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 41

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 41

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"The Whigs, not to be outdone in the matter of flag-staffs. procured the necessary spars of ash, and a large force of carpenters was at once set to work, under the direction of Mr. Henry Dresser, the architect. The work occupied sev- eral days, and the timbers were prepared on Sixth street near Washington.

"At that time the old State House grounds were unfenced, and were filled with stones, which were being dressed for the porticoes of the building. Farmers hitched their teams amongst the stones, and the old pump near the north front of the building was in constant demand. A farmer had purchased some Spanish flies of P. C. Cannedy, and carelessly placed the package on top of the pump, whilst he procured a drink of water. The package slipped down the pump! The farmer was frightened, and slipped out of town without informing any one of the circum- stance. Of course,

THE WATER WAS POISONED,

and the workmen on the new pole, who drank freely of the water, were seriously affected by the poison, although no lives were lost. The pump was promptly locked by Mike McNamara, the State House janitor, and further trouble averted. At once there was a cry from a few foolish fellows, 'The pump has been poisoned by the Democrats.' This incident occurred about two weeks before the contemplated erec- tion of the pole, and created the most intense excitement. Finally, the auspicious day arrived, August 3, 1844-thirty-seven years ago to-day- when the Whig pole was to be erected. The Journal office was in an old frame building on the east side of Sixth street, where Eldredge & Conant's furniture store now stands. Simeon Francis was the editor and publisher. South of the Journal office was the marble yard of Cap- tain Adam Johnson. Opposite the Journal office, in the middle of the street, stood the market

house and calaboose, or city prison. At a point south of the market house, and in the middle of the street, the foundation for the new pole had been prepared. This was

A MASSIVE STRUCTURE

of timbers and stone sunk twelve feet under ground The pole was an octagon, dressed, jury-mast rigged, and stood 216 feet above the ground. A working derrick stood near the foot of the staff, which lay in a direction pointing toward the old Court House. A derrick mast eighty feet high stood near the. east sidewalk, and was to bear the strain of the immense flag- staff as it was being erected. Captain Francis F. Sampson, a retired sea-captain, and Mr. John Brodie, a Scotchman fifty years old, and a stone mason, whose yard and residence was at the southeast corner of Third and Adams streets, were selected to rig the ropes and tackle of the derricks.

"A preliminary test of the strength of the guy ropes attached to the derrick mast was made early in the morning, and under the strain the east guy rope broke twice, but the breaks were spliced, and the derrick caused to lean slightly to the east, thus throwing the strain on the west rope. A hitch occurred in the block at the top of the derrick, and Mr. Brodie went aloft to adjust it. Mr. William S. Conant, eldest son of Mr. Sullivan Conant, then an active lad of eighteen, went up to assist Mr. Brodie, and to carry up a rope sling, which had fallen from aloft, striking Mr. Charles Fisher, hurting him slightly. An immense throng of people had gathered from the city and surrounding coun- try, and a company of Whig lads were just passing through Johnson's stone-yard from the Journal office, when a cry of horror went up from the crowd, 'the derrick is falling,' and the stentorian voice of 'Old Rube Redford' was heard: 'Jump for your lives.' The writer of this was with the procession of lads and wit- nessed with horror

THE TRAGIC SCENE,

which left a lasting impression upon his mind. Young Conant ran down the cleats a few feet, and then sprang into the air from a height fully sixty feet, in a north westerly direction, falling with a sickening thud near the west sidewalk. Poor Brodie appeared paralyzed, and clung to the derrick, which in its fall crushed him to the earth a shapeless corpse. Young Conant was tenderly borne to the house of his father, on South Fifth street, accompanied by hundreds of

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

sympathizing friends. Every physician in town was promptly on hand. Drs. Merriman, Cabanis, Todd, Helm, Wallace, Jayne, McNeil, Henry, Shields and Frazer were particularly prominent in the tender of their services. On examination it was found that the unfortunate youth had sustained the fracture of several ribs and a compound fracture of the right ankle, the bones piercing the flesh, and had actually been driven deep into the ground. Mr. Conant was confined to his bed for more than two months, but finally recovered with a lame ankle, which kept him on crutches for more than two years, and he is to this day lame in that foot, and at times suffers some pain. At one time it was thought necessary to amputate the foot, but by the skill of Drs. Merriman and Cabanis the member was saved. After the accident the cry went up that the Democrats had

