History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 20

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 20

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James A. Kennedy, attorney at law, is a na- tive of Huntingdon -now Blair-county, Penn- sylvania; was born in 1833. David Kennedy and Mary A. Miller, his parents, were also of that State. They came to Illinois abont 1840, and settled in Calhoun county, where Mr. Ken- nedy died soon after. They had three children, of whom James is the only one alive. Soon after his father's death, the family moved to St Louis, Missouri, and he was there reared and educated, completing a course in the St. Louis University in 1852. He then went south and engaged in teaching school in New Orleans and interior Louisiana, until 1857. Returning, he remained in St. Louis till the following year, then located in Waterloo, Monroe county, Illi- nois; read law with Hon. William R. Morrison,

and was admitted to practice in 1859. 1Ie was elected County Superintendent of schools in 1860, and filled the office by successive elections, eight years. He was appointed Master in Chan- cery about the same time, and held that position till he moved to Sangamon county in 1870. Here he taught the first year as assistant in the city high school, at the close of which he opened a law office; was elected city attorney on the Democratic ticket in 1874; the following year was chosen Justice of the Peace to fill a va- cancy, was re-elected in 1877, and served till May, 1881. Upon retiring he resumed the prac- tice of law. Mr. Kennedy is now serving his second term as supervisor from Capitol town- ship; was chairman of the Judiciary Com- mittee, first term, is now at the head of Com- mittee on Pauper and Poor Accounts. In Jan- nary, 1879, he, with several others, printers, is- sued the "Catholic News," a weekly publication, which was suspended about six months later, from lack of proper support. In 1858 he mar- ried Miss Clara Vanderburgt, a native of Bel- gium, Europe, but came to America at ten years of age. They have two adult daughters, Mary E. and Emma. Mr. Kennedy is a member, and for several years was successively President and Secretary of the Union of the Irish Catho- lic Benevolent Societies, of Springfield.

Charles Philo Kane, late of the firm of Haz- lett & Kane, is the son of Rev. Andrew J. Kane, who came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1830, and Caroline M. Beers, whose parents, Philo Beers and Martha Stillman, settled in this county in 1820, and are believed to have been the second couple married in Sangamon county. Charles was born in Springfield, December 25, 1850, graduated from the city high school in 1868, commenced the study of law in August, 1869, with Messrs. Hay, Greene & Littler, and was admitted to the Bar, June 13, 1871. May 1, 1874, he opened a law office in company with his late partner, Robert H. Hazlett. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Kane was elected to the office of City Attorney, and re-elected in 1879 and 1880, retiring from the office May 1, 1881. He is a Mason, a Past Master in St. Paul's lodge, No. 500, is a member of Springfield Chapter No. 1, Royal Arch Masons, and has been two years Recorder of Elwood Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar.

llis parents reside in Springfield; father was born in 1818, mother in 1827.

John C. Lanphier, second son of Hon. Charles HI. Lanphier. Born October 19, 1850, in Spring- field, Illinois; graduate of class of 1866, of

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Springfield High School. Studied law with Robinson, Knapp & Shutt and with Morrison & Patton. Admitted to the Bar July 4, 1871. Practiced in Chicago three years. Went into partnership with James W. Patton in January, 1875, firm of Patton & Lanphier. Married April 11, 1877, to Miss Susie C. Young, at St. Louis, Missouri.

Henry II. Rogers is a native of Ohio. IIe came to Illinois in 1869, and settled in Lawrence county. In 1872 he was admitted to the Bar, and commenced practice. In 1875 he came to Springfield and opened an office. For about two years he was a partner of Henry B. Kane, the partnership being dissolved on the election of Mr. Kane to the office of Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1881.

John C. Snigg, lawyer, 220 South Sixth street, was born in New Hampshire in November, 1849; came to Springfield, Illinois, in the fall of 1856. His parents were Edward Snigg and Margaret Murphy. His education was chiefly attained in the printing office, he having never attended school more than six months in his life. Mr. Snigg entered the office of the Springfield.Reg- ister as an apprentice boy in 1862, and worked in that and the Journal office until 1871. Ile began reading law in May of that year, in the office of Robinson, Knapp & Shutt, and carried newspapers meantime to defray current expenses. Passed his first examination in Michigan, in 1873, and received license to practice law; passed another examination before the Supreme Court of Illinois in June of the same year, and commenced practice in Springfield. He was elected City Attorney in 1875, and re-elected in 1876 and 1877. During the last term he revised the city ordinances, after thirteen years without revision. In the fall of 1878, Mr. Snigg was elected Representative to the legislature on the Democratic ticket, for its thirty-first session.

