Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 33

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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known as Marshall Field & Co. The growth of the business of this great establishment is shown by the fact that, whereas its sales amounted before the fire to some $12,000,000 annually, in 1895 they aggregated $40,000,000. Mr. Field's business career has been remarkable for its suc- cess in a city famous for its successful business men and the vastness of their commercial oper- ations. He has been a generous and discrimi- nating patron of important public enterprises, some of his more conspicuous donations being the gift of a tract of land valued at $300,000 and 8100,000 in cash, to the Chicago University, and $1,000,000 to the endowment of the Field Column- bian Museum, as a sequel to the World's Colum- bian Exposition. The latter, chiefly through the munificence of Mr. Field, promises to become one of the leading institutions of its kind in the United States. Besides his mercantile interests, Mr. Field has extensive interests in various finan- cial and manufacturing enterprises, including the Pullman Palace Car Company and the Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, in each of which he is a Director.

FIFER, Joseph W., born at Stanton, Va., Oct. 28, 1840; in 1857 he accompanied his father (who was a stone-mason) to McLean County, Ill., and worked at the manufacture and laying of brick. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted as a private in the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, and was dangerously wounded at the assault on Jack- son, Miss., in 1863. On the healing of his wound, disregarding the advice of family and friends, he rejoined his regiment. At the close of the war, when about 25 years of age, he entered the Wes- leyan University at Bloomington, where, by dint of hard work and frugality, while supporting himself in part by manual labor, he secured a diploma in 1868. He at once began the study of law, and, soon after his admission, entered upon a practice which subsequently proved both success- ful and lucrative. He was elected Corporation Counsel of Bloomington in 1871 and State's Attor- ney for McLean County in 1872, holding the latter office, through re-election, until 1880, when he was chosen State Senator, serving in the Thirty- second and Thirty-third General Assemblies. In 1888 he was nominated and elected Governor on the Republican ticket, but, in 1892, was defeated by John P. Altgeld, the Democratic nominee, though running in advance of the national and the rest of the State ticket.

FINERTY, John F., ex-Congressman and journalist, was born in Galway, Ireland, Sept. 10, 1846. His studies were mainly prosecuted

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under private tutors. At the age of 16 he entered the profession of journalism, and, in 1864, coming to America, soon after enlisted, serving for 100 days during the Civil War, in the Ninety-ninth New York Volunteers. Subsequently, having removed to Chicago, he was connected with "The Chicago Times" as a special correspondent from 1876 to 1881, and, in 1882, established "The Citi- zen," a weekly newspaper devoted to the Irish- American interest, which he continues to pub- lish. In 1882 he was elected, as an Independ- ent Democrat, to represent the Second Illinois District in the Forty-eighth Congress, but, run- ning as an Independent Republican for re-election in 1884, was defeated by Frank Lawler, Democrat. In 1887 he was appointed Oil Inspector of Chi- cago, and, since 1889, has held no public office, giving his attention to editorial work on his paper.

FISHER, (Dr.) George, pioneer physician and legislator, was probably a native of Virginia, from which State he appears to have come to Kaskaskia previous to 1800. He became very prominent during the Territorial period; was appointed by William Henry Harrison, then Governor of Indiana Territory, the first Sheriff of Randolph County after its organization in 1801 ; was elected from that county to the Indiana Territorial House of Representatives in 1805, and afterwards promoted to the Territorial Council; was also Representative in the First and Third Legislatures of Illinois Territory (1812 and '16), serving as Speaker of each. He was a Dele- gate to the Constitutional Convention of 1818, but died on his farm near Kaskaskia in 1820. Dr. Fisher participated in the organization of the first Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Illi- nois at Kaskaskia, in 1806, and was elected one of its officers.

FISHERIES. The fisheries of Illinois center chiefly at Chicago, the catch being taken from Lake Michigan, and including salmon trout, white fish (the latter species including a lake herring), wall-eyed pike, three kinds of bass, three varieties of sucker, carp and sturgeon. The "fishing fleet" of Lake Michigan, properly so called, (according to the census of 1890) con- sisted of forty-seven steamers and one schooner, of which only one-a steamer of twenty-six tons burthen-was credited to Illinois. The same report showed a capital of $36,105 invested in land, buildings, wharves, vessels, boats and apparatus. In addition to the "fishing fleet" mentioned, nearly 1,100 sail-boats and other vari- eties of craft are employed in the industry,

sailing from ports between Chicago and Macki- nac, of which, in 1890, Illinois furnished 94, or about nine per cent. All sorts of apparatus are used, but the principal are gill, fyke and pound nets, and seines. The total value of these minor Illinois craft, with their equipment, for 1890, was nearly $18,000, the catch aggregating 722,830 pounds, valued at between $24,000 and $25,000 Of this draught, the entire quantity was either sold fresh in Chicago and adjacent markets, or shipped, either in ice or frozen. The Mississippi and its tributaries yield wall-eyed pike, pike perch, buffalo fish, sturgeon, paddle fish, and other species available for food.

