L 1 B HARY OF THE UNIVERSITY or ILLINOIS lUjI^'^iv LIBRARY AT l!i1JP<^ Champaign ILL HIST. SURVEY Kliiiott Histiriui Siinq f ^, a^/" 'Xo2<-'^->--c<^-t^^ HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY, iLLinsrois; TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL HISTORY ; PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. History of Illinois, EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OF THE PREHISTORIC RACES, ABORIGINES, WINNEBAGO AND BLACK HAWK WARS, AND A BRIEF REVIEW OF ITS CIVIL, POLITICAL AND MILITARY HISTORY. ILIliTJSTi^/.A.TElD. CHICAGO : INTER-STATE PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1881. 81'KlNGHEI.li JOtKSAT. CO., PRINTERS, BI'RISISFlEr.ll ir.i.. H To THE Pioneers Sangamon County THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, With the Hope that Your Virtues may be Emtji-ated, AND Your Toils and Sacrifices duly appbe- ciATED BY Coming Generations. .r PREFACE The importance of local history is appreciated more to-day than ever before. A general desire is being manifested by the people to preserve the records made by the pioneers, in every community. In obedience to this universal demand, historical firms have sprung into xistence, and county, city and town histories have appeared in great numbers in the past ■decade. Knowing that Sangamon County afforded an abundance of material for an interesting and profitable history, the InterStatk Publishing Co., in the Spring of 1881, placed in the field a corps of experienced historians, with instructions to prepare a faithful and reliable his- tory of the County. As preliminary to the work, they secured the co-operation of the officers of the Old Set- ; tlere' Society, who appointed a committee to read and revise the manuscript of the general ^ history, and a like committee in each township, to examine and correct the history of the re- spective townships. With but one or two exceptions, every man thus appointed served to the bet^t of his ability, and the wisdom of the choice of the committees is shown in the work per- formed. We feel confident that we here present to our patrons and the citizens of the County, a history that is as correct as can be made at this day. Special care was taken in its com- pilation, hundreds of men and women being interviewed, and every source of information can- vassed, that facts alone should be incorporated in it. The manuscript was then read to the ^'■^littees, and time given to make such corrections as they deemed necessary, and each ™^.ber was urged to exercise care, and not to be backward in making such corrections or ^^^ suggestions as might be deemed necessaiy to insure correctness and add to the value of ^work. Our thanks are certainly due to these men, a number of whom spent much time, ^^\ no thought of other reward than in the consciousness of a duty well performed. It ^*^ld be utterly impossible to mention all who thus labored, and who did all in their power *^ nake the History of Sangamon County a model county history. But we must not forget "S. John T. Stuart, Chairman of the General Committee, on whose advice we greatly relied, ^'^' who never once refused to aid us in our work, treating us with a kindness that will ever "^ appreciated, furnishing much valuable information for the history, and speaking a good ^°d for us upon every occasion. Hon. William H. Herndon also deserves great credit. On ™'-:e than one occasion lie walked seven miles to meet with the committee in the examination Jie manuscript, and few errors escaped his notice, especially in relation to facts that trans- P"";d at an early day. Of Hon. Charles H. Lanphier, we can say that few men are better P*''ted in the affairs of the county, especially in political matters, since 1840. He was a close "^^'der, his experience in newspaper work and proof-reading aiding him here, and he did not FKEFACE. fail us when asked to pass judgment upon the manuscript. If not present when the iommit- tee was in session, he would take the manuscript and read it carefully, noting such corections as he believed it right and proper to make. Zimri A. Enos and John DeCamp, though active as those mentioned, yet we believe it can be said of them ?■; of the woman Scriptures, that they "done what they could." Of the members of the township com littees, thanks are especially due M. G. Wadsworth, editor of the Auburn Citizen, who fwi ' i much valuable information. rot as in the. R. W. Diller, President of the Old Settlers' Society, was indeed a friend to the prise. He entered into the work with his whole soul, and it appeared that he could a ' ■ too much for us. Through his influence much valuable information was obtained, and vnuai ■ aid was rendered by him to us, in other ways. We shall always kindly remember hiir an > ever be grateful for the many favors shown to us. James H. Matheny, too, we can nevi get. It mattered not how busy he was, he always found time to render us all the aid ;l. ins power. We confess that we have at times felt ashamed that we were compelled to call' ui'. »i him so often for information ; but if he ever felt provoked at us, he never showed it i action. L. H. Tichnor, County Clerk, with his deputy, Mr. Cleverly, placed us under man) obligations. No men could be more accommodating. The same can be said of all the countv officers, not one of whom showed any disposition to avoid aiding us in our work. The State officers were also as accommodating to us as one could desire. J. C. Power, author of the "History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County," took great pains to aid us in our work, and having gone over much of the ground that we were compelled to travel, his advice and counsel was valuable. Never did he show, by word or action, that he believed us to be intruding upon his rights, but seemed at all times to raari- fest great interest in our welfare, and expressed an ardent desire for our success. Thf '^'■■• tory of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County we regard as the best work of its kind k to us. The press of the county is also entitled to our special gratitude. Without an exce we have received the kindest treatment from each, their tiles being placed at our disposa from which we gathered much of the information contained in this volume. The edit( the various papers we now number among our friends, and trust that the kind feeling; always be retained. In conclusion, we will say that our work is now done ; the History of Sangamon C you have placed in your hands. We trust that you will be well pleased with it. It has in a measure, to us, a labor of love, aud the pleasant hours that we have, spent wit pioneers of old Sangamon, will often be recalled, and the remembrance will be one ( alloyed pleasure. Ixtee-State Publishing Compait N TABLE OF CONTENTS. TABLE OF CONTENTS. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. rRODUCTORT 17 The Monnil Builders 17 Other Races 18 Itidiaoa— UliDois CoDfederaey — Sterved Rock 21 Early Discoveries— First Seltlementa 22 "angii-.h Rale 23 ienoral Clark'.s Exploits— County of Illinois 24 N'orthwestern Territory — Ortlioance of 1787 25 lllinoi.s Territory— State Organization— First Constitu- I tion— The Winneha-^o War 26 1 Black Hawk War— Internal Improvements 27 Stupendous System of Improvements Inaugurated — Illi- nois and Michigan Canal— Panic— Repudiation Advocated Mormon War The Battle of Nauvoo. Mexican War .. The War for the Union .".. ^ Governors of Illinois Lieutenant Governors — Other State Officers...-, United Stales Senators , ReproHentatives in Congress Then and Now , HISTOKY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. CHAPTER I. THE BEGINNING 45 TheGarden Spot 45 First White Men in Sangamon County 46 -First Settlement 4ri Other Early Settlers 47 Area and Posititin of the County 47 y Organization of the County 47 Acts of the County Commissioners -^ 48 County Coraniirtsioners from 1S21 to 1849 50 . Board of Jngtices 50 '——Township Orjianization 50 Rivers and Creeks 51 Kavigation of the Sangamon River 51 Creeks 54 CHAPTER II GEOLOGY 55 CHAPTER III. PIONEER LIFE 60 Early Manners and Customs 60 Character of the Pioneers 62 ■—Clothing 62 Weddings 65 Shakes 66 Wolf Hunting 67 Bee Hunting 67 Snakes 67 Agriculture 67 V — Religion 68 CHAPTER IV. JUDICIAL 70 Probate and County Courts 74 CHAPTER V. THE BAR OF SANGAMON COUNTY 76 First Decade 77 James Adams 77 Jonathan H Pugh 77 Thomas M Neale 77 James M. Strode 77 Williams. Hamilton 78 Thomas Mofi'ett 78 William Menilel 78 Samuel McRoberts 78 Alfred W, Cavarly , 79 Benjaniio Mills 79 ■John Reynolds I 80 fames Turney ' ] 80 Henry Starr ^George Forquer Second Decade Edward J. Phillips Edward Jones Henry E. Dammer Stephen T. Logan David Prickett. "-William L. May Dan Stone Josephus Hewett —David B. Campbell Antrim Campliell A. T. Bledsoe Charles R. Wells Schuyler Strong ^Niuian W. Edwards Cyrus Walker - Abiaham Lincoln and Stephen A. Dougla. -Jesse B. Thomas, Jr -E. D Baker John D. Urquhart John C. Doremus Thikd Dec ade General Shields Silas AV. Robbins Justin Buttertield " U. F. Linder Josiah Lambom Levi Davis A. K. Smede David Logan William 1. Ferguson Archibald Williams <). H Browning William A. Miuahall Benjamin West Isriiel Crosby William Walker Elliott B. Herndon Foritrn Decade Thomas Lewis J. France D. McWilliams A. McWilliams C. M. Morrison William Prescott L. F. McCrillis H G. Krynolds A W. Hayes S. S Wbitehurst PiKT}i Decade Sixth DEcahe . — 88 :88 88 »S 1.-8 i89 89 i90 190 •;90 190 190 590 )90 190 190 590 190 38191 29191 30192 i9a ,!92 i99 399 ;!99 4S 399 » ;)99 399 ;i99 401 401 80 Ml 80 401 91 91 91 M 92 92 92 9S 93 96 96 . 98 - »»" , 98 98 .102 103 104 104 105 UU lOS 105 105 iC." 106 106 186 . 1C6 IDS 107 108 108 108 109 108 108 10^ 1' 402 403 403 403 4tl4 404 41)4 404 404 40,5 405 407 407 40^ 408 408 409 '09 4 "! 41'.; 419 413 413 413 414 414 414 414 415 415 4Ui 416 431 4 31 43J 43-4 , .13',' 440 . 441 . 441 . 44-.; TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER YI. HE BAR OF SANGAMON COUNTY (continued) 110 Seventh Decade 110 John T. Stuait 110 Samuel H. Treat 114 Beujamm S. Edwarda 115 James C Conkling 115 James H. Matheuy 116 William H. Herntlon llti Norman M Brc^dwell 119 William J. Conkling 11!) John E. Rosette 1*20 _'iiarle3 S. Zaue 1-2U John Alexander McClernand -. 121 Charles A. Keyea l-'U Christopher C. Brown \-22 Eugene L Gross I2\i Milton Hay 12;( U'llliam M Springer 124 William E. Shutt 1_'5 Robert L. Mdiuire 125 Leouidas H Bradley 125 Isaac K. Bradley 125 Thomas G. Prickett 125 ^4»»'i mail L. Freeman. , 12(j Richiuoud Wnloott. 126 Thomas C. Mather 126 Clio ton L. Coiikhng 126 Llo.vd F. Hamilton 127 James W. Patton 127 Samuel D. Scholes, 127 Alfred d'endorff. 12? Henry A. Greene 128 A. iV. J.Crook 12a J;-mes C. Kubinson 12!i Barnes A. Jveniedy 1211 Charles Philo Kane 129 John C. Lanpliier 129 Henry H.Rogers 130 John C. Snigg 130 Robert H. Hazlttt 130 William L. ( ; ross 1^(0 John M. Palmer 130 John Mayo Palmer 132 George W. Murray 133 Robert W Maxwell 133 George A. Sanders , 133 James H. Matheny, Jr 133 Henry A. Stevens 133 James E. Dowling 133 James A. Creighton 134 John M. Creighton 134 George A. Wood 134 Thomas Sterling 134 Joseph M Grout 134 AVilliam Henry Colby 134 ^William F. Herndon 137 Henry B. Kane 137 Frank fl. Jones 137 John A. Chestnut 137 Thomas J. Thompson 137 Winfield S. Collins 13d William A.Vincent 135 Larue Vredenburgh 138 Alexander H Robertson 138 William T. Houston ^ 138 Albert Sal'/enstein 138 Frank R. Williams 138 ,— ??tiah H. Turner 139 Edwin C. Haynie 139 Waiter B. Wines 139 CHAPTER Vn. HE FISHER MURDER CASE 140 i < I c a f t t f tl a y Tji CHAPTER Vin. *^ RAILROADS 144 o] Wabash, St. Louis S: Pacific 114 First Locomotive in Springfield 145 Chicago, Alton & St. Louis 146 Ohio it Mississippi 147 lUiuoi.s Central 147 Springfield A: Northwestern 147 Contemplated Roads 148 -V CHAPTER IX. WARft.^... ......,_ 149 List of Soldiers in Black Hawk AVar 162 Reminiscence of the Black Hawk War ."'. 165 The Mexican War 157 Roster of Mexican War Soldiers 168 CHAPTER X. REMINISCENCES no Cotton Picking 179 By George Brunk .'.'.. 173 Auburn and Viuciniiy Forty Tears Ago, by M. G. Wads- worth 174 By S. C. Hampton 179 By R. W. Diller !..*.',!! !'.'.'. 180 By James J. Megredy i^i By E. H. Beach ll"l"[[[ 182 By Johns. Condell. Sr i83 By John H. Hanison 185 By W. T. Bennett .".'.'"*.'.'. 185 By George P. Weber '_ igg Pioneer Women 157 By Mrs. James Parkinson and Mrs. Sarah King I8T By Mrs. Charlotte Jacobs. 188 By Elizabeth Harbour lei By Eliza Headley ", 191 By Mrs. John Lock , 193 By Mrs. Robert Burns ] 193 By Mrs. Sarah P. Husband 193 By Mrs. Ann H. McCormack 191 Old Settlers of Sangamon, by John T. Stuart 194 By Dr. Alexander bhields .., 201 PioLcers and Pioneering, by W. H. Herndon 206 CHAPTER XI. THE PRESS 213 U-— Ri.iNois State Journal 214 Simeon Francis 21G Josiah Francis 217 Allen Francis ., 217 W. H. Bailhache 218 Edward L. Baker. ..', 218 David L. Phillips 219 Paul Seiby 220 Horace Chapin 223 Milton F. Simmons 223 The Daily Journal 224 The Illinois Refuhlican 224 George R. AVeber 225 Illinois State REiiisTER 225 George Walker 226 Charles H. Lanphier 227 John W Merritt 228 Edward L. Merritt 229 George W andJ. R.Weber 229 George Smith 230 H W. Clendenin 230 Thomas Rees 230 Daily Illinois State Re(;ister 232 Sangamo Momtok 232 Saxoasio Daily Monitor. 235 Thomas W. S. Kidd 236 The Si'iaNOKiELD Times 237 S. S Brooks 237 The Masonic Trowel 237 - H. G. Reynolds . -237 Illinois State Democrat 237 The tsuxiiAY Mail. 237 Illi.sois Fueie Press 237 Fredeiick Gebriog 238 Staats Wochenulait 238 H. Schlanee 238 AiiiuUN Citizen 238 A. B. Stover 238 Moses G Wads worth 239 The Evenim; Post .-, 239 F. 11. B. McDowell 239 S. P. v. Arnold 2411 Campaign Paieks 240 CHAPTER XIL THE REED AND DONNER PARTY 241 CHAPTER XIII. POLITICAL 241> Official Vote of Every General Election 272 CHAPTER XIV. NATIONAL. STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATION 27fl Na riojJA I. Rei'uesemation Prenid-^n t 'D PROMINENT DEAD 487 Abraham Lincoln 487 Stejiben A. Douglas 501 William n Bissell 505 Governor Uaiteson 506 Richard Yates : bil James D. Henry 508 Andrew McCormack 509 Robert L. Wilson 509 William F. Elkiu 510 John Calhoun 511 General E. B. Harlan 512 General I. N. Haynie 512 Thomas H. Campbell 513 Erastus AVright 514 Rev. John G. Bergen, D. D 515 Orlin H. Miner 519 ArcherG Herndon 519 William Butler 520 Dr. Gershom Jayne 521 Reuben F.Ruth 521 Charles R. Hurst 522 Dr. John Todd 522 J-K. Dubois 522 CHAPTER XXII. DARK DEEDS 624 Murder of Mrs. Van Nov 524 Xi'.Iingof Dr. Early 525 Fatal affray 525 Murder of "George Anderson 525 Murder at Mechanicshurg 525 Murder of an Infant Child 525 Homicide in Chatham 526 Tragedy near Camp Butler 526 Fatal Affray 526 Shocking Murder 526 Tra^redy at Camp Butler 526 KiUing'of Wesley Pileher 526 Soldier Shot 526 Robberv and Murder at Pawnee 627 Found Dead 527 Killinu of Joseph Wsird 528 Murdtrof William Mortar 528 Doings of a Desperado 528 Murder of Sharon Tyndale 528 Killing of William Kelley 529 Murder of Henry Stay 529 Riot at Illiopolis I 529 Murder and Suicide 530 Uxoricide and Suicide 5oO CHAPTER XXIII. AUTHORS AND ARTISTS 531 John Carroll Power 531 Joseph Wallace 533 E. L. Gross 533 W.L.Gros^ 533 Alexander Davidson 533 Dennis Williams 533 CHAPTER XXIV. MISCELLANEOUS 535 The Mormons : 535 Shoolit g Stars 535 Count V Jail , 535 Poetry 536 California Emigrants 536 How Mill Privileges were secured 536 The Weather... ."_ 537 Mild Winter 537 The Sudden Change 537 Snow Blockade 538 Almost a Tornado 538 Rain Storm 538 Heavy Storm of Wind and Rain 538 Storm at William sviUe - 539 Tornado on Sugar Creek 539^ Cholera 539 Shoemaking 539 Matrimonial 540 Rendition of a Fugitive Slave 541 First Entries of Land 541 Death of a Cetenarian 542 Sangamon County Bible Society 542 CHAPTER XXV. AGRICULTURE A^D AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES... . 543 Agricultural Socieiies 545 The First County Fair 544 Sangamon County Agricultural and Mechanical Aesccia- tion 545 Sangamon County Agricultural Board 545 State Fairs 5fO The Ameiiian Berkshire Association 550 CHAPTER XXVI. VARIOUS THINGS 551 The Deep Snow 551 Railroad Villages 552 Hard Times 55J The First Court House 554 The Second Court House 5o5 The Third Court House 555 The Fourth Court House 555 The Fifth Court House 556 Villages and Stations in the County 556 Table of Distances 5f6 Railroad Accident 556 Tenible Accident 557 Feaiful Railroad Accident 557 Steam Boiler ExpU'Sion 557 Census Reports 557 Our Legislators 558 Assessments for 1881 - 55& Distressing Accident S58 Two Children Killed by Lightning 55» Terr i tic Explosion 561 Withey A: I'ro.'s Carriage and Wagon Manufactory 576 Sash Manufactory 576 Globe Spice Mills 576 Springfield Paper Company 57ft Wagons and Carriages. -'-•• 576 Machine Works 57ft Elevator Mil. ing Company 576 Excelsior Mills 577 Home Mills. 577 PiiLting and Binding 577 Boiler and Sheet Iron Works 578 Springtield Trunk Manufactory 578 Spriugtield Woolen Mills 578 The Port nguese 578 Reminifceuce of EUjah lies 5^ Springtield Home for the Friendless 583 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 11 .. 587 . . 5B1 .. 562 Western Union Telegraph ^°j United States Express Company 3C< American Express Cempany =°i Schools Public Schools A Retrospect Sangamon County of To-day CHAPTER XXVII. CITY OF SPRINGFIELD '^} lucoi'poration -gt^ TownOdicers kgg City Charter S„, CityOllicers i'jo Removal of the Capital ^°° Speculation and Hard Times =°" 570 Healthlulness of Springfield Springfield to a Stranger ' ' ^ -Change of Name ,,. Growth of the C'*" ■" The Post Ollice Growth of the City ^'' nniQ Pnut nn'icR, _ ^LL Spriugfleld as I Manufacturing Point . Illinois W.-itch Company ^^j .Etna Iron Winks „. St. Joseph's Church 600 English I,uther.in »"'' German LutliAran Trinity "'" First I'ortuguese Presbyterian """ Second Portuguese Presbyterian German Methodist Colored Methodist -.„ Plymouth Brethren °{[J Stl Paul's Episcopal "J." Congregational ^J, Hebre w Temple ° , Young Men's Christian Association »" T.. U^..,,.. «+• the n.iarl "14 610 BIO 610 57 575 575 894 Ide's Machine Works. The Excelsior Foundry - - - ■ ■ ■ ■ •;• • ; ■ - ■ • - ■ Uooth & McCoskei's Carriage and -Wagon Manufactory... Teachers' Institutes ..-.. -„- Gr.aduates of the High School =»^ Rev..T..hn F.Brooks i;^^ Ursuline Convent J.| q Religious .■■; ■ ,,gg First Methodist Episcopal """ Second Methodist Episcopal ^T'^ First Presbyterian „g^ Second Presbyterian ^^^ Third Presbyterian jdU Central Baptist ' g^ German Baptist pgj, C'dored Baptist pjg Christian -• :.■ " * cno Church of the Immaculate Conception o^p German Catholic 613 614 623 623 624 624 624 In Honor of the Dead First Decoration of Graves Decoration Day, 1881 .^^ AddressofKev T.A.Parker °^^ Masonic f^qn Odd.Fellow.ship "„ Hebrew Societies "" Knights of Honor Uniti^d 'Workmen Royal Arcanum Anierican Legion of Honor Other Societies , '^^^ Newspapers ^.n-r TheCapital Railway "tl Spriugfleld City Railway °%-i Citizen's Street Railway -- Spriugfleld Library Association °-" Illlnnia State Libiary ^^^ Banks (.07 Ridgelv National Bank - • "*' Sprrngtiold Maiine and Fire Insurance Company o^' FirsI.'National Bank „"_ State National Bank g.^g Board of Trade g„g Fires and Fire Department "„ The City of the Dead "^? Springfield Waterworks "jj Artesian Well ggjj Amusenifuts ^^'5 Riogra])hic;il ' ,011 The Coloied People TOWNSHU* HISTOKIES. . , 745 Anburn .jg^ Ball goa Buft'alo Hart gj3 Cartwright g27 Chatham gg-^ Clear Lake g73 Cotton Hill ggo Cooper r gS3 Curran gg.^ Fancy Creek gj3 Gardner ,,19 lUiopolis ILLUSTKATIONS 931 Island Grove ygg Loami 9^,3 UechanicabTiTg g'g^ New Berlin 9^4 Pawnee ttg-y Koehesler jqjj^ Salisbury jqc^q Sprin-^field ^q^q Talkin^ton jq^q Whea t field ^^045 ■Williams - 2051) Wooflside Bettie Stnart Institnte. 435 Sang.amon County Fair Gronnds =^^ State Capitol ,-- Map of Illinois "'' POKTK.MTS Starved Rock 'iVkii'ii Map of Sangamon County lo auu National Lincoln Monument 19 16 630 Breckenridge, Preston - ', Buck, Dr. H. B fli, Bergen, Rev. Geo ... Carpenter. WiUiam ^' Cartwright, Peter ■_■•;; ^-^ Constant.J. 1 ^n. Caldwell, Ben. F =■; Davis, Dr. W.H •■" Diller n. W g^:] Tontch, Thos. gj, FuUinwider, J.N .j,,, Irwin, Alex. B ^j^ lies, Eli.iah 31, , Irwin. Robert j25 Keyes, J. W ^t,., Loose, J. G...^ :;. 10i)5 Lowder, Geo. W crAniiKni^re i^incoln, Abraham frontibpiece Logan, Stephen T 207 233 319 Lamb, James Lanphier, Chas. H McClernand, Gener.al J. A ^;^^ McCoy, M. D 7'„ McC.mnell. E. F gj. North, Robert ^49 Power, George (|g Powtr, William D gjg Robinson, Henson jg, Rnth, R. F .• ijgg Shepherd, Thomas C ' .jjj Saunders, J. R.- ^gg Shields. Alexander g.jy Tracy, Frank W..-.. "; gjj ■Van Deren, Cy rns W ^., ■Williams, Colonel .John ^.j, ■Williams, Samuel ,,;.j Wohlgemuth, Dr. Henry 10 Add Foul Add Fitt Sixt Add Add Sere Eigl Nin Add Ten I'res Ele\ Add Add Add Twe Add Tbii Add Ken Fon Add Res Add EDUCi Edn Bioi Cou IlUi Rev Ger Kev Pro Pro Bet St.. ILLUS _, Abi Ste] Wil Go\ Kic Jan An. Eol Wi Job Gei Gei Th. Ers E6' Or! Ar. Wi Dr. Ke Chi Dr. J.I DARK Ml Ki Fa Mt Ml Ml Ho Tr Fa Sh Tr Ki So Re Fc Ki M D< M Ikl I J»^C OUPI N JtCOJk' T O O M E ~-t Y Di History of Illinois INTRODUCTORY. Illinois, the luurlli State in the- I'nion in weallli, population anil political power, lies in the very heart of the up[)er valley of the Mississii)pi. Stretching over Kve degrees of latitude, from :!T^ to 4-2i=, it has considerable diversity, both of soil and climate. The !)ounVabasli and the Ohio rivers constitute the remainder ol' tlie eastern and southern boundary, while tin/ lordly Mississippi washes its entire western border. The e.xtreme length of the State is three hundretl and seventy-eight miles; the extreme breadth, in the latitude of Danville and Kushville, is two hundred and ten miles, and the average breadth is about one hundred anil tilty miles. Illinois contains .j.5,-H»5 square miles, or more than 35,00(1,(10(1 acres of laud. Fully two-thirds of this is prairie, and nearly all of it is suscepti- ble of pro|ier cultivation. The State has ten thousand more sijuare miles than New York or Oliio, and is larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey ciunbined, and is almost as large as all the New England States taken together. THE MOUNI>BtILDEUS. That Illinois was inhabited by a race of men ]irior to the jiresent Indian race that yet inhabit a portion of the I'nion hardly admits of a doubt. It is clearly demonstrated by the well authenti- cated acco((nts of discoveries made that a civil- ized jieople, and one highly cultivated, once occupied (he great prairie State and vario((s parts of the oo[[ntcy now constit((ting the American KiiioK, but the date of their rule in the western world i> so re(note that all traces of this history, progress and decay, lie buried in the deepest obscurity. This pre-historic race is known as the Mouud-liuilders, from the numero([s large mouudsof earth-works left by them. Their char- acter can be but partially gleaned from the inter- nal evide([ces and ])ect[liarities of all that remains of them — the mo((nds. Remains of what were apparently villages, altars, ten()iles, idols, cen[e- teries, moindnents, camps, fortifications, and pleasiu'e grounds, have been fouiid, b((t nothing showing of what material were their habitations. 'i'he ipieslion as to the origin of the Mindul- Ibdlders is an interesting one. If they were not the ancestors of tlie Indians, who were they';' Those who do not believe in the common |)arent- age of mankind contend that they were an indigenous race of the western hemisphere ; others think they came from the East, and inuigine they are coincident with the religion of the Hindoos and Southern 'J'artars and the supposed theology of the ^lound-IJuilders. They were, no doubt, idolaters, and it has been coujectttred that the sun was the object of their adoration. The mo(tnds were generally b((ilt in a sitt(ation affording a view <>i the rising s([n; when encloseil in walls their gateways were toward the east; the ca\ es in which their dearl were occasionally buried always opened in the same direction ; whenever a mound was par- tially enclosed by a semi-circular pa\ement, it was on the east side; when bodies were buried in graves, as was freijuently the case, they were laid in a direction east and west; and, tinally, medals have been fou(nl re]iresenting the sun and his rays of light. At what perioil they can[e to this connti_\ , i.- likewise a matter of spectdalion. l''rom the comparatively ruiie state of the arts among them, it has been inferred that the time was IS niSTOK^' <)[■ TLLTXOTS. very remote. Their axes were of stone. Tlieir raiment, judging from fragments which Iku e been (lisco\ ered, consisted of the bark of trees, interwoven with featliers; and their military works Were sueh as a people would erect who had just j)asscd to the pastoral state of society from that dei)eudent alone upon hunting and Hshing. Tlic uujunds and other ancient earth-works constniclcd by this people are far more abund- ant tlian generally supposed, from the fad that while some are quite large, the greater part of them arc small and inconspicuims. Along nearly all our water courses that are large enough Ic) be navigated with a canoe, the mounds are almost invariably found, covering the base points and headlands of the blutt's which Ixniler the narrower valleys; so that when one tinds himself in such positions as to com- mand the grandest views for river scenery, he may almost always discover that he is standing upon, or in close yiro.vimity to, some one or more of these traces of the labors of an ancient people. One of the most singular earth-works in the tState was found on the top of a ridge near the east bank of the Sinsiuawa creek in the lead region. It resembled some huge animal, tlie head, ears, nose, legs and tail, and general out- line of which being as perfect as if made by men versed in modern art. The ridge on Mhich it was situated stands on the prairie, 30U yards wide, 100 feet in height, and rounded on the top by a deep deposit of clay. Centrally, along the line of its summit, and thrown up in the form of an embankment three feet high, ex- tended the outline of a ipiadrupcd measuring •J.")() feet from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, and having a witith of 18 feet at the center of the body. The head was 3.5 feet in length, the ears lo'feet, legs 60 and tail 7.5. The curvature in both the fore and hind legs was natural to an animal lying on its side. The general outline of the Hgure niost nearly resem- bled the extinct animal known to geologists as the Megatherium. The question naturally arises, by whom and for what purpose was this earth figure raiseir:* Some haye conjectured that inimbers of this now extinct animal lived and roamed over tiic )ir.tiries of Illinois when the MoundlSnihlers first made their appearanee on the iq)per part of the ^Iississip])i ^'alley, ami that tlie wonder and admiration, excited by the colossal dimensions of these huge creatures, found some expression in the erection of this tigure. The bones of some similar gigantic animals were exhumed on this stream about t'lree miles from the same place. Mr. iSrcckenridgc, who examined the anti(|ui- ties of the Western country in 1817, speaking of the mounds in the American Bottom, says: "The great numlier and extremely large size of some of them may l)e regarded as turnishing, with other circumstances, evidences of their antiquity. I have sometimes been induced to think that at the period when they were con- structed there was a popidation here as numer- ous as that which once animated the borders of the Nile or Euphrates, or of Mexico. The nnist numerous, as well as considerable, of these remains are found in precisely those i>arts of the country wliere the traces of a numerous population mii^ht be looked for, namely, from the mouth of the Oiiio on the east side of the ]Mississipi>i, to the Illinois river, and on tlie west from the St. Francis to the Missouri. I am perfectly satisfied that cities similar to those of aiu'ient Mexico, of several hundrid thousand souls, have existed in this country." OTiiEi! i;aces. Following the Mound-Huilders as inhabitants of North America, were as it is sujiposed, the people who reared the magnificent cities the ruins of which are found in Central America. This people was far nmre civili/.ed and advanced in the arts than were the Mound-Builders. The cities built by them, judging from the ruins of broken columns, fallen arches and crumbling w-alls of temples, palaces and jjyramids, wliich in some places for miles bestrew the ground, must have been of great extent, magnificent ami vtry populous. "When we consider the vast period of time necessary to erect such colossal structures, and, again, the time reijuired to reduce them to their jiresent ruined state, we can conceive something of their antiquity. These cities must have been old when many of the ancient cities of the Orient were being built. The third race iuhal)iting North America dis- tinct from the former two in every particular, is the present Indians. They were, when visiteeaee con- vention, to he hehl at Green 15ay. 'I'he object of this convention was the formation of a |ilan for the exploration of the Mississijipi Ki\er. De Soto, the S]ianish explorer, had discovered the river nearly one hundred and fifty years jireviously, but did not eit'ect a settlement oi' explore tile country any further. It remained as it was until the French determined to visit it, for which purpose it was deemed a wise ]>ol- iey, as far as possible, to secure the friendship and co-o])eration of the Indians before ventur- ing upon an enterprise which their hostility might render disastrous. A ]ilan was accord- ingly arranged, and Louis .loliet joined Father .laccpies Maripiette, at the .Tesuit Mission, on liie Strait of Mackinaw, and, with five otiier Fi-enchmen and a simple outfit, the daring exploiters on the ITIli of May, 1 (n^'., set out on liieir ])frilous voyage to discover, the Missis- sippi. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake jMichigan, they <'ntered Green IJay, and jiassed thence up Fox River and Lake ^Vin- nel)ago to a village of the Muscatines and Miamis, where great interest was taken in the expedition by the natives. With guiay the latter part of Se]itrud)i'r, hax ing traveled a distance of 2,.")()0 miles. FIRST SETTLKMICNTS. On his way up the Illinois, .Manpiette visited the Kaskaskias, near what is nf)w Utica, in LaSalle county. The following year he returned, and established among them the mis- sion of the Immaculate Conce]ition. This was the last act of his life. He died in Michigan, May IS, 1075. The town was named Kaskas- kia by Manpiette. The first military occu]iation of tlu- (-(Uintrx was at Fort CrevecoMir, elected in lOSli; but there is no evidence that a settlement was com- menced there, i>r at I'eoria, on the lake abo\ e, at that early date. The first settlement of which there is any authentic .account was com- menced with the building of Fort St. Louis, on the Illinois river, in 1082 ; but this was soon HI STORY OK ILLINOIS. •2-:i al>aii(li)iUMl. The (il|)i, is at Kaskaskia, siluateil six miles aliove the inoiitii of the Kaskaskia river. This was settled in lO'.Ml by the removal of the mis- sion from old Kaskaskia, or Ft. St. Louis, on (he Illinois river. Cahokia was settlef the Mississip])i, and England the light to cxteinl her possessions westward as far .as she iiiiglil desire. Through colonial controversies, the two mother countries were ]irecii)itated into a bloody war within the Northwestern Territory, (4eorge Washington firing the first gun of the militarv struggle which resulted in the overthrow of the l*'reiicli not only in Illiiifiis. but in North jViner- ica. The French evinced a determin,iti(jn tn retain control of the territory bordering tlie Ohio and Mississippi from Canada to the (iiiil, and so long as the English colonies were cmi- tined to the sea-coast there was little reason for controversy. As the English, however, became acipiaimed with this lieautiful .and fertile ])or- tioii of our country, they not only learned the value of the vast territory, but also r. solved to set u]> a counter claim to the soil. The French establisheil numerous military and tratrMctivelv a part of Floiida for over one hun- dr<'d years, during which time no Spaniard set foot upon her soil or rested his eyes upon her lieaiitiful plains, for nearly ninety years had liecn in the actual occupation of the French, Ihcii- puny settlements slumbering (piietly in colonial dependence on the distant waters of the Kaskaskia, Illinois and Wabash. <;kx. i'lark's exploits. The Northwest 'IV'rritorv was now entirelv under English rule, and on the breaking out of the Revolutionarv war the ISritish held everv post of importance in the West. While the i-olonists of the East were maintaining a tierce struggle with the armies of England, their west- ern frontiers were ravaged by merciless butch- eries of Indian warfare. The jealousy of the savage was aroused to action by the rapid exten- sion of American settlement westward and the improper influeiu-e exerted by a number of mili- tary posts garrisoned by British troo])s. To prevent indiscriminate slaughter arising from the.se causes, Illim)is became the theater of some of' the most daring exploits connected with American history. The hero of the achieve- ments l)y which this bcautiftd land was snatched as a gem from the British crown, was George Rogers Clark, of \'irgiiiia. He had closely Watched the movements of the Britisli through- out the Northwest, and understood their whole plan; he also knew the Indians were not unani- mously in accord with the English, and there- fore was convinced that if the British couhl be defeated and expelled fi-om the Noi-thwest, the natives might be easily awed into neutrality. Having convinced himself that the enterjirise against the Illinois settlement might. easily suc- ceed, he repaired to the capital of \'irgiiii.i. arriving No\ember 5, 1777. While he was on his way, fortunately, Burgoyne was resenting a Massachu- setts coin]iany that desirei.300. The legislature re-enacted, verbatim, the Territorial Code, the penalties of wliich were unnecessarily severe. Whipping, stocks and pillory wer'e used for minor offenses, and for arson", rai)e, horse stealing, etc., death by hanging was the jienalty. These laws, however, were" modified in 1S:.'1. The legislature first convened at Kaskaskia, the ancient seat of empire for more than one hundred and fifty years, both for the French and Americans. Provisions Avere made, how- ever, for the removal of the seat of government by this legislature. A ])laee in the wilderness on the Kaskaskia river was selected and named \ aiidalia. From \'anilalia it was removed to Springfield in the year fs:;;i. THE \VlNNEIiA(;0 IVAK. The Indians, who for some years were on peaceful terms with the whites, became troulik- some in 182 7. The Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes and other tribes had been at war more than a hundred years. In the summer of 1n27 a war party of the Winneliagoes surprised a i)arty of Chip2)ewas and killed eTght of them. Fou"r of the murderers were arrested and delivered to the Chii)])ewas, by whom they were immediateh' shot. This was the first irri"tation of the Wiii- nebagoes. lied Bird, a chief of this tribe, in order to avenge the execution of the four war- riors of his own people, attacked the Chippewas, but was defeated ; and being determined to sat- isfy his thirst for revenge by some means sur- prised and killed severarwhite men. Upon re- ceiving intelligence of these murders, the whites who were working the lead mines in the vicinity of Gakna formed a body of volunteers, ami, re-inforced by a company of United Stales troops, marched into the country of the ^^■ill- nebagoes. To save their nation from the mis- eries of war, Red Hird and six other men of his nation voluntarily surrendered themsehes. Some of the numln'r were executed, some of thciii imjirisoiird and destined, like Ked Bird, HISTORY f)F ILLINOIS. inn-liii-iously to jiiiii' away wilhiii the iiaiTow foii- HiK's of a jail, wlioii formerly the \ast foi'ests liail proven loo limited for them. I!I,A('K HAWK W'Ml. Ill the year of 1 ^iU4 a treaty was coiieliulecl between tlie liiiiteil States and the eliiefs of the Sac and Vox rations. Ouu nhl chief of thi' S.aes, howevei'. called IJlack Hawk, who hail fouLfht with ureat bravery in the service of (ireal JSi'ilain diirinii' the war of 181:.', had always taken exceptions to this treaty, pronoiincinj;- il void. Ill ls:ll he established liimself, with a chosen hand of warriors, upon tlu' disputed territory, ordering the whites to leave the country at once. The settlers coin])laining. Governor Reynolds ilispalclied General Gaines, with a company of rcLjuhirs and l,.>Oii volunteers, to the scene of action. Taklnsf the Indians by surprise, the lroo|is liurnt their villau'es and forced them to eonclitde a treaty, by which they ceded all lands east of the ilississipjii, and agreed to remain on the western side of the river. Necessity forced the proud s])irit of JJlack Hawk into submission, which made him more than ever determined to be avenged ujion his enemies. Having rallied around him the warlike braves of the Sac and Fo.\ nations, he crossed the Mississippi in the sprini; of lX'-'r2. I'lioii learning of this invasion. Governor Reynolds hastily collected a body of 1,800 volunteers, placing them under command of IJrigadier General Whiteside. The army marched to the Mississippi, and having reduced to ashes the Indian village known as "'Proiihet's Town," proceeded several miles up the river to Dixon to join the i-egiilar forces under General Atkinson. They found at Dixon two companies of volunteers, who, sighing for glory, were dis- patched to reconnoitre the enemy. They ad- vanced under com'inand of Major Stillnian to a small creek, afterwards known as "Stillmaii's Run," and while there encamped saw a party of mounted Indians at a distance of a mile. Sev- eral of Stillman's party mounted their liorsesand charged tlie Indians, killing three of them, but being attacked by the main body, under IJlack Hawk, they were routed, and by their precipi- tated flight spread such a jianic through tlie camp that the whole company ran off to Dixon as fast as [lossilile. On their arrival it was found that eleven of their number were killed. In June, 1832, IJIack Hawk, with a liaiid of one hundred and fifty warriors, attacked Apjile River Fort, near Galena, defended liy twenty- live men. This fort, a mere palisade of logs, was erected to -ifford jirotection to the miners. 1 — Foi- tifteen consecuti\e hours the garrison bad to sustain the assault of the savage eneiny; but knowing very well that no (|uarter wouhl be given them, they fought with such fury aiul des- peration that tiie Indians, after losing many of their best wari'iors, were compelled to retreat. New forces being sworn into the service. Gen- erals Atkinson and Henry determined to ik abroad and see the extensive lines of inter-com- munication penetrating almost I'veiy section of our sister States; when we see tlu' c:iral-boat and the locomotive bearing with seeming triumph the rich productions of the interior to the rivers, lakes and ocean, almost .