Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 47

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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HITT, Robert Roberts, Congressman, was born at Urbana, Olio, Jan. 16, 1834. When he was three years old his parents removed to Illinois, settling in Ogle County. His education was acquired at Rock River Seminary (now Mount Morris College), and at De Pauw University, Ind. In 1858 Mr. Hitt was one of the reporters who reported the celebrated debate of that year between Lincoln and Douglas. From December, 1874, until March, '81, he was connected with the United States embassy at Paris, serving as First Secretary of Legation and Chargé d'affaires ad

interim. He was Assistant Secretary of State in 1881, but resigned the post in 1882, having been elected to Congress from the Sixth Illinois Dis- triet to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of R. M. A. Hawk. By eight successive re-elec- tions he has represented the District continuously since, his career being conspicuous for long serv- ice. In that time he has taken an important part in the deliberations of the House, serving as Chairman of many important committees, not- ahly that on Foreign Affairs, of which he has been Chairman for several terms, and for which his diplomatic experience well qualifies him. In 1898 he was appointed by President Mckinley a member of the Committee to visit Hawaii and report upon a form of government for that por- tion of the newly acquired national domain. Mr. Hitt was strongly supported as a candidate for the United States Senate in 1895, and favorably considered for the position of Minister to Eng- land after the retirement of Secretary Day in 1898.

HOBART, Horace R., was born in Wisconsin in 1839; graduated at Beloit College and, after a brief experience in newspaper work, enlisted, in 1861, in the First Wisconsin Cavalry and was assigned to duty as Battalion Quartermaster. Being wounded at Helena, Ark., he was com- pelled to resign, but afterwards served as Deputy Provost Marshal of the Second Wisconsin Dis- trict. In 1866 he re-entered newspaper work as reporter on "The Chicago Tribune," and later was associated, as city editor, with "The Chicago Evening Post" and "Evening Mail"; later was editor of "The Jacksonville Daily Journal" and "The Chicago Morning Courier," also being, for some years from 1869, Western Manager of the American Press Association. In 1876, Mr. Hobart became one of the editors of "The Railway Age" (Chicago), with which he remained until the close of the year 1898, when he retired to give his attention to real-estate matters.

HOFFMAN, Francis A., Lieutenant-Governor (1861-65), was born at Herford, Prussia, in 1822, and emigrated to America in 1839, reaching Chica- go the same year. There he became a boot-black in a leading hotel, but within a month was teaching a small German school at Dunkley's Grove (now Addison), Du Page County, and later officiating as a Lutheran minister. In 1847 he represented that county in the River and Harbor Convention at Chicago. In 1852 he removed to Chicago, and, the following year, entered the City Council. Later, he embarked in the real-estate business, and, in 1854, opened a banking house, but was

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forced to assign in 1861. He early became a recognized anti-slavery leader and a contributor to the German press, and, in 1856, was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor on the first Republican State ticket with William H. Bissell, but was found ineligible by reason of his short residence in the United States, and withdrew, giving place to John Wood of Quincy. In 1860 he was again nominated, and having in the meantime become eligible, was elected. In 1864 he was a Repub- lican candidate for Presidential Elector, and assisted in Mr. Lincoln's second election. He was at one time Foreign Land Commissioner for the Illinois Central Railroad, and acted as Consul at Chicago for several German States. For a number of years past Mr. Hoffman has been editor of an agricultural paper in Southern Wisconsin.

HOGAN, John, clergyman and early politician, was born in the city of Mallow, County of Cork, Ireland, Jan. 2, 1805; brought in childhood to Baltimore, Md., and having been left an orphan at eight years of age, learned the trade of a shoe- maker. In 1826 he became an itinerant Metho- dist preacher, and, coming west the same year, preached at various points in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. In 1830 he was married to Miss Mary Mitchell West, of Belleville, Ill., and soon after, having retired from the itinerancy, engaged in mercantile business at Edwardsville and Alton. In 1836 he was elected Representative in the Tenth General Assembly from Madison County, two years later was appointed a Commissioner of Public Works and, being re-elected in 1840, was made President of the Board; in 1841 was ap- pointed by President Harrison Register of the Land Office at Dixon, where he remained until 1845. During the anti-slavery excitement which attended the assassination of Elijah P. Lovejoy in 1837, he was a resident of Alton and was re- garded by the friends of Lovejoy as favoring the pro-slavery faction. After retiring from the Land Office at Dixon, he removed to St. Louis, where he engaged in the wholesale grocery busi- ness. In his early political life he was a Whig, but later co-operated with the Democratic party ; in 1857 he was appointed by President Buchanan Postmaster of the city of St. Louis, serving until the accession of Lincoln in 1861; in 1864 was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-ninth Con- gress, serving two years. He was also a delegate to the National Union (Democratic) Convention at Philadelphia in 1866. After his retirement from the Methodist itinerancy he continued to officiate as a "local" preacher and was esteemed

