Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 76

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 76

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In 1845 Mr. Richardson was associated with Mr. O. H. Browning, Mr. O. C. Skinner, and Mr. C. A. Warren in the defense of the ring leaders of the mob that killed the Mormon leader, Joseph Smith, in the Carthage jail, procuring an aequit- tal much to the displeasure of Governor Ford.

At the breaking ont of the Mexican war in 1846 Mr. Richardson was in a position politically where everything favored his further rise in power and influence, but, putting aside all per- sonal ambition and consideration. he raised a company and went to the front. On the field of Buena Vista, by the choice of his regiment, the First Illinois, although the fifth captain. he was promoted to the rank of major in recognition of meritorious and heroic condnet. Afterwards the Illinois legislature voted him a sword, on which is inscribed: "Presented by the State of Illi- nois to Lt. Col. William A. Richardson for ser- vices in the late war with Mexico and especially for gallantry at the battle of Buena Vista, Febru- ary 22, 1847."

While still in the army Colonel Richardson re- ceived the nomination for congressman from his district and was elected in August. 1847, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Sen- ator Douglas. He served continuously for nine years in the eouneil chamber of the nation. Those were troublons times in the nation's history, when matters of great moment were claiming public attention and whatever estimate time shall put on the measures he advocated his party and constit- neney ever sustained him in his positions by electing him over such adversaries as Browning and Williams.

In December. 1849. when the Thirty-first Con- gress met-having then served but half a term -Colonel Richardson received a very compli- mentary vote for the speakership. In 1850 the congressmen from Ilinois-Richardson, MeCler- nand. Harris, Wentworth, Young, Bissell, Baker -succeeded in carrying through the house the senate bill granting to the state each alternate section of land six miles wide on each side of the survey for the Illinois Central Railway. In 1852 Colonel Richardson made another attempt to retire from politics, but was prevailed upon to give up his plan of moving to Chicago-where he had options on property that would have made him rich-and again accept the nomination for congress in order to harmonize the factions in his party. He was the democratie leader of the

house at the time of the passage of the famous Kansas-Nebraska bill, May 24, 1854, and was vindietively assailed by the opposition for his part in repealing the Missouri Compromise. So bitter was the attack made upon him that his party chose to make him the champion of that measure. and to this end. although he had de- «lined to be considered a candidate, the demo- «ratie convention that met at Mt. Sterling in Angust, 1854, nominated him again, the other candidates withdrawing in his favor. Every element of opposition that could be brought to bear against him was summoned from every quarter. He was threatened with the overwhelm- ing indignation of the people. Instead, however. of being rebuked and rejected. he was elected with an increased majority-the only instance of the kind in the north at this election. After the election. Colonel Richardson published a eard in the Quiney Herald. November 30. 1854, in which. after thanking his friends for their loy- alty, he said: " At the end of the term to which you have elected me I shall retire from public life." There is something pathetically fatalistic in the continued and ineffectual efforts that C'ol- onel Richardson made to get out of politics and back to his profession. We will see more of it anon.

The Thirty-fourth congress met in December. 1855. In the house the democratic majority had been swept away, but the opposition was a motley crowd. "There were whigs, anti-Nebraskas. know-nothings and republieans, all commingled, and while they were easily able to prevent the election of a democratic speaker, they found it cliffieult to concentrate on a choice of their own." Colonel Richardson was the democratic caneus nominee and got full support of his party's strength for one hundred and twenty-two roll calls, when, on the 23d of January. 1856. he asked to have his name dropped. The contest lasted for two months. Finally a majority voted that a plurality should elect. and on the one hundred and thirty-third ballot N. P. Banks was chosen. February 3. 1856.

