The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 109

Author: Robson, Charles, ed
Publication date: 1875
Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy
Number of Pages: 770

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Northwestern Journal of Homeopathy, which he eon- ducted successfully during the succeeding four years. In 1857 the Chicago Hospital was founded; the allopathists claimed that it should be under their exclusive medical control, but the City Council decided to give a part of it into the hands of the homœopathists, a proceeding which occasioned in some circles considerable angry comment ; he defended the action of the Council in a very able pamplilet, entitled " Homoeopathy, Allopathy and the City Council." Again, in 1865, he published a pamphlet somewhat similar in character, entitled "An Appeal to Cæsar; " in this he discussed with much ability the question whether hoince- opathists can rightfully claim the title of physicians. In May, 1865, he was appointed by the Western Institute of Homœopathic Physicians, at its meeting, editor of a new quarterly to be established at Chicago under the name of The United States Medical and Surgical Journal. In 1866 he published a work on domestic medicine, giving the use of twenty-five principal remedies, entitled "The Homoeopathic Guide." He was educated in the Presby- terian faith, to which he still adheres. Hc was married, April 25th, 1845, in New Haven, to Fanny E. Boardman, daughter of Rev. William J. Boardman, of Northford, Connecticut, and has eight children, six girls and two boys.

ILLER, H. G., Lawyer, is a highly-respected member of the Cook county bar. He is an ex- cellent legal scholar, though without making pre- tensions as a profound one. Ilis prominent and important characteristic is untiring and unceasing industry. He works, and works hard for every- thing that he attains, and he attains a great deal. Through his system of hard work he accomplishes very much that is impossible to men more gifted by nature and more brilliant in attainments than he is. IIe never flies and he never takes astonishing leaps, but he walks to such excellent purpose that he generally reaches the point he starts for. Patient, plodding, persistent effort is his great resource, and one that he employs most conscientiously, and his prepara- tion of a case may be relied upon as complete, thorough and exhaustive. He makes no pretensions to being an accomplished elocutionist, and he has no imagination what- ever. IIe addresses the judge with more effect than the jury. Oddly enough, with his want of imagination, he still possesses some humor, and the slow character of his movements in general does not prevent his displaying much activity and adroitness in changing his position in circum- stances of sudden emergency. But his sagacity is great ; he forecasts with great accuracy, and his position, once taken, does not often require to be changed. Whatever he does, he does well. Ile is about fifty-cight years of age.

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or less actively interested in politics. When he was only nineteen years of age he was elected Assistant Clerk in the House of Representatives of Illinois. In the winter of 1860 and 1861 he was Reading Clerk in the House of Representatives, which position hc resigned to enter the army, when the first call for troops was made. In the year 1866 he was the Republican candidate for the State Senate; and in 1870 he was the candidate of the same party for Congress. It is due to him to say that he has never, in any instance, sought office, and when he has accepted nominations it was because he was held to be among the strongest men in his party, a party that has always been in the minority in that section of the State. Politics and the legal profession, however, have not monopolized all of his time and attention. IIe has been, for a considerable portion of his life, interested actively in journalism. In the years 1857 and 1858 he pub- lished and edited the Montgomery County Herald, and after that, in the years 1858 and 1859, he edited the Charleston (Illinois) Courier, and still later, as has already been said, he conducted the Union Monitor, at Hills- boro'. He married, in the year 1862, Mary F. Little, of Montgomery county, Illinois.