FITHIAN, George W., ex-Congressman, was born on a farm near Willow Hill, Ill., July 4, 1854. His early education was obtained in the common schools, and he learned the trade of a printer at Mount Carmel. While employed at the case he found time to study law, and was admitted to the bar in 1875. In 1876 he was elected State's Attorney for Jasper County, and re-elected in 1880. He was prominent in Democratic politics, and, in 1888, was elected on the ticket of that party to represent the Sixteenth Illinois District in Congress. He was re-elected in 1890 and again in 1892, but, in 1894, was defeated by his Republican opponent.

FITHIAN, (Dr.) William, pioneer physician, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1800; built the first houses in Springfield and Urbana in that State; in 1822 began the study of medicine at Urbana: later practiced two years at Mechanics- burgh, and four years at Urbana, as partner of his preceptor; in 1830 came west, locating at Danville, Vermilion County, where he became a large land owner; in 1832 served with the Ver- milion County militia in the Black Hawk War, and, in 1834, was elected Representative in the Ninth General Assembly, the first of which Abraham Lincoln was a member; afterwards served two terms in the State Senate from the Danville District (1838-46). Dr. Fithian was active in promoting the railroad interests of Danville, giving the right of way for railroad purposes through a large body of land belonging to him, in Vermilion County. He was also a member of various medical associations, and, during his later years, was the oldest practicing physician in the State. Died, in Danville, III., April 5, 1890.

FLAGG, Gershom, pioneer, was born in Rich- mond, Vt., in 1792, came west in 1816, settling in Madison County, Ill., in 1818, where he was known as an enterprising farmer and a prominent

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and influential citizen. Originally a Whig, he became a zealous Republican on the organization of that party, dying in 1857 .- Willard Cutting (Flagg), son of the preceding, was born in Madi- son County, Ill., Sept 16, 1829, spent his early life on his father's farm and in the common schools; from 1844 to '50 was a pupil in the celebrated high school of Edward Wyman in St. Louis, finally graduating with honors at Yale College. in 1854. During his college course he took a number of literary prizes, and, in his senior year, served as one of the editors of "The Yale Literary Magazine." Returning to Illinois after gradu- ation, he took charge of his father's farm, engaged extensively in fruit-culture and stock-raising, being the first to introduce the Devon breed of cattle in Madison County in 1859. He was a member of the Republican State Central Com- mittee in 1860; in 1862, by appointment of Gov. Yates, became Enrolling Officer for Madison County ; served as Collector of Internal Revenue for the Twelfth District, 1864-69, and, in 1868, was elected to the State Senate for a term of four years, and, during the last session of his term (1872), took a prominent part in the revision of the school law: was appointed a member of the first Board of Trustees of the Industrial Univer- sity (now the University of Illinois) at Cham- paign, and reappointed in 1875. Mr. Flagg was also prominent in agricultural and horticultural organizations, serving as Secretary of the State Horticultural Society from 1861 to '69, when he became its President. He was one of the origi- nators of the "farmers' movement," served for some time as President of "The State Farmers' Association, " wrote voluminously, and delivered addresses in various States on agricultural and horticultural topies, and, in 1875, was elected President of the National Agricultural Congress. In his later years he was a recognized leader in the Granger movement. Died, at Mora, Madison County, Ill., April 5, 1878.

FLEMING, Robert K., pioneer printer, was born in Erie County, Pa., learned the printers' trade in Pittsburg, and, coming west while quite young, worked at his trade in St. Louis, finally removing to Kaskaskia, where he was placed in control of the office of "The Republican Advo- cate," which had been established in 1823, by Elias Kent Kane. The publication of "The Advocate" having been suspended, he revived it in May, 1825, under the name of "The Kaskaskia Recorder," but soon removed it to Vandalia (then the State capital), and, in 1827, began the publi- cation of "The Illinois Corrector, " at Edwards-

ville. Two years later he returned to Kaskaskia and resumed the publication of "The Recorder," but, in 1833, was indneed to remove his office to Belleville, where he commenced the publication of "The St. Clair Gazette," followed by "The St. Clair Mercury," both of which had a brief exist- ence. About 1843 he returned to the newspaper business as publisher of "The Belleville Advo- cate," which he continued for a number of years. He died, at Belleville, in 1874, leaving two sons who have been prominently identified with the history of journalism in Southern Illinois, at Belleville and elsewhere.

