History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 5

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois > Part 5

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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

Mormons, by burying kegs of powder in the ground, with a man stationed at a distance to pull a string communicat- ing with the trigger of a percussion lock affixed to the keg. This kind of a con- trivance was ealled by the Mormons "hell's half acre." When the posse arrived in the city, the leaders of it elected themselves into a tribunal to de- eide who should be foreed away and who remain. Parties were dispatched to hunt for fire-arms and for Mormons, and to bring them to judgment. When brought, they received their doom from the mouth of Broekman, who remained a grim and unawed tyrant for the time. As a general rule, the Mormons were ordered to leave within an hour or two, and by rare grace some of them were allowed until next day, and in a few cases longer tinie was granted.

MEXICAN WAR.

In 1846, when the war with Mexico commenced, Illinois sent her quota of six regiments to the tented field. More men were offered, but only the six regi- ments could be accepted. These six shed imperishable honors, not only upon the state, but upon the American Union, Veterans never fought more nobly and effectively than did the vol- unteers from Illinois. At the battle of Buena Vista, by the coolness and bravery of the second regiment, under Colonel Bissell, the day was saved. The conflict began early on the morning of February 22d, 1847, and was continued until nightfall of the next day. The solid columns of the enemy were hurled against our advaneing forees all day long, but were met and held in check by the unerring fire of our musketry

and artillery. A portion of General Lane's division was driven back by the enemy, who appeared in such formid- able numbers as to be almost irresistible. At this time the Second Illinois under Colonel Bissell, with a squadron of cavalry and a few pieces of artillery, came handsomely into action, and gal- lantly received the concentrated fire of the enemy, which they returned with deliberate aim and terrible effect. Every discharge of the artillery seemed to tear a bloody path through the columns of the enemy. Says a writer: "The rapid musketry of the gallant troops from Illinois poured a storm of lead into their serried ranks, which literally strewed the ground with the dead and dying." But, notwithstanding his losses, the enemy still advaneed until our gallant regiment received fire from three sides. Still they maintained their position for a time with unflinching firmness against that immense host. At length, perceiving the danger of be- ing entirely surrounded, it was deter- mined to fall back to a ravine. Colonel Bissell, with the coolness of ordinary drill, ordered the signal "eease firing" to be made; he then, with the same de- liberation, gave the command, "face to the rear, battalion about face; forward march!" which was executed with the regularity of veterans to a point beyond the peril of being outflanked. Again, in obedience to command, these brave men halted, faced about, and under a murderous tempest of bullets from the foe, resumed their well directed fire. The conduct of no troops could have been more admirable, and, too, until that day they had never been under fire, when within less than half an

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

hour, eighty of their comrades dropped by their sides.

From Colton's "History of the Battle of Buena Vista," the following extraet is taken: "As the enemy on our left was moving in retreat along the head of the plateau, our artillery was advanced un- til within range, and opened a heavy fire upon him, while Colonels Hardin, Bissell and McKee, with their Illinois and Kentucky troops, dashed gallantly forward in hot pursuit. A powerful reserve of the Mexican army was just then emerging from the ravine, where it had been organized, and advanced on the plateau, opposite the head of the southernmost gorge. Those who were giving way rallied quickly upon it, when the whole force, thus inereased to over 12,000 men, came forward in a per- feet blaze of fire. It was a single col- umn, composed of the best soldiers of the republic, having for its advaneed battalions the veteran regiments. The Kentucky and Illinois troops were soon obliged to give ground before it, and seek the shelter of the second gorge. Over half the column was suddenly enveloped in it, while the other half pressed on across the plateau, having for the moment nothing to resist them except the three guns in their front. The portion that was immediately op- posed to the Kentucky and Illinois troops, ran down along each side of the gorge, in which they had sought shel- ter, and also cireled around its head, leaving no possible way of escape for them except by its mouth, which opened upon the road. Its sides, which were steep,-at least an angle of forty-five degrees,-were covered with loose pebbles and stones, and converged

to a point at the bottom. Down there were our poor fellows, nearly three regiments of them (First and Second Illinois, and Second Kentucky), with but little opportunity to load or fire a gun, being hardly able to keep their feet. Above, the whole edge of the gorge, all the way around, was darkened by the serried masses of the enemy, and was bristling with muskets directed on the crowd beneath. It was no time to pause. Those who were not imme- diately shot down rushed on toward the road, their number growing less and less as they went, Kentuckians and Illinoisans, officers and men, all mixed up in confusion, and all pressing on over the loose pebbles and rolling stones of those shelving, precipitous banks, and having lines and lines of the enemy firing down from each side and rear as they went.