CUT THE GUY ROPES,

but honest men scouted the idea as atrocions. Then it was said that Mr. Brodie had acciden- tally cut the rope with a hatchet, but he had neither hatchet or knife with him. The facts were that the dense throng had crowded on to the west guy rope and had drawn the derrick from a perpendicular, and the strain was two much for the east guy rope, which had been already twice broken, and it again parted, causing the derrick to fall. The clubs of both political parties passed resolutions of sympathy for the unfortunate young man. Mr. E. B. Herndon, President of the Young Men's Democratic Club, exerted himself to render the patient every assistance possible. Mr. Lincoln was almost constantly by the sick bed, whilst such men as Colonel E. D. Baker, John C. Calhoun, Caleb Birchall, Robert Irwin, James H. Matheny, B. S. Edwards, W. P. Grimsley and many other prominent citizens of both parties cheerfully attended to the wants of the sick man. As soon as he was able to leave the house, Mr. Lincoln took young Conant to a Whig demonstration in Jacksonville, making the journey by easy stages in a carriage.

In 1849, Mr. Conant removed to Petersburg- entering into the furniture business. IIe still resides in that thriving suburban village, and devotes his time to his lovely Rose Hill Ceme- tery.

THE BEAUTIFUL ASH-POLE

was safely erected soon after the accident, and remained until after the election in November, when it was taken down, as fears of its safety

from winter storms were entertained. A flag and a streamer 150 feet long floated from the staff. They were made by the ladies of the city and presented to the Whigs. The streamer, on which was inscribed the word 'Union,' was subsequently presented to Mr. Conant, and it is still in his possession, in a good state of preser- vation. An admirable campaign glee club, under the leadership of Mr. Robert Irwin, afforded the vocal music for the Whigs in that campaigh, whilst 'Jack ' Hough was the leader of a brass band, in opposition to 'Old Ball- ings.'

1846 .- T. M. Kilpatrick received the Whig nomination for Governor, and A. C. French was honored by the Democratic party for the same office. Before the people Mr. French was suc- cessful. Abraham Lincoln was placed in nomi- nation for Congress by the Whigs of the Sev- enth District, and Peter Cartwright was his Democratic opponent. The Free Soil party, which was trying to force itself into notice, honored E. Wolcott with their votes. Lincoln and Cartwright made a thorough canvass of the district, which resulted in the election of Mr. Lincoln. Sangamon county, as usual, gave its vote to the Whig party, the entire county ticket being elected by an average majority of 500.

1848 .- The first measure before the people was a vote on the new Constitution, which had been prepared by a convention elected for that purpose the previous year. The vote in this county was, for the Constitution, 1,817; against, 200. Zachary Taylor, the hero of Buena Vista, was placed in nomination for the Presidency, by the Whigs; Lewis Cass, the eminent Statesman of Michigan, by the Democrats; and Martin Van Buren, by the Free Soil party. For Con- gress, Stephen T. Logan, of Springfield, and Thomas L. Harris, of Petersburg, were the nominees of the Whig and Democratic parties, respectively. Mr. IIarris, was elected, but Mr. Logan carried this county by a majority of 263 votes. John T. Stuart was the Whig, and J. W. Barrett, the Democratic candidate for State Senator, Mr. Stuart received a majority of 327. But little interest was manifested in the cam- paign, comparatively, except for Congress, and the vote was less than in 1844, being less than 3,200. The Whig county ticket was again suc- cessful.

1850 .- T. L. Harris, of Petersburg, was nomi- nated by the Democrats for re-election to Con- gress, and was opposed by Richard Yates, the nominee of the Whigs. In this county but little interest was manifested, there being but a few

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

county officers to be elected. Scarcely more than three-fourths of the votes was polled, the Whigs being again triumphant, electing all their officers, and giving Yates 336 majority for Con- gress.

