USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns : educational, religious, civil, military, and political history : portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, also a condensed History of Illinois > Part 22
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During the summer of 1864, a detachment of 100 men from the Ninety-fifth, under the charge of Major Charles B. Loop, Captain James Nish and Captain A. S. Stewart, participated in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee River, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station.
The Ninety-fifth marched 1, 800 miles, and moved by rail and boat 8,160 miles. Eighty-four men were killed in battle or died of wounds, and 176 died of disease. The entire number of men belong- ing to the regiment from first to last was 1,355.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
The One Hundred and Forty-first Infantry was mustered in > service for 100 days, on the 16th of June, 1864, and mustered out Oct. 10, 1864. The Colonel was Stephen Bronson, of Milton.
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Among the commissioned officers were the following from Mc- Henry County: Jacob D. Lansing, [Marengo, Lieutenant-Colonel; Harmon A. Buck, Marengo, Surgeon; F. W. Watson, Marengo, Second Assistant Surgeon; Charles W. Ingersoll, Marengo, First Lieutenant, Company F.
Company A contained one McHenry County man; Company F, twenty-six; and Company K, twenty-two.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEOOND REGIMENT.
This was another 100 days' regiment, mustered into service June 18, 1864, and mustered out Oct. 26, 1864. About twenty men from this county belonged to Company C.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
In Company I, of the above regiment (one year's service) there were abont twenty-five men from McHenry County. The regiment was mustered into service Feb. 18, 1865, and mustered out Jan. 20, 1866. It served principally in Tennessee and Georgia.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
The number of men from McHenry County belonging to this regiment is shown by the Adjutaut-General's report to have been as follows: Company A, 17; Company B, 33; Company C, 21; Company F, 2; Company K, 85. The following commissioned officers were from this county :
COMPANY K .- Captain: Charles H. Hitchcock, Hartland. First Lieutenants: John H. Payne, Hartland, commissioned Feb. 27, 1865, resigned May 27, 1865; William R. Colburn, Richmond, Feb. 27, 1865. Second Lieutenant; Wm. R. Colburn, promoted.
The One Hundred and Fifty-third Illinois .Infantry was organized at Camp Try, Ill., by Colonel Stephen Bronson, and was mustered into the service Feb. 27, 1865, for one year. Moving by rail on the 4th of March, to Tullahoma, via Louisville and Nashville, on its arrival it reported to Major-General Milroy. The regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, defenses of Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, Brevet Brigadier-General Dudley com- manding. In the latter part of March Major Wilson with three companies went on a campaign into Alabama and returned. July 1 the regiment moved to Memphis, Tenn., via Nashville and Louisville, and was assigned to the command of Brevet
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Major-General A. L. Chetlain. On the 15th of September, 1865, the regiment was inustered ont and moved to Springfield, Ill. On the 24th of September it received final pay and discharge. Colonel Bronson was made a Brevet Brigadier-General.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
In the Adjutant-General's report no privates in the above regi- ment are credited to McHenry County, but among the commis- sioned officers the following names appear :
Erwin B. Messer, Chemung, Lientenant-Colonel; Mortimore P. Bundy, Hebron, Captain Company C; Emanuel Englested, Hebron, First Lieutenant Company C; Chester M. Stewart, Hebron, Second Lieutenant Company C; Thomas S. Sexton, Cheinung, Captain Company E; David G. Hudson, First Lieuten- ant Company E; Martin Daley, Chemung, Second Lieutenant Company E; Nelson W. Clark, Hebron, Captain Company K; John W. S. Bergman, Hebron, Second Lieutenant Company K. The regiment was organized at Chicago and mustered into service March 9, 1865; mustered out at Menphis. Tenn., Sept. 20, 1865.
EIGHTH CAVALRY.
The Eighth Cavalry Regiment had in several companies men from McHenry County, and Company H was almost entirely from this county.
