The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 65

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

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few Indian traders who had established posts there. They found but a poor market for the whiskey with which they were wont to defraud the Indians out of their furs and other pelts. Owanica, or "Jahro," the Winnebago chief, who claimed and proved to be the " fast friend " of Mr. Dixon and family, became an active and energetic disciple of temperance. The advent of Black Hawk with his six hundred warriors, who were marching from the Desmoines river, in Iowa, up this valley, and who encamped at a spring a few hundred yards above the ferry, gave the Winnebago chiefs abundant opportunity to manifest their " fast friendship" to the family of Mr. Dixon. The former tribe were intending to take forcible possession of some territory on the upper Rock, embracing the Kishwaukie country, claimed to have been given them by the Potta- watomies. They were followed from Rock Island by General Atkinson with an army of regulars and volunteers, which compelled them to move north. Leaving the Rock at Fort Atkinson, in Wisconsin, they struck across the country to the Wisconsin, thence to the Mississippi, in- tending to recross that stream near the mouth of the Bodax, and return to Iowa. But at that point they were overtaken and severely punished. During the cam- paign Mr. Dixon's intimate knowledge of the country, and of the character and habits of the Indian race, enabled him to render important services to the country. This seems to have been appreciated, and to have gained for him the personal friendship and esteem of some gentlemen whose subsequent career has given them a world-wide reputation. Amongst these were Colonel Baker, who was killed in the early part of the rebellion ; Albert Sidney Johnston, Zachary Taylor, Robert Anderson (afterwards the hero of Sumter), Jefferson Davis, Abraham Lincoln, General Winfield Scott, and others. He entered the land upon which the most valuable part of the (now) city of Dixon stands, and in 1835 laid it off into town lots. In this connection it may not be improper to say that all the lands thus subdivided were disposed of from time to time, and the avails, instead of being hoarded for individual use, have gone to build up the general interests of the city. In 1838, when the general system of internal improvements in the State was adopted by the Legislature, and a vacancy, occasioned by the death of Colonel Stevenson, occurred in the State Board of Commis- sioners, he was appointed by Governor Duncan to fill the vacancy, and subsequently elected by the Legislature a permanent member of the Board ; and although subsequent experience showed that the State had undertaken too much, resulting in failure, careful investigation manifested the fact that the business of the State Board had been honestly and faithfully executed. In 1840 Mr. Dixon visited Washington with an application for the removal of the land office from Galena to Dixon, and General Scott, and perhaps other army officers, personal friends of Mr. Dixon, who had be-

always give names to persons and places descriptive of some incident or attribute pertaining to them, called him " Nadah-Churah-Sah " --- " head-hair-white," in allusion to his flowing white hair. It is also their custom to run compound words or sentences together, as in the case of this name, pronounced by them " Na-chu-sah." Mr. Dixon's influence upon the moral habits of the Indians in I come familiar with the topography of the country during

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the Black Hawk war, promptly interested themselves in his | ated at the Jefferson school in March, 1862. Immediately behalf, and introduced him to President Van Buren, who at once signed the order for its removal. Of his domestic life it is becoming to make but bare mention here. His wife, formerly Rebecca Sherwood, of New York, a lady of superior mental capacity and energy, shared with her hus- band the toils and privations incident to frontier life, and exerted a moral and religions influence which will be felt in that region for all time. She, with all her children, ten in number, has passed away. Mr. Dixon has now living thirty grandchildren and great-grandchildren, has lived to the age of ninety-one, is in good health, has witnessed the growth of the " Ferry " from a condition of wild grass and shrubbery to that of a busy city of five thousand inhabitants, bearing his own honored name, is happy in the society of his daughter-in-law, Mrs. John W. Dixon, and her family and in the esteem of his fellow-citizens.

