The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 52

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

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properties attached to the Moline Plough Company extend 300 by 60 feet, and are four stories in height. The num- ber of hands employed is over three hundred. In addi- tion to the water power, an engine of one hundred and fifty horse power also is used; and, Deere's establishment only excepted, it is the largest plough manufactory in this section of Illinois, while its reputation as a reliable house is second to none. He was married in 1857 to Mary Parsons, a former resident of Woodstock, McHenry county, Illinois.

ROWNING, JOHN T., Lawyer, was born in Darien, Genesee county, New York, June 11th, 1830. His parents are L. Browning and Lucy (Tillotson) Browning. Upon the completion of an academical course of studies, he resolved to embrace the legal profession, and commenced reading law, in 1856, at Rochester, in his native State. In 1858 he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of New York. In the same year he entered upon the active practice of his profession, in Moline, Rock Island county, Illinois, where, connected in partnership with Robert H. Graham, under the style of Graham & Brown- ing, he met with much success, rapidly winning an en- viable reputation as an expert and energetic practitioner. This association was dissolved in 1860, since which time he has practised alone, and been constantly occupied in attend- ing to the numerous duties connected with a large and lucra- tive clientage. From 1859 to 1873 he filled the City At- torneyship of Moline, and while officiating in that capacity secured many and merited encomiums for his undeviating attention and efficient conduct in all that regarded his office. In I874 he was elected to the Legislature, and immediately assumed a leading position among the members of that body. At the present time he is a Director of the First National Bank of Moline, and one of the most prominent members of the local bar.

AMON, ROBERT B., County Judge of Edgar County, Illinois, was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, February 8th, 1829, being the son of John and Ruth (Chenoweth) Lamon, who moved to Illinois in 1836 and located at Danville. At this place he received his preliminary instruction, and subsequently passed two years at Wabash College, in Crawfordsville, Indiana, securing a substantial education by careful and industrious application under the supervision of talented preceptors. In 1850 he went to California, where he remained until the fall of 1857. While a resident of that State he served as a volunteer, under command of the noted Indian fighter, Captain Ben Wright, in the campaign of 1852 against the Modocs, and was in 1855 elected to a

seat in its Legislature to represent the counties of Merced and Mariposa, and filled that station during one term. In the latter part of 1857 he returned to Danville and prose- cuted his legal studies, which some time prior to this he had commenced. In the spring of 1858 he was admitted to the bar. He entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Danville, and during the war was elected County Judge of Vermilion County to fill an unexpired term. In 1866 he removed to Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, and in the fall of 1869 was elected County Judge, which position he has since held. As a lawyer he was zealous in the interests of his clients, and was especially distinguished for the intelligent care manifested by him in the preparation of his cases. He has won deserved popularity by the ur- banity and judicial ability he has displayed on the bench. His constant study from the period of its commencement in 1855 in California down to the present time has given him a thorough and practical knowledge of the science of law. He is free from any taint of bias, and without fear or favor interprets and executes that authority which he is constantly called upon to assert. In 1864 he married Lucy, daughter of General M. K. Alexander, of Paris, Illinois.

ARBOX, HORACE, Western Pioneer, Operator in Real Estate, was born in Onondaga county, New York, December 7th, 1817. His parents were Peter Tarbox and Mary (Woodruff ) Tar- box. His education was acquired at the common schools located in the vicinity of his home. In early life he was engaged for a time in working on the Erie Canal. In 1841 he turned to the West, and settling in Freeport, Illinois, established himself there in the hotel and livery business, which he prosecuted for several years. He interested himself at the same time also in the lumber trade and in building operations. In 1850 he went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and to Omaha, Nebraska, where he found employment in opening up farming lands, and in pioneer and settler work generally, while dealing largely always in stock of every description. He was the first to carry a plow into Colorado, and with it to break the virgin soil formerly the camping-ground of the Indian, or the bed of wolf and buffalo. In 1859 he settled in Boulder City, and engaged there in his customary pioncer work, buying land, which he would improve and sell. In 1865 and 1866 he returned to Freeport, Illinois, and speculated largely in land buying, building, and other real-estate operations. In 1870 he again went West, to Sioux City, Nebraska, where he was similarly occupied. From that locality he travelled to Sidney, Colorado, and thence to Grand Island, Nebraska, continually engaged in land speculations, and in buying, selling and raising stock. His home and family have since 1841 been in Frecport, but from that date down to the present time the greater portion of his life has been passed