ITCHIELL, JOHN WICKLIFFE, Lawyer, was born in Palestine, Crawford county, Illinois, on the 30th of May, 1835. Hle is the youngest son of Wickliff Kitchell, who was one of the pioneers of Illinois, and who was intimately identified with the early political and legal his- tory, holding, at various times, the positions of Attorney- General, Register of the Land Office, and other important offices. Ile lived to the advanced age of eighty years. The wife of this Western pioneer was a native of New Jersey. There they married, and shortly afterwards re- moved to Ohio, making the journey in a flat boat, down the Ohio river, in true pioneer style. The newly-married pair were among the earliest settlers in Ohio; but after a com- paratively brief residence there, they removed to Indiana, and thence to Palestine, Illinois, where John was born. In 1833 his father removed to Hillsboro', Illinois, for the purpose of giving his children the advantages of the schools at that place, which were, for that early day in the history of the State, exceptionally good, and here, at the academy, the subject of this sketch obtained his education. After leaving that institution he commenced the reading of law with Messrs. Miller and Beck, of Fort Madison, Iowa, to which place his father had moved in the year 1847, and was admitted to the bar in Iowa. Shortly after- wards he removed to Hillsboro', Illinois, where he located himself, and thence he removed to Charleston, in the UGHLETT, SAMUEL, Miner and Smelter, of Galena, Illinois, was born ncar Nashville, Ten- nessee, February 19th, 1808. He removed to Galena about 1835, and engaged there in min- ing and smelting, and eventually became the possessor of about one thousand acres of valu- able mineral lands. He was for some time associated in partnership with Henry Corwith, in the real estate business. He was married to Ellen Bonson, who was born in Feetham, Yorkshire, England, September 12th, 1812, and died at Galena, April toth, 1851. At his death, which occurred also in Galena. January 2d, 1864, he left a family of six children, a son, Thomas B. Ilughlett, now prose- cuting the lead smelting business, and five daughters, all married, one of whom, Alice R. Corwith, is the wife of John E. Corwith, of Galena; the others are residents of Iowa. same State. His new location did not prove satisfactory, and he returned again to Hillsboro', and there he remained in the practice of his profession until the breaking out of the rebellion. With the war came new purposes, and he was one of the first to enlist in the 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. IIe was made Adjutant of the regi- ment, and subsequently Captain of the company in which he had enlisted. In this position he served until the three months for which he had entered the service had expired. At the end of his term he returned to Hillsboro', where he established and edited the Union Monitor, a paper devoted to the interests of the National Union. He continued the issue of this paper until some time in the year 1864, when he was drafted into the army. He would make no effort to procure a substitute, and in preference to such a course, as a matter of principle to keep good a resolution he had publicly made, he again entered the ranks and remained in the military service until the close of the war. When peace returned he went back to Hillsboro', and there re- ILCOX, COLONEL JOHN S., Lawyer, Soldier, and Railroad Promoter, was born in Montgomery county, New York, March 18th, 1833, and is a son of Elijah Wilcox and Sally Schuler. His father was Inspector-General of New York State Militia, and a man of considerable note in his time. In 1842 the family removed to Illinois, and located at Elgin, in Kane county. His father purchased govern- ment land, followed the occupation of farming, and soon sumed the practice of the legal profession. Ile remained at Hillsboro' until the year 1866, when he removed to Pana, Illinois, at which place he still remains. At Pana he continued the practice of the law. He is still devoted to his profession, giving to it his full time and energy, with the one purpose of achieving the highest honorable success. He is recognized as the leading lawyer of the flourishing city he has made his home, and is truly one of Pana's representative men. He has always been more became a very popular man in the community. In 1846