FLETCHER, Job, pioneer and early legislator, was born in Virginia, in 1793, removed to Sanga- mon County, Ill., in 1819; was elected Represent- ative in 1826, and, in 1834, to the State Senate, serving in the latter body six years. He was one of the famous "Long Nine" which represented Sangamon County in the Tenth General Assem- bly. Mr. Fletcher was again a member of the House in 1844-45. Died, in Sangamon County, in 1872.

FLORA, a city in Harter Township, Clay County, on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, 95 miles east of St. Louis, and 108 miles south-southeast of Springfield. It has a barrel factory, flouring mills, chair factories, a National bank, a savings bank, six churches and a weekly newspaper. Population (1880), 1,494; (1890), 1,695.

FLOWER, George, early English colonist, was born in Hertfordshire, England, about 1780; came to the United States in 1817, and was associ- ated with Morris Birkbeck in founding the "English Settlement" at Albion, Edwards County, Ill. Being in affluent circumstances, he built an elegant mansion and stocked an exten- sive farm with blooded animals from England and other parts of Europe, but met with reverses which dissipated his wealth. In common with Mr. Birkbeck, he was one of the determined opponents of the attempt to establish slavery in Illinois in 1824, and did much to defeat that measure. He and his wife died on the same day (Jan. 15, 1862), while on a visit to a daughter at Grayville, Ill. A book written by him-"History of the English Settlement in Edwards County, Ill."-and published in 1882, is a valuable contri- bution to the early history of that portion of the State .- Edward Fordhams (Flower), son of the preceding, was born in England, Jan. 31, 1805, but came with his father to Illinois in early life; later he returned to England and spent nearly half a century at Stratford-on-Avon, where he

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was four times chosen Mayor of that boroughi and entertained many visitors from the United States to Shakespeare's birthplace. Died, March 26,1883.

FOBES, Philena, educator, born in Onondaga County, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1811; was educated at Albany and at Cortland Seminary, Rochester, N. Y .; in 1838 became a teacher in Monticello Female Seminary, then newly established at Godfrey, Ill., under Rev. Theron Baldwin, Prin- cipal. On the retirement of Mr. Baldwin in 1843, Miss Fobes succeeded to the principalship, remaining until 1866, when she retired. For some years she resided at Rochester, N. Y., and New Haven, Conn., but, in 1886, she removed to Philadelphia, where she afterwards made her home, notwithstanding her advanced age, main- taining a lively interest in educational and benevolent enterprises. Miss Fobes died at Phila- delphia, Nov. 8, 1898, and was buried at New Haven, Conn.

FOLEY, Thomas, Roman Catholic Bishop, born in Baltimore, Md., in 1823; was ordained a priest in 1846, and, two years later, was appointed Chan- cellor of the Diocese, being made Vicar-General in 1867. He was nominated Coadjutor Bishop of the Chicago Diocese in 1869 (Bishop Duggan hav- ing become insane), and, in 1870, was consecrated Bishop. His administration of diocesan work was prudent and eminently successful. As a man and citizen he won the respect of all creeds and classes alike, the State Legislature adopting resolutions of respect and regret upon learning of his death, which occurred at Baltimore, in 1879.

FORBES, Stephen Van Rensselaer, pioneer teacher, was born at Windham, Vt., July 26, 1797; in his youth acquired a knowledge of surveying, and, having removed to Newburg (now South Cleveland), Ohio, began teaching. In 1829 he came west to Chicago, and having joined a sur- veying party, went to Louisiana, returning in the following year to Chicago, which then con- tained only three white families outside of Fort Dearborn. Having been joined by his wife, he took up his abode in what was called the "sut- ler's house" connected with Fort Dearborn; was appointed one of the first Justices of the Peace, and opened the first school ever taught in Chi- cago, all but three of his pupils being either half-breeds or Indians. In 1832 he was elected, as a Whig, the first Sheriff of Cook County; later preempted 160 acres of land where Riverside now stands, subsequently becoming owner of some 1,800 acres, much of which he sold, about

1853, to Dr. W. B. Egan at $20 per acre. In 1849, having been seized with the "gold fever," Mr. Forbes joined in the overland migration to California, but, not being successful, returned two years later by way of the Isthmus, and, hav- ing sold his possessions in Cook County, took up his abode at Newburg, Ohio, and resumed his occupation as a surveyor. About 1878 he again returned to Chicago, but survived only a short time, dying Feb. 17, 1879.