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in the further western section of the country, where he has | of state during the early days of the war, and was confined continued to open up prairie land, form farms, build, deal for four months in Fort Lafayette. This was through hav- ing defended a man who had been arrested and confined in Galena for alleged disloyal utterances. This case, to- gether with that of M. Y. Johnson, attracted great notice, and he was eventually liberated unconditionally. A suit of trespass for false imprisonment against those concerned in the arrest resulted in a verdict for the plaintiffs, and the condemnation of the defendants in the costs of the suit. in stock, and to interest himself in pioneer frontier labors in general. His more prominent characteristics are energy and intrepidity, and in the interior of our newly-settled States and Territories he has assisted importantly in further- ing the development of the land interests, and in opening new and needed routes for the emigrant trains, whose people are required to settle and build up the regions once the desolate and sterile abode of the savage and wild beast.

e AILEY, JOSEPH MEAD, Lawyer, was born in Middlebury, Wyoming county, New York, June 22d, 1833. His parents are Aaron Bailey, a farmer, and Maria (Braman) Bailey. On the maternal side he is a descendant in a direct line from one of the pilgrims of the Mayflower; on the paternal side, also, he is of New England extraction. His earlier and preparatory education was acquired at the Middlebury Academy in his native place; from this estab- lishment he entered in 1851 the University of Rochester, New York, graduating A. B. in 1854 and A. M. in 1857. He studied law subsequently under the tutorship of E. A. Hopkins of Rochester, and in November, 1855, was ad- mitted to the bar of that town. In 1856 he established his office in Freeport, Illinois, and entered at once upon the active practice of his profession, meeting with a success which has steadily increased up to the present time. From 1866 to 1869 he was a representative in the Legislature of Illinois, where he furthered effectively the best interests of his constituency. He is now Attorney for the American Insurance Company of Chicago, and Attorney also for the Illinois Central Railroad Company. He was married in 1859 to Anna Olin, formerly a resident of Wyoming county, New York.

GREEN, A. T., Lawyer, was born in Orange county, New York, August 6th, 1815, being the son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Reeve) Green. His early education was secured in the common schools. In IS33 he was apprenticed to the tailoring trade in New York city, and in 1837 he went to Wil- mington, North Carolina, where he established himself in this business, developing it into large and profitable propor- tions by careful attention to all its details. In 1839 he came to Freeport, Illinois, and started his trade there, and maintained it for some time. During a period covering some years anterior to this he had been reading law, and by thorough study perfected himself in this science after his location in Freeport. In 1853 he was admitted to the Illi- nois bar. During his pupilage in this study he had for his preceptor Colonel T. J. Turner, a well-known jurist of that city. From 1844 to 1848 Mr. Green was Postmaster of Freeport, and filled this station to the satisfaction of the public. From time to time he has occupied responsible municipal offices. Though fitted for the duties of the legal profession, he did not practice to any great extent, devoting his attention mainly to real estate operations, which became extensive and lucrative. In 1865 he retired from active business life. In 1845 he was married to Mary E. Ord- way, of Freeport, who died in 1851. Subsequently he was married (1856) to Orissa B. Richards of the same place.

HEEAN, HON. DAVID, Lawyer, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, July 3d, 1833. His par- ents were James Sheean and Mary (Lorder.) UFORD, JAMES MONROE, Banker and In- surance Agent, was born in Versailles, Ken- tucky, April 21st, 1832, being the son of Colonel John and Nancy (Howe) Buford. He obtained a substantial common school education, and in 1852 embarked in a general mercantile business at Rock Island, Illinois. In 1856 he went into the iron- foundry business with his brother, Thomas J. Buford, and in 1861 sold out his interest. In the following year he be- canie Cashier in the First National Bank of Rock Island, and has acted in that capacity from the date of the bank's organization up to the present time. In politics he is Demo- cratic. From 1862 to 1874, almost continuously, he filled Sheean. He was educated at the common schools, and afterwards at an academy. In 1837 his parents removed to Galena; and on the com- pletion of his education, in 1856, he commenced to study law in Galena under John A. Rawlins, then practising as an attorney, and who afterwards became Brigadier-General and Secretary of War. In 1858 he was admitted to the bar, and entered into partnership with General Rawlins, the firm being dissolved in 1862. From that time he continued the practice of his profession alone until admitting into partnership his brother. Hc was elected City Attorney in 1859, and re-elected in 1863. In 1864 he was elected Mayor of Galena. Mr. Sheean became one of the prisoners | the office of City Treasurer in Rock Island. IIe possesses