Just then the enemy's cavalry, which had gone to the left of the reserve, had come over the spur that divides the mouth of the second gorge from that of the third, and were now elosing up the only door through which there was the least shadow of a chance for their lives. Many of those ahead endeavored to foree their way out, but few succeeded. The lancers were fully six to one, and their long weapons were already roek- ing with blood. It was at this time that those who were still baek in that dreadful gorge heard the roar of Wash- ington's battery. No music eould have been more grateful to their ears. A moment only, and the whole opening, where the lancers were busy, rang with the repeated explosions of spherical case shot. They gave way. The gate, as it were, was elear, and out upon the

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

road a stream of our poor fellows is- sued. They ran panting down toward the battery, and directly under the flight of iron then passing over their heads, into the retreating cavalry. Hardin, Clay, McKee, Willis, Zabriskie, Hough- ton, but why go on? It would be a sad task indeed to name over all who fell during this twenty minutes slaughter. The whole gorge, from the plateau to its mouth, was strewn with our dead. All dead! No wounded there-not a man; for the infantry had rushed down the sides, and completed the work with the bayonet.

After a hard fight, at night both ar- mies laid down upon their arms, in much the same position as in the morn- ing. However, early the following morning, the glad tidings were heard amidst our army that the enemy had retreated, thus again crowning the American banners with victory.

In addition to Colonel Bissell, other names that shine as stars in this war are Shields, Baker, Harris, Hardin, Coffee-all from Illinois. Such, indeed, were the intrepid valor and daring courage exhibited by Illinois volun- teers during the Mexican war, that their deeds should live in the memory of their countrymen while time shall last.

THIE WAR FOR THE UNION.

In the war for the Union, no state can show a more glorious record than that of Illinois. Sumter was fired upon April 12, 1861. Two days after- ward, President Lincoln issued his first call for volunteers-75,000 in num- ber. On the 15th, Governor Yates issued his proclamation, convening the legislature and ordering the enlistment

of six regiments, the quota assigned the state. The call was no sooner made than filled. Patriotism filled every heart. The farm; the workshop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, every vocation in life offered its best men. 'On assembling, the legislature authorized the raising of ten additional regiments, anticipating another call. At the close of 1861, Illinois had sent to the field nearly 50,000 men, and had 17,000 in camp awaiting marching or- ders, thus exceeding its full quota by 15,000.

In July and August of 1862, the President , called for 600,000 men-the quota of Illinois being 52,296-and gave until August 18 as the limits in which lhe number might be raised by volun- teering, after which a draft would be ordered. The state had already fur- nished 17,000 in excess of her quota, and it was first thought this number would be deducted from the present requisition, but this could not be done. But thirteen days were granted to enlist this vast army, which had to come from the farmers and me- chanics. The farmers were in the midst of harvest, but, inspired by love of country, over 50,000 of them left their harvest ungathered, their tools and their benches, the plows in their furrows, turning their backs on their homes, and before eleven days had ex- pired, the demands of the government were met, and both quotas filled.

The war went on, and call followed call, until it began to look as if there would not be men enough in all the free states to crush out and destroy the mon- strous war, traitors had inaugurated. But to every call for either men or money,

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

there was a willing and ready response. and it is a boast of the people that, had the supply of money fallen short, there were women brave enough, daring enough, patriotic enough, to have offered themselves as sacrifices on their coun- try's altar. On the 21st of December, 1864, the last call for troops was made. It was for 300,000 men. In consequence of an imperfect enrollment of the men subject to military duty, it became evi- dent, ere this call was made, that Illinois was furnishing thousands of men more than what her quota would have been, had it been correct. So glaring had this disproportion become, that under this call the quota of some districts exceeded the number of able-bodied men in them.

No troops ever fought more heroically, stubbornly, and with better effect, than did the boys from the " Prairie state." At Pea Ridge, Donelson, Pittsburg Land- ing, Juka, Corinth, Stone River, Holly Springs, Jackson, Vicksburg, Chicka- mauga, Lookout mountain, Murfrees- boro, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, Chat- tanooga, and on every other field where the crash of arms was heard, her sons were foremost.

The people were liberal as well as patriotic ; and while the men were busy enlisting, organizing and equipping com- panies, the ladies were no less active, and the noble, generous work performed by their tender loving hands, deserves mention along with the bravery, devotion and patriotism of their brothers, upon the southern field of carnage.