a speaker of unusual eloquence and ability. His death occurred, Feb. 5, 1892. He is author of sev- eral volumes, including "The Resources of Mis- souri," "Commerce and Manufactures of St. Louis," and a "History of Methodism."

HOGE, Joseph P., Congressman, was born in Ohio early in the century and came to Galena, Ill., in 1836, where he attained prominence as a lawyer. In 1842 he was elected Representative in Congress, as claimed at the time by the aid of the Mormon vote at Nauvoo, serving one term. In 1853 he went to San Francisco, Cal., and be- came a Judge in that State, dying a few years since at the age of over 80 years. He is repre- sented to have heen a man of much ability and a graceful and eloquent orator. Mr. Hoge was a son-in-law of Thomas C. Browne, one of the Jus- tices of the first Supreme Court of Illinois who held office until 1848.

HOLLISTER, (Dr.) John Hamilton, physi- cian, was born at Riga, N. Y., in 1824; was brought to Romeo, Mich., by his parents in in- fancy, but his father having died, at the age of 17 went to Rochester, N. Y., to be educated, finally graduating in medicine at Berkshire College, Mass., in 1847, and beginning practice at Otisco, Mich. Two years later lie removed to Grand Rapids and, in 1855, to Chicago, where he held, for a time, the position of demonstrator of anat- omy in Rush Medical College, and, in 1856, be- came one of the founders of the Chicago Medical College, in which he has held various chairs. He also served as Surgeon of Mercy Hospital and was, for twenty years, Clinical Professor in the same institution; was President of the State Medical Society, and, for twenty years, its Treas- urer. Other positions held by him have been those of Trustee of the American Medical Associ- ation and editor of its journal, President of the Young Men's Christian Association and of the Chicago Congregational Club. He bas also been prominent in Sunday School and church work in connection with the Armour Mission, with which he has been associated for many years.

HOME FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS, (FE- MALE). The establishment of this institution was authorized by act of June 22, 1893, which appropriated $75,000 towards its erection and maintenance, not more than $15,000 to be ex- pended for a site. (See also State Guardians for Girls.) It is designed to receive girls between the ages of 10 and 16 committed thereto by any court of record upon conviction of a misdemeanor, the term of commitment not to be less than one year, or to exceed minority. Justices of the

HOME FOR JUVENILE FEMALE OFFENDERS, GENEVA.

MANZ CHICAGO

Main Building.

Custodial Building.

Asylum Band.

ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE MINDED CHILDREN, LINCOLN.

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Peace, however, may send girls for a term not less than three months. The act of incorporation provides for a commutation of sentence to be earned by good conduct aud a prolongation of the sentence by bad behavior. The Trustees are empowered, in their discretion, either to appren- tice the girls or to adopt them out during their minority. Temporary quarters were furnished for the Home during the first two years of its existence in Chicago, but permanent buildings for the institution have been erected on the banks of Fox River, near Geneva, in Kane County.

HOMER, a town in Champaign County, on the Wabash Railway, 20 miles west-southwest from Danville and about 18 miles east-southeast from Champaign. It supports a flouring mill and a carriage factory; also has a bank, several churches, a seminary and two weekly papers. The region is chiefly agricultural. Population (1880), 924; (1890), 917.

HOMESTEAD LAWS. In general such laws have been defined to be "legislation enacted to secure, to some extent, the enjoyment of a home and shelter for a family or individual by exempt- ing, under certain conditions, the residence occu- pied by the family or individual, from liability to be sold for the payment of the debts of its owner, and by restricting his rights of free alienation." In Illinois, this exemption extends to the farm and dwelling thereon of every householder hav- ing a family, and occupied as a residence, whether owned or possessed under a lease, to the value of $1,000. The exemption continues after death, for the benefit of decedent's wife or hus- band occupying the homestead, and also of the children, if any, until the youngest attain the age of 21 years. Husband and wife must join in releasing the exemption, but the property is always liable for improvements thereon .- In 1862 Congress passed an act known as the "Homestead Law" for the protection of the rights of settlers on public lands under certain restrictions as to active occupancy, under which most of that class of lands since taken for settlement bave been purchased.