■uinihilating time, burthen ami s]iace, what jiatriotic bosom does not beat high with a laudable ambition to give Illinois her full share of those advantages which are adorning her sister States, and which a magnificent Providence seems to iinite by a wondf'rful adaptation of our Avhole country to such improvements V' 28 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. STUrKN'DDUS SYSTEM OF rurPROVEMENTS l.NAUCU- BATEI). The leLcislatuve res]«)nfled to the ai'dfiit words of the Governor, and enacted a system of inter- nal imjjroveinents witliout a parallel in the ijran- denr of its conception. They ordered the eon- struction of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossinji; the State in all directions. This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. Tliere were a few counties not touched by the railroad, river or canal, and they were to be comforted and com)iensated by the free distribution of ftL'Ot), 0(1(1 among them. To inflate this baUoon beyond credence, it was ordered that work shoulil c(>n\mence on both ends"of each of these railroads and rivers, and at each river crossing, all at the same time. This provision, which has been (;alled the crowning folly of the entire sys- tem, was the result of those jealous combina- tions emanating from the fear that advantages might accrue to one section over another in the commencement and completion of the works. We can apjireciate better, perhaps, the magni- tude of this grand system by reviewing a few tigiires. The debt autlu)rized for these improve- ments in the first instance was ■'Sl(i,2:'.0,()(t(t. Itut this, as it was soon foimd, was based upon esti- mates at least too low by half. This, as we readily see, committed the Stale to a liabilitv of over ^20,0(1(1,000, ecpiivalent to -S200,ooii,oo6 at the i)resent time, with over ten times the popu- lation and more than ten times the wealth. S(U'li stupendous undertakings by the State naturally engendered the fever of speculation among individuals. That particular form known as the town-lot fever assumed the malignant type at first in Chicago, from whence it spread over the entire State and adjoining States. It was an epidemic. It cut up men's farms with- out regard to locality, and cut up the purses of the ])urchasers without regard to conse((uenccs. It was estimati'd that building lots enough were sold in Indiana alone to accommodate e\ei3' citizen then in the United States. Chicago, which in 18:10 was a small trading- post, had within a few years grown into a city. This was the starting point of the wonderful and marvelous career of that city. Improve- ments, unsur))assed by individual "efforts in the annals of the world, were then begun and have been maintained to this day. Though visited by the terril)le tire ficmd and the accumulation of years swejit away in a night, yet she has arisen, and to-day is the best built city in the world. Reports of the rapid advivnce of property in Chicago sjiread to the east, and thousands poured into her borders, bi-inging money, enterprise and industry. Every shiji that left her i)ort car- ried with it maps of splendidly situated towns and additions, and every vessel that returneond, the first Governor, recommended in his first mes- sage the building of the canal. In Jy two voung men, who estimated the cost at *(H)0,o(io or ^700,00(1. It cost, however, when compleleil, i^8,000,0oo. In 182.5 a law was passed to incor- porate the Canal Company, liut no stock was sold. In fs2(i, upon the solicilaliou of Daniel P. Cook, Congressman from this State, Congress gave 800,001) acres of land on the line of the work. In 1828 commissioners were aj>pointed, and work commenced with a new survey and new estimates. In 18.34-.5 the work was again pushed forward, and continued until 1848, when it was completed. TANIC: BEPlTDIArloN ADVOCATED. Bonds of the State were recklessly disposed of l)oth in the East and in Euro])e. Work was commenced on various lines of railroad, but none were ever comjileted. On the Northern Cross Railroad, from Mercdosia east eight milc<. the first locomotive that ever turned a wheel in the great valley of the ^Mississippi was run The d.ate of this remarkable e\ cut was Novein- lier s, I8:is. Large sums of money were being ex)iended with no assurance of a revenue, ami consei)uently, in 1840, the legislature repealed the improvement laws passed three years pre- viously, not, however, initil the State had accu- mulated a debt of nearly -tlo,000,ooo. Thus fell the most stupendous, extravagant and almost ruinous folly of a grand system of internal im- provements that any civil community, ]ierhaps, ever engaged in. The State banks failed, specie was scarce, an enormous debt was accumulated, HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. •JO llie inltTcst of which cniihl nol \tv [laid, [)(_'(i|iK' wove ilisa|i|)oiiiteil in the accuimdatidii of wealtli, and real estate was worthluss. All this had a tendency to create a desire to throw off the lieavy Imrden of State debt by repudiation. This was Ixildly advocated by some leading men. The lair tame and name, liowever, of the Slate was not tarnished by rej)udiati()n. Men, true, honest and able, were |ilaced at the head of affairs; and though ihe hours were dark and gloomy, and tlie times most trying, yet our grand State was lirought through and prospered, until to-day, after the expenditure of millions for jiublic inipr()V(:ments aiul lor carrying on the late war, it has, at present, no juiblic debt whatever. MOIIMON WAi:. In April, IWJO, the " Laltcr-Day Saints," or MoruKuis, came in large iiiiinbers to Illinois, and purchased a tract of laud on the east .side of the .Mississip|)i ri\er, about ten miles above Kciikuk llcie thcv coniinenced building tbe c,ii\- (if \uii\(io. A ni(M'c [licturesque or eligi- ble site for a city could not lia\e been selected. The origin, rapid development, and prosper- ity of this religious sect are the most remark- able ami instructive historical events of the present century. That an obscure individual, without nionev, education, m- res]jectaV)ility, should persuade hundreds of thousands of peo- ple to believe him inspired of (-rod, and cause a book, contemptible as a literary production, to be received as a continuation of the sacred rev- elation, appears almost incredible ; yet in less than half a century, the discijiles of this ob- scure imlividual have increased to hundreds of thousands; have foumled a Slate iii the distant wilderness, and compelled the government of the United States to practically re<-ognize them as an indej)endent people. The fouiuler of Mormonism was Joseph Smith, a native of Vermont, wlm emigrated while (|uite young with his father's family to western New York, Here his youth was spent in idle, vagabond life, roaming the woods, dreaming of l)uried treasures, and in endeavor- ing to learn the art of finding them by the twisting of a forked stick in his hands or Ijy looking through enchanted stones. Both he and his father became famous as "water wiz- ards," always ready to point out the sjiot where wells might be dug and water found. Such was the character of the young ])roHigate when he made the acipiaintance of Sidney Kigdon, a per- ao.i of considerable talent and Lnfuruiatiou, who had conceived the design >>( founding a new religion. A religious romance, written by JNIr. Spaidding, a Presliyterian })reacher of Ohio, then dead, suggested the idea, ami tinding in Smith the reipiisite duplicity and cunning to re- duce it to practice, it was agreed that he should act as pro])het; anle. Among the tirst acts of this sort was an attempt to take the wife of William Law, one of his most talented disciples, and make her his spiritual wife. He established, without authority, a recoi'der's office, and an office to issue marriage licenses. He proclaimed that none could deal in real estate or sell liquor bi>t himself. He ordered a printing office demol- ished, and in many ways controlled the free- dom and l»usiness of the Mormons. Not onlj' did he stir up some of the Mormons, but bj' his reckless disregard for the laws of the land raised uj) opposition on every hand. It was be- lieved that he instructed the Dauite band, which he had chosen as the ministers of his vengeance, that no blood, except that of the 30 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. ciiiirch, was til Uo rcgardtMl ;is sacreil, it' it coii- travciiL'd llu' uccDiniilishment of his object. It was asserted that lie inculcated the legality of jfcrjury and other crimes, if committed to ad- vance the cause of true lieliever.s; that (lod had given the woi-lis- scll, the day was saved. The conflict began early on the morning of February liii, is (7, and was continued till nightfall of the next (hiy. The solid columns of the enemy were hurled against our forces all day hing, but were met and held in check by tlie unerring tire of our mus- ketiy and artillerv. A |iortion of (Tcnei'al Lane's division was driven back by the enemy, \\lio a](- ])eared in such formidable numbers as to be almost irresistible. At tliis time the Second Illinois, under Colonel JJissell, with a si|uadron of cavalry and a few pieces of artillery, came handsomely into action and gallantly I'eceix ed tlu^ concentrated tire of the enemy, which they returned with ileliberate aim and terrible effect; every discharge of the artillery seemed to tear a bloody jiath through the heavy columns of the enemy. -Says a writer: "The rajiid musketry of the gallant troojis from Illinois poured :i storm of lead into their serried ranks, which lit erally strewed the ground with the dead ami dying." J>ut, notwithstanding his losses, the enemy steadily advanced until oui' gallant regi- ment received tire from three sides. Still tliey maintained their position for a time with nn- tlin(Oiing firmness against that immense iiost. At length, perceiving the danger of being en- tirely surrounded, it was determined to fall back to a ravine. Colonel Uissell, with the cool- ness of ordinary drill, ordered the signal "cease firing" to be made; he then, with the same de- liberation, gave the command, "Face to the rear, battalion about face; forward march," whicli was executed with the regularity of vet- erans to a point lieyond the peril of being out- flanked. Again, in obedience to eonimaml, these brave men halted, faced about, and under a murderous tempest of bullets from the foe, re- sumed their well-directed tire. The conduct of no troops could have l)eeii more admirable; and, too, until that day they had never been under tire, wlicn, within less than half an hour eighty of their comraroclamatiiin convening the leglislature, and ordering the enlistmcTit of six regiments, the (piota assigned the State. The call \<'as no sooner maril, IStJo, and as soon as possible the troops were di.sbanded. The fol- lowing is a summary of troojis furnished by the State:" Infanlrv l.S.-),lUt t'avalrv :«,0M2 Arlillciy 7,27; Total a:in,:i()o i;OVEKN0RS OF ILLINOIS. Shadrach Bond — Was the first Governor- of Hliuois He whs a native of Maryland ai.d born in 177:!; was raised on a fai'm; receivi'd a common English education, and came to Illinois in 17'.t4. He served as a delegate in C'ougress from l.Sll to 1S15, where he procured the right of jire-emption of ptd)lic land. He was elected Governor in 1818; was beaten for Congress in 1.S24 by Daniel P. Cook. He died at Kaskas- kia, April 11, 1830. Eihntrd CoUf. — Was born December 15, 1786, in ^'irginia. His father was a slave-holder; gave his son a collegiate education, and left to him a large number of slaves. These he lihcr^ilid, giving each head of a family 160 acres ol' laud and a considerable sum of money. He was President Madison's |)rivate secretary. He came to Illinois in 1819, was elected (-Jovernor in 18iiL', on the anti-slavery ticket; moved to Philadelphia in 18:1:3, and died in 1808. Ni.nian Edwards. — In 1809, on the formation of the Territory of Illinois, ]\Ir. Edwards was 34 TTTSTORY OF TTJJXOIS. ;i|i|i ihc I'liited States Senate. He was olecud (iciNiTiior in ISi'G. He was a native of ^Maryland anil horn in ITTo; recei\eil a eolle- H'iate eihieation; was Chief Justice of Kentucky, • uiil a Re|>uhliean in politics. ./'(/(/( Iivi/)tolrge Foi-quer 1829-32 James Semple 1833-34 Niuiau W. Edwards 18.34-35 .Jesse B. Thomas, Jr 1835 Walter B. Scales ' 1836 Asher F. Liiider 1837 George AV. Olney 1838 Wiekliffe Kitchell 1839 .Tosiah Lamborn 1841-43 James A. McDoucall 1843-46 David B. Campbell 1846 [Office abolished aud re-created in 1867.] UobertCInaersnll 1867-68 Washinctou'Bushncll 1869-72 James K. Edsall 1872-80 James McCartney 1880 TREASURERS. John Thomas 1818-19 R. K. MrLaui^hliu 1819-22 Ebner Field.' 1823-36 James Hall ,, 1827-30 John Dement 1831-36 Charles Gregory 1836 John D. Whiteside 1837-40 M. Cari)enter 1841-48 .lohn Moore 1848-56 James Miller 1857-60 William Butler 1861-62 Aleiander Slarne 1863-64 James H. Beveridge 186.5-66 George W. Smith' 1867-68 Erastus N. Bates 1869-78 Edward Uutz 1873-75 Thomas S. Bidgeway 1876-77 Edward I{utz..' 1878-79 John C. Smith 1879-81 Edward Rutz 1881 38 HISTOllY OF ILLINOIS. SECRETARIES OF STATE. EliasK Kane 1818-23 Samuel I"). Lock wood 1823-33 David Blackwi'll ISiii-,'! Morris BirkliucU 1834 George Farqucr 1835-28 Alexander P. Field 1829-40 Stephen A. Douijla.s 1840 Lyuian Trumbull 1841-42 Thompson Campbell 184:3-40 Horace S. Coolev 1846-45) David L. Gresj; ". 1850-52 Alexander Starne 1853-56 Ozias il . Hatch 1857-00 Sharon Tvndale 1865-08 Edward Knmmel 180!)-73 George H Harlow 18T3-7!) Henry D. Dement ISSl AUDITORS. Elijah V. Berry 1818-31 I. T. B Stapp 1831-35 Levi Davis 1835-4J James Shields 1841-43 W L. D. Ewing 1843-45 Thompson Campbell 1840 .Tesse K. Dii bois 1857-04 Orlin H.Miner 1805-08 Charles E. Lippincott 1809-76 Thomas B. Needles 1877-79 Charles P. Swigert 1881 UNITED STATES SENATORS. Ninian Edwards — On the organization of the State in 1818, Edwards, the popular Territorial Governor, was chosen Senator for tlie sliort term and in 1819 re-elected for full term. Jes.se li. T/tot)i(fs — One of the Federal Judges during the entire Territoral existence was chosen Senator on organization of the State, and re- elected in 1S23, and served till 1829. Jo/m McLean — In 1824 Edwards resigned, and McLean was elected to till his unexpired term. He was born in North Carolina in 1791, and came to Illinois in 1815 ; served one term in Congress, and in 1839 was elected to the LTuited Stales Senate, but the following year died. He is said to have been the most gifted man of his j)eriod in Illinois. Elias Kent Kane — Was elected November 30, 1834, for the term beginning March 4, 1S35. In 1830 he was re-electe"d, but'died before the expiration of his term. He was a native of New York, and in 1814 came to Illinois. He was tirst Secretary of State, and afterward State Senator. David Jetoett ]}aler—\\'B.n appointed to till the unexpired term of John jNIcLean, in 1830, November 13, but the legislature refused to endorse the choice. BakerVas a native of Con- necticut, born in 1793, and died in Alton in 1869. John 31. liobinson. — Instead of Baker, the (irovernor's appointee, the legislature chose Robinson, and in 1834 he was re-elected. In 1843 was elected Supreme Judge of the Slate, but within two months died. He was a native of Kentucky, and came to Illinois while ijuite young. William L. D. Einn(j — "Was elected in 1835, to till the vacancy occasioned by the death of Kane. He was a Iventuckiau. Richard M. Young — Was elected in 1836, and held his seat from March 4, 1837, to March 4, 1S43, a full term. He was a native of ]\en- tucky; was a Circuit Judge before his election to the Senate, and Supreme Judge in 1842. He died in an insane asylum at Washington. Samuel Mc Roberts — The first native Illinois- ian ever elevated to the high office of U. S. Senator from this State was born in 1799, and died in 1843 on his return home from Washing- ton. He was elected Circuit Judge in 1834, and March 4, 1841, took his seat in the \J. S. Senate. Sidney Breese — Was elected to the U. S. Sen- ate, Dec. 17, 1842, and served a full term. He was born in Oneida county, N. Y. He was Major in the Black Hawk war; Circuit Judge, and in 1841 was elected Supreme Judge. He served a full term in the U. S. Senate, begin- ning March 4, 1843, after which he was elected to the legislature, again Circuit Judge, and, in 1857, to the Supreme Court, which ]>osition he held until his death in 187s. James Semple — Was the successor of Samuel McRoberts, and was appointed by Gov. Ford in 1843. He was afterwards elected Judge of the Supreme Court. Stephen A. Douglas — Was elected Uec. 14, 1846. He had jireviously served three terms as Congressman. He became his own successor in 1853, and again in 1859. From his first entrance in the Senate he was acknowledged the peer of Clay, Webster and Calhoun, with whom he served his first term. His famous contest with Abraham Lincoln for the Senate in 1858 is the most memorable in the annals of our ct>untry. It was called the battle of the giants, and re- sulted in Douglas' election to the Senate, and liincoln to tlie Presidency. lie was born in Brandon, Vermont, April 23, 1813, and came to Illinois in 1833, and died in 1861. He was ap- pointed Secretary of State by Gov. Carlin in 1840, and shortly afterward to the Supreme Bench. James Shields — Was elected and assumed his seat in the U. iS. Senate in 1849, March 4. He HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 39 I was liiii-ii ill Irelniid in ISIO, and raiiic \i> tlic Unileil Slales in 1S:27. He served in llie Mexi- can arm}', was elected Senator from Wisconsin, and in IsTft from Missouri for a short term. Jyi/m7-08 Albert (4. Burr 18G7-68 Barton V. Cook 1807-08 Shelliv M C'ulloiii 1807-08 John P. F:u-u9\vortli 1807-08 Jehu Balvei- 1807-08 Henry P. H. Bromwell 1807-68 John A. Loiian 1807-08 Saimicl S. Marshall 18()~-08 Greeu B. Raum 1807-68 Lewis W. Ross 1807-68 FORTY-FIEST CONGRESS. N'ornian B. Judd 180!)-70 John F. Farnsworth lS0!)-7() H. C. Burchard 1809-70 John B. Hawley 18flS)-70 Eben C. Ingersoll 1800-70 Barton C. Cook ]8(i!l-70 Jesse II. Mo,)re l80!)-70 Shelby .\I. C'uUoni 180'.)-7O Thomas \V. McNeely 1801)- 70 Albert O. Burr ]80!)-7O Samuel S. Mai'shall .. 1800-70 John B. Hay 1800-70 John M. Crebs 1800-70 John A. Ijogan lH(iO-70 KORiV-SECOND COXCRESS. Charles B, Farwell 1871-73 John F. Farnsworth 1871-72 Horatio ('. liurehard , 1871-72 John I!. Iliiwley 1871-72 B I ad ton 1 N. Stevens 1871-72 Henry Snapi) 1871-72 Jesse H. Moore 1871-72 James C. Robinson 187.-72 Thomas W. MoNeelv 1871-72 Edward Y. Riee " 1871-72 Samuel S. Marshall 1871-72 John B H;iv 1871-72 John iM Crebs 1871-72 John S. Beveridgc 1871-72 FORTV-TIIIRD CONGRESS. » John n. Rice 1873-74 Jasi)er I) . Ward 187;:i-74 Charles B. Farwell 1873-74 Siejihen A. Hurlbiit 1873-74 Horatio ('. Burchard 1873-74 John B. Hawley 1873-74 Fraidilin Corwin 1873-74 Robert M. Knapp 1873-74 James C. Robinson 1873-74 John B. McNulta 1873-74 Joseph G. Cannon _ 1873-74 John R. Eden 1873-74 James S, Martin 1873-74 William R. Morrison ' 1873-74 Creeubury L. Fort 1873-74 Granville Barrere 1873-74 William 11. Ray 1873-74 Isaac Clements 1873-74 Samuel S. Marshall 1873-74 FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Bernard G. Caullield 187.V70 Carter H. Harrison l87.")-70 Charles B. Farwell 1875-70 Stephen A. Hiirlbut 1875-70 Horatio C. Burchard 1875-70 Thomas J. Henderson 1875-70 Alexander Campbell 1875-70 Greenbury L . Fort ] 875-76 Richard H. Whiting 1875-70 John C. Bagby. . . T 1875-70 Scott AVike 1875-70 William M. Springer 1875-76 .Vdlai E. Stevenson 1875-70 Joseph G. Cannon 1875-70 John R. Eden 1875-76 \V. A. J. Sparks 1875-76 William R. Morrison 1875-7h wire would probably encircle the globe, and the tele])hoiie is placed in thous- ands of homes, enabling their inmates to con- verse intelligiblv with parties at a distance of several miles. Then the liuiit that shone out of darkness was only the tallow-dip, or that furnished from blazing h\gs in the old-fashioned tire-places; to-day, after having displaced the tallow-dip, the candle and the common house- lamp, the darkness of night is penetrated by the glare of gas and the bright rays of the elec- tric light, rivaling the light of day. Then agri- culture was in its infancy, it being possible with the machinery then used only to raise sufHcieiit crops to s>t]iply the wants of those living within its boundary; to-day, with the improved plows, the stU-binding reaper, the steam thresher, and other improved machinery, Illinois can feed a nation of 50,000,000 of people. Then the newspaper was a rare visitor in the household; to-day the humblest citizen can hartlly exist without his daily and weekly paper. Then knowledge was possessed by few; to-day, by means of free schools, well endowed colleges and other influences, there is no excuse for being ignorant. But time would fail to com- ]>are the advantages of to-day over that of the first decade of the present century, and the stu- dent of history, as he reads of the progress 7nade, can oidy wonder what the future will reveal. # "tZ/ZoyrTLk/ HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Chapter I. IN THE ISEGINNING. When the Tenitoiy of Illinoi.-^ was organized that part now comprising the county of Sanga- mon was an unknown wilderness inhabited only by the wild beasts of the forest, wild birds of tlie air, and no less wild red men, who roamed at will over the broad prairies and through the heavy forests; fishing in the Sangamo, or hunt- ing the game that everywhere abounded, seem- ingly caring nothing for the morrow, and only living in the ever present. The thought of the "pale-faces" penetrating this beautiful country had not yet disturbed them, and so they contin- ued on in their daily life of hunting and fishing, with occasionally a'short war between tribes to relieve the monotony of their lives. But the lime was soon to come when they were to sur- render up the lands and move on toward the setting sun. 'J'he time was soon to come when all nature must be changed. The fair prairies with their beautiful flowers, painted only by the hand of God, must be broken up l)y the husband- man, and grain lit for the use of civilized man sown therein; forests were to be felled and clear- ings made that the art of man could be exercised inthe building and adornment of homes. Thus it was in 1817 when Robert Pulliatn erected his cabin upon section ^J:^— , in the present town- ship of Ball. Previous to this time the soil had been unve.xed by the plow and the woodman's axe had never been heard. The cabin of the settler, with its smoke curling heavenward, and with an air inviting the weary traveler to come and rest, was not to be seen, nor even the faint- est trace of civilization ; but instead, boundless emerald seas and luxuriant grasses. These the gardens of the deserts — these The unshorn fields, boundless and heauiiful. And fresh as the young earth, ere man hud sinned. Lo ! they stretch In :iiry uiulidntions far away As if the ocean in the gentlest swell Stood still, with all his rounded billows fixed, And motionless forever. TUE GARDEN SPOT. That it was a beautiful country is the testi- mony of every one who visited it at an early day. In proof of this a local paper on one oc- casion inserted the following: "Some sixty years ago, before the first mile of railroad was made, while the Indian still lin- o-ered in Central Illinois — when the turnpike road from Baltimore and Washington, o\er the mountains to the Ohio river, was the great nation- al highway from the Eastern to the infant West- ern States, and when four-horse stage-coaches for carrving the United States mails and passengers were the best facilities afforded for travel, was the time the facts we record occurred. "Mercantile agents, or drummers, at thatearly day were unknown. Twice a year Western merchants went East to replenish their stock of goods. The stage-coaches were run night and day.travelingal)out one hundred miles in twenty- four hours. About the time we speak of one of these elegant stages left Baltimore crowded with Western passengers, mostly merchants, for Wheeling, on the Ohio river. Having traveled one day and night, they were crossing the mount- ains slowly, tired and sleepy. Discussions on various topics were often encouraged to enliven the otherwise tedious hours. On this occasion three of the passengers Avere discussing the claims of several of tlie States to the'(4arden Spot of America,' while others listened or slept. " One of the three presented the claim of Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, in its then highly cultivated condition; its rich limestone soil, its beautiful rolling surface, its never failing har- vests, its immense barns, etc. "The second, in elegant terms, ))ortrayed the region round about Frankfort, Kentucky, for beauty and climate, and for fertility of soil and elegatit imjirovements, as the '(harden S|)ot.' "Aiul the tliird gentleman presented and ui'ged tUeclaiuiof the Shenandoah Valley, of Virginia, 4(i HISTORY OF SANGAMON (^OUNTY. surrouiulecl liy tlie mountains and watered by ten thousand never failing springs gushing from the mountains; its golden harvests of grains and luscious fruits, and its blooded Hocks upon a thousand hills. "This interesting discussion was suddenly stojiped by a roughly dressed passenger, in a jeans hunting suit, fringed, who had been sleep- ing and snoring for an hour or more. With an expression of terror in his face, he declared that something serious was going to happen the stage. I've had a remarkable dream, and with a serious earnestness eoiumenced telling his dream to the anxious passengers: '"I dreamed that the ^lorses became unman- ageable and plunged over one of these mountain precipices, and we fell and rolled several hun- dred feet. 1 found myself struggling in a very cold stream of water, but gained the opposite shore. I looked, and behold, I seemed to be in a paradise— the pi-ecincts of Heaven — the trees, and flowers and birds, were exceedingly beautiful, and at a little distance there was a high wall, as if built of precious stones or rocks, and a golden door in the wall. The knob of the door seemed to be a very large diamond, glittering as a star. I concluded I was in the spirit world, and that the golden door was the entrance to Heaven. Whife thus bewildered this gentleman (jiointing to one of the trio disputants) appeared and walked to the golden door. He knocked. The door open- ed, and a glorious personage appeared, whom I was im))ressed to think was St. Peter. ' Whence comest thou?' he said to this gentleman; and you answered ' from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and he said, 'enter.' Then came this othergentle- man and km)cked, St. Peter opened and inijuired from whence he came. He replied, ' f roTu Frank- fort, Kentucky.' He was invited to enter. And, after a long while, this gentleman (pointing to the third of the trio) hastened to the door and )-ap)ied. The door was ojiened again, and St. Peler appeared for the third time, and in(]uired from what part of the earth he came. He said: 'From the Valley of Virginia.' And he was per- mitted to enter. '"The more I looked about me the more I became enchanted. I heard the sweetest music that ever fell on mortal ears, sounding as if from over the wall, and I passed on to the door and rapped with a small silver mallet, that seemed there for the purpose. St. Peter appeared. When he saw me, he said, in sweetest tones: 'Whence comest thou?' I said, 'from the Sau- garao country, Illinois. I shall never forget the candid and "kind manner St. Peter said: 'My friend, I advise you to go back, as there is no such beautiful land in Heaven as the valley drained by the Sangamo river. By nature it is the Garden Spot of America, and by the art of man is des- tined to become the Paradise of the New World — a land of corn and wine, and though the first several generations of settlers may have to toil, yet before the tenth genei-ation shall apjiear, this wilderness will be made to blossom as the rose.' "The early settler of Sangamo was so in- genious in presenting the claim of Illinois as containing the 'Garden Spot,' that it was unani- mously avvarded to it. And at the next stoi)ping place the trio treated to the wine." I'IKST WHITE MEN IN SANGAMON COVNTY. History and tradition are both silent as to who was the first white man to visit this country. The early French explorers came within a few miles of its border, but it is doubtful if they set foot within it. Following only the courses of the great rivers, and penetrating inland but a shortdistance, the beautiful Sangamo country was unperceived by them. From the time of their visit to the Mississi])pi in 167:3, a century and a half passed before Robert Pulliam in his wanderings came upon the scene, followed closely by Henry Funderburk, William Dren- nan, Joseph Dodds, James McCoy and others. FIRST SETTIiEMENT. In 1858, on the organization of the Old Set- tlers' Society, it was determined to have the first annual celebration on or near the site of the first cabin erected in the county. To this end, a committee was appointed to investigate the claims of all i)arties to the honor of being the first settler. After much investigation that committee decided, on the evidence of the fam- ily and some others, that Robert Pulliam erected a cabin in the fall of 181U, which, with- out doubt, was the first built in the county. Accordingly, the celebration was here held. So far as is known, no one at that time disputed the claim. It is now claimed by the descendants of Henry Funderburk that he was the first settler in the county; that he arrived in the spring of 1817, and raised that year a small bserved| at many different localities in that portion of the county, the black mucky soil always appearing immediately below the leoss, and varying from three to eight feet in thickness, and always overlaying the true drift or boulder clay. This old soil is probably the equivalent of a chocolate-colored band a foot or more in thickness, which lies at the base of the leoss in the bluffs at Quincy. 56 HISTORY OF SANGA]V[ON COUNTY. In my report on Adams county, published in Vol. IV, page 45, I sugge.sted that the layers of chocolate colored soil at the base of the leoss might be the equivalent of the old post ter- tiary soil penetrated in the shaft at Coatsburg, and in consequence of the absence of true drift deposits at Quincy, it was difficult to fix the relation which this chocolate-colored soil might hold to the boulder clays, but the occurrence of a similar deposit at so many different localities in this county, and at the base of the leoss and always al)0ve the boulder clays seem to indicate pretty conclusively that the stratum of Qiiiucy also belongs above the true drift and to a more recent period than that penetrated at Coatsburg. These two ancient soils, the one at the base of the leoss, and the other below the boulder clay, belong to distinct and widely separated periods aiul indicates two distinct emergencies of the surfaces during tbe Quarternary period and the lu-evalence of conditions suitable for the growth of an arboreal vegetation. The boulder clays, or true drift, consists for the most part of brown, gravelly clay with small boulders. Occasionally a boulder, two feet or more in diameter, is met with in the beds of the ravines, but they are not common. In the vicin- ity of Springfield, this division of the quarter- nary ranges from twenty to forty feet in thick- ness, and this is probably not far from its average thickness throughout the county; but at some localities there is a blue clay or hard pan below the brown clays, which attains about the same thickness as the former, making the aggregate thickness of the drift wliei'e fully developed from fifty to eighty feet. No fossils have as yet been obtained from the drift in this county, so far as I am aware, though the tooth of a mammoth was found some years ago in the bluffs of the Sanga- mon, and near the surface, and probably came from beds not older than leoss. The discovery of the Niantic mastodon, some three years since, between Illiopolis and Nian- tic, and just over the Macon county line, excited considerable interest when the discovery was first announceil, and I visited the locality, and was present wlien a part of the bones were taken out. The discovery was made on the farm of William P. Correl!,in sinking a stock well in a wet, spongy piece of ground, located in a swale or depression of tlif surface that had evidently once been a pond oi water, and had been tilled up by the wash from the surrounding highland, until it formed a morass or quagmire in dry weather. The bones were about four feet below the surface and partly imbedded in a light, gray quicksand filled with fresh water shells, J'lass- 07-bis, Cyd((s, Physu, etc. Above this quicksand there was four feet of black, peaty soil, so soft that a common fence rail could be easily pushed down through it. The quicksand had evidently once formed the bottom of a fresh water pond, fed probably by springs and was the resort of the animals whose bones were found here. The first bone met with in sinking the well was one of the tusks, and supposing it to be a small tree it was cut in two with an axe before its true char- acter was suspected. The other tusk was taken out whole, and measured nine feet in length around the curve, and about two feet in circum- ference where it was inserted in the skull. The lower jaw, with the teeth in place, and the teeth of the upper jaw and some of the smaller bones were also found in a good state of preser- vation. A line pair of antlers of the elk, with some other bones of the same animal, and bones of the buffalo and deer were found in the ])osition as the bones of the mastodon, but the bones of the smaller animals, although im1>edded at the same depth, were lighter colored, less decayed, .and appeared to have been buried at a more re- cent perioil. The depth of the (juicksand was not fully as- certained, but it was probed to the depth of two feet or more without reaching a solid bottom. STRATIFIED EOCKS. The stratified rocks, outcropping at the sur- face in tliis county, all belong to the upper coal measures, and overline all the main coal seams worked in the State. The lowest beds exposed in the county, arc found on the Sangamon river, near the Menard line, and on Richland creek, one of the southern affluents of the Sangamon, in the western part of the county. They consist mainly of sandstones and shales, including the horizon of the Rock creek lime- stone, although we have not, as yet, seen any out-crop of this limestone in Sangamon county. A vertical section of all the beds exposed on the Sangamon and its tributaries, in the central and western portions of the county, would show the following relative position and thickness of strata: — No. 1 , sandy shales and soft sand- stone, 1 5^ feet No. -i, hard gray limestone, part- ly bleached, 10 to 12 feet No. 3, black, slaty shale, 2 to 3 feet HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. No. -I, uluy bliale, -1 to teet No. 5, brown, calcareous sand- stone, passing into ferrugin- ous limestt)ne, 4 to 5 feet No. 0, clay shales, partly bitu- minous, i to feet No. 7, hard gray limestone (Car- linville limestone), G to 8 feet No. 8, sandy shales and soft sand- stone, 30 to 40 feet No. 9, argillaceous limestone and calcareous shales, 2 to 3 feet No 1 0, bituminous shales, 1 foot No. 1 1, coal No. 8, 1 to 2 feet No. 1-2, lire clay, 2 to 3 feet No. 13, impure limestone, 2 to 3 feet No. 14, sandy shale and soft sand- stones, with local bands of ar- gillaceousandbiuiniinoussliale, 50 to GO feet No. 15, hard gray limestone, .. . 2 to G feet No. IG, shales — sandj', argillace- ous and bituminous, with thin seam of coal, 30 to GO feet The beds numbered from one to seven, inclus- ive, of the above section, are well exposed on Sugar creek, two miles north of Virden, and thence down the creek to the crossing of the St. Louis, Alton & Chicago Railroad, between which points all the beds included in these num- bers outcrop in succession, the eastward dip of the strata being somewhat less than the fall of the stream. The upper limestone No. 2, of the above sec- tion is well exposed near the bridge on the main road north of Virden, and has been quar- ried both for lime and building stone. The U])per part of the bed is a nodular, unevenly- bedded rock, partly brecciated, while the lower portion is more evenly bedded, affording a tol- erably good building stone, in layers from four inches to a foot or more in thickness. A little fartiier up the creek the whole mass becomes brecciated and fragmentary, and quar- ries in pebbly fragments suitable for m.acadam- izing material. The brown ferruginous bed. No. 5, of the fore- going section is a hard, massive rock, reseni- biing the limestone at Crow's mill, on Sugar creek, six miles south of Springfield, of which it is probalily the equivalent. It contains numerous fossils, amongwhich are Productus costatus, P. JVebrascensis, -P' Fratten- ioMus, Spirifer cameratus, Athyris subtili.Ui, Yerebratula boviileus, Pintia jjer-acutn, and 31;/- alina mnplu.' The limestone No. 7, of the foregoing section is not fully ex])Osed, but the upper layers out- crop in the bed of the creek just above the rail- road bridge, in pebbly layers not unlike the upper layers of No. 2; as they appear above the bridge on the main road north of Virden. This outcrop is very similar in appearance to the upper layers of the Carlinville limestone, just below Carr's mill on Macoupiu creek, northeast of Carlinville, and I have iio doubt but this limestone on Sugar creek is the equivalent of that. Below the railroad bridge the shale un- derlying these limestones are the only beds exposed for some distance, but east of Auburn the limestones are again met with, and are found in outcrops from this point to Crow's mill, seven miles south of Springfield, where the rock for the old State House was obtained. At Pedde- cord's quarries, on Sugar creek, the State House rock is well exposed, affording the following section: No. 1. Thin bedded ferruginous limestone, 2 to 3 feet. No. 2. Massive, coarse-grained limestone, 4 feet. No. 3. Clay shale, partly bitumi- nous, '. G feet. No. 4. Thin bedded limestone, . 3 to 4 feet. No. 5. Sandy shale, 10 to 12 feet. The material for the old State House was ob- tained mainly from No. 2 of the foregoing sec- tion, and there is a nearly continuous outcrop of these beds from this point to Crow's mill, two miles below, where the old State House quarries were located. This rock is a coarse-grained, brownish-gray, crinoidal limestone, almost entirely composed of crinoidal joints and the calcareous remains of marine mollusca, cemented together by calca- reous and ferruginous sediment. In addition to the fossils already enumerated as occurring in this liniestone .at the locality north of Virden, the quarries here afford numer- ous specimens of Hijrimpporu mulUithcimatu, which seem to belong in the clay shale under the limestone No. 2 of the foregoing section, and, so far as I aiu aware, has been found nowhere else but in this shale in Sangamon and Macoupin counties. Some of the masses obtained on Sugar creek are nearly a foot in diameter. This limestone has also afforded fine specimens of (Jladodus mortifer, Petalodus destructor, and Ci/athocri- tius Snnrjamonensis. This rock possesses the same lithological characters, and att'ords exactly 58 HISTORY OF SANOAMON COUNTY. the same group oi fossils as the upper division of the main limestone at La Salle, and I have no doubt they are stratigraphical equivalents. Be- low Crow's mill to the outlet of Sugar creek into the Sangamon river, the sandy shales and sandstones intervening between this limestone and the coal outcroppings at Hewlett, are the only beds to be seen. This coal seam, numbered 11, in the general section, given on a jireceding page, ranges in thickness from eighteen inches to two feet, and is coal No. 8, of our general sec- tion of the Coal Measures, given in Vol. Ill, page 5, of these reports. It outcrops in the bank of the Sangamon river at Howlett, and on Spring creek and its branches north and west of Springfield ; and previous to the discovery of the heavy beds below this, it was extensively worked in strip banks, and by tunnels along its line of t)utcrop. It is overlaid by a calcareous shale, and argillaceous limestone, which are wonderfully rich in fossils, and have afforded more than si.xty species of shells, corals and crinoidia characteristic of the upper coal meas- ures. The coal is underlaid with a dark bluish- gray fire-clay two or three feet in depth, below which an impure nodular limestone is some- times found, but more frequently the fire-clay rests directly upon the sandy shales and sand- stones below. At Howlett, the argillaceous limestone over- laying this coal seam, is succeeded by sandy shales, passing upward into soft jnucacous sand- stones, which outcrop along the railroad grades just beyond Camp Butler, and contain an inter- calaled seam of poor coal only a few inches thick. The limestones of Sugar creek, which prop- erly overlay this sandstone, are not found in the vicinity of Howlett, Laving been probably re- moved in the erasion of the Sangamon valley. Below this coal, where it out-crops west of the city, we find a bed of sandy shale and sand- stone, from thirty to forty feet thick, that lo- cally furnishes some building stone of fair quality, the thickly bedded portions being partly concretionary in structure, the concretions often attaining a diameter of five or six feet or more. They are exceedingly hard, but may be split into blocks of suitable size, and made a very durable building stone. At Carpenter's mill, five miles north of Springfield, a fine exposure of the sandstone underlaying this coal may be seen on the north bank of the Sangamon, where it forms a perpen- dicular cliff more than fifty feet in height. The upper and lower portions of the formations are thin bedded and shaly, but the middle portions, nearly twenty-five feet in thickness, is in tol- erably heavy and evenly stratified beds, ranging from six inches to two feet or more in thick- ness. These layers seem to harden on expos- ure, and afford a very good building stone. In a ravine, a little to the west of the mill, on the north side of the road, the coal No. 11, of the foregoing section, and overlaying argil- laceous limestone, were found well up towards the top of the hill, and apparently above the sandstone exposure at the bridge. The lime- stone here contains the same species of fossils so abundant in the roof of this coal in the vi- cinity of Springfield. The coal was not well exposed, but does not appear to be more than a few inches in thick- ness, and this exposure is probably on or near the most westerly outcrop of the seam on the north side of the river. Among the fossils com- mon in the limestone and shales over this coal, the Lopho2)hyllum proUfermn is very abundant, and is associated with Astartella vera, Pleauro- tomaria spharnlata, P. Grayvillensis P. carbon- aria, Bellerojihon carbonaria, B. 3Iontfortianus, B. percarinatus, B. Stevensianus, Leda bella-ru- ffosa, Niicida ventricoHo, Polyphenropsis pe)-- acuta, P. nitidula, Soleniscus typicus, Loxo- nema rugosa, L. cerithifonnis, 3Iacrocheihis inhahilis, 31. ponderosus, M. medialis, M. inter- adaris, M. pidchella, M. ventricosus,Enonip}ialus ri/gosiis, Productiis longispinus, P. Nebruscensis, P. PraUetiiamts, Spirifer cajneratvi<, /S. Ken- titckensis, Athyris, subtilita, etc. The Rock creek limestone of Menard county, if it extends this far to the eastward, should out- crop on the Sangamon not very far below Car- penter's mill, as its place in the vertical section is between coals Nos. 1 and 8; but all these coal measure limestones are somewhat local in their development, and this bed has not been met with, so far as I know, in any of the coal shafts sunk in this vicinity. The main coal No. 5, of the general section of the coal measures in the central and western portions of the State, lies about one hundred and seventy-five feet below coal No. 8, in the vicinity of Springfield, and two hundred to two huiulred and ten below the general surface level. A boring for artesian water was made at Spring- field in 1858, and was carried down to the depth of nearly twelve hundred feet without finding water that would rise to the surface, and the parties having the work in charge reported no coal l)elow the small seam thirty or forty feet below the surface, though it was evident, from HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNT V. 59 the character of the material Lrought up with the sand-pump, that they must have passed througli from four or five hundred feet of coal measure strata. Subsequently, in a boring at Hewlett, a six-foot seam of coal was found, at a depth of about two hundred feet. A shaft was immediately sunk, and extensive mining opera- tions have been carried on there to the present time. The boring at Springfield not only passed through this seam, but all those underlaying it, of which two or three will probably be found of workable thickness, the men in charge of the work being apparently entirely ui;conscious of the true character of the strata through which their drill passed. If this woik had been i)laced in the hands of competent men, and an accurate journal of the boring kept, we should now know exactly what our coal resources are, whereas nothing was known in regard to the develop- ment of the lower coals, except from the exami- nations of their outcrops along the Illinois river bluffs, until borings at Jacksonville and Chapin showed the existence of a seam at those points between three and four feet in thickness. 