The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 92

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

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ORTON, HON. HIRAM, was born at Skeneateles, Onondaga county, New York, on February 26th, 1799. At the age of fourteen, a destitute and friendless orphan, with the simplest rudiments of education, he crossed over to Canada in search of employment, and was taken into the service of the Canada Stage Company. When eighteen years of age, having saved a little money from his wages, he was enabled to enter Lowville Academy, in Lewis county, New York, where he applied himself to study for two years, and laid the foundation for the culture and general knowledge of his later life; and when in 1858, after a long career of useful- ness and honors, he returned to participate in the celebration of the semi-centennial anniversary of the academy, he was chosen by the alumni and students to preside at their meet- ing. On leaving this place he returned to Prescott, Canada, and resuming his connection with the stage line acquired the house up to the time of his death, and found recreation

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in a trip to Europe, and afterwards in the adornment and Building and Loan Association, a flourishing institution of cultivation of the beautiful grounds about his residence. the same town. He was married in 1864 to Anna M. Walmsey, of Tuscola. In March, 1875, he was taken sick, and after a short illness, which seemed to be but the general failing of his bodily powers, he died on the first day of April, 1875, at the age of seventy-six years. He retained all his faculties to the last hour. With his family all gathered about him, with a few calm, tender words to each, and a Christian's bencdic- tion upon all, he passed away, as he had deserved to do, painlessly and fearlessly.

OGUE, JOSEPH, M. D., was born in Philadelphia in 1333. His parents were Joseph Pogue, a banker and broker of Philadelphia, and Jane Knox (Cooper) Pogue. IIe was educated at the schools of the city, and in 1854 entered the Penn- sylvania Medical College of Philadelphia, from which institution he graduated in 1857. Emigrating subse- quently to Illinois, he settled at Alton, where he practised one year, and at the expiration of that time removed to Edwardsville in 1858. In 1362 he entered the service of the United States as Surgeon of the 14th Regiment of Mis- souri Volunteers, but was afterwards transferred to the 66th Illinois Regiment, with which he served for one year, when he was promoted and detached, acting during the balance of his term of service as Brigade Surgeon in Sherman's army. At the closc of the war he returned to the practice of his profession at Edwardsville, Illinois, where he now enjoys an extensive practice, and is looked upon as an able practitioner and a skilful surgeon. IIe is a valued member of the Madison County Medical Society. He was married in 1860 to Sarah Jane Whiteside, who died in October, 1362. Ile was again married, in 1866, to Lizzie Hoagland, of Alton, Illinois.

ANNON, WILLIAM P., Lawyer, President of the Vermillion County Bank of Danville, Illinois, was born in Indiana in 1841. His father, Horace F. Cannon, was a physician. His mother was Miss Hollinsworth. ITis parents were natives of North Carolina. After receiving a public school education in Indiana, he entered the law office of his bro- ther, J. G. Cannon, at Tuscola, Illinois, with whom he prosecuted his studies. In 1362 he was admitted to the bar. Ile then practised his profession in Tuscola, in association with his brother, until 1364, when he assumed charge of the banking house of Wyeth, Cannon & Co., which he con- ducted until 1870. At this date he organized the First National Bank of Tuscola, and became its President. In 1373 he removed to Danville, where he established the Vermillion County Bank, of which institution he now offi- ciates as President. He is also President of the People's

ERRY, HON. ELIAS S., Lawyer, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1807. His father, William Terry, was educated for the bar, but never practised. In 1828 he commenced the study of law in Virginia, and in 1832 was admitted to the bar in that State. Emigrating subsequently to Princeton, Indiana, he practised his profession there during the succceding three years, at the expiration of which time he removed to Washington, in the same State. He was then professionally and actively engaged in this place until 1850, when he was appointed Recorder of the Land Office, at Washington, District of Columbia, under President Fillmore. The duties of that office he performed until April, 1853, when he returned to Indiana, establishing his office at Rockville, where he resided until June, 1858. He then removed to Danville, Illinois, where he has sinee lived, and is yet actively engaged in legal pursuits. In 1857, during his residence in Indiana, he was elected to the Supreme Bench of the State, but the Governor failing to recognize a vacancy therein, he did not take his seat. He served in the Legislature of Indiana one session, and officiated also as a member of the Constitutional Convention of that State, held in 1852, and resigned his seat in that body to go to Wash- ington, District of Columbia. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of Illinois, held in 1862. He has also been a candidate for the Supreme Bench in Illi- nois, but failed to secure an election, although warmly sup- ported by his county, which was politically opposed to him. He was married in 1838 to Elizabeth Jerauld, of Indiana.