In May. 1856, Colonel Richardson was nom- inated, without his consent and against his pro- test, as the democratic candidate for governor of Illinois. In June of that year he was one of the most conspienous figures in the democratic national convention at Cincinnati and none com- manded more respect or attention. Ile it was who. as chairman of the Illinois delegation, cham- pioned JJudge Douglas's cause and who, after the principles that Douglas fought for had been adopted as a platform, read the Judge's letter asking that his name be withdrawn for the sake of harmony. Colonel Richardson finally con- sented to accept the nomination and sent in his

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resignation as a member of congress. The gub- ernatorial campaign of 1856 was a very bitter one. and upon Colonel Richardson was "con- centrated and poured out all the pent up rage of the opposition," and although he ran ahead of Buchanan, who carried the state, he was defeated by a small plurality-the anti-slavery know- nothings leaving their own candidate to vote for Colonel Bissell, while Colonel Richardson's very pronounced opposition to the whole " American" movement prevented him from getting any strength from that party.

Early in 1857 Colonel Riebardson's name was prominently mentioned as a member of President Buchanan's cabinet, but never with his consent or sanetion, and when the appointment of the governorship of Nebraska was tendered him he promptly declined it, telling the president that he did not "agree with him as to some of his policy." The offer being again made in December. 1857. and the appointment being confirmed by the sen- ate, he accepted and took up the duties of the office of the governor of the territory of Nebraska on the 10th day of January, 1858. In Septem- ber. 1858, after the administration made its open war on Douglas, Colonel Richardson asked to be relieved and left Omaha, the then capital of Nebraska, on the 6th day of December, 1858.

Colonel Richardson was one of the most con- spienous leaders of the northern democrats in the memorable Charleston convention of 1860, and, according to Hon. S. S. Cox, "he made a strong impression there and endeavored to reconcile the party with a view to avert disunion and war." In a letter to the Quiney Herald, May 31, 1860, Colonel Richardson most emphatically declined to allow his narze to be considered as a candidate for governor at the approaching democratie state convention, after the Chicago Times and many other prominent democratic papers throughout the state had urged his nomination. In JJune, 1860. Colonel Richardson as the leader of the northern forces at the Baltimore convention re- fused to read Douglas's letter, wherein he had asked that his name might be withdrawn for the sake of peace and harmony. He refused to treat with the seceders from the Charleston convention and forced the nomination of Douglas, after which he read the letter. In July of the same year he was forced, again, to accept the congres- sional nomination, owing to some disagreement among the candidates before the convention. In Angust he attended a democratie mass meeting in Boston and spoke in Fanonil Hall. In the en- suing election he defeated General B. M. Pren- tiss by a majority of nearly three thousand votes.

In speaking of the congress that met July 4, 1861. Blaine, in his Twenty Years in Congress,

says that Colonel Richardson was the most con- spienous democrat in the lower house. At the re- quest of President Lincoln he was named by the Illinois delegation as one of the Four who were to be made brigadier generals-the list standing Grant. MeClernand. Richardson, Prentiss. After the other three had been appointed and after his name had been passed over, he asked the presi- dent not to consider his name in connection with the subject. After the adjournment of congress, he returned to linois and addressed a meeting in his congressional district upon the subject of the war and the duty of patriotic citizens. In October, 1861, he received an appointment as brigadier general in the army, dated September 3. 1861. In a letter to the president. dated March 1. 1862, he said :

"Some time since, withont solicitation on my part, you did me the honor to tender me the ap- pointment of brigadier general in the army. 1 signified then my determination to accept the same as soon as my health would permit. Not having accepted the position before I deem it improper to do so now." Etc.

In 1862, as the time for the election of con- gressmen approached, the republican papers throughout the country advocated the dissolution of the democratic party on the ground that all op- position to the administration was disloyal. In May of that year, Colonel Richardson drafted an address to the people, which was signed by all the democratie members of congress. The address be- gan by asserting that party organization was es- sential to the preservation of public liberty. It recited that the administration had been chosen by a party, and that in all its civil aets and appoint- ments it had recognized its fealty and obligations to that party. It asserted that the public good and safety demanded an opposition. It reviewed the duty as patriots to support the government in all constitutional, necessary and proper efforts to maintain its safety and authority." It called at- tention to the fact that after the rebellion had been put down the work of restoration must be done through a political organization, which must be watched carefully and jealously lest it be done oppressively and malignantly; and that no plea of "embarrassing the administration" should prevent the opposition from exercising "the an- cient and undoubted prerogative of Americans to canvass publie measures and public men "-a con- stitutional privilege which Daniel Webster de- clared he would "defend within the house and out of the house and in all places, in time of war and in time of peace and in all times."

