USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 21
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a salary of $250 per year, and really though he was on the road to prosperity. To-day, each county has a prosecutor. at an average salary of $1,000 per year, amounting in the aggregate to $14,000, for the same territory in which Judge Marshall received $250. At the time the Judge was elected Prosecutor, he had been in court but little, but by a persistence which is characteristic of him. he soon learned the harness and taught the violators of the law that their acts would re- ceive due and ample consideration. At the expiration of his term of office, he declined a re-election and returned to the practice, but in 1851 he was again called to public life, and elected Judge of this judicial cir- cuit over the Hon. ,Charles H. Constable, then of Wabash County. He continued upon the bench until 1S54, when he was elected to Congress as the Democratic candidate from this district. He was re-elected in 1S56, and declined to be a candidate in 185S, and was succeeded by John A. Logan.
In March. 1861. Judge Marshall was again elected to the bench and 'served as Judge of the Circuit Court until 1864, when he was again called by his party to bear its standard for Congress, and was regularly re-elected in 1S66, 1868, 1870 and 1872: was a candi date in 1874, and was defeated by Hon. W. B. Anderson, of this county, who had become the leader in this district of that short-lived tidal wave, the farmers' club movement. Judge Marshall had. during his entire life, adhered strictly to the Jeffersonian Democ - racy, and refused to pander to the caprices of the occasion for the sake of present political preferment. Time has only proved the wis dom of his course. for the mushroom bailu- cination which placed Gen. Anderson and many others for a time at the front was scarcely born ere it began to die, and has long since been numbered with things that
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were. " a schoolboy's tale, the wonder of an hour." and, in its receding. has left many of its followers stranded upon the shores of the uncertain and dangerous sea of politics.
Since Judge Marshall's retirement from Congress, he has not been in public service. As a prosecutor, he was faithful, fearless and unflinching; as a Judge, he was upright, just and able: as a legislator in both State and nation, he was strong, forcible and con- vincing, and in every conflict he was found watching and battling faithfully and hon- estly for the people whom he represented. Judge Marshall has ever enjoyed the full con- fidence of his party; at one time he received the vote of the Democrats in Congress for Speaker of the House.
Space will not permit us to enter his Con- gressional life: it would be a history within itself. Suffice to say that he was the peer of any member. recognized as a man of strong ability and great industry. As before stated, from his youth he has been an unalterable, uncompromising Democrat of the Jefferson school, ever believing that within the Demo- cratic principles are found the elements of the most good to the most people, and in every conflict to which our State and nation is subject Judge Marshall may be heard where the battle is hottest advocating the political questions in an able manner from a Democratic standpoint. In his official life, he was always found at the post of duty, and it is remarked of him that although in poor health, he was never absent from the court room when by law it was his duty to be there. Talented and cultured, of unim- peachable integrity, has been the life of Sam- nel S. Marshall, a man known to the State and nation and one who has not lived in vain.
Downing Baugh was born April 22, 1798; is still living, hale and hearty. He is a na- tive of Barren County, Ky., from which
State many of Illinois' early great men came. He moved to this State in about 1820, lived a short time in Bond County, and finally set- tled in Mount Vernon. He married Milly Pace, the youngest child of Joel Pace, sen- ior sister of the late Joel and Joseph Pace. of this county. Judge Baugh's father was a man of some education, and was a school teacher in the early days. The Judge ac- quired some education, and when a young man also taught school. In those days the scholar who could study the loudest was considered the best: quite a contrast with the present system. Could we step into one of the Judge's old -time schools to-day, we would hear every student studying his lesson "out loud." if he studied at all. After teaching school awhile, he went to mer- chandising, in which business he was not suc- cessful. He was Postmaster here for many years. At the age of forty-seven, he began the study of law. which he finally completed, and for some years pursued the practice with success. In 1854, he was appointed Judge of the Circuit Court by Gov. Joel A. Matte- son, to fill the unexpired term of Judge Mar- shall, who had been elected to Congress. Judge Baugh presided as Circuit Judge for the nine remaining months. He was honest and upright and performed his duties with- ont reproach to the judiciary or to himself.
In 1840 and 1841, he was Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of the Twelfth General As- sembly. He was Probate Justice of this coun- ty for a time, and many years a Justice of the Peace. In 1857, he removed to McGreg- or, Iowa, where he has since resided. Shortly after his removal to Iowa, he was elected Judge of the City Court, and so acted until the Supreme Court declared the law creating the City Courts unconstitutional.