HOMEWOOD, a village of Cook County, on the Illinois Central Railway, 23 miles south of Chi- cago. Population, 500.

HOOLEY, Richard M., theatrical manager, was born in Ireland, April 13, 1822; at the age of 18 entered the theater as a musician and, four years later, came to America, soon after forming an association with E. P. Christy, the originator of negro minstrelsy entertainments which went under his name. In 1848 Mr. Hooley conducted

a company of minstrels through the principal towns of England, Scotland and Ireland, and to some of the chief cities on the continent; re- turned to America five years later, and subse- quently managed houses in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and New York, finally locating in Chicago in 1869, where he remained the rest of his life,-his theater becoming one of the most widely known and popular in the city. Died, Sept. 8, 1893.

HOOPESTON, a prosperous city in Vermilion County, at the intersection of the Chicago, Dan- ville & Vincennes Railroad, and the Bloomington Division of the Wabash Railway, 104 miles south of Chicago. It has grain elevators, brick and tile works, carriage and machine shops, and a can- ning factory, besides banks and one daily and two weekly newspapers. There are also a number of churches, a high school and a business college. Population (1880), 1,272; (1890), 1,911.

HOPKINS, Albert J., Congressman, was born in De Kalb County, III., August 15, 1846. After graduating from Hillsdale College, Mich., in 1870, he studied law and began practice at Aurora. He rapidly attained prominence at the bar, and, in 1872, was elected State's Attorney for Kane County, serving in that capacity for four years. He is an ardent Republican and high in the party's councils, having been Chairman of the State Central Committee from 1878 to 1880, and a Presidential Elector on the Blaine & Logan ticket in 1884. The same year he was elected to the Forty-ninth Congress from the Fifth District (now the Eighth) and has been continuously re- elected ever since, receiving a clear majority in 1898 of more than 18,000 votes over two competi- tors. At present (1898) he is Chairman of the Select House Committee on Census and a member of the Committees on Ways and Means, and Mer- chant Marine and Fisheries. In 1896 he was strongly supported for the Republican nomina- tion for Governor.

HOUGHTON, Horace Hocking, pioneer printer and journalist, was born at Springfield, Vt., Oct. 26, 1806, spent his youth on a farm, and at eight- een began learning the printer's trade in the office of "The Woodstock Overseer"; on arriving at his majority became a journeyman printer and, in 1828, went to New York, spending some time in the employment of the Harper Brothers. After a brief season spent in Boston, he took charge of "The Statesman" at Castleton, Vt., but, in 1834, again went to New York, taking with him a device for throwing the printed sheet off the press, which was afterwards adopted on the

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Adams and Hoe printing presses. His next move was to Marietta, Ohio, in 1834, thence by way of Cincinnati and Louisville to St. Louis, working for a time in the office of the old "St. Louis Republican." He soon after went to Galena and engaged in lead-mining, but later became associated with Sylvester M. Bartlett in the management of "The Northwestern Gazette and Galena Advertiser," finally becoming sole proprietor. In 1842 he sold out the paper, but resumed his connection with it the following year, remaining until 1863, when he finally sold out. He afterwards spent some time on the Pacific slope, was for a time American Consul to the Sandwich Islands, but finally returned to Galena and, during the later years of his life, was Postmaster there, dying April 30, 1879.

HOVEY, Charles Edward, educator, soldier and lawyer, was born in Orange County, Vt., April 26, 1827; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1852, and became successively Principal of high schools at Farmington, Mass., and Peoria, Ill. Later, he assisted in organizing the Illinois State Normal School at Normal, of which he was President from 1857 to 1861-being also President of the State Teachers' Association (1856), mnem- ber of the State Board of Education, and, for some years, editor of "The Illinois Teacher." In Au- gust, 1861, he assisted in organizing, and was com- missioned Colonel of, the Thirty-third Illinois Volunteers, known as the "Normal" or "School- Masters' Regiment," from the fact that it was composed largely of teachers and young men from the State colleges. In 1862 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General and, a few months later. to brevet Major-General for gallant and meritorious conduct. Leaving the military service in May, 1863, he engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D. C. Died, in Washing- ton, Nov. 17, 1897.