COMPANY H .- Captains: Rufus M. Hooker, commissioned Sept. 18, 1861, died Aug. 1, 1862; John M. Southworth, Aug. 1, 1862, resigned; Edward D. Dowd, McHenry, Aug. 18, 1863, term ex- pired September, 1864; John W. DeLaney, Freeport, Sept. 18, 1864, mustered out July 17, 1865. First Lieutenants: Charles Harrison, Sept. 18, 1861, resigned; Edward D. Dowd, Sept. 10, 1862, promoted; Isaac F. Russell, Crystal Lake, Aug. 20, 1863, term expired Oct. 27, 1864; Isaac N. Brooks, McHenry, Oct. 27, 1864, resigned June 30, 1865. Second Lieutenants: John M. Southworth, Sept. 18, 1861, promoted; Isaac F. Russell, Sept. 10, 1862, promoted; John W. De Laney, Feb. 1, 1864, promoted ; Addison V. Teeple, Sept. 18, 1864, mustered out July 17, 1865.
There were in Company G twenty six men from McHenry County; in Company H, counting recruits and veterans, about 150; in Company I, about thirty-three; and perhaps thirty more scattered through the remaining companies of the regiment.
The Eighth Cavalry was organized at St. Charles, Ill., by 16
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HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
Colonel John F. Farnsworth, and mustered into the service Sept. 18, 1861. The regiment moved to Washington, D. C., Oct. 13, and went into camp near Alexandria, Va., 1 Dec. 17. Marclı 10, 1862, the regiment joined the advance on Manassas, in General Sumner's division. The Eighth Cavalry remained at Warrenton until the 12th of April, driving the enemy across the Rappahan- nock at four different times. Embarking at Alexandria, April 23, it landed at Shipping Point May 1. On the 4th of May it moved to Williamsburg, and was assigned to the Light Brigade, in command of General Stoneman. The regiment was engaged during the advance of the army up the peninsula. June 6, 1862, six companies of the regiment met the advance of the enemy under Jackson at Mechanicsville, and checked it there until three o'clock, P.M., when their line was forced back to the infantry line.
The regiment performed important duty at Gaines's Mill, Dis- patch Station and Malvern Hill. Covering the extreme rear of the army, it had continual skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry. While the army remained at Harrison's Landing the Eighth performed picket duty on the James River. In the second occu- pation of Malvern Hill it led the advance, and with Benson's Bat- tery, U. S. Artillery, bore the brunt of the fight. Lieutenan Colonel Gamble of the Eighth was severely wounded. On the retreat of our army to Barrett's Ford, on the Chickahominy, the Eighth Cavalry brought up the rear.
Aug. 30, 1862, the regiment embarked at Yorktown, landed at Alexandria, Sept. 1, and immediately moved to the front. Cross- ing into Maryland on the 4th, it was engaged at Poolsville. At Monocacy Church it captured the colors of the rebel cavalry (Twelfth Virginia). At Barnesville the Eighth took twenty pris- oners. The regiment was engaged at Sugar Loaf Mountain, Mid- dletown, and South Mountain; and, at Boonesboro, captured two guns, killed and wounded sixty-seven men and took 200 prisoners. The regiment was also engaged at Antietam. On Oct. 1, during a reconnoissance to Martinsburg, it had a severe fight with the enemy. Moving in advance of the Army of the Potomac, it was engaged with the enemy's cavalry at Philemonte, Uniontown, Upperville, Barbee's Cross-roads, Little Washington and Ames- ville, arriving at Falmouth Nov. 23, 1862. During the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, two squadrons were in the city until the evacuation. The Eighth was on picket duty on the left flank of the army, across the peninsula, and np the Rappahannock to Port
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Conway. It then moved to the right flank, near Dumfries. Up to this time the army had lost twenty-seven killed, seventy-one wounded and twenty missing.
