Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 22

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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CODDING, Ichabod, clergyman and anti- slavery lecturer, was born at Bristol, N. Y., in 1811; at the age of 17 he was a popular temper- ance lecturer; while a student at Middlebury, Vt., began to lecture in opposition to slavery ; after leaving college served five years as agent and lecturer of the Anti-Slavery Society; was often exposed to mob violence, but always retain- ing his self-control, succeeded in escaping serious injury. In 1842 he entered the Congrega- tional ministry and held pastorates at Princeton, Lockport, Joliet and elsewhere; between 1854 and '58, lectured extensively through Illinois on the Kansas-Nebraska issue, and was a power in

the organization of the Republican party. Died at Baraboo, Wis., June 17, 1866.

CODY, Hiram Hitchcock, lawyer and Judge; born in Oneida County, N. Y., June 11, 1824; was partially educated at Hamilton College, and, in 1843, came with his father to Kendall County, Ill. In 1847, he removed to Naperville, where for six years he served as Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court. In 1851 he was admitted to the bar; in 1861, was elected County Judge with practical unanimity, served as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, and, in 1874, was elected Judge of the Twelfth Judi- cial Circuit. His residence (1896) was at Pasa- dena, Cal.

COLCHESTER, a town in McDonough County, on the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 53 miles northeast of Quincy, and 7 miles west-southwest of Macomb. Coal abounds in the surrounding region, more than 100,000 tons being mined annually, much of which is shipped from Colchester. The town also has manufac- tories of stoneware, brick (fire, paving and building) and drain-tile. It has a bank, three churches and two weekly newspapers. Popula- tion (1880), 1,067; (1890), 1,643.

COLES, Edward, the second Governor of the State of Illinois, born in Albemarle County, Va., Dec. 15, 1786, the son of a wealthy planter, who had been a Colonel in the Revolutionary War; was educated at Hampden-Sidney and William and Mary Colleges, but compelled to leave before graduation by an accident which interrupted his studies; in 1809, became the private secretary of President Madison, remaining six years, after which he made a trip to Russia as a special mes- senger by appointment of the President. He early manifested an interest in the emancipation of the slaves of Virginia. In 1815 he made his first tour through the Northwest Territory, going as far west as St. Louis, returning three years later and visiting Kaskaskia while the Constitu- tional Convention of 1818 was in session. In April of the following year he set out from his Virginia home, accompanied by his slaves, for Illinois, traveling by wagons to Brownsville, Pa., where, taking flat-boats, he descended the river with his goods and servants to a point below Louisville, where they disembarked, journeying overland to Edwardsville. While descending the Ohio, he informed his slaves that they were free, and, after arriving at their destination, gave to each head of a family 160 acres of land. This generous act was, in after years, made the ground for bitter persecution by his enemies. At

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Edwardsville he entered upon the duties of Register of the Land Office, to which he had been appointed by President Monroe. In 1822 he became the candidate for Governor of those opposed to removing the restriction in the State Constitution against the introduction of slavery, and, although a majority of the voters then favored the measure, he was elected by a small plurality over his highest competitor in conse- quence of a division of the opposition vote between three candidates. The Legislature chosen at the same time submitted to the people a proposition for a State Convention to revise the Constitution, which was rejected at the election of 1824 by a majority of 1,668 in a total vote of 11,612. While Governor Coles had the efficient aid in opposition to the measure of such men as Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, Congressman Daniel P. Cook, Morris Birkbeck, George Forquer, Hooper Warren, George Churchill and others, he was himself a most influential factor in protecting Illinois from the blight of slavery, contributing his salary for his entire term ($4,000) to that end. In 1825 it became his duty to welcome La Fay- ette to Illinois. Retiring from office in 1826, he continued to reside some years on his farm near Edwardsville, and, in 1830, was a candidate for Congress, but being a known opponent of Gen- eral Jackson, was defeated by Joseph Duncan. Previous to 1833, he removed to Philadelphia, where he married during the following year, and continued to reside there until his death, July 7, 1868, having lived to see the total extinction of slavery in the United States. (See Slavery and Slave Laws.)