ARNES, IRA NORTON, M. D., of Decatur, Illi- nois, was born at Claremont, New Hampshire, on the 19th of December, 1829. His father, Ira Norton Barnes, was a representative New Eng- land farmer, and being industrious and closely attentive to his business, he managed to draw from among the rocks of his native State a comfortable sup- port for his large family. The mother of Dr. Barnes, Harriet Eastman Barnes, was a member of the old Eastman family from which sprung Daniel Webster and other distin- guished characters. When Dr. Barnes was only three months of age, his father received a severe scald while boiling maple syrup, which resulted in his death after a few days. The early years in the life of Dr. Barnes were spent at Claremont. After obtaining a good education in the academies of his native town and of Springfield, Vermont, he began the study of medicine and pharmacy with W. M. Ladd, M. D., of Claremont. He remained in the drug store of Dr. Ladd several years, and then he determined upon a collegiate course of study. After two years spent in preparation at Kimball Union Academy, he entered Dart- mouth College in 1851, and graduated therefrom in 1855, with the degree of A. B. The following year was spent in the drug business with his brother, Dr. W. A. Barnes, at Decatur, Illinois. He then removed to Jackson, Mississippi, where he taught a select school and read medicine with Dr. S. C. Farrar. In 1858 he received the degree of A. M. from Dartmouth College, and attended his first course of medical lectures at Hanover, New Hampshire, and con- tinued his medical studies under the tuition of Prof. Dixi Crosby. He spent the summer of 1859 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attending the clinics at the various hospitals, and in the autumn of the same year he matriculated at the Jefferson Medical College. In 1861 he returned to Phila- delphia and attended his last course of lectures, and gradu-

after graduation, he located at Decatur, Illinois, and formed a partnership with Dr. E. W. Moore. His business grew rapidly, and was already in a flourishing condition when, in 1863, he was appointed and commissioned as Surgeon of the 116th Regiment Illinois Volunteers. In 1864 he was appointed Surgeon-in-Chief of the 2d Division, 15th Army Corps, and in 1865 was placed in charge of the Division Hospital. IIe was with his regiment when, as part of the army of the Tennessee, it participated in the battles around Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and in the various other engagements of that section of the country. After marching with Sherman to the sca, and thence through the Carolinas and Virginia to Washington, District of Columbia, he was mustered out with his regiment near the latter city. After the close of the war Dr. Barnes resumed his practice in Decatur with his former partner, Dr. E. W. Moore. The business of this firm has steadily increased, until now they are the acknowledged leaders of the medical fraternity in the section in which they practise. Dr. Barnes is a member of the State Medical Society, and also of the medical societies of the county and city in which he resides. His genial and buoyant temperament renders him peculiarly acceptable in the sick-room. He seems to infuse some of his own hearti- ness into his patients, and these are often heard to remark that his encouraging smile seems to begin the cure even before medicine is administered. On the 25th of Septem- ber, 1861, he was married to Diantha G. Sargent, of Clare- mont, New Ilampshirc.

UFF, ANDREW D., Judge, Lawyer, was born in Bond county, Illinois, January 24th, 1Szo. His father, a native of Georgia, and his mother, a na- tive of South Carolina, were among the pioneers and settlers of Illinois, having emigrated to this State, then a Territory, in 1809. His earlier edu- cation was acquired in the common schools of his native State. Ilis first essay in life was in the capacity of school- teacher, and he was occupied at this vocation during 1842- 43. In the following year he turned his attention to farm- ing and agricultural pursuits, and remained thus employed until 1847. He then, at the instance of Judge Denning, moved to Benton, Illinois, and there, having decided to embrace the legal profession, began the study of law. In May, 1847, his county failing to raise a quota of soldiers for assistance in the prosecution of the war with Mexico, he went to a neighboring county, and enlisted as a private, serving in the ranks until the final termination of the con- flict. On his return from the field he resumed the study of law, and, under the supervision and able guidance of Judge Denning, rapidly fitted himself to pass the required exami- nation, and in 1850 was admitted to the bar. Prior to this, in 1849, he was elected County Judge of Franklin county, being the first elected to that office under the constitution