1852 .- The Whigs again placed in the field as their chief nominee for the Presidency, a military chieftain, one who in the War of 1812, and in the Mexican war, distinguished himself in a manner as to win the praise of the whole country-Gen- eral Winfield Scott. He was confronted by Franklin Pierce, who, though ranking as General, was not considered the military hero as was Gen- eral Scott. The Free Soil party, though having no hopes of electing their ticket, placed John P. Hale in the field as a candidate for the same office. For Governor, Joel A. Matteson was the Democratic candidate, and Edwin B. Webb the Whig, and Mr. Knowlton the Free Soil. The Whigs of the Nation, though having an excellent man as their standard-bearer, were discouraged, and in this campaign fought as though they had no hopes of success. In this county is found an exception to this fact. Here the canvass was quite spirited, each party placing their most popular men in the field for local offices. Rich- ard Yates was renominated by his party for Congress, and was opposed by John Calhoun on the part of the Democrats. Mr. Yates was suc- cessful in the district, carrying Sangamon county by a majority of 780. The entire Whig county ticket was successful by increased majorities over 1850.

1853 .- There were neither State or National offices to be filled this year, and but few county offices. The Democracy, for the first time in many years, succeeded in obtaining control of some of the county offices, electing their candi- date for County Judge by a majority of 143, and the Treasurer by 65 votes. Noah W. Matheny, the Whig candidate for County Clerk, had 614 majority. The vote polled was very light, being only 2,244, against 3,723 in 1852. Notwith- standing the general unconcern of the peeple, there were evidences of the coming storm in the political world, and some uneasiness was shown by those having a true appreciation of the state of affairs. The secession leaven was already at work in the Southern States, and wise men were seeking to avert the calamity which was likely to overtake the Government.

1854 .- New questions now arose growing out of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. The Whig party, unable to recover from its defeat in 1852, had been slowly disintegrating and had

almost ceased to exist. The Democratic party was divided on the new issues. For some years a new party had been struggling for an exist- ence, based on questions of nationality, and known as the American or Know-Nothing party. In the Southern States it had made considerable progress, absorbing the greater number of mem- bers of the Whig party. In the North it had also quite a large membership, and if the issues attending the repeal of the Missouri Compromise had not been suddenly thrust upon the people, the new party would have become a very im- portant factor in the politics of the country, if it had not obtained control of the Govern- ment. Early in the year, Judge Douglas in- troduced a bill into Congress and supported it on the ground that it was simply an assertion of the great principle of the right of the people to govern themselves. This bill is known as the Kansas-Nebraska bill. In 1820, on the admis- sion of the State of Missouri into the Union, a bill was passed by Congress known as the Missouri Compromise, and which prohibited slavery in any Territory north of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes, north latitude, per- mitting its existence south of that line. By the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, this com- promise measure would be repealed and the Territories north of the line mentioned would be thrown open to slavery. The question was thoroughly agitated in and out of Congress, those favoring the bill claiming it was an act of justice to the people, and would forever settle the question of slavery by relegating it to the people of the other Territories, who alone were directly interested in it. If they desired slavery, they could have it; if not, they could prohibit it by law. The opponents of this bill contended its provisions were alone favorable to friends of slavery, that as long as any part of the country had territorial existence, or under territorial government, it could not prohibit slavery; it was only on its admission as a State that it could say whether or not it would have slavery.

The bill was passed, but the agitation did not cease, but rather increased. As representing the views of the opponents of the bill, the follow- ing preamble and resolvtions, passed at a meet! ing in Alton, are given:

"WHEREAS, A great wrong has been done to the people of the free States of the Union, by the recent action of Congress in the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, thereby repealing so much of the Missouri Compromise act of March 3, 1820, as forever prohibits 'slavery and in-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

voluntary servitude, otherwise than in the pun- ishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, in all that territory ceded to the United States by France, under the name of Louisiana, which lies north of thirty-six de- grees thirty minutes north latitude, not included in the limits of the State of Missouri;' and by such repeal opening all that vast region of coun- try, long consecrated to freedom, to the admission of human slavery, in disregard of a solemn compact entered into upwards of thirty-four years ago, between the free and slave-holding States, and during all that time quietly acqui- esced in and sacredly observed by the parties to the same; therefore, be it

"Resolved, That negro slavery, as existing in any of the States of the Union, is not a domestic institution only, but is a political institution, in which, as such, the free and slaveholding States are alike interested; and this must ever be the case so long as the slaves are counted as they now are, in the apportionment of the representa- tives in Congress-the loss of power in the for- mer being in the same ratio with the gain to the latter.

