The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 70

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

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realizing a handsome profit. His enterprise next prompted | town site of Carrollton. IIe was the first Sheriff of Grecne him to start a woollen mill at Joliet, in which he prospered. county, and afterwards was twice elected a Senator to the Legislature. He served in the Black Hawk war. In 1834 he was appointed by President Jackson Receiver of Public Moneys, and removed to Quincy. When the county of Macoupin was established, the county seat-Carlinville- was named in honor of him. In 1838 he was elected Gov- ernor of Illinois, and he performed the duties of that station with a sound judgment and practical common sense. At the close of his gubernatorial term he removed back to his old home at Carrollton, where he spent the remainder of his life, as before his elevation to office, in agricultural pur- suits. In 1849 he served out the unexpired term of J. D. Fry, in the lower house of the Legislature. He died Feb- ruary 14th, 1852, at his residence at Carrollton, leaving surviving him his wife and seven children. Governor Carlin was truly a self-made man. He commenced in humble circumstances, and by his talents, energy, and in- tegrity he reached the highest office in the gift of the people of the State. In 1842 he was elected a State Senator. From his well- known capacity as a business man he was made Chairman of the Committee on Finance, a position which he held during this and two other senatorial terms. Besides his extensive woollen mills and subsequent canal contracts, he also operated largely in building railroads. In 1852 he was elected Governor by the Democratic party. He had shown himself a most energetic and thorough business man; these qualities he brought to bear in this high office, and in the four years of his administration the taxable property of the State was about trebled and taxation considerably re- duced. When he came into office less than four hundred miles of railroad were constructed in the State; when he went out the number would vary little from three thousand. As a politician he was just and liberal in his views, and both in official and private life he stood untainted and free from blemish. As a man, in active benevolence, social virtues, and all the amiable qualities of a neighbor or citi- zen, he had few superiors.

'ARLIN, THOMAS, elected Governor of Illinois in 1838, was born near Frankfort, Kentucky, July 18th, 1789, and moved with his father to Shelby county in 1793. In 1803 the family moved to the Spanish Country, Platin Creek, Missouri. The father of Carlin died the same year he settled in Missouri, leaving his widow and seven children, Thomas being the oldest. The parents of Carlin on both sides were of Irish extraction. The circumstances of the father were limited, so the son had but little oppor- tunity of gaining an education, that section being destitute of schools at that day. At school, which he attended at long intervals, he had as a guide a spelling-book only. In

early manhood he applied himself to remedy this deficiency, being his own tutor. Ile was fond of reading through life. On June 3d, 1312, he entered the military service of the United States as a private. The war was then commencing. He served in the campaign to Lake Peoria and in the army under Governor Edwards, and camped near Biack Par- tridge's town. It was necessary to reconnoitre the Indian town at night. Carlin volunteered as one of four to recon- noitre and report. They went through every part of the village without detection. They reported the strength and situation of the enemy, so that the army could be conducted with certainty to the attack. In 1813 he marched in the campaign under General Howard through the country be- tween the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. All through he proved himself a soldier of undaunted bravery. He was married in 1814 to Rebecca Huitt, and lived on the banks of the Mississippi, opposite the mouth of the Missouri, four ycars, when he moved to Greene county. He located the

EYNOLDS, JOHN, fourth Governor of Illinois, was born in Pennsylvania in 1788, of Irish par- ents, who removed to Tennessee, where he re- ceived a classical education. He imbibed from the frontier people their characteristics of manner, customs, and speech, all of which attached to him through life, and of none of which he took any pains to divest himself. His imagination was fertile, but his ideas were poured forth regardless of logical sequence. He had an extraordinary disconnected sort of memory, and possessed a large fund of detached facts relative to the early settlement of St. Clair and Randolph counties, which were embodied by him in a work entitled the " Pioneer History of Illinois." He was much in public life, and in 1818 was elected an Associate Judge, and afterwards succceded to the office of Chief-Justice, upon the resignation of Chief-Justice Phillips. He served three terms in Congress, being first elected in 1834, while he was Governor, and was afterwards commis- sioned one of the State Financial Agents to negotiate large loans to carry on State improvements. He always claimed the staunchest adhesion to the Democratic party. In 1858, however, he refused to follow the Icad of Douglas, but sided with President Buchanan in his efforts to fasten slavery on Kansas. In 1830 he was elected Governor over William Kenney. This office he filled four years. During his administration the Black Hawk war was begun and ended. In 1860, old and infirm, he attended the Charles- ton Convention as an anti-Douglas delcgate. In this con- vention no man received more attention from Southern delegates than he. He supported Breckenridge for the Presidency. After the elections in October foreshadowed the success of Mr. Lincoln, he published an address urging Democrats to rally to the support of Mr. Douglas. Imme-