Robert H. Hazlett, State's Attorney for San- gamon county, Illinois, late senior member of the law firm of Ilazlett & Kane, is the second child and eldest son of a family of six children- three of each sex-of William P. and Zerelda Hazlett, nee Haggard, and was born in Christian county, Illinois. His grandfather IIazlett came from Western Virginia, and settled in Spring- field in 1828, his father being then but seven years of age. Some years later the family removed to Christian county. There his parents married and remained until 1860, when they returned to Sangamon county and settled where they now reside, four miles west of Springfield. Robert labored on the farm until twenty years

old, enjoying the educational advantages of the city schools and two years attendance at the State Industrial University at Champaign, Illinois. He read law in the office of Herndon & Oren- dorff in Springfield, and was admitted to the Bar, March 6, 1873. He served as Deputy Clerk in the office of the Supreme Court for a time; and in May, 1874, he formed a law partnership with Charles P. Kane, and opened an office for practice. In 1876, Mr. Ilazlett was elected State's Attorney for Sangamon county, and re- elected in 1880. In politics he is Democratic, and was elected on that ticket.

William L. Gross is an Attorney-at-Law, in the active practice of his profession in the city of Springfield, Illinois, in conjunction with Clinton L. Conkling, under the firm of Gross & Conkling. Mr. Gross is a native of the State of New York, and was born in Fairfield, Herkimer county, on the 21st of February, 1839. His fa- ther, Rev. Alba Gross, a minister in the Baptist Church, and his mother Alathea Smith Gross, were born in Courtland county, New York. Tre family came to Illinois in the spring of 1844, making the journey in a movers' covered wagon. They first settled in Canton, Fulton county, and afterwards, in 1848, moved upon a farm in Knox county.

At the age of seventeen years, William, the subject of this sketch, having passed through the public schools and the Academy, engaged in teaching, and while so engaged he prosecuted his law studies. He was admitted to the Bar in Springfield on June 27, 1862, and at once enter- ed into pratice in that city in co-partnership with his brother, Eugene L. Gross, Esq.

In August, 1862, Mr. Gross entered the ser- vice of the Government, and in September, 1863, was appointed Superintendent of Military Telegraphs in the Department of the Ohio. Im- mediately following this appointment, on Octo- ber 27, 1863, he was appointed by President Lincoln, a Captain and Assistant Quartermaster of Volunteers, and, under command of General Anson Stager, was assigned to duty in the De- partment of the Ohio, as Military Superintend- ent Telegraphs. In the discharge of this duty he was engaged till Johnston's surrender in the spring of 1865, when he was transferred to the Department of the Gulf, relieving Colonel W. G. Fuller, and took control of Military Tele- graphs in that entire department. While in this latter department he was a member of Gen- eral Phil II. Sheridan's military family, and a member of his staff. He was twice breveted, once as major and afterwards as lieutenant colo-

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nel, and was honorably discharged in August, 1866.

From that time till February, 1868, he was engaged in the civil telegraphic service, succes- ively as Auditor of the Southwestern Telegraph Company, at Louisville, Kentucky, as financial agent of the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany for the district west of the Missouri, and as Superintendent of the Tariff Bureau of that company in New York City.

Resigning that position in February, 1868, he returned to Springfield, and, resuming his busi- ness relations with his brother, E. L. Gross, became an active member of the Law and Law Publishing firm of E. L. & W. L. Gross, so well known throughout this State. In 1868 the firm issued the first volume of Gross' Statutes of Illinois, a work accepted by the courts and Bar as authority, and specially legalized by an act of the legislature. The following year a second edition was issued, including the laws of 1869; and the firm also issued an Index to all the Laws of Illinois, a work of great research, minute detail and merit. In 1872 the second volume of Gross' Statutes appeared, and the following year the firm was dissolved by the retirement of the elder brother on account of ill health. The publications of the firm were continued by the subject of this sketch, and in 1874 appeared the third volume of Gross' Statutes. Of these pub- lications it is not too much to say that they were acceptable alike to the courts, the Bar, and the people, and will long remain models of their kind.

