Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 78

Author:
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 794

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trict, and while holding this office was nominated by the Democrats for Governor, and elected by a large majority. He died at Peoria, Nov. 2, 1850.

Hon. William A. Richardson succeeded Gov. Ford, serving until 1837: He was a man of great moral courage and strong will power. He was a good law- yer and a successful Prosecuting Attorney. When the Mexican War broke out he enlisted and was as- signed to the command of a regiment, and served with distinction. Returning home after the termin- .

ation of the war, he received the nomination by the Democrats for Congress, and was elected five times serving until 1860. During the latter part of Presi- dent Buchanan's term he was appointed Governor of Nebraska, which position he resigned after a service of a few months.

Hon. Henry L. Bryant, served from 1837 until 1839. He was a good lawyer and made a fair Pros- ecuting Attorney.

Hon. William Elliott followed Mr. Bryant, serving from 1839 to 1848. He was an excellent lawyer and also a good fighter, serving with distinction in the Black Hawk War, where he was wounded in a hand- to-hand encounter with one of the red braves whom he killed. He also served in the Mexican War. He died soon after the close of this war, at his home in Louisville.

Hon. R. S. Blackwell, from Rushville, filled the office from 1848 to 1852, and was one of the most brilliant and successful Prosecuting Attorneys that ever presided in this Circuit. He was a splendid criminal lawyer, a good advocate and very forcible before a jury. He was also a thorough law student, well versed in all the intricacies of the profession. Subsequently he located in Chicago, where he prac- ticed many years and distinguished himself before the Chicago Bar. He was a lecturer at one time be- fore one of the law colleges. He has been dead sev- eral years.

Hon. H. G. Reynolds from Rock Island, was Prosecuting Attorney from 1850 to 1854. He was a good attorney and a successful prosecutor. He was also an active man in all public enterprises and quite a politician. While in this office he moved to Knox- ville. After the expiration of his term, he moved to Springfield, where at one time he was Grand Secre- tary of the Masonic Order. From Springfield he emigrated to Kansas.

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WARREN COUNTY.

Hon. William C. Gowdy succeeded Mr. Reynolds from 1854 to 1855. Before assuming this office, he had built up an extensive practice and had estab- lished a fair reputation as a lawyer ; also as a politi- cian,being very active in the Democratic Conventions. He moved to Chicago in 1859, where he is still en- gaged in the profession.

Hon. A. M. Craig served from 1855 to '56.

James H. Stewart succeeded Mr. Craig, serving about nine years. He was a good lawyer and a. careful and painstaking Prosecuting Attorney. There were very few escaped punishment while he held the office. His long service showed that he was appre- ciated by the people he served. (See biography).

Hon. James A. McKinzie, of Galesburg, served from 1864 to 1872, succeeding Mr. Stewart. He made a good Prosecuting Attorney and filled the of- fice with credit to himself and the people who elected him. His specialty was in the criminal practice.

Hon. William Marshall succeeded Mr. McKinzie serving four years and with marked ability. He studied his cases well and was a good prosecutor.

Hon. George Snyder succeeded Mr. Marshall, holding the office from 1876 to 1880, discharging his duties in an able manner.

Hon. John W. Matthews, of Monmouth, the pres- ent incumbent, entered upon the discharge of his duties in 1880, and was re-elected in 1884. Mr. Matthews is a good lawyer and is very zealous in his application to the duties of the office. He has been successful as a prosecutor and is very popular. He is yet young and bids fair to achieve distinction in the profession. (See biography, on page 357.)

Members of the Bar.

A MONG the lawyers who have practiced at the Monmouth Bar and who have died or moved away, may be mentioned the fol- lowing : O. H. Browning, of Quincy, Ill., was a fine orator and a good advocate, and proba- bly one of the best land lawyers that ever pleaded at this Bar. He was a member of the Leg-

islature several years and was also elected to a seat in the United States Senate. His reputation as an at- torney extended throughout the State.

Ivory Quinby was one of the first lawyers to locate at Monmouth. He was also the first County Judge under the act of 1849. Judge Quinby was a sound lawyer and active in all matters that tended to de- velop and improve the county, and was ever ready to aid the deserving and needy. He died Oct. 23, 1869. (See biography, page 375.)