COLES COUNTY, originally a part of Crawford County, but organized in 1831, and named in honor of Gov. Edward Coles .- lies central to the eastern portion of the State, and embraces 520 square miles, with a population (1890) of 30,093. The Kaskaskia River (sometimes called the Okaw) runs through the northwestern part of the county, but the principal stream is the Embarras (Embraw). The chief resource of the people is agriculture, although the county lies within the

limits of the Illinois coal-belt. To the north and west are prairies, while timber abounds in the southeast. The largest crop is of corn, although wheat, dairy products, potatoes, hay, tobacco, sorghum, wool, etc., are also important products. Broom-corn is extensively cultivated. Manufac- turing is carried on to a fair extent, the output embracing sawed lumber, carriages and wagons, agricultural implements, tobacco and snuff, boots and shoes, etc. Charleston, the county-seat, is

centrally located, and has a number of handsome public buildings, private residences and business blocks. It was laid out in 1831, and incorporated in 1865; in 1890, its population was 4,135. Mattoon is a railroad center, situated some 130 miles east of St. Louis. It has a population of 6,833, and is an important shipping point for grain and live-stock. Other principal towns are Ashmore, Oakland and Lerna.

COLFAX, a village of McLean County, on the Kankakee & Bloomington branch of.the Illinois Central Railroad, 23 miles northeast of Blooming- ton. Farming and stock-growing are the leading industries of the section. It has banks and two newspapers. Population (1890), 825.

COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, located at Chicago, and organized in 1881. Its first term opened in September, 1882, in a build- ing erected by the trustees at a cost of $60,000, with a faculty embracing twenty-five professors, with a sufficient corps of demonstrators, assist- ants, etc. The number of matriculates was 152. The institution ranks among the leading medical colleges of the West. Its standard of qualifica- tions, for both matriculates and graduates, is equal to those of other first-class medical schools throughout the country. The teaching faculty, of late years, has consisted of some twenty-five professors, who are aided by an adequate corps of assistants, demonstrators, etc.

COLLEGES, EARLY. The early Legislatures of Illinois manifested no little unfriendliness toward colleges. The first charters for institutions of this character were granted in 1833, and were for the incorporation of the "Union College of Illi- nois," in Randolph County, and the "Alton Col- lege of Illinois," at Upper Alton. The first named was to be under the care of the Scotch Covenanters, but was never founded. The second was in the interest of the Baptists, but the charter was not accepted. Both these acts contained jealous and unfriendly restrictions, notably one to the effect that no theological department should be established and no pro- fessor of theology employed as an instructor, nor should any religious test be applied in the selec- tion of trustees or the admission of pupils. The friends of higher education, however, made com- mon cause, and, in 1835, secured the passage of an "omnihus bill" incorporating four private colleges-the Alton; the Illinois, at Jacksonville; the McKendree, at Lebanon, and the Jonesboro. Similar restrictive provisions as to theological teaching were incorporated in these charters, and a limitation was placed upon the amount of

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property to be owned by any institution, but in many respects the law was more liberal than its predecessors of two years previous. Owing to the absence of suitable preparatory schools, these institutions were compelled to maintain prepara- tory departments under the tuition of the college professors. The college last named above (Jones- boro) was to have been founded by the Christian denomination, but was never organized. The three remaining ones stand, in the order of their formation, McKendree, Illinois, Alton (afterward Shurtleff); in the order of graduating initial classes - Illinois, McKendree, Shurtleff. Pre- paratory instruction began to be given in Illinois College in 1829, and a class was organized in the collegiate department in 1831. The Legislature of 1835 also incorporated the Jacksonville Female Academy, the first school for girls chartered in the State. From this time forward colleges and academies were incorporated in rapid succession, many of them at places whose names have long since disappeared from the map of the State. It was at this time that there developed a strong party in favor of founding what were termed, rather euphemistically, "Manual Labor Col- leges." It was believed that the time which a student might be able to "redeem" from study, could be so profitably employed at farm or shop- work as to enable him to earn his own livelihood. Acting upon this theory, the Legislature of 1835 granted charters to the "Franklin Manual Labor College," to be located in either Cook or La Salle County; to the "Burnt Prairie Manual Labor Seminary," in White County, and the "Chatham Manual Labor School," at Lick Prairie, Sanga- mon County. University powers were conferred upon the institution last named, and its charter also contained the somewhat extraordinary pro- vision that any sect might establish a professor- ship of theology therein. In 1837 six more colleges were incorporated, only one of which (Knox) was successfully organized. By 1840, better and broader views of education had developed, and the Legislature of 1841 repealed all prohibition of the establishing of theological departments, as well as the restrictions previously imposed upon the amount and value of property to be owned by private educational institutions. The whole number of colleges and seminaries incorporated under the State law (1896) is forty- three. (See also Illinois College, Knox College, Lake Forest University, McKendree College, Mon- mouth College, Jacksonville Female Seminary, Monticello Female Seminary, Northwestern Uni- versity, Shurtleff College.)