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diately preceding and during the late war his correspondence evinced a clear sympathy for the treason of the South. About the Ist of March, 1861, he urged upon the Buchanan officials the seizure of the treasure and arms in the custom- house and arsenal at St. Louis. IIc died in Belleville, May, 1865. He was married twice, but had no children by either of his wives.

ISHER, GEORGE, Lawyer, Surveyor of Customs, and ex-officio Collector of the port of Cairo, Illi- nois, was born in Chester, Vermont, April 13th, 1832. His parents were both natives of New England. His father, Joseph Fisher, was of Scotch origin, while his mother, Orythia (Selden) Fisher, was a lineal descendant of John Selden, the eminent English statesman, who figured so prominently in English literature and politics during the first half of the seventeenth century. His ancestors on both the paternal and maternal side were among the earliest pioneers and scttlers of New England. His education was begun in the common schools of his native town; continued at Chester Academy, where he fitted for college, and was completed at Middlebury Col- lege (located at Middlebury, Vermont), where, after a four years' rigid course of study, he graduated with honor in 1858. Upon leaving college he was at once appointed Principal of the academy at Randolph (Centre), Vermont. This position he held during the ensuing three years, and in that time achieved for himself a name among the first teachers of his native State. He then removed to Alton, Illinois, where he spent three years as Principal of one of the grammar schools of that city. He was teaching in Alton during the war of the rebellion, and did all in his power, both in and out of the school-room, to inculcate the principles of loyalty and patriotism. While teaching in Alton he pursued privately the study of law under the gen- eral advice and counsel of Hon. H. W. Billings, and later of Seth T. Sawyer. In 1864 he was admitted to the bar. He then removed to Cairo, where he has since re- sided, and engaged in the active practice of his profession. There he has won a fair practice and the esteem and confi- dence of the entire community among whom he resides. While he engages to some extent in the active practice of the court-room, his business consists mostly of a large office practice and the settlement of estates, which he has made a specialty. In politics he has always been an active, zealous, and consistent Republican, and to the support of his party brings natural abilities of no mcan order, inheriting a love for public affairs from his maternal ancestors of seven or eight generations. In 1869 he was appointed Surveyor and ex-officio Collector of the Customs for the port of Cairo, Illinois, and was reappointed in 1873. He has been a member of the Board of Education of the city of Cairo for several years, and takes a very lively interest in the public schco's of the city, which have attained a very high and

enviable reputation. IIc has also been a very active and earnest worker in the Sabbath-schools of his county and Statc, and in all that concerns the welfare of his adopted State and county he is warmly interested, and has in various ways assisted effectively in aiding to secure the advancement -social, moral, and political-of the community amid which he is an honored and valued citizen. IIc was mar- ried, November 29th, 1860, to Susan G. Copeland, of Mid- dlebury, Vermont.