He has for many years been an enthusias- tic Mason; is now Grand Chaplain of the
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Grand Chapter of Iowa and Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery. He has lived a consistent Christian life, and always com- manded the respect of those among whom he has lived.
For years, Judge Baugh has been entirely blind. He is now in his eighty-sixth year, yet his mind is as clear and vigorous as ever. He may be termed one of those pioneers who helped to form and mold the early senti- ment of this country and get it started off on the right foot.
He has two children living in Mount Ver- non-J. W. Baugh and Mrs. Elizabeth Fly.
William H. Green is among those once members of the bar of this county, who have attained distinction in their profession and in politics. None, prehaps, stand more prominent in the profession than Judge Green. He was born in Danville, Boyle Co., Ky., December 8, 1830, and was the son of Dr. Duff Green and Lucy Green (née Kenton).
His ancestors were among the earliest set- tlers of Virginia and extensive land-owners in the Shenandoah Valley. They came originally from the province of Leinster, Ireland, about the year 1730. His mot' er was a niece of Simon Kenton, the celebrated pioneer and Indian fighter of Kentucky, and was of Scotch parentage.
1
Judge Green was educated at Center Col- lege. Danville, Ky., and without graduating became a fair classical scholar, and has all his life been an extensive reader of history and belles-letters, and kept pace with the mod- ern investigations of scientists. His range of thought and study has been upon the higher plane.
In 1846, he came, with his father's fam- ily, to Mount Vernon, where, after teaching school for a time, he entered upon the study of the law under the direction of Judge
Walter B. Scates, was admitted to the bar in 1852, and for one year pursued the practice of his profession in Mount Vernon. Then he moved to Metropolis, where he remained 1 in active practice for ten years and then re- ! moved to Cairo, where he has since resided. He has served two terms in the lower branch of the State Legislature, 1858 to 1862, and one in the Senate. In 1865, he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court for the district in which he lived, and since 1861 he has been the attorney for the Illinois Central Railroad except during the times his official positions made it inconsistent for him to be 80.
He attended the four National Democratic Conventions as a delegate, at Charleston, Chicago, New York and Cincinnati; has for years been a member of the State Democratic Central Committee, and for twenty-two years has been a member of the State Board of Education, the only Democrat upon it.
Judge Green is now in he prime of intel- lectual life, and already has he filled the measure of a just ambition, not so much by the eminence of the political or judicial po- sitions he has filled, as by the unalloyed re- spec: and confidence he has inspired in all men by his able and upright bearing to all.
Lewis F. Casey was born on the 23d day of April, 1821, in this county. By persever- ance and industry, he acquired a fair educa- tion and was elected County Surveyor in 1841. In 1843-44, he read law together with Robert F. Wingate in the law office of Judge Scates. He was admitted to the bar in 1845. In 1846, he was a member of the Legislature and voted for Stephen A. Doug- las for the United States Senate. In about 1848, he formed a law partnership with Judge Breeze, which continued for two years. In 1852, he removed to Texas, and in eighteen months after his arrival was
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
elected Prosecuting Attorney for the district in which he lived, and was also made the financial agent of the State.
In 1861, Mr. Casey was elected to the State Senate of Texas for four years. He was a member of the Senate at the time the State passed its ordinance of secession, voted for Lewis T. Wigfall for member of the Sen- ate of the Confederate Government, and of course voted for Jefferson Davis for Presi- dent of the Confederate States. He returned to the State of Illinois in 1866, and located in Centralia, where he has since practiced law. As a lawyer, he is able and ready; in argument he is forcible and always has the attention of the court he addresses. He, in connection with Capt. S. L. Dwight, enjoys a large practice in Marion, Clinton, Washington and Jefferson Counties. He is a nephew of the late Gov. Casey, and pos- sesses much of the ability, energy and other characteristic, which so marked the Governor.