HOWLAND, George, educator and author, was born (of Pilgrim ancestry) at Conway, Mass., July 30, 1824. After graduating from Amherst College in 1850, he devoted two years to teaching in the public schools, and three years to a tutor- ship in his Alma Mater, giving instruction in Latin, Greek and French. He began the study of law, but, after a year's reading, he abandoned it, removing to Chicago, where he became Assist- ant Principal of the city's one high school, in 1858. He became its Principal in 1860, and, in 1880, was elected Superintendent of Chicago City Schools This position he filled until August, 1891, when he resigned. He also served as Trus- tee of Amherst College for several years, and as a

member of the Illinois State Board of Education, being President of that body in 1883. As an author he was of some note; his work being chiefly on educational lines. He published a translation of the Æneid adapted to the use of schools, besides translations of some of Horace's Odes and portions of the Iliad and Odyssey. He was also the author of an English grammar. Died, in Chicago, Oct. 21, 1892.

HOYNE, Philip A., lawyer and United States Commissioner, was born in New York City, Nov. 20, 1824; came to Chicago in 1841, and, after spending eleven years alternately in Galena and Chicago, finally located permanently in Chicago, in 1852; in 1853 was elected Clerk of the Record- er's Court of Chicago, retaining the position five years; was admitted to the bar in March, 1856, and appointed United States Commissioner the same year, remaining in office until his death, Nov. 3, 1894. Mr. Hoyne was an officer of the Chicago Pioneers and one of the founders of the Union League Club.

HUBBARD, Gurdon Saltonstall, pioneer and Indian trader, was born at Windsor, Vt., August 22, 1802. His early youth was passed in Canada, chiefly in the employ of the American Fur Com- pany. In 1818 he first visited Fort Dearborn, and for nine years traveled back and forth in the interest of his employers. In 1827, having em- barked in business on his own account, he estab- lished several trading posts in Illinois, becoming a resident of Chicago in 1832. From this time forward he became identified with the history and development of the State. He served with distinction during the Black Hawk and Winne- bago Wars, was enterprising and public-spirited, and did much to promote the early development of Chicago. He was elected to the Legislature from Vermilion County in 1832, and, in 1835, was appointed by Governor Duncan one of the Commissioners of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Died, at Chicago, Sept. 14, 1886. From the time he became a citizen of Chicago, for fifty years, no man was more active or public-spirited in promoting its commercial development and general prosperity. He was identified with almost every branch of business upon which its growth as a commercial city depended, from that of an early Indian trader to that of a real-estate operator, being manager of one of the largest pack- ing houses of his time, as well as promoter of early railroad enterprises. A zealous Republican, he was one of the most earnest supporters of Abraham Lincoln in the campaign of 1860, was prominently identified with every local measure

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for the maintenance of the Union cause, and, for a year, held a commission as Captain in the Eighty-eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteers. known as the "Second Board of Trade Regiment."

HUGHITT, Marvin, Railway President, was born, August, 1837, and, in 1856, began his rail- road experience on the Chicago & Alton Railway as Superintendent of Telegraph and Train-de- spatcher. In 1862 he entered the service of the Illinois Central Company in a similar capacity, still later occupying the positions of Assistant Superintendent and General Superintendent, re- maining in the latter from 1865 to 1870, when he resigned to become Assistant General Manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. In 1872 he became associated with the Chicago & North- western Railroad, in connection with which he has held the positions of Superintendent, General Manager, Second Vice-President and President --- the last of which (1899) he still occupies.

HULETT, Alta M., lawyer, was born near Rockford, Ill., June 4, 1854; early learned teleg- raphy and became a successful operator, but sub- sequently engaged in teaching and the study of law. In 1872, having passed the required exami- nation, she applied for admission to the bar, but was rejected on account of sex. She then, in conjunction with Mrs. Bradwell and others, interested herself in securing the passage of an act by the Legislature giving women the right that had been denied her, which having been accomplished, she went to Chicago, was admitted to the bar and began practice. Died, in Cali- fornia, March 27, 1877.

HUNT, Daniel D., legislator, was born in Wyoming County, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1835, came to De Kalb County, Ill., in 1857, and has since been engaged in hotel, mercantile and farming busi- ness. He was elected as a Republican Represent- ative in the Thirty-fifth General Assembly in 1886, and re-elected in 1888. Two years later he was elected to the State Senate, re-elected in 1894, and again in 1898-giving him a continuous service in one or the other branch of the General Assembly of sixteen years. During the session of 1895, Senator Hunt was especially active in the legislation which resulted in the location of the Northern Illinois Normal Institute at De Kalb.