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of 1848. That position he filled during the ensuing four | " Selectman," for a period of seven years. He was educated years, conducting himself with impartiality and marked abili- at the Gilmanton Academy, located in his native place, and upon the termination of his preparatory course of studies, studied medicine for some time, under the preceptorship of the celebrated anatomist, Dr. Wight. Eventually, however, he relinquished his medical studies, and did not graduate. In 1857 he removed to the West, and settled in Dunleith, Illinois, where he became Principal of the schools. Sub- sequently, in 1861, he was elected County Superintendent of Jo Davicss county, serving throughout the term of three years. In 1863 he removed to Galena, and became proprie- tor of the Galena Gazette, a weekly, tri-weekly, and daily newspaper, by purchasing the entire interests in that journal of H. H. Houghton, the present postmaster of Galena. The Gazette, established in 1834, has never missed the pub- lication of a single number since its birth, and is now the oldest surviving newspaper in the State of Illinois. Its editor and proprietor is a man of recognized energy and ability, and an honored citizen of Galena. He was married in 1858 to Elizabeth Shannon of Gilmanton, New Hamp- shire. ty. At the expiration of his term of service, he entered upon the active practice of his profession, and in the possession of an extensive and remunerative clientage continued profession- ally occupied until June, 1861. At this date he was elected tc the judgeship of the Twenty-sixth Circuit, composed of the counties of Franklin, Johnson, Saline and Williamson, which position was occupied by him during the following six years. In November, 1861, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention from the district composed of the counties of Jackson and Franklin, and served as Chairman of the Committee on Judicial Circuits with that body until its dissolution, assuming a prominent and leading position, and evincing the possession of sterling abilities and an inflexible resolution to carry his principles and designs to speedy and successful issues. In June, 1867, he was re- elccted Judge of the Twenty-sixth Circuit, then extended by the addition of the counties of Gallatin and Hardin. His term of service expiring in 1873, hc removed to Carbondale, which is now his home, although the regret attending his departure from Benton, previously his home for twenty-six years, was widespread and sincere. In politics, from the date of the attainment of his majority until 1871, he was a zealous and valued supporter of the Democratic party, and upon every available occasion devoted his energy and talents to the furtherance of its prosperity. Since the latter date, however, he has freed himself from that attachment to his party, acknowledges the influence of no special political organization, and casts his vote only for those who he bc- lieves will, irrespective of party interests, labor well and honestly for the public good. At an early date he espoused the cause of temperance, and notwithstanding that his course interfered with his advancement as a public man-for at that time temperance advocates were looked upon with great disfavor throughout southern Illinois-he never hcsi- tated to avow openly his views on the liquor question, and sustain the cause now become so por ular. Upon the pro- posed organization of a Law Department of the Southern Illinois Normal University, the chair in that institution was tendered to him, but this honor he declined. In all that relates to the advancement, social and political, of his State and county, he is an efficient coadjutor, and has aided im- portantly in the work of developing their resources, natural and acquired. Ile was married in 1845 to Mary Eliza Powell.

OLTWOOD, REV. PROFESSOR HENRY L., Principal of the Princeton High School, was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, January 17th, 1831. IIe was the son of William Boltwood, of an old New England family in very humble circum- stances, and was brought up on a farm. He worked hard to secure an education, first at Amherst Acad- emy, and then at Amherst College, where he graduated in IS53. Hc then entered upon the profession of teaching, and taught academies in Limerick, Mainc; in Pembroke and Derry, New Hampshire; and the high schools in Palmer and Lawrence, Massachusetts. In 1863 he was in business as a chemist, in New York city, from which he went into the service of the United States Sanitary Com- mission, and served for about a year in the Department of the Gulf. He had been licensed to preach in 1857, but was not ordained until 1864, while in New Orleans. He expected to become chaplain of the United States Colored Infantry, but the war was drawing to a close, and he was never mustercd in. In August, 1835, he took charge of the graded schools in Griggsville, Pike county, Illinois, where he remained for two years. IIe was then called to take charge of a new High School in Princeton, Bureau county, Illinois, where he is now engaged upon his ninth year's service. The school is distinct and different from the or- dinary high school, and has no connection with the other

ROWN, JAMES B., Editor and Proprietor of the Galena (Illinois) Gazette, was born in Gilmanton, public schools of the place. It has been planned mostly Belknap county, New Hampshire, September Ist, after his own idcas, has been fostered by such citizens as Owen Lovejoy and John II. Bryant, and has prospered greatly. It is an institution of a higher and more select grade than an ordinary high school, and approaches more 1333. His parents were Jonathan Brown and Mury Ann (Clough) Brown. His father was for two terms representative in the Legislature of New Hampshire, and also chief officer of his town, or | nearly perhaps to a seminary, its specialty being preparatory

