Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 86

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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Presidents of the International Conference of Librarians, held in London in 1871. His advice was much sought in relation to library architec- ture and management. He wrote much on topics connected with his profession and on historical subjects, frequently contributing to "The North American Review." In 1874-75 he edited a liter- ary paper at Chicago, called "The Owl," and was later a constant contributor to "The Dial." He was President of the American Historical Society and member of State Historical Societies and of other kindred associations.

POPE, Nathaniel, first Territorial Secretary of Illinois, Delegate in Congress and jurist, was born at Louisville, Ky., in 1774; graduated with high honor from Transylvania University, at Lexing- · ton, Ky., read law with his brother, Senator John Pope, and, in 1804, emigrated to New Orleans, later living, for a time, at Ste. Genevieve, Mo. In 1808 he became a resident of Kaskaskia and, the next year, was appointed the first Territorial Secretary of Illinois. His native judgment was strong and profound and his intellect quick and far-reaching. while both were thoroughly trained and disciplined by study. In 1816 he was elected a Territorial Delegate to Congress, and proved himself, not only devoted to the interests of his constituents, but also a shrewd tactician. He was largely instrumental in securing the passage of the act authorizing the formation of a State government, and it was mainly through his efforts that the northern boundary of Illinois was fixed at lat. 42° 30' north, instead of the southern bend of Lake Michigan. Upon the admission of Illinois into the Union, he was made United States Judge of the District, which then embraced the entire State. This office he filled with dig- nity, impartiality and acceptability until his death, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lu- cretia Yeatman, in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 23, 1850. Pope County was named in his honor .- Gen. John (Pope), son of the preceding, was born in Louis- ville, Ky., March 16, 1822; graduated at the United States Military Academy, 1842, and appointed brevet Second Lieutenant of Topographical Engineers; served in Florida (1842-44), on the northeast boundary survey, and in the Mexican War (1846-47), being promoted First Lieutenant for bravery at Monterey and Captain at Buena Vista. In 1849 he conducted an exploring expe- dition in Minnesota, was in charge of topograph- ical engineering service in New Mexico (1851-53), and of the survey of a route for the Union Pacific Railway (1853-59), meanwhile experimenting on the feasibility of artesian wells on the "Staked

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Plains" in Northwestern Texas. He was a zeal- ous friend of Abraham Lincoln in the political campaign of 1860, and was court-martialed for criticising the policy of President Buchanan, in a paper read before a literary society in Cincinnati, the proceedings being finally dropped on the recommendation of the (then) Secretary of War, Joseph Holt. Iu 1861 he was one of the officers detailed by the War Department to conduct Mr. Lincoln to the capital, and, in May following, was made Brigadier-General of Volunteers and assigned to command in Missouri, where he per- formed valuable service in protecting railroad communications and driving out guerrillas, gain- ing an important victory over Sterling Price at Blackwater, in December of that year; in 1862 had command of the land forces co-operating with Admiral Foote, in the expedition against New Madrid and Island No. 10, resulting in the capture of that stronghold with 6,500 prisoners, 125 cannon and 7,000 small arms, thereby win- ning a Major-General's commission. Later, hav- ing participated in the operations against Corinth, he was transferred to command of the Army of Virginia, and soon after commissioned Briga- dier-General in the regular army. Here, being forced to meet a greatly superior force under General Lee, he was subjected to reverses which led to his falling back on Washington and a request to be relieved of his command. For fail- ure to give him proper support, Gen. Fitzjohn Porter was tried by court-martial, and, having been convicted, was cashiered and declared for- ever disqualified from holding any office of trust or profit under the United States Government- although this verdict was finally set aside and Porter restored to the army as Colonel, by act of Congress, in August, 1886. General Pope's sub- sequent service was performed chiefly against the Indians in the Northwest, until 1865, when he took command of the military division of Mis- souri, and, in June following, of the Department of the Missouri, including all the Northwestern States and Territories, from which he was relieved early in 1866. Later, he held command, under the Reconstruction Acts, in Georgia, Ala- bama and Florida (1867-68); the Department of the Lakes (1868-70) ; Department of the Missouri (1870- 84); and Department of the Pacific; from 1884 to his retirement, March 16, 1886. General Pope published "Explorations from the Red River to the Rio Grande" and "Campaigns in Virginia" (1863). Died, at Sandusky, Ohio, Sept 23, 1892.