Richard S. Nelson. Among the members of the bar of early days no man figured more conspicuously than did Richard S. Nelson. He was born June 12, 1815, in the city of Douglas, on the Isle of Man. His father was an eminent divine in the Established Church of England, and it was his desire that the subject of this sketch should follow in his footsteps and take the pulpit, but as he grew to manhood the young man's tastes differed from his father's, and he chose that other profession that is next of kin to the clergy-the law. He completed his studies and at once turned his face to America, and at twenty years of age he landed in New Or- 'leans and began the practice of his profes- sion. He, however, did not remain there long, but soon removed, coming directly to Southern Illinois. He landed at Shawnee- town and opened au office, but not meeting with the success he desired, he removed to
Old Frankfort, Franklin County, and from thence to Mount Vernon. After a few years' residence at this place, he removed to Me- tropolis, Massac County, and there remained for eight years. During his residence there, he passed through, perhaps, the most excit- ing scenes of his life.
It was during this period that the Regula- tors and Flatheads inaugurated what has passed into history as the " Massac war." Mr. Nelson was strongly identified with the law and order party, who were known as the " Flatheads." Exciting and active demon- strations were had by both sides, until at last the opposing factions met in battle line, and on the 7th day of December, 1846, in front of Mr. Nelson's house, proceeded to fight it out. The Regulators finally won the day and the Flatheads were put to flight. Mr. Nelson made his escape by flat-boat to Cairo and thence to St. Louis, and then to Springfield. The Regulators after their vic- tory held control of things for some months, and until, at the earnest entreaties of Mr. Nelson, Gov. French sent between 400 and 500 militia to the scene of the troubles. Mr. Nelson returned with them and did all in his power to sustain the soldiers. In two weeks his table furnished 316 meals, and he fed and stabled 200 horses, for which not 1 cent was ever paid to him or his family. This should receive the early attention of our State authorities, and restore to this family the long delayed justice. Mr. Nelson never resumed the practice in Metropolis, but left his desolated home, which had been reduced to ashes, and moved again to Mount Vernon, where he at once entered upon a large and remunerative practice. He soon reached a high standard in his profession. In 1862, amid the demoralizing influences of the late war, he removed to Centralia, where he remained until his death, on the 19th day
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of August, 1865. He was attending court at this city when he was attacked by apoplexy, and soon died.
Mr. Nelson was a mau of more than ordi- nary intellect. He applied himself with much assiduity to his profession, and soon became widely and favorably known throughout the southern part of the State. He was what might be termed a self-made man, and rose to prominence in his profession by his own exertions. He occupied such a position only as his own talents and moral worth com- manded. He rose to distinction not only without the patronage of influential friends, but in opposition to a degree of prejudice which is encountered by every foreigner. His success was due to native talent and to the energy with which he devoted himself to his profession. His native energy of intel- lect, his legal erudition and his unbending integrity commanded respect and confidence wherever he was known.
Hon. S. F. Crews was born in 1845, in Wayne County, Ill., and came to Jefferson County in 1872 and formed a law partner- ship with George M. Haynes. In 1876, he was elected State's Attorney, and in 1882 was elected to the Legislature. Upon the ad- journment of the Legislature, Mr. Crews re- moved to Chicago, where he is at present en- joying a reasonably good practice.
Of the present members of the Mount Vernon bar, we shall but briefly speak, leav- ing the histories of their triumphs and their glories to the writers who shall come after us, saying, however. in a general way that the bar of Jefferson County will compare favora . bly with that of any county in the southern part of the State.
Robert H. Carpenter was born September 30. 1837, studied law and was admitted in 1871.
A. M. Green was born in 1846, studied
law in Mount Vernon, attended at Ann Ar- bor, Mich., and was admitted in 1870. In 1872, he was elected State's Attorney and served four years. In 1877, he was elected to the Legislature.
W. N. Green, born in -- , 1858, read law and was admitted in 1878. In 1877, he was appointed Master in Chancery and served two years.
C. A. Keller was born November 24, 1851; read law, and was admitted in 1873. In 1877, he was elected County Judge, serving acceptably as such for four years. A more extended sketch of his career will be found in the biographical department of this vol- ume.
George B. Leonard was born December 16. 1849, and was admitted in 1876.
Norman N. Moss was born March 25, 1856, and admitted May 5, 1882.
C. H. Patton was born May 9, 1834, came to Illinois in 185 .- , taught school, was elect- ed County Clerk and admitted to the bar on March 21, 1862. For further particulars the reader is referred to our biographical department.
Hon. James M. Pollock was born in --; came to Mount Vernon in 185 -; in IS64. was elected Judge of the Circuit Court and re- elected in 1866. His life and history will also be found in the biographical department.