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fine executive ability, and is a remarkably prudent finan- cier. Ile conducted the fiscal affairs of Rock Island to the fullest satisfaction of its people, and has secured the respect of the entire business and social community by his active and blameless public and private life.

ENT, THOMAS, Lawyer, was born in Putnam county, Illinois, November 14th, 1831. His father, George Dent, one of the pioneers in that section of the State, is a grandson of John Dent, of Monongalia county, Virginia, who it is under- stood was a Captain in the Revolutionary army, and his mother is a daughter of the late Thomas Ijams, of Muskingum county, Ohio, connected with the early history of that State by service in both branches of the State Legis- lature, and also as an Associate Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas. He received a common school education, chiefly from attendance at the schools in the vicinity of his father's residence, being as regular an attendant as was usual in the case of farmers' sons. While in his sixteenth year he became permanently occupied in the clerk's and recorder's offices of Putnam county as assistant to his father, and pursued a course of reading with reference to the ulti- mate practice of the law, availing himself also of further practical aids in the study by occasional clerical work in other county towns, including the preparation of court re- cords. After a somewhat laborious course of preparation, he was admitted to the bar of Illinois in his twenty-third year, and soon became engaged in practice in Putnam and other counties. Early in 1856 he removed to Chicago, and was for a time a partner of M. R. M. Wallace. In the course of the following year various inducements to change his residence to Peoria caused him to remove his office to that place ; his practice continuing in Chicago, however, he resumed his residence in the latter city in 1858, and has since permanently resided there. In 1860 he became the law partner of the late Judge Alfred W. Arrington, that relation subsisting until the demise of his associate, Decem- ber 31st, 1867. The firm jointly tried and argued a large number of important cases, one of the most notable of these, in its time, being the defence of the late Rev. Hart L. Stewart in a divorce suit. In the spring of 1868 he asso- ciated with himself William P. Black, and that partnership connection has since composed the law firm of Dent & Black. The reported cases with which his name appears connected as counsel are to be found chiefly in the Illinois Reports, commencing with the twenty-second volume. In several of them, citing as an instance, Griffin vs. Marine Company, 52 Ill. 130, much labor of preparation has been required. He has submitted arguments, also, in some cases in the Supreme Court of the United States, as in Dirst vs. Morris, 14 Wallace, 484; and Knickerbocker Insurance Company vs. Comstock, 16 Wallace, 258. Although

warmly interested in all that concerns the social and po. litical status of his State and county, he has not chosen to mingle, in any great measure, in the contests and strivings of office-seekers and politicians, preferring to devote his attention more particularly to his professional duties. Soon after he had attained his majority, his name was presented by personal friends for the office of County Judge of Put- nam County, to fill a vacancy. The opposing candidate was, however, elected by a small majority. A home pub- lication has said of him : " He is a student in the most comprehensive sense of the word. . . . As a lawyer pos- sessing a great knowledge of law he stands very high. . . . He presents a case always clearly and pointedly, and com- prehensively, and when he has finished he has made every point that the case contains." For some years past he has been a Ruling Elder in the Third Presbyterian Church of Chicago, with which he united in 1863, and in his social relations he is admired and respected.

