USA > Illinois > The makers of Illinois; a memorial history of the state's honored dead > Part 10
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During his last session in congress, Mr. Cook discharged the duties of chairman of the ways and means committee, a position which in- volved so much labor as to overtask his physical powers, and the close
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of the session found him with health seriously impaired. With a view to the recovery of his strength he accepted the appointment of a special mission to Cuba, and embarked for that island expecting great benefit from its mild climate. It was, however, a vain hope, and in a few months thereafter he returned to his home in Edwards- ville. But nothing could stay the progress of the disease (consump- tion) from which he was suffering.
When he became convinced that the end was approaching his mind reverted to the place of his birth in Kentucky where he wished once more to look upon the scenes of his childhood home. He breathed his last soon after his arrival there, on October 16, 1827. "Though cut down at the early age of thirty-two," says Washburne, "he had ac- complished more than most men during the course of a long life. In him statesmanship seemed native and intuitive. In the house of rep- resentatives he showed a complete mastery of all questions that were to be discussed, and he stated his conclusions with such clearness, force and precision as always to command the strictest attention of mem- bers. There was before him when he died the promise of a most brilliant and distinguished career, which would have added additional lustre to his name and brought additional honor to the state of his adoption."
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ALEXANDER T. HILL
Alexander T. hill
I T HAS been said that banking institutions are the heart of the commercial body, indicating the health- fulness of trade. It is therefore evident that the publie service of the banker is an important one, giv- ing him many opportunities but also placing upon him heavy responsibilities. The man who capably meets the former and discharges the latter is worthy of high respect, and in such regard Alexander T. Hill, of Decatur, was cver held. He figured prominently in financial eireles of that eity during the greater part of the thirty years of his residence there. He was seventy years of age at the time of his death, which occurred in 1888. He was born in Virginia in 1818 and at the usual age began his education, attend- ing private sehools in the Old Dominion. He early displayed special aptitude in his studies and his fondness for books developed as the years went on. His wide reading and keen observation made him a well informed and highly educated man.
Mr. Hill made his start in the business world as a elerk in a general store at Belleville, Illinois. He went to Deeatur in 1856, when it was still a comparatively small town, and from that time until the elose of the Civil war owned and conducted a general mercantile store in that city. A few years later, however, he disposed of his stock and turned his attention to banking, becoming one of the founders of the Decatur Bank, which he virtually established and took charge of when it had but eleven dollars on deposit and placed it upon a paying basis. It grew and prospered from the beginning and eventually be- came the Deeatur National Bank but is now known as the National Bank of Decatur. He served as its president and was one of its most extensive stockholders until about the time of his death. He rceog- nized the faet that the bank which most carefully safeguards the interests of its patrons is the one most worthy of sueccss and he ever instituted and followed conservative methods which made his one of the strong financial institutions of this part of the state. He regarded no detail as too unimportant to claim his attention and his thorough knowledge of the banking business in every phase en- abled him to correctly solve intricate and involved financial problems.
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Mr. Hill was married at Randolph, New York, September 6, 1860, to Miss Sarah D. Wilder, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Dow) Wilder. Mr. and Mrs. Hill became the parents of a son, Edward, who after his marriage continued to make his home with his mother, her interest largely centering in his family. The father, Alexander T. Hill, established his home at the corner of North Church street and West Prairie avenue in 1861 and there Mrs. Hill still resides.
Decatur found in him a worthy and valued citizen aside from his business connections. He voted with the republican party and was interested in all matters of local progress. He served both as alder- man and mayor of Decatur and exercised his official prerogatives in this connection to advance the best interests of the city along lines of reform and improvement. He was likewise a member of the board of supervisors and his work as a member of the school board largely promoted the interests of education in Decatur. He gave generously to the support of the First Presbyterian and Baptist churches, although he himself was liberal in his religious views. He sought, however, the moral progress of the community and his entire life showed forth the principles of honorable manhood and citizen- ship. No duty was by him neglected and his memory is yet cherished by those who knew him, although almost a quarter of a century has passed since he was called from this life.
