The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 71

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

USA > Illinois > The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century > Part 71

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

the State. He was educated in the schools of his native from the same institution. In early life he was left quite a place, and in 1857 commenced his legal studies under the instructions of Lysander C. Wheat. At the completion of his probationary term under that able preceptor, he was ad- mitted to the bar September 17th, 1858. Since that time he has been constantly and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Mount Sterling, where he holds a fore- most rank as an able and learned lawyer. He is exception- ally well versed in all points relating to his profession, and has conducted to successful issues many cases of impor- tance. Ile represented the counties of Cass and Brown in the Constitutional Convention of 1870, and for one ycar acted as County School Commissioner. He was married December 22d, 1859, to Sarah A. Wash, a former resident of Kentucky.

HOADES, SILAS, Attorney-at-Law, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, on April 18th, 1834. Ilis father, Silas Rhoades, was a native of Vir- ginia, and cmigrated to Kentucky in the last century, afterwards moving to Indiana, where he died in 1841. Silas, Jr., attended the primitive schools of that day in Indiana, and on leaving worked on a farm a few years, when he learned the trade of carriage and

wagon making. IIe then was engaged in merchandising, part of the time for himself, and also for others. He was also a clerk on the Ohio river boats. In 1856 he was mar- ried to E. A. Heath, of Washington, Indiana, when he moved to Centralia, and from there to Metropolis, where he engaged in business for himself, and continued it for one year. He then moved to Shawnectown, was employed in the Clerk's office, and studied law with Colonel Thomas II. Smith. In 1863 he was admitted to the bar. Previous to this, in 1861, he was elected magistrate, and has been re- elected at the expiration of each term. In 1865 he com- menced the practice of the law and has continued it ever since. In 1874 he became associated with Hon. F. M. Youngblood, of Benton, which legal partnership still con- tinues. Mr. Rhoades enjoys a large and lucrative practice, and is one of the leading lawyers of Shawneetown.

AIS, CHARLES JACOB, M. D., was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 16th, 1840. IIis father and mother were both natives of Ger- many, who on arriving in this country settled in the just named city. He was educated at the public schools of his native city. On leaving school he engaged himself as a clerk in the drug business in Louisville, and afterwards conducted an establishment of his own. While thus occupied he began the study of medi- cine, which he continued for several years. Ile attended lectures at the Old Kentucky Medical School and graduated large fortune, for which reason he worked and studied only when so inclined. His health also has been very poor from boyhood up; he is never able to pursue any vocation any great length of time. In 1867 he began the practice of his medicine in Louisville, having relinquished his drug busi- ness. In 1868 he moved to Indiana, and there engaged in the practice of his profession and also in the drug business. Ile continued there until 1872, and then moved to Equality, Illinois, where he was able to remain but a short time, on account of illness. Returning to his home in Louisville, he remained there until recovery, when he moved to Shawnee- town, Illinois, where he is now engaged in the practice of his profession, and has well established himself.

OBERTS, CÆSAR A., Lawyer, was born in Jef- ferson county, Missouri, June 24th, 1825. His father, William F. Roberts, of Maryland, was by trade a millwright, and settled in Illinois in 1814, thus ranking among the early pioneers and set- tlers of this State. His mother, Elizabeth For- quer, was a resident of Virginia. His education was such as could be obtained in the log school-houses of his native

317

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.

place. In 1850 hc came to Pekin, the county seat of Taze- | Saline county. He was married in 1844 to Martha J. well county, Illinois. Prior to his removal to the Northwest Stricklin, of Saline county, who died in October, 1868, and a second time in 1869 to Mrs. H. Neyberg, of Harrisburg, Illinois. he had studied medicine in Missouri under the directions of Dr. Samuel Skeel, and graduated at the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis, in 1850. Establishing himself in Pekin, he practised medicine there until 1859, and during this time, having fitted himself to practise law, he was ad- mitted to the bar in the spring of 1860. Since that date he has been constantly engaged at the bar, and in 1865 asso- ciated with him N. W. Green. In 1864 he was elected State's Attorney for the Twenty-first Judicial District, com- prising the counties of Tazewell, Mason, Menard and Cass. This office he held for four years, and while acting in that capacity evinced the possession of sterling abilities. In 1870 he was a member of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly, representing Tazewell county in the lower House, where he served on the Judiciary Committee, and also on the Com- mittee on the Penitentiary. He has at times bcen City Attorney for Pckin. Although at one time prominent in political circles, he has of late eschewed politics, and con- fined himself almost exclusively to the care of the numerous interests connected with an extensive practice. He was married in 1850 to Sarah G. Clark, a former resident of Washington, by whom he has had four children.