"Resolved, That the Kansas-Nebraska bill, now the organic law of these Territories, per- mits the introduction of slavery into them, but gives the people no power to exclude it during the existence of the territorial form of govern- ment, and instead of favoring popular sov- ereignty, virtually denies its exercise; and thus the rejection of the amendment offered in its passage, distinctly conferring the right on the people to admit or exclude slavery, abundantly proves, and the doctrine of non-intervention, so loudly proclaimed in its advocacy, has been studiously excluded, and this law is praised for what it does not contain.

"Resolved, That fidelity to the cause of African slavery, at this time regarded in certain quarters as an indispensable test of Democracy, is not so held by us; that free America is un- worthily employed in forging shackles for the unoffending inmates of the house of bondage.

"Resolved, That Stephen A. Douglas and James Shields, our Senators in Congress, have, by voting for the passage of the Kansas-Ne- braska bill, betrayed the trusts reposed in them, acted in total disregard of the interests of this State and of the whole Union, forfeited the confidence of the people, and deserve, as they doubtless will receive, the condemnation of all upright and fair-minded men. Their course on this subject has been taken on their own responsibility, and can receive no palliation

from the sham indorsement of their pliant tools in our legislature.

"Resolved, That in this matter we will know no party other than the one opposed to the great wrong which has been perpetrated upon us in the passage of this bill; and will vote at the en- suing election for no person to represent us in the General Assembly, who is not known to be opposed to this measure, and opposed to the ap- pointment to office of those who have voted in its favor.

"Resolved, That we hail as the truest and most efficient effort to secure the privileges of 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,' to the peo- ple of the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, the movement to people those Territories with free men; and further,

"Resolved, That we will co-operate with the friends of freedom at a distance, for the purpose of facilitating the transit of emigrants to those Territories."

Although there was but a single State officer to be elected this year, the canvass was spirited in consequence of the excitement attending the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. The Democratic State Convention endorsed the action of their representatives in the passage of this bill, and endorsed the measure as a righteous and just one. The opposition rallied under the banner of "Anti-Nebraska," the conventions be- ing usually called of those opposed to the bill, though sometimes they took the name of "Peo- ple's Conventions."

On the adjournment of Congress, Judge Doug- las came home and at once took the stump in advocacy of the measure. He was opposed by Abraham Lincoln, who even then was recognized as the leader of the opposition. Joint debates were held by these men in several places, and their power was generally conceded. A legisla- ture was to be elected that should choose a United States Senator in place of James Shields, whose term would expire March, 1855. The issues were sharply defined. The doctrine af- firmed in the Kansas-Nebraska bill was to be approved or condemned. The Whigs almost unanimously took ground against the bill and formed the nucleus of the new party, being re- inforced by many Anti-Slavery or Free-Soil Democrats. Still there was no real union formed. In places where the Whigs were in the majority, or formed a powerful minority, they nominated a Whig candidate for the legislature, who was generally supported by the Anti-Nebraska Demo- crats. Where the Free-Soil Democrats were numerous enough they nominated a candidate,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

who was acceptable to and received the general support of the Whigs. The result of the election was the success of the opposition to the regular Democracy .

In this county, under name of the People's Party, the opposition united, defeating the reg- ular Democrats and electing their entire ticket.

Abraham Lincoln and Stephen T. Logan were elected members of the legislature. The Assem- bly was pretty evenly divided; a few Anti-Ne- braska Democrats holding the balance of power. Mr. Lincoln was a prominent candidate for the United States Senate. Believing his chance of election good, with the aid of the Anti-Nebraska Democrats, and thinking he could work to a better advantage among these if not himself a member of the Assembly, he refused to qualify, and a special election was called to fill the va- cancy. Norman M. Broadwell was nominated by the opposition to the regular Democracy, and they having a large majority in the county, it was intimated that no ticket would be run by the latter. The day of the election came round. In the meantime, the Democratic leaders con- ferred together, and agreed to place in nomina- tion Jonathan McDaniel, an estimable farmer, living in the northeast part of the county, and provided themselves with tickets, which they distributed quietly among the faithful, with in- structions to as quietly vote it. The Whigs, Americans and Anti-Nebraska Democrats knew nothing whatever of this matter until about three o'clock in the afternoon-too late to be of benefit to them. The Democrats polled almost their full vote, while that of the opposition was light, as they imagined they had a clear field. Mr. McDaniel was elected.