OWELL, ISRAEL A., United States Collector and ex-Member of Legislature, was born in Kentucky on August 25th, 1826. His father, Austin Craig Powell, was a native of Georgia, and of English extraction. His ancestors were among the first emigrants who settled in Virginia, in the valley which bears the family name, " Powell Valley." When a young man he moved from Georgia to Kentucky, where he married, and with his wife and her parents moved to Gibson county, Indiana, near Princeton. There he resided for many years. While on a visit to his parents in Georgia he was taken sick and died. His mother was married again, to W. D. Pritchard, of Gibson county, and there resided until 1843, when they moved to Lawrenceville, Illinois. Israel A. attended the county school of Indiana for several years, and then entered the High School at Princeton. After- wards he was taught by John Sced, at Lawrenceville. At the conclusion of his literary course he began the study of

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medicine at Lawrenceville, with Drs. Hays and Banks, and continued under their tuition for three years. Dr. Banks dying at that time, he commenced to practise with Dr. Hays, and remained with him for five years, when that practitioner died. Until 1832 he pursued his profession alone, and

of three commissioners, of whom he was Chairman, to ex- amine the last section of the extension of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad, which connects that road with the Union Pacific Railroad at Fort Kearney, Nebraska. He is a charter-member of the Danville, Olney & Ohio River Rail- then abandoned it on account of ill-health. During the road, and served as its Treasurer for four years; also, one waar he was engaged in speculating in land. In November, of the charter-members of Emanuel Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 32, Lawrenceville, Illinois, which was organized in 1846; he has filled all the chairs in the lodge, and was elected six years in succession as a Delegate to the Grand Lodge of the State, and served three years as District Deputy Grand Master. He became a member of the Masonic Order in 1858, and has advanced to the degree of Royal Arch Mason. He was married in Lawrenceville in 1847 to Adeline Bade- lotte, who died in 1855. In January, 1858, he was again married, to Parmelia Riley, of Hartford, Connecticut. 1367, he moved to Olney, Illinois, and continued his real estate transactions, subsequently purchasing a drug store in that city, and one at Vincennes, Indiana. He conducted both at the same time until 1871, when he sold out. He was then elected to the Legislature. The session was the first under the new Constitution, and it was a long and ar- duous one, the Chicago fire happening during its course, and all the State laws being required by the new Constitution to undergo revision. The session lasted ten months, and throughout it Dr. Powell took an active part, being Chair- man of the Committee on Miscellaneous Subjects ; second on the Committee on Railroads; and second on the Com- mittee on Congressional, Senatorial and Representative Ap- OWELL, JOHN FROST, Manufacturer, was born in Chicago on August 29th, 1837. His parents were George M. Powell and Aremesia Harmon. With only the advantages of a common school education he started in life as a hotel-keeper, and continued at it till 1858, when he married Mar- celline Arno, of Waukegan. At this time he likewise en- gaged in making pumps from poplar wood, and relinquish- ing the hotel in 1861, he devoted himself more particularly to pump-manufacturing on Milwaukec avenue, Chicago, where he also utilized forty acres of land as a market garden, until 1863, when he gave up the latter enterprise. Remov- ing his works in 1869 to Waukegan, he took in as partner James S. Moran in 1870, and continued the partnership till 1872 as Powell & Moran, when Mr. Moran resigned. Since then he has carried on the business alone. The works were destroyed by fire in 1873, entailing a loss of $20,000. They were soon again built up, and from the little beginning of sending out fifty pumps in the first ycar, he now disposes of Sooo annually, at the value of $52,000, employing many hands and an engine of thirty horse-power. There is also a planing and turning mill in connection, for making mould- ings, etc., the machinery of which cost $3000. Waukegan has been celebrated in Indian tradition as a place where marvellous cures have been performed, and this, coupled with many undoubted restorations to health, induced him to submit the waters to a celebrated firm of analytical chemists for analysis. The results gave the palm to these Magnesia Spring waters as in many respects the best yet discovered in America, and through the enterprise of Mr. Powell a special benefit has been conferred upon the valetudinarians of the country, many of whom live to attest the permanent good nishing the waters over a large area, and doubtless the pro- jector will yet reap deservedly great results from his far- portionment. Soon after the expiration of his term, he was ap- pointed by President Grant Collector of Internal Revenue for the Eleventh Illinois District, a position he now holds. Soon after Dr. Powell commenced to practise with Dr. Hays, the first medical society was organized in the Wabash Valley, act- ing under a charter from the State Legislature. It was known as the "Esculapian Medical Society," and was organized in part by Dr. Powell. In 1856, on the formation of the Republican party, he was a member of the first Republican State Convention, which was held at Bloomington, Illinois, and at which Governor Bissell received the nomination for the first office; this nomination carried, together with all the State ticket ; the nominees were the first Republican candidates elected to office. In 1858, at the earnest solici- tation of friends, he quitted the practice of medicine for the time being, and canvassed the counties of Lawrence and Crawford as a candidate for the State Legislature, there being a Democratic majority at the time of 1300. Although the first Republican candidate who had run from those counties, he was only beaten by 500 votes. Two years after- wards he again, to please his Republican friends, canvassed the counties of Lawrence and Wabash, which then formed one district, for the Legislature, against a former Democratic majority of 550, and was defeated by only 154 votes. When the war broke out, he was appointed by Governor Yates Examining Surgeon, for several counties. He was incapa- citated for active service by reason of ill-health. Although his intention of entering the service was thus defeated, he took an active part in encouraging the enlistment of soldiers. In this work he continued all through the war. He was appointed by Governor Palmer a delegate to the National Convention for moving the capital of the United States, | derived from their use. Agencies are established for fur- which met at St. Louis; and again, by Governor Beveridge, to the convention which met for the same purpose at Louis- ville. In 1872 he was appointed by President Grant one sightedness. Although not yet arrived at the prime of life,