60 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Chapter III, PIONEER LIFE. One of the most interesting phases of national or local history is that of the settlement of a new country. What was the original state in which the pioneer found the country, and how was it made to blossom as the rose ? Pioneer life in Sangamon county finds its parallel in almost every comity in the State, and throughout the entire West. When Robert Pul- liam and others of that noble band of pioneers settled here, they found an unbroken wilderness. Wild beasts and but little less wild savages, roamed at will over the prairies, through the for- ests, and along the waters of the "Sain-quee- mon" and its numerous tributaries. Forests wei-e to be felled, cabins erected, mills built, and the river and creeks made to labor for the bene- fit of mankind. Tiie beautiful prairies were to be robbed of their natural ornaments and the hand of art was to assist in their decoration. Who was to undertake this work ? Are they qualified for the fask V What will be the effect of their labors upon future generations? The Sangamon county pioneers had many dif- ficulties to contend with, not the least of which was the journey from civilization to their forest homes. The route lay for the most part through a rough countiy ; swamps and mai-shes were crossed with great exertion and fatigue ; rivers were forded with difficulty and danger ; nights were passed on open prairies, with the sod for a couch and the heavens for a shelter; long, weary days and weeks of travel were endured, b\it finally " the promised land" was reached. EABlLY MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. The young men and women of to-day have little conception of the mode of life among the early settlers of the country. One can hardly conceive how great a change has taken place in so short a time. In no respects are the habits and manners of the people similar to those of sixty years ago. The clothing, the dwellings, the diet, the social customs, have undergone a total revolution, as though a new race had taken possession of the land. In a new country, far removed from the con- veniences of civilization, where all are com- pelled to build their own houses, make their own clothing and procure for themselves the means of subsistence, it is to be expected that their dwellings and garments will be rude. These were matters controlled by surrounding circumstances and the means at their disposal. Tlie earliest settlers constructed what were termed "three-faced camps," or, in other words, three walls, leaving one side open. They are described as follows: The walls were built about seven feet high, when poles were laid across at a distance of about three feet apart, and on these a roof of clapboards was laid, which were kept in place by weight poles placed on them. The clapboards were about four feet in length and from eight inches to twelve inches in width, split out of white oak timber. No floor was laid in the "camp." The structure re- quired neither door, window, or chimney. The one side left out of the cabin answered all these purposes. In front of the open side was built a large log heap, which served for warmth in cold v/eather and for cooking purposes in all seasons. Of course there was an abundance of light, and. on either side of the fire. s]iace to enter in and out. These "three-faced camps" were proba- bly more easily constructed than the ordinary cabin, and was not the usual style of dwelling house. The cabin was considei-ed a material advance for comfort and home life. This was, in almost every case, built of logs, the spaces between the logs being filled in with split sticks of wood, called " chinks," and then daubed over, both inside and outside, with mortar made of cl.ay. The floor, sometimes, was nothing Hiore than earth tramped hard and smooth, but commonly made of "puncheons," or split logs, with the HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. lil split side turned upward. The roof was made by gradually drawing in the top to the ridge- pole, and, on cross pieces, laying the "claji- boards," which, being several feet in length, in- stead of being nailed, were held in place by poles laid on them, called ''weight poles," reaching tlie length of tlie cabin. For a fire- place, a space was cut out of the logs on one side of the room, usually about six feet in leiigtli, and three sides were built up of logs, making an offset in the wall. This was lined witli stone, if convenient; if not, then earth. The Hue, or upper part of the chimney, was built of small split sticks, two and a half or three feet in length, carried a little space above the roof, and plastered over with clay, and when finished was called a "cat-and-clay " chim- ney. The door space was also made by cutting an aperture in one side of the room of the re- quired size, the door itself being made of clap- boards secured by wooden pins to two cross- pieces. The hinges were also of wood, while the fastening consisted of a wooden latch catch- ing on a hook of the same material. To open the door from the outside, a strip of buckskin was tied to the latch and drawn through a hole a few inches above the latch-bar, so tliat on pulling the string the latch was lifted from the catcli or hook, and tlie door was opened without further trouble. To lock the door, it was only necessary to pull the string through the hole to the inside. Here the family lived, and here the guest and wayfarer were made welcome. The living room was of good size, but to a large extent it was all — kitchen, bed- room, parlor and arsenal, with flitches of bacon and rings of dried pumpkin suspended from the rafters. In one corner were the loom and other implements used in the manufacture of cloth- ing, and around the ample fireplace were col- lected the kitchen furniture. The clothing lined one side of the sleeping apartment, suspended from jtegs driven in the logs. Hemp and flax were generally raised, and a few sheep kept. Out of these the clothing for the family and the sheets and coverlets were made by the females of the house. Over the door was placed the trusty rifle, and just back of it hung the powder horn and hunting pouch. In the well- to-do families, or when crowded on the ground floor, a loft was sometimes made to the cabin for a sleeping place and the storage of "traps" and articles not in common use. The loft was reached by a ladder secured to the wall. Generally the bedrooms were sep- arated from the living-room by sheets and coverlets suspended from the rafters, but until the means of making these partition walls were ample, they lived and slept in the same room. Familiarity with this mode of living did away with much of the discomfort, but as soon as the improvement could be made, there was added to the cabin an additional room, or a "double log cabin" being sul)staiitialh- a "three-faced camp," with a log room on eacli end and containing a loft. The furniture in the cabin corresuonded with the house itself. The articles used in the kitchen were as few and simple as can be imag- ined A 'Dutch oven" or skillet, a long-handled frying pan, an iron pot or kettle, and sometimes a coffee-pot, constituted the utensils of the best furnished kitchen. A little later, wlien a stone wall formed the base of the chimney, a long iron '"crane" swung in the chimney place, wliich on its "pot-hook" carried the boiling kettle or heavy iron pot. The cooking was all done on the fire-place and at the fire, and the style of cooking was as simple as the utensils. Indian, or corn meal, was the common flour, which was made into "pone" or "corn-dodger," or "hoe- cake," as the occasion or variety demanded. The "pone" and the "dodger" was baked in the Dutch oven, which was first set on a bed of glowing coals. When the oven was filled with the dough, the lid, already heated on the fire, was placed on the oven and covered with hot embers and ashes. When tlie bread was done it was taken from the oven and placed near the fire to keep warm while some other food was being prepared in the same oven for the foi-lh- comiiig meal. The "hoe-cake" was prepared in the same way as the dodger — that is, a still dough was made of the meal and water, and, taking as much as could conveniently be held in both hands, it was molded into the desired shape by being tossed from hand to hand, then laid on a board or flat stone placed at an angle before the fire and patted down to the required thickness. In the fall and early winter, cooked pumpkin was added to the meal dough, giving a flavor and richness to the bread not attained by the modern methods. In the oven from which the bread was taken, the venison or ham was then fried, and, in the winter, lye liominy, made from the unbroken grains of corn, added to the frugal meal. The woods abounded in honey, and of this the early settlers had an aVumdaiice the year round. For some years a('t(!r settlements were made, the corn meal l'parel for an entire family. In summer, nearly all iiersons, both male and female, went bare- footed. Buckskin moccasins were much worn. Boys of twelve and fifteen years of age never thought of wearing anything on their feet, ex- cept during three or four months of the coldest weather in winter. Boots were unknown until a later generation. After flax was raised in suf- ficient quantities, and sheep could be protected from the wolves, a better and more comfortable style of clothing prevailed. Manuel and linsey were woven and made into garments for the women and children, and jeans for the men. The wool for the jeans was colored from the bark of the walnut, and from this came the term "butternut," still common throughout the West. The black and white wool mixed, varied the color, and gave the name "pepper-and-salt." As a matter of course every family did its own spinning, weaving and sewing, and for years all the wool had to be carded by hand on cards from four inches broad to eight and ten inches long. The picking of the wool and carding was work to which the little folks could help, and at the proper season all the little hands were en- listed in the business. Every household had its big and little spinning-wheels, winding-blades, reel, warping-bars and loom. The articles were indispensible in every family. In many of the households of Sangamon county, stowed away in empty garrets and out-of-the-way places, may still be found some of these almost forgotten relics. The preparations for the family clothing usu- ally began in the early fall, and the work was continued on into the winter months, when the whirr of the wheels and the regular stroke of the loom could be heard until a late hour of the night. No scene can well be imagined so abounding in contentment and domestic happi- ness. Strips of bark, of the shell-bark hickory, thrown fror time to time in the ample tire- place, cast a ruddy, flickering light over the room. In one corner, within range of the re- flected light, the father is cobbling a well-worn pair of shoes, or trying his skill at making new ones. Hard by, the young ones are shellingcorn for the next grist. The oldest daughter whirls the large spinning-wheel, and with its hum and whirr trips to the far side of the room, drawing out the thread, while the mother, with the click of the shuttle and the measured thump of the loom, tills up the hours — the whole a scene of »-fe^ m»f^. HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 65 iloiiin.slic industry and happiness rarely elsewhere to lie iiiiiid. It is well for '• Voung America" to look hack on those early days. It involved a life of toil, hard- ship, and the lack of many comforts, but it was the life that made men of character. Sangamon county to-day has no better men than the imme- diate descendants of those who built their cabins in t e forest, and by patient endurance « rough t out of the wilderness the landmarks for a pros- perous commonwealth. One of these writes that "the V)oys were required to do their share of the haril labor of clearing uj> the farm, for much of the country now under the plow was at one time heavily timbered, or was covered with a dense thicket of hazel and young timber. Our visits were made with ox teams, and we walked, or rode on horseback, or in wagons to 'meeting.' The boys 'pulled,' ' broke' and 'hackled' fla.x, wore tow shirts, and imlulged aristocratic feel- ings in fringed 'hunting-shirts' and 'coon-skin caps, 'picked' and 'carded' wool by hand, and 'spooled' and '(piilled' yarn for the weaving till the back ached.'" Industry such as this, supported by an econ- omy and frugality from which there was then no escape, necessarily brought its own reward. The hard toil made men old before their time, but beneath their sturdy bio as they saw not only the forest pass away, but the fields white with the grain. Change and alterations were to be expected, but the reality has distanced the wild- est conjecture; and, stranger still, multitudes are still living who witnessed not only the face of nature undergoing a change about them, but the manners, customs and industries of a whole people almost wholly changed. Many an old pioneer sets by his fireside in his easy chair, with closed eyes, dreams of the scenes of the long ago. "The voice of Nature's very self drops low, As though she whispered of the long ago, When down the wandering stream the rude canoe Of some loue trap])er glided into view. And loitered down thi' watery pat that led Thro' forest depths, that only knew the tread Of savage beasts, and wild barbarians. That skulked about with blood upon their hands And murder in their hearts. The light of day Might barely pierce the gloominess that lay Like some dark pall across the water's face. And folded all the land in its embrace; The panther's screaming, and the bear's low growl, The snake's sharp rattle, and the wolf's wild howl, The owl's grim chuckle, as it rose and fell In alternation with the Indian's 3'ell, Made tittiiig prelude for the gory plays That were enacted in the earlv days, 8— " Now, o'er the vision, like a mirage, falls The old log cabin with its dingy walls, .Vnd erippfed chimney, with the crulclelike prop Beneath, a sagging shoulder at the top. The 'coon-skin, battened faston either side, The wisps of leaf tobacco, cut and dried; The yellow strands of quartered a|)ples hung In rich festoons that tangle in among The morning-glory vines that clamber o'er The little clapboard roof above the door ; . -Vgain, thro' mists of memory arise The simple scenes of home before the eyes ; The h.ippy mother luimmiug with her wheel, 'I'iie dear "old melodies that used to steal So drowsily upon the summer air. The house'doghid his bone, forgot his care, .\nd nestled at her feet, to dream, perchance, .Some cooling dream of wintertime romance. The square of sunshine through the open door That notched its edge across the puncheon tloor. And made a golden coverlet whereon The god of sTumber had a picture drawn Of haliyhood, in all the loveliness Of dimpled cheek, and limli, and linscy dress. The bough-tilled fireplace and the mantle wide. Its lire-scorched ankles stretched on either side, Where, perchance upon its shoulders 'neath the joists, The old clock hiccoughed, harsh and husky-voiced; Tomatoes, red and yellow, in a row, Preserved not then for diet but for show ; The jars of jelly, with their dainty tops ; Bunches of pennyroyal and cordial drops, The tlask of camphor and vial of squills, The box of buttons, garden seeds and pills. And thus the pioneer and helpsome aged wife Reflectively reviews the scenes of early life." \VEDl)IN(iS. The wedding was an attractive feature of pioneer life. There was no distinction of life and very little of fortune. On these accounts the first impressions of love generally resulted in marriage. The family establishment cost but little labor — nothing more. The marriage was always celebrated at the house of the bride, and she was generally left to coose the officiating clergyman. A wedding, however, engaged the attention of the whole neighborhood. It was anticipated by both old and young with eager expectation. In the morning of the wedding day the groom and his intimate friends assem- bled at the house of his father, and after due preparation, departed, en masse, for the " man- .sion"of his bride. The journey was some- times made on horseback, sometimes oti foot, and sometimes in farm wagons and carts. It was always a merry journey; and to insure mer- riment, the bottle was always taken along. On reaching the house of the 'bride, the marriage ceremony took place, and then dinner or snp|ier was served. After the meal the dancing com- menced, and generally lasted until the follow- ing morning. The figures of the dances were 6(5 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. three aiul fonr-liaiuled reels, or square sets and jigs. The commenceiuent was always a square Your, which was followed by what pioneers called "jigging;" ihat is, two of the four would single out for a jig, and were followed by the remaining couple. The jigs were often accom- panied wkh what was called "cutting out," that is, when either of the parties be ame tired of the dance, on intimation, the place was sup- pi ieecidiar one, and many sturdy backwoodsmen gloried in excelling in this art. He would carefully watch a bee as it filled itself with the product of some sweet flower or leaf bud, and notice particularly the direction taken by it as it struck a "bee-line" for its home, which, when found, would gener- ally be high up in the hollow of some tree. The tree would be marked, and in the fall a party would go and cut down the tree and capture the honey as quick as i\iey could l)efore it wasted away through the broken walls i^i which it had been so carefullv stowed by the busy little bee. Several a;aIlons would often be taken from a single tree, and by a very little work, and pleas- ant at iliat, the early settlers could keep them- selves in honey the year round. Ky the time the honey was a year old it would turn white and granulate, yet be as good and healthful as when fresh. This was called by some "can- died" honey. SNAKES. In pioneer times snakes were numerous, such as the rattlesnake, viper, adder, bloodsnake, and many varieties of large blue and green snakes, milksnake, garter and watersnakes, and others. If, on meeting one of these, you would retreat, they would chase you very fiercely; but if you would turn and give them battle, they would imnu'diately turn and eraw'l away with all possi- ble speed, hide in the grass and weeds and wait for a "greener" customer. These really harm- less snakes served to put people on their guard against the more dangerous and venomous kind. It was a common practice, in order to extermi- nate them, for the men to turn out in companies, with spades, mattocks and crowbars, attack the principal snake dens and slay large numbers of them. In early spring the snakes were some- what torpid, and easily captured. Scores of rattlesnakes were sometimes frightened out of a single den, which, as soon as they showed their heads through the crevices of tlic rocks, were dispatcheurt will hear you with great pleasure." Sawyer had the malice to let Cavarly proceed and read authorities for some time, but at last interposed ami said: "Mr. Cavarly, yon have satisfied the court, and if you desire it I shall grant you a new trial." But at this point his client whispered in his car: "Don't take it, Mr. Cavarly, or they will whip me again." The court went on to finish liis reniaiks: "But I will inform you that your client has been whipped, and received thirty-nine lashes on his ba'e back, well laid on, for I saw and counted them." Cavarly exclaimed witli great indignalion: "This is an outrage, and I ))rotest against such conduct on the part of a court." "Oh, Mr. Cavarly, you have a right to pro- test. Clerk, enter Mr. Cavarly's protest on the record;" and turning to Mr. Cavarly, said: "Now, Mr. Cavarly, fjring on your corn mer- cliant (meaning a client of Cavarly's, who was charged with stealing corn), and we will dispose of him as we have with your hog merchant" — the man who had been whipped. Judge Sawyer has long since been dead. A change was again made in the circuit by an act approved .January 12, 1827, it now em- bracing Peoria, t^ilton, Schuyler, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Greene, Morgan and Sangamon; Sam- uel 1). Lockwood being Judge of the Circuit. In January, 1S20, Sangamon county still formed part of the first circuit, together with the counties of Pike, Calhoun, Greene, Macou- pin, Morgan, Macon, and Tazewell. Two years later McLean was added to the circuit. No fur- ther change was then made until IKHr,, when there was a general reorganization, this disti'ict remaining the same, with the exception that Pike county was taken from it. Stephen T. Logan was elected this year, and served with great credit to himself and the disti'ict for two years. On the 20th day of March, l.S:J7, Wil- liam Brown was commissioned, anreme Bench of the United States, and after a while, a vacancy occurring, Judge Davis was ajipointed to fill the place, over the heads of such men as Salmon P. Chase and other formidable aspirants. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate of the United States. He has made a most excellent judge, and has delivered some opinions on constitu- tional questions which have given him a national reputation. In 1877, Judge Davis was elected to the United States Senate for the term of six years. In the Senate he has occupied an independent position, though generally acting with the Demo- cratic members of that body. By an act approved February 3, 1853, the Eighth Circuit was composed of the following counties: Sangamon, Logan, McLean, Wood- fordj'Tazewell, DeWitt, Champaign and Vermil- ion. As thus constituted it remained unchanged until 1857. By an act approved February 11, 1857, Sangamon county was made part of the Eighteenth Circuit, together with the counties of Macoupin, Montgomery and Christian. On the organization of this new circuit, Ed- ward Y. Rice was elected and served as judge of the circuit until 1870. Judge Rice was elected to this office from Montgonierv county, and 9— served acceptably during the continuance of the circuit. He is a man of clear mind, a good judge of law, his judgment rarely being reversed. He was appreciated by the entii'e bar, not only of Sangamon county, but of the circuit. In 1869, Sangamon county, together, with Ma- coupin, embraced the Thirtieth Judicial Circuit. Benjamin S. Edwards was commissioned judge of the circuit, and held the office about fifteen months and then resigned. While on the bench he was quite pojmlar with bar and people. (See sketch in connection with the history of the bar.) John A. McClernand was elected to fill the vacancy, and was commissioned July 12,1870. He remained in the office until the expiration of the term. A sketch of Judge McClernand ap- jsears in connection with the bar history. The General Assembly, by an act approved March 28, 1873, divided the State into twenty- six judicial circuits, Sangamon county, together with the counties oi Macoupin, Shellty, Chris- tian, Fayette and Montgomery, com]irising the nineteenth. Charles S. Zane, of Springfield, was the first elected judge of this new circuit. In 1877, the State was divided into thirteen judicial circuits, with three judges in each cir- cuit. Horatio M. Vandeveer, of Taylorville, Charles S. Zane, of Springfield, and William R. Welch, of Carlinviile, were the three elected for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, embracing the coun- ties of Sangamon, Christian, Macoupin, Shelby, Montgomery. Horatio M. Vandeveer was raised in Sangamon county, but removed to Christian county when a young man, and there studied law and was admitted to the bar. He was elected judge of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in 1873, and re- tained as one of the three judges of the newly organized Fifth Circuit. Judge Vandeveer was highly esteemed by the bar, and made an excel- lent judge. Before being elected to this oflice he served a term in the legislature very accept- ably. He declined a re-election on the expira- tion of his term, and is now engaged in banking and in the practice of law in Taylorville. William R. Welch is from Carlinviile, and is recognized by the bar and people as above the average ability as a judge. Jesse J. Phillips was elected in 1879, and is a citizen of Ilillsboro. He has had but a short experience as judge, but has served very accept- ably. During the war he was recognized as a brave and gallant officer, the Colonel in com- mand of one of our Illinois regiments, and was wounded two or three times during the service. 74 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COl'KTY. PROBATE AND COUNTY COUETS. Agreeable to an act of the legislature, ap- proved February 10, 1821, aCourtof Probate was established in this county and James Latliam was duly commissioned Probate Judge, and held the first term of court June 4, 1881. The only business transacted this day was to issue letters of administration to Randolph Wills on the estate of Daniel Martin, deceased. Court met and adjourned three times, after its first meeting, without transacting any busi- ness, until August 2G, 1821, when the filing and recording the will of Peter Lanterman occupied the attention of the court one entire day. The following is a copy of the first will given in the records of the court: "Before the witnesses now present, Louis Bennett, in perfect memory, does give to tlie daughters of Kiikunciqui, .Josett Kakauoqui, and Lizett Kalvanoqui, two thousand livres each, and six hundred livres for praj'es for his father; also, six hundred livres for him, if for prayes, and thirty dollars for prayes promised, and one liundred doUais for Kakanoqui, the rest of his money to be given to his brothers and sisters of Louis Bennett. After duly hearing read over before the wit- nesses now present, and signing the same will, he does voluntarily ai)point .Joseph D. Portecheron and Louis Pencoune.iu, Sr., as exacquators of his will. his Lovis X Bennett. mark Joseph D. PouTEcnERON, 1 Joseph Dutti.e, j his I' Witnesses." Francois X Bakbonais, mark James Latham, the first Probate Judge of Sangamon county, was born in Lotidon county, Virginia, October 25, 1768. He emigrated when a young man to Kentucky, and was there mar- ried to Mary Briggs in 1792. In 1819, with his family, he removed to Illinois, and settled at Elkhart Grove, then a part of Sangamon, but now of Logan county. As already intimated, on the organization of the county he was ap- pointed Prol)ate Judge. He held the office but a few months and then resigned, having" received the appointment of Superintendent of the In- -dians around Fort Clark. Soon after receiving this appointment he removed his family to that place, and died there December 4, 1826. Zachariah Peter was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by Judge Latham's resigna- tion, and .served about one year. Zachariah Peter was a Virginian by birth, but was raised in Kentticky, where he was married to Nancy Spaulding. In September, 1818, Mr. Peter ar- rived in Sangamon county, and finding an emjjty f.abin in what is now Ball township, he moved his family into it, remaining there until tlie fol- lowing spring, when he erected a cabin for him- self about three miles north. Mr. Peter was one of the three commissioners appointed to locate the temporary seat of justice for Sangamon county, and filled several important county offices, serving for several years as one of the board of County Commissioners. He died in Springfield, August 5. 1864. Charles R. Matheny succeeded to the office of Probate Judge in 1822, and held the office for three years. Charles R. Matheny was br«rn in Loudon county, Virginia, March 6, 1786. Wiien a young man he went on a visit to a brotlier in Kentucky, and was there licensed to preach by the jiroper authorities in the Methodist Ejusco- pal Church. In 18U5 he was appointed by that body as missionary to a portion of the Illinois, but then known as the Indiana Territory. He settled in what is now St. Clair county, and continued for some years to preach the gospel. While engaged in ministerial duties, he read law and was admitted to the bar. In 1817 he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for the Ter- ritory. In 1821, he was induced by the tender of the office of County Clerk, County Auditor and Circuit Clerk, and other prospective advantages, to eouie to Sangamon county, arriving at S))ring- field in the spring of 1821. In Springfield and throughout the county he was very popular, and received many favors from the people. He was for several years president of the Board of Trus- tees of the village of Springfield, and held the office of County Clerk until his death, which oc- curred October 10, 18.39. James Adams, of whom mention is made iti the history of the bar, was the next to fill the office of Probate Judge, his commission bearing- date August, 1825. Judge Adams held the office until 1843. Thomas Moffett was elected in 1843, and served until 1849. By the Constitution of 1848, counties not or- ganized under the Township Organization Law were governed by a Board of Justices, consist- ing of a County Judge and two associates. The County Judge performed under this law all the duties formerly devolving upon the Probate Judge. Lender this act, Thomas Moffett was elected to the office of County Judge, and served four years. (See sketch of Judge Moffett in bar history.) John Wickliffe Taylor was elected to succeed Judge Moifett, and commenced his official life in December, 1853. Judge Taylor was a native of Kentucky, and after his marriage, in 1833, he U1S'1-()11V or SAXGA.MOX COUNTY. moved to Springtield, Illinois, where he re- mained one year, and then settled on a farm in Cartwright township, where he was livingatthe" time of ills eleciion. William I). I'ower was elected as the successor of Judge Taylur, in 1857. Judge Power was born in Bath county, Kentucky, May 2, 1821, and was brought by his parents to Sangamon county the same year. Here he grew to man- hood, and 80 lived as to merit the esteem of all who knew him. In 1861 he was re-elected County Judge, and died in office March 2, 1863. Not man M. Broadwell was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Power. He served out the term. (See sketch in bar history.) William Prescott was the successor of Judge Broadwell, and served from 1865 to 1869. (See sketch in bar history.) A. N. J. Crook was the next to fill the office of County Judge. He was elected in 1869, and served four years. He is a member of the bar of Sangamon county, and a further notice of him appears in that connection. James H. Matheny was first elected county judge in 1873, and re-elected in 1877. He has made an extremely pojmlar judge. (See sketch in connection with the history of the bar.) When the county adopted the township or- ganization law the office of Associate Justice was abolished, and the legislative duties performed by the County Judge and associates were vested in a Board of Supervisors. The County Judge W'as still retained in office as Judge of Probate. By the Constitution of 1870 county courts were created having original jurisdiction in all matters of probate, and made a court of record. By an act of the legislature it has been given common law jurisdiction to the amount of $1,000. A. N. J. Crook was the first County Judc^e under the new law. T6 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Chapter V. THE BAR OF SANGAMON COUNTY. The Bar of Sangamon county has ever been a subject of pride among her citizens. Some of the liest legal minds, fairest logicians and tinest orators of the age have practiced before her courts, many of whom have claimed a residence in the county. In reviewing the history of the Bar, it must be born, in mind that as the pros- perity and well-being of ever}' community de- pends upon the wise interpretation, as well as upon the judicious framing of its laws, it must follow that a record of the members of the Bar must form no unimportant part in the county's history. Upon a few principles of natural jus- tice is erected the whole superstructure of civil law, tending to relieve the wants and meet the desires of all alike. The business of the lawyer is not to make the laws, but to apply them to the daily affairs of men. But the interests of men are diversified, and where so many inter- ests and counter interests are to be protected and adjusted, to the lawyer and the judge are presented many interesting and complex prob- lems. Change is everywhere imminent The la\\s of yesterday do not meet the wants and neces- sities of the people of to-day, for the old rela- tions do not exist. New and satisfactory laws must be established. The discoveries in the arts and sciences, the invention of new contri- vances for labor, the enlargement of industrial jjursuits, and the increase and development of commerce are without precedence, and the science of law must keep pace with them all, nay, it must even forecast the event, and so frame its laws as will most adequately subserve the wants and provide for the necessities of the new con- ditions. Hence the lawyer is a man of to-day. The exigencies he must meet are those of his own time. His capital is his ability and indi- viduality. He cannot bequeath to his successors the characteristics that distinguished him, and at his going, as a general thing, the very evidences of his work disappears. Anthony Thornton, Presidentof the State Bar Association, in 1878, in an address before the association, thus speaks of the lawyer: "In the American State the great and good lawyer must always be prominent, for he is one of the forces which move and control society. Public confidence has generally been reposed in the legal profession. It has ever been the defender of popular rights, the cham- pion of freedom, regulated by law, the firm sup- port of good government. In times of danger it has stood like a rock and breasted the mad passions of the hour, and firmly resisted tumult and faction. No political preferment — no mere place — can add to the power or increase the honor which belong to the pure and edu- cated lawyer. The fame of Mansfield and Mar- shall and Story can never die. 'Time's iron feet can print no )-uin-trace' upon their charac- ter. Their learning and luminous exposition of our jurisprudence will always light our path- way. It is our duty to preserve the prestige of the profession. The past, at least, is secure; the present and future summon us to action. With the progress of society, and tt e increase of population, wealth and trade, varied interests arise, and novel questions, requiring more thought, confront us. A disregard of the law has been developed, crime meets us unabashed, and corruption stands unmasked in the high places of the land. It is no fancy picture that the law has, to some extent, lost its authority, and it is only the shade of that which once was great. Hence, new duties are imi)osed, and a firmer courage is required. * * * The exal- tation of the profession is a duty enjoined upon us. It is a debt which only death can discharge. Lord Bacon has said, 'every man is a debtor to his profession; from the which, as men of course do seek to receive countenance and ])rofit, so ought they of duty to endeavor, them- selves, by way of amends, to be a help and ornament thereto.' Every lawyer is a debtor to his profession. If worthy, it gives him an hon- HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 11 orable character and high position. The lawyer should prize and love his profession. He should value its past renown, and cherish the memory of great men whose gigantic shadows walk by us still. He should love it for the intrinsic worth and innate truth of the fundamental truths which adorn it." In compiling a history of the Bar one is as- tonished at the small amount of material for a memoir of those « ho have been so intimately connected with and exerted such influence upon the country's welfare and progress. Aside from the few who have become great, whose names are emblazoned on history's page, but little is known of many who at one time were ver)' prominent in the legal profession in the county. But the names of Lincoln, Douglas, Shields, Baker, Logan, Trumbull, Hardin, Breese, Lock- wood, Linder and scores of others mentioned in these pages will always find a place in their country's history, and Sangamon county has reason to be proud, not only of so many distin- guished sons, but of the many others who have practiced in her courts. I'lEST DECADE. Sangamon county was organized in 1S21, and in the decade following, the names of Henry Starr. John Reynolds, Sidney' McRoberts. Al- fred Cavarly, William Thomas, Benjamin Mills, William A. Hamilton, William Mendel, James Adams, Thomas M. Neale, James M. Strode, Jonathan H. Pugh, Thomas Moffett, John T. Stuart, S. D. Lockwood, Judge Smith, Alfred Coles, Mr. Rogers, James Turney, John L. Bogardus, David Prickett and George Forquer appeared upon the dockets of the court — an array of distinguished names which would be an honor even to the Bar of to-day, many of whom have since become distinguislied, and few of whom are now living. James Adams is the pioneer attorney of San- gamon county, having settled in Springfield in 18'21, shortly after the county was organized. Mr. Adams was born in Hartford, Connecticut, January 26, l.sos, from which ])lace he removed to Oswego county. New York, in ISOO, and from thence to Sangamon county as already stated. For several years he had (|uite an extensive practice, being careful and painstaking in work- ing up his cases and in his clients' interests. In 182.3 he was appointed justice of the peace, and was elected successively for many years. He took part in the Winnebago and Black Hawk wars. After an exciting personal canvass, he was elected Probate Judge in l»4l, and died iu oflice on August 11, 184-3. Jonathan H. Pugh was the second attorney to make Sangamon county his home. He ar- rived in Spring-field early in the year 1823, and at once secured a good practice for that day. In the first decade of the Bar of this county, his name probaljly appears oftener on the docket than any other attorney. Mr. Pugh was from Bath county, Kentucky, and was a man of brilliant talents, a good lawyer for that time, and one whose wit never failed him on any occasion. Before a jury he was almost invinci- ble. In society he was a prime favorite, having remarkably tine conversational powers. Before coming to Sangamon he located for a time in Bond county, and was there elected to the legis- lature, lie also served Sangamon county in tlie Assembly after his removal here. In 1831 he was nominated for Congress, and made the race in o)>posilion to ex-Governor Duncan. At this time the question of internal improvements was being agitated, especially the building of a canal from Lake Michigan to the Illinois river. Governor Duncan was a strong advocate of the canal, while Mr. Pugh advocated the building of a railroad, and was probably the first man iu the State to advocate this measure. His views upon this question were doubtless one cause of his defeat. In 1833, while in the prime of life, Mr. Pugh "laid down life's burden and passed over to the other side." Thomas M. Neale was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, in 1*796. When a mere child, he was taken by his parents to Bowling Green, Kentucky. On the breaking out of the war of 1812, he enlisted and served his country faith- fully as a common soldier. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in Bowling Green. In the fall of 1824 Mr. Neale arrived in Spring- field, and at once commenced the practice of law. For some three or four years his practice was good. In the campaign against the Winne- bago Indians in 1827, he was the colonel in com- mand of all the infantry companies. After the Black Hawk war. Col. Neale was elected sur- veyor of the county, and one of his first acts was the appointment of Abraham Lincoln his deputy. He was also a justice of the peace for many years, and as such uniting many coujile in marriage, some times receiving as his fee only a saddle of venison. Mr. Nrale died August 7, 1840. Jamrs M. Strode was from Kentucky, ami made his first appearance before tlie Sangamon County Courts in 1823. He was then a young HISTORY OF SANGAJMON COUNT V man of fair talents, rather showy in dress and manners, a good story teller, and for many years was quite prominent in the courts of the State. Leaving Springfield he settled in Galena, where he died. William S. Hamilton was a son of the noted Alexander Hamilton, of New York. He first ggured in the courts of this county in 1825, though he was probaljly here the previous year. He was a man of great intellectual powers, but was unsteady in his habits. He served the county one year in the legislature. Thomas Moifett was from Bath county, Ken- tucky, and came to Springfield in 1826, where he engaged in teaching school and devoting his leisure hours to the study of law. He was admitted to the Bar in 1828, and was the first in the county to receive a license to practice. Mr. Mofl:'ett was orderly sergeant of a company in the Winnebago war, and captain of a company in the Black Hawk war. He served two years as County Commissioner, and from 1843 served as Judge of the Probate Court. Under the constitution of 1848 he was elected County Judge for four years. While not taking high rank as a lawyer, Mr. Moffett was a man of excellent judgment, and made an excellent justice of the peace. Probate Judge and County Judge. He died in 1877, at a very advanced age. He was many years a ruling elder in the Second Presbyterian Church. William Mendel was a queer genius, not much of a lawyer, and good for little else, unless it should be for being very witty. He occasion- ally failed to behave himself in court with that decorum demanded of the profession, and con- sequently was punished therefor by the presid- ing judge. He once appeared before Judge Sawyer and behaved himself in an unbecoming manner. The judge sentenced him to jail for the night. The next morning on going to the court house a calf was discovered in the judge's stand and a lot of geese in the jury-box, with Mendall addressing them in an impassioned manner. The judge took no notice of the indig- nity. Samuel McRoberts was one of the best law- yers that followed the circuitand making Sj)ring- field a point. He was afterwards Circuit Judge, and also U. S. Senator from this State. He died before the expiration of his term. He was an excellent man to be with on the circuit, serv- ing to beguile the weary hours in travelingfrom place to place. U. F.Linder, whose reminiscen- ces are often quoted in this work, says he could give the heartiest laugh when amused, of any man ,he ever saw. He relates the following incident that transpired on one occasion: "Nearly all the lawyers of Judge Harlan's circuit met at the Ed- gar County Circuit Court, among the rest, Judge McRoberts and myself. In those days we nearly all roomed together. There was a man by the name of Lodge, who was a bricklayer by trade, but who had arisen to be superintendent of a large farm. Lodge was in the habit of seeking every ojjportunity to talk with the judge and lawyers, and would generally seize and run away with the conversation. One day he came in where we were all talking, and with great pom- posity and egotism told us that he had a water- melon-patch adjoining the road from Danville to Paris; that he was one day sitting on his piazza, which overlooked this melon-patch. While sit- ting there he saw a gentleman coming along in his buggy, and when he got opposite the melon- patch he jumped out, got over the fence, pulled one of his finest melons, of which he had several thousand, and deliberately commenced eating it. He said he concluded he would go down and have a talk with the gentleman. He edified and regaled us with a fine moral lecture which he delivered to the stranger, and said he told him that if he had come and asked for the melon he would have given it to him; and said that he ended by walking up to him and deliberately knocking the melon out of his hand. He said the man seemed greatly mortified, aud said to him: 'Sir, I am a gentleman; my name is Bishop, a commission merchant at Evansville, Indiana. In my native State, where we raise vast quantities of melons, it is not thought to be a serious matter or a crime for a man to help himself to a melon by the wayside, and if you feel very much concerned about it here is the payfor it,' pulling out his purse. Lodge refused, as he told us, and went on to deliver a lecture to Mr. Bishop on the rights of equality of men, saying that he did not consider that it conferred an honor on bim, that a commission merchant or anyone else should take one of his melons without leave. Here McRoberts burst out in one of his great ' horse laughs,' which, to ap- preciate, should be heard: "'Hal ha ! ha ! ' says he, ' that reminds me of a story I once heard of William the Fourth, when he was Prince of Wales. He was traveling in cog. through Canada, and at Montreal he strayed into a tailor shop, where the tailor and his wife were both sitting on the counter at work ; the tailor with crossed legs pressing a seam with his hot goose, and his wife sewing away at some garment with nimble fingers. Neither seemed HISTORY OK SANGAMON OOUNTY. 