The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 96

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


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HERMAN, JULIEN STILES, A. M., M. D., was born in Quincy, Illinois, February 7th, 1843. His father, Seth C. Sherman, of Connecticut, was one of the early pioneers and settlers of Quincy, and a leading practitioner at the bar in this place. His mother was Elizabeth Ann (Tuttle.) Sherman, of Vermont. He enjoyed the usual public school advantages of his native place, until he had attained his fifteenth year, when he was placed at the State Military School, in New Haven, Connecticut, where he spent three years. Upon leaving this institution, he entered the St. Paul's College, located at Palmyra, Missis- sippi, in 1860; and at the outbreak of the rebellion, and the subsequent closing of the school, returned to Quincy, and resumed his studies at home. He eventually received his degree of A. M. from the St. Paul's College, conferred upon him by this institution after its reorganization. In 1862, selecting the medical profession, he entered the


URROUGHS, JOHN C., D. D., President and . Professor of Metaphysics of the University of Chicago, was born in Stamford, Delaware county, New York, December 7th, 1818; the son of the late Deacon Curtiss Burroughs, a man greatly esteemed for the purity of his life and his zeal office of Drs. Hosmer A. Johnson and Edmund Andrews, as a churchman, who established the first Sunday-school who were at that time associated in practice. After matriculating from the Chicago Medical College, he grad- ated in 1865, and commenced the practice of his pro- fession in Chicago, where he has since, with the exception of one year passed in Europe, permanently resided. On his return from abroad, he became Professor, in his Alman


Mater, of Orthopedic Surgery, and at the present time occupies this chair. He confines his practice chiefly to genito-urinary surgery, and in that branch of the profession has met with notable success. He was married in 1871 to Florence Meignells, of New York.


OOD, WILLIAM, M. D., was born in Bethle- hem, Coos county, New Hampshire, February Sth, IS22. He is the son of David Wood and Abigail (IIosmer) Wood. He graduated, in 1850, from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Ilampshire ; also, in 1852, in medicine, from the Castleton Medical College, in Vermont. Previous, how- ever, to his graduation in these institutions, he entered, in April, 1839, as an apprentice, the blacksmith shops of E. & T. Fairbanks, at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia county, Ver- mont. At the completion of a four years' course of studies, he was an inmate, for one year, of the Burlington (Ver- mont) College, whence he was transferred to the Dart- mouth College before mentioned. October 17th, 1852, he settled in Cairo, Illinois, where he has since constantly resided, engaged in the practice of his profession. For six years he has been Attending Physician of the St. Mary's Infirmary, and for ten years City and County Physician. For many years also he has officiated as Overseer of the Poor. He has been and is now engaged in farming on an extensive scale. He was a Director of the Cairo Loan and Insurance Company, has owned and operated several saw-mills, acted as a loan broker to a great many people throughout the State,' worked various garden farms, and been a large operator in building; and also has been a leading and energetic mover in many other enterprises of a nature more or less important. But, notwithstanding his numerous outside occupations, he has never permitted the duties attached to them to interfere with his practice, and he is now one of the most successful physicians in this section of the State of Illinois.


west of Rochester, New York. Among his ancestors were Rev. Jeremiah Burroughs, a member of the West- minster Assembly of Divines, and the Rev. Joseph Bur- roughs, one of the founders of Dartmouth College, both of whom were English Puritans. His mother was a native of North Ireland. When he was two years of age,