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he was elected Senator to the State Legislature, where he | in the great struggle of life, Coloncl Wilcox stands among acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of his con- the foremost. Two of his brothers served with him in the war, onc of whom, Edward S. Wilcox, was Adjutant, and the other, W. H. Wilcox, was Captain of Company G; both belonged to his regiment, and both were wounded. Colonel Wilcox has fought his way up to his present position earnestly and manfully, yet hc still remains one of the people in his sympathies ; and he is, therefore, one of the best examples of the self-made men of our times. stituents. The subject of this sketch obtained his educa- tion in the common schools of the neighborhood, where, by closc application to study, he laid the foundation of his success in later years. At the age of nineteen years he left school, and soon after commenced the study of law with his brother, the Hon. S. Wilcox, whose biographical sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, and was admitted to the bar in 1856. He practised law very successfully until 1861, at which time the war broke out, and he was one of the first to respond to his country's call for men, by raising a company of volunteers for three years service, of ESS, WILLIAM W., Lawyer, was born in Colum- bus, Ohio, November 10th, 1837. His father, Daniel Hcss, was originally of Pennsylvania, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Ohio, having removed to this State in about 1800, and engaged in farming, a pursuit which he followed until his decease; he participated also in the war of 1812. His mother, Sarah (Gordon) Hess, a native of Maryland, moved with her parents to Ohio at a very early day. He was_educated at the Dennison University, Ohio, and, upon leaving college, commenced the study of the law under the guidance of Justice Swayne, now of the Supreme Court of the United States. He attended law lectures at the Cincinnati Law School, and at the termination of the usual probationary eourse was admitted to the bar. In 1860 he entered on the active practice of his profession in Columbus, Ohio, where he remained until 1866, when he moved to Shelbyville, Illinois, now his home, where he has succeeded in building up an extensive and remunera- tive business. At the present time he is Master in Chan- cery for Shelby county, Illinois. He was married, Decem- ber 3d, 1873, to Illinoi W. Harnett, daughter of Dr. Harnett, of Shelbyville, Illinois. which he was chosen Captain. The company was mustered in as Company K, 52d Illinois Infantry. He was soon after chosen Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, and re- ceived his commission in October, 1861. In the fall of 1862 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and held that position until he resigned in 1864. He saw a great deal of active service during the war, and participated in the battles of Pittsburgh Landing, Iuka, and Corinth, and several others of less importance. Ile was also at the siege of Corinth, which occurred previous to the battle of Corinth. His regiment belonged to the Ist Brigade, 2d Division, and left wing of the 16th Army Corps. In the early part of 1864 he was placed in command of the post at Pulaski, Tennessee, and was stationed there at the time of the expiration of the term of service, when he returned home with his men, many of whom had re- enlisted, and were allowed a furlough. While at home he was induced by Governor Yates to resign his eommand and lend his assistance toward the re-election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidential chair, as much anxiety was felt by the Republicans in regard to the election in the State of Illinois, and political affairs were in a very critical condition. IIe accordingly took the stump for this pur- pose, and made many able speechcs in various parts of the State. IIe was a member of the Republican State Central Committee, and was very active throughout the entire ITMER, RICHARD BARR, Merchant, was born in Laneaster county, Pennsylvania, August 8th, IS27. His parents were Benjamin Witmer and Ann (Fcrree) Witmer. He was the recipient of a common school education. In 1840 he became a clerk in a general store, at Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1849. He then entered the service of another firm, where he remained for one year. In 1850 he removed to Salunga, Lancaster county, where, after working as clerk for a few months in the store of Freeland & Patterson, he purchased the interest of the former, and was admitted into partnership with the remaining partner, Samuel S. Patterson, a connection which was sustained for a period of five years. In 1855 he dis- posed of his interest by sale, and removed to Sterling, Illinois, where he shortly afterward entered into partner- ship with his former associate, Samuel S. Patterson, with campaign. In 1865 he was commissioned Brevet Brigadier- General by President Johnson. The same year he was elected Mayor of Elgin, and resumed the practice of his profession, continuing in it until 1870, when, owing to ill health, he was forced to retire from active business life. About this time the building of a new railroad from Elgin to Chicago was contemplated, and he at once took the position of leader among the people interested in this project, and laborcd earnestly to make the road a success. He became a Director and General Solicitor, and oceupies those positions at the present time. The road has ninety miles of track, and is in a very prosperous condition, which is due in no small degree to his energy and per- severance. In 1856 he was married to Lois A. Conger, of Galesburg, Knox county, and has three children. Of the comparatively young men who have won distinction

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whom he opened a general store, under the style of Patter- son & Witmer. This firm continued in existence until 1866, when S. S. Patterson retired, leaving him to prosecute the business alone, which he carried on until the spring of 1873. It was then changed into an incorporated company, under the State laws, as the "Sterling Mercantile Com- pany," of which he became President, T. Y. Davis filling the office of Secretary and Treasurer, and F. E. Johnson that of Vice-President. At the present time the business of this establishment is very extensive, their sales amounting to about a quarter of a million of dollars per year.

ITTOE, EDWARD D., M. D., was born in the Woolwich Dock-yard, England, June 20th, 1813. He is the son of Captain Robinson Kittoe, Royal Navy, and Harriet (Dominicus) Kittoe. His earlier education was acquired in the grammar school at Bury St. Edmunds, under Dr. Blom- field. IIe afterward began the study of medicine at Maid- stonc, England, and, arriving in America in 1829, completed his medical education at the Pennsylvania College, wherc he received his degree in 1841. He then practised his profession in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, until 1851, at which date he removed to Galcna, Illinois, where he has since, with some exceptions, remained professionally and successfully occupied. In 1850, prior to his removal to the West, he became Vicc-President of the Pennsylvania Med- ical Society. During the war of the rebellion he served as Surgeon in the 45th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers; was attached to the staff of General Sherman and also of Gen- eral Grant, and was appointed Surgeon of the United States Volunteers under the former at Vicksburg, and the latter at Chattanooga. March 30th, 1864, he was appointed Medi- cal Inspector, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel; and September 30th, 1865, was promoted to a brevet Colonclcy. He was married in 1837 to Elizabeth Fiester, of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania.