ODDS, FORD SILL, M. D., ex-Staff-Surgeon United States Army, was born in Butler courty, Pennsylvania, November 8th, 1828. His parents, Samuel Dodds and Jane (Spear) Dodds, were natives of Pennsylvania. He was left an orphan when about thirteen years of age. His earlier education was acquired in the Butler Academy, situated in the county of the same name. Upon completing his allotted course of studies in this institution, he engaged in teaching school, and continued at that avocation during the ensuing four years. In 1849, having decided to embrace the medi- cal profession, he began the study of medicine under the instructions and able guidance of Dr. Lusk, of Harmony, Pennsylvania. In 1853 he graduated from the Cleveland Medical College, then located himself at Centreville, Penn- sylvania, where he practised his profession until 1856. At that date he removed to Harmony, and there associated himself in partnership with his brother-in-law, Dr. I. S. Lusk. In 1858 hc removed to Anna, Union county, Illi- nois, which is still his home, and where-the period of time excepted which was passed on the battlefield during the late war -- he has been constantly engaged in extensive and successful practice. In 1862, the war of the Rebellion then assuming threatening proportions, he entered the ser- vice of the United States as Assistant Surgeon of the 60th Illinois Infantry, and participated actively in many engage- ments from Corinth to Atlanta ; chief among such were the conflicts at Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Chattanooga. Also in numerous skirmishes and actions of a minor character he bore an active part, and was noted for his steadfastness in the hour of danger, and his efficiency in emergencies. After the fall of Atlanta he was appointed Acting Staff.Surgeon United States Army, and assigned to duty as Surgeon in charge of the Post Hospital at Bridge-

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port, Alabama, where he remained until September, 1865. He then returned to his home in the West, resuming his former practice, in which he was immediately installed. In 1865 he purchased a drug store and placed his son in charge of it, while he devoted his attention entirely to his patients. The son being appointed in 1874 a cadet at West Point, he disposed of his interest in that store, and is now occupied solely in the fulfilment of the numerous duties attendant on an extensive and ever-increasing practice. He is a prominent and influential citizen in the community amid which he resides, and a leading member of the Southern Illinois Medical Association. He was married in 1854 to Mary A. Lusk, daughter of Dr. Lusk, of Harmony, Penn- sylvania.

cDOWELL, NELSON S., Merchant and Rcal Estate Dealer, was born near Lafayette, Tippe- canoe county, Indiana, October 10th, 1829. He is of Scotch-Irish extraction. His father, a native of Kentucky, removed to Ohio and thence to Lafayette, Indiana, in 1828, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, in 1842. Five years later Nelson S. left home to learn the wheel- wright business, and was thus employed until 1850, when he removed to Bloomington, Illinois, where he pursued his trade as journeyman till March 27th, 1852, at which date he resolved to emigrate to California. This was the period of the intensest excitement produced by the gold discoveries on the Pacific slope, and he, in company with others, turned his face westward toward the coveted regions. The entire journey was made with ox teams, from Livingston county, Illinois, across the plains and through the mountains to the place of destination, Placerville, Eldorado county, Cali- fornia. That point was reached on August 20th following, the rate of travel having been on an average about twenty miles per diem. The company consisted of ten men, with three ox teams, covered wagons, and the usual appurte- nances of such expeditions; the route lying through the Indian country, where, at Fort Laramie, they fell in with large numbers of the natives. Fort Kearney was reached on the 26th of May, and at that datc consisted of a rude fort, a few mud huts, and three or four frame buildings. Thence the route lay through the valley of the Platte river, and later over the mountains and plateaus. On reaching Placerville he found himself in possession of but one dollar and fifty cents, which being divided between himself and two comrades, left him the owner of fifty cents with which to begin life in California. During the following year he was engaged as assistant in the manufacture of lumber, and later entered into business on his own account. While oc- cupied as proprietor of a hotel, saw-mill, and livery estab- lishment, he engaged also in mercantile business until 1855, when he disposed of all his interests, purposing to return to the East. Subsequently, however, he was induced to