ICK, ROBERT, Merchant, was born in Gallatin county, Illinois, on November 13th, 1819. Ilis father, Charles Mick, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, in which State he lived until he was four- tecn, when he successively moved to Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois, the last-named State finally becoming his home. He bought a farm in Pope county, and afterwards located at Gallatin county, that part which is now Saline county, and there died. IIis mother was a native of Wilmington, North Carolina, from which place she moved to Tennessee, where she met Mr. Mick, and they were married. Robert attended the common schools of that early day, which afforded but few advantages. On leaving school he began to cultivate his farm, in which he continued until he was thirty, devoting his time solcly to that and to stock raising. He then rented his farms, having acquired three, and engaged in merchandising, in which he has continued to the present day. His success in this avo- cation has been great ; he does a flourishing business now, and in the time past has succeeded so well as to acquire thirteen farms, averaging more than 2600 acres, besides considerable real estate in the town of Harrisburg. As a citizen he is highly esteemed by all, and as a business man, his success, which is all well earned, is sufficient to speak for his qualifications. Starting business twenty-five years ago, he deals to-day with the same houses he first bought of. He commenced with no money or worldly goods but his farm, and to-day he is one of the wealthiest citizens of

HRISTY, WILLIAM M., Lawyer, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on February 15th, 1830. His father, John Christy, of Irish parent- age, was born in Pennsylvania, where he spent his life in farming. His mother was also a native of the same State. He attended the local school and graduated from Jefferson College. After leaving college he went south on a tour of observation, and spent eighteen months in that manner; part of the time he taught school in Tennessee and Mississippi. Returning to his home in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, he spent the next two years in reading law with Judge Buffington, when hc was licensed as a practitioner, and moved to Peru, Indiana, spending the greater portion of two years in that place. He then made a journey to Natchez, and on returning, moved to Saline county, Illinois, which has since been his home. Hcre he has been actively engaged in practising his profcs- sion. In 1861 he formed a copartnership with General George B. Raum, who represented the district in Congress. This firm existed until a few months ago, when General Raum removed his family to Golconda. Besides attending to the claims of an extensive practice, Mr. Christy has been largely engaged in real estate speculations and farming, owning several large farms. In politics he has been a Re- publican from the inception of that party, and his zeal and influence have benefited the organization in his section. He was married in 1861 to Kate Glass of Peru, Indiana.

EEDER, ISAAC H., M. D., was born in Mont- gomery county, Ohio, in 1824. His father, Jacob Reeder, was of German origin; his mother, Frances (Crane) Reeder, is a descendant of the old Scotch Presbyterians. They came to Illinois at an early date, settling ultimately in Lacon, the county seat of Marshall county. His education was acquired at the Northwestern University of Chicago, where he com- pleted the allotted course of studies, and whence he entered subsequently the Rush Medical College, graduating from that institution in the spring of 1852. Commencing practice in McLean county, he remained there during the ensuing eighteen months, and at the expiration of this time returned to his home at Lacon, where he has since practised, meeting with merited success. In 1862 he entered the service of the United States, enlisting as Surgeon in the 10th regiment of Illinois Infantry, and in connection with that body served efficiently through the war; then after quitting the field, rc- turned to the civil practice of his profession in Lacon. He

318

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.

has an extensive general practice, but devotes particular attention to the care of cases demanding surgical treatment. He is a member of the State Medical Society, and also of the Marshall County Medical Association, and during the past year officiated as President of this institution. He has at various times and upon various appropriate occasions contributed to the literature of the profession, and is respected by his confrères and the community at large as a careful and reliable surgeon and physician. He was married in 1850 to C. D. Lucas, of Bloomington, Illinois.