POPE COUNTY, lies on the southern border of the State, and contains an area of about 360

square miles-named in honor of Judge Nathaniel Pope. It was erected in 1816 (two years before the admission of Illinois as a State) from parts of Gallatin and Johnson Counties. The county-seat was first located at Sandsville, but later changed to Golconda. Robert Lacy, Benoni Lee and Thomas Ferguson were the first Commissioners; Hamlet Ferguson was chosen Sheriff; John Scott, Recorder; Thomas C. Browne, Prosecuting-Attor- ney, and Samuel Omelveney, Treasurer. The highest land in Southern Illinois is in the north- eastern part of this county, reaching an elevation of 1,046 feet. The bluffs along the Ohio River are bold in outline, and the ridges are surmounted by a thick growth of timber, notably oak and hick- ory. Portions of the bottom lands are submerged, at times, during a part of the year and are covered with cypress timber. The remains of Indian mounds and fortifications are found, and some interesting relics have been exhumed. Sand- stone is quarried in abundance, and coal is found here and there. Mineral springs (with copperas as the chief ingredient) are numerous. Iron is found in limited quantities, among the rocks toward the south, while spar and kaolin clay are found in the north. The chief agricultural products are potatoes, corn and tobacco. Popu- lation (1880), 13,256; (1890), 14,016.

PORT BYRON, a village of Rock Island County, on the Mississippi River and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, 6 miles above Rock Island; has manufactures of lumber and lime, one or two banks and a newspaper. Popu- lation (1880), 799 ; (1890), 775. The (Illinois) Western Hospital for the Insane is located at Watertown, two miles above Port Byron.

PORTER, (Rev.) Jeremialı, pioneer clergy- man, was born at Hadley, Mass., in 1804; gradu- ated from Williams College in 1825, and studied theology at both Andover and Princeton semi- naries, graduating from the latter in 1831. The same year he made the (then) long and perilous journey to Fort Brady, a military post at the Sault Ste. Marie, where he began his work as a missionary. In 1833 he came to Chicago, where he remained for two years, organizing the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, with a member- ship of twenty-six persons. Afterwards he had pastoral charge of churches at Peoria and Farm- ington. While in Chicago he was married to Miss Eliza Chappell, one of the earliest teachers in Chicago. From 1840 to '58 he was located at Green Bay, Wis., accepting a call from a Chicago Church in the year last named. In 1861 he was commissioned Chaplain in the volunteer service

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by Governor Yates, and mustered out in 1865. The next five years were divided between labors at Brownsville, Tex., in the service of the Sani- tary Commission, and a pastorate at Prairie du Chien. In 1870 he was commissioned Chaplain in the regular army, remaining in the service (with occasional leaves of absence) until 1882, when he was retired from active service on account of advanced age. His closing years were spent at the homes of his children in Detroit and Beloit; died at the latter city, July 25, 1893, at the age of 89 years.

POSEY, (Gen.) Thomas, Continental and Revolutionary soldier, was born in Virginia, July 9, 1750; in 1774 took part in Lord Dunmore's expe- dition against the Indians, and, later, in various engagements of the Revolutionary War, heing part of the time under the immediate command of Washington; was with General Wayne in the assault on Stony Point and present at Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown; also served, after the war, with Wayne as a Brigadier-General in the North- west Territory. Removing to Kentucky, he served in the State Senate, for a time being presiding officer and acting Lieutenant-Governor; later (1812), was elected United States Senator from Louisiana, and, from 1813 to '16, served as Territorial Governor of Indiana. Died, at the home of his son-in-law, Joseph M. Street, at Shawneetown, Ill., March 18, 1818, where he lies buried. At the time of his death General Posey was serving as Indian Agent.

POST, Joel S., lawyer and soldier of the Mexi- can War; was born in Ontario (now Wayne) County, N. Y., April 27, 1816; in 1828 removed with his father to Washtenaw County, Mich., remaining there until 1839, when he came to Macon County, Ill. The following year, lie com- menced the study of law with Judge Charles Emmerson, of Decatur, and was admitted to the bar in 1841. In 1846 he enlisted in the Mexican War, and served as Quartermaster of the Fourth Regiment (Col. E. D. Baker's); in 1856 was elected to the State Senate, and, at the following session, was a leading supporter of the measures which resulted in the establishment of the State Nor- mal School at Bloomington. Capt. Post's later years were spent at Decatur, where he died, June 7, 1886.