The regiment was engaged in the following actions during the campaign of 1863: Sulphur Springs, April 14; near Warrenton, April 17; Rapidan Station, May 1; Northern Neck, May 14; Borstly Ford, June 9; Upperville, June 21; Fairville, Pa., June 30; Gettysburg, July 1; Williamsburg, Md., July 6; Boonsboro, July 8; Funktown, July 10; Falling Water, July 14; Cheater Gap, July 21; Sandy Hook, July 22; near Culpeper, Aug. 1; Brandy Station, Aug. 4; raid from Dumfries to Falmouth, Ang. 30; Cul- peper and Pony Mountain, Sept. 13; Raccoon Ford, Sept. 13; Liberty Mills, Sept. 21; Raccoon Ford to Brandy Station, Oct. 11; Manassas, Oct. 15; Warrenton Junction, Oct. 30; Rexleysville, Nov. 8; Mitchell's Station, Nov. 12; Ely's Ford, Nov. 30. During the campaign the loss of the regiment was twenty-three killed, 116 wounded and thirty-seven missing. The Eighth Cavalry was mustered out of service at Benton Barracks, Mo., July 17, 1865, and ordered to Chicago for final payment and discharge.
SEVENTEENTH CAVALRY.
About twenty men from this county served in Company B of the above regiment. Company G was almost wholly made up of McHenry County men. Its officers were as follows:
COMPANY G .- Captains: Lonis D. Kelly, Dorr, Jan. 8, 1864, mustered out Feb. 14, 1865; Cyrus Hutchinson, Benton, May 10, 1865, mustered out Dec. 18, 1865. First Lieutenants: Christopher C. Kelly, Dorr, Jan. 8, 1864, resigned March 3, 1865; Albert W. Amet, Evanston, June 22, 1865, mustered out Dec. 18, 1865. Second Lieutenants: Ebenezer Knapp, Richmond, Jan. 8, 1864, dismissed Dec. 27, 1864; Wm. H. Austin, Richmond, March 28, 1865, mustered out Dec. 18, 1865.
The Seventeenth Cavalry was organized under special authority from the War Department, issued Aug. 12, 1863, to Hon. John F. Farnsworth. The regiment was recruited and organized by Colonel John L. Beveridge. Eight companies were mustered in Jan. 22, 1864. Four companies were mustered in Feb. 12, 1864. The regiment moved to St. Louis, Mo., May 3, 1864, and served con- tinually in the Department of the Missouri, under Generals Rose- crans, Dodge and Pope. The most noteworthy actions in which
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the regiment took part are thus described in the report of the Adjutant-General of Illinois:
" At Independence, the Seventeenth, dismounted, was deployed on the left and in support of the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, when the rear-guard of the enemy was attacked and their artillery captured. This was Oct. 22, 1864. The same day, at midnight, the brigade left Independence, in the direction of Hickman's Mills, twelve miles distant, where the enemy was intercepted the next day about noon. While the main column of the brigade, under General McNeil, attacked near the head of the rebel column, the Seventeenth, Colonel Beveridge commanding, was ordered to form a separate column, and strike the enemy on the flank, one mile or more in the rear. By a rapid movement their flank was reached, but at a moment preceding an attack, which must have been a success, peremptory orders were received to return and support the battery in front. Two days after this, the division, now under General Pleasanton's immediate orders, captured Major-General Marmaduke, Brigadier-General Cabel, ten rebel cannon, and more than a thousand prisoners, with their arms, at Mine Creek, Kan., having moved seventy miles within twenty-four hours.
"The Seventeenth, with McNeil's Brigade, was hurried forward in pursuit of the retreating foe. Three times the pursuers formed in line of battle, but only in the last case did the enemy maintain his ground. Then the rebels had chosen their ground on an open prairie, and were quietly awaiting the approach of the Union forces-a brigade, now thinned down to 1,500 men, moving up to attack 15,000! Every man of this little band could see, and was seen by, every man of the rebel army. The Seventeenth was made the guide for the whole line, of which it was the left. After a short, sharp engagement, and an attempt by the rebels to over- whelm its right -- which was prevented by the arrival of two guns which checked the rebels-an order came from General Pleasan- ton to charge along the whole line. After some delay tlie com- mand 'forward ' was given and away went the Seventeenth boys. With only 300 men they pushed up in the face of the enemy, who moved off at their approach, while the center and right were full a half mile in the rear. This was Oct. 25, 1864, and occurred in the vicinity of Fort Scott. The lack of forage and the rapid marching caused a loss of more than half their horses, and hun- dreds of miles were traversed by some of the Seventeenth on foot."