REGG, JAMES M., State's Attorney, Saline county, was born in Hamilton county, Illinois, on Novcm- ber 5th, 1846. His father, Hugh Gregg, a native of South Carolina, cmigrated to Illinois at an early day, and engaged in farming ; he represented his district in the Legislature, three terms in the Ilouse, and one term in the Senate. James received his cducation at the common schools of the State. At the age of twenty he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court of Saline county, where he remained three years. During this time he began the study of law under Judge Duff and attended lectures at the Benton Law School. He was licensed on February 28th, 1868. After leaving the clerk's office, he began the practice of the law at Harrisburg. In 1871 he was appointed Master in Chancery, and held the position for two ycars. Before the expiration of this term, he was appointed State's Attorney for Saline Court, and at the ensuing November clection he was elected to that office, which he still occupies. Mr. Gregg, while the youngest member of the local bar, has a large and lucrative practice and enjoys by far the largest civil business of any lawyer thereat, all won by his industry and attention to business. His talents as a jurist are recognized very gener- ally. Mr. Gregg has always been a Democrat as was his father, and is an active participant in local politics. He was married in 1870 to Miss Hutchins of Harrisburg.

EIR, JOHN H., M. D., was born in South Caro- lina, October 5th, 1809, being the son of Samuel and Jemima (Butler) Weir, who were both natives of the same State, and who moved to Kentucky when he was quite young. ITis father was a well- known planter. He was educated at Andover, Massachusetts, graduating from the classical department of the college at that place in IS33. IIe then entered the Boston Medical College, attached to Harvard College, and took his degree of M. D. from that institution in 1835. IIe located in Edwardsville, Illinois, commenced practice there, and has ever since followed his professional duties in that town and section. His practice is a very large and general one, though

of late years he has paid more particular attention to obstetrics and diseases of women, as a branch, than to any other. He has contributed largely to the medical press, and is now the corresponding editor of the Southern Medical Record, which is published at Atlanta, Georgia. IIe is a member of the Madison Medical Society, and has filled the position of President of that body. He was married in 1836 to Mrs. H. S. Temple, née Damon, of Reading, Massachusetts, who died in 1838, and in 1839 he was married to Mary Hoxsey, of Illinois. His son, Edward H. Weir, is now practising medicine with him, and has been for four years.

AFFORD, ALFRED B., Cashier of the City Na- tional Bank, Cairo, Illinois, was born at Morris- town, Vermont, on January 20th, 1822. His parents were natives of Vermont, and came of Revolu- tionary stock in both branches, the grandfathers of each having served during that war. Ilis parents emigrated to Illinois in 1837, and settled in Will county and engaged in farming. Alfred was then fiftcen years of age, and had before moving to the State attended the schools of Vermont. He continued at school in Illinois until he was twenty-one years old. He then began the study of law with William A. Boardman, at Joliet, Illinois, and pursucd his studies for three years, when he abandoned the law and engaged in merchandising, continuing therein until 1854. In that year he moved to Shawneetown, where he started the State Bank of Illinois, and was its Cashier. In 1858 he removed to Cairo and started the City Bank, afterward changed to the City National Bank, and has been its Cashier since its organization. In 1870 he organ- ized the Enterprise Savings Bank, of which he was made President, and continues as its first officer. He was married in 1854 to Julia Massey, of Watertown, New York, who died in 1862. Again in 1864 to Anna Candee, of Cairo.

OWMAN, WILLIAM GRANVILLE, Attorney- at Law, ex-Judge, ex-State Senator, was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, on January 7th, IS29. His father, Winston Bowman, was born in Vir- ginia in 1804 ; emigrated to Kentucky at an early date, and engaged in farming in Pulaski county, where he died in IS53. William G. attended the common schools at his home in Kentucky, and on leaving there, being but fourteen years old, he struck out for himself, be- ginning his travels through many of the Western towns, part of the time engaged as clerk in mercantile establish- ments, and then again in the same capacity on steamboats on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. In 1846 he reached Independence, Missouri, and there entered a printing office. Having learned the trade, he bought out the busi-

319

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

ness, and for the next two years edited and published the | 1860, he was ordained a Presbyter by the same bishop, and Western Expositor. He then sold out his paper and returned to Kentucky on a visit to his parents. From that time until 1855 he was engaged in teaching school in the States of Kentucky and Illinois. At that date he began the study of the law with N. L. Freeman, at Shawneetown, and at the expiration of two years he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of the law at that place. In 1859 he was elected Judge of the County Court of Gallatin eounty. He held that until the expiration of the term, when he was re-elected for a full term. On leaving the bench he resumed his practice and has continued it uninter- ruotedly ever since. In 1869 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, serving until its close. In IS7I he was elected to the State Senate from his district, which was composed of nine counties, and served until the end of that term. He is now engaged in his practice, which is a large and laborious one. He was married on November 21st, 1853, in Union county, Kentucky, to Mary J. Currey, by whom he has had six children.