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he has made his mark amongst the " men of action," and | and connected with the Illinois and Central Railroad Com- his achieving a foremost commercial position is only a ques- tion of time.

ENNEY, D. K., Lawyer, was born in Plattsburgh, New York, December 31st, 1834, and is the tenth and youngest child of his parents. He removed in his infancy with his parents to northern Ohio, then a wilderness, and at the age of cight entercd a printing office, where he remained almost con- stantly until he had attained his fifteenth year. IIc then rc- moved to Madison, Wisconsin, and entered the university at this place. Here, with the pittance earned in vacations as a printer, he struggled through three years of close study, deservedly taking high rank as a scholar. After leaving his Alma Mater he commenced the study of law, and in 1855, at the age of twenty, was admitted to the bar at Madison, and opened an office there. From that time until his re- moval to Chicago in 1870 he continued to enjoy an exten- sive and lucrative practice. Ile is a member of the firm of Tenney, Mcclellan & Tenney, one of the leading firms of the city in commercial law. IIe excels in the office as manager of the business, and as a counsellor and negotiator.

GREEN, WILLIAM II., Lawyer and ex-Judge, was born in Danville, Kentucky, December 8th, 1830. ITis father is Dr. Duff Green, also formerly of Danville. On the maternal side the family is of Scotch origin, and nearly related to Gencral Simon Kenton, one of the early pioneers of Ken- tucky. William II. was educated partly at the Centre Col- lege, in his native State. At the age of seventeen he began teaching school, and continued at that avocation during the ensuing three years. IIe subsequently studied law under the instructions of Judge Scates, at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and in 1853 began the practice of his profession in Massac county, where he resided until 1863, when he moved to Cairo, which has since been his home. In 1858 he was elected to the lower House of the Legislature from the district composed of the countics of Massac, Pope, and Hardin, and during the attendant session cast his vote for Stephen A. Douglas for the United States Senate as against Abraham Lincoln. In 1860 he was returned a second time from the same district, and in 1862 was elected to the State Senate. In 1865 he was elected Circuit Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, serving three years. Since this time he has been engaged in practising his profession at Cairo, as the senior member of the firm of Green & Gilbert. He was a member of the Democratic National Conventions of 1860, 1864, and 1868, and for several years past has been a mem- ber of the Democratic State Central Committee. Also since 1851 he has been a member of the State Board of Education,

pany for over ten years as its attorney in Cairo and Southern Illinois. He was married in 1854 to Miss Hughes, of Union county, Kentucky, and has two children.

