Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 72

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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MCCARTNEY, James, lawyer and ex-Attorney General, was born of Scotch parentage in the north of Ireland, Feb. 14, 1835; at two years of age was brought to the United States and, until 1845, resided in Pennsylvania, when his parents removed to Trumbull County, Ohio. Here he spent his youth in general farm work, meanwhile attending a high school and finally engaging in teaching. In 1856 he began the study of law at Warren, Ohio, which he continued a year later in the office of Harding & Reed, at Monmouth, Ill. ; was admitted to the bar in January, '1858, and

began practice at Monmouth, removing the fol- lowing year to Galva. In April, 1861, he enlisted in what afterwards became the Seventeenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, was commissioned a First Lieutenant, but, a year later, was com- pelled to resign on account of ill-health. A few months later he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois, being soon promoted to a captaincy, although serving much of the time as , Judge Advocate on courts-martial, and, for one year, as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General in the Army of the Ohio. At the conclusion of his term of service in the army, he resumed the practice of his profession at Fairfield, Ill .; in 1880 was nominated and elected, as a Republican, Attorney- General of the State, and, during his last year in office, began the celebrated "Lake Front suits" which finally terminated successfully for the' city of Chicago. Since retiring from office, Gen- eral McCartney has been engaged in the practice of his profession, chiefly in Springfield and Chi- cago, having been a resident of the latter city since 1890.

McCARTNEY, Robert Wilson, lawyer and jurist, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, March 19, 1843, spent a portion of his boyhood in Pennsylvania, afterwards returning to Youngs- town, Ohio, where lie enlisted as a private in the Sixth Ohio Cavalry. He was severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, lying two days and nights on the field and enduring untold suffering. As soon as able to take the field he was commis- sioned, by Governor Curtin, a Captain in the Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving in the army of the Potomac to the close of the war, and taking part in the grand review at Washing- ton in May, 1865. After the war he took a course in a business college at Pittsburg, removed to Cleveland and began the study of law, but soon came to Illinois, and, having completed his law studies with his brother, J. T. McCartney, at Metropolis, was admitted to the bar in 1868; also edited a Republican paper there, became inter- ested in lumber manufacture and was one of the founders of the First National Bank of that city. In 1873 he was elected County Jndge of Massac County, serving nine years, when (1882) he was elected Representative in the Thirty-third Gen- eral Assembly. At the close of his term in the Legislature he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court for the first Circuit, serving from 1885 to 1891. Died, Oct. 27, 1893. Judge McCartney was able, public-spirited and patriotic. The city of Metropolis owes to him the Free Public Library bearing his name.

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McCLAUGHRY, Robert Wilson, penologist. was born at Fountain Green, Hancock County, Ill., July 22, 1839, being descended from Scotch- Irish ancestry-his grandfather, who was a native of the North of Ireland, having come to America in his youth and served in the War of the Revolu- tion. The subject of this sketch grew up on a farm, attending school in the winter until 1854, then spent the next two winters at an academy, and, in 1856, began a course in Monmouth Col- lege, where he graduated in 1860. The following year he spent as instructor in Latin in the same institution, but, in 1861, became editor of "The Carthage Republican," a Democratic paper, which he made a strong advocate of the cause of the Union, meanwhile, both by his pen and on the stump, encouraging enlistments in the army. About the first of July, 1862, having disposed of his interest in the paper, he enlisted in a company of which he was unanimously chosen Captain, and which, with four other companies organized in the same section, became the nucleus of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteers. The regiment having heen completed at Camp Butler, he was elected Major, and going to the field in the following fall, took part in General Sherman's first movement against Vicksburg by way of Chickasaw Bayou, in December. 1862. Later, as a member of Osterhaus' Division of Gen- eral McClernand's corps, he participated with his regiment in the capture of Arkansas Post, and in the operations against Vicksburg which resulted in the capture of that stronghold, in July, 1863. Ile then joined the Department of the Gulf under command of General Banks, but was compelled by sickness to return north. Having sufficiently recovered, he spent a few months in the recruit- ing service (1864), but, in May of that year, was transferred, by order of President Lincoln, to the Pay Department, as Additional-Paymaster, with the rank of Major, being finally assigned to duty at Springfield, where he remained, paying off Illi- nois regiments as mustered out of the service, until Oct. 13, 1865, when he was honorably dis- charged. A few weeks later he was elected County Clerk of Hancock County, serving four years. In the meantime he engaged in the stone business, as head of the firm of R. W. McClanghry & Co., furnishing stone for the basement of the State Capitol at Springfield and for bridges across the Mississippi at Quincy and Keokuk-later being engaged in the same business at St. Gene- vieve, Mo., with headquarters at St. Louis. Com- pelled to retire by failing health, he took up his residence at Monmouth in 1873, hut, in 1874, was

