Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 119

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 119

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WILL COUNTY, a northeastern county, em- bracing 850 square miles, named in honor of Dr. Conrad Will, an early politician and legislator. Early explorations of the territory were made in 1829, when white settlers were few. The bluff west of Joliet is said to have been first occupied by David and Benjamin Maggard. Joseph Smith, the Mormon "apostle," expounded his peculiar doctrines at "the Point" in 1831. Sev- eral of the early settlers fled from the country during (or after) a raid by the Sac Indians.

There is a legend, seemingly well supported, to the effect that the first lumber, sawed to build the first frame house in Chicago (that of P. F. W. Peck), was sawed at Plainfield. Will County, originally a part of Cook, was separately erected in 1836, Joliet being made the county-seat. Agriculture, quarrying and manufacturing are the chief industries. Joliet, Lockport and Wil- mington are the principal towns. Population (1880), 53.422; (1890), 62,007; (1900), 74,764.

WILLARD, Frances Elizabeth, teacher and reformer, was born at Churchville, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1839, graduated from the Northwestern Female College at Evanston, Ill., in 1859, and, in 1862, accepted the Professorship of Natural Sciences in that institution. During 1866-67 she was the Principal of the Genessee Wesleyan Seminary. The next two years she devoted to travel and study abroad, meanwhile contribut- ing to various periodicals. From 1871 to 1874 she was Professor of Æsthetics in the Northwestern University and dean of the Woman's College. She was always an enthusiastic champion of temperance, and, in 1874, abandoned her profes- sion to identify herself with the Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Union. For five years she was Corresponding Secretary of the national body, and, from 1879, its President. While Secretary she organized the Home Protective Association, and prepared a petition to the Illinois Legislature, to which nearly 200,000 names were attached, asking for the granting to women of the right to vote on the license question. In 1878 she suc- ceeded her brother, Oliver A. Willard (who had died), as editor of "The Chicago Evening Post," but, a few months later, withdrew, and, in 1882, was elected as a member of the executive com- mittee of the National Prohibition party. In 1886 she became leader of the White Cross Move- ment for the protection of women, and succeeded. in securing favorable legislation, in this direc- tion, in twelve States. . In 1883 she founded the World's Christian Temperance Union, and, in 1888, was chosen its President, as also President of the International Council of Women. The latter years of her life were spent chiefly abroad, much of the time as the guest and co-worker of Lady Henry Somerset, of England, during which she devoted much attention to investigating tlie condition of women in the Orient. Miss Willard was a prolific and highly valued contributor to the magazines, and (besides numerous pamphlets) published several volumes, including "Nineteen Beautiful Years" (a tribute to her sister), "Woman in Temperance"; "How to Win," and

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"Woman in the Pulpit." Died, in New York, Feb. 18, 1898.

WILLARD, Samuel, A.M., M.D., LL.D., phy- sician and educator, was born in Lunenberg, Vt., Dec. 30, 1821-the lineal descendant of Maj. Simon Willard, one of the founders of Concord, Mass., and prominent in "King Philip's War," and of his son, Rev. Dr. Samuel Willard, of the Old South Church, Boston, and seventh President of Harvard College. The subject of this sketch was taken in his infancy to Boston, and, in 1831, to Carrollton, Ill., where his father pursued the avocation of a druggist. After a preparatory course at Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, in 1836 he entered the freshman class in Illinois College at Jacksonville, but withdrew the following year, re-entering college in 1840 and graduating in the class of 1843, as a classmate of Dr. Newton Bate- man, afterwards State Superintendent of Public Instruction and President of Knox College, and Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, now of Elmira, N. Y. The next year he spent as Tutor in Illinois Col- lege, when he began the study of medicine at Quincy, graduating from the Medical Department of Illinois College in 1848. During a part of the latter year he edited a Free-Soil campaign paper ("The Tribune") at Quincy, and, later, "The Western Temperance Magazine" at the same place. In 1849 he began the practice of his pro- fession at St. Louis, but the next year removed to Collinsville, Ill., remaining until 1857, when he took charge of the Department of Languages in the newly organized State Normal University at Normal. The second year of the Civil War (1862) he enlisted as a private in the Ninety-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was soon after commissioned as Surgeon with the rank of Major, participating in the campaigns in Tennessee and in the first attack upon Vicksburg. Being dis- abled by an attack of paralysis, in February, 1863, he was compelled to resign, when he had suffici- ently recovered accepting a position in the office of Provost Marshal General Oakes, at Spring- field, where he remained until the close of the war. He then became Grand Secretary of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows for the State of Illinois-a position which he had held from 1856 to 1862 -- remaining under his second appoint- ment from 1865 to '69. The next year he served as Superintendent of Schools at Springfield, meanwhile assisting in founding the Springfield public library, and serving as its first librarian. In 1870 he accepted the professorship of History in the West Side High School of Chicago, which, with the exception of two years (1884-86),

