Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 10

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Illinois > Crawford County > Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical > Part 10

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BIGGS, William, pioneer, Judge and legislator, was born in Maryland in 1753, enlisted in the Revolutionary army, and served as an officer under Colonel George Rogers Clark in the expe- dition for the capture of Illinois from the British in 1778. He settled in Bellefontaine (now Monroe County) soon after the close of the war. He was Sheriff of St. Clair County for many years, and later Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He also represented his

county in the Territorial Legislatures of In- diana and Illinois. Died, in St. Clair County, in 1827.

BIGGSVILLE, a village of Henderson County, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 15 miles northeast of Burlington; has a bank and two newspapers; considerable grain and live- stock are shipped here. Population (1880), 358; (1890), 487; (1900), 417.

BIG MUDDY RIVER, a stream formed by the union of two branches which rise in Jefferson County. It runs south and southwest through Franklin and Jackson Counties, and enters the Mississippi about five miles below Grand Tower. Its length is estimated at 140 miles.

BILLINGS, Albert Merritt, capitalist, was born in New Hampshire, April 19, 1814, educated in the common schools of his native State and Vermont, and, at the age of 22, became Sheriff of Windsor County, Vt., Later he was proprietor for a time of the mail stage-coach line between Concord, N. H., and Boston, but, having sold out, invested his means in the securities of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and became identified with the business interests of Chicago. In the '50's he became associated with Cornelius K. Garrison in the People's Gas Company of Chi- cago, of which he served as President from 1859 to 1888. In 1890 Mr. Billings became extensively interested in the street railway enterprises of Mr. C. B. Holmes, resulting in his becoming the pro- prietor of the street railway system at Memphis, Tenn., valued, in 1897, at $3,000,000. In early life he had been associated with Commodore Vanderbilt in the operation of the Hudson River steamboat lines of the latter. In addition to his other business enterprises, he was principal owner and, during the last twenty-five years of his life, President of the Home National and Home Savings Banks of Chicago. Died, Feb. 7, 1897, leaving an estate valued at several millions of dollars.

BILLINGS, Henry W., was born at Conway, Mass., July 11, 1814, graduated at Amherst Col- lege at twenty years of age, and began the study of law with Judge Foote, of Cleveland, Ohio, was admitted to the bar two years later and practiced there some two years longer. He then removed to St. Louis, Mo., later resided for a time at Waterloo and Cairo, Ill., but, in 1845, settled at Alton; was elected Mayor of that city in 1851, and the first Judge of the newly organized City Court, in 1859, serving in this position six years. . In 1869 he was elected a Delegate from Madison County to the State Constitutional Convention of

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

1869-70, but died before the expiration of the ses- sion, on April 19, 1870.

BIRKBECK, Morris, early colonist, was born in England about 1762 or 1763, emigrated to America in 1817, and settled in Edwards County, Ill. He purchased a large tract of land and in- duced a large colony of English artisans, laborers and farmers to settle upon the same, founding the town of New Albion. He was an active, un- compromising opponent of slavery, and was an important factor in defeating the scheme to make Illinois a slave State. He was appointed Secre- tary of State by Governor Coles in October, 1824, but resigned at the end of three months, a hostile Legislature having refused to confirm him. A strong writer and a frequent contributor to the press, his letters and published works attracted attention both in this country and in Europe. Principal among the latter were: "Notes on a Journey Through France" (1815); "Notes on a Journey Through America" (1818), and "Letters from Illinois" (1818). Died from drowning in 1825, aged about 63 years. (See Slavery and Slave Laws.)

BISSELL, William H., first Republican Gov- ernor of Illinois, was born near Cooperstown, N. Y., on April 25, 1811, graduated in medicine at Philadelphia in 1835, and, after practicing a short time in Steuben County, N. Y., removed to Mon- roe County, Ill. In 1840 he was elected a Repre- sentative in the General Assembly, where he soon attained high rank as a debater. He studied law and practiced in Belleville, St. Clair County, be- coming Prosecuting Attorney for that county in 1844. He served as Colonel of the Second Illinois Volunteers during the Mexican War, and achieved distinction at Buena Vista. He represented Illi- nois in Congress from 1849 to 1855, being first elected as an Independent Democrat. On the pas- sage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, he left the Demo- cratic party and, in 1856, was elected Governor on the Republican ticket. While in Congress he was challenged by Jefferson Davis after an inter- change of heated words respecting the relative courage of Northern and Southern soldiers, spoken in debate. Bissell accepted the challenge, naming muskets at thirty paces. Mr. Davis's friends objected, and the duel never occurred. Died in office, at Springfield, Ill., March 18, 1860.

