USA > Indiana > Decatur County > A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana : compendium of national biography > Part 17
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W ILLIAM FREEMAN VILAS, who at- tained a national reputation as an able lawyer, statesman, and cabinet officer, was born at Chelsea, Vermont, July 9, 1840. His parents removed to Wisconsin when our subject was but eleven years of age, and there with the early settlers endured all the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. William F. Vilas was given all the advantages found in the common schools, and supplemented this by a course of study in the Wisconsin State University, after which he studied law, was admitted to the bar and began practicing at Madison. Shortly afterward the Civil war broke out and Mr. Vilas enlisted and became colonel
of the Twenty-third regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, serving throughout the war with distinction. At the close of the war he re- turned to Wisconsin, resumed his law prac- tice, and rapidly rose to eminence in this profession. In 1885 he was selected by President Cleveland for postmaster-general and at the close of his term again returned to Madison, Wisconsin, to resume the prac- tice of law.
THOMAS MCINTYRE COOLEY, an em- inent American jurist and law writer, was born in Attica, New York, January 6, 1824. He was admitted to the bar in 1846, and four years later was appointed reporter of the supreme court of Michigan, which office he continued to hold for seven years. In the meantime, in 1859, he became pro- fessor of the law department of the Univer- sity of Michigan, and soon afterward was made dean of the faculty of that depart- ment. In 1864 he was elected justice of the supreme court of Michigan, in 1867 be- came chief justice of that court, and in 1869 was re-elected for a term of eight years. In 1881 he again joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, assuming the professorship of constitutional and adminis- trative law. His works on these branches have become standard, and he is recog- nized as authority on this and related sub- jects. Upon the passage of the inter-state commerce law in 1887 he became chairman of the commission and served in that capac- ity four years.
JOHN PETER ALTGELD, a noted American politician and writer on social questions, was born in Germany, December 30, 1847. He came to America with his parents and settled in Ohio when two years old. In 1864 he entered the Union army
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and served till the close of the war, after which he settled in Chicago, Illinois. He was elected judge of the superior court of Cook county, Illinois, in 1886, in which capacity he served until elected governor of Illinois in 1892, as a Democrat. During the first year of his term as governor he at- tracted national attention by his pardon of the anarchists convicted of the Haymarket murder in Chicago, and again in 1894 by his denunciation of President Cleveland for calling out federal troops to suppress the rioting in connection with the great Pull- man strike in Chicago. At the national convention of the Democratic party in Chi- cago, in July, 1896, he is said to have in- spired the clause in the platform denuncia- tory of interference by federal authorities in local affairs, and "government by injunc- tion." He was gubernatorial candidate for re-election on the Democratic ticket in 1896, but was defeated by John R. Tanner, Re- publican. Mr. Altgeld published two vol- umes of essays on " Live Questions," evinc- ing radical views on social matters.
A DLAI EWING STEVENSON, an Amer_ ican statesman and politician, was born in Christian county, Kentucky, October 23, 1835, and removed with the family to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1852. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, and set- tled in the practice of his profession in Metamora, Illinois. In 1861 he was made master in chancery of Woodford county, and in 1864 was elected state's at- torney. In 1868 he returned to Blooming- ton and formed a law partnership with James S. Ewing. He had served as a pres- idential elector in 1864, and in 1868 was elected to congress as a Democrat, receiv- ing a majority vote from every county in his district. He became prominent in his
party, and was a delegate to the national convention in 1884. On the election of Cleveland to the presidency Mr. Stevenson was appointed first assistant postmaster- general. After the expiration of his term he continued to exert a controlling influence in the politics of his state, and in 1892 was elected vice-president of the United States on the ticket with Grover Cleveland. At the expiration of his term of office he re- sumed the practice of law at Bloomington, Illinois.