he continued to occupy for more than twenty- five years, retiring in 1898. In the meantime, Dr. Willard has been a laborious literary worker, having been, for a considerable period, editor, or assistant-editor, of "The Illinois Teacher," a con- tributor to "The Century Magazine" and "The Dial" of Chicago, besides having published a "Digest of the Laws of Odd Fellowship" in six- teen volumes, begun while he was Grand Secre- tary of the Order in 1864, and continued in 1872 and '82; a "Synopsis of History and Historical Chart," covering the period from B. C. 800 to A. D. 1876-of which he has had a second edition in course of preparation. Of late years he has been engaged upon a "Historical Diction- ary of Names and Places," which will include some 12,000 topics, and which promises to be the most important work of his life. Previous to the war he was an avowed Abolitionist and operator on the "Underground Railroad," who made no concealment of his opinions, and, on one or two occasions, was called to answer for them in prosecutions under the "Fugitive Slave Act." (See "Underground Railroad.") His friend and classmate, the late Dr. Bateman, says of him: "Dr. Willard is a sound thinker; a clear and forcible writer; of broad and accurate scholarship; conscientious, genial and kindly, and a most estimable gentleman."

WILLIAMS, Archibald, lawyer and jurist, was born in Montgomery County, Ky., June 10, 1801; with moderate advantages but natural fondness for study, he chose the profession of law, and was admitted to the bar in Tennessee in 1828, coming to Quincy, Ill., the following year. He was elected to the General Assembly three times --- serving in the Senate in 1832-36, and in the House, 1836-40; was United States District Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, by appointment of President Taylor, 1849-53; was twice the candidate of his party (the Whig) for United States Senator, and appointed by Presi- dent Lincoln, in 1861, United States District Judge for the State of Kansas. His abilities and high character were widely recognized. Died, in Quincy, Sept. 21, 1863-His son, John H., an attorney at Quincy, served as Judge of the Cir- cuit Court 1879-85 .- Another son, Abraham Lin- coln, was twice elected Attorney-General of Kansas.

WILLIAMS, Erastus Smith, lawyer and ju- rist, was born at Salem, N. Y., May 22, 1821. In 1842 he removed to Chicago, where, after reading law, he was admitted to the bar in 1844. In 1854 he was appointed Master in Chancery, which

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office he filled until 1863, when he was elected a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. After re-election in 1870 he became Chief Justice, and, at the same time, heard most of the cases on the equity side of the court. In 1879 he was a candidate for re-election as a Republican, but was defeated with the party ticket. After his retirement from the bench he resumed private practice. Died, Feb. 24, 1884.

WILLIAMS, James R., Congressman, was born in White County, Ill., Dec. 27, 1850, at the age of 25 graduated from the Indiana State Uni- versity, at Bloomington, and, in 1876, from the Union College of Law, Chicago, since then being an active and successful practitioner at Carmi. In 1880 he was appointed Master in Chancery and served two years. From 1882 to 1886 he was County Judge. In 1892 he was a nominee on the Democratic ticket for Presidential Elector. He was elected to represent the Nineteenth Illi- nois District in the Fifty-first Congress at a special election held to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of R. W. Townshend, was re-elected in 1890 and 1892, but defeated by Orlando Burrell (Republican) for re-election in the newly organ- ized Twentieth District in 1894. In 1898 he was again a candidate and elected to the Fifty-sixth Congress.

what is now the Springfield Division of the Illi- nois Central Railroad, and the Springfield and Peoria line; a Director of the Springfield Iron Company; one of the Commissioners who con- structed the Springfield water-works, and an officer of the Lincoln Monument Association, from 1865 to his death, May 29, 1890.