TWOOD, JULIUS P., Lawyer, was born in Monk- ton, Vermont, in 1825. IIc was cducated at the Norwich University, began the study of law with Judge Rich of the Supreme Court of that State, and commenced its practice with Hon. William C. Wilson, afterward Judge of the same court; and was for two or three years and until he removed to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1861, Professor in the Franklin Law School, at Bakersfield, Vermont. In 1854 he was appointed Judge of the Dane County Court, and held that position for two and a half years, when ill health compelled him to resign. He was Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, and in 1859 was named by the Democratic members of the Legislature as candidate for Judge of the Supreme Court, but he declined to run, and in 1860 was Democratic candidate for Mayor at the first municipal elec- tion at Madison. In 1857 he organized the Governor's Guard, and shortly after went to the Potomac as Lieutenant- Colonel of the 6th Regiment, infantry, but was early disabled and compelled to leave. For two years he was partially paralyzed, and after his recovery settled in Chicago and re- sumed the practice of the law. In the fall of 1871 or 1872, the lawyers from Wisconsin, resident in Chicago, with unanimity requested him to run for Circuit Judge, but he declined the honor. In popular addresses he is terse and methodical, often impassioned and sometimes eloquent.

GOODNOW, HENRY C., Attorney-at-Law, was born in Waterford, Ohio, May 26th, 1830. IIe is of English and German extraction. ITis father, a native of Massachusetts, was engaged in black- smithing, and resided in Ohio until his decease in 1859. His mother was a native of Ohio. IIe was educated at the Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio, and while attending college commenced the study of law with Mr. Jewett, of Athens. He was admitted to the bar at the date of his departure from college. He then taught school for a period of six months in Jackson county, Ohio. Subsc- quently he settled in Saline, Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he has continucd since that time. His professional labors have been crowned with success, and he now enjoys a very extensive and lucra- tive practice, while his reputation places him among the first practitioners of this section. In politics he has always becn a Republican, and he has brought to its support talents of no mean degree. In 1872 he was a Delegate to the

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National Republican Convention which nominated General U. S. Grant and Henry Wilson, at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania. He was married February 19th, 1862, to Margaret T. Newell, of Salem, Illinois.

LARK, JAMES, President of Western Cement Company, was born in Ashburnham, Sussex county, England, September 9th, 1811, his father being James Clark, a farmer. He enjoyed no educational advantages but those of the common school, and at the age of fourteen was apprenticcd to a coachmaker until he should become of age. He how- ever at the age of nineteen left and went alone to America, landing April 16th, 1830, in New York city. He worked at his trade there for a few months, when he went to Grafton, Lorain county, Ohio, and opened a new farm for a widow lady, and in September of that year married her niece, Char- lotte Sargent, an English girl, whom he had formerly known in his native land. They continued there four years and sold out and moved to La Salle county, Illinois, where he opened a new farm in what is now the town of Utica, in the year 1834. He was afterwards a contractor on the Illi- nois & Michigan Canal for cleven years from its beginning until it was finished. In 1845 he entered the business of making cement from a species of rocks found at Utica, and during the last three years of work upon the canal furnished cement for its construction. In 1855 he took into partner- ship his son, John L. Clark. In 1868 he began also to manufacture at Utica sewer pipes in company with his son, J. L. Clark, and William White, and he continues engaged in both these enterprises at the present time, having acquired large wealth by them. His cement business has increased from five thousand to eighty-five thousand barrels a year, and the sales of the sewer pipes for the last year amounted to $30,000, in addition to which he owns and cultivates his original farm in Utica, upon which he located forty-one years ago, now comprising two thousand four hundred acres and known by the name of Clark's Falls, a romantic and beautiful spot. He is also President of the Western Cement Company, having its office in Chicago, which controls sixteen cement mills in various parts of the West, and is the largest cement business in America, turning out 700,000 barrels yearly. The town of Utica is a growth of his business, and he owns its stores, has managed its schools, and has general control of the place, a village of about 1500 inhabitants. He was elected to the Illinois Legislature in 1870 for a term of two years, was for twelve years Supervisor of Utica, and at one time Chairman of the La Salle County Bounty Com- mittee, and settled up its affairs at the close of the war. He has one daughter, Mrs. Charlotte WV. Peckham, of Utica, Illinois, and his wife is still living, to whom he has been married for forty-five years. He is a man esteemed for his private character and his business ability ..