UNNINGHAM, JAMES R., Lawyer, ex-Mem- ber of the Legislature of Illinois, was born in Litchfield, Kentucky, September 19th, 1831. His father was a native of Virginia, his mother a native of Maryland. Both emigrated to Ken- tucky with their parents when quite young, and, subsequently man and wife, lived in this State until their decease. Ile was educated at St. Mary's College, near Lebanon, Kentucky, and on leaving school engaged in merchandising, a business in which he was employed during the ensuing four years. He then commenced the study of law with William L. Conklin, of Litchfield, and in 1856 was licensed to practise, beginning his professional labors in that place. In 1857 he removed to Charleston, where he has since resided, and won an extended reputa- tion as a lawyer of learning and ability. In 1860 he was elected State's Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District, and held the office for a period of four years. He has always been a supporter of the Democratic party. For three years he has been a member of the City Council of Charleston, for two years City Attorney, for three years a member of the Board of Supervisors, and for two years Chairman of the Board. In 1870 he was elected to the State Legislature, from Coles county, and served one term. In 1872 he was a candidate for State Senator, but failed to secure an election. Also, for two years he was a prominent member of the State Democratic Central Committee. IIe was married, January 9th, 1861, to Mary M. Smith, of Paris, Kentucky.

ROSS, HON. WILLIAM, Editor, was born on the 4th of November, 1813, in an old log-house near Port Jervis, in Sussex county, New Jersey. He was the oldest son of Deacon Moscs Bross: When he was nine years old the family removed to Mil- ford, Pennsylvania, where he resided until he had grown to manhood. When work was commenced on the Delaware & Hudson Canal, his father went into the lumber- ing business and was assisted by William, who thus attained great muscular development, which has since been of great service to him. In 1832 he commenced his classical studies at Milford Academy, and two years later he entered

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Williams College. His preparatory studies had been greatly him to the position of Lieutenant-Governor. In 1855 he interfered with by the manual labors of rafting, lumbering, had been elected a member of the Chicago Common Coun- cil, and these two are the only official positions he has filled; but he has worked more powerfully out of office than he could have done in it. He married in 1839 the only daughter of Dr. John T. Jansen, of Goshen, New York. Of this marriage four sons and four daughters were born, but all these, save one daughter, died. Personally William Bross is of medium height, robust frame, square featurcs, ruddy complexion, high forehead, gray eyes, luxuriant hair. He has a kcen, resolute, yet pleasant expression of face, a brisk, firm step, and an easy, graceful carriage. He can " toil terribly," is frank, outspoken, energetic, clear in his perceptions, warm in his impulses, swift and sure in his judgments, liberal with a judicious liberality ; a powerful and able writer ; a strong and effective speaker ; a most effi- cient presiding officer ; a most devoted and untiring public etc., but nevertheless he was soon known as a promising student, and graduated with honors in 1838. On graduat- ing he was $600 in debt for his education, but this debt he was soon able to pay from his earnings. In the fall of 183S he became Principal of Ridgebury Academy, near his birth-place, and taught there until the spring of 1843, when he removed to Chester and taught there for five years, when he went to Chicago, arriving on the 12th of May, 1848. Ile had previously been West on a prospecting tour, and decided on Chicago as the best place for settling, although it was then but a small town. He went as the active part- ner in the bookselling firm of Griggs, Bross & Co., and re- mained alone in the business until fall, when Mr. Griggs went on from the East and joined him. He continued in the business a year and a half, when the firm was dissolved, and he, in company with Rev. J. A. Wight, started the man, and withal a man of genial and popular social charac- Prairie Herald, a religious newspaper, which was continued teristics. for about two years with moderate success. In 1852, in company with the late John L. Scripps, he started the Democratic Press, a political and commercial paper. It was RANSON, HON. N. W., Lawyer and Legislator, was born in Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois, May 29th, 1837. His parents were residents of Kentucky and North Carolina. After acquiring a preliminary and preparatory education, he en- tered upon a course of study in the higher branches in the Illinois College, graduating from that institution in 1857. During the course of the ensuing year he was en- gaged in teaching in the Sullivan Academy, located at Sullivan, Moultrie county, Illinois. Subsequently, deciding to embrace the legal profession, he read law under the able guidance and careful supervision of David A. Smith, then residing in Jacksonville. Upon the completion of the usual term of studies, he passed an examination, and was ad- mitted to the bar in June, 1860. In the following March he commenced the active practice of his profession at Petersburg, Menard county, Illinois, meeting with deserved success. In 1867 he was appointed by Chief-Justice Chase Register in Bankruptcy, an office whose functions he per- formed with marked ability. In 1872 he was nominated as a candidate for the Twenty-eighth General Assembly of Illinois, and elected a member of that body. While acting in this capacity he was appointed to the Chairmanship of the Committee of State Institutions, and in various other ways was recognized as an able and efficient associate. In 1874 he was re-elected to the Legislature, and during its sessions was appointed a member of various committees of more or less importance. His political sentiments and principles incline him strongly to the Republican party, and he is widely recognized as one of its most valued and useful adherents. As a legal practitioner he is upright, skilful, and learned, and in the matter of professional erudition takes a high and acknowledged rank. In the halls of the Legislature he has won attention by his energy, urbanity, conservative in its tone until the formation of the Republi- can party, in 1854, when the Press became a strong sup- porter of Republican principles. The editor, not content with advocating those principles through his paper, soon commenced their advocacy on the platform, and speedily became known as a strong and effective speaker as well as a powerful and comprehensive writer. The Press was ably conducted as a political paper, but it was pre-eminently a commercial paper, and soon came to be acknowledged as the commercial newspaper of Chicago. In its columns appcared the first financial article cver published in the commercial department of any daily newspaper in Chicago. The leading idea of the paper was to " write up " Chicago and the Northwest, and this was done with eminent power and success. Some of the cditor's predictions and asser- tions were thought at the time to be the utterances of a man unbalanced through excess of enthusiasm, but they have since received the full endorsement of sober statistics, and his earnest articles had untold influence in developing the railroad and canal enterprises which have so marked the career of Chicago. In 1857, during the panic, the Dento- cratic Press and the Tribune having both felt the financial shock, consolidated under the name of the Press and Tribune. Two years later the first part of the name was dropped, and the paper stood henceforth as the Chicago Tribune, one of the powerful papers of the country. As before, William Bross was the leading spirit of the paper, although others were associated with him in its conduct. The Tribune early advocated the nomination of Mr. Lincoln for the Presidency, and when the war came was earnest in urging it forward on the highest grounds. The editor's services in the Union cause were appreciated by the people of Illinois, and as a token of that appreciation they elected