WILLIAMS, Norman, lawyer, was born at Woodstock, Vt., Feb. 1, 1833, being related, on both the paternal and maternal sides, to some of the most prominent families of New England. He fitted for college at Union Academy, Meriden, and graduated from the University of Vermont in the class of 1855. After taking a course in the Albany Law School and with a law firm in his native town, he was admitted to practice in both New York and Vermont, removed to Chi- cago in 1858, and, in 1860, becanie a member of the firm of King, Kales & Williams, still later forming a partnership with Gen. John L. Thomp- son, which ended with the death of the latter in 1888. In a professional capacity he assisted in the organization of the Pullman Palace Car Com- pany, and was a member of its Board of Directors; also assisted in organizing the Western Electric Company, and was prominently identified with the Chicago Telephone Company and the Western Union Telegraph Company. In 1881 he served as the United States Commissioner to the Electrical Exposition at Paris. In conjunction with his brother (Edward H. Williams) he assisted in founding the public library at Woodstock, Vt., which, in honor of his father, received the name of "The Norman Williams Public Library." With Col. Huntington W. Jackson and J. Mc- Gregor Adams, Mr. Williams was named, in the will of the late John Crerar, as an executor of the Crerar estate and one of the Trustees of the Crerar Public Library, and became its first Presi-

WILLIAMS, John, pioneer merchant, was born in Bath County, Ky., Sept. 11, 1808; be- tween 14 and 16 years of age was clerk in a store in his native State; then, joining his parents, who had settled on a tract of land in a part of Sangamon (now Menard) County, Ill., he found employment as clerk in the store of Major Elijah Iles, at Springfield, whom he succeeded in busi- ness at the age of 22, continuing it without inter- ruption until 1880. In 1856 Mr. Williams was the Republican candidate for Congress in the Springfield District, and, in 1861, was appointed . dent; was also a Director of the Chicago Pub- Commissary-General for the State, rendering lic Library, and trustee of a number of large 'estates. Mr. Williams was a son-in-law of the late Judge John D. Caton, and his oldest daughter became the wife of Major-General Wesley Mer- ritt, a few months before his death, which oc- curred at Hampton Beach, N. H., June 19, 1899 -his remains being interred in his native town of Woodstock, Vt. valuable service in furnishing supplies for State troops, in camps of instruction and while proceed- ing to the field, in the first years of the war; was also chief officer of the Illinois Sanitary Commis- sion for two years, and, as one of the intimate personal friends of Mr. Lincoln, was chosen to accompany the remains of the martyred President, from Washington to Springfield, for burial. WILLIAMS, Robert Ebenezer, lawyer, born Dec. 3, 1825, at Clarksville, Pa., his grandfatliers on both sides being soldiers of the Revolutionary War. In 1830 his parents removed to Washing- ton in the same State, where in boyhood le worked as a mechanic in his father's shop, attending a common school in the winter until Liberal, enterprising and public-spirited, his name was associated with nearly every public enter- prise of importance in Springfield during his business career-being one of the founders, and, for eleven years President, of the First National Bank; a chief promoter in the construction of

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he reached the age of 17 years, when he entered Washington College, remaining for more than a year. He then began teaching, and, in 1845 went to Kentucky, where he pursued the business of a teacher for four years. Then he entered Bethany College in West Virginia, at the same time prosecuting his law studies, but left at the close of his junior year, when, having been licensed to practice, he removed to Clinton, Texas. Here he accepted, from a retired lawyer, the loan of a law library, which he afterwards purchased; served for two years as State's Attor- ney, and, in 1856, came to Bloomington, Ill., where he spent the remainder of his life in the practice of his profession. Much of his time was devoted to practice as a railroad attorney, espe- cially in connection with the Chicago & Alton and the Illinois Central Railroads, in which he acquired prominence and wealth. He was a life- long Democrat and, in 1868, was the unsuccessful candidate of his party for Attorney-General of the State. The last three years of his life he had been in bad health, dying at Bloomington, Feb. 15, 1899.

WILLIAMS, Samuel, Bank President, was born in Adams County, Ohio, July 11, 1820; came to Winnebago County, Ill., in 1835, and, in 1842, removed to Iroquois County, where he held vari- ous local offices, including that of County Judge, to which he was elected in 1861. During his later years he had been President of the Watseka Citizens' Bank. Died, June 16, 1896.