This was a severe blow to the opposition en- dangering their ascendency in the coming legis- lature, and subjecting the local leaders to a deal of joke and ridicule, on the part of their Demo- cratic opponents, who had been so successful in the adoption of "know-nothing" tactics. Con- sidering the genial, amiable character of Mr. Lincoln, who was the chief sufferer by the "fu- sion" defeat, on the morning following the elec- tion, he met Mr. Lanphier, of the State Register, on the street, and with that peculiar wriggle of the body when he had a joke to recount, he called out: "Charlie, do you remember Monte- cue Morris?" "Oh, yes, very well," said Lan- phier. "Well," said Mr. Lincoln, "Montecue was a private in Mr. Baker's regiment in the Mexican war. The regiment was lying on the Rio Grande, Governor Moore in command, Baker having gone to Washington to get the boys

some new clothes. By some means a few of the boys had got possession of a barrel of cider, and setting it up in their tent, were selling it out at twenty cents a drink, and were doing a land of- fice business, when Morris applied to Governor Moore for permission to move his tent, which was granted, and the tent was backed up against the one which had been improvised as a 'gro- cery,' whereupon Mortis tapped the other end of the cider barrel, and peddled the liquor from his tent for ten cents a drink, and got away with a good deal of it before detected. That is the way you fellows served ns yesterday. You beat our 'know-nothing' allies at their own game." Turning away, he remarked, with a wriggle: "It is very funny, is this election re- sult, but, Charlie, it hurts.'

1855 .- The opposition this year generally assumed the name Republican, a name adopted in a few States the year previous. The first great fight of the year was in the General Assembly on the election of United States Sena- tor. James Shields was the candidate of the regular Democracy, Abraham Lincoln of the Whigs, and Lyman Trumbull of the Anti- Nebraska Democrats. While the Whigs were Anti-Nebraska in their views, Mr. Lincoln could not rally to his support the Anti-Nebraska Dem- ocrats. The two houses of the Assembly met in joint session Thursday, February 8, and pro- ceeded to ballot. The first ballot resulted as follows: James Shields, 41; Abraham Lincoln, 44; Lyman Trumbull, 5; William Kellogg, 2; G. A. Koerner, 2; Cyrus Edwards, Joel A. Mat- teson, O. B. Ficklin, William H. Ogden and William A. Deming, one each. The second bal- lot resulted the same as the first. Nine ballots were taken without a choice, the Anti-Nebraska Democrats holding the balance of power and voting regularly for Lyman Trumbull. Mr. Lincoln, realizing the hopelessness of the con- test, urged his friends to vote for Trumbull. The tenth ballot was then taken, resulting in the election of Trumbull by the following vote: Lyman Trumbull, 50; Joel A. Matteson, 47; Archibald Williams, 1. The last vote was cast by Lonis H. Waters, of MeDonough county.

The only election held this year was in May, for a Judge of the Supreme Court. In this con- test politics were not taken into consideration. Stephen T. Logan and O. C. Skinner were the candidates. The vote in this county stood as follows: Skinner, 2,518; Logan, 1,420. At the same time an election was held on the question of a "Maine Law," resulting as follows: For the law, 1,745; against, 2,349.

yours Truly Preston Breckenridge

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

During the year there was trouble in Kansas growing out of the slavery question, there being an immense emigration to the State from the North and from the South. Emigrants from the South were intent on fastening slavery upon the territory, which effort was furiously resisted by the free State men. Blood was spilt upon many occasions, and the excitement was kept at fever heat for many long months. Nor was the excite- ment confined to the territory, but the question was taken up and discussed in every State in the Union. By its opponents, the trouble was all charged to the repeal of the Missouri Compro- mise and the passage of the now celebrated Kansas-Nebraska bill. The trouble did not cease with the expiration of the year.

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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 41

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