79 to pay much attention to the disguised royal stranger, when William, stepping up to where the woman was sitting, turning bis head, asked the tailor if that was his wife. ' She is a very pretty woman,' said the Prince, and pulling her head down toward him, he deliberately kissed her, and turning to the tailor very patronizingly said, 'Now, sir, you will have the honor of tell- ing your children that your wife was kissed by the King of England. I am William, the Prince of Wales, and heir-aj)parent to the throne.' The tailor laid down his goose, put on his slippers, jumped off the counter, and catching William by the shoulders pushed him to the door and gave him two or three lusty kicks on the seat of honor, and said, 'Now, sir, you will have the honor of telling your subjects that in one of your Majesty's Provinces you had your posterior kicked by a tailor.'' Lodge looked like ho could have crawled through an auger hole, and said : ' Judge McEoberts, I hope you don't mean to say there is the same disparity between Bishop and myself as existed between the Prince and the tailor!' Whereupon we all burst into a most uproarious tit of laughter, when Lodge left, and never visited us again." Alfred W. Cavarly is a man well known by the elder members of the Bar. He lived in Greene county and rode the circuit or which Sangamon formed a part for many years. He was considered a good lawyer, though a little egotistic. He always rode a good horse in his travels. On one occasion he interposed a gen- eral demurrer to one of Mills' pleadings, and sought thus to take advantage of some matter which could only be reached by special demur- rer. When Cavarly discovered that he could only reach the defect by special demurrer, he insisted that his was a special demurrer be- cause he had underscored part of it. Judge Lockwood decided against him. At dinner the same day at which the Judge and members of the Bar were present, Cavarly sent his plate to Mills to be furnished with what he thought was a cut of venison. Mills sent him a piece which Cavarly discovered was beef, and he remarked, "Brother Mills, I wanted venison, and you sent me beef." "Oh," said Mills, "underscore it, Brother Cavarly, and that will make it venison." Benjamin Mills was one of the ablest, most learned and accomplished lawyers of the early Bar of this State. He was from Massachusetts, highly educated, and a man of a rare style of oratory, through which there ran a rich vein of wit and irony. It was a talent he often indulged in in conversation. He rode the circuit in com- pany with several others who have since become prominent, and had few equals to contend with. As illustrative of his wit it is related that one day when he was in his cups at his hotel, he was sitting about half asleep, when Cavarly stepped up to where he was sitting and laid his hand on Mills' bald head and remarked: "Friend Mills, you have quite a prairie on your head." "Yes, Cavarly," he said, " and do you know the differ- ence between you and meV" "By no means, Brother Mills," said he, in quite a patronizing manner. " Well, I'll tell you," said Mills, " my prairie is on my head, but yours is inside your head." Mills was the son of a New England Presby- terian minister, and came to Illinois at an early day, when tliere was a law authorizing a justice of the peace, if he heard a man swear, even upon the streets, to go to his office and enter up a tine of one dollar against him. Ben was a justice of the peace, and was one day taking his glass with another justice of the peace at his hotel in Greenville, Illinois, when he happened to let slip about a half dozen oaths. His brother justice said nothing about it at the time. This was in the morning. They met again at the same place in the evening and were taking another social glass together, when his friend I'emarked : " Brother Mills, you swore sereral oaths this morning, and you know the law makes it my duty to enter a fine against you of a dollar for each oath." " I know it, my brother," said Mills, " and thought of it as I went to my office, and being a justice of the peace myself, I entered upon my docket a tine of one dollar for each oath I swore." "Oh, w^l," said his" friend, " that will do. Come, Brother Mills, let us have another glass." And when they were about to drink it. Mills remarked: "But you know, my brother, that the policy of the law is reformation and not vengeance, and feeling that object has been thoroughly accomplished in my case, by the fine, I am now considering the question of remitting it." After their glass and a hearty laugh they parted. Mr. Mills was a powerful prosecutor. At Edwardsville, a lawyer named Winchester, killed a man named Smith, or at least was charged with the crime. Mills was his prosecutor. Felix Grundy, of Tennessee, then one of the greatest criminal lawyers in the southwest, was sent for to defend Winchester. The prosecution is said to have been one of the ablest, most fearful and 80 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. terrible ever heard, and it required all the talent and oratory of Grundy, assisted by the presence and countenance of many of the leading attor- neys and men of the place to prevent a con- viction. Mr. Mills died about 1S50. John Reynolds is well known to every student of the history of Illinois, having been Governor of the State, member of Congress, and Judge of the Supreme Court of Illinois. He was a ripe scholar, a man of great natural ability, yet withal modest, seeming more disposed to conceal than to blazon forth his accomplishments to the world. An amusing story is told of the Governor which occurred while holding a term of the circuit court at Edwardsville. At that term a man named Green was tried before him on the charge of murder, and was convicted. Reynolds, who was always seeking popularity, desired the ill will of no one, even of a murderer, and after the verdict of guilty had been read by the clerk in open court, turned to Green, his face all beam- ing with sympathy, said: " Mr. Green, I am truly sorry for you; the jury have found you guilty of murder, and I suppose you know you have got to be hung." " Yes, your Honor," said Green. "Mr. Green, I want you to understand that this is none of my work, but of a jury of your own selection. I would take it as a favor of you if you would communicate this fact to your friends and relatives. The law makes it mv duty to pass sentence upon you and carry out the verdict of the jury. It is a mere matter of form, Mr. Green, so far as I am concerned, and your death can in no way be imputed to me. Mr. Green, when would you like to be hung?" "Your Honor," said Green, "if I had any choice in the matter, I should not like to be hung at all; but as it seems I have not, I have no preference of one time over another." Reynolds then turned to the clerk and said: •' Mr. Conway, look at the almanac and see if the fourth Friday in December comes on Sun- day." Conway, being a man of considerable humor, gravely turned to the almanac, and then looking up, said: " I find, your Honor, to my utter astonish- ment, that that day comes upon Friday I" "Soil does, so it does," said Reynolds. Turn- ing to Green, he said: "Mr. Green, the sentence of the court is that on the fourth Friday in December, between the hours of ten o'clock in the forenoon and four o'clock in the afternoon, the sheriff of Madison county will take you from the jail to the place of execution, and there, Mr. Green, I am sorry to say, he will hang you till you are dead, dead, dead, and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul. And don't you forget it, Mr. Green, that it is not my work, but that of the jury which tried you." James Turney's name appears upon the rec- ords of the Sangamon Circuit Court for several years, beginning iu 1824. He was aTennessean by birth, but at this time lived in Carrollton. lie was a man of fine personal appearance, of great natural, Avith but little acquired ability. When Attorney-General of the State, it is said, that such was the reputation which had preceded him when traveling the circuits, that many men indicted, came into court and confessed guilty rather than stand a trial with him as prosecutor. He was a natural orator, and always commanded the most profound attention. No one could fail to recognize in a moment, when hearing him speak, that he was a man of considerable genius and talent. He served the State as Attorney- General and as Commissioner of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. He was also State Senator from Greene county. Henry Starr, at a very early day, left his na- tive State of New Hampshire and settled in Ken- tuck)', where he taught school and studied law. After lieing admitted to the Bar, he removed to Edwardsville, Illinois, from which place he made his semi-annual trips around the circuit, his name appearing on the docket of Sangamon Circuit Court in 1822. He remained in the State but a few years when he removed to Cincinnati, and soon was recognized as a leading lawyer of that metropolis. George Forquer,a half-brother of ex-Governor Ford, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in 179-t. With his mother and half-brother he moved to Monroe county, Illinois, at an early day, from which place he was elected a member of a legislature. In 1825 he was appointed by Governor Coles, Secretary of State, and went to Vandalia in the discharge of the duties of that office. In December, 1828, he resigned the posi- tion, and in January following was appointed Attorney-General by Governor Edwards. Re- signing this latter office the same year, he re- moved to Springfield. He afterwards repre- sented Sangamon county in the State Senate, and was at one time register of the land office in Springfield. He was considered by his contem- ])oraries a fair lawyer and had a good business. He (lied September 12, 18:38. oJZ^C/^ iT oC^<^'C HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 83 A sketch of John T. Stuart, who hail his first casein the April term, 1829, of the Circuit Court, and who is at present actively engaged in busi- ness in Springfield, appears m connection with the seventh decade. As illustrative of the way the lawyers followed the circuit, the following reminiscence by Judge William Thomas, of Jacksonville, is here given: "My Kentucky law license is dated July 5, 1823 (granted before I was twenty-one). My Illinois license is dated October, 1820. The lirst court that I attended in Illinois was held in this place, November, 1826; John York Sawyer was Circuit Judge. The attorneys i,n attend- ance were, John Reynolds, BellevilTe^; James Turney, Attorney General, and Alfred W. Cav- arly, of CarroUton; William H. Brown, Benja- min JNIills and George Forquer, of Vandalia; David Prickett, Edwardsville; Murray McCon- nell, John Turney and Benjamin Cox, of this place; Jonathan H. Pugh, Thomas M. Neale and James M. Strode, of Springfield. The bus- iness of the court was finished in less than a week, and the next and last court held by Judge Sawyer was in Sj)ringfield in the same month. With two exceptions, McConnell and Cox, the same attorneys were in attendance at Spring- field, with the addition of William S. Ilamil- ton, General James Adams, Thomas Mofl:'ett, of Springfield, and John L. Bogardus, of Peoria. "The First Judicial Circuit at that time was composed of the counties of Greene, Morgan, Sangamon, Peoria, Fulton, Schuyler, Adams, Pike and Calhoun. A week was allowed to each term of the court in Greene, Morgan and San- gamon, and half a week in each of the other counties. From December, 1826, to March, 1827, I was employed as village schoolmaster in this place. In the spring of 1827, I attended all the courts in this circuit. S. J. Lockwood, of the Supreme Court, was required to hold the courts in this circuit — Greene, Morgan and San- gamon, with the resident attorneys — Reynolds, Turney, Pugh, Strode and Cavarly from other counties being in attendance. From Sangamon we went to Peoria, Bogardus resided there and kept the tavern. There was another attorney there who resided on the lake some distance above Peoria, his name I have forgotten. The Attorney General being absent, I was appointed to represent the people. Jacob Funk and one Ogee, having been indicted for an affray, to the "terror of the people," confessed guilty, were fined a small sum, and each paid my fee of $.5, with which I paid my traveling expenses around the circuit. The attorneys present at this court 10— from other counties were, John Turney, James M. Strode, Jonathan II. Pugh and General James Adams. " From Peoria the court went to Fulton county, Pugh, Turney, Adams and myself being tlie oidy attorneys, besides a resident attorney whose name I have forgotton. Judge Phelps entertained the judge and Bar, and refused pay. Here I was employed in an appeal case, which I gained, and received -So for ray fee. John Tur- ney was appointed to represent the people. There was no criminal case for trial. From there we went to Schuyler county, our horses swimming Spoon river, and we crossed in a canoe. There we found at the county seat but two f.amilies — Hart Fellows, clerk, and Terry, recorder. Pugh was appointed to prosecute, but there was no criminal case on tlie docket — the grand jury found no bills — and after the trial of a few appeal cases the court adjourned on the second day. "From that county we went to Quincy, trav- eling through the prairie in a day, distance sixty miles, with no roads. I think there was no resident attorney at Quincy. We met there General Hanson, J. W. Whitney and J. I. Ross, of Atlas, Pike county. Here I was appointed to prosecute. There was but one crinnnal case tried, the pai-ty was convicted, and paid my fee of $5. From that county we went to Pike. There we met the Attorney General and Mr. Cavarly from CarroUton, and Colonel Jenkins from Calhoun county. Captain Leonard Ross, then sheriff of the county, entertained the court and Bar, refusing pay. He was one of nature's noblemen, from Massachusetts. "Three days were occupied with the business of the court, and then we went to Gilead, county seat of Calhoun county, where I was era- ployed to defend a doctor, indicted for raurder — a case of supposed malpractice, but, in fact, a case of ignorance and malice. In employing me he said that 1*20 was all he had, that he was in feeble health, had a sick family, and was in destitute circumstances. I agreed to defend him for the $20, being satisfied of his inno- cence and of his extreme poverty. Upon the trial of the case and the charge of tlie court, the jury found him not guilty. More than twenty years after I met this doctor at Spring- field, a member of the legislature. He was still in feeble health, remembered and recognized me, but I did not him, until he made himself known. There the circuit ended. "The resident and non-resident attorneys who practiced in this circiiit, say in May, 1827, 84 HISTORY OK SANGAMON COUNTY were, John Reynolds, Belleville; James Turney and Alfred W. Cavarly, CarroUton; Benjamin Mills, Vandalia; Samuel McRoberts, Edwards- ville; Murray MeConnell, John Turney, Benja- min Cox and William Thomas, Jacksonville; Jonathan H. Pugh, William S. Hamilton, James M. Strode. Thomas M. Neale, General James Adams and Thomas Moffett, Springfield; John L. Bogardus, Peoria; General N. Hanson, James W. Whitney and John I Ross, Pike county; Colonel Jenkins, of Calhoun, brother of Lieu- tenant Governor Jenkins. Of all these attor- neys I am the sole survivor." SECOND DECADE. In the second decade, from IS.'il to 1841, an arra}' of names appear, some of whom have made a reputation that is world-wide. For char- acter, learning and ability the Bar during this decade has never been surpassed either in San- gamon county or in any county in the State, and perhaps not in the Union. At what Bar will be found the superior, or even the equal of Abra- ham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, James Shields, Stephen T. Logan, John T. Stuart, Ed- ward Jones, Dan Stone, Samuel H. Treat Ninian W. Edwards, E. D. Baker, Cyrus Walker, Jesse B Thomas, and A. T. Bledsoe, all of whom engaged in practice and often appeared before the courts of Sangamon county during this time? Not alone as attorneys, but as states- men, the greater number of the foregoing were prominent in after years. James C. Conkling, who was cotemporary with those named says this of law and lawyers at that time: '■ Forty years ago, business was not so great in extent as to occupy the full time of the law- yer. Suits were not so numerous, or so impor- tant, as to afford a support for himself and fam- ily. He engaged in political life as an employ- ment, and solicited office to improve his slender income. A much larger number of the promi- nent members of the legal profession then became members of the State Legislature or of Congress than at present. The people demanded their political services, and they were happy and anxious to accommodate the people. A political contest gave them notoriety among the masses, and afforded them an opportunity to display their abilities. A reputation for elo- ■quence and skill in debate was a recommenda- tion as lawyers in the practice of their profes- sion. Hence we find the names of Reynolds, Edwards, Cook, Casey, Breese, Browning, Har- din, Baker, Williams, Shields, Douglas, Trum- bull, Lincoln, McClernand and numerous others almost as frequently, in the political annals of our State, as upon the records of our courts. As lawyers they were eminent: as statesmen many of them became illustrious." In addition to those named, the records of the courts show the following named as practicing here between the years 18.31 to 1841: Edward J. Phillips, Henry E. Dummer, William L. May, Josephus Hewitt, Charles Emerson, David Prickett, Jesse B. Thomas, D. B. Campbell, Justin Butterfield, Antrim Campbell, John D. Urquhart, John C. Doremus, James C. Conkling, Charles R. Wells, Schuyler Strong, B. S. Ed- wards, and W. J. Gatewood, a list of which the Bar of any county might be proud. During the latter part of this decade, the United States Circuit Court and the Supreme Court of Illinois were removed from Vandalia to Springfield. Isaac N. Arnold, in an address delivered before the Illinois State Bar Associa- tion, at Springfield, January 7, 1881, says: " I wish, with the graphic power, of Sir Walter Scott, I could call up a picture of the United States Circuit Court and the Supreme Court of Illinois, and the lawyers then practicing before them, as they were in 1839, and on during the following years. If we could, in fancy, enter the United States Circuit Court room in this city, in June, 18.39, we should be impressed with the majestic figure, imposing presence and dignified bearing of the presiding judge, John McLean, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. His person and face were often compared to Wash- ington's — whom he is said to have strikingly re- sembled." " Nathaniel Pope, the District Judge, was shorter and stouter in person, more blunt and sturdy in manner, and not so familiar with the law books, the cases, and literature of the law, but of a most clear, vigorous and logical mind. If we enter their court, then held, if I am not mistaken, in one of the churches in this city, we should find Ferris Foreman, then United States District Attorney, prosecuting the case of " 77/« United States vs. Gratiot" then a historic name in Missouri and the Northwest, in a case arising under a lease, by the Government, of a portion of the lead mines of Galena. We should hear the late Judge Breese making a very learned argument for the defense. If we lingered until the next case was called, we should hear the sharp, clear, ringing voice of Stephen T. Logan opening his case. If we remained until the trial ended, we should concur in the remark that tliis small, red-haired man, inferior in person, but with an eye whose keenness indicated his sharp niSTORY OF SANOAMON COUNTY. 85 and incisive intellect; this little man, take him all in all, was then the best nisi^^rhis lawyer in the State, and it would be difficult to find his superior anywhere. Among the leading practi- tioners in the court in Springfield in 1839, were Logan, liincoln, Baker, Trumbull, Buttertield & Cotlins, Spring & Goodrich, Cowles & Kvuni, Davis, Ilardin, Browning, and Archy W'illiams." "To a contemporary of those early members of the Bar, the roll of attorneys admitted in those days bring up sad and pleasant memories. On that roll, in 18-36, you iind the name of Thomas Drummond, now a venerable .Judge of the North- ern District of our State; David Davis, late Judge, and now Senator; Archy Williams and Anthony Thornton. In 1837 I find the names of Abraham Lincoln, William A. Richardson, Lyman Trumbull, Mahlon D. Ogden, Joseph Gillespie; and in 1838, .Justin Butterfield, James A. McDougall, Hugh T. Dickey, Schuyler Strong, John J. Ilardin, Judge E. Peck, J. Young Scam- mon, and others, and from that time on, the names become more numerous." Continuing his reminiscenses, Mr. Arnold said: " In those early days it was my habit, and that, also, of those practicing in the LTnited States Court, to come to Springfield twice each year, to attend the semi-annual terms of court held in June and December. We made our trips in Frink & Walker's coaches, and I have known the December trip to take five days and nights, dragging drearily through the mud and sleet, and there was an amount of discomfort, vexa- tion and annoyance about it sufficient to exhaust the patience of the most amiable. I think I have noticed that some of my impulsive brethren of the Chicago Bar have become less profane since the rail-cars have been substituted for the stage-coaches. But the June journey was as agreeable as the December trip was repulsive. A four-in-hand with splendid horses, the best of Troy coaches, good company, the exhilaration of great speed over an elastic road, much of it a turf of grass, often crushing under our wheels the most beautiful wild flowers, every grove fragrant with blossoms, framed in the richest green, our roads not fenced in by narrow lanes, but with freedom to choose our route; here ami there a picturesque log-cabin, covered with vines; the boys and girls on their way to the log-schools, and the lusty farmer digging his fortune out of the rich earth. Everything fresh and new, full of young life and enthusiasm, these June trips to Springfield would, I think, compare favorably even with those we made to-day in a luxurious Pullman car. But there were exceptions to these enjoyments; sometimes a torrent of rain would in a few hours so swell the streams that the log bridges and banks would be entirely submerged, and a stream which a few hours before was nearly dry, became a foaming torrent. F'ording, at such times, was never agreeable, and sometimes a little dan- gerous. FORDIXe SALT CREEK. "I recall a ludicrous incident on our way to Springfield, I think, in June, 1842. We had a coach, crowded with passengers, most of us lawyers, on our way to the United States Court. In passing from Peoria to Springfield, we attempted to ford one of these streams which had been lately raised so that its banks were nearly a quarter of a mile apart. When we had driven half across the horses left the track, got into a bad slough, and were stalled. All efforts to extricate the coach failed, and, at length, the driver gave up the attempt in despair; said he must take ofE the horses and go to the next sta- tion for help; those who chose might mount a horse and ride ashore; or, if they preferred, might wade ashore or stay in the coach until he returned, or wait until another coach, which was behind, should come up; we might wait for it, provided we were not carried down the stream by the current. Some decided to try their for- tunes on a stage horse; others stripped off trousers, boots ond stockings, and taking their coat-tails under ther arms, started to wade ashore. Old Dr. Maxwell was of our party, a very stout gentleman, with short legs, and weighing near three hundred pounds. The doctor sat by the window of the coach, grimly watching the various groups, and turning his eyes now to the equestrians, and now to those buffeting the cur- rent on foot, and envying some of the long- legged gentlemen who were struggling towards the shore. Seeing the doctor unusually grave, a friend called to him: " What ig the matter, doctor? " " Why don't you come on? '" "I don't like the aspect," said he. "The diagnosis is threatening. My legs are too short to wade, and there is not a horse in the team that can carry my weight through this current. Sink or swim; survive or perish; I shall stick to the ship." " Well," replied an irreverent and saucy young lawyer, " if you are washed away and cast ashore by the current, I should like to have the opinion of Judge Dickey (not the present Chief Justice) whether you would not be flotsam and Jetsum, 86 IIISTOKY OF SANCiAMON COUNl'V. and belong, medicine and all, to the sovereign people of Illinois?" "Fortunately, our driver soon returned and res- cued our genial doctor. "I must not omit to mention the old-fashioned, generous hospitality of Springfield — hospitality proverbial to this day throughout the Stale. Among others, I recall, with a sad pleasure, the dinners and evening parties given by Mrs. Lin- coln. In her modest and simple home, everything orderly and refined, there was always, on the part of bothhostand hostess, a cordial and hearty Wes tern welcome, which )iut every guest perfectly at ease. Mrs. Lincoln's table was famed for the excellence of many rare Kentucky dishes, and in season, it was loaded with venison, wild turkeys, prairie chickens, quail and other game, which was then abundant. Yet it was her genial man- ners and ever-kind welcome, and Mr. Lincoln's wit and humor, anecdote and unrivalled conver- sation, which formed the chief attraction. We read much of " merrie England," but I doubt if tliere was ever anything more "merrie" than Springfield in those days. As, to-day, I walk your streets, and visit the capital, and your court rooms, as I enter the old home of Lincoln, for the first time since 1860, memories of the past come thronging back; I see his tall form, his merry laugh breaks upon my ear; I seem to hear the voice of Douglas, of Baker, of Hardin, and of Logan! " How are we startled in the wind's low tones B^- voices that are gone." "Nor, in recalling the past, must I forget the hospitable home of Judge Treat, who, to-day, as then, in his ample library, may well say: " That place that does contain, Mj books, the best companions, is to me A glorious court, where hourly I converse With the old sages and philosophers." At this time I he Supreme Court of the State was composed of four judges, three of whom were Whigs, and the fourth a Democrat. When (Governor Carlin came into office in 1838, he claimed the right to appoint a new secretary before any vacancy e.visted. He nominated John A. McClcrnand; l)iit the Senate, by a vote of twenty-two to eighteen, declared that the ex- ecutive did not possess the power to nominate a secretary, except in case of vacancy, and they therefore rejected the nomination. After the adjournment of the legislature he undertook to appoint McClernand as secretary, who thereupon demanded possession of the office, but was re- fused. McClernand then filed an information, in the nature of a quo warranto, before Judge Kreese, in the Circuit Court of Fayette county, who decided in his favor. Field took an appeal to the Supreme Court, where the decision was reversed. Aside from the political questions involved, the case was of considerable import- ance. Able counsel appeared on each side. For the appellant, were Cyrus Walker, Justin Buttertield and Levi Davis. For the ap])ellee, Stephen A. Douglas, James Shields and Wick- liffe Kitchell, the Attorney-General. Wilson and LiH-kwood, the Whig judges, concurred, and Smith dissented. Brown being connected with the relator, declined to sit in the cause. The court decided that the Governor did not possess the power to remove the Secretary of State at his pleasure; that when that officer was once appointed, he continued in office during good behavior, or until the legislature limited the term or authorized some public functionary to remove him. The decision caused great ex- citement in political circles against the "Whig Court," because it prevented the Democrats from occupying one of the principal offices of the government; and it had a considerable influ- ence in causing the reorganization of that tri- bunal. Edward J. Phillips, one of the first to com- mence here the practice of law in the second decade, was a man of fine personal appearance, above the average in scholarship, and a fine business man. He continued the practice of his profession but a short time, and then secured a position in the State bank, and as an officer of that institution was exceedingly popular as he was also in social life. Edward Jones commenced the practice of law in Springfield as a partner of George Forqner. Edward Jones was born at Georgetown, D. C, May 8, 1811. He commenced his education at a classical academy in his native town, and made good ])rogress in his studies, but having a strong predilection for military life, he entered a select military school at the seat of the National Gov- ernment. After completing his academic studies, he commenced reading law in the office of John Marbury, and afterwards attended tlie Virginia Law School at Winchester. He was admitted to practice at the Bar in March, 1830, just two months before he was nineteen years of age. Being of an active and energetic temperament, he turned his face to the great West, and, in the following May, settled in Illinois, fixing his residence at Springfield. During the troubles of the frontier growing out of the Black Hawk war, he exhibited his HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 87 naturnl I'oiulness for military life, b}' serving in the campaigns of 1831 and 1832. In the spring of 1834, Judge Lockwood ten- dered liini the appointment of Clerk of the Cir- cuit Court of Tazewell county, ^nd he removed to Pekin, the county seat of that county. After holding the office about three years and a half, he resigned and resumed the practice of law. This he continued to do honorably and success- fully until the call for volunteers in the Mexi- can war in June, 1840, aroused his patriotic feel- ings. He at once raised a company, which became Company F, of Colonel Baker's regi- ment. He first served with his regiment under General Taylor and then under General Scott. He was engaged in the storming of Vera Cruz and the memorable battle of Cerro Gordo. The term of service of his regiment having expired, he was reluctantly comjielled to return home. ' The remaining volunteers of that regiment have a vivid recollection of his bravery, fortitude, gen- erosity and kindness, as well as military skill. For some years after his return from Mexico, and until his health failed him, he was a success- ful practitioner. Mr. Jones had the reputation, which he richly deserved, as one of the finest men in his profession. He had a purely legal mind, and this natural aptitude he had diligently improved by his professional studies. His knowledge of tlie principals and practice of law was so intimate and thorough that he could give an extemporaneous opinion upon any case sub- mitted to him, and it was very seldom that an after consultation of authorities made a change of opinion necessary. His fame as a special pleader was wide-spre.id. He was considered a Fabius in defense — being remarkably successful in delaying the contest till the m^ost propitious m^onient. Edward Jones was eminently social in his na- ture, and was surrounded by hosts of friends who prized his society to the 'last. Even after his health had so far failed him as to render him Tintit for his professional duties, his friends still crowded their business upon him. His attach- ment to the community in which he lived was ardent and unchanging. Whoever traduced it might expect to meet him as its defender. Edward Jones died December 20,1857, and was buried in Pekin, Tazewell county. Tiie estimation in which he was held by the Bar in that place was embodied in a series of resolu- tions, one of which said : "We have found him a noble and jiowerful advocate, scorning to do anything unprofessional — eloquent, profound in argument, unanswerable in reasoning, and ever successful in the fierce conflict of intellect with intellect." Henry E. Dummer was a man of superior talents, a tine lawyer and scholar, and exceed- ingly refined in manner. He was a native of Maine, and had drifted West in 1832. In the spring of this year he was in Cincinnati, and noticing the advertisement of a boat going up the Sangamon river, determined to take passage to the new country. Arriving here in due time, he soon formed a partnership with John T. Stuart, this relation continuing but a short time. After dissolution of the co-partner- ship, Mr. Dummer went to Jacksonville, where he remained a short time, and then drifted on to Beardstown. In this latter city he married, set- tled down and became eminently successful in the practice of his profession. From Beards- town he returned to Jacksonville and became a member of the firm of Dummer, Brown & Kirby. He died about 1877. Stephen T. Logan. — This celebrated lawyer and jurist, who long stood at the head of the Illinois Bar, was born in Franklin county, Ken- tucky, on February 24, 1800, and was descended from a good family of Scotch-Irish origin. He was the eldest, and, we believe, the only son of David Logan — a man of strong sense and ster- ling integrity, who died about the year 1821. His grandfather. Colonel John Logan, was one of the leading pioneers of Kentucky, who fig- ured prominently in the Indian wars of the period, was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1799, and held, during several years, the important office of State Treasurer. His mother, Mary Trigg, was the daughter of Colonel Stephen Trigg (a native of Virginia), who was killed at the memorable battle of the Blue Licks, in August, 1782. When Stephen Trigg Logan was two years old, his parents removed to Lincoln county, where his mother died a few years later, leaving him a half orphan at a tender age. He received his early education in Frankfort, Kentucky, where he was also employed as a clerk in the office of the Secretary of that Commonwealth, under Martin D. Hardin, father to Colonel John .J. Hardin, of Illinois. In 1817 young Logan went to Crlasgow, the seat of justice of Barren county, and studied law under the tuition of his uncle, Judge Christopher Tompkins. About two years afterward, and before attaining his majority, he was admitted to the Bar, but did not immediately commence practice. On June 25, 1823, Mr. Logan was married to America T. Bush, daughter of William Bush, 88 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Esq., of Glasgow, by whom he had eight chil- dren — four sons and four daughters — only two of whom survive, namely: Sarah (Mrs. Lamon), and Jennie (JNIrs. Coleman). About the time of bis marriage he was appointed Commonwealth's Attorney for the Glasgow Circuit, and discharged the responsible duties of his position with marked fidelity and ability. In May, 1832, he removed with his family to Illinois, and settled at Springlield, where he ever afterward resided. Here he first formed a co-partnership with the Hon. William S. 3Iay, and resumed the active practice of his profes- sion in the spring of 1833. Subsequently, at different times, he was associated with E. 1). Bakei, Abraham Lincoln, and Milton Hay. In 18o5 Logan was elected to the office of Cir- cuit Judge, and remained on the bench two years, when he resigned and resumed legal prac- tice. In 1839 he was again elected judge, but declined to serve. In 1842 he was elected a representative from Sangamon county in the Illinois Legislature, and re elected in 1844 and 184G, serving throughout with great credit and success. In 1847 he was a leading member of the convention which formed the State Consti- tution, popularly known as the Constitution of 1848. During the latter year he became a can- didate for Congress in the Springfield district, in opposition to the late Hon. T. L. Harris. In 1854 Judge Logan was again returned to the legislature; and in 18C0 he \\as a delegate from the State at large to the Chicago Republican Convention, which nominated Mr. Lincoln for the Presidency. In February 1861, he was one of the five Commissioners from Illinois to the National Peace Congress at Washington city, and distinguished himself by his eloquence and patriotism in that historic assembly. Sulisequent to 1861, Judge Logan, having acquired both fame and fortune, withdrew from political and professional life, and passed the evening of his days in dignified retirement. His death occurred after a brief illness, at his residence in Springfield, on July IT, 1880. in the 81st year of his age. His obsequies were appro- propriately celebrated (the religious services being conducted by the Eeverend J. B. Allen of the Christian Church ), and his mortal re- mains were followed to their last resting place in Oak Ridge Cemeter)-, by a large concourse of sorrowing friends and legal associates, including many of the most distinguished men of the State. hrom a number of able and eloquent memor- ial addresses, delivered by representative mem- bers of the Bar and judiciary on the occasion of his decease, we have selected that of Joseph Wallace, Esq., made before the Common Coun- cil of Springfield, which presents, perhaps, the most elaborate and comprehensive analysis of Logan's character: Mr. W. said: — " Sir, an old and eminent citi- zen, a great lawyer, one whose name fills a large space in the earlier judicial and legislative annals of our State, has gone from the Sanga- mon County Bar to the Bar of God. This re- gretful event was not wholly unexpected by his family and most intimate friends, and yet it is difficult to realize that he is indeed no more. -In the language of the lamented E. D. Baker, 'It is not fit that such a man should pass unher- alded to the tomb ; it is not fit that such a life should steal unnoticed to its close; it is not fit that such a death should call forth no public lamentation.' Nor is it so. The public press of our own and other cities have already published eloquent and appreciative notices of the distin- guished dead; the members of our Bar have met in solemn conclave and placed upon record their high estimate of his public and private worth, and now we, the members of this Council, rep- resenting the Capital City of Illinois, wherein he made his home for nearly fifty years, and with whose liistory and growth he was prominently identified, would add our brief yet sincere tribute to his memory. " I shall not enter here upon any recital of the events of Stephen T. Logan's long and honorable life, which opened February 24, 1800, and closed July 17, 1880; but I may be permitted to offer a hasty review of his personal and professional character, and to cast a flower on his bier, even though it has to-day been borne in sad array through the portals of the tomb. " Whenever called upon to serve his fellow citizens in any public capacity, he responded to that call in a manner well calculated to reflect honor upon himself and conserve the public weal; but at no time in his history was he a pro- fessed politician or office seeker. He never wrote out his speeches for publication, and in- terspersed them at intervals with the words ' cheers ' and ' ajiplause.' He never ac([uired the modern art of manipulating ' primaries ' and ' cau- cuses.' He had ' no hired retainers, no paid letter- writers, no array of college companions to quote, commend and herald his fame to the world.' He had little taste and less aptitude for the ' out of doors management, the electioneering leger- demain, and the wearisome correspondence with local great men' — all of which, at this day, are HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 89 deemed requisite to political preferment and success. Nevertheless, his name and his deeds are inscribed in legible characters upon the offi- cial records of two States, and the inscriptions will not altogether fade. " The controlling attachment of Judge Logan, however, was centered in the law; his mind was pre-eminently a legal one, and his political ambi- tion was rendered subordinate to his love for this science. His active forensic career extended over a period of nearly half a century, the larger part of which was passed in the State of Illinois, and in this city. But those who saw him only as ' an old man broken by the storms of state,' can form no just idea of his appearance when, in the plenitude of his physical and intellectual powers, he stood forth the facile prmceps, the acknowledged leader of the Illinois Bar. "A celebrated English critic (Hazlitt) has said, that ' great natural advantages are seldom combined with great acquired ones, because they render the labor requisite to attain the last, super- fluous and irksome.' This remark is not inappli- cable to Logan, since he made no pretensions to scholarship in any pedantic sense of the term. He never collected a library worthy of the name, and garnished it with rare and costly works. His reading was neither very varied nor classical; his researches were chiefly in the line of his pro- fession, ' but therein they were thorough.' His superior mental endowments enabled him to comprehend on a cursory examination what would require ordinary minds protracted labor to master. His intellect was not only capacious and vigorous, but it was emphatically quick, keen and subtle, and having been early accus- tomed to habits of close investigation, he could seize upon the knottiest problems of law and un- ravel them with the greatest facility. Under his magic touch ' all doubt and difficulty were at once dispelled; and the naked truth stood forth plainly and palp.ably defined.' "In a court of justice, and especially a nisi prius court, Logan seemed most at home. In- deed, there was something exhilarating to him in the very atmosphere of the place. Here his exceptional talents were displayed in their best light, and here he might be studied to the best advantage. Entertaining and instructive it was to observe him before a jury engaged in the argument of some important cause. Resting one foot upon a chair, be begins with a fewcora- monplace remarks, uttered in a clear and con- versational tone. He then takes up the leading facts and strong points of his case, states them with singular perspicuity and force, dwells on tbem at length, and presents them fi-um every standpoint favorable to his client. As he pro- gresses he warms to his work. His small frame insensibly assumes a more erect and impressive attitude; his gestures become more frequent; his shrill voice is pitched to a higher key; his gray eyes glow with animation; every muscle is at jilay and every energy of his nature is aroused, while words, arguments, illustrations, appeals flow in torrents from his lips. At the conclu- sion of his speech he sinks into his seat in a pro- fuse perspiration and well nigh exhausted. He leaves little else to be said on his side of the case, for he has covered the whole ground. " Some French writer has observed that ' noth- ing is beautiful but what is natural.' This may well ajiply to Logan's style of speaking, which was formed after no model except his own, yet was beautiful because it was natural. He was accounted an eloquent speaker, though his elo- quence was of a peculiar kind and difficidt to describe. He seemed to have adopted Chief .Justice Marshall's maxim, and 'always aimed at strength.' His forte was reassuring, but it was reason imbued with intense animation; and he drove his juries to conviction as much by the resistless energy of his style as by the lucidity and compactness of his logic. His temperament was strongly emotional; and in the defense of persons arraigned for high crimes and misde- meanors, he sometimes touched with a master- hand those secret springs of feeling and passion that lie in the recesses of every human breast. Whenever he addressed the court upon any ques- tions of law, pleading or practice, he was heard with eager attention by his brethren of the Bar, because he threw a flood of light upon every legal principle he discussed. "It might be objected to Logan's forensic eiforts, particularly his jury efforts, that they were too replete with iteration, though this is a fault common to most lawyers, and arises partly from the nature of the calling itself. More- over, juries, as a rule, are not composed of a trained order of intellects, and hence it seems necessary for the skillful advocate to repeat over and re-combine the same facts and sirgu- ments in a variety of forms, so as to impress them indelibly upon the minds of those ad- dressed, and thus secure the desired verdict. One secret of his uniform success as a practi- tioner was due to the fact that, like Choate, he exerted himself to the utmost in almost every suit in which he was employed. No matter what the tribunal, the party or the fee, he put forth his whole strength, summoning to his aid 90 HISTORY OF SAN(iA3J()N COLXTY. the resources of his legal learning, his logic, his wit and knowledge of men, and struggled as for life for the mastery. "It is a quality of superior and dominating minds to rely upon themselves, and to take the lead in whatsoever enterprise they may engage. Such was true of Logan. It mattered not what ■was the character and standing of the counsel associated with him in a given lawsuit, he occu- pied the foreground, and on him rested the chief burden of the controversy. To his clients he was faithful to a degree that knew no bounds, except the bounds of honor. He iden- tified himself for the time with them, made their i ause his cause, and their interests his own. It would be hard to determine in what particular branch of jurisprudence he was most proficient — whether as a criminal, a common law, or a chancery lawyer — for he seemed alike at home in all, and in all he shone without a peer. But few men in this country have ever brought to the profession of the Bar so many qualifications to ensure success as he. 