elected a member of the Thirty-second Congress, and on taking his scat in that body was found to be its youngest member. At the next election, notwithstanding the politi- cal change in his district at the county clections, he was again chosen as a member of the Thirty-third Congress, but two years subsequently failed to secure a re-election. While a member of the House he became an carnest oppo- nent of the slave power and of the repcal of the Missouri Compromise ; evinced great ability and entirc fearlessness in his words and actions, and in numerous ways was im- portantly instrumental in advancing the interests of the anti-slavery causc. In 1860 he was nominated by the Republican party as candidate for Governor, and after a very exciting canvass was triumphantly elected. During the war of the rebellion he was an efficient and indefatiga- ble supporter of the United States government, and, by his well-directed energy and activity in providing fresh relays of needed troops, acquired an enviable position in the ranks of the " War Governors." April 23d, 1861, he issued a proclamation to convene the Legislature at Springfield for the purpose of enacting such laws and adopting such meas- urcs as were deemed necessary for the organization and equipment of the militia of the State, and also for the rais- ing of such money and other means as were required to preserve the Union and enforce the laws. In May, 1861, he conferred upon Ulysses S. Grant, then engaged at Springfield in the organization of the volunteer troops of Illinois, the Colonclcy of the 21st Regiment Illinois In- fantry. May 20th, 1862, he issued a proclamation calling for recruits to fill up the volunteer regiments from Illinois, and on the following July 1Ith published a letter to the President of the United States urging the employment of all available means to crush the rebellion and prevent the overturning of the Constitution. On one occasion he paid an unusual but merited compliment to Mrs. Reynolds, wife of Lieutenant Reynolds, of Company A of the 17th Illinois Regiment, of Peoria. She had accompanied her husband through the greater part of the campaign in which that reg- iment had participated, and was present at the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, where she ministcred with tireless heroism to the wants of the dying and wounded. Upon hearing of her praiseworthy conduct, he presented her with a commission as major in the army, the document confer- ring the honor being made out with all due formality, and having attached to it the great seal of the State. June Sth, 1863, he adjourned the Legislature of Illinois, " fully be- lieving that the interests of the State will be best subserved by a speedy adjournment, the past history of the present Assembly holding out no reasonable hope of beneficent results to the citizens of the State or the army in the field from its further continuance." In June of the same year, upon receiving a letter from a town in the southern part of the State, in which the writer complained that traitors in his town had cut down the American flag, and demanded

ATES, HON. RICHARD, Lawyer, War Governor of Illinois, and United States Senator, was born in Warsaw, Gallatin county, Illinois, January 18th, ISIS, and when thirteen years of age re- moved with his father to Springfield, in the same State. His preliminary education was obtained in the Illinois College, at Jacksonville, from which institu- tion he graduated with the class of 1838. IIe afterward studied law under the instructions of Colonel J. J. Hardin, who fell in the war with Mexico. Entering upon the prac- tice of liis profession, he became a successful participant in political affairs, and from 1842 to 1849 represented his dis- trict in the Illinois Legislature. In 1850 he received the Congressional nomination at the Whig Convention, was i his advice as to what measures should be taken, he

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promptly wrote the querist as follows : "Whenever you raise the flag on your own soil, or on the public property of the State or country, or at any public celebration, from honest love to that flag, and patriotic devotion to the coun- try which it symbolizes, and any traitor dares to lay his unhallowed hand upon it to tear it down, then I say shoot him down as you would a dog, and I will pardon you the offence." His whole course during the war was such as to win for him a popularity second only to that enjoyed by, perhaps, two other citizens of the State, and to cause his name to be a grateful remembrance to the whole country. His term of office expired with the year 1864, and March 5th, 1865, he took his seat in the United States Senate, having been clected as the successor of Richard A. Rich- ardson, Democrat. At the second session of the Thirty- ninth Congress, when the bill regulating suffrage in the District of Columbia was brought under consideration, in his speech following that of Mr. Cowan of Pennsylvania, he expressed his views in strong, terse, and logical language, saying, among other things : " I am for universal suffrage. I am not for qualified suffrage; I am not for property suf- frage; I am not for intelligent suffrage, as it is termed; but I am for universal suffrage. That is my doctrine.