S IMON CAMERON, whose name is prominently identified with the history of the United States as a political leader and statesman, was born in Lancaster coun- ty, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1799. He grew to manhood in his native county, receiving good educational advantages, and develop- ing a natural inclination for political life. He rapidly rose in prominence and became the most influential Democrat in Pennsyl- vania, and in 1845 waselected by that party to the United States senate. Upon the organization of the Republican party he was one of the first to declare his allegiance to it, and in 1856 was re-elected United States senator from Pennsylvania as a Republican. In March, 1861, he was appointed secretary of war by President Lincoln, and served until early in 1862, when he was sent as minister to Russia, returning in 1863. In 1866 he was again elected United States senator and served until 1877, when he re- signed and was succeeded by his son, James Donald Cameron. He continued to exert a powerful influence in political affairs up to the time of his death, June 26, 1889.
JAMES DONALD CAMERON was the eld- est son of Simon Cameron, and also attained a high rank among American statesmen. He was born at Harrisburg,
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Pennsylvania, May 14, 1833, and received an excellent education, graduating at Princeton College in 1852. He rapidly developed into one of the inost able and successful business men of the country and was largely inter- ested in and identified with the develop- ment of the coal, iron, lumber and manu- facturing interests of his native state. He served as cashier and afterward president of the Middletown bank, and in 1861 was made vice-president, and in 1863 president of the Northern Central railroad, holding this position until 1874, when he resigned and was succeeded by Thomas A. Scott. This road was of great service to the government during the war as a means of communica- tion between Pennsylvania and the national capital, via Baltimore. Mr. Cameron also took an active part in political affairs, always as a Republican. In May, 1876, he was appointed secretary of war in Pres- ident Grant's cabinet, and in 1877 suc- ceeded his father in the United States senate. He was re-elected in 1885, and again in 1891, serving until 1896, and was recognized as one of the most prominent and influential members of that body.
A1 DOLPHUS W. GREELEY, a famous American arctic explorer, was born at Newburyport, Massachusetts, March 27, 1844. He graduated from Brown High School at the age of sixteen, and a year later enlisted in Company B, Nineteenth Massachusetts Infantry, and was made first sergeant. In 1863 he was promoted to second lieutenant. After the war he was assigned to the Fifth United States Cavalry, and became first lieutenant in 1873. He was assigned to duty in the United States signal service shortly after the close of the war. An expedition was fitted out by the United States government in 1881, un-
der auspices of the weather bureau, and Lieutenant Greeley placed in command. They set sail from St. Johns the first week in July, and after nine days landed in Green- land, where they secured the services of two natives, together with sledges, dogs, furs and equipment. They encountered an ice pack early in August, and on the 28th of that month freezing weather set in. Two of his party, Lieutenant Lockwood and Ser- geant Brainard, added to the known maps about forty miles of coast survey, and reached the highest point yet attained by man, eighty-three degrees and twenty-four minutes north, longitude, forty-four degrees and five minutes west. On their return to Fort Conger, Lieutenant Greeley set out for the south on August 9, 1883. He reached Baird Inlet twenty days later with his entire party. Here they were compelled to abandon their boats, and drifted on an ice-floe for one month. They then went into camp at Cape Sabine, where they suf- fered untold hardships, and eighteen of the party succumbed to cold and hunger, and had relief been delayed two days longer none would have been found alive. They were picked up by the relief expedition, under Captain Schley, June 22, 1884. The dead were taken to New York for burial. Many sensational stories were published concerning the expedition, and Lieutenant Greeley prepared an exhaustive account of his explorations and experiences.
L EVI P. MORTON, the millionaire poli- tician, was born in Shoreham, Ver- mont, May 16, 1824, and his early educa- tion consisted of the rudiments which he obtained in the common school up to the age of fourteen, and after that time what knowledge he gained was wrested from the hard school of experience. He removed to
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Hanover, Vermont, then Concord, Vermont, and afterwards to Boston. He had worked in a store at Shoreham, his native village, and on going to Hanover he established a store and went into business for himself. In Boston he clerked in a dry goods store, and then opened a business of his own in the same line in New York. After a short career he failed, and was compelled to set- tle with his creditors at only fifty cents on the dollar. He began the struggle anew, and when the war began he established a banking house in New York, with Junius Morgan as a partner. Through his firm and connections the great government war loans were floated, and it resulted in im- mense profits to his house. When he was again thoroughly established he invited his former creditors to a banquet, and under each guest's plate was found a check cover- ing the amount of loss sustained respec- tively, with interest to date.