called to the wardenship of the State Peniten- tiary at Joliet. Here he remained until December, 1888, when he resigned to accept the superin- tendency of the Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon, Pa., but, in May, 1891, accepted from Mayor Washburne the position of Chief of Police in Chicago, continuing in service, under Mayor Harrison, until August, 1893, when he became Superintendent of the Illinois State Reformatory at Pontiac. Early in 1897 he was again offered and accepted the position of Warden of the State Penitentiary at Joliet. Here he re- mained until 1899, when he received from Presi- dent Mckinley the appointment of Warden of the Military Prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., which position he now (1899) occupies. Major Me- Claughry's administration of penal and reforma- tory institutions has been eminently satisfactory, and he has taken rank as one of the most success- ful penologists in the country.

MCCLELLAN, Robert H., lawyer and banker, was born in Washington County, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1823; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, in 1847, and then studied law with Ilon. Martin I. Townsend, of Troy, being admitted to the bar in 1850. The same year he removed to Galena, IIL ; during his first winter there, edited "The Galena Gazette," and the following spring formed a partnership with John M. Douglas, afterwards General Solicitor and President of the Illinois Central Railroad, which ended with the removal of the latter to Chicago, when Mr Mcclellan succeeded him as local attorney of the road at Galena. In 1864 Mr. McClellan became President of the Bank of Galena-later the "National Bank of Galena"-remaining for over twenty years. He is also largely interested in local manufac- tories and financial institutions elewhere. He served as a Republican Representative in the Twenty-second General Assembly (1861-62), and as Senator (1876-80), and maintained a high rank as a sagacious and judicious legislator. Liberal, public-spirited and patriotic, his name has been prominently connected with all movements for the improvement of his locality and the advance- ment of the interests of the State.

McCLERNAND, John Alexander, a volunteer officer in the Civil War and prominent Demo- cratic politician, was born in Breckenridge County, Ky., May 30, 1812, brought to Shawnee- town in 1816, was admitted to the bar in 1832. and engaged in journalism for a time. He served in the Black Hawk War, and was elected to the Legislature in 1836, and again in 1840 and '42. The latter year he was elected to Congress. serv-

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ing four consecutive terms, but declining a renomination, being about to remove to Jackson- ville, where he resided from 1851 to 1856. Twice (1840 and '52) he was a Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket. In 1856 he removed to Springfield, and, in 1859, re-entered Congress as Representative of the Springfield District; was re-elected in 1860, but resigned in 1861 to accept a commission as Brigadier-General of Volunteers from President Lincoln, being promoted Major- General early in 1862. He participated in the battles of Belmont, Fort Donelson, Shiloh and before Vicksburg, and was in command at the capture of Arkansas Post, but was severely criti- cised for some of his acts during the Vicksburg campaign and relieved of his command by Gen- eral Grant. Having finally been restored by order of President Lincoln, he participated in the campaign in Louisiana and Texas, but resigned his commission in 1864. General McClernand presided over the Democratic National Conven- tion of 1876, and, in 1886, was appointed by Presi- dent Cleveland one of the members of the Utah Commission, serving through President Harri- son's administration. He was also elected Circuit Judge in 1870, as succ essor to Hon. B. S. Edwards, who had resigned.