COLLIER, Robert Laird, clergyman, was born in Salisbury, Md., August 7, 1837; graduated at Boston University, 1858; soon after became an itinerant Methodist minister, but, in 1866, united with the Unitarian Church and officiated as pastor of churches in Chicago, Boston and Kan- sas City, besides supplying pulpits in various cities in England (1880-85). In 1885, he was appointed United States Consul at Leipsic, but later served as a special commissioner of the Johns Hopkins University in the collection of labor statistics in Europe, meanwhile gaining a wide reputation as a lecturer and magazine writer. His published works include: "Every- Day Subjects in Sunday Sermons" (1869) and "Meditations on the Essence of Christianity" (1876). Died near his birthplace, July 27, 1890.

COLLINS, Frederick, manufacturer, was born in Connecticut, Feb. 24, 1804. He was the young- est of five brothers who came with their parents from Litchfield, Conn , to Illinois, in 1822, and settled in the town of Unionville-now Collins- ville - in the southwestern part of Madison County. They were enterprising and public- spirited business men, who engaged, quite extensively for the time, in various branches of manufacture, including flour and whisky. This was an era of progress and development, and becoming convinced of the injurious character of the latter branch of their business, it was promptly abandoned. The subject of this sketch was later associated with his brother Michael in the pork-packing and grain business at Naples, the early Illinois River terminus of the Sangamon & Morgan (now Wabash) Railroad, but finally located at Quincy in 1851, where he was engaged in manufacturing business for many years. He was a man of high business probity and religious principle, as well as a determined opponent of the institution of slavery, as shown by the fact that he was once subjected by his neighbors to the intended indignity of being hung in effigy for the crime of assisting a fugitive female slave on the road to freedom. In a speech made in 1834, in commemoration of the act of emancipation in the West Indies, he gave utterance to the following prediction : "Methinks the time is not far distant when our own country will celebrate a day of emancipation within her own borders, and con- sistent songs of freedom shall indeed ring throughout the length and breadth of the land." He lived to see this prophecy fulfilled, dying at Quincy, in 1878. Mr. Collins was the candidate of the Liberty Men of Illinois for Lieutenant-Gov- ernor in 1849.

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COLLINS, James H., lawyer and jurist, was horn in Cambridge, Washington County, N. Y., but taken in early life to Vernon, Oneida County, where he grew to manhood. After spending a couple of years in an academy, at the age of 18 he began the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1824, and as a counsellor and solicitor in 1827, coming to Chicago in the fall of 1833, mak- ing a part of the journey by the first stage-coach from Detroit to the present Western metropolis. After arriving in Illinois, he spent some time in exploration of the surrounding country, but returning to Chicago in 1834, he entered into partnership with Judge John D. Caton, who had been his preceptor in New York, still later being a partner of Justin Butterfield under the firm name of Butterfield & Collins. He was con- sidered an eminent authority in law and gained an extensive practice, being regarded as espe- cially strong in chancery cases as well as an able pleader. Politically, he was an uncompromising anti-slavery man, and often aided runaway slaves in securing their liberty or defended others who did so. He was also one of the original promoters of the old Galena & Chicago Union Railroad and one of its first Board of Directors. Died, suddenly of cholera, while attending conrt at Ottawa, in 1854.