engage in the construction 01 a canal nineteen miles in length, to convey water to the mining districts. This enter- prise, costing $30,000, caused him ultimately a loss of nearly $24,000, owing to a deficiency of water for the deep surface diggings. After completing the canal he sailed, May 18th, 1856, for New York, whence he proceeded to Illinois and passed his time visiting until the following October. Then he returned to California, arriving at San Francisco Decem- ber 24th, 1856. After prospecting the canal enterprise, and deeming it likely to prove a failure, he engaged with the Mokelumne Hill Canal and Mining Company, with which he remained for some three years. During this period he sold his canal for $6000 in gold, and then, on May 5th, 1859, sailed on the "Golden Gate," Captain Baily, commander, on his return to the East. Thence he went to Pontiac, Illinois, where he again engaged in mer- cantile business. Later he commenced business in Fairbury, Livingston county, in the same State, where he continued operations until the spring of 1874. In Pontiac he has car- ried on business until the present time. Since his return from California he has dealt extensively in real estate- farming lands in Illinois and Nebraska. In 1866 he pur- chased several thousands of acres of land in Nebraska, and in 1870 went to this Territory, accompanied by Hon. W. G. McDowell, and planned and founded the town now known as Fairbury, Jefferson county, the county seat, on the line of the St. Joseph & Denver Railroad, one hundred and forty miles west of St. Joseph. He was married, December Ioth, 1860, to Susan E. Roope, daughter of Jacob Roope, and by her has had three children-Jessie, Frank, and Nelson.

MITH, AUGUSTUS PETER, Merchant and Cap- italist, was born in Coblesville, Schoharie county, New York, February 2d, 1831, being the son of William and Maria (Snyder) Smith. He was educated at an academy in his native place, and upon quitting this institution taught music-in which he was more than ordinarily proficient-for two years. In 1856 hc removed to Sterling, Illinois, where he established himself in business as a dealer in grain, and continucd this pursuit until 1858, when, having invented a new " mitten," or fingerless glove, made of skin tanned without removing the wool, he commenced its manufacture. This was at first conducted upon a modest scale, but the production of his factory proving very acceptable to the public, his business was largely increased, and flourished successfully under his management until 1869, when he sold out the establishment. He is the founder of the town of Rock Falls, in which he now resides. It is adjoining Sterling, on the Rock river. In 1867 he purchased sixty acres of land on the other side of this stream and opposite Sterling, and commenced building upon this tract. The place was quickly settled, and the new town of Rock Falls

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has now about two thousand inhabitants and a large number ; he removed to the West, and in April, 1840, settled at of manufacturing establishments. A railroad runs through the town, affording communication with all points inde- pendent of its older rival across the river.

ALT, JOHN M., Merchant and Manufacturer, of Sterling, Illinois, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, July 3Ist, 1835, his parents being William and Mary Ann (Thomas) Galt. He re- ccived his early instruction in the common schools of that county. In 1855 he went to Sterling, Illinois, and was engaged as clerk in a store devoted to the sale of general merchandise. In 1857, with his brother and two other gentlemen, he entered into a partnership under the firm-name of Galts & Crawfords, dealers in hardware and agricultural implements. In 1858 the business was secured to himself and his brother by the retirement of the other partners, and they conducted it until 1868 under the title of Galt Bros. In this year Thomas A. Galt retired, and his brother, John M., carried it on alone until about 1871, when he disposed of it. In 1865 he established a carriage and buggy factory, in partnership with John V. Emmett, as Galt & Emmett, and still has his interest in that enterprise. He was one of the original promoters of the Eureka Manufacturing Company, which was organized at Rock Island in 1871, and now is largely and profitably engaged in the making of school seats, church and office furniture, etc. In 1874 he assumed the Presidency of the company, and conducts its affairs with ability. In 1868 he was married to Lizzie McPherran, of Dixon, Illinois.

ASHBURNE, HON. ELIHU B., Lawyer, States- man, and Diplomatist, United States Minister to France, was born in Livermore, Oxford (now Androscoggin) county, Maine, September 23d, IS16. His father was Israel Washburne. Israel Washburne, Jr., his brother, studied law, and in October, 1834, was admitted to the bar, and practised his profession in Orono, Penobscot county, Maine. In 1842 he was a member of the Legislature, and was elected to the Federal House of Representatives, from Maine, for the Thirty-second, Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fifth, and Thirty-sixth Congresses. His younger brother, Cadwallader C. Washburne, also a lawyer by profession, removed to Wisconsin, and was elected a Representative from that State to the Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fifth, and Thirty-sixth Congresses. In early life he served an apprenticeship as printer in the office of the Kennebec Journal, and subse- quently, his inclinations leading him to espouse the legal profession, entered Harvard University as a law student. At the completion of his course of studies in that institution

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The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 52

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