'Logan is the best natural lawyer I ever knew,' said the late Judge McLean, of the JJ. S. Circuit Court, himself a jurist of the soundest judgment and ripest experience; and such is the concurring testimony of all his immediate contemporaries. ''His demeanor at the Bar was neither opin- ionative nor arrogant, but was characterized by a proper respect for the rulings of the court, and by an otjliging disposition toward his pro- fessional associates. Still, his temper was nat- urally choleric, and quick to resent invidious re- marks and unprofessional conduct on the part of opposing counsel. At such times they were certain to feel the sting of his retorts, keen and j)ungent as the rapier's thrust. " The life of the lawyer in full practice is any- thing but a life of ease. It is rather one of excitement and anxiety, of patient investigation and unremitting toil, spent in the perusal of authorities, the preparation of pleas and briefs, and in the trial or adjustment of vexatious and complicated causes. Hence, in time he becomes worn out with the corroding cases of his clients; and when the silver thread of life is at last sun- dered forever, only a scanty and fragmentary record remains of his history. 'Probably in no department of life,' says an able writer, ' is there displayed so much talent which leaves no lasting record. The shrewd management and ready wit, the keen retort, the deep learning, and the impassioned eloquence of the accomplished law- yer, all come in play and tell strongly on the result, bnt they do their work and are seen no more; felt and admired at the time, they go to make up the contemporaneous estimate living at the jilace, but not to be reproduced for other times and other admirers.' How next to impos- sible, then, in a mere skeleton sketch like the present, to recall and portray those ' nice shades of character and talent, of thought and feeling, of look and gesture, of wit and pathos, that went to form the sum total of Stephen Trigg Logan's greatness and fame as a lawyer. "During the first year of the troubled admin- istration ot the late President Lincoln, a vacancy occurred on the Supreme Bench of the L^nited States, to be filled b7 a Western jurist. Where- upon, the special friends of Judge Logan recom- mended him as eminently qualified for the place; but the President, for reasons satisfactory to himself, ignored the claims of his old-time friend and law paitner, and appointed another to the judgeship. Some have thought that Logan would not have accepted the office if it had been tendered him, but this is improbable. Conscious of the possession of superior abilities, it was but natural for him to be ambitious, and to aspire to some commanding height, whence he could make his influence felt and his power known to tie whole country. Had he been raised to a seat in that august tribunal, he would doubtless have shone as a star of the first magnitude in our judicial constellation, and his recorded opin- ions have enriched the judicial literature of the land. But the sister Fates decreed for him a less conspicuous, though scarcely less useful destiny. "In private life Logan was one of the most exemplary of men. Simple in his tastes, regu- lar in his habits, unpretentious in his manners, and careless of his attire, he lived, moved and acted as if he were one of the least influential and observed of mankind. He was punctual and exact in all his business iransactions. His maxim was to 'owe no man anything,' and to pay as he went — a most excellent Scriptural rule, but one more honored in the breach than the observance. He was also a man of unusually strong local and domestic attachments, and, while given to hospitality, preferred the quiet of his own fireside, and the society of his own family to that of all others; and, as a corrollary to this, he was one of the kindest of husbands and most indulgent of fathers. "In conclusion it may be proper to say, that in his riper and declining years he experienced many severe afliictions. He outlived the major portion of his immediate family and kindred. He lost, in succession, all four of his sons, HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 91 whom ho hail douhtless hoped wouhi have per- petuated his name and fame to other genera- tions. He saw his loved companion, the mother of his children, borne from his house of mourn- ing 'to the house appointed for all living;' he followed two of his amiable daughters in sor- row to the tomb; but amid all these domestic trials, Logan was Logan still; and, at length, worn out by the trials and cares and conflicts of this sublunary life, he bowed his withered head in submission to the will of his Creator, and slept with his fathers. No more shall we see his sliglit form and sharply chiseled features on the busy thoroughfares; no more shall we meet him in the bustling courts of law, so long the theatre of his intellectual struggles and tri- umphs; and nevermore shall the temples of jus- tice reverberate with the tones of his shrill, clear voice; for that heart once so fiery, and that tongue once so impassioned, now lie pulse- less and still in death. "Thus one after another these relics of the past, these tottering monuments of a former and perhaps better generation, are going home to the silent land — 'to that shore from whose sands is never heard the echo of retreating foot- steps.' 'Thus,' says Irving, 'man passes away; his name gradually perishes from record and recollection; his history is a tale that is told, and his very monument becomes a ruin.' But, sir, I will 'No farther seek his merils to disclose, Nor draw his frailties from their dread abode; There Ihey alilve in trembling hopes repose. The bosom of his Father and his God.' " Hon. David Prickett, prominently identified with the early history of Illinois and Sangamon county, was born in Franklin county, Georgia, September 21, 1800. In early childhood he went with his parents to Kentucky, and a few years later to Edwardsville, Illinois, then a prominent town of this State. He graduated from the law department of Transylvania University, in Lex- ington, Kentucky, and was admitted to practice at Edwardsville, Illinois, November 1.5, 1821. Mr. Prickett served as the first Supreme Court Reporter of Illinois, was for a time Judge of Probate Court of Madison county; was elected a member of the State Legislature in 1826, when the Capitol was at Vandalia. He served as aide- de-camp to General John D. Whiteside in the Black Hawk war in 1831; was elected State At- torney in 1837 for the First Judicial Circuit of Illinois, composed of Pike, Calhoun, Greene, Morgan, Sangamon, Tazewell, McLean, Macon 11— and Macoupin counties. He served as Treasurer of the Board of Canal Commissioners during the construction of the Michigan and LaSalle canal in 1840; in 1842 was appointed Director, in be- half of the State, of the Slate Bank of Illinois; was Clerk of the House of Representatives ten sessions; and was serving as Assistant Clerk o'' the House of Representatives at the time of his death, March 1, 1847. He dealt considerably in real estate, especially city property, and was joint proprietor in haying out additions to sev- eral cities in Illinois. Mr. Prickett married Charlotte, daughter of Thomas and Christiana Griffith, of Tazewell county, on January 24, 1834. She was born March 9, 180G. Their marital union resulted in five children, Christiana G., Thomas G., Gibson R., Hannah O., living, and Susan, deceased. Mrs Prickett died November 2, 1876. Her father. Dr. Thomas Griffith, was one of the original proprietors of Pekin, Taze- well county. William L. May is a Kentuckian by birth, re- moving from that State to Edwardsville, Illinois, from thence to Jacksonville, and from there to Springfield, in 1829, having received the ap- pointment of Receiver of the Land Office in the latter place. Here in 1833 he formed a partner- ship with Stephen T. Logan. Mr. May was much more of a politician than a lawyi^r, and was a man of good address and a capital stump- speaker. In 1834 he was elected to Congress, and again in 1836. In 1838 he failed of receiv- ing the nomination, which went to Stephen A. Douglas. In the course of time Mr. May re- moved to Peoria, and from thence to California, where he died. Dan. Stone became a member of the Bar of Sangamon county in 1833. He was a native of Vermont and a graduate of Middlebury College, in his native State. He afterwards went to Cin- cinnati, studied law with his uncle, Ethan Stone, and practiced in that city for several years, and during that time was a member of the legisla- ture, and also a member of the city council. On his removal to Springfield he at once took rank with the best lawyers. He was elected a member of the legislature in 1836, and was one of the fainous " long nine " members of that body from this county. While a member of the legis- lature he received the appointment of Judge of the Circuit Court, and was assigned to duty in the northern part of the State and moved to Galena. In 1838 he rendered a decision with reference to the vote of an alien, which so dis- pleased the party in power that the courts were reorganized by the legislature, and Judge Stone 92 HISTORY OF SANGAiMON COU^■TY. legislated out of office. He soou after left the State, and a fewyears later died in Essex county, New Jersey. Josepbus Ilewett came to Springfield about 1830, at wbicb time be was a Cbristian preacber, an eloquent "defender of the faitb once deliv- ered to tbe Saints." He read law witb Judge Logan, and was admitted to tbe Bar about 183+. In 1835 he formed a partnership witb Cyrus Walker, of Macomb, Mr. Hewett remaining in Springfield and Mr. Walker in Macomb, but practicing together in the various courts of tbe State. Mr. Hewett became one of the most noted lawyers of that day, and is spoken of by the older members of the profession as a man of strong mind and very eloquent in his pleadings. He removed from Springfield to Mississippi, where he died since tbe war. David B. Campbell came to Springfield in 1838, from New Jersey, his native State. He was a fair lawyer and a good prosecutor, serving as Prosecuting Attorney from 1848 to 1856, dy- ing in ofiice in the latter year. He was a fair- minded man, and while Prosecuting Attorney would never prosecute one charged with crime unless thoroughly convinced of his guilt. Dave Campbell was quite a joker, and a good story is told of hira and one Benedict, of which he is responsible, it appearing in his "Reminis- cences" as follows: The hotels, in those days, I remember, being scarce of beds, used frequently to put two of us lawyers in one bed; and it frequently fell to the lot of Campbell and Benedict to occtipy the bed between them. One day I heard Campbell say to Benedict, with a smirk on his face: " Benedict, you must get the landlord to fur- nish you a bed to yourself." "Well, suppose he hasn't got one," said Benedict. " Then you must sleep on the floor, or get the landlord to furnish you a berth up in his hay- mow." " What is your objections to sleeping with me. General David Campbell?" " Confound you," replied Campbell, " I never did sleep with you, Ijut I have lain with you. To sleep with you would be impossible. You snore like a cyclops, and your breath smells so of mean whisky that I would as soon breathe the air of a charnel house and live in reach of its eternal stench " "Well," said Benedict, "General Campbell, I ■will show you that you shall sleep with me, and if either of us has to sleep on the floor or go to the hay-mow, it will be you and not me." "Well, well," responded Campbell, with a sinister smile on his face, "we will see about it." So that night Dave Campbell went to bed earlier than usual, and so about twelve o'clock at night along comes Benedict, pretty much " how- come-you-so." Addressing himself to Campbell, who feigned to be half asleep, he said: "Hello, therel Dave, lay over to the back of the bed, and give me room in front." Before going to bed that evening Dave had armed his heel by buckling on it one of his spurs. When Benedict got undressed, even to the taking off of his drawers, he jumped into bed and began to fondle on Campbell. Dave quietly drew up his heel that had the spur on and planted it about six inches above Benedict's knee, and gave it a turn downwards, crying, " Get up there! get up therel " as though he was speaking to his horse. Benedict gave a sudden leap and landed about the middle of the floor, crying out in great agony: "JesusI the fellow has got the nightmare or delirium tremens, and has taken me for his blamed old horse." Judge Davis and Lincoln, who were sleeping in the same room, could stand this no longer. They burst out into the most uproarious laughter. Antrim Campbell, a brother of David, was l>orn in New Jersey in 1814. He came to Springfie'd in 1838, and entered upon the prac- tice of his profession. In 1849, he was appointed Master in Chancery for the Circuit Court of Sangamon county, and resigned the same in 1861, when he received the appointment of Mas- ter in Chancery for the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of Illinois. While never taking high rank as an attorney, he was recognized as a good Master in Chan- cery and an excellent business man. lie died August 11, 1868. A. T. Bledsoe was a worthy member of the Sangamon County Bar during the last year of its Second Decade and extending nearly through the third. He came to Springfield from Greene county in 1840. While a young man he grad- uated from West Point, and shortly after re- signed his position in the army, studied for the ministry, was ordained a minister in the Episco- palian Church. Becoming disatisfied, he resigned his charge, studied law and was admitted to the Bar before coming to S]iringfield. On his ar- rival here he formed a partnership with Jesse B. Thomas, which continued about a year, when he became a partner of E. D. Baker. Major Stuart says that for real logic he was tbe strong- est man at this Bar at that time. But content- HISTORY OF SANGAMON COITNTY. 93 ment was not » ilh him a cardinal virtue. He could remain in one position but a short time. He was an author of several scientific works, which were well received by the learned. Mr. Bledsoe about 1850 drifted Soutli, was President of a college in Mississippi for a time, and at the breaking out of the war was professor of mathe- matics in a college at Charlotteville, Virginia. Espousing the Southern side, he was made Assistant Secretary of War, but becoming con- vinced that the Southern Confederacy was about to collapse, shortly before the close of the war, it is said that he applied to his old friend Abra- ham Lincoln, President of the United States, for a pass through the lines, receiving which he came within the Union lines and soon embarked for Europe, where he remained until the close of the war. Returning, he visited his old friends in Springfield, then again went South, and has since died. Charles R. Willis was from Connecticut, was well educated, but done little business in law. Soon after coming to Springfield he engaged in the real estate business, in which he accumulated a large fortune. He died many years ago. Schuyler Strong was from New York, and well advanced in years before coming to Spring- field. In his native State he was regarded as no ordinary lawyer, and was recognized as the peer of any when he arrived here. If it had not been for one grevious fault, so common, suc- cess would have crowned his every effort. He died about 1845. Niuian W. Edwards is the son of Ninian Edwards, the first and only Territorial Gover- nor of Illinois. He was born April 15, 1809, near Frankfort, Kentucky. His father at that time was Chief Justice of the Court of Ap- peals of Kentucky, but, receiving the appoint- ment of Governor of the Territory of Illinois, he removed with his family in June following, to Kaskaskia, its capital. When the proper age, Ninian W. was sent to Transylvania University, and graduated in the law department of that institution in 1833. Previous to his graduation, and in 1832, he was married to Miss Elizabeth P. Todd, in Lexington, Kentucky. Returning home after his graduation, he commenced the practice of law. In 1834, he was appointed by Governor Reynolds, Attorney General of the State, and was shortly afterwards elected by the legislature. The law requiring the Attorney General to reside at the capital, and Mr. Ed- wards not liking a residence in Vandalia, he resigned the office in February, 1835, and shortly afterwards removed to Springfield. In 1836, Mr. Edwards was elected one of the Rep- resentatives in the legislature, and was also one of the "Long Nine," and is now, in 1881,theonly one living of the number. From 1836 to 1852, iNIr. Edwards served in the legislature, either in the Senate or House of Representatives, being a very efficient member, lie was also a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention which formed the constitution of 1848. In 1852 he was appointed Attorney before the Board of Commissioners to investigate the claims of canal contractors against the State, amounting to over $1,500,000. In 1854 he received the ap- pointment of State Superintendent of Public Instruction by Governor Matteson, and was the first incumbent of that office. He was retained in this office by the legislature until 1857. Mr. Edwards has always been a champion of free schools, and drafted the law in regard to them which was first adopted in the State. In 1862, he was appointed by President Lincoln, LTnited States Commissary. Aside from his official duties, Mr. Edwards has found time to prepare a history of the State of Illinois, including the Life and Times of Governor Edwards, written on tile invitation of the Illinois State Histori- cal Society. It is a valuable work, and is re- garded as a standard on the subject on which it treats. As a lawyer, Mr. Edwards ranked high while an active member of the Bar, and even at this day on some subjects his views are often sought by the fraternity. Cyrus Walker was a Kentuckian by birth; studied law and was admitted to the Bar in his native State, where he became very prominent, especially as a criminal lawyer. On account of his defense of a murderer, and his acquittal, whom the people generally thought should have been hung, Kentucky became uncomfortably warm for him, so that he came to Illinois and settled in Macomb, in 1833. He was a man of strong mind, an excellent lawyer, and withal very conscientious. In 1835 he was a partner of Jose])hu8 Hewitt, and in 1839 with James C. Conkling. His business was very extensive for many years in the various courts of Illinois. He died near Macomb, in 1876. ' In 1837, Abraham Lincoln was admitted to the Bar, and for the first time wrote in connec- tion with his name, "Attorney and Counselor- at-Law." While living in Salem, he had bor- rowed books from the law library of John T. Stuart, which he read and returned as the opportunity occurred. When convinced that he could stand an examination, he presented him- self for that purpose, and was duly licensed to 94 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. practice his profession. He immediately I'oimed a partnership with Mr. Stuart, which relation continued about two years. During this same year, Stephen A. Douglas became a citizen of Springfield, having received the appointment of Register in the Land Office. He soon afterwards formed a partnership with John D. Urquhart for the practice of law, and here commenced the rivalry of these two great men — Abraham Lin- coln and Stephen A. Douglas — men whom the world delights to honor. In the address already quoted, by Isaac N. Arnold, he says: "When, forty years ago, the Bar used to meet here at the capitol, in the Supreme and Ll^nited States Courts, and ride the circuit in our differ- ent sections of the State, Lincoln and Douglas did not occupy a position of such overshadowing importance as they do to-day. They did not beat us in our cases when law and justice were with us, and we did not realize that they were so greatly our superiors. But these two men have passed into history, and justly, as our great rep- resentative men. These are the two most promi- nent figures, not only in the history of Illinois, but of the Mississippi Valley, and their promi- nence, certainly that of Mr. Lincoln, will be in- creased as time passes on. I will, therefore, en- deavor to give such rough and imperfect outlines of them as lawyers, and advocates, and public speakers, as I can. We, who knew them person- ally, who tried causes with them and against them, ought, I think, to aid those who shall come after us, to understand them, and to determine what manner of men they were. In the first place, no two men could be found more unlike, physically and intellectually, in manners and in appearance, than they. " Lincoln was a very tall, spare man, six feet four inches in height, and would be instantly recognized as belonging to that type of tall, large-boned men produced in the northern part of the Mississippi Valley, and exhibiting its peculiar characteristics in the most marked de- gree in Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. " In any court room in the United States he would have been instantly picked out as a West- ern man. His stature, figure, dress, manner, voice and accent indicated that he was of the Northwest. "In manner he was always cordial and frank, and although not without dignity, he made every person feel quite at his ease. I think the first impression a stranger would get of him, whether in conversation or bv hearing him speak, was, that this is a kind, frank, sincere, genuine man, of transparent truthfulness and integrity; and before Lincoln had uttered many words, he would be impressed with his clear good sense, his remarkably simple, homely, but expressive Saxon language, and next his wonderful wit and humor. Lincoln was more familiar with the Bible than with any other book in the language, and this was apparent, both from his style and illustrations, so often taken from that Book. He verified the maxim, that it is better to know thoroughly a few good books than to read many. "Douglas was little more than five feet high, with a strong, broad chest, and strongly marked features; his manners, also, were cordial, frank and hearty. The poorest and hninblost found him friendly. He was, in his earlier years, hale fellow well met with the rudest and jioorest man in the court room. "Those of you who practiced law with liim, or ti'ied causes before him when on the bench, will remember that it was not unusual to see him come off the bench, or leave his chair at the Bar, and take a seat on the knee of a fiiend, and with one arm thrown familiarly around his friend's neck, have a friendly talk, or a legal or political consultation. Such familiarity would have shocked our English cousins, and disgusted our Boston brothers, and it has, I think, disap- peared. In contrast with this familiariiy of Douglas, I remember an anecdote illustrating Colonel Benton's ideas of his own personal dig- nity. A distinguished member of Congress, who was a great admirer of Benton, one day approached and slapped him familiarly and rudely on the shoulder. The Senator haughtily drew himself up, and said, 'That is a familiar- ity, sir, I never permit my fnends, much less a comparative stranger. Sir, it must not be re- peated.' "Lincoln and Douglas were, as we know, both self-educated, aud each the builder of his own fortune. Each became, very early, the recognized leader of the political (larty to which he belonged. Douglas was bold, unfiinching, impetuous, denunciatory and determined. He possessed, in an eminent degree, the qualities which create personal popularity, and he was the idol of his friends. Both Lincoln and Douglas were strong jury-lawyers. Lincoln, on the whole, was the strongest jury-lawyer we ever had in Illinois. Both were distinguished for their ability in seizing and bringing out, distinctly and clearly, the real points in a case. Both were very happy in the examination of witnesses; I think Lincoln the stronger of the two in cross-examination. lie could compel a witness to tell thi' truth when he meant to lie. HISTORY OP SANGAMON COUNTY. 95 He could make a jury laugh, and, generally, weep, at liis pleasure. Lincoln on the right side, and especially when injustice or fraud were to be exposed, was the strongest advocate. On the wrong side, or on the defense, where the accused was really guilty, the client with Douglas for his advocate would be more fortu- nate than with Lincoln. "Lincoln studied his cases thoroughly and exhaustively. Douglas had a wonderful faculty of extracting from his associates, from experts and others, by conversation, all they knew of a subject he was to discuss, and then making it so thoroughly his that all seemed to have origi- nated with himself. He so perfectly assimi- lated the ideas and knowledge of others that all seemed to be his own, and all that went into his mind came out improved. " The ablest argument I ever heard him make was in the case of Daniel Brainar vs. The Canal Trustees, argued at Ottawa, June, 1850, reported in 12 111. Reports, 488. The question involved the extent of the right of pre-emption by set- tlers ujion canal lands, within the city of Chi- cago. The judges were Treat, Trumbull and Caton. .Judges Treat and Trumbull concurred in deciding the case against Douglas, Judge Caton dissenting. He made, in this case, one of the ablest arguments I ever heard at any Bar. "In 1841, Mr. Douglas, being then not quite twenty-eight years old, was elected one of the Judges of the Supreme Court. He was not a profound lawyer, but with his clear common sense and incisive mind, alter a case was well argued, he always knew how to decide it. He held the position of Judge for about two years, and was then, after a very active canv.as, elected to Congress by a small majority over O. H. Browning. From this time until his death, in the early summer of 1861, he remained in Con- gress, serving in the House until 1840, when he was elected to the Senate, of which he continued a member to the time of his death. His ablest speech in the House was made on the 7th of January, 1 844, on a bill to refund to General Jackson the fine imposed upon him by Judge Hall, during the defense of New Orleans. In this masterly argument he took the then bold and novel ground that the fine was imposed in violation of law. It is a curious fact that, in this speech, Douglas claimed for General Jackson many of the war-powers exercised by President Lincoln and his generals during the rebellion, and for which tlie President was so bitterly de- nounced by his political opponents. This speech gave him a national reputation. After the death of the hero of New Orleans a pamphlet copy of this speech was found among Ins papers, with an endorsement in Jackson's hand-writing, and signed by him, in these words: "■This speech constitutes my defense. Hay it aside as an in- heritance for tny grand-children." . "Mr. Lincoln remained in active practice at the Bar until his nomination for the Presidency in 1860. His reputation as a lawyer and advocate was rising higher and higher. He had a large practice on the circuit all over the central part of this State, and he was employed in most of the important cases in the Federal and Supreme Courts. He went on special retainers all over Illinois, and occasionally to St. Louis, Cincin- nati, and Indiana. His law arguments ad- dressed to the judges were always clear, vigor- ous, and logical; seeking to convince rather by the application of principle than by the cita- tion of authorities and cases. On the whole, I always thought him relatively stronger before a jury than whh the court. He was a quick and accurate reader of character, and understood, almost intuitively, the jury, witnesses, parties, and judges, and how best to address, con- vince, and influence them. He had a power of conciliating and impressing everyone in his favor. A stranger coming into court, not know- ing him, or anything about his case, listening to Lincoln a few moments, would find himself involuntarily on his side, and wishing him suc- cess. His manner was so candid, so direct, the spectator was impressed that he was seeking only truth and justice. He excelled all I ever heard in the statement of his case. However complicated, he woidd disentangle it, and pre- sent the turning point in a way so simple and clear that all could understand. Indeed, his statement often rendered argument unnecessary, and often the court would stop him and say, "If that is the case, we will hear tlie other side." He had in the highest possible degree the art of persuasion and the power ot conviction. His illustrations were often ijuaint and homely, but always clear and apt, and generally conclusive. He never misstated evidence, but stated clearly, and met fairly and squarely his opponent's case. His wit and humor and inexhaustible stores of anecdote, always to the point, added immensely to his power as a jury advocate. The last case Mr. Lincoln ever tried was that of Jones vs. Johnson, tried in April and May, 1860, in the United States Circuit Court, at C'hicago. The case involved the title to land of very great value, the accretion on the shores of 96 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Lake Michigan. During the trial, Judge Drum- mond and all the counsel on both sides, including Mr. Lincoln, dined together at my house. Doug- las and Lincoln were at the time both candi- dates for the nomination for President. There were active and ardept political friends of each at the table, and when the sentiment was pro- posed, " May Illinois furnish the next Presi- dent," it was, as you imagine, drank with en- thusiasm by the friends of both Lincoln and Douglas./ Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., was a nephew of the eminent statesman of that name, a former United States Senator, and well known in the early day. He was an attorney of more than ordinary ability, and succeeded Ninian W. Edwards as Attorney General of the State in 1885. In 18.37 he was appointed Circuit Judge, but resigned after the expiration of two years. He was at one time a partner of David Prickett, in Spring- field, and afterwards of William L May. He finally went to Chicago and died there. E. D. Baker came to Springfield in 1835, from Greene county, Illinois. He was born in London, England, February 24, 1811, and emigrated with his parents to America shortly after the close of our late war with England, and after remaining for a time in Philadelphia he came west and settled in Indiana, and from thence to Illinois. He early manifested a strong passion for books, reading with avidity everything on which he could lay his hands, particularly history, biogra- phy and poetry. Possessing a rare aptitude for acquiring information, a ready and highly reten- tive memory, his mind soon became stored with the rich treasures of literary lore, from which, in after years, he drew copiously as from a per- ennial fount. At Carrollton, Greene county, Mr. Baker studied law in the oiSce of A. W. Cavarly, serving at the same time as deputy in the office of the County Clerk. As soon as he gained a super- ficial knowledge of the science of law, spurred on by necessity, he procured a license and com- menced practice. Owing, however, to his youth, limited legal attainments and the absence of in- fluential friends, during the first years of bis professional life, he met with indifferent success. While in Carrollton, Mr. Baker was married to Mrs. Mary A. Lee. Soon after marriage he united with the Christian Church, and being naturally of an impulsive and enthusiastic tem- perament, he was very zealous in the discharge of his religious duties, became an able exhorter, and began to entertain serious thoughts of en- gaging in regular ministerial work. As time passed, his mind becoming occupied with poli- tics, he finally ceased his connection with the religious body. While an active member of the church, he first discovered that boldness of thought, that opulence of expression, that grace- ful and persuasive manner of speaking, for which he became so justly celebrated in after life. Shortly' after coming to Springfield, Mr. Baker associated himself in the practice of law with Josephus Hewett. Subsequently, he entered into partnership with Stephen T. Logan, and for a short time with Albert T. Bledsoe. It was here that Baker first applied himself seriously to the duties of his profession, and here he won his first laurels as an advocate. Surrounded by the great men already mentioned as comprising the Sangamon County Bar during this Decade, Baker was compelled to struggle for that emi- nence in his profession which he rapidly at- tained. Although disinclined to close, continu- ous study, and often negligent in the preparation of his cases, he had sufficiently mastered the principles and intricacies of the law, as to meet the ordinary requirements of practice, and his native genius supplied any deficiency. His con- fident, self-possessed air amidst the bustle of a court of law, his quickness of perception, ready wit, fertility in resources and ardent eloquence, enabled him to achieve the victory in spite of the most determined opposition from older or more experienced antagonists. In jury cases he was especially successful, for in these he was less fettered by the legal forms and technicalities which ordinarily curb the reins of youthful im- agination. Indeed, a jury to him was but|a mini- ature popular assembly, before which he could pour out his argument and invective at will, or indulge in those exquisite touches of pathos, which failed not to awaken the sympatby and move the hearts of his auditors. Enterprising and ambitious, Mr. Baker early directed his attention to politics as opening the shortest road to preferment. In 1837 he was elected to the General Assembly from Sangamon county to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Dan Stone. In the following year he was re-elected. In the campaign of 1840 he took an active part in the support of General Harrison. In 1844 he was elected to Congress, and was a member of that body when the war with Mexico broke out. Returning home from Washington, he raised a regiment and was com- missioned colonel. In this war he earned a re])utation as a brave and gallant commander. On his return from Mexico he removed to Galena and was there re-elected to Congress. He took his seat the second time in December, HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 97 1849. He bore an active if not a conspicuous part in the debates upon those grave National issues, which formed so prominent a feature in the first session of the 3lst Congress. He favored some, but not all the compromise meas- ures passed at that session. The annexed para- graph, taken from a speech made by him on these historic questions, was prophetic of his future fate: "I have only to say that if the time should come when dissension rules the hour, and dis- cord reigns supreme, I shall be ready to give the best blooil in my veins to my country's cause. I shall be prepared to meet all antagonists, with lance in rest, to do battle in every land, in de- fense of the constitution of the country, which Lhave sworn to support to the last extremity, against disunionists and all its enemies, whether North or South — to meet them everywhere, at all times, with speech or hand, with word or blow, until thought or being shall be mine no longer." In 18.52 Colonel Baker emigrated with his family to California Establishing himself in San Francisco, he once more commenced the practice of law. His fame as an advocate and orator had preceded him, so that he soon found himself in the midst of an extensive business. Almost at one bound, and with apparently little effort, he rose to the summit of his profession, and to a share in the best practice of the courts of that youthful commercial metropolis. Here it was that he achieved his highest reputation as a lawyer, and perhaps his most brilliant renown as an orator. While living in California, he early identified himself with the Free Soil movement. When Senator Broderick, the chief of the Douglas Democracy in that State was killed in a duel with Judge Terry, it was Colonel Baker that was called upon to deliver the funeral oration, and right royally did he perform that sad duty. The oration has seldom, if ever, been surpassed. Space forbids even a quotation in this place. Shortly after the unhappy death of Broder- ick, Colonel Baker removed to Oregon. Here he was soon after elected to the United States Senate. Returning to San Francisco, on his way to the East, he was the recipient of a public ovation. In his speech upon the occasion, he said: "As for me, I dare not, will not, be false to freedom. Where the feet of my youth were planted, there by freedom my feet shall ever stand. I will walk beneath her banner. I will glory in her strength. I have seen her in his- tory struck down on a hundred fields of battle. I have seen her friends Hy from her, her foes gather around her. I have seen her bound to a stake. I have seen them give her ashes to the winds. But when they turned to exult, I have seen her again meet them face to face, resplend- ent in comp ete steel, brandishing in her strong, right hand a flaming sword, red with insuff- erable light. I take courage. The people gather around her. The genius of America will yet lead her sons to freedom." In December, 1860, while en route to Wash- ington, Colonel Baker paid a hasty visit to Springfield, where he was honored with a public reception. On behalf of the citizens, J. C. Conkling, in a neat and tasty speech, formally welcomed him to the scenes of his early labors and triumphs. The Senator elect responded in characteristic style. He expressed the liviliest gratitude at the heartiness and enthusiasm with which he had been received by his old friends, without distinction of party; referring in touch- ing language to his previous history; alluded to the wonderful growth and prosperity of Illinois, and of the great West; and spoke with solici- tude of our National difficulties and the impend- ing civil war. On taking his seat in the Senate, Colonel Baker entered industriously upon the discharge of the responsible duties of his station, and ranked from the outset among the foremost orators and debaters in that dignified body. His addresses on the 2d and :3d days of January, 1801, in reply to Judali P. Benjamin, of Louisi- ana, was one of the most eloquent delivered during that storm period. On the 20th day of April, a few days after the fall of Fort Sumter, Colonel Baker spoke in New York City to one of the largest assem- blages ever enchained by the eloquence of a sin- gle man. In closing his address, he dedicated himself anew to the service of his country in these grandly eloquent words, which were greeted with tremendous applause: "And if, from the far Pacific, a voice feebler than the feeblest murmur on its shores, may be heard to give you courage and hope in this con- test, that voice is yours to-day. And if a man whose hair is gray, who is well nigh worn out in the battle and toil of life, may pledge him- self on such an occasion, and to such an audience, let me say, as my last word, that as when amid sheeted tire and flame, I saw and led the hosts of New York, as they charged in contest upon a foreign soil for the honor of your flag, so, again, tf Providence shall will it, this feeble 98 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. hand shall draw a sword never yet dishonored — not to tight for distant honor in a foreign land — but to tight for country, for government, for Constitution, for law, for right, for freedom, for humanity; and in the hope that the banner of our country may advance, and wheresoever that banner waves, there may glory pursue and free- dom be established." Colonel Baker at once raised a regiment, known as the California regiment, and entered the service. At Ball's BlulJ, on the 20th day of October, 1861, he fell in battle, pierced by eight leaden messengers freighted with death, from the guns of the advancing foe. Thus heroically the grand and gifted Baker fell. John D. Urquhartwas from Virginia, and came to Springfield about 1832. lie was well read in the law and in the general literature of the day. He was a gentleman of the old school, with too much retinement to adapt himself to Western methods, and ttjerefore achieved no success as a lawyer at the Bar of Sangamon county. John C. Doremus was from New Jersey, and first practiced in the courts of this county in 1838. In 1840 he formed a partnership with Schuyler Strong, which continued but a few moutiis. He never attained any distinction as a lawyer, and early in 1840 went South, studied theology, and became minister in the Presby- terian Church and received the degree of D.D. He died some years ago. THIRD DECADE. The Third Decade shows in addition to the greater number of those of the Second, the names of Silas VV. Robbins, Charles R. Welles, Benjamin West, James Shields, William A. Minshall, Justice Buttertield, Justice Butterfield, Jr., Levi Davis, A. K.Smede, James H.Matheny, David Logan, E. B Herndon, A. Parker, Wil- liam I. Ferguson, William Walker. William H. Herndon, Vincent Ridgely, U. F. Linder, Josiah Lamborn, Archibald Williams, O. H. Browning, Israel Crosby, Lyman 'rrumbull. What Bar in all the Union can show a greater array of distinguished names than the foregoing, in addition to the best of the Second Decade who still continued to practice before the courts of the county. For great learning, for oratorical ability, and for unsurpassed statesmanship, the Bar during this Decade has never been surpassed. From its ranks were furnished a President of the Lhiited States, a distinguished candidate for the Presidency whose memory will always be kept green by lovers of the L^nion, several United States Senators, one Cabinet Officer, several members of Congress, several disting- uished officers in the United States Army — all of whom were honorable men reflecting great credit upon the profession of law and upon the Bar of Sangamon county. A large and interesting volume could be writ- ten of the Bar of this Decade, but in this volume space forbids more than such individual mention as will show the character of those composing it. CTeneral Shields.