POST, Philip Sidney, soldier and Congress- man, was born at Florida, Orange County, N. Y., March 19, 1833; at the age of 22 graduated from Union College, studied law at Poughkeepsie Law School, and, removing to Illinois, was admitted to the bar in 1856 At the outbreak of the Civil

War he enlisted, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteers. He was a gallant, fearless soldier, and was re- peatedly promoted for bravery and meritorious service, until he attained the rank of brevet Brigadier-General. He participated in many important battles and was severely wounded at Pea Ridge and Nashville. In 1865 he was in com- mand in Western Texas. After the close of the war he entered the diplomatic service, heing appointed Consul-General to Austria-Hungary in 1874, but resigned in 1879, and returned to his home in Galesburg. From 1882 to 1886 he was a member of the Republican State Central Com- mittee, and, during 1886, was Commander of the Department of Illinois, G. A. R. He was elected to Congress from the Tenth District on the Repub- lican ticket in 1886, serving continuously by re- election until his death, which occurred in Washington, Jan. 6, 1895.

POST, Truman Marcellus, D.D., clergyman, was born at Middlebury, Vt., June 3, 1810; gradu- ated at Middlebury College in 1829, was Principal of Castleton Academy for a year, and a tutor at Middlebury two years, meanwhile studying law. After a winter spent in Washington, listening to the orators of the time in Congress and before the Supreme Court, including Clay, Webster, Wirt and their contemporaries, he went west in 1833, first visiting St. Louis, but finally settling at Jacksonville, Ill., where he was admitted to the bar, but soon after accepted the Professorship of Classical Languages in Illinois College, and later that of History; then began the study of theology, was ordained in 1840, and assumed the pastorship of the Congregational Church in Jack- sonville. In 1847 he was called to the pastorate of the Third Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, and, in 1851, to the First Congregational Church, of which the former furnished the nucleus. For a year or two after removing to St. Louis, he continued his lectures on history at Illinois Col- lege for a short period each year; also held the professorship of Ancient and Modern History in Washington University, in St. Louis; in 1873-75 was Southworth lecturer on Congregationalism in Andover Theological Seminary and, for sev- eral years, Professor of Ecclesiastical History in Chicago Theological Seminary. His splendid diction and his noble style of oratory caused him to be much sought after as a public lecturer or platform speaker at college commencements, while his purity of life and refinement of charac- ter attracted to him all with whom he came in personal contact. He received the degree of

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D.D. from Middlebury College in 1855; was a fre- quent contributor to "The Biblical Repository" and other religious publications, and, besides numerous addresses, sermons and pamphlets, he was the author of a volume entitled "The Skep- tical Era in Modern History" (New York, 1856). He resigned his pastorate in January, 1882, but continued to be a frequent speaker, either in the pulpit or on the lecture platform, nearly to the period of his death, which occurred in St. Louis, Dec. 31, 1886. For a quarter of a century he was one of the Trustees of Monticello Female Semi- nary, at Godfrey, Ill., being, for a considerable portion of the time, President of the Board.

POTTAWATOMIES, THE, an Indian tribe, one of the three subdivisions of the Ojibwas (or Ojibbeways), who, in turn, constituted a numer- ous family of the Algonquins. The other branches were the Ottawa and the Chippewas. The latter, however, retained the family name, and hence some writers have regarded the "Ojib- beways" and the "Chippewas" as essentially identical. This interchanging of names has been a prolific source of error. Inherently, the dis- tinction was analogous to that existing between genus and species, although a confusion of nomenclature has naturally resulted in errors more or less serious. These three tribes early separated, the Pottawatomies going south from Green Bay along the western shore of Lake Michigan. The meaning of the name is, "we are making a fire," and the word is a translation into the Pottawatomie language of the name first given to the tribe by the Miamis. These Indians were tall, fierce and haughty, and the tribe was divided into four branches, or clans, called by names which signify, respectively, the golden carp, the tortoise, the crab and the frog. Accord- ing to the "Jesuit Relations," the Pottawatomnies were first met by the French, on the north of Lake Huron, in 1639-40. More than a quarter of a century later (1666) Father Allouez speaks of them as dwellers on the shores of Lake Michigan. The same Father described them as idolatrous and polygamous, yet as possessing a rude civility and as being kindly disposed toward the French. This friendship continued unbroken until the expulsion of the latter from the Northwest. About 1678 they spread southward from Green Bay to the head of Lake Michigan, a portion of the tribe settling in Illinois as far south as the Kankakee and Illinois Rivers, crowding the Winnebagoes and the Sacs and Foxes on the west, and advancing, on the east, into the country of the Miamis as far as the Wabash and the