W. C. Pollock was born July 12, 1853, and admitted in June, 1877.
James L. Pollock was born March 1, 1859, and admitted February -, 1881.
James M. Pace was born in Mount Ver- non on the 29th day of November, 1826, and is said to have been the first white male child born in the city. For a number of years he was County School Superintendent. and upon the organization of the city gov- ernment was elected the first Mayor. He was admitted in 1870.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
W. T. Pace was born December 22, 1853, and was admitted June 6, 1878.
Norman A. Pearcy was born Jannary 4, 1856, and admitted in 1882.
E. V. Satterfield was born January, 1836, and admitted
W. N. White was born October 17, 1856; was admitted in 1879, and elected State's At- torney in 1880, which position he still holds.
Albert Watson was born April 15, 1857, and was admitted in September, 1880.
George M. Haynes was born August 27, 1847, and was admitted in 1870.
Robert A. D. Wilbanks, born in 1846, was admitted in 1867; for twelve years was Clerk of the Supreme Court of this grand division ; is now Clerk of the Appellate Court.
There were and have been many other members of the bar of this county, among them Gen. R. F. Wingate, F. D. Preston, and others, of whom we have been unable to obtain sufficient data from which to write them. Also Col. S. G. Hicks, whose history and life is fully given elsewhere in this vol- ume.
CHAPTER VII .*
POLITICAL HISTORY-BIRTH OF THE WHIG AND DEMOCRAT ORGANIZATIONS-PARTY STRIFE AND SCRAMBLE FOR OFFICE-JOEL PACE, FIRST CLERK OF THE COUNTY-POLITICIANS OF
THE TIMES-ZADOK CASEY-HIS LIFE AND OFFICIAL SERVICES-GOV.
ANDERSON-SKETCH OF HIS PUBLIC CAREER-NOAII JOHNSTON
AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS-SENA- TORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, ETC.
"The greatest friend of Truth is Time; Her greatest enemy is Prejudice."
I "N the early history of Jefferson County, there was but little, if, indeed, any, party strife. The exciting events of the war of 1812, which had closed a few years prior to the organization of the county, had wiped out the old Federal par- ty-a party that had bitterly opposed President Jefferson and his official acts. The war meas- ures of President Madison, and the dominant party in Congress were very generally, and even earnestly, supported by the people throughout the country. The Presidential election of 1824, the second after the formation of Jefferson County, was attended with unusual excitement, probably with more than any election that had ever taken place in the Republic, with the ex- ception of the Presidential election of 1800, which resulted in the success of Mr. Jefferson
over the elder Adams. At this election (1824), the candidates were Gen. Jackson, with the laurels of New Orleans still blooming upon his brow; Henry Clay, the sage of Kentucky; John Quincy Adams, a born statesman, and William H. Crawford, of Georgia, all intellectual giants, truly. Each of these distinguished gentlemen had his friends, who supported their favorite candidate from personal preference and not from party predilection. None of them, how- ever, had a majority of the votes in the elec- toral college, and under the Constitutional rule, upon the House of Representatives, for the first and the last time in the history of the country,*
*Originally, it was the law for the candidate receiving the high- est number of votes in the Electoral College to be declared President. and the one receiving the next highest to he declared Vice Presi- dent. In 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received the same number of votes, and the question went to the House of Represent- atives for its decision, where it wae hotly contested by Burr but finally decided in favor of Jeffereon. The law was afterward changed, and candidates nominated for President and Vice Presi- dent, which rule is still followed, and the election of 1824 ie theonly cne in which the House of Representatives had to decide between the Presidential candidates alone, and make a President.
*By W. H. Perrin.
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devolved the duty of making choice of Presi- dent, each State, by its delegation in Congress, casting one vote. Gen. Jackson led Mr. Adams, in the Electoral College, by a small plurality; Mr. Crawford was the third on the list of can- didates, and Mr. Clay, who was the hindmost man, was dropped from the canvass. Mr. Adams was chosen President by the casting vote of the State of Kentucky. Mr. Clay was a member of the National House of Represent- atives, and its Speaker, and it was at once claimed by many of his political enemies, that it was through the great influence of Ohio, which State, as well as his own, Mr. Clay had carried in the Presidential contest, that the delegation from Kentucky was induced to cast the vote of that State for Mr. Adams, an Eastern man, in preference to Gen. Jackson, a Western and Southern man. By that coup d'etat, Mr. Clay was instrumental in organizing political parties that survived the generation of people to which he belonged, and ruled in turn the destinies of the Republic for more than a quarter of a cent- ury.