President Garfield appointed Mr. Mor- ton as minister to France, after he had de- clined the secretaryship of the navy, and in 1888 he was nominated as candidate for vice-president, with Harrison, and elected. In 1894 he was elected governor of New York over David B. Hill, and served one term.
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HARLES KENDALL ADAMS, one of the most talented and prominent educators this country has known, was born January 24, 1835, at Derby, Vermont. He received an elementary education in the common schools, and studied two terms in the Derby Academy. Mr. Adams moved with his parents to Iowa in 1856. He was very anxious to pursue a collegiate course, but this was impossible until he had attained the age of twenty-one. In the autumn of 1856 he began the study of Latin and Greek
at Denmark Academy, and in September, 1857, he was admitted to the University of Michigan. Mr. Adams was wholly depend- ent upon himself for the means of his edu- cation. During his third and fourth year he became deeply interested in historical studies, was assistant librarian of the uni- versity, and determined to pursue a post- graduate course. In 1864 he was appointed instructor of history and Latin and was ad- vanced to an assistant professorship in 1865, and in 1867, on the resignation of Professor White to accept the presidency of Cornell, he was appointed to fill the chair of profes- sor of history. This he accepted on con- dition of his being allowed to spend a year for special study in Germany, France and Italy. Mr. Adams returned in 1868, and assumed the duties of his professorship. He introduced the German system for the instruction of advanced history classes, and his lectures were largely attended. In 1885, on the resignation of President White at Cornell, he was elected his successor and held the office for seven years, and on Jan- uary 17, 1893, he was inaugurated presi- dent of the University of Wisconsin. Pres- ident Adams was prominently connected with numerous scientific and literary organ- izations and a frequent contributor to the historical and educational data in the peri- odicals and journals of the country. He was the author of the following: " Dem- ocracy and Monarchy in France," " Manual of Historical Literature," " A Plea for Sci- entific Agriculture," " Higher Education in Germany."
JOSEPH B. FORAKER, a prominent po- ) litical leader and ex-governor of Ohio, was born near Rainsboro, Highland county, Ohio, July 5, 1846. His parents operated a small farm, with a grist and sawmill, hav-
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ing emigrated hither from Virginia and Delaware on account of their distaste for slavery.
Joseph was reared upon a farın until 1862, when he enlisted in the Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry. Later he was made ser- geant, and in 1864 commissioned first lieu- tenant. The next year he was brevetted captain. At the age of nineteen he was mustered out of the army after a brilliant service, part of the time being on the staff of General Slocum. He participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mount- ain and Kenesaw Mountain and in Sher- man's march to the sea.
For two years subsequent to the war young Foraker was studying at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, but later went to Cornell University, at Unity, New York, from which he graduated July I, 1869. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1879 Mr. Foraker was elected judge of the superior court of Cincinnati and held the office for three years. In 1883 he was defeated in the contest for the gov- ernorship with Judge Hoadly. In 1885, however, being again nominated for the same office, he was elected and served two terms. In 1889, in running for governor again, this time against James E. Camp- bell, he was defeated. Two years later his career in the United States senate began. Mr. Foraker was always a prominent figure at all national meetings of the Republican party, and a strong power, politically, in his · native state.
L YMAN ABBOTT, an eminent American preacher and writer on religious sub- jects, came of a noted New England family. His father, Rev. Jacob Abbott, was a prolific and popular writer, and his uncle, Rev. John S. C. Abbott, was a noted
preacher and author. Lyman Abbott was born December 18, 1835, in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He graduated at the New York University, in 1853, studied law, and practiced for a time at the bar, after which he studied theology with his uncle, Rev. John S. C. Abbott, and in 1860 was settled in the ministry at Terre Haute, Indiana, re- maining there until after the close of the war. He then became connected with the Freedmen's Commission, continuing this until 1868, when he accepted the pastorate of the New England Congregational church, in New York City. A few years later he re- signed, to devote his time principally to lit- erary pursuits. For a number of years he edited for the American Tract Society, its "Illustrated Christian Weekly," also the New York "Christian Union." He pro- duced many works, which had a wide circu- lation, among which may be mentioned the following: "Jesus of Nazareth, His Life and Teachings," "Old Testament Shadows of New Testament Truths," "Morning and Evening Exercises, Selected from Writings of Henry Ward Beecher," "Laicus, or the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish," ""Popular Religious Dictionary," and "Commentaries on Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts."