Since 1874 Mr. Gross has been actively en- gaged in the practice of his profession in this city.

He was elected Representative from Sanga- mon county to the Thirty-First General Assem- bly, upon the Republican ticket, and served dur- ing that session.

In January 1881 he formed the law partner- ship now existing, with Mr. Clinton L. Conk- ling, one of the leading law firms of Sangamon connty.

Upon the organization, in January 1877, of the Illinois State Bar Association, Mr. Gross was elected its Secretary, and by successive elections still holds that important position.

In 1864 Mr. Gross was married to Miss Althea Livingstone, of Poughkeepsie, New York, and to them have been born two children, Edgar S. and Louise.

John McAuley Palmer was born in Scott county, Kentucky, September 13, 1817. While yet in his infancy, he was taken by his parents

to Christian county, Kentucky, where he re- mained until 1831, when, in company with his parents, he came to Illinois and settled in Madi- son county. At this time he was in his four- teenth year, with but little education, and only such as was derived from the common country schools of that day. About two years after, his mother died and the family was broken up. The old college at Alton, commenced on the manual labor plan, was started at this time, and he de- termined to avail himself of its privileges. For one year he arose at daylight, built the fires, swept the floors, and did other chores until school hours, when he prosecuted his studies.

Some four years after (in 1838), while travel- ing as a clock peddler, he stopped all night at a hotel in Carthage, Hancock county. A friend accompanied him to the hotel, and the two were assigned a room with two beds. Late in the night they were aroused by the landlord, who ushered in two strangers. "Sorry to waken you, gentlemen," said he, "but here are two strangers who want a bed. You two must sleep together, or share your beds with them." Palmer turned over, rubbed his eyes, and saw before him a short, spare man, with broad, expansive forehead, and large, luminous eyes. The other was taller, fine-looking, and had the appearance of being a college professor. The tall man in- quired about their politics. "Well," replied Palmer, " My friend's a Whig, and I am a Demo- crat." "You take the Whig, and I'll take the Democrat," said the short man. They got into bed, and all were soon sound asleep. The next morning Palmer inquired the name of his bed- fellow. It was Stephen A. Douglas, the Little Giant of the West. His fellow-traveler was John T. Stuart.

In 1839, Mr. Palmer went to Carlinville, and entered the law office of John S. Greathouse, and commenced the study of law. In Decem- ber of the same year he went to Springfield to apply for license to practice. The court appoint- ed Judge Douglas and J. Young Scammon to examine him. Ilis examination was satisfac- tory, Mr. Douglas remarking, "You may not now be able to take charge of important law cases, but from the cut of your features and set of your clothes, you soon will be." In the even- ing Mr. Palmer took a stroll around town, and into a church used as a State House, where a tall, long, bony man was entertaining a crowd with a speech that was full of anecdote, logic and com- mon sense. He inquired his name, and was in- formed that it was Abe Lincoln. The next day he was introduced to Mr. Lincoln, and from that

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day to the death of Lincoln they were warm personal friends.

Returning to Carlinville, he at once com- menced the practice of law, and, although he was not a good speaker, he soon commanded a lucrative practice. In 1840 he supported Van Buren for the Presidency, taking an active part in the canvass.

On the 20th of December, 1842, he was united in marriage to Melinda Ann Neeley. Two weeks after marriage the couple went to housekeeping. The whole cost of furniture and everything nec- essary to go to housekeeping, was less than fifty dollars.

While a strong Democrat, Mr. Palmer was always an anti-slavery man, and when the Kan- sas-Nebraska act of 1854 became the issue, he sided with the Anti-Nebraska Democrats. He was elected to the State Senate this year, which contained four Anti-Nebraska Democrats. A United States Senator was to be elected in place of General Shields. The Anti-Nebraska Demo- crats held the balance of power. Palmer offered to go into the Democratic caucus, provided fealty to the Kansas-Nebraska aet was withdrawn. His offer was refused. Shields was nominated by the Democrats, Lincoln by the Whigs, and Palmer put Lyman Trumbull in nomination as the representative of the Anti-Nebraska Demo- crats. Trumbull was elected. Douglas labored hard with Palmer to get him to vote for Shields, and both in the wordy contest lost control of their temper. Doug'as taunted him with going over to the Abolitionists, and said he could till his place with plenty of good Whigs. Palmer grew hot and retorted, "So help me God, I'll never vote for Shields. You know how warmly I have supported you. You now tell me you are willing to part with me, and that you can fill my place with your life-long enemies. You demand that I shall surrender my personal independence and manhood, and threaten me if I refuse. From this time forward I will fight you, and will never speak to you until you are beaten, and lose your power to make and nmnake men." The friend- ship was severed and not renewed until 1861, when the Governor of Illinois sent Palmer to Washington as a member of the Peace Confer- ence. The morning after his arrival Douglas sent a card to his room requesting an interview. The great statesman came in, and, offering his hand, said: "Well, Palmer, the time has come when, by your own limitation, we are to be friends. I beat you a long time ago, but it has taken you a long time to beat me. I'm glad to see you." "Yes, Judge," said Palmer, "You