nathaniel Pope
ERHAPS no man has left a deeper impress upon the P history of Illinois than Nathaniel Popc. This is stated especially in connection with the determina- tion of the state's northern boundary, an account of which is given in the historical introduction to this work. Nathaniel Pope was born in 1784 at Louis- ville, Kentucky, and received his education at Transylvania Univer- sity, where he graduated with high honors. In 1808 he became a resident of Kaskaskia and in the following ycar was appointed the first secretary of Illinois territory. He had studied law before his removal to the territory, and at once upon his arrival he became inter- ested in its political development.
He was elected a territorial delegate to congress in 1816, and proved himself not only devoted to the interests of his constituents but also a shrewd tactician. His native judgment was strong and profound, and his intellect quick and far-reaching, while both were thoroughly trained and disciplined by study. He was largely instru- mental in securing the passage of the act authorizing the formation of a state government, and it was mainly through his efforts that the northern boundary of Illinois was fixed where it is to-day, instead of on an east and west line drawn through the southerly extremity of Lake Michigan as was at first proposed. This change was made after the bill for admitting the state had been introduced, by means of what has since become known as Pope's Amendment. Through this change a tract of country was added to the state domain sixty-one miles in width, extending from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river, containing an area of eight thousand, five hundred square miles of fertile country, richly diversified with forests, plains and rivers, within the limits of which at the present time are located fourteen counties with many populous and prosperous citics. Within this tract lies the entire length of the Illinois and Michigan canal to which a great sharc of the state's prosperity was so greatly indebted.
"No man ever rendered the state a more important service in con- gress," says Moses, "than did Nathaniel Pope." That the fixing of the northern boundary of the state, by means of the famous amend- ment, had momentous consequences can be scen in the state's subse-
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quent history. Had the northern tier of counties included within the sixty-one mile strip become attached to Wisconsin, as it inevitably would have been, the state of Illinois would have lacked, when issues of tremendous moment were at stake, an important element in her legislature at the time of the breaking out of the Civil war, an element which owing to the very different character of its early settlers Wis- consin did not require in making effective its loyal support of the Union.
Whether or not the splendid support given to the Union cause by the state of Illinois, in the years from 1861 to 1865, was of such im- portance as to justify Pope's declaration, when arguing for his amend- ment, that the state might become "the keystone to the perpetuity of the Union," may be regarded differently by historians. But the com- manding position occupied by Illinois during the Civil war, with one of its citizens in the presidential chair and another leading its two hundred and fifty thousand soldiery and the armies of the Union, went far to make good the claim of Pope in his declaration.
After the admission of Illinois as a state Pope was appointed United States judge of the district, which at first embraced the entire state. This office he filled with dignity, impartiality and acceptability. "He was a profound lawyer, an able legislator, a dignified and upright, yet a courteous judge, and wore the ermine for over thirty years without a stain," says the historian, John Moses. Pope county was so named in his honor. He was the father of John Pope who attained to the rank of major-general in the Civil war.
In U. F. Linder's reminiscences, published in 1879, he writes of Judge Pope's personal appearance, that "he was rather above than below medium height, and rather corpulent; a man could not look upon him without thinking that he was a man of considerable intel- lectual power;" and quotes Stephen T. Logan as saying that "Judge Pope was a man of the finest legal mind he ever knew." Linder con- cludes his sketch of Pope by saying: "I have often partaken of the old man's hospitality, and I desire to pay a tribute of gratitude and respect to his memory by saying that I cherish for him the kindest and most grateful remembrance."
We have given a sketch of Daniel Pope Cook in another place. There were so many passages in the careers of both, Nathaniel Pope and Daniel Pope Cook, that were similar that it will be instructive to make a brief review of their personal histories and achievements, in the form of a "parallel," after the manner of Plutarch, the ancient historian. Pope was born in Kentucky in 1784; Cook was born in the same state in 1795. They were related to each other, Pope being
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the uncle of Cook. Pope came to Illinois territory in 1809; Cook, eleven years his junior, came in 1815. Both entered upon the practice of law at Kaskaskia, and both entered the political field. Pope was eleeted a delegate to eongress from the territory in 1816, and at the same time Cook was appointed a judge of the western circuit.