The continued need of money to ob- tain the comforts and necessities for the

sick and wounded of our army, suggested to the loyal women of the north many and various devices for the raising of funds. Every city, town and village had its fair, festival, picnic, excursion, or concert, which netted more or less to the cause of hospital relief, according to the population of the place, and the amount of energy and patriotism displayed on such occasions. Especially was this characteristic of our own fair state, and scarcely a hamlet within its borders which did not send something from its stores to hospital or battlefiekl, and in the larger towns and cities were well organized soldiers' aid societies, working systematically from the beginning of the war until its end. The great state fair held in Chicago in May, 1865, netted $250,000. Homes for traveling soldiers were established all over the state, in which were furnished lodging for 600,000 men, and meals valued at $2,500,000. Food, clothing, medicine, hospital deli- cacies, reading matter. and thousands of other articles were sent to the boys at the front.

The rebellion ended with the surrender of Lee and Johnson, in April, 1865, and as soon as possible the troops were dis- banded. The following is a summary of troops furnished by the state : infantry, 185,941; cavalry, 32,082; artillery, 7,277; making a grand aggregate of 225,300 men of all arms.

Thus it will be seen that Illinois did her full share toward putting down the Rebellion, as regards the number of men and amount of materials supplied.

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

CHAPTER V.

GOVERNMENT.

Shadrach Bond was the first governor of Illinois. He was a native of Mary- land, and was born in 1773; was reared on a farm, received a common school education, and came to Illinois in 1794. Ile served as a delegate in congress from 1811 to 1815, where he procured the right of pre-emption of public land. He was elected governor in 1818; was beaten for congress in 1824, by Daniel P. Cook. He died at Kaskaskia, April 11, 1830.

Edward Coles, the second governor, was born December 15, 1786, in Virginia. His father was a slave-holder, gave his son a collegiate education, and left to him a large number of slaves. These he liberated, giving each head of a family 160 acres of land and a considerable sum of money. He was President Madison's private secretary. Ile came to Illinois in 1819, was elected governor in 1822, on the anti-slavery ticket; moved to Philadelphia in 1833, and died in 1868.

Ninian Edwards, the successor of Mr. Coles, was not new to the duties of the office, having been appointed in 1809, when the territory of Illinois was formed, as its territorial governor, which position he held until its organization as a state, when he was sent to the United States senate. Ele was elected governor in 1826. Ile was a native of Maryland, and

born in 1775 ; received a collegiate edu- cation ; was chief justice of Kentucky.

John Reynolds, the fourth governor of the state, was born in Pennsylvania in 1788, and came with his parents to Illi- nois in 1800. In 1830 he was elected governor on the democratic ticket, and afterwards served three years in con- gress. Ile also received a classical edu- cation, yet was not polished. He was an ultra-democrat; attended the Charles- ton convention in 1860, and urged the seizure of United States arsenals by the South. He died in 1865, at Belleville, childless.

In 1834 Joseph Duncan was elected governor by the whigs, although form- erly a democrat. Hle had previously served four terms in congress. He was born in Kentucky, in 1794; had but a limited education; served with distinc- tion in the war of 1812; conducted the campaign of 1832, against Black Hawk. He came to Illinois when quite young.

Thomas Carlin succeeded Duncan, having been elected on the democratic ticket in 1838. He had but a meagre education; held many minor offices, and was active, both in the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk war. He was born in Kentucky, in 1789; came to 11- linois in 1812, and died at Carrollton, February 14, 1852.

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

Thomas Ford, the next governor, was elected as a democrat, in 1842. He was born in Pennsylvania, in the year 1800; was brought by his widowed mother to Missouri, in 1804, and shortly afterwards to Illinois. He received a good education, and studied law; was elected judge four times-twice as cir- cuit judge, judge of Chicago, and judge of the supreme court. He wrote his history of Illinois in 1847, and died in 1850.

Augustus C. French was born in New Hampshire, in 1808; was admitted to the bar in 1831, and shortly afterwards moved to Illinois. He was elected governor in 1846. On the adoption of the constitution of 1848, he was again chosen, serving until 1853. Hle was a democrat in politics.

Joel A. Matteson, who succeeded French in the gubernatorial office, was born in Jefferson county, New York, in 1808. His father was a farmer, and gave his son only a common school ed- ucation. Hfe first entered upon active life as a small tradesman, but subse- quently became a large contractor and manufacturer. Ile was a heavy con- tractor in buikdling the canal. He was elected governor in 1852 upon the dom- ocratie ticket.