* — Among the men who have conferred lasting celebrity upon the Capital City of Illinois, by making it the place of their temporary or permanent abode, one of the most remarkable and distinguished was the late Gen- eral Shields — the man of two nationalities, the \ eteran of two wars, and the Senator from three States. James Shields was born at a place called Dun- ganou, county of Tyrone, Ireland, in the year 1819. Of his family and early domestic history, little or nothing is certainly known; though he appears to have enjoyed fair educational advan- tages. With that inbred and irrepressible spirit of adventure, which formed the ruling charac- teristic of his life, he emigrated to tlie United States while still in his minority, and, propably, first landed at New Orleans. This was in 1826, or thereabouts; antl in no long time afterward, we find him located in Randolph coiinty, Illi- nois, engaged in the vocation of teaching. Sub- sequentty, he read law, was admittted to the Bar in 1832, and began the practice of that profes- sion in Kaskaskia — the ancient "seat of empire" of Illinois under the B'rench Dominion. Gifted from the outset with a talent for pub- lic speaking, and all the elements of personal popularity, we next find our young adventurer at Vandalia (then the State Capital), represent- ing the county of Randolph in the lower branch of the General Assembly. Here, during the memorable session of 1836-37, he first met Lin- coln, Douglas, Hardin, and other rising politi- cians of the period, with whom he was after- wards to become so prominently associated. In March, 1841, Mr. Shields" was made Au- ditor of the State of Illinois, and took up his residence in Springfield, to which place the seat of government had been removed from Vanda- lia by act of the legislature. This was the era of general financial depression, of depreciated paper money, and of slow recovery from panic; and Shields'is said to have run the Auditor's office almost entirely on scrip. It was during his incumbency of this office that he became in- volved in the personal difficulty with Abraham * Prepared by Joseph Wullace. J^^a^M^f ^1^-6^ HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 101 Lincoln, which led to'liis challenging the latter to mortal combat. Lincoln accepted the chal- lenge, and under the advice of his friend and second. Dr. Merriman, selected cavalry broad swords as the weapons with which to light. Such a choice necessarily gave to Lincoln, who was mucli the tallest and longest armed man of the two, greatly the advantage. But our chiv- alrous son of the Emerald Isle was not disposed to shrink from tbe encounter, whatever might be the advantage of his antagonist in point of stature, or in the choice of weapons. The i)ar- ties accordingly repaired to Alton, accompanied by their respective seconds, intending to light tlie duel on the narrow tongue of land between the confluence of the Mississippi and the Mis- souri rivers. But through the timely interven- tion of common friends, the difficulty was at last amicably adjusted, without the shedding of human gore. On August 16, 1843, Shields was commis- sioned by Governor Ford one of the associated justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois, but did not long retain his seat upon the bench; and, in April, 1845, the ermine for the office of Commissioner of the General Land Office, which post he held for nearly two years. The outbreak of hostilities with Mexico, in 1846, afforded the long-wished-for opportunity of gratifying his martial tastes and ambition, and constituted the turning point, so to speak, in his checkered career. Having announced his intention of taking part in the war, he was, upon the recommendation of the Illinois delegation in Congress, commissioned Brigadier General by President Polk. Taking the field under General Scott, Shields led the Illinois brigade in the vic- torious rnarch on the City of Mexico. In the battle ot Cerro Gordo, on April 18, 1847, he was seriously wounded by a ball which passed through one of his lungs. For a while, it was doubtful if he could survive; but he did recover so as to resume his former command, and served till the end of tbe campaign. At the sanguinary battle of Cherubusco, fought on the 20th of August, in the vicinity of the City of Mexico, General Shields led the Illinois and New Eng- land brigades, and the Palmetto regiment, in the attack upon the Mexican reserve, and drove the enemy from their entrenched position back into the capital. lie also fought at the storming of Chapultepec, where he is said to have been again wounded. For his gallantry in these several engagements, he was brevetted a Major-General. Upon the conclusion of the war, he was honor- ■ ably mustered out of service, and returned home 12— to receive the plaudits and rewards of his country- men for his valorous and patriotic services. Declining the appointment of Governor for the Territory of Oregon, General Shields, daring the wintei of 1848-49, was elected liy the Illinois Legislature to a seat in the United States Senate, which he held for the full term of six years from the 4th of March, 1849. His career in the Sen- ate, though not so brilliant as it had been on the " tented field," was creditable to himself and to the party that elected him. During this term, he voted for the Compromise measures of 1850, and also for the Nebraska Bill. In 1855, he was a candidate for re-election, but his Democratic friends in the legislature found it necessary to concentrate their strength upon Governor Matteson, in order to defeat the candidacy of Mr. Lincoln, and the latter, seeing th.at he could not succeed, finally withdrew in favor of Lyman Trumbull, who was thereupon elected by the fusion majority. Soon after this defeat (about the first he had sustained). General Shields transferred his resi- dence to the State of Minnesota, by the legisla- ture of which he was sent to the United States Senate to fill a vacancy, and occupied his seat from May V2, 1858, to March .3, 1859. He then went to California, where he remained for a year or two. What were his motives in going to the Pacific coast, or his occupation while there, do not clearly appear. When the long threatened civil war broke out, General Shields' martial spirit was again fully aroused, and having tendered his services to President Lincoln they were accepted, and he was made a Brigadier, his commission dating August 19, 1861. Early in 1862, he was assigned to the command of a division of General Bank's army, operating in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., and commanded at the battles of Port Republic and Winchester. Some time in 1863, General Shields, owing in part to disability consequent upon the wounds he had received in former campaigns, and partly to his having been over- looked in the matter of promotion by the mili- tary authorities at Washington, resigned his commission in the army, and settled upon a small farm in Carroll county, Missouri. About this tinie, he appears to have married a woman of Irish parentage; but the union was not pro- ductive of any addition to his slender fortune. His experience as a tiller of the soil was not particularly encouraging. In the course of a public lecture in one of our eastern cities, he referred to himself as one of the " poorest farm- 102 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. ei"s in Carroll county," and he doubtless told the simple truth. During the stormy administration of Presi- dent Johnson, Shields was elected to Congress from one of the Missouri districts, but was not allowed to take his seat by the party then domi- nant in the House of Representatives. In 1877, he was elected a member of the Missouri Legis- lature, and about the same time was appointed Adjutant General of that State. In 1878 he was brought forward in connection with the office of doorkeeper of the National House of Representatives; and the Democratic majority of that body (as a mark of respect for his distinguished services, and to relieve his ne- cessities) voted to increase his pension to one hundred dollars per month. During the winter of 1878-79, General Shields was elected by the Missouri Legislature to com- plete the unexpired portion of the late Senator Bogy's term in the United States Senate. The term was quite short, (not exceeding six weeks), but it conferred upon him tlie rare honor of hav- ing been a Senator from three States; an lionor such as, perhaps, was never before vouchsafed to any citizen of our republic. In these latter years of his life, he traveled more or less extensively through the country, lecturing on his "Reminis- cences of the Mexican war," and also upon his "recollections" of the eminent statesmen with whom he had associated in the Senate in ante- bellum days. At length, however, after a singularly event- ful and romantic career of nearly three score and ten years. General Shields was called to meet his last enemy — death. On the night of the lirst of June, 1879, he died suddenly and peacefully in Ottumwa, Iowa, while on a visit to relatives in that city. It was the opinion of those best qualified to judge, that his old wound in the chest, received in the Mexican war, was the primary cause of his unexpected decease. His remains were subsequently removed to his home at Carrollton, Missouri, where they were interred with appropriate civic and military honors. James Shields, strictly speaking, was neither a great nor a learned man, yet his abilities were far above the average, and no one ever made a better display than himself, of those talents with which the Creator had endowed him. He Avas, in a certain sense, his own ancestor, and not for him was intended the Latin maxims, avito viret honora. In stature he was of the middle size, trim built, raw-boned, and dark complected, with black hairand eyes, and prominent, yet regular, features. His carriage was at all times erect and soldier-like, while his manners were pleas- ing and "taking" in the extreme. As a speaker, he was graceful, fluent, witty and eloquent, and his tine voice had just enough of the Irish brogue to give it flavor and richness of tone. No more captivating speaker, for the masses, ever mounted the stump in Illinois, unless it may have been the lamented Colonel Baker. Shields was also a vain man — especially of his martial record — Ijut his vanity was of the innocent and amiable kind, and never took the form of offensive and overbearing egotism. He could hardly be called a man of business (being as improvident as Oliver Goldsmith), and was not unfrequently indebted to his personal or political friends for pecuniary aid. Careless of his private aft"airs, he went up and down the land, like a knight errant of old, seeking re- nown, and finding it, in diverse ways, and in widely dissimilar spheres of human endeavor. In party politics, he was a life-long Democrat, but he ever so bore himself, amid the fiercest partisan contests, as to command the respect, if not admiration, of his political foes. His amor patriae was unbounded, and no truer patriot ever raised his voice in the American Senate, or unsheathed his sword upon the blood-stained field of battle. His influence over his fellow- citizens of Celtic h'wth was great and durable, and was always wielded for good, since in all matters of public policy he was discreet in council, and never permitted his feelings or im- agination to transcend his judgment. As a politician, jurist, warrior, orator, and Senator, he possessed many useful, many noble, and many brilliant qualities; and, despite the transitory nature of that which we call fame, his name and exploits will not soon be forgotten by his admiring countrymen. But the valiant and generous hearted Shields is in his grave; after life's fitful fever, "he sleeps well." He has "passed into that still country where the heaviest-laden wayfarer at length laj's down his load." "Long shall wc seek his likeness — long in vain — And turn to all of him which may remain, Sighing that Nature formed but one such man, And broke the die in moulding — " Silas W.Robbins immigrated from Massachu- setts to Kentucky as early as 1825, and succeeded admirably as an attorney in that commonwealth, serving some years as a Judge of one of the courts. There being a strong prejudice in that State against Yankees, he left about 1841 and HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 103 came to Illinois ami settled in Springfield, form- ing one of that strong force of attorneys com- posing the Bar of that period. He was an ex- cellent lawyer, and soon sticceeded in obtaining a lucrative practice, which continued until his retirement in 1852. Judge Robbins was a man of high temper and of a very beligeront disposi- tion, never seeming happy or contented without a "wee bit of a row" on his hands. He could brook no restraints, and would be imposed on by no one, large or small. In 1855 he removed to a farm a short distance from Springfield, and there died about 1870. Justin Buttertield was a citizen of Chicago, and often appeared in the Springfield courts. He was one of the most learned, talented and distin- guished members of the Bar duiingthis Decade. A case in which Mr. Butterfield participated is thus described by Isaac N. Arnold: "In December, 1842, Governor Ford, on the application of the Executive of Missouri, issued a warrant for the arrest of Joseph Smith, the Apostle of Mormonism, then residing at Nauvoo, in this State, as a fugitive from justice. He was charged with having instigated the attemjit, by some Mormons, to assassinate Governor Bogg, of Missouri. Mr. 15ntterfield, in behalf of Smith, sued out, from Judge Pope, a writ of habeas corpus, und Smith was brought before the United States District Court. On the hearing it clearly appeared that he had not been in Missouri, nor out of Illinois, within the time in which the crime had been committed, and if he had any connection with the oti'ense the acts were done in Illinois. Was he, then, a fugitive from jus- tice? It was pretty clear that, if allowed to be taken into Missouri, moans would have been found to condemn and execute him. The Attor- ney-General of Illinois, Mr. Lamborn, appeared to sustain the warrant. Mr. Butterfield, aided by B. S. Edwards, appeared for Smith, and moved for his discharge. The Prophet (so- called) was attended by his twelve Apostles and a large number of his followers, and the case at- tracted great interest. The court-room was thronged with prominent members of the Bar and public men. Judge Pope was agallantgen- tleman of the old school, and loved nothing better than to be in the midst of youth and beauty. Seats were crowded on the Judge's platform, on both sides and behind the Judge, and an array of brilliant and beautiful ladies al- most encircled the court. Mr. Butterfield, dressed a la Webster, in blue dress-coat and metal buttons, with buff vest, rose with dignity and amidst the most profound silence. Pausing, and running his eyes admiringly from the cen- tral figure of Judge Pope, along the rows of lovely women on each side of him, he said: "May it please the Court: "I appear before you to-day under circum- stances most novel and peculiar. I am to ad- dress the 'Pope' (bowing to the Judge) sur- rounded by angels (bowing still lower to the ladies), in the presence of the Holy Apostles, in behalf of the Prophet of the Lord." "Among the most lovely and attractive of these 'angels' were the daughters of Judge Pope, a daughter of Mr. Butterfield, Mrs. Lin- coln, Miss Dunlap, afterwards Mrs. General John A. McClernand, and others, some of whom still live, and the tradition of their youthful beauty is verified by their lovely daughters and grand- children. " But the chief actors in that drama, on the issue of which hung, not only the life of Smith, the Prophet, but of his followers, and perhaps the peace of two States, the dramatis persoa: have all, or nearly all passed away. The genial and learned Judge, the prisoner and his able counselor, so full of wit and humor, the elociuent Attorney- General, the Governors of both States, the Mar- shal and Clerk, and nearly all of the distin- guished lawyers and public men — have each paid the debt of nature." Mr. Butterfield was a native of the State of New York, and at the breaking out of the war of 1812, he was in some oftice in that State, and opposing the war it destroyed his popularity. When the war broke out between this country and Mexico, some person asked him if he was opposed to it. "No," said he, "I oppose no wars. I opposed one war and it ruined me, and hence- forth I am for vxir, j^estilence and famine.^'' During the contest between Harrison and Van Buren in 1840, some Federal office-holder met Butterfield in debate. The latter ciiarged the hard times that then afliieted the country to the course pursued by the Administration. The office-holder replied, denying that there was hard times, and declared that he never saw bet- ter times in his life. Butterfield, in his rejoinder, used the following language: "Fellow-citizens, I believe, in my soul, that if it rained fire and brimstone, as it did at Sodom and Gomorrah, these locofocos would exclaim, 'What a refresh- ing shower 1'" Mr. Butterfield was perfectly familiar with the Scriptures and used Scriptural (piotations and illustrations with great effect. While he was District Attorney, Ben Bond was United States Marshal, and as two of his brothers were depu- 104 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. ties, and were quite annoying to hhn, his patience at one time being tried beyond endurance. He remarked to some one: "I would to God that not only Thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether, such as I am, except these Jionds.'" David A. Smith, of Jacksonville, who had in some way incurred the displeasure of Butterfield, was sitting one (hxy in the United States Court room, sleeping, the sun shining upon his bald, slick head. Some one directed Butterfield's at- tention to him, when he instantly exclaimed, in his grutf voice: "The light shineth upon dark- ness, but the darkness comprehended it not." The best Scriptural illustration made by But- terfield was when he was defending the consti- tutionality of tlie Shawneetown Bank. The Constitution of Hlinois of ]818, provided that there should be no bank except the State Bank and its branches, and also the banks that were then in existence. The Shawneetown Bank was chartered before that time, but in 18:3.5 its char- ter was extended. A writ of quo warranto was sued out against the bank, and in the argument it was contended by counsel who sued out the writ, that the extension of the charter was in fact the creation of a new bank. Butterfield was restive while this line of argument was being pursued, and he arose to reply with aii expres- sion of contempt upon his face. He said he would like to be informed by the gentlemen, if they had met with it in their reading, which he very much doubted, however, whether when the Lord lengthened out the life of Hezekiah fifteen years he had made a new man, or was he the same old Hezekiah ! Of Justin Butterfield, Jr., but little can be said. He came to Springfield in 1842, a young man of great promise, formed a partnership with B. S. Edwards, which continued about one year. He returned to Chicago on the dissolution of the co-partnership, and soon afterwards died. U. F. Binder was a native of Kentucky, and born within ten miles of the place where Abra- ham Lincoln first saw the light of day. He came to Illinois in 1835, and settled in Coles oounty, but, like all other lawyers of that day, traveled the circuit. He was one of the most eminent lawyers of this Decade, and the party securing his legal services was fortunate indeed. As an orator he had few equals. He was quick iu repartee, and few cared to encounter him in debate. He was withal a trifle vain, but just enough to spur him on to action. Josiah Lamborn was one of the best lawyers that figured in the courts of Sangamon county. Linder says of him: " Intellectually, I know no man of his day who was his superior. He was considered by all the lawyers who knew him as a man of the tersest logic. He couid see the point in a case as clear as any man I ever knew, and could elucidate it as ably, never using a word too much or one too few. He was exceedingly happy in his conceptions, and always traveled the shortest route to reach his conclusions. He was a terror to his legal opponents, especially to those diffusive, wordy lawyers who had more words than arguments. I heard Judge Smith, of the Supreme Court, say that he knew of no lawyer who was his equal in strength and force of argument." Lamborn was a native of Ken- tucky, and received a liberal education. He possessed high social qualities, and his conversa- tional powers were of the very highest order. As a prosecutor he was a terror to criminals. He was inclined to be vindictive, and very resent- ful of any slight offered him by an opposing attorney. On one occasion he was prosecuting a man for murder in Christian county. E. D. Baker was defending. In the course of the trial Lamborn asked Baker tc yield some point. Baker refusing, he turned to him .and said, "Baker, I'll hang your man." In his speech at the close of the testimony, Baker made one of his most powerful pleas, exciting the jury, spec- tators, and even the judge to tears. He closed with a brilliant peroration, such as he only could make. When he sat down it was about time to adjourn for supper, and Lamborn asked an ad- journment until after supper, before beginning his closing speech for the prosecution. His re- quest was granted. After supper he went to the sheriff and told him he only desired one candle to be placed in the court room, and that in a position that would place the jury in the shade. If the Judge said anything about the matter, the sheriff was to inform him that all was done at Lamborn's request. At the hour for court to convene the court room was filled to hear the prosecutor's speech. Lamborn, who was slightly lame, hobbled into the room, slowly and pain- fully, coughing meanwhile as if half gone with consumption, thus exciting the pity of both the jury and spectators. On the call to order he passed in front of the jury, who could but dimly witness his movements, and, placing his lame foot upon a chair, in a hollow sepulchre tone of voice said: " Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." He then stopped for some moments, while a cold chill passed over every individual in the audience. Slowly and painfully, apparently, he resumed his speech. HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 105 taking up and reviewing the points in the case, aud with so much effect that at its close the jurj-, after being out but a few inomeins, brought in a verdict of guilty, and the man was con- demned to be hung. Lamborn was once prosecuting an old and gray-haired man for stealing hogs. Stephen T. Logan was defending liim, and made a powerful plea in his behalf, describing the accused as a man with hair blossoming for the eternal world, with one foot in the grave and the other totter- ing upon the brink. The illustration was so apt that it had a wonderful effect upon the jury which was quickly dispelled when Lamborn rose to reply. "Yes, gentlemen of the jury," said he, "his hair is whitening for that place which burns with liquid fire; one foot is in the grave, and the other is in his neighbor's hog pen." Levi Davis came to Springfield in 1839 as Auditor of the State and served until 1841, when he commenced the practice of law, liaving been admitted to the Bar before his appointment as Auditor. He was a good lawyer, a fine business man, courteous and affable to all whom he met. He removed from here to Alton, where he now resides. A. K. Smede was a young but highly educated man from Mississippi who jjracticed law here between 1843 and 1S4.5. He never met with much success and returned to his native State. David Logan, while a youth, came with his father to Springfield, here studied law and was admitted to the Bar in 1843. He was the son of Judge Logan and inherited many of the bril- liant qualities of his father. Ife was a man of very superior talents. He practiced law in this circuit tmtil 1847, when he went to Oregon where he took high rank as a criminal lawyer, ol)taining a large and lucrative practice. It is related that after he had become well estab- lished in Oregon his father was desirous of his returning home, and as an inducement wrote him that if he would come he would take him into partnership. The young man answered the letter, thanking his father very kindly for his generous offer, and closed by inviting him to Oregon, and as an inducement offered to take him into partnership. In 1800 on the election of United States Sen,^tor, he secured the major- ity of the Republican members of the legisla- ture in his interest, but the party not having a majority, the Republicans united with the Doug- las Dentocrats and elected E. D. Baker, the Democrats of tliat wing feeling favorably dis- posed to Colonel Baker for his gallant defense of Broderick. Mr. Logan died in Oregon in 1874. William I. Ferguson was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and came to Springfield when a mere child, afterwards studied law and was admitted to the Bar in 1843. He was a very brilliant young man, and a first-class forensic lawyer. After his admission to the Bar, he soon secured a good practice, and for some time held the oftice of attorney for the city of Springfield. About the year 1850 he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he remained one year, and then returned to Springfield and resumed the practice of law. Becoming dissatisfied he emigrated to Texas in 1853, from which place he drifted on to Cali- fornia. In politics Mr. Ferguson was originally a Whig, and afterwards became a Democrat. In California he took an active part in politics and was elected to the State Senate, and was a candi- date for the LTnited States Senate in 1855, but failed of an election. In the exciting canvass growing out of the differences between the Ad- ministration and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858, Senator Broderick was the leader of the Douglas faction, and Mr. Ferguson was a staunch adher- ent and defender of Broderick and Douglas. In his defense of the latter he incurred the dis- pleasure of a man named Johnson, who chal- lenged him to fight a duel. The challenge was accepted and Ferguson was slain. Colonel Baker delivered a funeral oration over his dead body, which was only equalled, a few months later, by delivering the oration on the death of Senator Broderick, who fell in the same cow- ardly and disgraceful manner. Archibald Williams, of Quincy, was fre- quently in attendance on the Springfield courts at this time, and his honest, homely features once seen were never forgotten. He was one of the most profound lawyers that ever practiced in the courts of the State. Linder, in his " Re- miniscences of the Bar," has this to say of Williams: " He was a member of the Illinois Legislature in 1836 and 1837, and of the same House with Lincoln, Douglas and myself. He was over six feet high, and as angular and ungainly in his form as Mr. Lincoln himself; aud for homeliness of face and feature surpassed Mr. Lincoln. I think I never saw but one man uglier than Archie, and that was Patrick 11. Darbey, of Kentucky, also a very great lawyer, who once had a brace of pistols presented to him by a traveler he met upon the road, both being on horseback, who suddenley stopped, and asked Darbey to stop also, and said to the latter gen- 106 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. tleman: "Here is a brace of pistols which be- long to you." " How do you make that out? " said Darbey. " They were given to me a long time ago by a stranger, who requested me to keep them until I met an uglier man than myself, and I have carried them for over twenty years ; and I had begun to think they would go to my heirs when I died, but you are the rightful owner of the pistols. I give them to you as they were given to me, to be kept until you meet an uglier man than you are, and then you will present them to him; but you will die the owner of the property, for I am confident there is not an uglier man than you in the world, and the Lord did his everlasting best when he created you." "Darbey accepted the pistols, and I never heard of them passing out of his hands. I know not what might have occurred had he and Archie Williams ever met. If there had been a jury trial of the right of property between them, I think it altogether likely it might have resulted in a 'hung jury.' "Archie Williams sat near Mr. Lincoln in the southeast corner of the old State House in Van- dalia, on his left, and I remember one day of a friend of mine asking me 'who in the world those two ugly men were.' Archie and Mr. Lincoln were great friends. I recollect Mr. Lin- coln asking me on one occasion if I didn't think Archie Williams was one of the strongest- minded, clearest headed men in Illinois. I don't know what reply I made at the time, but I know Mr. Lincoln said that he thought him the strongest-minded and clearest headed man he ever saw." Archie Williams has long since passed to his reward, but he has left a noble record, and one of which his descendants will always be proud. He made the race for Congress in 1854 as a Free Soil candidate, but failed of election. When Lincoln was elected, he appointed him one of the Federal Judges of Kansas. O. H. Browning is another Quincy lawj-er that was often seen before the courts of Sanga- mon County. He came to this State from Ken- tucky. As a lawyer and a statesman he ob- tained a high and enviable distinction. He was often employed in the largest cases before the Supreme Court of the State and the United States Courts. He was appointed to fill the va- cancy in the United States Senate, caused by the death of Senator Douglas, and sensed as Secre- tary of the Interior under President Johnson. William A. Minshall, of Schuyler county, first figures in this Bar in 1841. He was a very able lawyer and at one time was Judge of the Circuit of which Schuyler county formed a part. Linder says of him: " Minshall, I believe, was a native of Ohio, and studied law with Judge McLean. In his early days he was given to dissipation. He courted a most beautiful woman, and on propos- ing marriage to her, she promptly rejected him, on the strength of which he got most gloriously drunk, and in his crazy mood put on seven clean shirts, and in that condition went over to see her again, letting her know that it was impossi- ble for him to live without her. The young lady, being far from indifl'erent to the suit of Minshall, finally concluded that she would try and make a man of him, so she said to him: 'Mr. Minshall, I will never marry a drunkard, and if I had a husband and he should become one, I would leave him on the instant, if I loved him as I loved my life, but I have come to the conclusion I will marry you on one condition: If you will reform your habits, and give me satisfactory proof of the same, and make a solemn vow that you will never drink again. So, now, you go home and divest your- self of all those shirts but one, and come back in a month from now, and we will consummate this agreement.' Minshall gladly took her at her word, and after a month's probation he re- turned, took the vow, and they were married, and he religiously lived up to his pledge to the day of his death; and I know of no happier couple than they were in the whole circle of my acquaintance. He had a reputation of being one of the kindest." Benjamin West came to Sangamon county in 1841, and settled in the village of Rochester. He was a man of fair talents, and was a good lawyer. In 1846 he was elected to the legisla- ture, and died before the expiration of his term. Israel Crosby figured here during this Decade, but did more in the real estate business than in law. William Walker studied law, and was here admitted to the Bar. He soon afterwards went to Camden, and from thence to Havana, Mason county. From the latter place he emigrated to Missouri, where he was afterwards elected Circuit Judge. He was regarded as above the average in ability. Elliott B. Herndon was born on Silver creek, Madison county, Illinois, in 1820. In company with his parents, he came to Sangamon county in the spring of 1821. His j^arents first settled about four miles northeast of Springfield, and in 1823 erected a cabin on the lot where Mr. IIISTOKY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 107 Herndon now resides, where they lived the re- mainder of their lives. Elliott fi. read law in Springfield, and was admitted to the Bar in the "winter of 1S42-3, and was one of the three first young men admitted in the county. He at once commenced an active practice, which con- tinued until 1808, when he retired, but resumed practice in 1873, continuing until 1878, when he permanently retired. Joseph Wallace, in a local jjaper issued February, 1880, thus speaks of Mr. Ilerndon: "At present he belongs to the retired list of our barristers, and enjoys his otiuin cum digni- tale; but still appear.s in court in special cases, and his opinion is often sought upon difficult and abstruse questions of law. He has always been recognized as the possessor of one of the soundest legal minds at our Bar, and if he had been prompted more by the spur of necessity, would have risen to yet fiigherrank as a lawyer. "Tliough not a classical scholar, Mr. Herndon is a person of wide reading and multifarious knowledge. He is fond of philosophizing, that is, of penetrating beneath the surface of things to ascertain their hidden origin and bearing. To illustrate, he tells us that he read through Don (Juixote three times; first, for the storj- or stories; secondly, for the humor and pathos; and, thirdly, for the deep philosophy and in- sight into human nature contained in that in- comparable production. He is also an earnest admirer of Shakespeare's inimitable creations, but does not approve of the lengths to which some ingenious commentators go in searching after new and far-fetched interpretations to the text of that author, such as the great bard him- self never di-camed of. Among his other ac- quirements, Mr. Herndon is no bad judge of horses and dogs, and he is (or at least affects to be) skilled in gardening and horticulture." Politically, Mr. Herndon is a Democrat "of the strictest sect of our religion." For many years he was engaged in the promulgation of Democratic doctrines, both from the stump and through the press. From 1857 to 1860 he edited the Illinois State Democrat, J. J. Clarkson, pro- prietor, a paper started to contend for Demo- cratic doctrine, " pure and undetiled," in opposi- tion to what he regarded as heresies in the Douglas wing of that party. Mr. Herndon has held several very important offices, both elective and appointed. He has served as City and County Attorney, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. In 1858 he was appointed Disbursing Agent by the General Government for Illinois. In 1876 Mr. Herndon was married to Jerusha Palmer, in Springfield, Illinois. In the same article already quoted Mr. Wallace further speaks of Mr. Ilerndon: " Physically and intellectually he is quite un- like his brother, William H. — the one inheriting the characteristics of the mother, while the other more nearly resembles the father. In person, Elliot B. is of medium height, broad shouldered and heavy set, with a tendency, of late years, to obesity. His cranium is massive and finely de- veloped, and his face square rather than oval. His style of speaking is deliberate and senten- tious, his jestures few, and his voice keen and penetrating rather than ore rotundo. "In manner or demeanor, he is not always the same, being subject to moods. Sometimes he is taciturn and morose; at other times talkative, jovial and full of anecdote, yet always more or less sarcastic. Upon the whole, he is a man of marked ability, of striking individuality, of pro- nounced likes and dislikes, and of sterling integ- rity — in a word, he is one whose place at the Bar and in general society, if once made vacant, could hardly be supplied." FOURTH DECADE. As Springfield and Sangamon county increased in population, and as the business before the Supreme Court of the State and the United States District Courts increased, the resident members of the Bar became more numerous. It will therefore be seen that between the years of 1851 and 1861, the distinctive local Bar was quite large. Many who had been following the Circuit had ceased their attendance, and only appeared before the courts here on special occa- sions. The greater number of those heretofore mentioned as making a residence in Springfield, yet remained at the beginning of this Decade, and few left during the time. The Bar was therefore a strong one. Among those who fig- ured during this time whose names have not already been given are John A. McClernand, L. B. Adams, N. M. Broadwell, D. A. Brown, W. J. Black, W. J. Conkling, Primm & Gibson, J. E. Rosette, J. B. White, G. W. Shutt, Thomas Lewis, J. France, D. Mc Williams, Charles W. Keyes, Shelby M. Cullom, L. Rosette, A. Mc- VVilliams, J. R. Thompson, Charles S. Zane, William Campbell, J. D. Bail, G. W. Besore, t!hristo)iher C. Brown, John E. Denny, Milton Hay, L. F. McCrillis, J. W. Moffett, Cliarles B. Brown, S. C. Gibson, T. S. Mather, J.R.Mather, II. G. Reynolds, E. L. Gross, L. C. Boynton, A. B. Ives, C. M. Morrison, Joseph Wallace, Speed Butler, E. F. Leonard, William Prescott. 108 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Among the number comprising the Bar of this Decade will be noticed the names of some who have since become distinguished as statesmen and others whose names have become so famil- iar to every reader of history as among the brave men who responded to their country's call when traitors sought to destroy the Union, and who became as adept in the art of war as in the intricacies of the law. Sangamon County fur- nished the Commander-in-Chief of all the armies, one of whom the Bar of the county may well be proud, one of its brightest ornaments, the great and noble Abraham Lincoln. P>om the Bar of Sangamon County went General John A. Mc- Clernand, a brave and skillful General who rose to the rank of a Division Commander, Colonel James H. Matheny, Colonel L. F. McCrillis and others. Of the Bar of this period much can be said and only that which is good. Thomas Lewis, — everybody that lived in Springfield during this Decade knew Tom, — was a character in his way. Originally a shoe- maker by trade, lie accummulated some money, engaged in banking, and then studied law; was admitted to the Bar, and practiced for a time, though he secured but little business. To crown all he became a newspaper man and was editor and publisher of the Illinois Atlas until its in- corporation with the Political Crisis, in 18V1. He now resides in Cairo. J. France was a man well advanced in years when he came to Springfield. He was a fair lawyer and had a good practice for a time. D. McWilliams was a young man and had been admitted to the Bar but a short time when he came here. He succeeded in securing a fair practice, but after a time he left and is now re- siding in Piatt, and is one of the leading mem- bers of the Bar of that county. A. McWilliams, came here from Bloomington where he was regarded as a very talented law- yer, and had fine success in all his professional engagements. The same success attended him here, and had it not been for an unfortunate temper he would have left a highly honorable and proud record. He was States Attorney one term. He died in 1862, near St. Louis. C. M. Morrison was one of the most talented young men that have practiced in the court of Sangamon County. He was from Kentucky and came to Springfield about 1856. He very soon secured a lucrative practice and was for several years Prosecuting Attorney for this district. As a prosecutor he had few superiors. He had a frail body but a strong mind. He died in the prime of life. William Prescott was from Wales, read law in Springfield and was admitted to the Bar about 1800. When the war broke out he laid down his law books and took up the sword. He served as Captain in one of the companies of the 130th regiment. While in the service, he was captured and held a prisoner of war for fourteen months. On his return to this county he was elected County Judge and was the im- mediate predecessor of Judge Matheny. He re- moved to Chicago about 1879. L. F. McCrillis came to this county from Cal- houn. While a resident of the latter county he served a term in the legislature. He was re- garded as a good lawyer. On the breaking out of the war he offered his services to the Gov- ernor and was commissioned Colonel of one of the Illinois regiments, and served with credit in the defense of his country. After the war closed he returned to Springfield and shortly after made a business trip to Washington, and while in that city he died very suddenly. H. G. Reynolds was better known as a Mason than an attorney. He was for some years pub- lisher of the Masonic Trowel, an account of which is given under the head of "The Press." A. W. Hayes was here but a short time, and obtained no special standing as an attorney. He now resides in Kansas. S. S. Whitehurst was a fair lawyer and a good business man. He was clerk of the Circuit Court for some years. He is now dead. Lawrence Weldon was a good lawyer, and was from Bloomington. L. M. Phillips came from Southern Illinois, and remained but a few years, and then returned to his old home. He was a fair lawyer, and secured a good practice while here. C. D. Harvey was a good bankrupt lawyer, and had a good practice in the bankrupt courts. He only remained a short time, when he re- moved to California, and now resides there. Primm & Gibson were young and vigorous men, who turned their attention principally to the land business. They are both now dead. William Campbell was Irish by birth, inherit- ing the social qualities of that fun-loving race. He was strong before a jury, having the natural eloquence of the Irish. He died some years ago. J. D. Bail was more of a poet than a lawyer, and in the profession was scarcely known. riFTH DECADE. ^ Whatever may be said of the Bar of Sanga- mon county, it cannot be said that it has ever deteriorated. It has always maintained a high HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 109 standard of excellence. While it may be true that through political influence some of those of one Decade may have become more noted, yet as regards standing before the courts, it will be seen no comparison can be made that would de- tract from the good name of either. The Fifth Decade, embracing the years 1801 to 18V1, shows a list of names alike creditable to the jieriod and to the excellent standing of the Sangamon County Bar. Some of the familiar names of the pre- vious Decade have disappeared, of wliicli it might be said that some bearing them have re- moved to other points, some have retired from active practice, while others .still are now prac- ticing before a higher court and before the Bar of Almighty God. Among the new members of the ]5ar of Sangamon county during this Decade were William M. Springer, J. K. W. Bradley, W. P. Olden, A. N. J. Crook, James E. Dow- ling, A. W. Hayes, Richard Wolcott, L. H. Bradley, J. A. Chesnut, J. C. Crowley, Willi.am Fowler, James M. Mason, James W. Palton, Lawrence Weldon, L. M. Phillips, George C. Marcy, William E. Shutt, A. Orendorff. ■ SIXTH DECADE. During this Decade the Bar of Sangamon County was increased in number by the follow- ing named: D. T. Littler, J. A. Kennedy, L. F. Hamilton, James C. Robinson, A. L. Knapp, Bernard Stuve, Bluford Wilson, Loren Hasson, Robert Allen, Thomas C. Austin, John F. Bar- row, S. D. Scholes, W. P. Emery, Charles H. Rice, Charles D. Harvey, Robert H. Hazlett, Robert L. McGuire, John M. Palmer, John Mayo Palmer, Alonzo W. Wood, Charles W. Brown, Clinton L. Conkling, Enoch Har- pole, W. L. Gross, E. D. Matheny, J. C. Lanphier, Henry H. Rogers, George A. Sanders, J. C. Snigg, Ezra W. White, Charles P. Kane, Henry Kane. 13— 110 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUN TV. Chapter VI