G EORGE WILLIAM CURTIS .- The well-known author, orator and journal- ist whose name heads this sketch, was born at Providence, Rhode Island, February 24, 1824. Having laid the foundation of a most excellent education in his native land,. he went to Europe and studied at the Uni- versity of Berlin. He made an extensive tour throughout the Levant, from which he returned home in 1850. At that early age literature became his field of labor, and in IS51 he published his first important work,
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" Nile Notes of a Howadji." In 1852 two works issued from his facile pen, "The Howadji in Syria, " and " Lotus-Eating." Later on he was the author of the well- known "Potiphar Papers," "Prue and I," and "Trumps." He greatly distinguished himself throughout this land as a lecturer on many subjects, and as an orator had but few peers. He was also well known as one of the most fluent speakers on the stump, making many political speeches in favor of the Republican party. In recognition of his valuable services, Mr. Curtis was ap- pointed by President Grant, chairman of the advisory board of the civil service. Al- though a life-long Republican, Mr. Curtis refused to support Blaine for the presidency in 1884, because of his ideas on civil ser- vice and other reforms. For his memorable and magnificent eulogy on Wendell Phillips, delivered in Boston, in 1884, that city pre- sented Mr. Curtis with a gold medal.
George W. Curtis, however, is best known to the reading public of the United States by his connection with the Harper Brothers, having been editor of the "Har- per's Weekly," and of the "Easy Chair," in " Harper's Monthly Magazine, " for many years, in fact retaining that position until the day of his death, which occurred August 31, 1892.
A NDREW JOHNSON, the seventeenth president of the United States, served from 1865 to 1869. He was born Decem- ber 8, 1808, at Raleigh, North Carolina, and was left an orphan at the age of four years. He never attended school, and was apprenticed to a tailor. While serving his apprenticeship he suddenly acquired a pas- sion for knowledge, and learned to read. From that time on he spent all his spare time in reading, and after working for two
years as a journeyman tailor at Lauren's Court House, South Carolina, he removed to Greenville, Tennessee, where he worked at his trade and was married. Under his wife's instruction he made rapid progress in his studies and manifested such an interest in local politics as to be elected as "work- ingmen's candidate " alderman in 1828, and in 1830 to the mayoralty, and was twice re-elected to each office. Mr. Johnson utilized this time in cultivating his talents as a public speaker, by taking part in a de- bating society. He was elected in 1835 to the lower house of the legislature, was re- elected in 1839 as a Democrat, and in 1841 was elected state senator. Mr. John- son was elected representative in congress in 1843 and was re-elected four times in succession until 1853, when he was the suc- cessful candidate for the gubernatorial chair of Tennessee. He was re-elected in 1855 and in 1857 he entered the United States senate. In 1860 he was supported by the Tennessee delegation to the Democratic convention for the presidential nomination, and lent his influence to the Breckinridge wing of the party. At the election of Lin- coln, which brought about the first attempt at secession in December, 1860, Mr. John- son took a firm attitude in the senate for the Union. He was the leader of the loy- alists in East Tennessee. By the course that Mr. Johnson pursued in this crisis he was brought prominently before the north- ern people, and when, in March, 1862, he was appointed military governor of Ten- nessee with the rank of brigadier-general, he increased his popularity by the vigorous manner in which he labored to restore order. In the campaign of 1864 he was elected vice-president on the ticket with President Lincoln, and upon the assassi- nation of the latter he succeeded to the
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presidency, April 15, 1865. He retained the cabinet of President Lincoln, and at first exhibited considerable severity towards the former Confederates, but he soon inau- gurated a policy of reconstruction, pro- claimed a general amnesty to the late Con- federates, and established provisional gov- ernments in the southern states. These states claimed representation in congress in the following December, and then arose the momentous question as to what should be the policy of the victorious Union against their late enemies. The Republican ma- jority in congress had an apprehension that the President would undo the results of the war, and consequently passed two bills over the executive veto, and the two highest branches of the government were in open antagonism. The cabinet was reconstructed in July, and Messrs. Randall, Stanbury and Browning superseded Messrs. Denison, Speed and Harlan. In August, 1867, Pres- ident Johnson removed the secretary of war and replaced him with General Grant, but when congress met in December it refused to ratify the removal of Stanton, who re- sumed the functions of his office. In 1868 the president again attempted to remove Stanton, who refused to vacate his post and was sustained by the senate. Presi- dent Johnson was accused by congress of high crimes and misdemeanors, but the trial resulted in his acquittal. Later he was Uni- ted States senator from Tennessee, and died July 31, 1875.
