwood. In 1860 he became Supreme Court Reporter; served as Chairman of the Republican State Central Com- mittee in 1863 and, in 1866, became associated with the Rock Island Railroad in the capacity of local attorney, was made chief law officer of the Company in 1873, and removed to Chicago, and, in 1890, was promoted to the position of General Counsel. Died, in Chicago, Feb. 3, 1893.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 119

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