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HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
The regiment was mustered out at Leavenworth, Kan., in November and December of 1865.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In addition to the regiments and companies already mentioned, other Illinois organizations contained men from McHenry County, though not in large numbers. Indeed, sol widely scattered were the soldiers from this county that it may be truthfully said that there was scarcely an important military campaign during all of the war in which McHenry men did not participate.
Thirty-two men whose residences are given as being in Mc Henry County served in Company I, Fifty-second Infantry, and about a dozen in Company G. This regiment was mustered into service Nov. 19, 1861, Isaac G. Wilson, Colonel, and mustered out July 12, 1865. It served in Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, the Carolinas and Georgia; was in Shiloh, Corinth, and other severe battles, and in the Atlanta expedition. Jay Hamil- ton, of Algonquin, was Captain of Company G, Fifty-second Regiment, from Jan. 22, 1865, until the muster out. Joseph E. Ewall, of Alden, was commissioned First Lieutenant of Company I, Sept. 13, 1861; resigned April 18, 1862.
Twenty-six from McHenry County served in Company E, Eighty- fourth Infantry; mustered into service Sept. 1, 1862; mustered out June 8, 1865.
In the Sixteenth Cavalry about twenty-five men from this county served, principally in Company H. Among the officers were Hiram S. Hanchett, Woodstock, Captain, Company M, com- missioned May 19, 1863, promoted Major, June 8, 1864; and First Lieutenant Henry D. Stocker, McHenry, Company M, May 19, 1863, resigned Oct. 19, 1864. The regiment was mustered into service in January and April, 1863; mustered out Aug. 19, 1865.
CHAPTER VI.
McHENRY COUNTY BAR.
MOHENRY COUNTY LAWYERS .- MEN OF CHARACTER AND ABILITY. - EARLY MEMBERS OF THE BAR .- A. E. THOMAS, SEARL, BARWICK AND OTHERS .- THE FIRST LAWYERS AT WOODSTOCK .- D. C. BUSH, WM. SLOAN AND COLONEL L. S. CHURCH. - A. B. COON THE OLDEST LAWYER OF THE PRESENT BAR .- PLATT & PLATT .- HON. T. D. MURPHY .- HON. M. L. JOSLYN .- KERR, SLAVIN AND OTHERS .- BIOGRAPHIES AND PERSONAL MENTION.
McHenry County has a bar of more than average ability. In the past, too, her lawyers have been foremost among her honored citizens. Although the record contains no long array of distin- guished names, yet every one familiar with the county knows that the lawyers of the McHenry bar have maintained an excellent rep- utation for character, honesty and diligence in business. In this chapter it has been the endeavor of the writer to include the name of every lawyer of prominence that ever resided in the county, to- gether with biographical sketches, when it was possible to procure them, of all who, from long residence or conspicuous ability, might justly be considered as entitled to such mention.
AMORY E. THOMAS was the first lawyer who became a resident of McHenry County. He settled at McHenry in 1839, and remained in practice there until 1844. He then returned to New York, his native State. He was a lawyer of considerable ability, and had a good practice.
CALVIN SEARL, the next resident attorney, settled at Crystal Lake in 1839, and remained until about 1845, when he removed to Wisconsin.
J. J. BARWICK settled in McHenry in 1841, practiced until 1845, then removed to Oshkosh, Wis. He was a man of fair ability.
HOSEA G. WILSON located at MeHenry in 1842, and died there about 1847.