THE BAR OF SANGAMON COUNTY— Continued. SEVENTH DECADE. The year 1881 is the beginning of the Seventh Decade, and only of this year can anything be said as a matter of , history, of the Bar of San- gamon. The following named tirms now con- stitute the resident Bar of the county: L. B. Adams, John F. liarrow, Bradley & Bradley, N. M. Broadwell, Frank W. Ikirnett, James C. Conkliiig, ^V. J. Conkling, Collins & Sprague, A. N. J. Crook, J. E. DoWling, Ninian W. ^Ed- wards, W. P. Emery, Joseph A. Gill, II. S. Greene, Gross cfc Conkling, John H. Gunn. Mil- ton Hay, Ralph W. Havnes, Hazlett & Kane, Herndoii & Colby, W. F. Houston, Frank H Jones, James A. Kennedy, J. R. H. King, David T. Littler, Webber E. Loomis, Jas. H. Matheny, Jas. H Matheny, Jr., McClernand & Keyes, Mc- Giiire, Hamilton & Saltzenstein, Murray & Tur- ner, Orendorff & Creighton, Palmers, Robinson &Shutt, Patton & Lanjihier, Rice & Trapp, Rob- ertson & Maxwell, John E. Rosette, Louis Rosette, Sanders «& Williams, Scholes & Mather, J. B, Scott, I- red E. Smith, John C. Snigg, Ster- ling & Grout, H. A. Stevens, Stuart, Edwards ifc Brown, T. J. Thompson, William A. Vincent, La Rue Vredenburg, Joseph Wallace, E. \V. White, Bluford Wilson, Wines & Wickersham, Richmond Wolcott, Rogers & Kane. In reviewing the history of the Bar of to-day, it must be born in mind that the historian is speaking of those who are yet living and in active practice, and therefore he labors under an embarrassment that does not exist when writing of parties that have passed away. Words of praise, by envious ones, are apt to be construed into words of Hattery, for which reason many things are left unsaid which are rightfully due the parties of whom the historian is writing. In the following sketches care has been taken against such use of terms as will lead to even a thought of flattery, or stating an untruth, with the idea that it will please the one of whom it is written, even if it does not offend others. But whatever is written is the ojjinion of the historian, who reserves the right to speak as he may think best of each individual. The members are introduced in chronological order, as they appeared at the courts, so far as it is really known. John T. Stuart, the senior member of the firm of Stuart. Edwards & Brown, was born Noveinber 10, 1807, in Fayette county, about seven miles east of Lexington. Kentucky. He comes of good old Scotch-Irish stock and has inherited many of the peculiarities and fine qualities of that hardy race. Robert Stuart, the father of the subject of this sketch was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and eaily in life adopted the profession of the Christian minis- try. He removed from Virginia to Lexington, Kentucky, and became a professor of languages in Transylvania L'niversity. While a professor in this institution, he was there married to Han- nah Todd, daughter of General Levi Todd. During the earlier years of his life John T. Stuart I'emained with his parents upon a farm, attending the common schools in winter and assisting his parents in the summer in cultivat- ing the soil. While yet young he entered Cen- tre College, at Danville, Kentucky, pursuing a regular classical course, and graduating from that institution when but nineteen years of age. Immediately upon 'graduating, Mr. Stuait en- tered the law office of Judge Breck, in Rich- mond, Kentucky, and for two years pursued his studies under that eminent barrister. Having heard much of the "beautiful country of the Sangamo," and having relatives living in that favored regior, he determined to emigrate there. Starting on horseback, he first made his way to Frankfort, Kentucky, and by the Supreme Court of that State was licensed as an "Attorney and Counselor at Law." In ten days he arrived in Springfield, weary and worn. A heavy rain had HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Ill fallen the moniiiig of hisari'ival which had given to the lionses of the village, which wore gener- ally of logs (laul)ed with mud, a dreary look, making liini feel a little blue. Uis mind reverted to the pleasant home which he had left, sur- rounded by all the comforts of a civilized life, and he could liut wonder what the future would have in store for hini, and whether the joys of the future would compensate for the pleasures left behind. At this time Mr. Stuart had barely attained his majority, and in looks and actions had re- tained much of the boy about him. He was kindly received by the generous, open-hearted people, then living in Springtield, but he tells a good story upon himself which goes to show man's judgment is not always infallible, iiilly Fagin, a shrewd, witty Irishman, as all Irishmen are, met liini a few days after his arrival, and as common in that day, began to question liim as to his past and future. He was asked where he was from, what he was here for, and what were his expectations. The questions were all an- swered as well as ])0S8ible, considering the sur- prise manifested at being thus quizzed by an entire stranger. "Now," says Mr. Fagin, "would you like to know my opinion of you?" Mr. Stuart replied that he would not object to know- ing it. " Well," says he, "it is my opinion you may be a pretty tine man, but you stand a mighty poor show of meeting with success as a lawyer." Mr. Stuart lauglied, but said nothing in reply. The attorneys Mr. Stuart found at the I>ar on his arrival, were James Adams, Thomas M. Neale, James Strode, Thomas Moffett and Jona- than II. Pugh, men of mark then, but all of whom have since died and have almost been for- gotten, they being overshadowed by that bril- liant galaxy of lawyers that came a few years after. Hon. Jose]>h Gillespie was asked to give his opinion of Mr. Stuart as an attorney. The fol- lowing was his reply; " Colonel John T. Stuart may be emphatically denominated the Nestor of the Bar of Spring- field, Illinois, a body of men without superiors, if equals, in any State in the Union. We be- lieve there is but one man now living in Illinois, who ante-dates him as a practitioner, and that man is William Thomas, of Jacksonville. John T. Stuart is a native of Kentucky, from whence he emigrated to Illinois in 1828, and located in the future capital. After the manner of the Kentucky school, he was thoroughly grounded in the history and elementary principles of the law, whereby he was enabled to elucidate and apply it to the cases which miglit arise on the circuit, with the aid of such authorities as one could carry in his head and saddle-bags. John T. Stuart is pre-eminently a man of reason, and if he be tried by the maxim, ' IJy their works shall ye know them,' he will come out all rigiit. He was the tutor of one of the greatest men who ever lived, Abraham Lincoln, who imbibed his precepts, principles and methods. An important part of Lincoln's great character was the work of John T. Stuart. The leading traits of the sub- ject may be summed up in the attributes of ster- ling integrity, great forecast, and strong will. In the management of jirofessional business, he seeks first to understand his own side of the case, and next to penetrate the designs of his adver- sary, in which he never fails. He keeps his own batteries effectually masked, while those of the opposite side are closely scrutinized. He knows their calibre and position completely. It was this quality which made him so eminently suc- cessful as a politician. Such was his adroitness and sagacity that his adversaries could never comprehend how he could obtain a knowledge of their plans; therefore they dubbed him "Jerry Sly." No one, however, ever suspected him of even the slightest breach of faith or dishonor- able dealing. He was fastidiously sincere in all his professions and engagements. There was no trouble in discerning the attitude of John T. Stuart, but in regard to his plans, either political or professional, he was perfectly inscrutable. Whatever you had a right to know he would communicate with the greatest cheerfulness; but whatever he had a right to conceal, no man could find out. Stuart always believed in the efficacy of labor, and worked his cases well. He was eminently conscientious with his clients, and never allowed them, if he could prevent it, to go to law for a profitable wrong or an unprofitable right. He has done more than any other man in the State to discourage frivolous litigation. He has always taken a great interest in assisting young men, aiding them by his counsel in the management of their cases, and by inspiring them with confidence and laudable ambition. His veneration for the profession of the law is very great, and anything like unworthy conduct, tending to lower it in the estimation of honor- able men, calls out his prompt and decided ani- madversion. There is not a particle of envy in his composition. He deals out equal and im- partial justice to all men. He scorns everything like ostentation or display, and desires to gain his cases upon their merits, and not otherwise. 112 HISTORY UF SANGAMON COUNTV. His character for honesty and fair dealing gave him a power few hold upon courts and juries, and made him almost invincible. He has i>assed now into the sere and yellow leaf, and, of course, seldom engages in the active duties of the ))ro- fession; but his old clients and friends cannot be induced to dispense with his counsel and advice, and he has not yet been permitted to doff the harness he has so long and honorablv worn. It would, perhaps, be enough to establish the fame of John T. Stuart upon a solid and endur- ing basis, to say, as can be truthfully said of him, that throughout all those long years he practiced with and was the recognized peer of such men as Stephen T. Logan, Abraham Lin- coln, Milton Hay, John M. Palmer, and a host of others whose lives will adorn the pages of our judicial history so long as talent and worth shall be appreciated." In politics, Mr. Stuart is a disciple of Henry Clay, and therefore a Whig of the old school. He loved the old Whig party as he loved his life, and has scarcely yet realized that the party is dead. In 1832, when but twenty-five years of age, he was elected for the first time a mem- ber of the legislature, and re-elected in }SSi. In the House he made a useful member, ever at his post, and ever looking forward to advance the interests of his constituents. In those days the question of internal imjirovements was the leading issue before tJie people, and ]\[r. Stuart strongly advocated every measure, that in his opinion, would tend to develop the indus- tries of the country. It may be well to remark here, that in these views Mr. Stuart has always been consis'ent, there hardly being a measure proposed for the advancement of public inter- ests but what has found in him a strong advo- cate. More enterprises of a public character will be found in which he has figured than any other man in the county. In 18-36, Mr. Stuart was nominated by his party for Representative in Congress, and made the race against William L. May, of Springfield. In this race Mr. Stuart was beaten, as he really expected to be, he making the race with a view of solidifying his party, which was in a large minority in the district, and doubtless with the hope that it would benefit him in future cam- l)aigns. In 183s, lie was again nominated in op- position to Stephen A. Douglas, who was even then developing the powers which afterwards made him so famous, and the leader of a great party. In this campaign ]Mr. Stuartwas success- ful, and therefore became a member of the Twenty-fifth Congress. In 1840, he was again a candidate, and again elected. In Congress, Mr. Stuart made no special effort to become prominent, being content to be recognized as one of the working members of that body, Init that he was not without infiuence is illustrated in the fact that he secured the passage of an appi'opriation for a harbor at Chicago, the first apiiro]jriation, it is thought, ever passed for that jnirjiose. The member from Detroit, Michigan, and Mr. Stuart were the only western members securing an appropriation that session^ In 1842, Mr. Stuart declined a re-election to Congress and again resumed the active practice of law; but in 1848, he was prevailed upon to accejjt the nomination for State Senator in the district composed of the counties of Sangamon, Mason and Menard. He served the term of four years for which he was elected, with marked ability, Imt from that time until 1802 he was virtually out of i)olitics, though a firm sup- porter of Millard Fillmore, in 1856, and John Bell, in 1860, for the Presidency. Fillmore and Bell were both old Whigs, and while represent- ing other parties and running upon other issues, he yet believed them to be sufficiently imbued with the Whig leaven as to merit his earnest support. Mr. Stuart is by nature a conservative man and a believer in the Constitution of our fathers. While being progressive in matters affecting business interests, in political affairs he has been favorable to no change that would violently affect the convictions of a lifetime. During the dark days of the war, it was always his earnest hope that President Lincoln would pursue a conservative course. He believed in subduing the rebellion, and in a vigorous prosecution of the war, but desired nothing should be done by the L^nion authorities that would disarrange the existing order of things — the war must be car- ried on in a Constitutional way; that institution must be kept inviolate by all A'ho had swoi-n to protect it. In 1862, Mr. Stuart announced him- self a candidate for Congress in a circular ad- dressed '• To the Voters of the Eighth Congres- sional District," in the following terms: " Fellow Citizens: I announce myself a can- didate to represent you in the next Congress. If any apology is needed for my mode of doing so, I oft'er it in the following facts: My political life dates back to a time anterior to])arty conventions, to a time when it was the practice of myself and others to come before you for your suffrages self-nominated. I am only doing now what I have repeatedly done before, when I announced myself a candidate for your suffrages, three HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 113 times for Congress and as often for the legisla- ture. Again, I ever, during its existence, he- longed to the Whig party. Since the dissolu- tion of that party, I h.ave attached myself to no other; I, therefore, can appeal to no party con- vention, and nothing is left to me but to declare myself a candidate independent of any party organization, and free to serve my country in sucli manner as duty to her interests may dictate. Frankness further requires me to say, that I Ite- come a candidate not because any friends have pressed me to do so, but because my own incli- nations have so prompted, stimulated by the hope that the contingency has now arisen, or soon will arise, when I may be of service to our beloved country in her hour of trial, and aid in preserving that glorious Union which our fathers formed. I aim thus to discharge the obligations which I owe to the country, in the circumstan- ces in which it is placed. Whether you will consider it to be your duty to vote for or against me, is a question for you to decide. Your confi- dence would be a source of great gratification to me. "I am for 'the Union, the Constitution and the enforcement of the laws.' This creed ex- presses my views in the briefest manner. It is appropriate to the circumstances of the country. I believe in it as a whole, and in every part, without qualification or condition, and to it I pledge myself with every faculty of my nature. I believe the Union which our fathers formed was designed by them to be perpetual. It owes its origin to a patriotism, statesmanship and wise forecast, of which the world furnishes few, if any, parallels; it has been most benificient in its results; it has secured to us, as a nation, in a most remarkable degree, the blessings of civil liberty, domestic tranquility and safety from foreign aggression. In that Union has been our strength. The advantages flowing from that Union, coujjled with our great natural gifts, has secured to us a growth, as a nation, without a parallel in the history of the world. VV^ith this Union preserved we might hope to transmit all these blessings and continued prosperity, to the remotest generations of our posterity. With the Union dissevered our hopes can linger on no such glorious vision. After so sad a catastro- phe the future presents our once united and happy country, divided into two, perhaps many parts, discordant, warring, drenched in fraternal blood, and finally seeking the strong arm of the despot to save her from anarchy. Such has been the fate of other republics. God grant that such may not be ours, or that of our children. Need I add that I regard it to be my duty, as it is that of every other citizen, to maintain and preserve it. Ilow is that Union to be maintained and preserved? I answer, by the use, if neces- sary, of all the ample powers vested by the Con- stitution in the General Government. Our Union is based upon a written Constitution, embodying the contract by which the people formed a perpetual Union and erected a govern- ment limited in power as to the subject matter for its exercise, but supreme wherever given. It is only by virtue of that Constitution th.at the General Government can claim and enforce the obedience of all the parts and sections of the Union, to such laws and acts as are made and done in pursuance of that Constitution. These powers are ample, if wisely used. Indeed, we have a strong government. Tliat Constitution provides no mode of dissolving the Union. It has no sanction for secession. Wiien, therefore, the people of the South m.ake the effort, by force, to free themselves from the obligations which they owe under the Constitution to the Union, they become rebels and traitors, seeking by revolution to destroy the Unioti, and it is the right and becomes the duty of the General Gov- ernment, to put down that rebellion and stay that revolution by the use, for that purpose, of all its constitutional powers. Were it to resort to any other powers, or to means outside of the Constitution, the Government would itself inau- gurate a revolution. The Southern revolution threatens us with anarchy; such a revolution by the Government, would lead to a military des- potism. I refrain from the discussion of past (juestions, the tendency of which would be to irritate, and shed no light upon any future duty. " Whatever may have been our differences of opinion upon such past questions, the one great question which now presses upon us ought to admit of no differences of opinion. In the deadly struggle now existing between the Gov- ernment and armed rebellion there can be no other alternative left to all such as would pre- serve the Union, maintain the Constitution, and enforce the laws, but to fight it out to the bitter end — fight, not to gratify a long pent-up hatred and desire for revenge — fight, not as a means of accouiplishing some object which cannot be done under the Constitution, but fight to conquer a peace — such a pe.ice as will jjreserve the integrity of the Union and the majesty of the Constitution and the law — such a peace as will degrade no section of the Union. "In conclusion, therefore, if I should become your representative, I would feel it to be my 114 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. duty, so far as that position would give me the power, to place at tlie disposal of the Executive, all the resources of the Government, required to enable him to exercise his constitutional powers and perform his duty under the Constitution, or to add to the comfort or efficiency of our gallant soldiers while fighting the battles of the Union. "One thing further I would add, not neces- sary, perhaps, in this connection, but I wish to say it, and the occasion is at least not unfit. Mr. Lincoln and myself, as most of you know, have been closely connected for more than a quarter of a century, by manj- ties, the recollec- tion of which is very dear to me. Diiference in political opinion since 1856, has in no wise diminished my respect for the man, or the un- bounded confidence I have ever bad in his per- sonal integrity. I believe he entertains an ardent desire^ and is struggling to preserve the Union and Constitution as our fathers made them; and, as a matter of feeling, as well as duty, I would rather aid than embarrass him in all such efforts. If my voice could now reach his ear, I vi^ould be glad to say to him: Follow the dictates of your own clear head and pat- riotic heart, and preserve the Union by the ample powers conferred upon you by the Con- stitution, and repulse from you any faction, if such there be, which would goad you into a resort to revolutionarj- means; and for a Union and a Constitution so preserved, history will erect monuments for you by the side of Wash- ington. Your obedient servant, " John T. Stu^et. "August 30, 1862." Mr. Stuart was triumphantly elected, receiv- ing the entire Democratic vote, and that of hun- dreds of Republicans. In Sangamon county, where he was personally known by every voter, he ran far ahead of his ticket. Tlie people be- lieved in him, trusted in him. In Congress he endeavored to act faithfully to his convictions. The Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln he opposed, for the reason he believed it unnecessary, and the objects for which it was issued could more readily be attained in other ways. It is due to him to say that he now be- lieves that "all was for the best." In 1864, Mr Stuart received the Democratic nomination for Congress, but was defeated by Shelby M. Cullom. From that time he has ceased to take an active part in political life. It may truly be said of him that he never was a politician in the commonly accepted definition of the term. Politics with him is the science of government, and in his entire political career he has endeavored to act for the interests of the people rather than that of party. As already stated, Mr. Stuart has always taken an active part in all mattei'S of public interest. No man in Sangamon county is entitled to more credit for the excellent railroad system of this county. lie has been i>rominently identified with each, and has served as President of one or more, Director and Attorney of several of them. In ISGtJ, he was elected President of the Spring- field City Railway Company, President of the Springfield Watch Company and President of the Jjettie Stuart Board of Trustees. He was one of the three Commissioners for building of the new State House. As Chairman of the Ex- ecutive Committee of the National Lincoln Monument Association, it devolved upon him to do more than any other one man in superintend- ing the erection of that monument to the mem- ory of his life-long friend, Abraham Lincoln. In educational matters Mr. Stuart has likewise been prominently identified. The old Illinois State University, the predecessor of the German Lutheran Concordia College, took much of his time, and in the Bettie Stuart Institute he has ever felt great interest. John T. Stuart and Marj- V. Nash, a daughter of General Frank Nash, and niece of Judge Lockwood, were united in marriage at .Jackson- ville, Illinois, October 25, 1887. The union has been a happy one. Six children were born unto them — Bettie, afterwards the wife of C. C. Brown, and for whom the Bettie Stuart Insti- tute is named, since deceased; John T., Frank N., Virginia L., Hannah and Robert. Socially, there is nothing to be said of Mr. Stuart but what is good. As a husband and father, he is kind and affectionate; as a neigh- bor, he is friendly and accommodating; as a citizen, he is public spirited and helpful. The poor in him have always found a friend, the cry of distress from the unfortunate always touches his heart, and he is ever ready to hearken unto their cry and minister to their wants. The young love him; the middle aged trust him; the old lean upon him as a friend; and all trust him. The golden rule has always been the rule of his life. He has shown his love to God by his love of his fellow-man. John T. Stuart is a grand, good man, and when called upon by the Judge of the Universe to a higher court, his place here will remain vacant; it cannot be filled and he will not be forgotten. Samuel II. Treat, Judge of the United States Court for the Southern District of Illinois, is a native of Otsego county, New York, and was HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. ]15 born in 1812. lie read law and was admitted to practice in his native State; came to Illinois and settled in Springfield in 1834, and has been a resident of the city ever since. In 18.38 he was appointed Circuit Judge, and filled the office until 1841. lie was then elected Judge of the Supreme Court of Illinois, serving till 18.55, when he was chosen to the Bench of the United States District Court, which position he has tilled with distinguished ability for more than a quar- ter of a century. Judge Treat is admirably adapted, both by nature and education, for the bench, and has few equals in the judiciary of this country. Benjamin S. Edwards, for forty jears an hon- ored member of the Sangamon County Bar, is the youngest son of Hon. Ninian Edwards, the first Governor of the Territory of Illinois, after- wards United States Senator and Governor of the State, was born June 3, 1818, in Edwards- ville, Madison county, Illinois. He graduated from Yale t-ollege in the cla.ss of 1838, studied law at the law school connected with that college, in 1839, completed his prei)aratory studies for the profession with Hon. Stephen T. Logan, de- ceased, of Springfield, and began practicing in March, 1840, with such competitor.s as Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, S. T. Logan, E. D. Baker, Jesse B. Thomas, Mr. McDougal, Mr. Lamborn, and other legal lights. In 1843, Mr. Edwards entered into partnership with Hon. John T. Stuart, in Springfield, which still exists, having continued thirty-eight years. He has studiously and zealously applied himself to the jjrofession, paying little attention to politics. He was chosen a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1862, representing Sangamon county. He was, without his knowledge or con- sent, nominated for Congress on the Democratic ticket, in 1808, and greatly reduced the ordinary Republican majority, thougli opposed to Gover- nor Cullom in the conte.st. At the solicitation of the Bar and the jteople, Mr. Edwards became a candidate for Judge of the Circuit Court, in 1869; w.as elected, and discharged the judicial duties with satisfaction to lawyers and litigants. When the circuit was enlarged. Judge Edwards retired from the bench, and has since devoted himself entirely to legal labors. Judge Edwards honors the profession he has faithfully repre- sented, for more than forty years, and has won an enviable reputation, both as a superior lawyer and a thorough gentleman. James C. Conkling was born in New York City, October 13, 1816. At the age of thirteen, he entered the academy at Morristown, New Jersey, and prepared for college. He entered Princeton in 1833, and graduated in 1835. He then entered the law office of Henry A. Ford, and read law for three years. In the fall of 1838, he came to Springfield, Illinois, was licensed by the Supreme Court of the State the following winter, and at once commenced the practice of law. Soon thereafter he formed a partnership with Cyrus A. Walker, then one of the leading attorneys of the State, and who, though living at Macomb, in McDonough county, practiced in the courts of Springfield. This arrangement continued for about two years, when he formed a partnership with General James A. Shields, of Mexican war fame, and who subsequently, at intervals, represented three States in the United States Senate. In 1845 Mr. Conkling was elected Mayor of Springfield and served one term. In 1851 he was elected a member of the House of Repre- sentatives of the General Assembly of the State, and again in 1866. His object in accepting the nomination was forthe purpose of securing an ap- propriation for the building of anew State House, and by that means forever to secure Si)ringfield as the permanent seat of government of the State. It will be remembered that at this time the ques- tion of removal was being agitated by the press and people throughout the St.ate. Peoria, Bloom- ington, Decatur, Chicago and other places were anxious to secure its location. A new State House had become an absolute necessity, the old having become too small for the projjer transaction of business of the State. At the ses- sion of the legislature, in the winter of 1866-67, Mr. Conkling was made a member of the com- mittee on puidic buildings, and also chairman of the Judiciary committee. As a member of the former he drew a bill for an appropriation, which after considerable delay was reported to the House. Here the fight raged furiously be- tween friends and opponents of the measure. Several days were spent in discussion, and while one of the opponents of the measure, who had been selected to close the debate, was making his speech, Mr. Conkling learned the bill had no enacting clause, the engrossing clerk having left it off the bill as presented. Calling Isaac Keys. Mr. Conkling proceeded to the office of the en- grossing clerk and com})elled him to restore the enacting clause, and supply words that had been omitted or changed from the original bill. Re- turning to the House with the true copy, it was given to the clerk and the vote taken. A major- ity of two votes was obtained for the bill. Mr. Conkling deserves great credit for his efforts in 116 HISTORY OF SANiiAMOX COUNTY. this connection. He had to tight against great odds. Leading men in Springfield who had been working for montlis to the same end, be- fore the bill was pnt upon its passage, became discouraged and abandoned the field. In 1863 Mr. Conkling was appointed by Gov- ernor Y'ates, State Agent to settle the claims of the State against the general government for eqtiipments furnished volunteers. The duty was performed to the satisfaction of the State. As a lawyer, 31r. Conkling ranks among the ablest. He is regarded by many as the most eloquent member of the Bar at the present time, and some of his oratical efforts are considered equal to any of the productions of Edward Everett. James C. Conkling and Mercy A. Lovering were united in marriage September 21, 1841, in Baltimore, Maryland. Five children were born unto them — Clinton L., Charles, James, Annie v., and Alice. James C. Conkling is a man of great enter- prise and business activity. He has used much of his wealth in building enterprises and for the encouragement of manufactures. He is a mem- ber of the Second Presbyterian Church of Springfield, and for inany years has been a rul- ing elder in that body. James H. Matheny, the present County Judge was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, October •30, 1818. In the spring of 1821 he was brought by his parents, Charles R., and Jemima Ma- theny, to Springfield, where he has since contin- ued to reside. He now lays claim to be the old- est living resident of the city. Judge Mathe- ny 's life has been an active one. At fifteen years of age he was employed as clerk in the Post- office and the Recorder's oftice, transacting the entire business of each, and probably having a little leisure to engage in such sports as were common to the youths of that age. It is well known that he enjoyed a little fun when a boy, and now that time has sprinkled his hair with gray he still enjoys a good joke. In 1839 he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Court and served for a time. In 1841 he en- tered the ofiice of Baker & Bledsoe as a law student, and for two years pursued his studies, being admitted to the Bar in 1843. Instead of seeking a country where he was not known, he "hung out his shingle'' in Springfield, where he was raised and where he was known by almost every one. He soon secured a good practice, and from that time to the present, he has never lacked for clients. As a jury-lawyer, he ranks high, and has been retained in many of the most prominent cases before the courts of Sangamon and adjoining counties. He is an effective speaker, with power to move a jury at will. His perceptive faculties are large, and he can quickly grasp a point or penetrate the aims of an adversary. In 1845 he was united in marriage with Maria L. Lee, and by her had seven children — Lee, Edward Dow, Lucy, Nora, James H., Jr., Ralph C, and Robert W. Judge Matheny has held many important public positions, and has always discharged his trusts in a faithful manner. In addition to those already mentioned, he was a memlier of the Constitutional Convention of 1848, and was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, in 1852, and served one term of four years. During the war he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the loOth Regiment Illinois Infantry. After the capture of Vieksburg he was on detached duty, holding military courts until 1864, when his reg- iment was consolidated with another, and he resigned. In November, 1873, he was elected Judge of the County Court of Sangamon County, and re-elected in 1ST 7, without opposi- tion. In the "good old days of the Whig party" Judge Matheny was an earnest defender of its principles, his first Presidential vote being given for William Henry Harrison in the campaign of 1840. During that campaign, in company with nine other young men, he made a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, to hear Henry Clay speak. This journey required about five weeks, as the party went in their own private conveyance and camped out of nights. On the dissolution of the Whig party. Judge Matheny acted for a short time with the American and Republican parties, but on account of the conservative ten- dency of his mind, he finally drifted into the Democratic ranks, and usually voles that ticket. He is not a modern politician by any means, and never has antagonized the better element of opposing parties. When running for office, he invariably leads his ticket, in consequence of personal popularity, and for the reason he does not antagonize. In the meetings of the Old Settlers' Society he has always taken a deep interest, and was selected to make the first annual address. This address will be found elsewhere in this work. For several years he has held the position of Secretary of the Society, and no man would be missed more in its meetings. William H. Herndon was born in Greensburg, Kentucky, December 25, 1818, and came to Illi- ''■*% 'S ^t< L-'^>^>. ■^0' \f'm QLicJ' c//eo lIISTOIiY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 119 iiois in 1820, and Sangamon County in 1821, in company with liis parents. . The schools of Springfield he attended, as the opportunity of- fered, tmtil 1830, when he entered Illinois Col- lege, at Jacksonville, but only attended one year, being removed by his father in conse- quence of the ^\.bolition excitement then pend- ing, and wiiich resulted in the death of Lovejoy, at Alton. The elder Herndon was inclined to be pro-slavery in his views, and did not care to have his son have Abolition sentiments instilled in his mind by the professors in the Jackson- ville institution. It is probable, judging from later events, that the removal was accomplished when it was too late. After his removal from the college, lie clerked in a store for several years, and in 1842 entered the law office of Lin- coln & Logan, where he read two years and was admitted to the IJar in 1844. The partnership of Lincoln & Logan now being dissolved, Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Ilerndon became partners, a relation which was never formally dissolved, and which existed until the death of Mr. Lin- coln, though other temporary arrangements were effected by !Mr. Ilerndon after Mr. Lincoln entered upon the duties of the Presidency. The tirst arrangement was a partnership with L has. S. Zane, which continued until Mr. Zane's eleva- tion to the Bench, when a partnership was en- tered into with A. Orendorff, which continued until Mr. Herndon's removal to the country in March, 1867. Before he left the city, he wrote and delivered four lectures on the character and life of Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Herndon has always been a great reader, and the questions of political economy and the science of mind have ever been with him fa- vorite studies. The science of law has also been an interesting study to him. He always desires to go to the bottom of every subject, and wishes to reach it the quickest way possi- ble. The little quibbles of the shyster disgusts him, and the red tajjeism of the law affords him no pleasure. In the days of the old Whig party, Mr. Ilern- don was an advocate of its principles, and the "hard cider campaign" of 1840, was the first in which he participated, lie was always an op- ponent of slavery, and on the organization of the Republican party he became one of its strongest advocates. Mr. Ilerndon has never been an office-seeker, and the public positions that he has held have come to him unsought. He has held the offices of City Attorney, Mayor of Springfield, Bank Commissioner for the State, under Governors 14— Bissell, Yates and Oglesby, besides other minor offices. William H. Herndon and Mary J. Maxcy was married in Sangamon County March 26, 1840. They have had six children. Mrs. Herndon died August 18, 1860, and Mr. Herndon was married July 31, 1861, to Anna Miles, by whom he has had two children. Personally, Mr. Herndon has the good will of everyone with whom he is acquainted In his life he endeavors to follow the golden rule. Norman M. Broadwell, attorney-at-law, was born in Morgan county, Illinois, in 1S25. Bax- ter Broadwell, his father, and Mary Lindley, both New Jersey people by birth, married near Cincinnati, Ohio, and were among the first set- tlers in Morgan county, where they died a num- ber of years ago. Judge Broadwell received his chief literary education in his native county; came to Springfield and commenced reading law with Abraham Lincoln and William II. Herndon, in 1851, and was admitted near the close of the same year. He had begun the study of medi- cine and continued it some months previously, but not liking it, abandoned the idea. Upon being admitted to the Bar, Mr. Broadwell at once entered upon practice, which he has zealously and successfully prosecuted, with but slight interruptions, nearly a third of a century. He has had several law partners during these years, among them such eminent attorneys as Gov- ernor S. M. Cullom, General John A. McClernand and Hon. William M. Springer. The first cause be ever tried in a court of record, Abraham Lin- coln was opposed to him as counsel, and the last cause Mr. Lincoln ever tried in the Springfield courts, Mr. Broadwell was his associate counsel. Judge Broadwell has ever been an ardent de- votee of his profession, which he honors, and paid little attention to politics. He. was, how- ever, elected to the State Legislature in the fall of 1860, from the Sangamon county district, on the Democratic ticket, being the only successful candidate. of his party in the county that year. In 18G2 he was elected County Judge, served three years, and was chosen Mayor of Spring- field in 1867, and re-elected in 1869. Judge Broadwell was united in marriage to Virginia lies, in Springfield, in 18.56. She is a native of Sangamon county, Illinois, and is the mother of four daughters and one son. Judge Broadwell is a Past Master in the Masonic Order. William J. Conkling was born in New York City in 1826; emigrated to Ohio in 1831 and to McLean countj', Illinois, in 1839. Attended Olierlin College for a time, but left in his junior 120 HISTORY OF SANGAMOX COL'NTV. year. Came to Springfield in 1853, read law for two years and was admitted to the Bar. For some years he had a lucrative practice, but of late years he has devoted himself more to the real estate business. John E. Rosette, lawyer, is a native of Dela- ware, Ohio, born in 1823. He was educated in that city, and read law there with Hon. Charles Sweetzer, an ex-meraber of the United States Congress: was admitted to the Bar in Columbus, Ohio, in 1850, and located in practice in Find- lay, Hancock county. Ohio. During the several years of professional life in that place he was twice elected Prosecuting Attorney of the county. From thence he returned to Delaware; lived there nearly three years, was appointed Probate Judge of the county, and served the un- expired term of Judge Fuller, deceased. In 1 855. upon the invitation of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Rosette removed to Springfield, Illinois, and has been an active and jirorainent member of Sangamon County Bar for twenty-six years. He came to this count}" a Democrat in politics ; l>ut from 1856 has been identified with the Republi- can party. Mr. Rosette was united in marriage with Miss Mary Taylor, in Findlay, Ohio. She was born in Salem that State, and educated there in a convent. They have four daughters; two mar ried to Captains in the United States regular army ; the eldest, the wife of Captain L. H. Rucker; the second the wife of Captain F. T. Bennett, from Toledo, Ohio, who has also been Indian Agent at Fort Defiance, for several years, the only instance of a regular army officer hold- ing that office at the same time. Charles S. Zanc, Judge of the Nineteenth Ju- dicial Circuit of Illinois, is a native of Cumber- land county. New Jersey, born March 2,1831. Andrew Zane, fiis father, was a farmer, and mar- rie!400 against the defendant. Judge Zane's religious views are liberal and tolerant, nearly identical with the doctrines of the Unitarian Society. He is a great admirer of the school of philosophy of which Herbert Spencer and Mr. Tyndall are able exponents. Politically, the Judge favors a bi-metalic money standard, a free banking system, and a tariff upon the luxuries for revenue. Judge Zane married Miss 3Iargaret Maxcy in the spring of 1 859. She is of Kentucky parent- age, born in Springfield in 1835. They are the parents of eight children, six living. The eldest daughter, ]\Iary Farnetta, is the wife of William Hinkle, chief clerk in the State Auditor's office. The eldest of their four sons, Charles W., is preparing for the legal profession, as is also the HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 121 second son, John Maxcy Zane, now in Micbigan University. John Alexander McClernand is the only child of Dr. John and Fatima McClernand, and was born in Breckenridge county, Kentucky, in is 1-2. Four years later his father died, and young Mc- Clernand, being made of that stern stuff that overcomes difficulties and surmounts obstacles, had succeeded in placing himself in a respect- able position and practice in the legal profession, at the early age of twenty. Meantime, in 1S30, he had moved with the family to Shawneetown, Illinois. In 1832, before attaining his majority, he volunteered as a private in the Black Hawk war, and served honorably to its close. This service kindled a taste for, and gave him a knowl- edge of military tactics, and of the character of men, which proved important factors in his later career. In 183.5 Mr. McClernand established the first Democratic journal ever ])ublished in Shawnee- town; and the same year re-commenced the practice of law, which continued with success until he was elected to U. S Congress in 1843. In 1836 he was elected to the Illinois Legislature from Gallatin county. During this session he successfully vindicated President Jackson from charges brought against him by Governor Dun- can; and also advocated that mode of con- structing the Illinois & Michigan Canal known as the "Deep Cut" plan, which was finally adopted. Mr. ^McClernand was chosen, by the legislature as commissioner and treasurer, which duties he so faithfully discharged that compli- mentary resolutions respecting his services were passed in a number of pubic meetings held at different points. In 1838 he was urged to be- come a nominee for Lieutenant Governor, but declined because under the Constitutional age — thirty years. At the same Democratic conven- tion which offered him the nomination Mr. Mc- Clernand prepared and offered the following resolutions: ^^Hesolved, That the Democratic principle is founded on an imperishable basis of truth and justice, and perpetually striving to sustain soci- ety in the exercise of every power which can promote human happiness and elevate our con- dition; that, instead of warring against order and encroaching on the privileges of others, the spirit of Democracy maintains an active prin- ciple of hope and virtue. ^'■Resolved, That we recognize no power but that which yields to the restraints of duty and is guided by mind; that we only seek to obtain influence by means of free conviction; that wc condemn all appeals to brute force and the ex- ercise of violence; and that our only means of persuasion are reason and truth. '■' Jiesolved, That our just claim is to connect our parly with the cause of intelligence and morality; to seek the protection of every richt consistent with the genius of our Constitution and the spirit of tlie age. We desire to extend moral culture, and to remove, as far as possible, all ineiiualities in our human conditions by em- bracing all improvements which can ameliorate our moral and polilic.'