WILLIAMSON, Rollin Samuel, legislator and jurist, was born at Cornwall, Vt., May 23, 1839. At the age of 14 he went to Boston, where he began life as a telegraph messenger boy. In two years he had become a skillful operator, and, as such, was employed in various offices in New England and New York. In 1857 he came to Chicago seeking employment and, through the fortunate correction of an error on the part of the receiver of a message, secured the position of operator and station agent at Palatine, Cook County. Here he read law during his leisure time without a preceptor, and, in 1870, was admitted to the bar. The same year he was elected to the lower House of the General Assembly and, in 1872, to the Senate. In 1880 he was elected to the bench of the Superior Court of Cook County, and, in 1887, was chosen a Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court. Died, Au- gust 10, 1889.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, in the southern part of the State, originally set off from Franklin and organized in 1839. The county is well watered,

the principal streams being the Big Muddy and the South Fork of the Saline. The surface is undulating and the soil fertile. The region was originally well covered with forests. All the cereals (as well as potatoes) are cultivated, and rich meadows encourage stock-raising. Coal and sandstone underlie the entire county. Area, 440 square miles; population (1880), 19,324: (1890) 22,226; (1900), 27,796.

WILLIAMSVILLE, village of Sangamon Coun - ty, on Chicago & Alton Railroad, 12 miles north of Springfield ; has a bank, elevator, 3 churches, a newspaper and coal-mines. Pop. (1900), 573.

WILLIS, Jonathan Clay, soldier and former Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., June 27, 1826; brought to Gallatin County, Ill., in 1834, and settled at Golconda in 1843; was elected Sheriff of Pope County in 1856, removed to Metropolis in 1859, and engaged in the wharf-boat and commission business. He entered the service as Quarter- master of the Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteers in 1861, but was compelled to resign on account of injuries, in 1863; was elected Representative ir the Twenty-sixth General Assembly (1868), appointed Collector of Internal Revenue in 1869, and Railway and Warehouse Commissioner in 1892, as the successor of John R. Tanner, serving until 1893.

WILMETTE, a village in Cook County, 14 miles north of Chicago, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, a handsome suburb of Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan; principal streets paved and shaded with fine forest trees; has public library and good schools. Pop. (1900), 2,300.

WILMINGTON, a city of Will County, on the Kankakee River and the Chicago & Alton Rail- road, 53 miles from Chicago and 15 south-south- west of Joliet; has considerable manufactures, two National banks, a graded school, churches and one newspaper. Wilmington is the location of the Illinois Soldiers' Widows' Home. Popu- lation (1890), 1,576; (1900), 1,420.

WILSON, Charles Lush, journalist, was born in Fairfield County, Conn., Oct. 10, 1818, edu- cated in the common schools and at an academy in his native State, and, in 1835, removed to Chi- cago, entering the employment of his older brothers, who were connected with the construc- tion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal at Joliet. His brother, Richard L., having assumed charge of "The Chicago Daily Journal" (the successor of "The Chicago American"), in'1844, Charles L. took a position in the office, ultimately securing a partnership, which continued until the death

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of his brother in 1856, when he succeeded to the ownership of the paper. Mr. Wilson was an ardent friend and supporter of Abraham Lincoln for the United States Senate in 1858, but, in 1860, favored the nomination of Mr. Seward for the Presidency, though earnestly supporting Mr. Lin- coln after his nomination. In 1861 he was appointed Secretary of the American Legation at London, serving with the late Minister Charles Francis Adams, until 1864, when he resigned and resumed his connection with "The Journal." In 1875 his health began to fail, and three years later, having gone to San Antonio, Tex., in the hope of receiving benefit from a change of cli- mate, he died in that city, March 9, 1878 .- Richard Lush (Wilson), an older brother of the preceding, the first editor and publisher of "The Chicago Evening Journal," the oldest paper of consecutive publication in Chicago, was a native of New York. Coming to Chicago with his brother John L., in 1834, they soon after estab- lished themselves in business on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, then in course of construction. In 1844 he took charge of "The Chicago Daily Journal" for a publishing committee which had purchased the material of "The Chicago Ameri- can," but soon after became principal proprietor. In April, 1847, while firing a salute in honor of the victory of Buena Vista, he lost an arm and was otherwise injured by the explosion of the can- non. Early in 1849, he was appointed, by Presi- dent Taylor, Postmaster of the city of Chicago, but, having failed of confirmation, was compelled to retire in favor of a successor appointed by Millard Fillmore, eleven months later. Mr. Wilson published a little volume in 1842 entitled "A Trip to Santa Fe," and, a few years later, a story of travel under the title, "Short Ravel- lings from a Long Yarn." Died, December, 1856. -John Lush (Wilson), another brother, also a native of New York, came to Illinois in 1834, was afterwards associated with his brothers in busi- ness, being for a time business manager of "The Chicago Journal;" also served one term as Sher- iff of Cook County. Died, in Chicago, April 13, 1888.