McCLURG, Alexander C., soldier and pub- lisher, was born in Philadelphia but grew up in Pittsburg, where his father was an iron manu- facturer. He graduated at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio., and, after studying law for a time with Chief Justice Lowrie of Pennsylvania, came to Chicago in 1859, and entered the bookstore of S. C. Griggs & Co., as a junior clerk. Early in 1861 he enlisted as a private in the War of the Rebellion, but the quota of three-months' men being already full, his services were not accepted. In August, 1862, he became a member of the "Crosby Guards," afterwards incorporated in the Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry (Second Board of Trade Regiment), and was unanimously elected Captain of Company H. After the battle of Perryville, he was detailed as Judge Advocate at Nashville, and, in the following year, offered the position of Assistant Adjutant-General on the staff of General McCook, afterwards serving in a similar capacity on the staffs of Generals Thomas, Sheridan and Baird. He took part in the defense of Chattanooga and, at the battle of Missionary Ridge, had two horses shot under him; was also with the Fourteenth Army Corps in the Atlanta campaign, and, at the request of Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, was promoted to the rank of Colonel and brevetted Brigadier-General - later, being pre-

sented with a sword bearing the names of the principal battles in which he was engaged, besides being especially complimented in letters by Generals Sherman, Thomas, Baird, Mitchell, Davis and others. He was invited to enter the regular army at the close of the war, but pre- ferred to return to private life, and resumed his former position with S. C. Griggs & Co., soon after becoming a junior partner in the concern, of which he has since become the chief. In the various mutations through which this extensive firm has gone, General McClurg has been a lead- ing factor until now (and since 1887) he stands at the head of the most extensive publishing firm west of New York.

MeCONNEL, Murray, pioneer and lawyer, was born in Orange County, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1798, and educated in the common schools; left home at 14 years of age and, after a year at Louisville, spent several years flat-boating, trading and hunting in the West, during this period visiting Arkansas, Texas and Kansas, finally settling on a farm near Herculaneum, Mo. In 1823 he located in Scott (then a part of Morgan) County, Ill., but when the town of Jacksonville was laid out, became a citizen of that place. During the Black Hawk War (July and August, 1832), he served on the staff of Gen. J. D. Henry with the rank of Major; in 1837 was appointed by Governor Dun- can a member of the Board of Public Works for the First Judicial District, in this capacity having charge of the construction of the railroad between Meredosia and Springfield (then known as the Northern Cross Railroad)-the first public rail- road built in the State, and the only one con- structed during the "internal improvement" era following 1837. He also held a commission from Governor French as Major-General of State Mi- litia, and was appointed by President Buchanan Fifth Auditor of the Treasury Department, but resigned in 1858. In 1832, on his return from the Black Hawk War, he was elected a Repre- sentative in the State Legislature from Morgan County, and, in 1864, was elected to the State Senate for the District composed of Morgan, Menard, Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, serving until 1868. Though previously a Demo- crat and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1860, he was an earnest supporter of the war policy of the Government, and was one of four Democratic Senators, in the General Assembly of 1865, who voted for the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment of the National Constitution, prohibiting slavery in the United States. His death occurred by assassination, by

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some unknown person, in his office at Jackson- ville, Feb. 9, 1869 .- John Ludlumi (McConnel), son of the preceding, was born in Jacksonville, Ill., Nov. 11, 1826, studied law and graduated at Transylvania Law School; in 1846 enlisted as a private in the Mexican War, became First Lieu- tenant and was promoted Captain after the battle of Buena Vista, where he was twice wounded. After the war he returned to Jacksonville and wrote several books illustrative of Western life and character, which were published between 1850 and 1853. At the time of his death-Jan. 17, 1862-he was engaged in the preparation of a "History of Early Explorations in America, " hav- ing special reference to the labors of the early Roman Catholic missionaries.