were a thundering hard man to beat." Douglas then said: " You have always misunderstood me. Years ago I saw that Davis and others meant disunion. I sought to force the issue upon them in the Lecompton controversy, and would have done so if Buchanan had not proven false. Then, there was Union feeling enough even in the South to crush them. They have since had two years to educate the South into secession." Then rising, and, in a solemn, prophetic voice, he said: "And now you will see millions of men in arms before the question is settled."

The campaign of 1856 was the first in which figured the newly organized Republican party. Palmer gave his adhesion to that party. In 1860 he did much service in the election of Lincoln to the Presidency. When the war broke out, Palmer raised the 14th Illinois Infantry, and by brave and gallant deeds was promoted to Major General, given command of a corps, and afterwards a department.

After the close of the war he returned to the practice of law, and in 1868 was elected Gov- ernor of the State, serving four years with marked ability. On the expiration of his term of office, he located permanently in Springfield, and is now an active, honorable member of the Sangamon County Bar.

John Mayo Palmer, of the firm of Palmers, Robinson & Shutt, was born in Carlinville, Illi- nois, March 10, 1848. He is the son of John M. and Melinda A. (Neeley) Palmer. Young Palmer, preparatory to his collegiate course, at- tended the public schools of his native city. He then entered Blackburn University, and subse- quently Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, Illinois, where he remained four years. Desiring to be with his father during the war, he left college before graduating, and never returned. After. the close of the war he read law with his father, and was admitted to the Bar in the summer of 1867. He then entered the law department of Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and in June, 1868, graduated with the degree of LL B. He next returned home and commenced the practice of law in Carlinville, where he re- mained until September, 1872, when he moved to Springfield and formed a partnership with his father, and has since been an active member of the Sangamon County Bar. During his legal practice in Carlinville he served as City Attor- ney one year. After his removal to Springfield he served as a member of the City Council, from 1874 to 1877. At the general election in 1876, he was elected a member of the Illinois Legis- lature by the Democratic party, with which he

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

affiliates. John Mayo Palmer and Eilen Rob- ertson, daughter of Dr. W. A. and Nannette (Holliday) Robertson, were united in marriage in Carlinville, Illinois, July 7, 1869. Three children have resulted from this union-John McAnley, born in Carlinville, April 23, 1870; Robertson, born in Carlinville, July 5, 1872; George Thomas, born in Springfield, March 5, 1875. Mrs. Palmer completed her education at Monticello Seminary, Godfrey, Illinois. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

George W. Murray, attorney-at-law, was born at Covington, Miami county, Ohio, July 7, 1839. David Murray, his father, was a farmer, residing near Dayton. George was educated in the city, and taught school four years before beginning the pursuit of law. He read law in the office of General Moses B. Walker, in Dayton, in 1859 and 1860; was admitted in June, 1861, and com- menced practice in that city. Was several years a member of the City Council while there. In 1874 Mr. Murray moved to Springfield, Illinois, and has since been an active member of the Sangamon County Bar. In April, 1881, he eu- tered into co-partnership with Noah H. Turner, which relation still exists. At the age of twenty- one, in October, 1860, he married Miss Emma Neisbert, of Dayton, Ohio.

Robert W. Maxwell was born in Springfield, Illinois, December 13, 1845. He read law and graduated from the law department of Michi- gan University, in March, 1874. In June fol- lowing he was licensed to practice in the courts of Illinois. In 1875 he went to Decatur and remained over three years in the practice of his profession. Returning to Springfield, he opened an office, and in June, 1879, formed a partner- ship with Judge Robertson. He affiliates with the Democratic party, and has been somewhat active in local politics, but was never a candi- date for office save that of City Attorney in 1881, bnt was beaten by a combination of Republicans and citizens.