Julius Manning, who resided at Knoxville, was one of the finest pleaders at this Bar. He was an eloquent speaker and almost unrivaled before a. jury. He was very methodical in his work, was a close student, and would never accept office, though he took a deep interest in politics. . He was a man of social habits and fond of good society. He died July 4, 1862.

Cyrus Walker, from Macomb, practiced at this Bar. He was a fine criminal lawyer and one of the best that ever appeared before the Warren County Bar. He died a few years ago.

J. H. Mitchell was an ornament to the profession. He is reported to have been a man of extraordinary memory and of reniarkable character. He was a fine counsellor and good in all branches of the pro- fession.

A. C. Harding was one of the prominent members of this Bar, and a very successful practitioner. He had an extensive practice up to the time of his de- mise. (See biography, page 541.)

Wyatt B. Stapp was for a long time a member of this Bar and a good general lawyer and successful practitioner. He took a prominent part in the pub- lic affairs of the county and was a much esteemed citizen. He died some years ago.

The Bar of Warren County is still ably represented by J. W. Davidson, who is now the oldest represent- ative of the profession in the county ; also by James H. Stewart, an old timer; and others, whose names will be found in the biographical department of this work.

WARREN COUNTY.

695

County Buildings.

OUNTY Commissioners' Court, the April term, 1831. It was ordered that propos- als should be received and contracts be entered into for the building of a Court House, on plans to be furnished by the Court. The plans were not intri- cate, nor did they require in carrying them out much architectural skill. A marble or frescoed hall was not needed in those days for the dispensation of Justice. The building was to be 20 x 22 feet on the ground, 9 feet between floors, and to be built of logs, hewn on the outside and inside. The construction of this building, within the walls of which Justice was to be meted out to the people of Warren County, was let at public venue to Francis Kendall, at $57. It was located on Main Street, a little north of Garden Street. This crude building served the purpose for which it was erected for several years, and after it was superseded by a new one was sold for $21, to James Hodgin, September, 1835.

At the March term of the Court, in 1835, it was decided to have a new Court House, and a commit- tee of three was appointed to prepare plans for the same. It was decided to have a frame building, the dimensions of which were to be 20 x 30 feet on the ground and one story and a half high. The contracts were let separately, to different persons, the entire cost to be $773. It was located on block 33, lots 5 and eight. Daniel McNeil, junior, was appointed to superintend its construction. It was never fully

completed, and was only used about two years, or only until another building was erected. In June, 1837, the County Commissioners made an order for a new Court House, had plans and specifications made, and closed the contract for its erection to Cornelius Tunnicliff, for $8,998, who was the lowest bidder. It was located in the Court-House block. Tunnicliff, after commencing the work, drew $1,000 as his first installment, and then absconded. The contract was turned over to his sureties, Daniel Mc- Neil, Jr., Justus Woodworth, Mordica McBride and George H. Wright, who completed the work. It was received from their hands March 14, 1841, when they were relieved from their bonds. This building is still used by the county. Its dimensions are 40 x 50 feet, two stories high, with a stone foundation and brick walls. A large vault has been added to the building since it was completed, for the deposi- tory of records. The building is inadequate to meet the demands of the county and the advanced condi- tion of the people ,and it is expected that in a few years it will give place to a large, handsome and modern structure.

County Jail.

N the 5th day of September, 1832, the County Commissioners made an order ap- propriating lot No. 15, Block 6, for the purpose of having constructed upon it a jail. Some crude plans were drawn containing the size and material for the jail, and bids were called for. The construction was let to Jacob