FORD, Thomas, early lawyer, jurist and Gov- ernor, was born in Uniontown, Pa., and, in boy- hood, accompanied his mother (then a widow) to Missouri, in 1804. The family soon after located in Monroe County, Ill. Largely through the efforts and aid of his half-brother, George Forquer, he obtained a professional education, became a successful lawyer, and, early in life, entered the field of politics. He served as a Judge of the Circuit Court for the northern part of the State from 1835 to 1837, and was again commissioned a Circuit Judge for the Galena circuit in 1839; in 1841 was elevated to the bench of the State Supreme Court, but resigned the following year to accept the nomination of his party (the Democratic) for Governor. He was regarded as upright in his general policy, but he had a number of embarrassing questions to deal with during his administration, one of these being the Mormon troubles, in which he failed to receive the support of his own party. He was author of a valuable "History of Illinois," (pub- lished posthumously). He died, at Peoria, in greatly reduced circumstances, Nov. 3, 1850. The State Legislature of 1895 took steps to erect a monument over his grave.

FORD COUNTY, lies northeast of Springfield, was organized in 1859, being cut off from Vermil- ion. It is shaped like an inverted "T," and has an area of 490 square miles; population (1890), 17,035. The first County Judge was David Pat- ton, and David Davis (afterwards of the United States Supreme Court) presided over the first Circuit Court. The surface of the county is level and the soil fertile, consisting of a loam from one to five feet in depth. There is little. timber, nor is there any out-cropping of stone. The county is named in honor of Governor Ford. The county- seat is Paxton, which had a population, in 1890, of 2,187. Gibson City is a railroad center, and has a population of 1,800.

FORMAN, (Col.) Ferris, lawyer and soldier, was born in Tioga County, N. Y., August 25, 1811; graduated at Union College in 1832, studied law and was admitted to the bar in New York in

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1835, and in the United States Supreme Court iu 1836; the latter year came west and settled at Vandalia, Ill., where he began practice; in 1844 was elected to the State Senate for the district composed of Fayette, Effingham, Clay and Rich- land Counties, serving two years; before the expiration of his term (1846) enlisted for the Mexican War, and was commissioned Colonel of the Third Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and, after participating in a number of the most important engagements of the campaign, was mustered out at New Orleans, in May, 1847. Re- turning from the Mexican War, he brought with him and presented to the State of Illinois a six-pound cannon, which had been captured by Illinois troops on the battlefield of Cerro Gordo, and is now in the State Arsenal at Springfield. In 1848 Colonel Forman was choseu Presidential Elector for the State-at-large on the Democratic ticket; in 1849 went to California, where he prac- ticed his profession until 1853, meanwhile serving as Postmaster of Sacramento City by appointment of President Pierce, and later as Secretary of State during the administration of Gov. John B. Weller (1858-60); in 1861 officiated, by appoint- ment of the California Legislature, as Commis- sioner on the part of the State in fixing the boundary between California and the Territory of Utah. After the discharge of this duty, he was offered the colonelcy of the Fourth California Volunteer Infantry, which he accepted, serving about twenty months, when he resigned. In 1866 he resumed his residence at Vandalia, and served as a Delegate for Fayette and Effingham Counties in the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, also for several years thereafter held the office of State's Attorney for Fayette County. Later he returned to California, and, at the latest date, was a resident of Stockton, in that State.

FORMAN, William S., ex-Congressman, was born at Natchez, Miss., Jan. 20, 1847. When he was four years old, his father's family removed to Illinois, settling in Washington County, where he has lived ever since. By profession he is a lawyer, and he takes a deep interest in politics, local, State and National. He represented his Senatorial District in the State Senate in the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth General Assem- blies, and, in 1888, was elected, as a Democrat, to represent the Eighteenth Illinois District in the Fifty-first Congress, being re-elected in 1890, and again in '92, but was defeated in 1894 for renomi- nation by John J. Higgins, who was defeated at the election of the same year by Everett J. Mur-

phy. In 1896 Mr. Forman was candidate of the "Gold Democracy" for Governor of Illinois, receiving 8,100 votes.