Soon after the state was admitted to the Union in 1818, Pope was appointed a United States judge in the new state. Cook resigned his office as judge and was elected to eongress in 1820; thus they practi- eally exehanged plaees with each other. Both men had sons who bore the first name of John. John Pope became a major-general in the Civil war, and John Cook also attained the same rank.
Nathaniel Pope died January 23, 1850, in St. Louis, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lueretia Yeatman, at the age of sixty-six years.
Benjamin & Smith
Benjamin Lord Smith
I T IS seldom that one attains to the venerable age that was rcaehed by Benjamin Lord Smith and to few indeed is aeeordcd the privilege of traveling life's journey with the companion of their seleetion for sixty-four years. Such, however, was the record of Benjamin Lord Smith, who was ninety-three years of age at the time of his demise. He held positions of public trust in Bureau county and was connected at different times with mer- eantile pursuits in Princeton and agricultural pursuits in the sur- rounding district, and his judicious investments in real estate at length brought him to an enviable position among the substantial citizens. He was, moreover, one of the pioneer residents of Prince- ton, taking up his abode here when the little hamlet which was later to develop into a prosperous and populous city contained but seven houses.
Mr. Smith was a native son of New York, his birth having occurred on a farm near Utica, September 15, 1806. His father, Benjamin Smith, was born in New York, July 18, 1769, and through- out his entire life carried on farming, following that occupation to the time of his death on the 11th of July, 1816. He was married twiee. He first wedded Abigail Platt, who died in New York, June 20, 1805, and he afterward married Abigail Cooper Lord, who was also born in that state and who survived him for about seventeen years, passing away May 1, 1833.
The usual experiences of the farm lad fell to the lot of Benjamin Lord Smith, who early became familiar with the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. As opportunity offered he attended the country sehools in the vicinity of his father's home.
Through the period of his youth and early manhood Mr. Smith suffered more or less from ill health and, believing that a change of climate might prove beneficial he started for the west, traveling by wagon from New York to Illinois. He camped out along the way at night and traversed mile after mile in certain distriets without coming to a habitation. When four weeks had elapsed he reached Illinois and visited several of the counties in the central portion of the state. Pleased with the natural advantages of Bureau
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county and its opportunities he decided to remain there and in the fall of 1835 took up his permanent abode within its borders. The Black Hawk war had occurred only three years before and there were many evidences of Indian occupancy in this state. Central and northern Illinois were but sparsely settled, there being great, broad stretches of unbroken prairie with uncut timber tracts along the streams. The state, rich in its natural resources, awaited the trans- forming touch of enterprising men before it bloomed and blossomed as the rose. The little village of Princeton as previously stated con- tained but seven houses and Mr. Smith became one of the first mer- chants of the town, opening a dry-goods store soon after his arrival. In 1836 he went east and was married, setting out on his return jour- ney to his new home one day after his marriage, and reaching Prince- ton with his young bride in safety. Later he purchased a farm a short distance east of Princeton and hauled lumber from Chicago in order to build a house thereon. He then took up the task of break- ing the sod and developing the fields. For ten years he devoted his time and attention untiringly to general agricultural pursuits but found the arduous duties of farm life too great a drain upon his health and he once more established his home in the city. Not long afterward he was chosen by popular suffrage to the office of county clerk of Bureau county and by reelection was continued therein for eight years, discharging his duties in the most prompt and capable manner. As the years passed on he prospered in his business undertakings, which were largely represented in investment in land. He purchased at a low rate during the early period of the county's development and as the country became thickly settled the land rose in value and brought to him good returns, so that he was able to leave his family in comfort- able financial circumstances.