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his father commenced his toilsome experience as a settler | College, at Alton, Illinois. In this year he secured from in the western part of New York. He was taught in a the late Senator Douglas the donation of a site in Chicago for a scat of learning, upon which the University of Chicago now stands. In 1856 he was elected its President, and organized the institution upon a basis which was the best guarantee of its future success. Under his administration it attained, and to-day holds, a prominent position in the great educational institutions of the land. In 1856 he received from the University of Rochester, New York, the title of D. D. He is eminent as a theologian, and as an eloquent divine. Few men, with the same obstacles to encounter, have achieved more for the good of the race than he; and none have a more lasting reputation in the communities in which they have worked. log school-house, and rude as the means for mental pro- gress were in those early days, he made unusual progress by closely applying his talent, which was bright and vigor- ous, to study. His mind was religiously impressed when quite young, by the exhortations and sermons of a farmer preacher. Upon reaching his twelfth year, he had shown such progress as to be recommended by his teacher for higher studies, and his study of natural philosophy was suggested. A text-book on this-subject was almost beyond reach in the backwoods; but young Burroughs surmounted all impediments by shouldering his axe and going to the forest, where he cut and carted to a distant city enough wood at twenty-five cents per cord to put him in possession of " Blake's Natural Philosophy." Other books in ad- vanced studies were procured in the same modc. When sixteen he was recommended by the Inspector of Public AYWARD, WILLIAM EUGENE, Banker, and a representative man of Pana, Illinois, was born in Hillsboro', Illinois, on July 23d, 1842. His father, John S. Hayward, was a native of Massa- chusetts, who came to the State of Illinois in 1832, and entered into mercantile business, in which he continued until 1852. In that year he retired and engaged in land operations, in which he continued until his death. His transactions in land were very great, and at one time he was the owner of no less than 75,000 acres of land in the State of Illinois alone. In the town of Pana his improvements cover the greater portion of the place. Ile was one of the most enterprising men of his day, and in this city his memory is revered. His son William attended Williston Academy, Massachusetts, and Antioch College, Ohio. On leaving school in 1862, being but nineteen years of age, he entered the army as Second Lieutenant of the 2d Illinois Artillery, and served in that rank one year, when he resigned. In 1865 he was 'ap- pointed Captain in the 2d United States Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, when he returned to Hillsboro'. In 1867 he moved to Pana and engaged in the banking business, in which he is still occupied. Mr. Hayward is one of Pana's most prominent men, and the influence he wields is very generally felt. He was married in 1868 to Clara M. Dumbott, of Pana. Schools for the position of teacher, and he was engaged for four months, at twelve dollars per month; and four years following continued a third of each year in the same employment, filling the intervening months with hard manual labor. This industry was doubly beneficial. It not only ennobled his ideas of self-support and fired his ambition, but it relieved his father of a number of vexa- tious burdens, which at one time threatened to crush him. As he grew up he resolved upon the legal as the profession most fitting for him, and he commenced the study of law in the office of an attorney in Medina, Orleans county, New York. Ile was turned from the pursuit, however, by realizing as he progressed his deficiency in other branches of education so necessary in obtaining a mastery of the law. Ile entered the Brockport Collegiate Institute, and subsequently the Middlebury, now Wyoming, Acad- emy, New York, in which institutions he spent three years in preparing himself for admission to Vale College. In 1839 he became a Yale sophomore, and graduated from the college in 1842, with fine distinction. His inclination for the ministry had been formed while a student at this venerable seat of learning; and after filling the position of Principal of IIamilton Academy, New York, for eighteen months, he entered Madison Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1846. He first preached as a " supply " for the Baptist Church in Waterford, New York, and then for five years filled the pastorate of the Baptist Church in West Troy, New York. In 1852 he was in- stalled as Pastor of the First Baptist Church, of Chicago, ANE, EDWARD, Lawyer and ex-Judge, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 27th, 1842. His father, John Lane, was a native of Ohio, and was of Irish extraction. Ilis mother was also a native of Ohio. Ile was educated at the Hillsboro' Academy. On leaving school he com- menced the study of law with James M. Davis, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1865. He opened an office in Hillsboro', where he has been constantly engaged, and had preached but once in its meeting-house when it was destroyed by fire. Inspired by his earnest labors, the congregation rallied from this shock, and at an expense of $30,000 erected, in 1854, a new house of worship. During his pastorate he founded the Christian Times, as the organ of the Baptist Church in the Northwest, and for some months he conducted its management. In 1855 he received but declined a call to the Presidency of Shurtleff


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to the present time, in the practice of his profession, his | of his regiment while he was in the service; he generally clientage being by far the largest of any lawyer's in the county, though there are several who have been established for much longer periods. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and in 1869 was elected Judge of the County Court of Montgomery county, on the Democratic ticket. Judge Lane is, in the strict sense of the term, the " archi- tect of his own fortune." When nearly grown, he was still deficient of any education. Without friends or aid of any kind, he worked and savcd, and was thus enabled to obtain his education. He in the same manner acquired a knowl- edge of his profession ; and his success, which has been well earned, is owing to his close application to study, and to the peculiar qualifications as a lawyer which the develop- ment of his talents has disclosed. Coming among the people of Hillsboro' a stranger and poor, he has shown himself worthy of their confidence in all respects, which is attested by the large amount of business intrusted to him. He was married in 1870 to Tucei Miller, daughter of Samuel K. Miller, of Lawrenceville, Illinois.