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work. He was married to Helen E. Field, of Charlemont, [ transactions have increased rapidly and most profitably. It Massachusetts, in 1855. During his long residence at Princeton, and his connection with this school, he has ac- quired a wide and enviable reputation in all educational matters throughout the State, being called to different points to conduct conventions, etc. ; while, as a clergyman, his services are in frequent requisition, both in the home pulpits and in those of the surrounding country, where he is looked upon as an earnest and useful preacher. He is also author of a text book, called " Boltwood's English Grammar."

is now one of the largest and most reliable drug houses in the West, with business relations which comprise all that section which lies between Detroit and the Rocky Moun- tains. Its transactions now aggregate in value over $800,- 000 a year. Mr. Burnham has one son by his first wife, who is now learning the business with him, and a daughter and son by his second wife. He is a man of sound judg- ment, of irreproachable integrity, whose fine executivc ability has built up for his establishment the very large and flourishing trade it now enjoys. He is a man of much public spirit, and of social qualities, and is esteemed by the community in which he resides.

URNHAM, EDWIN R., Wholesale Druggist, was born in Woodville, Jefferson county, New York, March 25th, 1833, being the son of Edwin Burn- ham, who preceded him in the wholesale drug ALE, JUDGE M. G., Lawyer, was born in Lan- caster City, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, November 30th, 1814. Ilis grandfather, Hon. Samuel Dale, known as a prominent and active advocate of colonial rights, enjoyed successively a seat as representative and as senator of the State of Pennsylvania for twenty successive ycars. His father, also Samuel Dale, was a noted member of the representative body of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, served cfficiently in the capacity of colonel in the war of 1814, and was a judge of the Courts of Common Pleas and Oyer and Ter- miner of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, from 1819 to 1842. Ilis mother was daughter of Michael Gundaker, a well-known merchant-prince of Lancaster City, in the same State. IIe was the recipient of a thorough general and classical education, acquired at the Pennsylvania College, from which institution he graduated in 1835, delivering the Latin salutatory of that year. Subscquently deciding to embrace the legal profession, he entered upon a course of studies in the law office of Judge Champneys, completed his professional education under the able preceptorship of that legist, and in 1837 was admitted a member of the Lancaster bar. In 1838, while travelling in Illinois, he was employed as counsel in various suits in Bond county, in the south- western central part of the State, and eventually opened a law office in this section. In the course of the ensuing year he was elected Probate Judge, and subscquently County Judge, the duties of which offices he attended to, sus- taining also his general practice of law, during his fourtecn years' residence in that county. In 1844 he was elected and commissioned Major of militia, a post whose functions he performed with tact and efficiency. In 1846-47, the era of bank failures, scarcity of money, and financial disasters, when the State of Illinois was hampered with an over- whelming debt, the result of her extensive operations and investments in railroad enterprises, the repudiation of the State debt was earnestly and skilfully advocated in many business in Chicago. His mother was Elizabeth K. Weeks, the daughter of a prominent Sweden- borgian clergyman from Massachusetts. IIe has two bro- thers, Daniel being a leading architect of Chicago, and Lewis being engaged in business with hin. His early edu- cation was conducted at a select school, and under the supervision of an excellent private tutor in Boston. He entered his father's store, which dealt in general country merchandise, at the age of fourteen years, and acted in the capacity of clerk until nineteen. He then removed to Philadelphia, and engaged for two years with his uncle in laying patent roofing in Philadelphia and the States of Pennsylvania and Delaware. At the expiration of this time he went to Chicago to act as bookkeeper in the firm of Sears, Smith & Co., the oldest drug house in that city, and of which his father had already become a member, having in the meantime removed Wcst. Ile remained as book- kecper for eight years, and actually, during the latter portion of this time, became the financial manager of the cstablish- ment, in which capacity he gave more conclusive proofs of his business capacity. On May 29th, 1856, he was married to Mary D. Lasscelle, of Alexandria, Jefferson county, New York. In 1863 he was admitted as partner in the firm of Burnham & Smith, and in 1870 this firm was changed to E. Burnham & Son. His wife died in 1869, and on May 18th, 1871, he was married to Susan Wood, niece of cx- Governor John Wood, of Quincy, Illinois. On September 28th, 1874, his father dicd, the firm having, about three months prior to this cvent, been changed to its present title of E. Burnham, Son & Co. In 1868 the establishment was burned out, and again by the terrible conflagration of 1871; but with dauntless energy on the part of its managers, was a third time reared into more commanding prominence than ever before. During the first year of his father's partnership in the house, its business amounted to $150,000. Under the exercise of industrious enterprisc, keen business capacity and honorable integrity in all its commercial relations, its | quarters, and by men of acknowledged financial skill and