In this same year, in committee of the whole on the tax bill. he proposed that two per cent de- rived From the bill be set apart to buy or obtain

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territory on which to colonize the free blacks. At a war meeting at Mt. Sterling in July of this year, he said :

"We owe it as a duty to our country, duty to the memories of the past, duty of those now in the field, duty to the future, to send at once the quota asked. The sons of Illinois need no draft to make them discharge their duty. Let Ilinois respond promptly and at once to the call. Let her be the first that presents her ranks filled to maintain constitutional liberty."

In the fall elections of 1862 the democrats were successful in many of the northern states, Illinois among the rest. On the 5th day of Jan- uary, 1863, the twenty-third general assembly met at Springfield, on the 10th Colonel Richard- son was chosen by the democratie caucus as its candidate for the United States senate, and on the 12th was duly chosen by the assembly for the unexpired term ending March 1, 1865. Ile im- mediately resigned his seat in the lower house, but, owing to the death of a little daughter and sickness in his family, was not able to leave home for his new duties in Washington until January 27.

After the death of Judge Douglas Colonel Richardson was looked upon by his party as its leader, and in 1863 most of the prominent demo- cratic papers were urging his nomination as the democratie candidate for the presidency in 1864. AAfter the adjonrument of congress in the spring of 1863. Colonel Richardson, at the request of the democratic leaders, visited New England and spoke in the principal cities. JJune 17th, 1863, he was made the chairman of the famous demo- cratie mass convention in Springfield-the much abused and much traduced "peace meeting." Colonel Richardson was not a candidate before the democratic national convention of 1864.

In 1868 Colonel Richardson was urged to allow his name to be used as a candidate for congress from his district, but he positively refused to be considered. In April of this same year he at- tended the state democratic convention at Springfield and was instrumental in having it instruct its delegates to the national convention in favor of the candidacy of George Il. Pendle- ton. Later on he attended the national conven- tion in New York city, was made chairman of the lHinois delegation, and made a hard fight for Pendleton.

In 1869 Colonel Richardson declined to be con- sidered as a delegate to the convention called to amend the constitution of Illinois. In 1870 he opposed the adoption of the new constitu- tion because it extended the suffrage to the negroes : abandoned the state rights feature ; and contained other features which compromised democratic principles.

In May, 1873, Colonel Richardson took charge of the editorial columns of the Quiney Herald in the interest of Judge Joseph Sibley's candidacy for the judge of the Fifteen judicial distriet of Illinois. On the 9th day of November of this same year he was made the assignee of the pro- prietors of this paper and conducted the editorial department from that time until May 5, 1874, when he turned over the paper to its old owners with its business affairs all straightened out.

In 1874 he was urged as a candidate for con- gress on the "greenback" issue, but he declined to run. In the fall of 1875 he was appointed a member of the board of supervisors of Adams county in the interest of the new courthouse site and building in Quincy.

On the 18th day of January, 1838, Colonel Richardson was married to Miss Cornelia 11. Sullivan, of Quincy, the ceremony being per- formed at the house of the bride's mother, Mrs. Ilelen LeRoy, situated on a lot at the southeast corner of Sixth and Hampshire streets. On the 24th day of January, 1849, Colonel Richardson bought a house and lot at the southwest corner of Fourth and Broadway, and in the following sumner he moved his family from Rushville to Quincy. This city and this house continued to be the family home until his wife died on the 22d day of April, 1864. Ilere Colonel Richardson died from the effects of a stroke of apoplexy on the 27th day of December, 1875. Ile left surviv- ing him the following named children: Helen Richardson Dwight, George J. Richardson, Wil- liam A. Richardson, Jr., and JJohn S. Richardson,

At a memorial meeting of the members of the Quincy bar held December 29, 1879, llon. O. Il. Browning-that old-time opponent-made this estimate of Colonel Richardson as a publie man :

"He became highly distinguished as a poli- tician, and at the time the great democracy lost control there was no man, excepting Senator Douglas, who was more powerful with his party or who wielded so great an influence as Colonel Richardson. No man unless he possessed great ability and powers could have attained such dis- tinetion in a party famous for its able men. His position in his party was such that had Senator Douglas been elected president he would have oc- enpied a prominent place in the cabinet and would have gone there with the enthusiastic ap- proval of his party and the confidence of his op- ponent. "

No one who ever knew Colonel Richardson in- timately ever doubted his conscientious sincerity. and few had more devoted friends and political followers. At the same time, owing to his bold and aggressive way of fighting. few have ever had more bitter politieal enemies-enemies who found no terms of reproach too bitter to hurl at him.