COLLINS, Loren C., jurist, was born at Wind- sor, Conn., August 1, 1848; at the age of 18 accompanied his family to Illinois, and was educated at the Northwestern University. He read law, was admitted to the bar, and soon built up a remunerative practice. He was elected to the Legislature in 1878, and through his ability as a debater and a parliamentarian, soon became one of the leaders of his party on the floor of the lower house. He was re-elected in 1880 and 1882, and, in 1883, was chosen Speaker of the Thirty-third General Assembly. In December, 1884, he was appointed a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Barnum, was elected to succeed himself in 1885, and re-elected in 1891, but resigned in 1894, since that time devoting his attention to regular practice in the city of Chicago.

COLLINS, William H., retired manufacturer, born at Collinsville, Ill., March 20, 1831; was educated in the common schools and at Illinois College, later taking a course in literature, philosophy and theology at Yale College; served as pastor of a Congregational church at La Salle several years; in 1858, became editor and propri- etor of "The Jacksonville Journal," which he

conducted some four years. The Civil War hav- ing begun, he then accepted the chaplaincy of the Tenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, but resigning in 1863, organized a company of the One Hundred and Fourth Volunteers, of whichi he was chosen Captain, participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Later he served on the staff of Gen. John M. Palmer and at Fourteenth Army Corps headquarters, until after the fall of Atlanta. Then resigning, in November, 1864, he was appointed by Secretary Stanton Provost- Marshal for the Twelfth District of Illinois, con- tinuing in this service until the close of 1865, when he engaged in the manufacturing business as head of the Collins Plow Company at Quincy. This business he conducted successfully some twenty-five years, when he retired. Mr. Collins has served as Alderman and Mayor, ad interim, of the city of Quincy; Representative in the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth General Assem- blies-during the latter being chosen to deliver the eulogy on Gen. John A. Logan; was a promi- nent candidate for the nomination for Lieutenant Governor in 1888, and the same year Republican candidate for Congress in the Quincy District; in 1894, was the Republican nominee for State Senator in Adams County, and, though a Repub- lican, has been twice elected Supervisor in a strongly Democratic city.

COLLINSVILLE, a city on the southern border of Madison County, 13 miles (by rail) east-north- east of St. Louis, and about 11 miles south of Edwardsville. The place was originally settled in 1817 by four brothers named Collins from Litchfield, Conn., who established a tan-yard and erected an ox-mill for grinding corn and wheat and sawing lumber, which was patronized by early settlers from a long distance. The town was platted by surviving members of this family in 1836. Coal-mining is a principal industry in the surrounding district, and one or two mines are operated within the corporate limits. The city has zinc works, as well as flour mills and brick and tile factories. It contains seven churches, two banks, a high school, and a news- paper office. Population (1880), 2,887; (1890), 3,498.

COLLYER, Robert, clergyman, was born at Keighly, Yorkshire, England, Dec. 8, 1823; left school at eight years of age to earn his living in a factory ; at fourteen was apprenticed to a black- smith and learned the trade of a hammer-maker. His only opportunity of acquiring an education during this period, apart from private study, was

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in a night-school, which he attended two winters. In 1849 he became a local Methodist preacher, came to the United States the next year, settling in Pennsylvania, where he pursued his trade, preaching on Sundays. His views on the atone- ment having gradually been changed towards Unitarianism, his license to preach was revoked by the conference, and, in 1859, he united with the Unitarian Church, having already won a wide reputation as an eloquent public speaker. Coming to Chicago, he began work as a mission- ary, and, in 1860, organized the Unity Church, beginning with seven members, though it has since become one of the strongest and most influ- ential churches in the city. In 1879 he accepted a call to a church in New York City, where he still remains. Of strong anti-slavery views and a zealous Unionist, he served during a part of the Civil War as a camp inspector for the Sanitary Commission. Since the war he has repeatedly visited England, and has exerted a wide influence as a lecturer and pulpit orator on both sides of the Atlantic. He is the author of a number of volumes, including "Nature and Life" (1866) ; "A Man in Earnest : Life of A. H. Conant" (1868); "A History of the Town and Parish of Ilkely" (1886), and "Lectures to Young Men and Women" (1886).