George A. Sanders, Attorney-at-law, of the firm of Sanders & Williams, National Bank building, was born in Berkshire county, Mass., July 4, 1836; graduated from Williams College in 1861; came to Illinois; read law with Messrs. Sweet & Orme in Bloomington, and was ad- mitted to the Bar in 1864. He practiced his profession five years in Centralia, Illinois. In 1868 he was chosen one of the Electors for General Grant for the Presidency. In the winter of 1869-70 Mr. Sanders became Assistant State Treasurer, which position he filled six

years; and since retiring from that department, he has been in active law practice in Spring- field. He entered into co-partnership with Frank P. Williams, January 1, 1881. Mr. San- ders has always affiliated with the Republican party and been an active worker in its interests.

James H. Matheny, Jr., is a "native to the manor born." He was born in Springfield, Illi- nois, in 1856, and is the third son of James H. Matheny, the present County Judge of Sanga- mon county. He was educated in the city; read law from 1874 to 1876, and was then admitted to the Bar. In 1877 he opened an office in Springfield, and has since devoted himself closely to his profession.

Henry A. Stevens, Lawyer, office 110 North Sixth street ; was born in Shefford county, in the Dominion of Canada, July 17, 1847. John M. Stevens was a native of New Brunswick, and married Sibyl Goddard, a Canadian lady The subject of this sketch is one of their family of ten living children, five of each sex. Three of the sons are lawyers, and one a physician by profession. Henry was educated in Canada and Vermont. Came to the United States in 1865, to Logansport, Indiana, in 1868, and to Spring- field in 1869. The next four years he spent in teaching school and reading law. From the fall of 1873 till 1877, he practiced law in Monona county, Iowa, and since that time has been an active member of the Springfield Bar. In the spring of 1870, Mr. Stevens was made a Mason, in Williamsville, Sangamon county, and is now a member of that fraternity. He married Miss Laura Southwick, in Springfield, in the spring of 1873. Her parents, William and Lonvicy Southwick, settled in Sangamon county, in 1819, and still live on the old homestead, entered by his father, Jessie, in Woodside township, about seven miles southeast of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have one daughter, aged seven years, and a son five years old. Mr. Stevens' parens immi- grated to Illinois in 1866, and now reside in Shelby county.

James E. Dowling, Attorney at Law, was born in Pine Grove near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in April, 1844, and is the only living son of a family of three boys and five girls, of Patrick J., and Ann Dowling, who were born and married in Ireland, and crossed the Atlantic when Mr. Dowling was twenty-three years of age. When James was thirteen years old, the family moved to Freeport, Stephenson county, Illinois, where he was chiefly educated, graduating from the high school in that place in 1860. After reading law with Thomas J. Turner, of Freeport,

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two years, he attended the Albany Law School, New York, from which he was graduated May 20, 1864. He located in practice in Peters- burg, Illinois, was chosen Secretary of the State Senate for the session of 1865-6, at the close of which he moved to Athens, Menard, county, and there practiced law eleven years. In 1877 he re- moved to Springfield where he has been active in the profession since. In politics Mr. Dowling is Republican, and was quite active in the canvass in Menard county, previous to General Grant's last election to the Presidency. He married Miss Savilia, daughter of James G. Davis, one of the early settlers of Menard county, in Octo- ber, 1865. They have a family of three sons and six daughters. Mr. Dowling is a member of Capital City Lodge No. 38, of Ancient Order of United Workmen.

James A. Creighton, lawyer, of Orendorff & Creighton, northeast corner Washington and Fifth streets, was born in White county, Illinois, and is thirty-five years of age. He was graduated from Southern Illinois College, at Salem, in June, 1868; read law with C. A. Beecher, in Fairfield, Illinois, and was admitted to the Bar in March, 1870. After practicing law in Fairfield until April, 1877, he located in Springfield, forming a co-partnership with Mr. A. Orendorff, which still exists. The firm has a fine legal business.

John M. Creighton, Mr. C.'s father, was also a native of White connty, Illinois, born in 1821; passed his whole life in this State, and died in 1869. His mother was born in Illinois in 1824, and is still living. His paternal ancestors were North Carolinians, and his maternal ancestors from Virginia.

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History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 20

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084