McCONNELL, (Gen). John, soldier, was born in Madison County, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1824, and came with his parents to Illinois when about sixteen years of age. His father (James McConnell) was a native of Ireland, who came to the United States shortly before the War of 1812, and, after remaining in New York until 1840, came to San- gamon County, Ill., locating a few miles south of Springfield, where he engaged extensively in sheep-raising. He was an enterprising and pro- gressive agriculturist, and was one of the founders of the State Agricultural Society, being President of the Convention of 1852 which resulted in its organization. His death took place, Jan. 7, 1867. The subject of this sketch was engaged with his father and brothers in the farming aud stock business until 1861, when he raised a company for the Third Illinois Cavalry, of which he was elected Captain, was later promoted Major, serv- ing until March, 1863, during that time taking part in some of the important battles of the war in Southwest Missouri, including Pea Ridge, and was highly complimented by his commander, Gen. G. M. Dodge, for bravery. Some three months after leaving the Third Cavalry, he was commissioned by Governor Yates Colonel of the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, and, in March, 1865, was commissioned Brevet Brigadier-General, his com- mission being signed by President Lincoln on April 14, 1865, the morning preceding the night of his assassination. During the latter part of his service, General McConnell was on duty in Texas, being finally mustered out in October, 1865. After the death of his father, and until 1879, he continued in the business of sheep-raising and farming, being for a time the owner of several extensive farms in Sangamon County, but, in 1879, engaged in the insurance business in Springfield, where he died, March 14, 1898.

McCONNELL, Samuel P., son of the preceding, was born at Springfield, Ill., on July 5, 1849. After completing his literary studies he read law at Springfield in the office of Stuart, Edwards & Brown, and was admitted to the bar in 1872, soon after establishing himself in practice in Chicago. After various partnerships, in which he was asso- ciated with leading lawyers of Chicago, he was elected Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court, in 1889, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge W. K. McAllister, serving until 1894, when he resigned to give his attention to private prac- tice. Although one of the youngest Judges upon the bench, Judge McConnell was called upon, soon after his election, to preside at the trial of the conspirators in the celebrated Cronin murder case, in which he displayed great ability. He has also had charge, as presiding Judge, of a number of civil suits of great importance affecting cor- porations.

McCORMICK, Cyrus Hall, iuventor and manu- facturer, born in Rockbridge County, Va., Feb. 15, 1809. In youth he manifested unusual mechani- cal ingenuity, and early began attempts at the manufacture of some device for cutting grain, his first finished machine being produced in 1831. Though he had been manufacturing for years in a small way, it was not until 1844 that his first machine was shipped to the West, and, in 1847, he came to Chicago with a view to establishing its manufacture in the heart of the region where its use would be most in demand. One of his early partners in the business was William B. Ogden, afterwards so widely known in connection with Chicago's railroad history. The business grew on his hands until it became one of the largest manufacturing interests in the United States. Mr. McCormick was a Democrat, and, in 1860, he bought "The Chicago Times." and having united it with "The Herald," which he already owned, a few months later sold the consolidated concern to Wilbur F. Storey. "The Interior," the Northwestern mouthpiece of the Presbyterian faith, had been founded by a joint stock-company in 1870, but was burned out in 1871 and removed to Cincinnati. In January, 1872, it was returned to Chicago, and, at the beginning of the following year, it became the property of Mr. McCormick in conjunction with Dr. Gray, who has been its editor and manager ever since. Mr. McCormick's most liberal work was undoubtedly the endowment of the Presby- terian Theological Seminary in Chicago, which goes by his name. His death occurred, May 13, 1884, after a business life of almost unprece-

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dented success, and after conferring upon the agriculturists of the country a boon of inestimable value.

MCCORMICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, a Presbyteriau school of theology in Chicago, be- ing the outgrowth of an institution originally con- nected with Hanover College, Ind., in 1830. In 1859 the late Cyrus H. McCormick donated $100, - 000 to the school, and it was removed to Chicago, where it was opened in September, with a class of fifteen students. Since then nearly $300,000 have been contributed toward a building fund by Mr. McCormick and his heirs, besides numerous donations to the same end made by others. The number of buildings is nine, four being for the general purposes of the institution (including dormitories), and five being houses for the pro- fessors. The course of instruction covers three annual terms of seven months each, and includes didactic and polemic theology, biblical and ecclesiastical history, sacred rhetoric and pastoral theology, church government and the sacra- ments, New Testament literature and exegesis, apologetics and missions, and homiletics. The faculty consists of eight professors, one adjunct professor, and one instructor in elocution and vocal culture. Between 200 and 300 students are enrolled, including post-graduates.