COLTON, Chauncey Sill, pioneer, was born at Springfield, Pa., Sept. 21, 1800; taken to Massachu- setts in childhood and educated at Monson in that State, afterwards residing for many years, dur- ing his manhood, at Monson, Maine. He came to Illinois in 1836, locating on the site of the present city of Galesburg, where he built the first store and dwelling house; continued in general mer- chandise some seventeen or eighteen years, mean- while associating his sons with him in business under the firm name of C. S. Colton & Sons. Mr. Colton was associated with the construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad from the beginning, becoming one of the Directors of the Company; was also a Director of the First National Bank of Galesburg, the first organizer and first President of the Farmers' and Mechan- ics' Bank of that city, and one of the Trustees of Knox College. Died in Galesburg, July 27, 1885. -Francis (Colton), son of the preceding; born at Monson, Maine, May 24, 1834, came to Gales- burg with his father's family in 1836, and was educated at Knox College, graduating in 1855, and receiving the degree of A.M. in 1858. After graduation, he was in partnership with his father some seven years, also served as Vice-President of the First National Bank of Galesburg, and, in

1866, was appointed by President Johnson United States Consul at Venice, remaining there until 1869. The latter year he became the General Passenger Agent of the Union Pacific Railroad, continuing in that position until 1871, meantime visiting China, Japan and India, and establishing agencies for the Union and Central Pacific Rail- ways in various countries of Europe. In 1872 he succeeded his father as President of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Galesburg, but retired in 1884, and the same year removed to Washington, D. C., where he has since resided. Mr. Colton is a large land owner in some of the Western States, especially Kansas and Nebraska.

COLUMBIA, a town in Monroe County, 15 miles by rail south of St. Louis, Mo., and 9 miles north of Waterloo. It has a machine shop, two flouring mills and two cigar factories, besides five churches and a public school. Population (1880), 1,308; (1890), 1,267.

COMPANY OF THE WEST, THE, a company formed in France, in August, 1717, to develop the resources of "New France," in which the "Illinois Country" was at that time included. At the head of the company was the celebrated John Law, and to him and his associates the French monarch granted extraordinary powers, both governmental and commercial. They were given the exclusive right to refine the precious metals, as well as a monopoly in the trade in tobacco and slaves. Later, the company became known as the Indies, or East Indies, Company, owing to the king having granted them conces- sions to trade with the East Indies and China. On Sept. 27, 1717, the Royal Council of France declared that the Illinois Country should form a part of the Province of Louisiana; and, under the shrewd management of Law and his associates, immigration soon increased, as many as 800 settlers arriving in a single year. The directors of the company, in the exercise of their govern- mental powers, appointed Pierre Duque de Bois- briant Governor of the Illinois District. He proceeded to Kaskaskia, and, within a few miles of that settlement, erected Fort Chartres. (See Fort Chartres. ) The policy of the Indies Company was energetic, and, in the main, wise. Grants of commons were made to various French villages, and Cahokia and Kaskaskia steadily grew in size and population. Permanent settlers were given grants of land and agriculture was encouraged. These grants (which were allodial in their char- acter) covered nearly all the lands in that part of the American Bottom, lying between the Missis- sippi and the Kaskaskia Rivers. Many grantees

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held their lands in one great common field, each proprietor contributing, pro rata, to the mainte- nance of a surrounding fence. In 1721 the Indies Company divided the Province of Louisiana into nine civil and military districts. That of Illinois was numerically the Seventh, and included not only the southern half of the existing State, but also an immense tract west of the Mississippi, extending to the Rocky Mountains, and embrac- ing the present States of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, besides portions of Arkansas and Colorado. The Commandant, with his secretary and the Company's Commissary, formed the District Council, the civil law being in force. In 1732, the Indies Company surrendered its charter, and thereafter, the Governors of Illinois were appointed directly by the French crown.

CONCORDIA SEMINARY, an institution lo- cated at Springfield, founded in 1879; the succes- sor of an earlier institution under the name of Illinois University. Theological, scientific and preparatory departments are maintained, al- though there is no classical course. The insti- tution is under control of the German Lutherans. The institution reports $125,000 worth of real property. The members of the Faculty (1898) are five in number, and there were about 171 students in attendance.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 22

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