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lle was frequently called a traitor and a "cop- perhead." Colonel Richardson had no sympathy or patience with that wave of sentimentalism that swept over the world in the middle of the 19th century and found in the negro the "new brother." He helped to repeal the Missouri Com- promise. He would have left slavery a matter of local option. He would have tried to avert the war by adopting the Crittenden compromise, which would have divided the territories between the two sections. He was for keeping the dem- oeracy intaet as a needful and necessary oppo- sition party during the war. le measured the right of emancipation by the powers of the con- stitution. In the latter part of the war he ad- vocated peace upon the "basis of a restoration of the union as it was:" and "the securing. by constitutional amendments, such rights to the several states and the people thereof, as honor and justice demand." He would have colonized the freed slaves. He opposed the extension of the franchise to the blacks. He thought the war was fought to say that the south had no right to go out of the union ; that the victory meant that it was not out of the union ; and he could not ap- prove of the policy that made the southern states so mmch acquired territory. He lost heart and almost his faith in human nature and in a demo- cratie form of goverment when that welter of corruption and vindictive knavery came with the "earpetbag rule" during the reconstruction period. This was the record he made, and. of course, all these things ean justly be charged against him: and yet, he never took a position or advocated or opposed a measure that he did not think he was doing so under the authority of the constitution-the constitution was the war- rant and authority for every act and every thought of his whole political life. If loyalty to the "constitution as our fathers made it and for the union born of that constitution" was treason then was Colonel Richardson a traitor, for there never was a man that was more devoted to that constitution. If eritising the aets and policy of an administration is treason then was Colonel Richardson a traitor, for he frankly and fear- lessly compared the acis and policies of adminis- tration with the powers of that constitution. But if treason consists in giving aid and comfort and sympathy to the enemy-but even Colonel Rich- ardson's most implacable enemy never charged him with this. The ideals to which he gave his life have been submerged. The "higher law" than the old constitution has prevailed. The moral sense of mankind will never again sustain slavery. And yet, we are hearing many ac- knowledge that "the negro is not merely a white man with a colored skin": that "there are mil- lenniums of natural development between the

two races": and that it was a mistake to have given the franchise to the blacks.

The man back of this record of offices, acts, measures, positions and opinions-the man that his contemporaries saw and knew- stood six feet and two inches in height, with broad shoulders and a large angular body. ile had a large head that was covered with a wealth of unkept dark brown hair. His countenance was open and frank, and expressive of his every feeling. llis features were large but regular. His eyes, under shaggy eyebrows, were dark gray in re- pose, black when he was excited, and all kinds of colors when he smiled. His voice was low and its Kentucky modulations most musical. It was a strong and flexible voice and could be heard by large bodies of men on the hustings, whether it was used to express some tender feeling, to playfully repeat some amusing incident or anec- dote, to drolly or aptly answer some pert inquiry, to weave the threads of his argument about his subject, or to challenge opposition and send forth the note of defiance. Ile was a combative and aggressive fighter, yet he had a saving grace of common sense and humor that kept him from fanaticism. He was honest, honorable and up- right, and despised anything that was mean. Ile was a man of warm and generous impulses, of a large and ready sympathy and a generous heart. He was cheerful, uncomplaining, kind and toler- ant. He had a genial interest in people and a racy humor which made him a delightful com- panion. "He was always ready to appreciate a good story and always able to tell one as good or better." Ule was a democrat to the core and eminently social, peculiarly careless about his personal appearance, with manners, though sim- ple, that had a certain courtliness about them. The keynote of his character was loyalty. He was loyal to his friends: loyal to Douglas; loyal to his party ; loyal to his principles: loyal to the traditions of patriotism that came down from his revolitionary sires: loyal to the constitution; loyal to the union ; loyal to his country.