In the new Cabinet, Mr. Clay was placed at the head of the State Department by Mr. Adams, which gave rise to the charge of " bar- gain and sale " between the President and his chief Secretary, that threw the country into a blaze of excitement from one end to the other. At this time, when Henry Clay has been dead for more than thirty years, and his faults and errors have been enveloped in the mantle of charity, no one will presume or dare to ques- tion his patriotism or honesty; but the charge was persistently made by the partisans of Gen. Jackson, it greatly injured Mr. Clay in the public estimation, and contributed largely to the General's success in the Presidential race of 1828, and forever sealed Mr. Clay's own doom, so far as regarded the Presidency. At the Presidential election of 1828, party lines were closely drawn between Gen. Jackson and Mr. Adams, and the result of a hot and bitter
contest was the triumphant election of the hero of New Orleans, both by the electoral and pop- ular vote. At this time parties were known throughont the country as the Jackson and Anti-Jackson parties.
The gubernatorial election in Illinois, follow- ing this contest, presented a eurious phase of the politics of the times. There were two tiek- ets in the field for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, all professing strong Jacksonism, but really were what to-day would be termed, perhaps, Stalwarts and Half-breeds. Mr. Kin- ney was the stalwart candidate for Governor, or as he was called then, the " out and outer" Jackson candidate, while Zadok Casey was the candidate for Lieutenant Governor on the same ticket. John Reynolds was the " Half-breed" candidate for Governor, but claimed to be as good a Jackson man as Kinney; and associated with him as a candidate for Lieutenant Gov- ernor was Rigdon B. Slocumb, of Wayne Coun- ty. The peculiar feature of the election was, that Reynolds and Casey were elected, repre- senting the two different wings of the Jackson party. And as an illustration of the great power and influence Casey ever wielded over his constituency, is the fact that he was the only stalwart candidate elected in the State in that contest. With but few changes in their plat- form of principles, the Jackson and Anti-Jack- son eventually became the Whig and Demo- crat parties.
The scramble for the " loaves and fishes " of office in the early period of the county's exist- ence, compared with later years, was almost nothing. But few offices were sought for their emoluments, and much oftener then than now the office sought the man. The most lucrative offices were filled by appointment, and not by popular vote, as they are now. It was not for years after the formation of the county that local offices were made elective, and it is even now a question for discussion, whether the lat- ter is the best policy. In most cases, the offices
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
were filled by faithful and competent men. The appointing power conferred by the Legislature upon the Commissioners and the courts, al- though anti-Republican in principle, seems to be, judging from the experience of the past, the best calculated to secure efficiency and competeney in office. Experience has shown pretty conclusively that the less frequently changes are made the better it is for the public service, notwithstanding the present political war-ery of " turn the rascals ont." Chancellor Kent has said that the great danger to this country is " the too frequent recurrence to pop- ular election." The early records of the county show, under the appointing power, but few changes. From the organization of the county in 1819 to 1837, the duties of both County and Circuit Clerk were faithfully performed by Joel Pace, an excellent and competent man. It is not inappropriate in this connection to devote a few words to the county's first Clerk.
Joel Pace was born in Virginia, and bis father, Joel Pace, Sr., emigrated to Kentucky, locating in Woodford County. " On reaching manhood, young Joel went to Frankfort, Ky., where he engaged to work for one Thomas Long. The latter gentleman had a brother-in-law -- Owen Riley-who was a merchant in Vincennes, Ind., and once when on his way to Philadelphia for goods, Riley stopped at Frankfort and asked Long to refer him to a trusty young man who would do for a salesman. Ile recommended Joel Pace, and Riley employed him, and sent him with a stock of goods to Vincennes. Here he remained for a year or two, when Riley had a stock of goods damaged by the sinking of a boat, and sent Pace to sell them ont as best he could at Shawneetown. But Riley soon aban- doned himself to drink, and Joel left him, and was employed by Peoples & Kirkpatrick. Judge Brown was then living at Shawneetown, and he gave Joel Pace the appointment of Cir- cuit Clerk for Jefferson County, and procured for him also the offices of Recorder and Notary
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