2 CWILLIAMS, ROBERT, Attorney-at-Law, was born at Dalton, Wayne county, Ohio, on March 12th, 1830. Ilis father, Robert McWilliams, was also a native of the same town and county, where he was engaged in farming until his death in 1352. Young Robert was educated at Hays- ville College, Ohio. On leaving college he was engaged in school teaching, and at the same time pursued the study of the law in the office of Matthews & Stone, at Coshocton, Ohio. Ile was admitted in the year 1854. Shortly after- wards he moved into the State of Illinois, and located at Sullivan, and there commenced the practice of his pro- fession. At the expiration of eighteen months he moved to Shelbyville, and there formed a partnership with Anthony Thornton, which, however, lasted only a short time. He then continued practice by himself until 1858, when he moved to Hillsboro'. IIere he continued until 1862, when he entered the army as Captain of Company B, 117th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In June, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of Major. In February, 1365, he resigned his position. At the beginning of the war Major Mc Williams was diligently at work influencing enlistment, and was instrumental in the raising of three companies. The regiment to which he was attached formed a part of General A. J. Smith's corps until 1864, when it became at- tached to that of General Banks. During his service, be- sides the Red River campaign, he took part in a great many battles and skirmishes, among the principal of which were, Fort De Russey, Pleasant IIill, and Klutcheville, Louisiana, Chico Village, Arkansas, Tupclo and Abbeyville, Missis- sippi, Franklin, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee. The major participated and tock an active share in every action


commanded the skirmishers. At the hotly-contested battle of Nashville, where the 117th Regiment bore the very brunt of the fight, Major McWilliams commanded the left of the regiment, supporting one of the Union batteries, and was exposed to a raking fire from a rebel battery of sixteen guns. The history of the 117th is an interesting one-of the fine line of officers little need be said by way of com- mendation, their deeds have written their eulogy. Of the regimental officers none was more generally beloved by his immediate command than was Major McWilliams. Resigning his commission he returned to Montgomery county, Illinois, and opened a law office at Litchfield, which has since been his home. Ilis practice is a large and lucrative one, and as a lawyer he has met with fine success, and takes rank with the more prominent practi- tioners of the bar of Illinois. In the every-day walk of life, the major is an estimable and genial gentleman, a citizen with a highly enterprising bent of mind, and a nature that is at once frank, candid, and generous. His success in life is the result of his own industry and per- sistent energy, as he started in the world wholly dependent upon his own unaided endeavors. IIe is a stockholder in the Litchfield Car Manufacturing Company, and a member of the firm of Beach, Davis & Co., bankers. On October ISth, 1865, he was married to Mary, daughter of Benjamin Allen, of Litchfield. Three children have been born to thenı.


ASIIBURN, THOMAS D., M. D., was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, on April 25th, 1819. He is a son of Seth Washburn, M. D., a grad- uate of the Harvard Medical School, the brother of Hon. Emory Washburn, Professor of Law in Harvard College; and is connected with the Washburn family, who have been so closely identified with the history of New England and of this country. His mother was Ascenath Dickman, daughter of Thomas Dickman, of Springfield. IIis father died when Thomas D. was but five years old, and he was left to the charge of his uncle, IIon. Emory Washburn, under whose care he pursued his studies. IIe first entercd Burr Seminary, in Vermont, where he remained two years. IIe was then for two years at the Phillips Academy, and the Teachers' Seminary, at Andover, Massachusetts; in the latter institu- tion he received a diploma. On completing his scholastic course he commenced the study of medicine at Saxton's River, Vermont, under Dr. Ralph Severance, with whom he studied one year, when he went to Boston and attended lectures. His health failing him at this time he moved to Georgia, and there taught school for two years. Returning home he studied under Dr. Dean, of Greenfield, one year, and in the following winter took a course of lectures at the Harvard Medical School. In the ensuing summer he