The question of negro suffrage is now an imperative neces- sity-a necessity that the negro should possess it for his own protection ; a necessity that he should possess it that the nation may preserve its power, its strength, and its unity. We have won negro suffrage for the District of Columbia, and I say I believe we have won it for all the States, and before the 4th of March, 1869-before this administration shall close-I hope that the negro in all the loyal States will be clothed with the right of suffrage. That they will be in the ton rebel States I cannot doubt, for patriotism, liberty, justice, and humanity demand it." He served actively and prominently until the expiration of his term, March 3d, 1871, returning subsequently to Illinois, where he resumed the practice of his profession. In March, 1873, he was appointed a Government Director of the Union Pacific Railroad, in which office he continued until his decease, which occurred at St. Louis, November 27th, 1873.

the university. Upon leaving college he accepted the position of Professor of Mathematics in the Kemper Col- lege, an institution then recently started, under the auspices of leading Episcopalians, near St. Louis, Missouri. After remaining a year in this college he resigned his position and returned to Rhode Island. It was upon his return

trip, in the autumn of 1841, that he first saw Chicago.

While remaining in his native State he commenced the study of law in the office of IIon. A. C. Greene, then Attorney-General, and subsequently United States Senator from Rhode Island. Upon beginning the practice of law his means were wholly exhausted, and he was compelled to borrow from a friend the twenty dollars then required in exchange for a license to practice. He was subsequently taken as a partner of IIon. Richard W. Greene, then one of the most eminent lawyers of the Rhode Island bar, and

who was afterward appointed Chief-Justice of the State.

He continued for several years in business with this col- league, and later was engaged professionally alone; was elected Clerk of the House of Representatives of Rhode Island, and was rapidly acquiring reputation and business when he determined to remove to Chicago, and in Septem- ber, 1847, accepted an invitation from Cyrus Bentley to join him as a partner in that city. He was thus employed during the ensuing three years, afterward forming a con- nection with John Woodbridge, under the firm-style of Larned & Woodbridge. At a later period he was asso- ciated with Hon. Isaac N. Arnold and George W. Lay, under the firm-name of Arnold, Larned & Lay. He be- came connected with his partner, Stephen A. Goodwin, in 1857. In April, 1861, he was appointed, by Lincoln, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and performed the duties of the office until November, 1864. In 1863, his health having become impaired by overwork, he took a leave of absence from his official post, and in April sailed for Europe, whence he returned in December, after a trip through the principal portions of Europe, and resumed the duties of his profession. Shortly

after his return, wishing to reduce the amount of his labors

and responsibilities, he tendered his resignation of United States District Attorneyship to Abraham Lincoln, who accepted it with regret. At an early day he became an earnest and consistent Anti-slavery man, and his first public speech, made in Chicago in 1851, was delivered in reply to one made by Senator Douglas. It was a discussion of

ARNED, EDWIN CHANNING, Lawyer and ex-United States District Attorney, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, July 14th, 1820. His the Objections to the Fugitive Slave Act, then recently en- acted by Congress, whose justice and propriety had been advocated by Douglas in vigorous language. His speech on this occasion was one of the ablest efforts of his life; it was circulated extensively by the public press throughout father, John Smith Larned, was a prominent and influential merchant of that city. His mother was Lucinda (Martin) Larned. His grandfather, William Larned, of Providence, served in the Revolution- ary war, and was a man of standing and character. Edwin the country, and received the warmest commendations from leading lawyers and politicians. Shortly afterward, in connection with the late Judge Manierre, he volunteered his services as counsel for the first colored man arrested in was educated at private schools in Providence, and in 1840 was graduated at Brown University, Rhode Island. While in college he was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and held a creditable position as a scholar while at , Chicago under this law, the trial of the case being con-

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The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 109

Author: Robson, Charles, ed Publication date: 1875 Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy Number of Pages: 770

Author: Robson, Charles, ed
Publication date: 1875
Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy
Number of Pages: 770