CHARLES MCCLURE was admitted to the bar of McHenry County in 1840. He settled at McHenry, remained a few months, then
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY OOUNTY.
went to La Porte, Ind. He afterward became a Methodist preacher, then turned again to the law. He returned to McHenry County about 1851, and settled in Woodstock, and, in partnership with Amos Cogswell, practiced at the bar six or seven years, after which he removed to Minnesota. He was a successful lawyer.
SOLOMON BAIRD came to McHenry in 1843, and remained unti 1845, then returned to Kentucky, whence he came.
HAMILTON NIXON, a native of Vermont, was among the early lawyers at McHenry. He was a young man of good intellect and much ability, and but for strong drink doubtless would have risen to prominence and honor. He died when ouly about thirty years of age.
D. C. BUSH was the first lawyer who settled in Woodstock. He came in the fall of 1844 and remained until about 1852, when he removed to Madison, Wis. He was a lawyer of average ability, and had a fair practice.
WILLIAM SLOAN came next, in December, 1844. For some time he had his office in the office of the Circuit Clerk, in the court- house, the commissioners giving him his rent on condition that he furnish wood for the office. He bought land on the west side of the town and planted a nursery. Mr. Sloan was a native of New Hampshire, and a graduate of Dartmouth College. He was a man of extensive reading and scholarship, but was not particu- larly successful. He took an active part in the organization of the Illinois & Wisconsin Railroad (now the Wisconsin division of the Chicago & Northwestern), and was elected its President in 1851, serving two years. He was accidentally killed in Chicago.
COLONEL LAWRENCE S. CHURCH (deceased) .- The subject of this notice won high distinction both as a lawyer and a statesman. He was a inan of the best intellectual caliber, and a citizen of whom McHenry County mnight well be proud. He was born in Nunda, N. Y., in 1820, and passed his early years upon a farm. He early evinced a fondness for study, and made the best use of the school privileges allowed him. At a youthful age he was able to earn money to prosecute his studies in the summer by teaching a term of school each winter. He turned his attention to the law, which he learned with rapidity and thoroughness. In 1823 he started West and came to McHenry County, where he had two married sisters. He reached McHenry, the then county seat, in June, 1843, and was thien a stranger without money. He had walked part of the way from New York, riding on the stage
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the rest, paying his expenses by stopping at villages along the way and delivering a lecture on "The Constitution of the United States," showing, even thus early, what was the bent of his mind. Soon after reaching McHenry he married and took a trip to Spring- field, where he was examined before Hon. S. H. Treat and admit- ted to the bar. He at once began practice at McHenry, and soon took a leading position at the bar. Soon after the county seat was removed, he located at Woodstock, where he remained as long as he lived. Mr. Church was a Whig of the active, aggressive sort, and of course he had no chance for political or official prominence until after 1856, when the county underwent a decided political change. In 1856 he gave his support to Fremont, and the same fall was the Republican candidate for Representative of the Legis- lature. He was triumphantly elected, and during the session which followed distinguished himself as one of the ablest members of the Legislature. He was re-elected, and in the stormy session that ensued became one of the leaders of the House. In 1860 he consented to become a candidate for Congress, and was warmly supported at the District Convention, but Hon. E. B. Washburn received the nomination. The same fall he was again chosen a Representative to the Legislature. For the first time he found a majority of the members of the House Republicans. Speaker Cullom appointed him Chairman of the Judicial Committee, a position which he filled with great ability. On the breaking out of the war he exerted himself to the utmost to arouse patriotic senti- ment and fidelity to the Union cause. In 1862, having aided to recruit the Ninety-fifth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, he left his family and his large law practice for the field. He was elected Colonel of the regiment and went into camp with it at Rockford. But his health failed; he could not endure camp life, and when the regiment reached Columbus, Ky., being stricken with cholera morbus, he was compelled to resign his command and return. He remained in a precarious condition through the winter of 1862-'3, and never afterward had as good health as before. In 1866, on the death of his law partner, Hon. Wm. Kerr, County Judge, Mr. Church filled the duties of that office for the unexpired term. In 1869 he was elected a member of the State Constitu- tional Convention, in which he performed distinguished service. Colonel Church died in Woodstock, July 23, 1870. The McHenry County bar passed resolutions that were highly eulogistic of his character; and the press of the State paid glowing tributes of re-
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spect to his memory. Said the Chicago Tribune : " Mr. Church has been, during the past fifteen years, one of the leading minds of the State, and althoughi he has hield few public offices, his in- fluence has been felt as that of a man of mark on every occasion calling for the exercise of strong will, high courage and true elo- quence." He was a man of sterling integrity, as well as of brill- iant intellect.