HENEY, CHARLES EDWARD, D. D., Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, was born at Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, on Feb- ruary 12th, 1836. His father was of western Mas- sachusetts stock, and his mother a member of the Chipman family of Vermont, being the daughter of Hon. Lemuel Chipman, one of the early settlers of west- ern New York, and niece of Hon. Nathaniel Chipman, an honorcd Chief Justice of Vermont, and warm personal friend of Jefferson. Perhaps the Bishop's intense Protestantism has some relation to the fact that in his ancestry has mingled the blood of the Holland Duteh, who were the sturdy. defenders of the truth against Spanish and Popish oppression, and that of the Pilgrims of the " Mayflower." His father was a self- educated man, who by hard study while a farmer's boy pre- pared himself first to teach sehool, and then to pursue the study of medicine. For forty-nine years he practised his profession in Ontario eounty. A man of peculiarly strong, vigorous mind, large benevolence, and untiring industry, he died in 1865 universally respec'cd and beloved. Through his kindness of heart he was led late in life into business entanglements which impoverished him. The subject of this sketch was obliged in part to provide for himself in his preparation for college, during his college course, and in the theological seminary. To the discipline thus acquired he doubtless owes much in life. He graduated at Hobart Col- lege, Geneva, New York, in 1857 ; entered the middle elass in the theological seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia, near Alexandria, in the fall of the same year, and in December, 1858, was ordained Deacon by Bishop De Lancey of western New York. In February,

became Rector of Christ Church, Chicago, at that time not in flourishing circumstances. The church steadily grew in influence and members up to the spring of 1869. At that time began the difficulty which has been one of the causes that led to the organizing of the Reformed Episcopal Church and to Dr. Cheney's election as a bishop. For something over a year previous to that date he had omitted in the baptism of infants the positive averment which the liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church puts into the mouths of its ministers, of the regeneration of the child in the bap- tismal act. In a memorial which was by him sent on to the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the autumn of 1871, but which was suppressed by even the Low Churchmen to whom it was intrusted, on the ground that it would " provoke irritation," he gave the mental and spiritual history which led to the course he pursued. No member of Dr. Cheney's own flock complained of the omission. The Rev. Mr. Goodspeed of the Second Baptist Church, in a conversation of a somewhat controversial character with Bishop Whitehouse, alluded to the fact that it was known that Dr. Cheney made such an omission, and on such information was based the original procecdings against him. Bishop Whitehouse demanded of Dr. Cheney that he should thereafter use the service in its entirety. Refusing to do this, proceedings werc begun that looked toward his deposition. Dr. Cheney, believing that his court (selected by Bishop Whitehouse, his accuser) was of entirely High Church character, and " chosen to convict," appealed to a civil court to interpose. An injunction was issued by Judge Jameson, of the Superior Court of Chicago, which for eighteen months stayed the proceedings. Dis- solved by the Supreme Court, the injunction was removed and the trial proceeded in the spring of 1871. Meanwhile one of the court had been removed by his eleetion as Bishop of Arkansas. Vet in spite of protest from the defendant, the remaining four triers proceeded to their work, and re- jecting all evidence of the friends of the defendant, con- victed and sentenced him to an " indefinite suspension " from the ministry-that is, he was to be suspended till he should agree to conform. The church and vestry at once begged Dr. Cheney to continue his work in spite of the sentence. He did so, and later in the same year another ecelesiastieal eourt, of which Rev. Dr. Locke, of Grace Church, was President, deposed him from the ministry for " contumacy." Again Christ Church declined to recognize an illegal sentenee ; still Dr. Cheney's voice was heard reg- ularly in its walls. At last three laymen of Christ Church were persuaded by Bishop Whitehouse to take the initiative in a law suit to wrest the property of the parish from the congregation, on the ground that having been built for a Protestant Episcopal Church it could not be used by a min- ister who was no longer of that communion. The congre- gation resisted the application on the ground that their minister had never been legally deposed; his original sus-

320

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.

pension (on which the second trial and deposition were | gant and altogether too profuse. But if it bc so, it never- theless has been an important factor in such usefulness as he has achieved.