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and the vigorous exercise of his natural talents, while he has labored incessantly and profitably for the welfare of his State and county. He was married in 1861 to Fannie D. Reguicr, daughter of Francis Reguier, a resident of Petersburg, Menard county, Illinois, by whom he has had one child, a daughter.

ILL, JAMES W., Pharmacist, Professor of Phar- maey in the Chicago College of Pharmacy, was born in Brechin, Scotland, December 20th, 1835. His studies embraced a thorough English course, including Latin and Greek, and were pursued at the academy in his native place. In the ancient languages he was unusually proficient, and was awarded the silver medal, then the highest prize, for his excellent and thoroughly scholastic and practical knowledge of both Latin and Greek. Upon leaving school he served a year with a pharmacist at home, and in 1852 emigrated to the United States, becoming an apprentice to Messrs. Carleton & Hovey, of Lowell, Massachusetts, having shortly prior to this con- nection passed a brief period in Andover, in the same State. After serving five years with that firm, he removed to Chicago in the spring of 1857, and entered the employ of Sargent & Ilsley, with whom he continued some time. He then went to Davenport, Iowa, where he was engaged by Mr. Jacoby, a pharmacist, with whom he remained until the spring of 1858, when, returning to Chicago, he rc-entered the employ of Messrs. Sargent & Ilsley, with whom he con- tinued until 1860. He severed his connection with this firm in that year and started in business on his sole account, and has achieved fine success by the exertion of skill and industry in a pursuit which demands the nicest exercise of care and attention. He is at present located at the corner of Adams and Halsted streets. Soon after the original organization of the Chicago College of Pharmacy, he became prominently identified with it, and has ever since taken an active interest in all its proceedings. When its reorganization took place in 1865 he was chosen Secretary of the institution, filling that station with rare judgment and ability for three years, after which he was elected to its Vice-Presidency, and in March, 1874, to its Presidency, and now fills this latter office. In the winter of '72-3 he was elected Professor of Pharmacy in the college, and now fills that important chair. As early as 1864 he became a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and has ever been one of its most energetic supporters. He has contributed many papers, which embody the results of laborious research in the domain of chemistry and in the preparation of medicinal compounds which are invaluable to the association, and to medical practitioners generally. His additions to the litera- ture of the profession are characterized by an originality of investigation and a fluency and systematic arrangement which render their reading both pleasing and highly profit- able. Thoroughly familiar with all the branches of the