On the 15th of September, 1836, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Catherine Seeley, who was born in New York, March 26, 1816. They became the parents of four children: Caroline L., born April 7, 1839, died August 13, 1843. Laura Ann, born February 25, 1842, remained at home with her parents and cared for them in their old age. She still resides in Princeton and owns one of the fine residences of the city. Nathan, born August 5, 1843, died February 26, 1844. Selby L., born July 15, 1847, is president of the State Bank of Princeton.
Mr. Smith was always a stanch democrat in politics, unswerving in his allegiance to the party, but in the discharge of his official duties always placed the public welfare before partisanship and the good of the community at large before self-aggrandizement. He stood at all times for progress and improvement and was ready to aid and cooper-
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ate in any measure for the general good. He continued a resident of Prineeton until his death, on the 23d of August, 1900, when he was almost ninety-four years of age. His wife survived him for about four years, passing away July 10, 1904, at the age of eighty-eight years. For sixty-four years they had lived together as man and wife and theirs was a most happy marriage relation, the years bringing them contentment as well as prosperity, for their mutual love and eon- fidenee inereased as time went on. A contemporary biographer said of Mr. Smith: "He was a man of high ideals as exemplified in his straightforward business eareer as well as in his relations with his fellowmen, and wherever known he was held in the highest esteem. As a pioneer resident and representative eitizen he was widely and favorably known in the county and his name should be inseribed among those who were the founders and promoters of her best inter- ests in an early day." No history of Bureau eounty would be eom- plete without extended mention of Mr. Smith as one of her pioneer settlers and business men, for he left the impress of his individuality upon the early period of the county and was eonneeted with its growth and progress as the years went by.
Orbille D. Browning
L IKE many of the men prominent in Illinois history Orville Hiekman Browning was born in Kentucky, and came to this state in 1831 at the age of twenty- one, where he was admitted to the bar. He served in the Black Hawk war of 1832, was a member of the state senate from 1836 to 1840, and of the house from 1840 to 1843. He was a delegate to the republican national eonven- tion in 1860, and was appointed by Governor Yates in 1861 to fill the unexpired term of Senator Douglas in the United States senate. In 1866 he became secretary of the interior in the cabinet of Presi- dent Andrew Johnson, also for a time discharging the duties of at- torney-general. Returning to Illinois, he was elected a member of the constitutional convention of 1869-70, which was his last participa- tion in publie affairs, his time thereafter being devoted to his profes- sion. He died at Quiney, August 10, 1881.
Referring to the legislature of 1836, Abram W. Snyder in his history says that, "no previous general assembly of our state, and very few sinee, have comprised such an array of brainy, talented men, or as many who subsequently gained such eminenee in the annals of the state and nation." Among this number was O. H. Browning. Early in his career he beeame a friend of Abraham Lincoln, and always eould be depended upon to take an active part in the various movements which eventually led up to the formation of the republican party. Mrs. Logan writing of him in later years said that he "was a pon- derous sort of man but one who wielded great influence," a man in short who evidently did more thinking than talking. U. F. Linder said of him, "In all the posts Mr. Browning has filled he has done so with great honor to himself and benefit to his country."
When in 1854 there was a gathering in Chicago of prominent state politieians, ineluding demoerats and whigs who were opposed to the course of Stephen A. Douglas in the senate, held at the Tremont House, there were present Abraham Lincoln, Lyman Trumbull, Mark Skinner, Orville H. Browning, John E. Stewart, David Davis, Norman B. Judd, J. Young Seammon, Franeis C. Sherman, and others equally well known. Those present pledged themselves to the support of an "Anti-Nebraska party,"
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and appointed a committee to agitate the subject. This led to the fusion of sentiment that revolutionized the politics of the state.
Again in 1856, when a state convention of the new republican party was held at Bloomington, Mr. Browning was there as a delegate. The country was almost in a state of frenzy over the troubles in Kan- sas. The newspapers were teeming with accounts of the attack on Sumner in the United States senate by Brooks. This convention adopted a platform ringing with strong Anti-Nebraska sentiments, and "then and there," says Herndon, "gave the republican party its official christening." It was at this convention that Mr. Lincoln made an address which had such a profound effect upon his listeners that the newspaper men in attendance totally forgot to take notes, and the address was afterward referred to as the "Lost Speech."