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studied under Drs. Bowditch, Shattuck and Parkman. He ] branch of science which had many attractions for him. He then entered the New York University, from which he graduated in 1845. Thereupon he located in Syracuse, New York, where he practised three years. Thence he moved to Grayville, Illinois, where he remained two years ; from that place to Lawrenceville, which was his home for six years, and finally located in Hillsboro', which has been his home since 1856. Here he has been constantly occu- pied in his profession, excepting during the time spent in the service of the United States. In 1862 he entered the army as Assistant Surgeon of the 126th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. After the taking of Little Rock, Arkansas, he was assigned to the position of Post Surgeon, which he held until the close of the war. Then he at once returned to his home in Hillsboro' and resumed his practice. He is a member of the Medical Society of Montgomery County; also of the District Medical Society of Southern Illinois, and is President of the State Medical Society. He has always identified himself with all that tended to ad- vance his city and county ; has been President of the town organization, and in other ways has performed the duty a good citizen owes to the community in which he resides. The doctor has frequently contributed to the various medi- cal publications, and the articles entitled "Are the Public Competent to Judge what System of Medicine, is most Desirable, or what Practice they Should Adopt ?" " Thoughts on Medical Progress," and "The Relation of the Profession to the Secular Press and the Rostrum," have been read by nearly all in the profession. He was married in 1846 to R. M. Joslin, of Owego, New York.


HOMAS, CYRUS, PH. D., State Entomologist, was born in Kingsport, Sullivan county, Tennes- see, July 27th, 1825. His father, of Pennsyl- vania-German descent, lived in Maryland and emigrated finally to Tennessee. His mother, of English-Irish descent, belonged to a family which settled in Virginia at an early date. He was edu- cated at the common and high schools of his native State, and at the completion of his course of studies was engaged for a time in business with his father. It was his mother's desire that he should study medicine; his tastes, however, ran in opposition to this profession, and the opportunity presenting itself he began the study of law. In 1849 he removed. to Illinois and engaged in teaching school, an avocation which he pursued for but a brief period. Later, he was appointed Deputy Clerk to Mr. Logan, then County Clerk, at the present time a member of the Senate. In 1851 he was elected County Clerk, and held that position one term. At the same time he was admitted to the bar, and at the expiration of his term entered upon the practice of his profession at Murpheysboro'. While so engaged he also applied himself to the study of natural history, a


was professionally occupied until 1864, when, on the death of his wife, he abandoned the law and entered the min- istry, which he had during many previous years felt was his true calling, and for which he had been quietly preparing himself. In 1869 he was elected a delegate to the General Lutheran Synod, which convened in Washington. Also about this time he was tendered the position of Entomolo- gist of the United States Geological Survey, under Professor Hayden, and his reports, printed with the reports of the expedition, form an important feature of those publications. Since 1864 he has acted as minister of the Lutheran church in Jackson county, where he has resided constantly, except when absent on the geological survey. In 1874 he resigned his position as a member of the United States Survey, and was elected to the Professorship of Natural Sciences of the Southern Illinois Normal University. In 1875 he was ap- pointed State Entomologist by Governor Beveridge, a position which he still holds. During his busy life he has contributed many articles of merit to various publications. His review of Darwin, as published in the Gettysburg Review, was the immediate cause of the conferring of the Ph. D. degree by the Gettysburg College. His "Acridedæ of North America," published by the government, is valued very highly as a nceded contribution to natural history, and his other essays, which have appeared in various forms, have elicited many encomiums from the scientists of this country and of Europe. He was the promoter and organ- izer of the Illinois Natural History Society, now enjoying great prosperity and possessing at Bloomington a very com- plete and valuable museum. He is in constant correspond- ence with all the leading scientists of Europe, and many of his works have been reviewed by foreign writers. He has now in press a review of Professor C. Stal's new work, in which he takes issue with that famous writer, a professor in the Museum at Stockholm. He was married in 1850 to a sister of Senator Logan, of Illinois, who died in 1864. Ile was subsequently again married to Miss Davis, a native of Warren county, Pennsylvania.