BLACK, John Charles, lawyer and soldier, born at Lexington, Miss., Jan. 29, 1839, at eight years of age came with his widowed mother to Illinois; while a student at Wabash College, Ind., .

in April, 1861, enlisted in the Union army, serv- ing gallantly and with distinction until Aug. 15,

1865, when, as Colonel of the 37th Ill. Vol. Inf., he retired with the rank of BrevetBrigadier-General; was admitted to the bar in 1857, and after practic- ing at Danville, Champaign and Urbana, in 1885 was appointed Commissioner of Pensions, serving until 1889, when he removed to Chicago; served as Congressman-at-large (1893-95), and U. S. District Attorney (1895-99); Commander of the Loyal Legion and of the G. A. R. (Department of Illinois); was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army at the Grand Encampment, 1903. Gen. Black received the honorary degree of A.M. from his Alma Mater and that of LL.D. from Knox College; in January, 1904, was appointed by President Roosevelt member of the U. S. Civil Service Commission, and chosen its President.

BLACKBURN UNIVERSITY, located at Car- linville, Macoupin County. It owes its origin to the efforts of Dr. Gideon Blackburn, who, having induced friends in the East to unite with him in the purchase of Illinois lands at Government price, in 1837 conveyed 16,656 acres of these lands, situated in ten different counties, in trust for the founding of an institution of learning, intended particularly "to qualify young men for the gospel ministry." The citizens of Carlinville donated funds wherewith to purchase eighty acres of land, near that city, as a site, which was included in the deed of trust. The enterprise lay dormant for many years, and it was not until 1857 that the institution was formally incorpo- rated, and ten years later it was little more than a high school, giving one course of instruction considered particularly adapted to prospective students of theology. At present (1898) there are about 110 students in attendance, a faculty of twelve instructors, and a theological, as well as preparatory and collegiate departments. The institution owns property valued at $110,000, of which $50,000 is represented by real estate and $40,000 by endowment funds.

BLACK HAWK, a Chief of the Sac tribe of Indians, reputed to have been born at Kaskaskia in 1767. (It is also claimed that he was born on Rock River, as well as within the present limits of Hancock County.) Conceiving that his people had been wrongfully despoiled of lands belonging to them, in 1832 he inaugurated what is com- monly known as the Black Hawk War. His Indian name was Makabaimishekiakiak, signify- ing Black Sparrow Hawk. He was ambitious, but susceptible to flattery, and while having many of the qualities of leadership, was lacking in moral force. He was always attached to British inter- ests, and unquestionably received British aid of a

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

substantial sort. After his defeat he was made the ward of Keokuk, another Chief, which humiliation of his pride broke his heart. He died on a reservation set apart for him in Iowa, in 1838, aged 71. His body is said to have been exhumed nine months after deatlı, and his articu- lated skeleton is alleged to have been preserved in the rooms of the Burlington (Ia.) Historical Society until 1855, when it was destroyed by fire. (See also Black Hawk War: Appendix.)

BLACKSTONE, Timothy B., Railway Presi- dent, was born at Branford, Conn., March 28, 1829. After receiving a common school educa- tion, supplemented by a course in a neighboring academy, at 18 he began the practical study of engineering in a corps employed by the New York & New Hampshire Railway Company, and the same year became assistant engineer on the Stockbridge & Pittsfield Railway. While thus employed he applied himself diligently to the study of the theoretical science of engineering, and, on coming to Illinois in 1851, was qualified to accept and fill the position of division engineer (from Bloomington to Dixon) on the Illinois Cen- tral Railway. On the completion of the main line of that road in 1855, he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Joliet & Chicago Railroad, later becoming financially interested therein, and being chosen President of the corporation on the completion of the line. In January, 1864, the Chicago & Joliet was leased in perpetuity to the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. Mr. Black- stone then became a Director in the latter organi- zation and, in April following, was chosen its President. This office ne filled uninterruptedly until April 1,1899, when the road passed into the hands of a syndicate of other lines. He was also one of the original incorporators of the Union Stock Yards Company, and was its President from 1864 to 1868. His career as a railroad man was con- spicuous for its long service, the uninterrupted success of his management of the enterprises entrusted to his hands and his studious regard for the interests of stockholders. This was illustrated by the fact that, for some thirty years, the Chicago & Alton Railroad paid dividends on its preferred and common stock, ranging from 6 to 812 per cent per annum, and, on disposing of his stock conse- quent on the transfer of the line to a new corpora- tion in 1899, Mr. Blackstone rejected offers for his stock-aggregating nearly one-third of the whole -which would have netted him $1,000,000 in excess of the amount received, because he was unwilling to use his position to reap an advantage over smaller stockholders. Died, May 26, 1900.