McCULLOCH, David, lawyer and jurist. was born in Cumberland County, Pa., Jan. 25. 1832; received his academic education at Marshall Col- lege, Mercersburg, Pa., graduating in the class of 1852. Then, after spending some six months as a teacher in his native village, he came west, arriving at Peoria early in 1853. Here he con- ducted a private school for two years, when, in 1855, he began the study of law in the office of Manning & Merriman, being admitted to the bar ' received the nomination of his party on each occasion without opposition.

in 1857. Soon after entering upon his law studies he was elected School Commissioner for Peoria County, serving, by successive re-elections, three terms (1855-61). At the close of this period he was taken into partnership with his old precep- tor. Julins Manning, who died, July 4, 1862. In 1877 he was elected Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, under the law authorizing the increase of Judges in each circuit to three, and was re- elected in 1879, serving until 1885. Six years of this period were spent as a Justice of the Appellate Court for the Third Appellate District. On retiring from the bench, Judge McCulloch entered into partnership with his son, E. D. McCulloch, which is still maintained. Politically, Judge McCulloch was reared as a Democrat. bnt during the Civil War became a Republican. Since 1886

he has been identified with the Prohibition Party, although, as the result of questions arising during the Spanish-American War, giving a cordial support to the policy of President Mckinley. In religious views he is a Presbyterian, and is a mem- ber of the Board of Directors of the McCormick Theological Seminary at Chicago.

MCCULLOUGH, James Skiles, Auditor of Public Accounts, was born in Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pa., May 4, 1843; in 1854 came with his father to Urbana, Ill., and grew up on a farm in that vicinity, receiving such education as could be obtained in the public schools. In 1862, at the age of 19 years, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Seventy-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served during the next three years in the Departments of the Mississippi and the Gulf, meanwhile participating in the campaign against Vicksburg, and, near the close of the war, in the operations about Mobile. On the 9th of April, 1865, while taking part in the assault on Fort Blakely, near Mobile, his left arm was torn to pieces by a grape-shot, compelling its amputation near the shoulder. His final discharge occurred in July, 1865. Returning home he spent a year in school at Urbana, after which he was a student in the Soldiers' College at Fulton, Ill., for two years. He then (1868) entered the office of the County Clerk of Champaign County as a deputy, remain- ing until 1873, when he was chosen County Clerk, serving by successive re-elections until 1896. The latter year he received the nomination of the Republican Party for Auditor of Public Accounts, and, at the November election, was elected by a plurality of 138,000 votes over his Democratic opponent. He was serving his sixth term as County Clerk when chosen Auditor, having

McDANNOLD, John J., lawyer and ex-Con- gressman, was born in Brown County, Ill., August 29, 1851, acquired his early education in the com- mon schools of his native county and in a private school; graduated from the Law Department of the Iowa State University in 1874, and was admitted to the bar in Illinois the same year, commencing practice at Mount Sterling. In 1885 he was made Master in Chancery, in 1886, elected County Judge, and re-elected in 1890, resigning his seat in October, 1892, to accept an election by the Democrats of the Twelfth Illinois District as Representative in the Fifty-third Congress. After retiring from Congress (March 4, 1895), Mr. McDannold removed to Chicago, where he engaged in the practice of his profession.

11.

TELER ENGRAVING UFO VEMELVILLE

MCCORMICK SEMINARY, CHICAGO.

CHICAGO . UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

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MCDONOUGH COUNTY, organized under an act passed, Jan. 25, 1826, and attached, for judicial purposes, to Schuyler County until 1830. Its present area is 580 square miles-named in honor of Commodore McDonough. The first settlement in the county was at Industry, on the site of which William Carter (the pioneer of the county) built a cabin in 1826. James and John Vance and William Job settled in the vicinity in the following year. Out of this settlement grew Blandinsville. William Pennington located on Spring Creek in 1828, and, in 1831, James M. Campbell erected the first frame house on the site of the present city of Macomb. The first sermon, preached by a Protestant minister in the county, was delivered in the Job settlement by Rev. John Logan, a Baptist. Among the early officers were John Huston, County Treasurer; William Southward, Sheriff; Peter Hale, Coro- ner, and Jesse Bartlett, Surveyor. The first term of the Circuit Court was held in 1830, and presided over by Hon. Richard M. Young. The first railway to cross the county was the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (1857). Since then other lines have penetrated it, and there are numerous railroad centers and shipping points of consider- able importance. Population (1880), 25,037; (1890), 27,467.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 72

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