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discernment. He, however, foreseeing the ultimate disas- ters and demoralization that would, sooner or later, arise from such a lamentable measure, warmly and powerfully denounced the system of repudiation as suicidal, unnecessary and dishonorable, exposed the sophistry and fallacious rea- sonings of his adversaries on that vital point, and contended that, great as was the debt, a fitting system of reform and retrenchment could be successfully inaugurated, which would assure the payment of the entire sum, and accom- plish this, also, with light taxation. In 1847 a State Con- stitutional Convention was called, of which he was elected a member. While co-operating with that body, he labored zealously and effectively to secure the adoption of those reform measures, which finally enabled the State of Illinois to discharge her large indebtedness within a remarkably short space of time. He was a member of the Legislative Committee, also, later, of the Committee on Internal Im- provements, and, at the close of the session, was appointed one of the committee to prepare the address of the con- vention to the people of the State. In 1853 he resigned the office of county judge, to accept that of Register of the United States Land Office at Edwardsville, Madison county, to which he had been appointed by President Pierce. In 1857 he was elected County Judge of Madison county, and filled this position for a term of eight years. He was after- ward appointed by Judge Breese Master in Chancery, con- tinuing in that office during the terms of Judge Breese, and also of his successor, Judge Snyder. For more than thirty successive years he has been an officer under the common school law of the State of Illinois, and is now President of the Board of Education of the city of Edwardsville, Madi- son county. He was married in May, 1849, at Vandalia, Fayette county, Illinois, to Margaret M. Ewing, whose father, General L. D. Ewing, had been governor of the State of Illinois, and also senator from the same State to the Senate of the United States. Her grandfathers, Finis Ewing and Colonel E. C. Berry, were respectively one of the founders and most prominent supporters of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and auditor of the State. His family consists of three sons, all living; his eldest son, Ewing Dale, a physician of talent and promise, dicd in 1873.

the active practice of his profession in Germany for one year, and at the expiration of that time came to the United States in 1849. He was there professionally occupied until IS50, when he left New York, and, proceeding westward, settled in Peoria, Illinois. He is an honored member of the Peoria City Medical Association, also of the Illinois State Medical Association, and of the American Medical Asso- ciation. He has been a School Director of Peoria, and at the present time officiates as President of the Peoria Free German School. For some time also he was a member of the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of Illinois, and was afterwards promoted and commissioned by the United States government as Brigade-Surgeon, went into the field and served actively and efficiently for a period of twelve months. In the battle of Shiloh a horse was killed under him, and the concomitant shock brought on a hemor- rhage of the lungs, which, affecting his health seriously, was the direct cause of his resignation and resumption of civil functions. With the exception of the space of time thus spent in a medico-military capacity, he has practised con- tinuously and with great success in Peoria for nearly twenty- five years.

EDDICK, HON. WILLIAM, Merchant, Capi- talist, Farmer, etc., was born in the county of Down, Ireland, in October, 1811, on Hallow Eve. In his second year his parents emigrated to America, settling in Zanesville, Ohio, where his father engaged in the salt works. The lat- ter, James Reddick, was a north-of-Ireland Presbyterian, of the most excellent character, and was earnest in securing for his children not only a sound moral training, but as thorough an education as his means would permit. To his instruction and blameless life may be ascribed the principles of probity, industry and temperance which have been the distinguishing traits of his son's career, and to which his success is due. When William was nine years of age his father died, and the family were very soon placed in strait- ened circumstances. He was apprenticed in the business of glass-blowing in Zanesville, beginning with a compensation of four dollars a month. He continued steadily at this vo- cation, and when twenty years of age was married to Eliza C. Collins, of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, where he had some time before gone to finish his trade. He resided here two years, and then removed to Washington, District of Columbia, where he engaged in glass-blowing for two years. While at work in Washington, he made a sturdy effort to acquire a substantial education He studied during the evenings and during the long period when the fires of the glass works remained extinguished. He was an apt scholar, making rapid progress in his laudable efforts, and attaining, for the period of his application, an unusual degree of pro- ficiency. Having followed his trade without interruption for

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The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 65

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