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Rust, the lowest bidder, for $300. It was completed and accepted by the Commissioners, March 4, 1833, and the Treasurer of the county was directed to pay Mr. Rust the money. This jail was rather remarka- ble for its construction, and its builder received much praise for the ingenuity of his work. It was thought in those days that once a prisoner was inside its walls, there was but one way for him to get out, and that was through the door, with the aid of the jailer's key. In the first place an excavation of two feet was made in the ground, and floor laid at the bot- tom. This floor was composed of two layers of hewn logs, one foot square, one layer crossing the other. The walls of the first floor were of the same thick- ness, and constructed of the same material, the ends of which were dove tailed into each other. The upper story was built of one thickness of logs, closely joined and fastened with bolts. In the center was a heavy trap-door, which was secured by strong iron hinges and a padlock. A substantial solid roof was built over this. A window 6 x 12 inches was cut in the lower story, which was. crossed by iron bars laid between the logs. A stairway led up from the outside into the upper floor, through a heavy oaken door. The prisoner was conducted through a trap-door into the room below by a portable stairway, which was drawn up after his descent. This jail, though strong in its capacity for holding prisoners, was not large enough to meet the demands of the rapidly increasing population of the county, and on March 22, 1839, the County Commissioners decided to build a new one. · Specifications and plans were made out and sulunitted, and the contract was let to the lowest bidders, Messrs. Woodworth & Mer- rill, July 19, 1839, for $8,495. It was built on lot 6, block 10, and was completed and accepted by the County Commissioners, March 27, 1841. The foun- dation was of stone, and the superstructure of brick. It was two stories high, containing four cells and two dungeons, and for those days was regarded as a good building for jail purposes. At the December term, 1856, of the Board of Supervisors, the jail question was again brought up. The building upon which so much money had been expended had not proved' satisfactory as it was expected. A committee was appointed to investigate the matter, who reported the nsufficiency of the jail facilities, and the inferior structure of the building, but stated also that the county finances would not warrant the building of a

new one. At a subsequent meeting of the Board of Supervisors another committee was appointed to in- vestigate the jail matter, and vested with the power to sell the old jail. It was decided at this time to repair and enlarge the jail. This was done at an ex- pense of something over $2,000. The great increase of population in the county, of latter years, brought with it also an increase in the criminal list. With the advancement of civilization and science, came also an advancement in the skill and devices of the burglar and jail breaker, and a new, larger and safer place for the confinement of criminals was demanded. At the June term of 1882, the Board of Supervisors appointed a committee, consisting of C. A. Dunn, J. T. Hartman and T. A. Dilley, to examine into the matter of construction of the new jail, and to devise plans for the same. They were also empow- ered to visit other counties, if necessrry, in order to post themselves in regard to the construction of places of confinement. The cominittee received specifications and plans from P. J. Pauly & Bro., of St. Louis, among others, which they upon examina- tion found to be advisable, and reported that they be adopted. The committee was further authorized to investigate the matter, to receive bids and to re- port at the next meeting of the Board, December term.

P. J. Pauly & Bro.'s proposition was to put in the steel cell work for $12,500, or to build the jail com- plete for $25,000. The committee made the report at the December term, recommending the adoption of the Pauly proposition, so far, at least, as the cell work. This report was accepted by the Board, and the committee were authorized to contract with Pauly & Bro., according to the plans, specifications and propositions submitted by them, providing the cost did not exceed $25,000.

The site selected for the jail was the north part of the Court House block. The committee finally closed the contract with William F. Hayden for the construction of the jail complete for $12,437, and with P. J. Pauly & Bio. for the cell work, at $12,500. The building was completed in the fall of 1883, and was accepted by the Board of Supervisors.

The foundation of the entire building is of stone; the 'walls of the superstructure of brick, trimmed with stone. In front is the Sheriff's residence, which is two stories high, with a hall extending through the center. There are four rooms below and four rooms

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above, and all are well finished. Opening from the residence part is a large vestibule, at one side of which there are four cells, two below and two above, for female prisoners or for the insane. From the vesti- bule you enter the jail proper. In this there are six cells, 7 x 11 feet, three on the first floor and three on the second, with bathrooms at the end. Around these cells is a corrider. In front of them is a hall for the prisoners to walk. The whole is constructed of iron and chilled steel, upon the Pauly patent sys- tem. Canvas hammocks are furnished for the pris- oners, which are attached to the sides of the cells by strong iron hooks. The jail is light, airy and well ventilated. It is warm in winter, and cool in sum- mer. The entire building is heated by steam, and was occupied Oct. 12, 1883.

In the spring of 1884, the old jail, the second one built in the county, was sold to Andrew Hickman for $125. The first jail built in the county was sold to C. L. Woodworth in June, 1840, for $62.50.

County Poor Farm.