Maumee. They fought on the side of the French in the French and Indian War, and later took part in the conspiracy of Pontiac to capture and reduce the British posts, and were so influenced by Tecumseh and the Prophet that a considerable number of their warri- ors fought against General Harrison at Tippe- canoe. During the War of 1812 they actively supported the British. They were also prominent at the Chicago massacre. Schoolcraft says of them, "They were foremost at all treaties where lands were to be ceded, clamoring for the lion's share of all presents and annuities, particularly where these last were the price paid for the sale of other lands than their own." The Pottawato- mies were parties to the treaties at Chicago in 1832 and 1833, and were among the last of the tribes to remove beyond the Mississippi, their final emigration not taking place until 1838. In 1846 the scattered fragments of this tribe coalesced with those of the Chippewas and Ottawas, and formed the Pottawatomie nation. They ceded all their lands, wherever located, to the United States, for $850,000, agreeing to accept 576,000 acres in Kansas in lieu of $87,000 of this amount. Through the rapacity and trespasses of white settlers, this reservation was soon dismembered, and the lands passed into other hands. In 1867, under an ena- bling act of Congress, 1,400 of the nation (then estimated at 2,500) became citizens. Their pres- ent location is in the southeastern part of Okla- . homa.

POWELL, John Wesley, Ph.D., LL.D., geolo- gist and anthropologist, was born at Mount Morris N. Y., March 24, 1834, the son of a Methodist itinerant preacher, passing his early life at vari- ous places in Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois ; studied for a time in Illinois College (Jacksonville), and subsequently in Wheaton College, but, in 1854, began a special course at Oberlin, Ohio, teaching at intervals in public schools. Having a predi- lection for the natural sciences, he spent much time in making collections, which he placed in various Illinois institutions. Entering the army in 1861 as a private of the Twentieth Illinois Volunteers, he later became a Captain of the Second Illinois Artillery, being finally promoted Major. He lost his right arm at the battle of Shiloh, but returned to his regiment as soon as sufficiently recovered, and continued in active service to the close of the war. In 1865 he became Professor of Geology and Curator of the Museum in Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, but resigned to accept a similar position in the State Normal University. In 1867 he began his

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greatest work in connection with science by leading a class of pupils to the mountains of Colorado for the study of geology, which he fol- lowed, a year later, by a more thorough survey of the canon of the Colorado River than had ever before been attempted. This led to provision by Congress, in 1870, for a topographical and geo- logical survey of the Colorado and its tributaries, which was appropriately placed under his direc- tion. Later, he was placed in charge of the Bureau of Ethnology in connection with the Smithsonian Institute, and, again in 1881, was assigned to the directorship of the United States Geological Survey, later becoming Director of the Bureau of Ethnology, in connection with the Smithsonian Institute in Washington City, where (1899) he still remains. In 1886 Major Powell received the degree of Ph. D. from Heidel- berg University, and that of LL.D. from Har- vard the same year. He is also a member of the leading scientific associations of the country, while his reports and addresses fill numerous volumes issued by the Government.

POWELL, William Henry, soldier and manu- facturer, was born in South Wales, May 10, 1825; came to America in 1830, was educated in the common schools of Tennessee, and (1856-61) was manager of a manufacturing company at Iron- ton, Ohio; in 1861, became Captain of a West Virginia cavalry company, and was advanced through the grades of Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel; was wounded while leading a charge at Wytheville, Va., left on the field, captured and confined in Libby Prison six months. After ex- change he led a cavalry division in the Army of the Shenandoah; was made Brigadier-General in October, 1864; after the war settled in West Vir- ginia, and was a Republican Presidential Elector in 1868. He is now at the head of a nail mill and foundry in Belleville, and was Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic for the Department of Illinois during 1895-96.

PRAIRIE CITY, a village in McDonough County, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 25 miles south by west from Galesburg and 17 miles northeast of Macomb. It has a carriage factory and a large nursery ; also lias a bank, five churches and two weekly papers. Pop- ulation (1880), 944; (1890), 812.

PRAIRIE DU PONT, (in Englishı, Bridge Prairie), an early French settlement, one mile south of Cahokia. It was commenced about 1760, located on the hanks of a creek, on which was the first mill, operated by water-power, in that section, having been erected by missionaries

from St. Sulpice, in 1754. In 1765 the village contained fourteen families. In 1844 it was inundated and nearly destroyed.