UFORD, CHARLES, Breeder of Fine Stock, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, June 17th, 1797. He was the son of Colonel Abram Buford, of Virginia. He graduated at Yale College. He was extensively engaged in the breeding of fine stock, and for many years was President of the Lexington Association for the improvement of thoroughbred horses. He moved to Rock Island, Illinois, in about 1852, and invested largely in property, making subsequently numerous city improvements and furthering greatly the interests of that section of the State. He was one of the first to introduce thoroughbred cattle into this part of Illinois, and was a prominent mover in many laudable public enter-


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prises. Hc was an accomplished scholar, a fine mathema- until the close of the war. He took part in the Red River tician and mechanic, and an ardent sportsman with both rod and gun. Ile was married to a daughter of General John Adair, of Kentucky, and after her death to Lucy A. Duke, also of Kentucky, and reared a large family. lle died while on a visit to St. Louis, Missouri, January 4th, 1866, greatly regretted in a large circle.


YSSICK, JAMES C., was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on October 18th, 1844. His father, James H. Essick, was also a native of that State, as was his mother, Margaret E. Essick. 10 They moved to Illinois in 1858, and engaged in farming. His parents were not able to spare him from their farm, so that during his boyhood he enjoyed but few educational advantages, and they consisted of such as were furnished in the county schools during the brief winter season. IIe remained on his father's farm until he arrived at the age of twenty-one, when he struck out for himself. He worked as a farm hand until 1868, and while so employed began studying " Blackstone's Commentaries," which he read through three times. During this period hc worked all day and read law at night. Afterwards he en- tcred the law office of J. C. McQuigg, of Pana, with whom he studied until 1870, when he was admitted to the bar. Since that time he has been constantly engaged in his prac- ticc, which has grown to be a large and lucrative one. Mr. Essick, as a professional man, ranks among the best in this section. Soon after he was admitted to the bar he was appointed City Attorncy of Pana, an office he held for one year. He has always been a Republican, and has contrib- utcd his best energics to advance the party's interest. In IS70 he received the party nomination for State Senator, but was defeated, the district being largely Democratic. He is Local Attorney for the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, and also the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. Hc was married August 6th, 1374, to Maggie Ncwell, of Mich- ign.


RUITT, JAMES M., Lawyer and ex-Member of the Legislature, was born in Trimble county, Kentucky, on February 28th, 1842. His father, Samuel Truitt, a native of Kentucky, moved to Illinois in 1844, living a short time in Richland county, and afterward in Green county. In IS51 he settled in Montgomery county, where he continued until his death, in 1863. James M. was educated at the Hills- boro' Academy. Leaving school in 1862, he entered the army, and before he was twenty-one years old had risen to the rank of Orderly Sergeant of Company B, 117th Illinois Volunteers. In 1864 he was further promoted, receiving his commission as Second -Lieutenant, and served as such


campaign, and in the battles of Fort De Russy and Pleasant Hill, and Klutcheville, Louisiana; Chico Village, Arkan- sas; Tupelo and Abbeyville, Mississippi ; Franklin, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee ; and Mobile, Alabama. From the last-named point he marched with his regiment to Mont- gomery, Alabama, and on the evening of the 9th of April, 1865, was present at the storming and taking of Fort Blakely, below Mobile, which was, in fact, the last battle of the war, it being the evening of the day on which Gcn- eral Lee capitulated. The news had not then reached so far south. At the closc of the war he returned and com- menced the study of law with General Jesse J. Phillips, and in 1867 was admitted to the bar. He commenced practice with General Phillips, and the partnership lasted until 1872. He then practiscd by himself, and has secured a very satis- factory clientage. In politics he was originally a Demo- crat, but came out of the war a confirmed Republican, and has ever since supported that party with all his energy and means. In 1872 he was elected a member of the Legisla- turc from the Thirty-fourth District, composed of the coun- ties of Montgomery and Christian. He was appointed a member of the Committee on Railroads, and drafted the present railroad law which has so often been in controversy, the railroad companies manifesting strong and continued opposition to its provisions. The measure has proved of great public benefit, however, having had the effect of bringing railroads under the control of the law. He was also a member of the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Judicial Department, and ou Education. Hc is a Director and the Attorney of the Montgomery County Loan & Trust Company. Mr. Truitt is one of Hillsboro's most enterprising and energetic citizens, and while ranking among its ablest lawyers, manifests his inter- est in the advancement of his native city by promoting all movements calculated to enhance its prosperity. He was married on October Ist, 1867, to Jennie Blackman, of Hillsboro'.




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