E DMUND RANDOLPH, first attorney- general of the United States, was born in Virginia, August 10, 1753. His father, John Randolph, was attorney-general of Virginia, and lived and died a royalist. Ed- mund was educated in the law, but joined the army as aide-de-camp to Washington
in 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was elected to the Virginia convention in 1776, and attorney-general of the state the same year. In 1779 he was elected to the Continental congress, and served four years in that body. He was a member of the con- vention in 1787 that framed the constitu- tion. In that convention he proposed what was known as the " Virginia plan" of con- federation, but it was rejected. He advo- cated the ratification of the constitution in the Virginia convention, although he had re- fused to sign it. He became governor of Virginia in 1788, and the next year Wash- ington appointed him to the office of at- torney-general of the United States upon the organization of the government under the constitution. He was appointed secre- tary of state to succeed Jefferson during Washington's second term, but resigned a year later on account of differences in the cabinet concerning the policy pursued to- ward the new French republic. He died September 12, 1813.
W TINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK was born in Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, February 14, 1824. He received his early education at the Norristown Academy, in his native county, and, in 1840, was appointed a cadet in the United States Military Academy, at West Point. He was graduated from the latter in 1844, and brev- etted as second lieutenant of infantry. In 1853 he was made first lieutenant, and two years later transferred to the quartermaster's department, with the rank of captain, and in 1863 promoted to the rank of major. He served on the frontier, and in the war with Mexico, displaying conspicuous gallantry dur- ing the latter. He also took a part in the Seminole war, and in the troubles in Kan- sas, in 1857, and in California, at the out-
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break of the Civil war, as chief quarter- master of the Southern district, he exerted a powerful influence. In 1861. he applied for active duty in the field, and was assigned to the department of Kentucky as chief quartermaster, but before entering upon that duty, was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers. His subsequent history during the war was substantially that of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the campaign, under McClellan, and led the gallant charge, which captured Fort Magru- der, won the day at the battle of Wil- liamsburg, and by services rendered at Savage's Station and other engagements, won several grades in the regular service, and was recommended by Mcclellan for major-general of volunteers. He was a con- spicuous figure at South Mountain and An- tietam. He was commissioned major-gen- eral of volunteers, November 29, 1862, and made commander of the First Division of the Second Corps, which he led at Fred- ricksburg and at Chancellorsville. He was appointed to the command of the Second Corps in June, 1863, and at the battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, of that year, took an important part. On his arrival on the field he found part of the forces then in retreat, but stayed the retrograde movement, checked the enemy, and on the following day commanded the left center, repulsed, on the third, the grand assault of General Lee's army, and was severely wounded. For his services on that field General Hancock received the thanks of congress. On recovering from his wound, he was detailed to go north to stimulate re- cruiting and fill up the diminished corps, and was the recipient of many public receptions and ovations. In March, 1864, he returned to his command, and in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania led large bodies of men
successfully and conspicuously. From that on to the close of the campaign he was a prominent figure. In November, 1864, he was detailed to organize the First Veteran Reserve Corps, and at the close of hostilities was appointed to the command of the Mid- dle Military Division. In July, 1866, he was made major-general of the regular service. He was at the head of various military departments until 1872, when he was assigned to the command of the Depart- ment of the Atlantic, which post he held until his death. In 1869 he declined the nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. He was the nominee of the Democratic party for president, in 1880, and was de- feated by General Garfield, who had a popu- lar majority of seven thousand and eighteen and an electoral majority of fifty-nine. Gen- eral Hancock died February 9, 1886.
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