A T the June term of the County Court, 1853, a petition was presented by A. C. Harding. signed by many of the citizens of the county, praying that the Court purchase lands and establish a farm for the poor of the county. This petition, was favorably received and in relation thereto the Court made the following order : " And it is now ordered by the Court, that proposi- tions be received until the first Monday in Septem- ber next, for the sale to the county of Warren of one quarter section or more of land, either improved or unimproved, to be used as a County Poor-house Farm, and the Clerk is ordered to advertise for pro- posals for six successive weeks .in the Monmouth Atlas." Nothing was further done until Dec. 10, 1856, when the Board of Supervisors appointed from its members Messrs. Bond, Brownlee and Lewis, a committee, who were authorized to purchase a suit- able piece of ground for the farm.

Another order was made at the June term, 1857, in the same direction, and Messrs. Norcross, Brown and Phelps were appointed a committee, with au-

thority to purchase land for a poor-farm. At the September term, the committee on purchase reported that they had purchased 120 acres of land located on sections 29 and 30, township 10 north of range 2 west, for which they had agreed to pay $3,360. This report was accepted. In December the Board set aside $1,000 toward the building of a poor-house, and - appointed Albert Mitchell superintendent of its construction. .

In March, 1858, $1,000 more were appropriated toward the completion of the building, and Mr. Mitchell appointed Overseer of the Poor-farm for one year. In June following an additional $1,000 was appropriated by the Board for the building, which was completed by fall and ready for occupancy.

The land here is rich and productive and has been put under good cultivation. It is located about five miles south of Monmouth on the county road. The farm house is a long, low, story and a half franie building, about 45 feet long and 16 feet wide. The insane building stands in the rear of the main de- 1 partment about 20 feet. It is a small, story and a half frame building, containing six cells, four above and two below, with a small passage-way. Back of this building is a pen, enclosed by a high board fence, for the use of the insane during the daytime when desirable. In the main building, on the fam- ily side, there is a parlor, sitting-room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and pantry. On the inmate side, a sitting- room, kitchen and two bedrooms. The second floor contains eight bedrooms. The building is poor, old and shaky, and in the winter time especially it must of necessity be poorly ventilated. For a county hav- ing the wealth, culture and civilization that is claimed by this county, and which it really has,, we are constrained to say that the County Poor-farm building is not at all a creditable one. The inmates, however, are well and kindly treated and say they are well fed. They speak in praise of the family who have charge of them. There were 27 inmates last summer at the farm, 12 males and 15 females, several of whom were not rational. Most of them were quite old and feeble. One of the insane in- mates has been here 20 years. The farm has a good large barn, which is the best part of the im- provements. It is well fenced with hedges and rails and is well cultivated. They milk four cows and · are raising about 50 pigs.

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WARREN COUNTY.

32000

daar for the Union.

LAVERY was undoubtedly the prime cause of the Rebellion and most of the dissension pre- ceding it. Consequently, as a suitable preface to the Warren County war record, a very brief recital of the events and imme- diate causes leading to and culmi- nating in the late Civil War, are necessary. The introduction of slav- ery into this country followed the first settlements. It grew with the Colonial development and became an important factor in its government. Almost from the first, its poisonous fangs were fastened on the political fabric, and clung there with the ten- acity of death's grip, and it is not at all to be won- dered at. Slavery had its peculiar fascinations ; it appealed to the indolence and cupidity of the peo- ple. Then as now, a large percentage of mankind preferred to live by other men's labors than by the sweat of their own brow. It is safe to say that in all ages and climnes mankind does not materially differ. An axiom stated to-day without fear of contradic- tion, could with the same degree of assurance have been proclaimed when Solomon reigned in all his glory.

The great cardinal mistake made by the founders

of this Government was when they had, by a long. and terrible war, released themselves from the bondage of Great Britain, to establish a Government for themselves and their posterity, the very corner- stone of which they in turn violated by the en- slavement of another race. While this was done, these patriots of the Revolution, these founders of the greatest Government the world has ever known, gave immortality to their convictions in the declara- tion "That all men were created equal, with certain inalienable rights, among which were life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

It was expected, however, by the founders of the Government, many of whom held slaves, that the institution of slavery would gradually fade away and finally cease to exist. The contrary to this, however, was the result. Encroachments after encroach- ments were made by the slave power, until it vir- tually had possession of the Government. For nearly half a century it was the dominant power in the politics of our country. Not satisfied with slavery in the cotton and sugar growing States of the South, its advocates wanted it to extend its territory.