William H. Bissell was elected by the republican party in 1856. Ile had pre- viously served two terms in congress; he was a colonel in the Mexican war, and had held many minor offices pre- vious to being chosen governor. He was born in New York state in 1811; received a common school education; came to Illinois early in life and en- gaged in The medical profession. This he changed for the law, and became a

noted orator, and the standard-bearer. of the republican party in Illinois. He died in 1860, while governor.

Richard Yates, the "war governor" of Illinois, was born in Warsaw, Ken- tucky, in 1818; came to Illinois in 1831; served two terms in congress; in 1860 was elected governor, and in 1865, United States senator. He was a col- lege graduate, and read law under J. J. Hardin. He rapidly rose in his chosen profession and charmed the people with his oratory. He filled the guber- natorial chair during the trying days of the rebellion, and by his energy and devotion won the undying affection of the loyal people. He died in St. Louis at the expiration of his term as senator.

Richard J. Oglesby, who was elected governor in 1864, was born in Kentucky in 1824; at the age of eight years he found himself an orphan, and four years later he came to Illinois. He was apprenticed to learn the carpen- ter's trade, worked some at farming, and read law occasionally. He enlisted in the Mexican war, and was chosen first lieutenant. After his return, he again took up the law, but during the gold fever of 1849, went to California; he soon returned, and in 1852, he en- tered upon his illustrious political career. Ile raised the second regiment organized in the state to suppress the rebellion, and for gallantry was pro- moted to be major-general. His elec- tion as governor in 1864 was due, in a great degree, to his patriotic war record. Hle was again elected to the same posi- tion in 1872, but resigned to go to the United States senate. He was again elected in 1884. He is a staunch re- publican in politics.

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

John M. Palmer succeeded General Oglesby. He was born in Kentucky in 1817, and eame to Illinois in 1831. He was admitted to the bar in 1839. He was elected to the office of probate judge of Macoupin county in 1843; was a member of the constitutional conven- tion in 1847; county judge in 1849; elected to the state senate in 1851; member of the peace conference in 1861. He was colonel of the 14th Illi- nois infantry, and rose by successive promotions to major-general, comman- der of the 14th army corps, and after- wards of the department of Kentucky. Was governor from 1869 to 1872, both inclusive.

Richard J. Oglesby was again elected to the office of governor in 1872; in 1873 he was sent to the United States senate and Lieutenant-Governor John L. Beveridge succeeded to the gover- norship, which he held until 1877.

Shelby M. Cullom succeeded Gover- nor Beveridge. He was born in Ken- tueky in 1828; studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of his profession in 1848; was elected to the state legislature in 1856, and again in 1860. Served on the war commission at Cairo, in 1862, and was a member of the 39th, 40th, and 41st congresses, in all of which he served with credit to his state. He was again elected to the state legislature in 1872, and re-elected in 1874. He was elected governor in 1876, and again in 1880. During the last term he was sent to the United States senate, and Lieutenant-Governor John M. Hamilton succeeded to the office of governor, which he held with eredit and ability for the remainder of the term.

John M. Hamilton was succeeded as governor by Richard J. Oglesby, elected in 1884. A sketch of Gov. Oglesby is given in connection with the mention of his first election.

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS.

Pierre Menard was the first lieuten- ant-governor of Illinois. He was born in Quebec, Canada, in 1767. He eame to Illinois in 1790, where he engaged in the Indian trade, and became wealthy. He died in 1844. Menard county was named in his honor.

Adolphus F. Hubbard was elected lieutenant-governor in 1822. Four years later, he ran for governor against Edwards, but was beaten.

William Kinney was elected in 1826. He was a Baptist elergymen; was born in Kentucky in 1781, and came to Illi- nois in 1793.

Zadock Casey was elected lieutenant- governor in 1830, although on the oppo- sition ticket to Governor Reynolds, the successful gubernatorial candidate. He subsequently served several terms in congress.

Alexander M Jenkins was elected on the tieket with Governor Duncan, in 1834, by a handsome majority.

S. H. Anderson, lieutenant-governor under Governor Carlin, was chosen in 1838. He was a native of Tennessee.

John Moore was elected lieutenant- governor in 1842. He was born in Eng- land in 1793, and came to Illinois in 1830. He won the name of "Honest John Moore."

Joseph B. Wells was chosen with Gov. French, at his first election, in 1846.