BLACKWELL, Robert S., lawyer, was born at Belleville, Ill., in 1823. He belonged to a prominent family in the early history of the State, his father, David Blackwell, who was also a lawyer and settled in Belleville about 1819, having been a member of the Second General Assembly (1820) from St. Clair County, and also of the Fourth and Fifth. In April, 1823, he was appointed by Governor Coles Secretary of State, succeeding Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, after- wards a Justice of the Supreme Court, who had just received from President Monroe the appoint- ment of Receiver of Public Moneys at the Edwardsville Land Office. Mr. Blackwell served in the Secretary's office to October, 1824, during a part of the time acting as editor of"The Illinois Intelligencer," which had been removed from Kaskaskia to Vandalia, and in which he strongly opposed the policy of making Illinois a slave State. He finally died in Belleville. Robert Blackwell, a brother of David and the uncle of the subject of this sketch, was joint owner with Daniel P. Cook, of "The Illinois Herald"-after- wards "The Intelligencer" - at Kaskaskia, in 1816, and in April, 1817, succeeded Cook in the office of Territorial Auditor of Public Accounts, being himself succeeded by Elijah C. Berry, who had become his partner on "The Intelligencer," and served as Auditor until the organization of the State Government in 1818. Blackwell & Berry were chosen State Printers after the removal of the State capital to Vandalia in 1820, serving in this capacity for some years. Robert Blackwell located at Vandalia and served as a member of the House from Fayette County in the Eighth and Ninth General Assemblies (1832-36) and in the Senate, 1840-42. Robert S .- the son of David, and the younger member of this somewhat famous and historic family-whose name stands at the head of this paragraph, attended the common schools at Belleville in his boyhood, but in early manhood removed to Galena, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He later studied law with Hon. O. H. Browning at Quincy, beginning practice at Rushville, where he was associated for a time with Judge Minshall. In 1852 he removed to Chicago, having for his first partner Corydon Beckwith, afterwards of the Supreme Court, still later being associated with a number of prominent lawyers of that day. He is de- scribed by his biographers as "an able lawyer, an eloquent advocate and a brilliant scholar." "Blackwell on Tax Titles," from his pen, has beer. accepted by the profession as a high authority on that branch of law. He also published a revision

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

of the Statutes in 1858, and began an "Abstract of Decisions of the Supreme Court," which had reached the third or fourth volume at his death, May 16, 1863.

BLAIR, William, merchant, was born at Homer, Cortland County, N. Y., May 20, 1818, being descended through five generations of New England ancestors. After attending school in the town of Cortland, which became his father's residence, at the age of 14 he obtained employ- ment in a stove and hardware store, four years later (1836) coming to Joliet, Ill., to take charge of a branch store which the firm had established there. The next year he purchased the stock and continued the business on his own account. In August, 1842, he removed to Chicago, where he established the earliest and one of the most extensive wholesale hardware concerns in that city, with which he remained connected nearly fifty years. During this period he was associated with various partners, including C. B. Nelson, E. G. Hall, O. W. Belden, James H. Horton and others, besides, at times, conducting the business alone. He suffered by the fire of 1871 in common with other business men of Chicago, but promptly resumed business and, within the next two or three years, had erected business blocks, succes- sively, on Lake and Randolph Streets, but retired from business in 1888. He was a Director of the Merchants' National Bank of Chicago from its organization in 1865, as also for a time of the Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company and the Chicago Gaslight & Coke Company, a Trustee of Lake Forest University, one of the Managers of the Presbyterian Hospital and a member of the Chicago Historical Society. Died in Chicago, May 10, 1899.