Some of the greatest minds, the brightest statemen in the country-and as great and bright as were ever produced in any country-in endeavoring to placate this power, hoping thereby to prevent disruption, be- came the victims of its deadly power, and were brought to untimely political death, while this car of Jug-

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gernaut rolled triumphantly over their political graves.

The Missouri Compromise was made, then came the Kansas-Nebraska bill with its agitation and strug- gle over the right to introduce slavery into the Terri- tories, and then the Fugitive-Slave Law.

In 1856 the Whig party broke up, and its members, with a portion of the Democrats, formed a new party, known throughout the world since as the Re- publican party. This was the initiatory movement which presaged the downfall of the slave power. A Presidential campaign was made this year by the new party, but it was defeated. In 1860 it made an- other campaign and won, with Abraham Lincoln at the head.

The South, believing that in the Union they had lost their political power forever, yet knowing (the political leaders at least) that the Government under any party could not interfere with slavery where it already existed, nevertheless set up this false issue and consummated the secession of the Southern States on the strength of it, proclaiming to their de- luded followers that the Government, Abraham Lin- coln at least, would take their slaves from them.

Before the inauguration of the new administration most of the Slave States had seceded ; the United States Mint, the forts and the arsenals had been seized and the American flag had been torn down, and soon after the inauguration of President Lincoln, April 12, 1861, they opened fire on Fort Sumter and demanded of its commander, Maj. Anderson, its sur- render. Had the incumbent of the White House been a man of firmness and patriotism, had he even been a shadow of that sterling patriot and President, Andrew Jackson, these outrages to the country would never have been committed, nor secession allowed, and the war that followed would have been averted. But President Buchanan was weak, imbecile, and in the hands of the Southern leaders. He held that he had no power to prevent secession and protect the forts and property of the Government-in other words, that the Government was powerless for its own preservation.

The firing on Fort Sumter sent a thrill of indigna- tion through the entire North, and through every pa- triotic heart in the country. A new President was now at the head of the Government, and a man in whom the Nation had confidence. There was no

law authorizing the President to raise an army, and Congress had as yet passed no bill investing him with the authority to call for troops; but President Lincoln believed that a Government had within it- self the power of self-preservation. Upon this belief, with his great, patriotic heart, he acted. A call was made for 75,000 volunteers to protect the Government. This call was made on the 16th of April, 1861. Gov. Yates responded, issuing a call on Illinois for her quota. It was met with great en- thusiasm. Within two weeks Illinois had over dou- ble her quota enlisted and in camps. The people had. 'confidence in " Honest Abe," as he was affec- tionately called, and also in their brilliant and noble Governor, Richard Yates; and so it was throughout the entire Northern states. Volunteers poured into the camps from every department of life; from the farm, the manufactories,. the offices, the bar, the bench, the pulpit and the school room. Political differences were obliterated; angry words that had been given in that heated and memorable canvass but a few short months before, were forgiven; party distinctions vanished as mist before the morning sun, and party platforms were swept as a morning dream front the minds of men. All were joined with one common bond of sympathy and united in one effort, the saving of the American Union. X

The writer was at Camp Yates by the first of May, enrolled for the cause. The camp was then nearly full, and it was by strategy that his company got inside, and when in it was near being expelled. Vol- unteers continued to pour in from all parts of the State, but there was no longer any room in the camp, and arrangements were made outside for some. Word was sent out all over the State ordering volun- teers to stay at home, but still they came. One full company of as fine looking men as ever carried arms, well dressed, uniformed and thoroughly equip- ped with arms, arrived. They were told there was no place for them, that the State did not want them, and that they could not be used or provided for. They were so well uniformed-the only volunteers then out of a camp of 10,000 that had any other dress than the one they wore at home-so noble looking, so patriotic and so importunate in their en- treaties to be let in, that the gates were thrown open and they were admitted. They spent the day in camp mingling with the boys, the raw recruits, and

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Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 78

Author: Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 794

Author:
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 794