When the national convention of the republican party assembled in the wigwam at Chicago, in May 1860, Browning was there as a delegate. Some of the Illinois men who were present there with him, were, David Davis, Elihu B. Washburne, John M. Palmer, Richard J. Oglesby, Clark E. Carr, Burton C. Cook, Norman B. Judd, Leonard Swett, and many others. Browning could always be relied upon to make one of the advance guard in the cause these men had adopted.
In the preparation of his first inaugural address President Lin- coln took counsel of his old friend Browning, and modified portions of it as he suggested. In the original copy of the address Mr. Lin- coln wrote, "All the power at my disposal will be used to reclaim the public property and places which have fallen; to hold, occupy, and possess these, and all other property and places belonging to the government." At the suggestion of Mr. Browning Lincoln dropped the words "to reclaim the public property and places which have fallen."
It will be remembered that Edward D. Baker, a former Illinois politician, was a member of the United States senate from Oregon at the beginning of the Civil war. Baker left the senatorial forum for the field and was killed at the battle of Ball's Bluff in October, 1861. Browning was at that time one of the senators from Illinois and made a speech of eulogy. "Baker," said he, "to a greater extent than most men, combined the force and severity of logic, with grace, fancy and eloquence, filling at the bar, at the same time the character of the astute and profound lawyer, and of the able, eloquent and success- ful advocate; and in the senate, the wise, prudent and discreet states- man was combined with the chaste, classic, brilliant and persuasive orator. He was not only a lawyer, an orator, a statesman and a
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soldier, but he was also a poet, and at times spoke and acted under high poetie inspiration."
Browning received a classical education in his native state of Kentucky before his removal to Illinois. "To Orville H. Browning of Quincy, who had made an exhaustive study of the subject," says Mather, "belongs the honor of inaugurating a movement to establish an asylum for the education of the Deaf and Dumb. The school was located at Jacksonville, and opened on January 26, 1846, with only four pupils. As the work of the school became known its num- bers rapidly increased, until at the present time it is the largest school of the kind in the world."
R.l. Grant
Ulysses Simpson Grant
LTHOUGH usually accounted a "Son of Illinois," A because of liis residence in this state at the beginning of the Civil war, and whence he entered the service of the army, General Grant actually resided in the state but eleven months. When the war broke out General Grant was a resident of Galena engaged in business, having resigned his commission in the army some years before. He was a graduate of West Point and during a portion of his service he was stationed on the Pacific coast, and intended to take up his residence there permanently when he left the army.
General Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio, on April 27, 1822; graduated from West Point in 1843, and served through the Mexican war. Grant's account of that war may be found contained in several chapters of his "Memoirs." In 1854, Grant resigned from the army and entered into business at St. Louis, part of the time carrying on a farm near that city. In May, 1860, he removed with his family to Galena, Illinois, and took a position in his father's store.
"During the cleven months that I lived in Galena," writes Grant in his "Memoirs," "prior to the first call for volunteers, I had been strictly attentive to business, and liad made but few acquaintances other than customers and people engaged in the same line of busi- ness with myself. When the election took place in November, 1860, I had not been a resident of Illinois long enough to gain citizenship, and could not, therefore, vote. I was really glad of this at the time, for my pledges would have compelled me to vote for Stephen A. Douglas, who had no possible chance of election. The contest was really between Mr. Breckenridge and Mr. Lincoln; between minority rule and rule by thic majority. I wanted, as between tliese candi- dates, to see Mr. Lincoln elected.
"Excitement ran high during the canvass, and torch-light proces- sions enlivened the scene in the generally quiet streets of Galena many niglits during the eampaign. I did not parade with cither party, but occasionally met with the 'Wide Awakes'-Republicans-in their rooms, and superintended their drill. It was evident, from the time of the Chicago nomination to the close of tlic canvass, that the
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