ROBERT J. CHRISTIE, JR .. M. D.

Dr. Robert J. Christie, Jr., who is actively engaged in the practice of medicine and is ac- corded a position of prominence by the members of the medical fraternity of Adams county, was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, February 22. 1864. His parents, Robert J. and Sarah (Nixon) Christie, were also natives of Virginia and the former was a son of James Christie, who was born in the same state and belonged to a family that settled there shortly after the Revo- lutionary war. Our subject's maternal grand-

DR. R. J. CHRISTIE

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father, Jonathan Nixon, was also a native of the Old Dominion and a representative of an old colonial family.

During his infancy Dr. Christie of this review accompanied his parents on their removal to Lewis county, Missouri, and there he acquired his elementary education. Later he took a sei- entific course at the State University of Mis- souri. When he was eighteen years of age the family removed to Quiney. His preliminary professional reading was directed by his father and after his arrival in Quincy he matriculated in the medical department of Chaddock College, where he spent two years, graduating in 1888, and then entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. from which his father was graduated in 1853. There our sub- jeet completed a two years' course and was grad- nated in the class of 1890.

Returning to Quiney Dr. Christie joined his father in practice and they have since been asso- ciated in business, though he has subsequently attended polyelinies in New York. Success came soon because his equipment was musually good and because of his earnest devotion and conscientions regard for the duties that devolve upon him in this connection. For four years he was surgeon in charge of Blessing Hospital and is still a member of the medical board of that institution and one of its consulting surgeons. In his practice he has made a study of surgery, in which he is particularly skilled and he now holds the position of local surgeon at Quiney of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, and also the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northwestern Railway Companies. He is likewise surgeon of the Old People's Tome of the German Methodist Episco- pal church and physician and surgeon of the Travelers' Protective Association and for the United Commercial Travelers of America.

Dr. Christie's standing in professional cireles in Adams county is indicated that he was hon- ored with the presidency of the Adams County Medical Society. He is also a member of the American Medical Association and was secretary of the Quiney board of pension examiners dur- ing President Cleveland's second administration and the first half of President MeKinley's ad- ministration. Everything that tends to bring to man the key of that complex mystery which we call life is of deep interest to him and by zealous study, investigation and upright professional condnet he has sought to be worthy of the honor conferred on him by his alma mater.

On the 26th of October, 1903, Dr. Christie was united in marriage to Miss E. E. (Leila ) Turner, a daughter of Otis and Mary ( Panllin) Turner, the former a son of Avery Turner and one of the pioneers of Adams county. IIer

mother came of an old Philadelphia family. The Doctor and his wife have one son, Robert J. Christie, the third.

R. B. ECHOLS.

R. B. Echols, who is residing in Loraine, fig- ures prominently in political circles of his dis- triet and is now representing Adams county in the state legislature. Hle was born December 5. 1854, near Washburn, in Washington county, Illinois, and throughout his entire life has mani- fested the enterprising spirit so characteristic of the west, this being evident in his political as well as business activity. Ile has been a resi- dent of Adams county since June, 1892, and is accorded a place among prominent and repre- sentative men. His early education was sup- plemented by a course of study in a business college in Colorado. He spent fifteen years in that state and then returned to Illinois, while for thirteen years he has been a resident of Adams county.

On the 11th of December, I>93, Mr. Echols was unital in marriage to Miss Lizzie M. Para- more. who was born May 25. 1867. and is a daughter of Jesse and Susan E. Burr) Para- more. The father was born June 28, 1824. in Richland county, Ohio, and his wife's birth of- curred in New Orleans, November 19, 1834. Mr. Paramore became a resident of Adams county, Illinois, in 1×70, and established his home in Keene township, where he resided until his death, which occurred May 30, 1889. Ilis widow is now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Echols. She is especially interested in bee culture and has a fine apiary containing thirty- one hives, which produces a large amount of honey annually. Mr. and Mrs. Echols have two children : Anna ., born March 12. 1895: and Charles R., born February 27. 1900.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 76

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228