WILSON, Isaac Grant, jurist, was born at Middlebury, N. Y., April 26, 1817, graduated from Brown University in 1838, and the same year came to Chicago, whither his father's family had preceded him in 1835. After reading law for two years, he entered the senior class at Cambridge (Mass.) Law School, graduating in 1841. In August of that year he opened an office at Elgin, and, for ten years "rode the cir-

cuit." In 1851 he was elected to the bench of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit to fill a vacancy, and re-elected for a full term in 1855, and again in '61. In November of the latter year he was commissioned the first Colonel of the Fifty- second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but resigned, a few weeks later, and resumed his place upon the bench. From 1867 to 1879 he devoted him- self to private practice, which was largely in the Federal Courts. In 1879 he resumed his seat upon the bench (this time for the Twelfth Cir- cuit), and was at once designated as one of the Judges of the Appellate Court at Chicago, of which tribunal he became Chief Justice in 1881. In 1885 he was re-elected Circuit Judge, but died, about the close of his term, at Geneva, June 8. 1891.

WILSON, James Grant, soldier and author, was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, April 28, 1832, and, when only a year old, was brought by his father, William Wilson, to America. The family settled at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where James Grant was educated at College Hill and under private teachers. After finishing his studies he became his father's partner in business, but, in 1855, went abroad, and, shortly after his return, removed to Chicago, where he founded the first literary paper established in the Northwest. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he disposed of his journal to enlist in the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, of which he was commissioned Major and after- wards promoted to the colonelcy. In August, 1863, while at New Orleans, by advice of General Grant, he accepted a commission as Colonel of the Fourth Regiment United States Colored Cavalry, and was assigned, as Aid-de-camp, to the staff of the Commander of the Department of the Gulf, filling this post until April, 1865. When General Banks was relieved, Colonel Wil- son was brevetted Brigadier-General and placed in command at Port Hudson, resigning in July, 1865, since which time his home has been in New York. He is best known as an author, having published numerous addresses, and being a fre- quent contributor to American and European magazines. Among larger works which he has written or edited are "Biographical Sketches of Illinois Officers"; "Love in Letters"; "Life of General U. S. Grant"; "Life and Letters of Fitz Greene Halleck"; "Poets and Poetry of Scotland"; "Bryant and His Friends", and "Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography."

WILSON, James Harrison, soldier and mili- tary engineer, was born near Shawneetown, Ill., Sept. 2, 1837. His grandfather, Alexander Wil-

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son, was one of the pioneers of Illinois, and his father (Harrison Wilson) was an ensign dur- ing the War of 1812 and a Captain in the Black Hawk War. His brother (Bluford Wilson) served as Assistant Adjutant-General of Volun- teers during the Civil War, and as Solicitor of the United States Treasury during the "whisky ring" prosecutions. James H. was educated in the coinmon schools, at Mckendree College, and the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating from the latter in 1860, and being assigned to the Topographical Engineer Corps. In September, 1861, he was promoted to a First Lieutenancy, then served as Chief Topo- graphical Engineer of the Port Royal expedition until March, 1862; was afterwards attached to the Department of the South, being present at the bombardment of Fort Pulaski; was Aid-de- camp to McClellan, and participated in the bat- tles of South Mountain and Antietam; was made Lieutenant-Colonel of Volunteers in November, 1862; was Chief Topographical Engineer and Inspector-General of the Army of the Tennessee until October, 1863, being actively engaged in the operations around Vicksburg; was made Captain of Engineers in May, 1863, and Brigadier- General of Volunteers, Oct. 31, following. He also conducted operations preliminary to the battle of Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, and for the relief of Knoxville. Later, he was placed in command of the Third Division of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac, serving from May to August, 1864, under General Sheridan. Subsequently he was transferred to the Depart- ment of the Mississippi, where he so distinguished himself that, on April 20, 1865, he was made Major-General of Volunteers. In twenty-eight days he captured five fortified cities, twenty- three stands of colors, 288 guns and 6,820 prison- ers-among the latter being Jefferson Davis. He was mustered out of the volunteer service in January, 1866, and, on July 28, following, was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Thirty- fifth United States Infantry, being also brevetted Major-General in the regular army. On Dec. 31, 1870, he returned to civil life, and was afterwards largely engaged in railroad and engineering oper- ations, especially in West Virginia. Promptly after the declaration of war with Spain (1898) General Wilson was appointed, by the President, Major-General of Volunteers, serving until its close. He is the author of "China: Travels and Investigations in the Middle Kingdom"; "Life of Andrew J. Alexander"; and the "Life of Gen. U. S. Grant," in conjunction with Charles A.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 119

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