AMOS B. COON, of Marengo, is now the oldest practicing attor- ney in the county. He has held a prominent place at the bar for over forty years. From excessive modesty Mr. Coon declines to furnish the editor of this work a biographical sketch, but from a published account we glean the following facts: He was born in Towanda, Bradford Co., Pa., Feb. 12, 1815. In October, 1835, he came to McHenry County, and in 1845 opened a law office in Marengo. He followed surveying for a few years. From 1846 to 1862 he was Master in Chancery in McHenry County; in 1851-'2 and in 1860-'4, was State's Attorney for the circuit in which the county was included; served as Provost Marshal for his congres- sional district from May, 1863, to October, 1865; has been Regis- ter in Bankruptcy since 1867, and lias served on the County Board of Supervisors many successive terms. He is an earnest Republi- can, "a man of infinite jest and most excellent fancy," a good lawyer and a worthy citizen. Mr. Coon is the youngest of a family of twenty-one children by one mother. He married Miss Harriet A. Daman, of Ohio, in 1846, and is the father of three children, two of whom are living.
HENRY W. MOLEAN, widely known as a politician, is one of the oldest settlers of the county. He was born in Columbia County, N. Y., March 10, 1808. His father, John D. McLean, was a Scotch- man, who came to America when young and served in the Revo- lutionary war. Henry W. was reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty-two commenced the study of law. In 1834 he was admitted to the bar in New York State, where he pursued his profession until 1836. He then came West to McHenry County, locating at McHenry, where he still lives. He was admitted to the bar of McHenry County in 1842. He figured prominently in the early politics of the county, and of late years has been a well-known worker in the Republican ranks. He has also been quite con- spicuous as a lobbyist. On account of his quaint humor and jovial nature Mr. McLean is sure to attract attention in whatever politi- cal gathering he appears. He was married in 1837 to Miss Adeline
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Lee, of Vandalia, who died in 1842. In 1849 he married Miss Ursula Northrup, of McHenry.
ANSON SPERRY, attorney at law, Marengo, Ill., was born in Man- chester, Bennington Co., Vt., Oct. 1, 1824, the youngest of five children of Anson J. and Lorraine (Pierpont) Sperry. His father. was an attorney, and in an early day moved to Plattsburg, N. Y. His mother was a descendant of Rev. James Pierpont, the first President of Yale College. The early life of our subject was spent in New York. Aug. 4, 1841, he came to Illinois and began the study of law with Judge Skinner, and was admitted to the bar in 1845. He remained with Judge Skinner till the spring of 1847, when, May 7, he located in Marengo and began the practice of his profession. He was the second lawyer in the village. In the fall of 1848 he was elected Magistrate in a political contest between the north and south part of the township. About the same time he was appointed Postmaster and held the position till 1861. In 1853 he, in company with Cornelius Lansing, opened a banking house, which they carried on till 1863. In 1863 he was appointed pay- master in the Army of the Cumberland. In August, 1865, he was transferred to Chicago, and the following November went to Springfield to assist in paying off the troops, and remained there till Dec. 3. Mr. Sperry was married Oct. 18, 1849, to Lucy, daughter of George Stevens, a produce and lumber merchant of Belvidere. They have four children-C. C., a physician of Chi- cago, Ill .; Laura E., Edwin A., and Evelyn P. Mr. and Mrs. Sperry are members of the Episcopal church. He is a member of Harley Wayne Post, No. 169, G. A. R.
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