science of pharmacy, ready and perspicuous in expression, hc makes a thorough and attractive instructor. He is highly esteemed by the medical and pharmaceutical profes- sions for the infallible accuracy which he has obtained from close attention and a long experience in the laboratory. Affable in demeanor, and gencrous by natural impulse, he has won the lasting respect of the community, both in his social and professional life. In 1850 he was married to Alice W. Slack, of Providence, Rhode Island.

ITT, COLONEL DANIEL FLETCHER, United States Surveyor, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, June 13th, 1810, being the son of Martin Hitt, a farmer. When four years of age his parents removed to Champaign county, Ohio, where his education was commenced in the com- mon schools. These he subsequently left for an academy, in which he closely applied himself to study for eighteen months. Another year was spent in a military school, when he entered Oxford University, Oxford, Ohio, and remained two years. Among the studies pursued here, and for which he evinced a special liking, was that of surveying. In the details and methods of this occupation he attained thorough familiarity, and shortly after leaving the college he became connected with the government topographical corps in Ohio, which was then surveying the route of the Mad River Railroad. After his labors here he went to Illinois, where he assisted in making the surveys for the Illinois & Michi- gan Canal until completed. He then became identified

with a government corps at work in Illinois in surveying government lands, and while thus engaged volunteered to aid as a soldier the federal forces against Black Hawk who had commenced to war upon the settlers. He served during 1831. The outbreak having apparently been quelled, he returned to his forest surveys, which he continued for some time, and then in 1832 rejoined the army, Black Hawk having again taken the offensive. The first intimation he had of the renewal of Indian hostilities was a tragic one. One of his packmen was tomahawked by the savages. Upon joining the army he was appointed First Lieutenant, and served with gallantry and bravery until the war ended. During this period he located at Ottawa, and was soon after chosen as the first County Surveyor elected in La Salle county. He acted in this capacity for many years. As early as 1831 he became proprietor of "Starved Rock," a cliff upon the banks of the Illinois noted as the place where one band of savages, who had retrcated to it for safety from a more numerous band of enemies, were starved to death. It is a place of great natural beauty, and is frequented by all tourists in search of the picturesque. In 1840, under the direction of the United States government, he explored the shores of Lake Superior, especially those portions lying back from the lake which have since given such great evi-

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dence of their boundless mincral wealth. It was upon his report and suggestion that the government purchased that rich belt of land from the Indians. On May Ist, 1848, he was married in Peoria, Illinois, to Phobe Smith, of Penn- sylvania. In 1855 he began farming upon a very extensive scale in the vicinity of Ottawa, and was thus engaged when the late civil war broke out. He at once entered the field as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 53d Illinois regiment, and was engaged in active service. When his superior, Colonel W. HI. W. Cushman, resigned, he was promoted to the com- mand of the regiment, and continued in the field until he was disabled by an accident which resulted in serious inter- nal injuries. After two and a half years service he returned home, and as soon as his health recovered, he resumed agricultural pursuits. He is now one of the Trustees of the Ottawa Academy of Science. He is a man of great motive temperament, and remarkable force of character. He loves rural occupations, and is never so much at home as when in the expanse of a prairie, or the deep solitude of the forest.

ANDEVENTER, WILLIAM L., Lawyer, was born at Mount Sterling, Brown county, Illinois, April 25th, 1836. His grandfather, Alexander Curry Vandeventer, was the proprietor of the tract of land on which was afterward built the town of Mount Sterling, laid out and founded by him. His father, Jacob Vandeventer, was for many years Judge of the County Court, and served also in the Senate of

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The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 70

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