ICHOLSON, AARON B., Agriculturist, was born in Logan county, Ohio, in 1826. He is the son of David T. Nicholson and Ruth (Brown) Nich- olson. He was reared on a farm, and from his earliest days to the present time has been con- stantly engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1856 he settled in Logan county, Illinois, and in 1869 was elected on the Republican ticket to the Senate of this State for a term of six years. During his term of service he has acted on the following committees : on Railroads (both sessions) ; on Agriculture and Drainage, of which he was Chairman (during the first session); and on the State House and Grounds. Prior to his election to the Senate, he was elected in 1860 Sheriff of the county, serving in that office for one term. He takes an active and useful part in public affairs, and is tireless in his endeavors to further the interests and development of his county and the town of Lincoln. He was married in 1846 to Jane Norton, of Michigan, who dicd in 1851. He was again married in 1852 to Mary A. East- man, of Vermont.

ANN, JOSEPH B., Lawyer, was born in Somer- ville, New Jersey, November 9th, IS43. His father, John M. Mann, was also a lawyer; his mother was Eliza ( Bonnell) Mann, of New Jersey. He was educated at Rutgers' College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and graduated from that institution in 1865. He subsequently removed to the West, and entered the law department of the Chicago University, where he remained for nearly a year, and at the expiration of this time entered the law office of Judge P. L. Davis, then practising in Danville, Illinois. In February, 1867, he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of his pro- fession in Danville, becoming associated with Judge Terry. Upon dissolving his connection with that practitioner, he formed a law partnership with Hon. O. L. Davis, with whom he continued his connection until his colleague was elected to the bench. He is one of the leaders at the bar of Dan- ville, and possesses an extensive general practice. He was married in 1874 to Lucy Davis, a daughter of Judge O. L. Davis.

ILLESPIE, JOSEPH, Lawyer and ex-Judge, was born in the city of New York, in ISog. His parents, David Gillespie and Sarah Gillespie, were from Ireland, and cmigrated to Illinois in 1819, locating in Edwardsville. He was partly educated at private schools in his native city, and also subsequently in select schools at Edwardsville, where, with the exception of a few years spent in the lead mine district of Galena, he has permanently resided since 1819. After completing a course of legal studies under the instruc- tions of Hon. Cyrus Edwards, he was admitted to the bar in

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IS37. In 1836 he was elected Probate Judge of the county, and served one term. In IS40 he was elected to the lower House of the Legislature, where he also served one term, and subsequently filled a Senatorial seat for a period of eight years. He was a warm personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, who relied on him in those days to promote and sustain him in his political aspirations and movements, and he still pre- scrves many letters received from the martyr President in the time when he and Douglas were fighting for supremacy. In 1861 he was elected Circuit Judge of the then Twenty- fourth Judicial District, comprising the counties of Bond, St. Clair and Madison, and served on this circuit for twelve ycars. He was married in 1845 to Mary E. Smith, of Vir- ginia.

ASSETT, MOSES F., M. D., was born in Wind- sor county, Vermont, June 27th, 1821. His father was a farmer in moderate circumstances, with a large family, and not able to give this son such an education as he desired. At the age of fifteen years, having selected the medical profes- sion for his occupation, with the consent of his parents he started out in the world to fit himself for his chosen field of labor by his own unaided cxertions. Going to Albany, New York, in the fall of 1836, he procured a situation where a considerable portion of each day would be at his own dis- posal. Upon a salary of two and a half dollars a week hc purchased his food, paid the rent of a small furnished room, hired books, and paid for two recitations a week. For two years he worked, studied, and subsisted in this manner, gaining considerable knowledge of Latin, physiology, chemistry, botany, and other branches that he thought im- portant to fit him for the study and practice of medicine. Procuring some medical works, he then went into the country and taught a district school for the winter. The following spring he returned to Albany and obtained a place as student in a physician's office, and also a situation as assistant teacher in a private academy. A year and a half more was spent in teaching and reading medicine, when he abandoned teaching and became an assistant to his medical preceptor in office and out-door practice. In the meantime, by the friendship of some of the professors in the Albany Medical College, who were aware of his aims and struggles, he had been permitted to attend gratuitously the lectures and elinics of this institution, and though not matriculated or enrolled in the catalogue, had made better use of his privileges than many of its regular students. In the autumn of IS41, by the urgent invitation of a gentleman who had been his patient in Albany, and by the advice of his preceptor, he accompanied this gentleman to Barnstable, Massachusetts, to spend the winter in trying his skill on several of this man's friends who were suffering from chronic diseases. His sueeess there was so good that he acquired quite a local reputation, and he concluded to

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The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 92

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