PRAIRIE du ROCHER, (in English, Prairie of the Rock), an early French village in what is now Monroe County, which began to spring up near Fort Chartres (see Fort Chartres), and by 1722 had grown to be a considerable settlement. It stood at the foot of the Mississippi bluffs, about four miles northeast of the fort. Like other French villages in Illinois, it had its church and priest, its common field and commons. Many of the houses were picturesque cottages built of limestone. The ancient village is now extinct; yet, near the outlet of a creek which runs through the bluff, may be seen the vestiges of a water mill, said to have been erected by the Jesuits during the days of French occupation.

PRENTICE, William S., Methodist Episcopal clergyman, was born in St. Clair County, Ill., in 1819; licensed as a Methodist preacher in 1849, and filled pastorates at Paris, Danville, Carlin- ville, Springfield, Jacksonville and other places- the latter part of his life, serving as Presiding Elder; was a delegate to the General Conference of 1860, and regularly re-elected from 1872 to the end of his life. During the latter part of his life his home was in Springfield. Died, June 28, 1887.

PRENTISS, Benjamin Mayberry, soldier, was born at Belleville, Wood County, Va., Nov. 23, 1819; in 1835 accompanied his parents to Mis- souri, and, in 1841, removed to Quincy, Ill., where he learned a trade, afterwards embarking in the commission business. In 1844-45 he was Lieuten- ant of a company sent against the Mormons at Nauvoo, later serving as Captain of Volunteers in the Mexican War. In 1860 he was an unsuccess- ful Republican candidate for Congress; at the outbreak of the Civil War tendered his services to Governor Yates, and was commissioned Colonel of the Tenth Illinois Volunteers, was almost immediately promoted to Brigadier-General and placed in command at Cairo, so continning until relieved by General Grant, in September, 1861. At the battle of Shiloh, in April following, he was captured with most of his command, after a most vigorous fight with a superior rebel force, but, in 1862, was exchanged and brevetted Major- General of Volunteers. He was a member of the court-martial that tried Gen. Fitzjohn Porter, and, as commander at Helena, Ark., defeated the Confederate Generals Holmes and Price on July 3, 1863. He resigned his commission, Oct. 28, 1863. In 1869 he was appointed by President Grant Pension Agent at Quincy, serving four

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years. At present (1898) General Prentiss' resi- dence is at Bethany, Mo., where he served as Postmaster, during the administration of Presi- dent Benjamin Harrison, and was reappointed by President Mckinley.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS. (See Elections.) PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL, located at Chi- cago, was organized in 1883 hy a number of wealthy and liberal Presbyterians, "for the pur- pose of affording medical and surgical aid to sick and disabled persons, and to provide them, while inmates of the hospital, with the ministrations of the gospel, agreeably to the doctrines and forms of the Presbyterian Church." Rush Med- ical College offered a portion of its ground as a site (see Rush Medical College), and through generous subscriptions, a well-planned building was erected, capable of accommodating about 250 patients. A corridor connects the college and hospital buildings. The medical staff comprises eighteen of Chicago's best known physicians and surgeons.

PRESBYTERIANS, THE. The first Presby- terian society in Illinois was organized by Rev. James McGready, of Kentucky, in 1816, at Sharon, White County. Revs. Samuel J. Mills and Daniel Smith, also Presbyterians, had visited the State in 1814, as representatives of the Massa- chusetts Missionary Society, but had formed no society. The members of the Sharon church were almost all immigrants from the South, and were largely of Scotch-Irish extraction. Two other churches were established in 1819-one at Shoal Creek, Bond County, and the other at Edwardsville. In 1825 there were but three Presbyterian ministers in Illinois-Revs. Stephen Bliss, John Brich and B. F. Spilman. Ten years later there were 80 churches, with a membership of 2,500 and 60 ministers. In 1880 the number of churches had increased to 487; but, in 1890, (as shown by the United States census) there were less. In the latter year there were 405 ministers and 52,945 members. The Synod of Illinois is the highest ecclesiastical court of the denomination in the State, and, under its jurisdiction, the church maintains two seminaries: one (the Mc- Cormick) at Chicago, and the other (the Black- burn University) at Carlinville. The organ of the denomination is "The Interior," founded by Cyrus H. McCormick, and published weekly at Chicago, with William C. Gray as editor. The Illinois Synod embraced within its jurisdiction (1895) eleven Presbyteries, to which were attached 483 churches, 464 ministers and a membership of 63,247. (See also Religious Denominations.)

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 86

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