based) having been accomplished by a court consisting of four members, when the law entitled him to five. That suit was decided against Dr. Cheney's adversaries by Judge Williams, last summer. But they are understood to have appealed to the Supreme Court. Meantime a singular ISSELL, WILLIAM H., elected Governor of Illinois in 1856, was born April 25th, ISII, in the State of New York, near Painted Post, Yates county. His parents were obscure, honest, God- fearing people, who reared their children under the daily example of industry and frugality. Young Bissell received a respectable but not thorough academical education. By application he acquired a course of circumstances has made the suit as empty a strug- gle as that of " Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce," inasmuch as the property has long since ceased to belong to the Protestant Episcopal organization known as Christ Church, and that organization itself has practically ceased to exist. In December, 1873, the separation of Bishop Cummins from the Protestant Episcopal Church led to the establishment of the Reformed Episcopal Church. At its organization Dr. knowledge of medicine, and in his early manhood came Chency was elected a Bishop. He positively refused the West and located in Monroc county, Illinois, where he en- gaged in the practice of that profession. But he was not cnamored of his calling; he was swayed by a broader ambition, and the mysteries of the healing art possessed no charm for him. In a few years he discovered his choice of a profession to have been a mistake, and when he ap- proached the age of thirty sought to begin anew. Dr. Bissell, no doubt unexpectedly to himself, discovered a singular facility and charm of speech, the exercise of which early acquired him local notoriety. It soon came to be understood that he desired to abandon his profession and take up that of the law. During terms of court he would spend his time at the county seat among the members of the bar, who extended to him a ready welcome. In 1840 he was elected as a Democrat to the Legislature from Monroe county, and made an efficient member. On his return home he qualified himself for admission to the bar, and speedily rose to front rank as an advocate. His powers of oratory were captivating. With a pure diction, charming and inimitable gestures, clearness of statement, and a re- markable vein of sly humor, his efforts before a jury told with almost irresistible effect. He was chosen by the Legislature Prosecuting Attorney for the circuit in which he lived, in which position he fully discharged his duty to the State, gained the esteem of the bar, and seldom failed to convict the offender of law. When war was declared with Mexico, in 1846, he enlisted and was clected Colonel of his regiment. He evinced a high order of military talent, and on the bloody field of Buena Vista acquitted himself with intrepid and distinguished ability. After his return home, at the close of the war, he was elected to Congress. He served two terms. He was an ardent politician, and in 1856 was elected as a Republican to the high position of Governor of Illinois. On account of exposure in the army, the remote cause of a nervous form of disease gained en- trance to his system, and eventually developcd paraphlegia, affecting his lower extremities; which, while it left his body in comparative health, deprived him of locomotion other than by the aid of crutches. This unfortunate cause prevented him taking part in his own canvass; he was withal successful, and won a splendid victory. When it is office till he should be assured that it would not interferc with his relations to his beloved flock at Chicago. This assurance having been given he accepted the position. In January the parish of Christ Church-still being a congre- gation of the Protestant Episcopal Church-were unable in consequence of the panic to meet obligations of a mortgage for $7000 and interest. The church was sold under forc- closure, and bought in by Mr. William Aldrich, of the well- known firm of Stewart, Aldrich & Co. Subsequently a church was organized, known as " Christ Church, Reformed Episcopal." To this organization Mr. Aldrich sold the property. Hence, while a lawsuit is still in progress against the vestry of the old Protestant Episcopal parish of Christ Church, it is but a mere empty name-stat nominis umbra. The property has passed beyond any possible reach of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Meantime Bishop Cheney continues to preach to his old flock and to numerous additions continually entering the fold. He has an associate rector in Rev. William M. Postlethwaite, re- cently of New York city, a preacher of great eloquence and power, and a minister who has made his mark as a pastor and organizer. The work before Bishop Cheney is a vast one. Ile is at present the missionary Bishop of the North- west for planting the Reformed Episcopal Church. What- ever power Bishop Cheney has as a preacher is probably due to two circumstances : Ist. He preaches (in days when the whole drift of the age is in the direction of departure from the old beliefs) an old-fashioned gospel. No itinerant Methodist of forty years ago, no Puritan of the early New England days, ever proclaimed a more uncompromising religion than he. At the same time he dwells continually on the Divine love as revealed in Jesus Christ. His rever- ence for Scripture, his belief in its full inspiration, and his fidelity to it in his preaching, would be regarded by many in even orthodox churches as savoring of the superstitious. 2d. Ilis manner of setting forth truth has added to his in- fluence. llis stock of illustrations seems inexhaustible. Nature, science, commerce, social life, and human history are made to contribute to the elucidation of every point. Many regard his use of imagery and illustration as extrava-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 71

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