BLAKELY, David, journalist, was born in Franklin County, Vt., in 1834; learned the print- er's trade and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1857. He was a member of a musical family which, under the name of "The Blakely Family," made several successful tours of the West. He engaged in journalism at Rochester, Minn., and, in 1862, was elected Secretary of State and ex-officio Superintendent of Schools, serving until 1865, when he resigned and, in partnership with a brother, bought "The Chicago Evening Post," with which he was connected at the time of the great fire and for some time after- ward. Later, he returned to Minnesota and became one of the proprietors and a member of the editorial staff of "The St. Paul Pioneer-Press." In his later years Mr. Blakely was President of the Blakely Printing Company, of Chicago, also

conducting a large printing business in New York, which was his residence. He was manager for several years of the celebrated Gilmore Band of musicians, and also instrumental in organizing the celebrated Sousa's Band, of which he was manager up to the time of his decease in New York, Nov. 7, 1896.

BLAKEMAN, Curtiss, sea-captain, and pioneer settler, came from New England to Madison County, Ill., in 1819, and settled in what was afterwards known as the "Marine Settlement," of which he was one of the founders. This settle- ment, of which the present town of Marine (first called Madison) was the outcome, took its name from the fact that several of the early settlers, like Captain Blakeman, were sea-faring men. Captain Blakeman became a prominent citizen and repre- sented Madison County in the lower branch of the Third and Fourth General Assemblies (1822 and 1824), in the former being one of the opponents of the pro-slavery amendment of the Constitution. A son of his, of the same name, was a Represent- ative in the Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth General Assemblies from Madison County.

BLANCHARD, Jonathan, clergyman and edu cator, was born in Rockingham, Vt., Jan. 19, 1811; graduated at Middlebury College in 1832; then, after teaching some time, spent two years in Andover Theological Seminary, finally gradu- ating in theology at Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, in 1838, where he remained nine years as pastor of the Sixth Presbyterian Church of that city. Before this time he had become interested in various reforms, and, in 1843, was sent as a delegate to the second World's Anti-Slavery Convention in London, serving as the American Vice-President of that body. In 1846 he assumed the Presidency of Knox College at Galesburg, remaining until 1858, during his connection with that institution doing much to increase its capacity and resources. After two years spent in pastoral work, he accepted (1860) the Presidency of Wheaton College, which he continued to fill until 1882, when he was chosen President Emer- itus, remaining in this position until his death, May 14, 1892.

BLANDINSVILLE, a town in McDonough County, on the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Rail- road, 26 miles southeast of Burlington, Iowa, and 64 miles west by south from Peoria. It is a ship- ping point for the grain grown in the surround- ing country, and has a grain elevator and steam flour and saw mills. It also has banks, two weekly newspapers and several churches. Popu- lation (1900) 877; (1900), 995.

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

BLANEY, Jerome Van Zandt, early physician, born at Newcastle, Del., May 1, 1820; was edu- cated at Princeton and graduated in medicine at Philadelphia when too young to receive his diploma; in 1842 came west and joined Dr. Daniel Brainard in founding Rush Medical College at Chicago, for a time filling three chairs in that institution ; also, for a time, occupied the chair of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in Northwest- ern University. In 1861 he was appointed Sur- geon, and afterwards Medical Director, in the army, and was Surgeon-in-Chief on the staff of General Sheridan at the time of the battle of Winchester; after the war was delegated by the Government to pay off medical officers in the Northwest, in this capacity disbursing over $600,- 000; finally retiring with the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel. Died, Dec. 11, 1874.

BLATCHFORD, Eliphalet Wickes, LL.D., son of Dr. John Blatchford, was born at Stillwater, N. Y., May 31, 1826; being a grandson of Samuel Blatchford, D.D., who came to New York from England, in 1795. He prepared for college at Lan- singburg Academy. New York, and at Marion College, Mo., finally graduating at Illinois College, Jacksonville, in the class of 1845. After graduat- ing, he was employed for several years in the law offices of his uncles, R. M. and E. H. Blatchford, New York. For considerations of health he re- turned to the West, and, in 1850, engaged in busi- ness for himself as a lead manufacturer in St. Louis, Mo., afterwards associating with him the late Morris Collins, under the firm name of Blatch- ford & Collins. In 1854 a branch was established in Chicago, known as Collins & Blatchford. After a few years the firm was dissolved, Mr. Blatch- ford taking the Chicago business, which has continued as E. W. Blatchford & Co. to the pres- ent time. While Mr. Blatchford has invariably declined political offices, he has been recognized as a staunch Republican, and the services of few men have been in more frequent request for positions of trust in connection with educational and benevolent enterprises. 'Among the numer- ous positions of this character which he has been called to fill are those of Treasurer of the North- western Branch of the United States Sanitary Commission, during the Civil War, to which he devoted a large part of his time; Trustee of Illi- nois College (1866-75); President of the Chicago Academy of Sciences; a member, and for seven- teen years President, of the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Eye and Ear Infirmary; Trustee of the Chicago Art Institute; Executor and Trustee of the late Walter L. Newberry, and, since its