In 1848, when French was again chosen governor, William MeMurtry was elected lieutenant-governor.

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

Gustavus P. Koerner was the next to hold the office, having been elected in 1852. He was born in Germany in 1809. At the age of 22 he came to Illinois. In 1872 he was the candidate of the liberal party for governor, but was defeated.

John Wood was elected in 1856, and on the death of Governor Bissell, became governor.

Francis A. Hoffman was chosen with Governor Yates in 1860. He was born in Prussia in 1822, and came to Illinois in 1840.

William Bross was the next, elected in 1864. He was born in New Jersey, and came to Illinois in 1848. John Dongh- erty was elected in 1868.

John L. Beveridge was chosen lieuten- ant-governor in 1872, and when Gov- ernor Oglesby was sent to the senate in 1873, he became governor, and held the position the remainder of the term.

Andrew Sherman was elected lieuten- ant-governor in 1876.

John M. Hamilton, elected in 1880, became governor when Shelby M. Cul- Jom was elected to the office of United States senator.

W'm. J. Campbell was elected presi- dent of the senate and ex-officio lieuten- ant-governor when Hamilton succeeded to the gubernatorial chair.

John C. Smith is the present incum- bent.

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

The following have served in this ac- pacity: Ninian W. Edwards, 1854-56; W. HI. Powell, 1857-58; Newton Bate- man, 1859-75; Samuel MI. Etter, 1876-80; James P. Slade, 1880-S1; Henry Raab succeeded Slade. His last term will ex- pire in 1887.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

The attorney-generals of Illinois have been as follows: Daniel P. Cook, 1819; William Mears, 1820; Samuel D. Lock- wood, 1821-22; James Turney, 1823-28; George Forquer, 1829-32; James Sem- ple, 1833-34; Ninian W. Edwards, 1834- 35; Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., 1835; Walter B. Seates, 1836; Asher F. Linder, 1837; George W. Olney, 1838; Wickliffe Kitchen, 1839; Josiah Lamborn, 1841- 42; James A. MeDougall, 1843-46; David B. Campbell, 1846; [office abol- ished and recreated in 1867]; Robert G. Ingersoll, 1867-68; Washington Bush- nell, 1869-72; James K. Edsall, 1872-80; James McCartney, 1880-84; George Hunt, present incumbent.

TREASURER.

The state treasurers of Illinois have been as follows; John Thomas, 1818-19; R. K. MeLaughlin, 1819-22; Ebner Field, 1823-26; James Hall, 1827-30; John Dement, 1831-36; Charles Greg- ory, 1836; John D. Whiteside, 1837-40; M. Carpenter, 1841-48; John Moore, 1848-56; James Miller, 1857-60; Wil- liam Butler, 1861-62; Alexander Starne, 1863-64; James H. Beveridge, 1865-66; George W. Smith, 1867-68; Erastus N. Bates, 1869-72; Edward Rutz, 1878-79; John C. Smith, 1879-81; Edward Rutz, 1881-83; John C. Smith, 1883-84; Jacob Gross, 1885-89.

SECRETARIES OF STATE.

Elias K. Kane, 1818-22; Samuel D. Lockwood, 1822-23; David Blackwell, 1823-24; Morris Birkbeek, 1824; George Farquer, 1825-28; Alexander P. Field, 1829-40; Stephen A. Douglas, 1840; Ly- man Trumbull, 1841-42; Thompson

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

Campbell, 1843-46; Horace S, Cooley, 1846-49; David L. Gregg, 1850-52: Alex- ander Starne, 1853-56; Azias M. Hatch, 1857-60; Sharon Tyndale, 1865-68; Ed- ward Rummel, 1869-72; George H. Har- low, 1873-79, Henry D. Dement, 1881. He is the present incumbent. .

AUDITORS.

Elijah C. Berry, 1818-31; I. T. B. Stapp, 1831-35; Levi Davis, 1835-40; James Shields, 1841-42; W. L. D. Ew- ing, 1843-45; Thompson Campbell, 1846; Jesse K. Dubois, 1857-64; Orlin II. Miner, 1865-68; Charles E. Lippineott, 1869-76; Thomas B. Needles, 1877-79; Charles P. Swigert, elected in 1880, and again in 1884, is the present incumbent.

UNITED STATES SENATORS.

Ninian Edwards-On the organization of the state, in 1848, Ninian Edwards, the popular territorial governor, was chosen senator for the short term, and in 1819 re-elected for full term.

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History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 5

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150