FORQUER, George, early State officer, was born near Brownsville, Pa., in 1794-was the son of a Revolutionary soldier, and older half-brother of Gov. Thomas Ford. He settled, with his mother (then a widow), at New Design, Ill., in 1804. After learning, and, for several years, following the carpenter's trade at St. Louis, he returned to Illinois and purchased the tract whereon Waterloo now stands. Subsequently he projected the town of Bridgewater, on the Mis- sissippi. For a time he was a partner in trade of Daniel P. Cook. Being unsuccessful in business, he took up the study of law, in which he attained marked success. In 1824 he was elected to repre- sent Monroe County in the House of Represent- atives, but resigned in January of the following year to accept the position of Secretary of State, to which he was appointed by Governor Coles, as successor to Morris Birkbeck, whom the Senate had refused to confirm. One ground for the friendship between him and Coles, no doubt, was the fact that they had been united in their opposition to the scheme to make Illinois a slave State. In 1828 he was a candidate for Congress, but was defeated by Joseph Duncan, afterwards Governor. At the close of the year he resigned the office of Secretary of State, but, a few weeks later (January, 1829), he was elected by the Legislature Attorney-General. This position he held until January, 1833, when he resigned, hav- ing, as it appears, at the previous election, been chosen State Senator from Sangamon County, serving in the Eighth and Ninth General Asseni- blies. Before the close of his term as Senator (1835), he received the appointment of Register of the Land Office at Springfield, which appears to have been the last office held by him, as he died, at Cincinnati, in 1837. Mr. Forquer was a man of recognized ability and influence, an elo- quent orator and capable writer, but, in common with some of the ablest lawyers of that time, seems to have been much embarrassed by the smallness of his income, in spite of his ability and the fact that he was almost continually in office.

FORREST, a village in Livingston County, at the intersection of the Toledo, Peoria & Western and the Wabash Railways, 75 miles east of Peoria and 16 miles southeast of Pontiac. Considerable grain is shipped from this point to the Chicago market. The village has several churches and a graded school. Population (1880), 375, (1890), 1,021.

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FORREST, Joseph K. C., journalist, was born in Cork, Ireland, Nov. 26, 1820; came to Chicago in 1840, soon after securing employment as a writer on "The Evening Journal," and, later on, "The Gem of the Prairies," the predecessor of "The Tribune," being associated with the latter at the date of its establishment, in June, 1847. During the early years of his residence in Chi- cago, Mr. Forrest spent some time as a teacher. On retiring from "The Tribune," he became the associate of John Wentworth in the management of "The Chicago Democrat," a relation which was broken up by the consolidation of the latter with "The Tribune," in 1861. He then became the Springfield correspondent of "The Tribune," also holding a position on the staff of Governor Yates, and still later represented "The St. Louis Democrat" and "Chicago Times, " as Washington correspondent ; assisted in founding "The Chicago Republican" (now "Inter Ocean"), in 1865, and, some years later, became a leading writer upon the same. He served one term as Clerk of the city of Chicago, but, in his later years, and up to the period of his death, was a leading contributor to the columns of "The Chicago Evening News" over the signatures of "An Old Timer" and "Now or Never." Died, in Chicago, June 23, 1896.

FORRESTON, a village in Ogle County, the terminus of the Chicago and Iowa branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and point of intersection of the Illinois Central and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railways; 120 miles west by north from Chicago, and 12 miles south of Freeport. It was founded in 1854, incor- porated by special charter in 1868, and, under the general law, in 1888. Farming and stock-raising are the principal industries in the vicinity, and a creamery is located here. The village has a bank, seven churches, a graded school, and a weekly newspaper. Population (1880), 1,108; (1890), 1,118.

FORSYTHE, Albert P., ex Congressman, was born at New Richmond, Ohio, May 24, 1830; received his early education in the common schools, and at Asbury University. He was reared upon a farm and followed farming as his life-work. During the War of the Rebellion he served in the Union army as Lieutenant. In politics he early became an ardent Nationalist, and was chosen President of the Illinois State Grange of the Patrons of Industry, in December, 1875, and again in January, 1878. In 1878 he was elected to Congress as a Nationalist, but, in 1880, though receiving the nominations of the com- bined Republican and Greenback parties, was defeated by Samuel W. Moulton, Democrat.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 33

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