incorporation, President of the Board of Trustees of The Newberry Library; Trustee of the John Crerar Library; one of the founders and Presi- dent of the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Manual Training School; life member of the Chicago Historical Society; for nearly forty years President of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Theological Seminary; during his resi- dence in Chicago an officer of the New England Congregational Church; a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for For- eign Missions, and for fourteen years its Vice- President; a charter member of the City Missionary Society, and of the Congregational Club of Chicago; a member of the Chicago Union League, the University, the Literary and the Commercial Clubs, of which latter he has been President. Oct. 7, 1858, Mr. Blatchford was married to Miss Mary Emily Williams, daughter of John C. Williams, of Chicago. Seven children- four sons and three daughters-have blessed this union, the eldest son, Paul, being to-day one of Chicago's valued business men. Mr. Blatchford's life has been one of ceaseless and successful activity in business, and to him Chicago owes much of its prosperity. In the giving of time and money for Christian, educational and benevo- lent enterprises, he has been conspicuous for his generosity, and noted for his valuable counsel and executive ability in carrying these enterprises to success.

BLATCHFORD, John, D.D., was born at New- field (now Bridgeport), Conn., May 24, 1799; removed in childhood to Lansingburg, N. Y., and was educated at Cambridge Academy and Union College in that State, graduating in 1820. He finished his theological course at Princeton, N. J., in 1823, after which he ministered succes- sively to Presbyterian churches at Pittstown and Stillwater, N. Y., in 1830 accepting the pastorate of the First Congregational Church of Bridge- port, Conn. In 1836 he came to the West, spend- ing the following winter at Jacksonville, Ill., and, in 1837, was installed the first pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, where he remained until compelled by failing health to resign and return to the East. In 1841 he ac- cepted the chair of Intellectual and Moral Phi- losophy at Marion College, Mo., subsequently assuming the Presidency. The institution having been purchased by the Free Masons, in 1844, he removed to West Ely, Mo., and thence, in 1847, to Quincy, Ill., where he resided during the remainder of his life. His death occurred in St. Louis, April 8, 1855. The churches he served

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

testified strongly to Dr. Blatchford's faithful, acceptable and successful performance of his ministerial duties. He was married in 1825 to Frances Wickes, daughter of Eliphalet Wickes, Esq., of Jamaica, Long Island, N. Y.

BLEDSOE, Albert Taylor, teacher and law- yer, was born in Frankfort, Ky., Nov. 9, 1809; graduated at West Point Military Academy in 1830, and, after two years' service at Fort Gib- son, Indian Territory, retired from the army in 1832. During 1833-34 he was Adjunct Professor of Mathematics and teacher of French at Kenyon College, Ohio, and, in 1835-36, Professor of Mathematics at Miami University. Then, hav- ing studied theology, he served for several years as rector of Episcopal churches in Ohio. In 1838 he settled at Springfield, Ill., and began the prac- tice of law, remaining several years, when he removed to Washington, D. C. Later he became Professor of Mathematics, first (1848-54) in the University of Mississippi, and (1854-61) in the University of Virginia. He then entered the Confederate service with the rank of Colonel, but soon became Acting Assistant Secretary of War; in 1863 visited England to collect material for a work on the Constitution, which was pub- lished in 1866, when he settled at Baltimore, where he began the publication of "The Southern Review," which became the recognized organ of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Later he became a minister of the Methodist Church. He gained considerable reputation for eloquence during his residence in Illinois, and was the author of a number of works on religious and political subjects, the latter maintaining the right of secession; was a man of recognized ability, but lacked stability of character. Died at Alexandria, Va., Dec. 8, 1877.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 10

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1058