HUNT, George, lawyer, and ex-Attorney-Gen- eral, was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1841; having lost both parents in childhood, came, with an uncle, to Edgar County, Ill., in 1855. In July, 1861, at the age of 20, he enlisted in the Twelfth Illinois Infantry, re-enlisting as a veteran

in 1864, and rising from the ranks to a captaincy. After the close of the war, he studied law, was admitted to the bar, and, locating at Paris, Edgar County, soon acquired a large practice. He was elected State Senator on the Republican ticket in 1876, and again in 1880. In 1884 he received the Republican nomination for Attorney-General, and was renominated in 1888, being elected both times and serving eight years. Among the im- portant questions with which General Hunt had to deal during his two terms were the celebrated "anarchist cases" of 1887 and of 1890-92. In the former the condemned Chicago anarchists applied through their counsel to the Supreme Court of the United States, for a writ of error to the Su- preme Court of Illinois to compel the latter to grant them a new trial, which was refused. The case, on the part of the State, was conducted by General Hunt, while Gen. B. F. Butler of Massa- chusetts, John Randolph Tucker of Virginia, Roger A. Pryor of New York, and Messrs. W. P. Black and Solomon of Chicago appeared for the plaintiffs. Again, in 1890, Fielden and Schwab, who had been condemned to life imprisonment, attempted to secure their release-the former by an application similar to that of 1887, and the latter by appeal from a decision of Judge Gresham of the United States Circuit Court refusing a writ of habeas corpus. The final hearing of these cases was had before the Supreme Court of the United States in January, 1892, General Butler again appearing as leading counsel for the plaintiffs-but with the same result as in 1887. General Hunt's management of these cases won for him much deserved commendation both at home and abroad.

HUNTER, Andrew J., was born in Greencastle, Ind., Dec. 17, 1831, and removed in infancy by his parents, to Edgar County, this State. His early education was received in the common schools and at Edgar Academy. He commenced his business life as a civil engineer, but, after three years spent in that profession, began the study of law and was admitted to the bar. He has since been actively engaged in practice at Paris, Edgar County. From 1864 to 1868 he repre- sented that county in the State Senate, and, in 1870, led the Democratic forlorn hope in the Fif- teenth Congressional District against General Jesse H. Moore, and rendered a like service to his party in 1882, when Joseph G. Cannon was his Republican antagonist. In 1886 he was elected Judge of the Edgar County Court, and, in 1890, was re-elected, but resigned this office in 1892, having been elected Congressman for the State-

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at-large on the Democratic ticket. He was a can- didate for Congress from the Nineteenth District again in 1896, and was again elected, receiving a majority of 1,200 over Hon. Benson Wood, his Republican opponent and immediate predecessor.

HUNTER, (Gen.) David, soldier, was born in Washington, D. C., July 21, 1802; graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1822, and assigned to the Fifth Infantry with the rank of Second Lieutenant, becoming First Lieutenant in 1828 and Captain of Dragoons in 1833. During this period he twice crossed the plains to the Rocky Mountains, but, in 1836, resigned his com- mission and engaged in business in Chicago, Re-entering the service as Paymaster in 1842, he was Chief Paymaster of General Wool's command in the Mexican War, and was afterwards stationed at New Orleans, Washington, Detroit, St. Louis and on the frontier. He was a personal friend of President Lincoln, whom he accompanied when the latter set out for Washington in February, 1861, but was disabled at Buffalo, having his collar-bone dislocated by the crowd. He was appointed Colonel of the Sixth United States Cavalry, May 14, 1861, three days later commis- sioned Brigadier-General and, in August, made Major-General. In the Manassas campaign he commanded the main column of McDowell's army and was severely wounded at Bull Run; served under Fremont in Missouri and succeeded him in command in November, 1861, remaining until March, 1862. Being transferred to the Department of the South in May following, he issued an order declaring the persons held as slaves in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina free, which order was revoked by President Lin- coln ten days later. On account of the steps taken by him for the organization of colored troops, Jefferson Davis issued an order declaring him, in case of capture, subject to execution as a felon. In May, 1864, he was placed in com- mand of the Department of the West, and, in 1865, served on various courts-martial, being President of the commission that tried Mr. Lin- coln's assassins; was brevetted Major-General in March, 1865, retired from active service July, 1866, and died in Washington, Feb. 2, 1886. Gen- eral Hunter married a daughter of John Kinzie, the first permanent citizen of Chicago.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 47

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