^l state." In 18-40 Mr. McClernand was again returned' to the legislature from Gallatin county; was re- elected in 1842; and as Chairman of the Com- mittee on Finance introduced several measures to alleviate the existing financial troubles of the State, which he attributed to the defect- ive banking system. These measures were all adopted. In 1843, while still a member of the legislature, he was chosen Representative to the Twenty-eighth Congress. The first speech he made in that body was on the bill to refund the fine imposed upon Gen. Jackson by Judge Hall. During the same session he delivered a speech on the Rock Island controversy, which was ex- tensively published. In the second session of the same Congress, as a member of the Com- mittee on Public Lands, he brought forward a comprehensive report, accompanied with a bill for a grant of land to aid in the completion of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. By an act of the legislature, the time for hold- ing elections had been changed, and Mr. McCler- nand was re-elected to Congress in 1844. He was one of the members who insisted with vehe- mence on the maintenance of the claim to fifty- four degrees, forty minutes in the Oregon con- troversy with Great Hritain. He voted to sustain the President in the prosecution of the Mexican war, by granting the requisite men and means; and portrayed the beneficial results of that war in a speech delivered in Congress in June, 1846. In the first session of the Twenty- ninth Congress he prepared with great labor and introduced a bill to reduce and regulate the price of public lands. In the ensuing session, as chairman of the same committee, he introduced a bill, which became a law, to bring into market the mineral lands, lying around Lake Superior. During the same session he was called upon by the Jackson Monuiaent committee to present their memorial, which he did, and his eulogium upon Jackson was highly esteemed. In 1848 Mr. McClernand was again elected to Congress, but not without opposition. In 1849, as a mem- HISTORY OF SAX(;A.M()N COUNTY ber of a select committee on certain ciiargcs preferred against President Polk, for having established a tariff of duties in the ports of the Mexican Republic, Mr. McClernand de- fended the President in an able argument. In 1850, at the instance of other leading men, he prepared and offered the first draft of the famous Compromise measures of that year. But the same subject being taken up in the Senate by the committee of which Mr. Clay was chair- man, he prepared the bill which passed both houses, Mr. McClernand being chairman ol the committee of the whole during its passage through the House. He delivered an elaborate speech on the subject during that session. He also during that session drafted the bill granting a quantity of land in aid of the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad and its Chicago branch. His colleague, Senator Douglas, being furnished a copy, introduced it in the Senate, and, with amendments, it passed both houses and became a law. During the same session he, as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Af- fairs, introduced a paper for the regulation of the State Department. In 1851, declining re- election, he retired from Congress, after a flat- tering career of eight years, and moved to Jack- sonville, Illinois. The following year he was chosen Presidential Elector for the second time in his life, and supported Pierce and King. In 1856 he made a powerful speech at Alton, de- precating the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and predicting danger to the country as the con- sequence. In 1850 he removed to Springfield, Illinois, where he soon gained a prominent po- sition as a lawyer in the State and Federal Courts. In 1869 he was elected Representative to Con- gres.s, to till the vacancy caused by the death of Major T. L. Harris. In 1860 he introduced a bill repealing the law organizing the Territory of Utah and merging that Territory into others. This being his plan for overcoming the ascend", ancy of the Mormons, and the evils of polygamy- On the 14th of January, 1861, Mr. McCler- nand delivered a speech in the House, on the Union and the phantom, "Xo Coercion," that for historical research, comprehensiveness and •exhaustive argument, has few equals in the annals of parliamentary literature. In 1843, after his first election to Congress, and before taking his seat, Mr. ilcClernand married Miss Sarah, daughter of Colonel Dun- lap, of Jacksonville, Illinois. A sketch of the emminent services lendered the Government by General McClernand during the war for the Union will appear in the military chapter. Charles A. Keyes, Attorney and Counselor-at- Law, of the tirm of McClernand ifc Keyes, South- west corner Fifth and ^Yafhington streets, is a native of Springfield, Illinois, born in 183l' His parents, James \V. and Lydia (Spickard) Keyes, were natives of Virginia, and came to Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1831, and are both living on their farm, four miles northwest of the Ci'ty of S]iringtieliL Charles attended the city schools, and graduated from Illinois College, Jackson- ville, in the class of 1854 ; read law with Elliott B. Herndon, and was admitted to the Bar in 1856. They were partners at one time for two years. With that exception ]Mr. Keyes jii-acticed alone until the present co-partnei'slii)i was form- ed al)Out eight years ago. In the spring of 1856 he was elected City Attorney and re-elected in 1857. In 1862-3 he served as Representative in the legislature, from Sangamon and Logan counties. He was appointed Master in Chan- cery by Judge E. Y. Rice, in 1807, and was twice re-appuinted by Judge B. S. Edwards and Judge J. A. McClernand, serving in all seven years He was a delegate to the National Dem- ocratic Convention that nominated Seymour for President, in 1868. Mr. Keyes was united in marriage with Elizabeth Lauman, of Xenia, Ohio, in 1868. Her parents were early settlers in that city. The fruit of this union is two daughters and one son. Christo]jher C. Brown, Attorney-at-Law, of the tirm of Stuart, Edwards & Brown, the oldest law tirm in Illinois, was born in Sangamon county, now a part of Menard county, Illinois, on the 21st of October, 1884. His father, Wil- liam B. Brown, came from Kentucky and set- tled in Sangamon county in 1832. He died in 1850. C. C. Brown attended the Springtield schools, and at Greensburg, and the Lutheran College at Hillsboro. He read law with his brother, David A. Brown, in Springfield, then attended the Transylvania Law School in Lex- ington, Kentucky, was admitted to the Bar in 1858. and in January, 1860, became a paitner in the present tirm, having been active in the pro- fession until now. While-he has been an earn- est worker in the Democratic party, he has been a candidate for no political favor. Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Bettie, daugh- ter of Major J. T. Stuart, of Springtield, in Octo- ber, 1859. She died in March, 186"9, having been the mother of three children, one deceased. Mr. Brown married Carrie, daughter of John E Owsley, of Chicago, in 1872, by whom he has a HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 123 son and daughter. His eldest son, Stuart Brown, was graduated from Princeton College, in June, 1881. Eugene L. Gross was born December 25, 1836, in Starkville, Herkimer coimty, New York, and came to Illinois with his parents in 1844. He received an academical education, and subse- quently read law in the office of H. G. Reynolds, in Knoxville, Illinois, and was admitted to the Bar in 1857. In that year he formed a partner- ship with Mr. Reynolds, which contimied but a a few months. In 1858 he came to Springfield and opened an office, and here practiced his j^ro- fession until his death. As a lawyer, he was regarded by both the members of the Bar and the pulilic, as one of more than ordinary al^ility. His legal attainments were quite diversified, and whether pleading before a jury, or present- ing his case for the consideration of the learned judge, he alike usually convinced both that liis position was right. He was logical in his rea- sonings and drove home his ideas with great force. In 1865 he revised the City Ordinances of the city of Springfield, by direction of the Common Council. This was his first literary work. In 1868, in connection with his brother. Colonel William L. Gross, with whom he had formed a law partnershii), he compiled and puljlished the General Statutes of the State, then in force. In January, 1868, they compiled and published a Digest of the Criminal Laws of the State. In 1869 a new edition of the General Statutes, in- cluding the laws of 1869, were published. Dur- ing this year they also compiled and published an index to the Private and Special Laws of Illinois. In 1872 they compiled and published the second volume of Gross' Statutes. This ended the literary labors of Mr. Gross. Eugene L. Gross and Susan L. Zimmerman were united in marriage April 17,1860. Four children were born to them — Leighla, F^red, Susie, and Bessie. In June, 1873, finding his health impaired, Mr. Gross started on horseback from Springfield and traveled through the Indian Nation, thence to New Mexico and Texas, and returned by railroad in December of the same year. The trip failed to be of that benefit it was hoped. That relentless destroyer, consumj)tion, had fixed its hold upon him, and on the 4th day of June, 1874, lie breathed his last. Mr. Gross was never an aspirant to public of- fice, l)eiug contented to follow the profession he had selected for a life work. In politics he was always a thorough-going Republican, and an earnest advocate of the principles of that party. Milton Hay was born in Fayette county, Ken- tucky, July 3, 1817, and emigrated with his father's family to Springfield, Illinois, in the year 1832. Until arriving at age, he labored at different avocations for his father, attending the common schools at intervals, and receiving such education as such schools aft'orded at that day. He was fond of reading, and devoted the inter- vals of time when not at school or at labor, to the reading of such books as the scanty liliraries of the time afforded. With James H. Matheny (now Judge Matheny) and others, he aided in forming the first society of a literary charac- ter ever formed in Springfield, the Springfield Lyceum, which was devoted to debating dis- puted questions and the reading of original essays. He studied law in the office of Stuart & Lincoln, and was licensed to practice in 1840. He begun practice at Pittsfield, Pike ocunty, Illinois, and there practiced his profession until the year 1858, when he returned to Springfield, continuing the practice of liis ]m)fession until January, 1881, when he retired fioni tlie active practice of his profession. He was twice married. His first wife, Cath- erine, the daughter of James Forbes, of Pitts- field, died in 1857, leaving two children, both of whom died in infancy. In 1861, he married Mary Logan, eldest daughter of Judge Stephen T. Logan. She died in 1874. Two children survive, born of this marriage, Kate and Logan Hay. He was elected to the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1872, from the district composed of the counties of Logan and Sangamon, and, altliough not of the dominant parly in the Convention, was made Chairman of the Committee on Rev- enue, and served on the Judiciary Committee. He actively participated in all the proceedings of that body, and in forming the new Constitu- tion, which was subsequently adopted by the l)eople. In 1874 he was elected as a Represent- ative of Sangamon county to the legislature, and acted (after the death of Mr. ]5ushnell) both as Chairman of the Judiciary and Revenue Committees of that body. He was one of the committee of five appointed by the legislature, to revise, in conjunction with I\Ir. Hurd, the laws of the State, and this work was adopted at an adjourned session of the legislature. Other than as here stated he has never held office, pre- ferring the practice of his profession to the pursuit of office. In politics he is a Republi- can. 124 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Hon. William M. Springer, present member of Congress from the Twelfth District of Illi- nois, was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, SOtli of May, 1836. When twelve years old he moved with his parents to Jacksonville, Illinois. There William prepared for college under the instruc- tions of Dr. Newton Bateman, then teaching in the West District school of that city. He en- tered Illinois College, but owing to some diffi- culty with the faculty was dismissed from the institution, and went thence in the spring of 185(3, to the State University of Indiana. In 1858 Mr. Springer returned to Illinois, and after studying law nearly three years in Lincoln, was admitted to the J>ar in 1860. The same year he was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for Representative in the State Legislature, for the district composed of Logan and Mason counties, but was defeated by Colonel Robert B. Latham. In 1861 he settled in Springfield, and soon formed a law partnership with Hon. N. M. Broadwell, and Gen. John A. McClernand, the latter of whom retiring some years after, the firm continued as Broadwell & Springer. Re- turning home in 1870 at the close of a two-year's tour in Europe, tor pleasure and the improve- ment of his wife's feeble health, Mr. Springer was elected to represent Sangamon County in the legislature. That being the first after the formation of a new Constitution. Several ses- sions were held during 18'70-'71 and 1871-72, and a complete revision of the Statutes of Illi- nois was made while he served in that body. In 1374, Mr. Springer was elected Represent- ative to Congress for the Twelfth District, com- posed of the counties of Cass, Christian, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon and Scott, and re-elected in 1876, 1878 and 1880, being nominated the first time on the first ballot, and each subsequent time by acclamation, the delegations from each county being instructed to support him. This, in the face of the fact that Sangamon county has furnished the Representative from this district for tweftty years consecutively, speaks well for the popularity of the present incumbent. In the Forty-fourth Congress, Mr. Springer was a mem- ber of several important committees. When the bill was introduced, in that session, to grant a million and a half dollars by the Government to the Centennial Commissioners, Mr. Springer offered an amendment, that upon the close of the Exposition and the sale of the property, the Government should be reimbursed by that amount from the proceeds before any dividend could be made to the stockholders. The bill became a law, as amecded. The Centennial Board attempted to evade the payment of the money into the LTnited States Treasury, through a supposed defect in Mr. Springer's amendment clause, but he, being selected by the Attorney- General to prosecute the cause, fought it through the United States Supreme Court, and obtained a verdict sustaining the act, and recovering to the Government fifteen hundred thousand dol- lars. For this valuable labor he has not, as yet, received a dollar compensation, though he has asked Congress to allow him to go before the Court of Claims and prove the value of his ser- vices. In the Forty-fifth Congress Mr. Springer served on several prominent committees, among them the Potter Election Committee and the committee to investigate Mr. Seward's official records while Minister to China, and which re- ported twelve articles of impeachment against him. In the same Congress Mr. Springer bolted the caucus nomination of his party and supported General Shields against Mr. Field, the party nominee. He was the only Democratic member from the Northwest who voted against the Birchard and Hardridge resolutions, declaring that neither the courts nor Congress possessed the power to dis- turb Mr. Hayes' Presidential title, his action creating great excitement at the time. Mr. Springer believed that a wrong had been done in giving Mr. Hayes the Presidency, while he opposed all revolutionary measures, thought the Government had the power to right that wrong. Mr. Springer was the Chairman of the Commit- tee on Elections in the Forty-sixth Congress, and opposed the majority of his party in their effort to unseat Representative W. D. Wash burne, of Minnesota, and substitute Ignatius Donnelly in his stead. He thought the claim of Mr. Donnelly unjust and the proceedings dis- honest; and although great pressure was brought to bear, through threats and slanderous charges of bril)ery, from which he was triumphantly vin- dicated, to coerce him to support the measure, he persistently opposed it, and was conspicuous in its defeat. The object of the movement was to secure a Democratic majority in the Iloiise, so that the party could elect the President in 1880, in case it should be thrown into the House of Representatives. Mr. Springer married the daughter of Rev. Calvin W. Ruter, a prominent Methodist clergy- man of Indiana. Theyhave but one child, Wil- liam Ruter Springer, aged eighteen years, who was graduated from a private military academy in Virginia in 1880. Notwithstanding her deli- HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 1-25 cate health, Mrs. Springer is an author of recog- nized ability. The most noted productions of her pen are "Beecli Wood," which appeared several years ago, and "Self," published in 1881, both from the press of Lippincott, of Philadel- phia. She has also contributed a number of poems to the columns of current magazines. William E. Shutt, Attorney, of the law firm of Palmers, Robinson & Shutt, was born in Water- ford, Louden county, Virginia, May 5, 1840. His parents, Jacob and Caroline (Leslie) Shutt, moved to the city of Springfield in November, 184'2. They were' natives of Louden county, Virginia. Father died here in 1866, mother in in 1805. Mr. Shutt was educated in the city schools, and read law with Judge James H. Ma- theny, and was admitted to the Bar in 1862, commencing practice immediately. In 1864 he was elected City Attorney on the Democratic ticket; was chosen Mayor of the city in 1868, by the same party In 1874 he was elected to the State Senate, for four years ; and was re-elected in 1818, his oflicial term expiring in 1882. The law firm of Robinson, Knapp & Shutt was formed July 1, 1869, composi^d of Hon. James C. Rob- inson, Anthony L. Knapp and Mr. Shutt; and has e.xisted until the death of Mr. Knapj), in May, 1881, after which Robinson & Shutt formed a part- nership with J. M. and J. Mayo Palmer, under the firm name of Palmers, Robinson & Shutt. Robert L McGuire of the firm of McGuire, Hamilton & Salzenstein, is a native of Missouri, and was born in 1833. He graduated from the Missouri University at Columbia, in the class of 1857. Subsequently he followed the calling of a teacher. In 1861 he came to Springfield, read law and was admitted to the Bar in 1862. He formed a partnership with James H. Matheny in 1866, previous to which time, he practiced law alone. This partnership continued until 1874. In May, 1878, he formed a partnership with L. F. Hamilton, and later Mr. Salzenstein was admitted, forming the present firm. Leonidas H. Bradley, of the firm of Bradley & Bradley, Lawyers, 1174- South Fifth street, was born in Galia count}', Ohio, July 23, 1841. He is one of a family of four sons and a daugh- ter, of Lewis and Nancy C. Bradley ?«t;c Kno.Y, of New York, and the State of Delaware, respec- tively. In 1852 they moved to Clark county, Illinois, where the senior Bradley died in March, 1880, and where the widow and several of the family now reside. Leonidas was educated at Marshall, Illinois, and Ohio Wesleyan LTniver- sity, in Delaware, from which he was graduated in the classical course in 1861, being less than twenty years of age. He at once commenced the study of law with Judge Charles H. Constable, in Marshall, Illinois; in August, 1862, enlisted as a private in the 130th Illinois Infantry. Upon the consolidation with the 77th regiment he was made Quartermaster Sergeant and filled that office till discharged after the close of the war. In October, 1865, Mr. Bradley married Miss Abi- gal L., daughter of Hon. Uri Mauley, an early settler and prominent lawyer of Marshall. Soon after retiring from the army Mr. Bradley was ad- mitted to the Bar, settled in Springfield and formed a partnership with W. P. Olden, which continued till June, 1872, when Mr. Olden retired and Isaac K. Bradley took his place. Mr. Bradley has been ardently devoted to his profession, paying little attention to politics, but was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1871, and in 1872 chosen to the City Council; was a candidate, against his wish, for County Judge on the Republican, ticket, but the county being stronglj' Democratic, was beaten. He was ap- pointed Assistant United States District Attor- ney in 1869, did efficient service in prosecuting fraudulent distillers in this district; resigned in 1871. He enjoys an extensive practice in the Chancery and United States Courts. His mar- riage with Miss Manley has resulted in a family of three sons and thi-ee daughters, one of the latter deceased. Isaac K. Bradley was also born in Galia county, Ohio, and is a little more than thirty-two years old. He attended school at Marshall and at Leb- anon, Illinois, completing the classical course in 1869; read law with Messrs. liradley & Olden, in Springfield; was admitted in May, 1870; be- gan practice as a member of the law firm of Bradley, Olden & Bradley, in 1871. Since Mr. Olden's retirement, the following year, the brothers have continued under the present firm title, and have a large law business in the several courts. Thomas G. Prickett, lawyer, is the second of five children of Hon. David and Charlotte G. Prickett, and was born in Springfield, December 23, 1837. He was educated at Charlottsville Seminary, from which he graduated in 1858; entered the army with the rank of Captain, in 1862; served about two and one-half years on General McClernand's staff; read law under the preceptorship of General John A. McClernand; graduated with the title of Bachelor of Laws, from the law department of Michigan State L^ni- versity, in 1865; was admitted to the Bar in March, 1K65; was elected City Attorney in 1866, and again in 1868. Mr. Prickett was elected 126 HISTORY OF SA^'GAMON COUNTY. Alderman from the Third ward in 1874, and again in 1876, serving four yeais in all. The two brothers and two sisters own and re- side in the old homestead, opposite the State Capitol, erected by Hon. George Forquer over fifty years ago. The premises include three acres of land, beautifully situated on the corner of Capitol avenue and Second street. Norman L. Freeman is the present Reporter of the Supreme Court of Illinois, which office he has held, by appointment from that court, since April, 1863. He is a native of Livingston county. New Y'ork, and was born May 9, 1823. His parents, Truman Freeman and Hannah Down, were na- tives of New Hampshire, and prior to their re- moval to the State of New York, had for many years been residents of the city of Concord. After the death of the father, in 1824, the mother, with the younger members of her family, moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she resided many years. While a mere boy, young Norman entered the store of David Cooper, a leading merchant of Detroit, where he remained about three years. Leaving Detroit, he spent a few months in Cleveland, as a clerk, and then entered an academy near that city, from which he passed to Ohio University, at Athens, at which institution he completed his literary education. L^pon leaving the university, he went to Kentucky, and for several years taught school in the vicinity of Lexington. While still a teacher he pursued his law studies, and in the winter of 1845-6 entered the law office of Kirtland & Seymour, at Waterford, New York, and in the spring of 1846 returned to Kentucky, was admitted to the Bar at Lex- ington, and began practicing his profession in Morganfield, Union county, in that State. In 1849 he was married to Miss Tranquilla Riche- son, daughter of Alfred Richeson and Elizabeth Dabney Williamson. To them were born five children, four of whom survive, three daughters and one son. In 1851 we find him practicing his profession at Shawneetown, Illinois, where he remained until his removal to Springfield in 1864. In 1855 he published his Digest of the Illinois Reports, in two volumes, a work which went far to establish his reputation as a lawyer and law writer. During the time he has held his present office, he has issued sixty-six volumes of reports — a greater number, it is believed, than has been issued by any other American reporter. Until the disorganization of that party, Mr. Freeman was a Henry Clay Whig, but since that time his political affiliations have been with the Democracy. Modest, genial, erudite— a good lawyer, an excellent Court Reporter, and a wor- thy citizen. Richmond Wolcott is a native of Illinois, and Avas born in Morgan county, January 10, 1840. He was educated at Jacksonville, where his par- ents moved at an early day, and graduated from Illinois College in the Class of 1859. In 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Tenth Illinois Infantry; was promoted to First Lieutenant, and then Captain. He served until September, 1864, when he resigned and returned to Jacksonville, and resumed the study of law, which he com- menced before he entered the army. In June, 1865, he was admitted to practice, and at once located in Springfield, since which time he has actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He married Jennie Salter, July ll, 1865, by whom he has had two daughters. In politics, Mr. Wolcott is a Republican. Thomas C. Mather, of Scholes & Mather, has been practicing law in Springfield since the spring of 1865, and has been a member of the present firm since 1871. He first read law with Hay, CuUom & Campbell, and then attended the law department of Michigan State University, where he completed the course of studies in that institution, in the spring of 1864. He then en- tered the office of a law firm in Chicago, where he remained until the spring of 1865, when he was admitted to practice in the courts of this State, and at once returned to Springfield. Mr. Mather received his literary education in the schools of Springfield, and a partial course in Illinois College, at Jacksonville. His parents dying in his infancy, he was reared by Colonel Mather, since deceased. He is now thirty-nine years of age, and since infancy his home has been in Sangamon county. Clinton L. Conkling, Attorney and Counselor at law, is a native of Springfield, Illinois, born October 16, 1843. He was educated in Yale College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1864. Clinton studied law in the office of his father, Hon. James C. Conkling, of Springfield, and was licensed to practice in the courts of Illinois, November 23, 1866, and the United States in January, 1867. After practic- ing a few years he turned his attention to the manufacturing business, but in 1877 resumed the duties of his profession to which he now gives his whole time, devoting special attention to chancery and real estate law, and to the set- tlement of estates. For some years Mr. Conk- ling was secretary of the Lincoln Monument Association, and has been an active member of HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 127 the fraternity of Odd Fellows in Central Illi- nois, besides being idei'.titied with other and similar benevolent societies. He has also been a member of the Board of Supervisors of the county, two terms. In his real estate practice he represents large land interests in this and other States. In 1867 Mr. Conkling united in marriage with j\Iiss Georgie Barrell, and they now have a family of two daughters, Georgie B. Conkling, and Kate Conkling, aged eight and six years re- spectively. Lloyd F. Hamilton, of the firm of McGuire, Hamilton & Salzenstein, is a Kentuckian by birth, but was raised in Tazewell county, Illi- nois, his mother having emigrated to tliat count}^ while he was yet an infant. His father died before they came to this State. He began to study law in 1864, with .Judge Schofield,of Mar- shall, Illinois, and the following year entered the Law Department of Michigan University, where he remained one year. He then entered the Law Department of the Chicago University, where he graduated in 1866. During the same year he passed a successful examination before the Supreme Court of Illinois and was admitted to practice. Selecting Springfield as a home, he moved to that city and opened an otliee and has since continued to practice here. In 1872 he was elected States' Attorney and served four years, and was highly successful as a pros- ecutor. Previous to this, during the municipal year of 1809-70, he was City Attorney of Spring- field. Mr. Hamilton has studiously devoted himself to the pract^e of his profession and stands well with the Bar. James W. Patton was born February 15, 1840, near Auburn, Sangamon county, Illinois. When but eight years ohl his father died, leaving his mother with two other children younger than himself. His mother's maiden name was Eliza- beth A. Moore, and she now resides upon the family homestead near the place of his birth. His grandfather, .James Patton, was among the first settlers of Sangamon county, having emi- grated from Christian county, Kentucky, in the spring of 1820. Mr. Patton remained with his mother on the farm until he was sixteen, when he spent two or three years away from home at school. Upon his return he was engaged in teaching for a while. In 18(iO he entered the law firm of Messrs. Hay it Cullora, of Springfield, with whom he studied until admitted to the Bar. After that he was engaged with his brother, Matthew Patton in merchandising at Auburn. 15— At the Presidential election of 18G4, he was elected one ol the Kepresentativcs of Sangamon and Logan counties to the legislature. In April 1866, he located in Springfield, and commenced the praciice of his profession. December ft, 1869, he was married to Francinc E. daughter of Hon. Charles II. Lanphier, of Springfield. Mr. Pattou has devoted himself to the practice of his chosen profession, in which he has been successful. Samuel D. Scholes, of the firm of Scholes & Mather, is a native of Peoria county, Illinois, and was born in 1841. He was educated in Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, and began reading law with Johnson & Hopkins, of Peoria. When the war commenced he enlisted and served as Orderly Sergeant in the three months' service, and afterwards as First Lieu- tenant in the three years' service, in the 14 th Illinois Infantry. At the close of the war, in 186.5, he again returned to his law books, and in January, 1866, was admitted to the Bar, and commenced practice in Springfield. In 1875 he received the appointment of Master in CHian- cery, which office he continues to hokl. Since 1871 the present law firm has been in existence. Politically, Mr. Scholes is a liepublican, but he has never been actively engaged in politics. Alfred Orendorff, Altorney-at-law, was born in Logan county, Illinois, 29th July, 1845. Joseph Orendorft', his father, was a North Caro- linian by birth, but came to Illinois with his parents about 1819. Christopher Orendorff, his father, settled on- Sugar creek, north of Spring- field, in what was then Sangamon, now Logan county, and liuilt the first water-power grist- mill in that part of the country, making the burrs of boulders obtained in the vicinity of the mill. Joseph Orendorff married Elizabeth Stevens, a native of Henderson county, Ken- tucky. He died when the subject of this biog- raphy was a lad of ten summers, and his widow removed to Lincoln, Logan county. Alfred enjoyed the common schools, and subsoipiently attended the Wesleyan L^niversity atJjincoln, a year, and the military school at Fulton, Illinois, a short time. In the spring of 1866 he gradu- ated from the Albany Law School, and spent the succeeding winter in Texas. Returning to Springfield in the autumn of 1867, he engaged in the practice of law in the office of Herndon & Zane; and upon the retirement of Judge Zane from the firm, the law partnership of Herndon & Orendorff was formed, and con- tinued for a number of years. June 22, 1870, Mr. Orendorff united in marriage with Miss 128 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Julia, daughter of Colonel Joliu Williams, an early settler and prominent business man of Springfield. In 1870 Mr. Orendorff was nomi- nated by the Republicans for the State Senate, but tbe Democrats being largely in the majority, he was beaten by their candidate, Hon. Alexan- der Starne. In iB'ZS, he was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention, and supported Hon. Lyman Trumbull for the Presidency. In 1873 he was chosen by tlie Liberals as candidate for Representative to the General Assembly of Illinois. The choice being ratified by the Dem- ocrats, he was elected, and was made a member of the .Judiciary Committee in that body, and took an active part in framing the Revised Stat- utes, made necessary by the adoption of the new Constitution. I^ Orendorff joined the Odd Fellows in 1874; has filled the various offices in the subordinate lodge; was cliosen Rep resentative of No. 465 to the Grand Lodge, held in Peoria in 1S75; was elected Grand Master of the State in 1878, and is now Representative to tlie Sovereign Grand Lodge I. O. O. F. of the World. The la\p firm of Orendorff & Creighton was formed in 1879. It lias an extensive business, and its members are recognized as aniong the most successful practitioners at the Sjiringfield Bar. Henry S. Greene, Attorney for the Wabash, St Louis and Pacific Railway Conipanj', and member of the late prominent law firm of Hay, Greene & Littler, was born in Ireland in 1833. At six years of age he crossed the Atlantic, and grew to manhood on the shore of Lake Ontario in the Dominion of Canada. In 1857 he came to Illinois, read law in the office of Lawrence Weldon, at Clinton, and was admitted to the Bar in .January, 1860. Having previously ar- ranged to become a law partner with Hon. C .H. Moore, of Clinton, Mr. Greene entered into and remained in that relation six years. Three years after his admission he was appointed At- torney for the Chicago and Alton Railroad Com- panj- for the counties of Logan and McLean, which position he resigned upon moving to Springfield in 1868, since which time, his law firm has been counsel for the company in San- gamon county, he still retaining that relation. In 1860 Mr. Greene associated himself with Mr. D. T. Littler in the practice of law, and upon the dissolution of the firm of llay & Palmer by the election of the latter to be Governor, Hon. Milton Hay became a partner, the firm title changing to Hay, Greene & Littler. This part- nership ceased by dissolution January 1, 1881. For a number of years this firm has had charge of the legal business of the Wabash Railway Company in this part of the State. Some time previously, and since their separation, Mr. Greene has been the General Counselor for the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway Company for Illi- nois, where it owns and controls by lease 1,300 miles of railroad lines, and Consulting Counsel for the outside business of the companv, con- trolling in all 3,000 miles of road. During the last two years of its existence, he was retained as counsel for the American Union Telegraph Company in its extensive litigation with the W^estern Union Company, previous to their consolidation. In none of the large legal business which Mr. Greene has done for corpora- tions, has he received a stated salary, but simply a fee for the professional labor performed. In view of the great demand upon his time and en- ergies in attending to the legal matters of these companies, he h.is withdrawn almost entirely, of late years, from general court practice at the Bar. The rapid growth of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Company's, by absorption and construc- tion, in the last few years, has created a large volume of legal business, and extended his duties until they are larger outside of the State than in it. In 1863, Mr. Greene was appointed District Attorney, by Governor Yates, for the Eighth Judicial District, composed of the counties of DeWitt, Logan and McLean, and was subse- quently elected to the same position, but re- signed to take his seat in the legislature, in 1867, in which he served one regulai and two special sessions; and upon moving from the district, re- signed before the close of his term of office. In the fall of I 85 4, before leaving Canada, Mr. Greene married Miss Elizabeth Hogle, born in that country, of New Hampshire parentage. Their family consists of one daughter and one son. In politics, Mr. Greene has always been a firm and active, but not radical. Republican. A. N. J. Crook is a native of Tennessee, but was reared in Indiana, his parents removing to that State in his childhood. In 1856 he came to Peoria county, Illinois, and from there to Sangamon county in 1S62. He spent two years in Pike's Peak, Colorado. After reading law for a time with Herndon & Zane, he was admit- ted to the Bar and commenced practice in Springfield. In 1869 he was elected County Judge and served four years. He also served as a member of the 32d General Assembly from Sangamon county. He is a staunch Democrat and an active worker in its interests. HISTORY OF SANGAMO^' COUNTY. 1'29 James C Kobinson, of the tirm of Palmers, Robinson & Shutt is a native of Edgar county Illinois, where he was born in 1824. 1^1 is father, Richard Robinson was a North Carolinian, and married Sally Dixon, and moved to Clark county, Illinois, in 1820, but removed to Edgar county shortly after. Subsequently he returned to Clark county where .lames was brought up and educated. Mr. Rol)inson read law' in Clark county, and was admitted to practice about ISfiO, and followed his chosen profession in that county until 18G9, when he settled in Spring- field. Like many other lawyers, of a past Decade, Mr. Robinson became somewhat of a politician, and in 1858 was elected from the Clark county District, a member of Congress. He was re- elected in 1S60 and 1862. In 1868, he was placed in nomination by his party, the Demo- cratic, for the office of Governor, in opposition to his present law partner — John M. Palmer, but was defeated. In ]S7i) he was nominated for Congress from the Springfield District and triumphantly elected, and re-elected in 1872. Soon after his settlement in Springfield, Mr. Robinson formed a partnership with A. L. Knapp, and subsequently William L. Shutt was admitted a member of the firm. The firm con- tinued in existence until the death of Mr. Knapp in the summer of 1881. Soon after this a partnership was effected with John M. and John Mayo Palmer, under the firm name of Palmers, Robinson & Shutt, the firm being one of the strongest in the State. The new firm now enjoys, as the old one did for many years, an extensive practice, especially in the upper courts. Mr. Robinson is recognized as an excel- lent jury-lawyer, and as a stump speaker has few equals. James A. Kennedy, attorney at law, is a na- tive of Huntingdon — now Blair — county, Penn- sylvania; was born in 18-33. David Kennedy and Mary A. Miller, his parents, were also of that State. They came to Illinois about 1840, and settled in Calhoun county, where Mr. Ken- nedy died soon after. They had three children, of whom James is the only one alive. Soon after his father's death, the family moved to St Louis, Missouri, and he was there reared and educated, completing a course in the St. Louis University in 18.52. He then went south and engaged in teaching school in New Orleans and interior Louisiana, until 1857. Returning, he remained in St. Louis till the following year, then located in Waterloo, Monroe county, Illi- nois; read law with Hon. William R. Morrison, and was admitted to practice in 1859. He was elected (.'ounty Superintendent of schools in 1860, and tilled the office by successive elections, eight years. He was appointed Master in Chan- cery about the same time, and held that positioii till he niiived to Sangamon county in 1.S70. Here he taught the first year as assistant in the city high school, at the close of which he opened a law office; was elected city attorney on the Democratic ticket in 1874; the following year was chosen Justice of the Peace to fill a va- cancy, W'as re-elected in 1877, and served till May, 1881. LIpon retiring he resumed the prac- tice of law. Mr. Kennedy is now serving his second term as supervisor from Capitol town- ship; was chairman of the Judiciary Com- mittee, first term, is now at the head of Com- mittee on Pauper and Poor Accounts. In Jan- uary, is79, he, with several others, printers, is- sued the "Catholic News," a weekly publication, which was suspended about six months later, from lack of proper sup])ort. In 1858 he mar- ried Miss Clara Vanderburgt, a native of Bel- gium, Europe, but came to America at ten years of age. They have two adult daughters' Mary E. and Emma. Mr. Kennedy is a member, and for several years was successively President and Secretary of the LTnion of the Irish Catho- lic ]?enevolent Societies, of Springfield. Charles Philo Kane, late of the tirm of Haz- lett & Kane, is the son of Rev. Andrew J. Kane, who came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1830, and Caroline M. Beers, whose parents, Philo Beers and Martha Stillman, settled in this county in 1820, and are believed to have been the second couple married in Sangamon county. Charles was born in Springtield, December 25, ] 850, graduated from the city high school in 1868, commenced the study of law in August, 1869, with Messrs. Hay, Greene & Littler, and was admitted to the Bar, June 13, 1871. May 1, 187^, he opened a law office in company with his liite partner, Rol)ert H. Ilazlett. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Kane was elected to the office of Citj- Attorney, and re-elected in 1879 and I SSO, retiring from the oflice May 1, 1881. He is a Mason, a Past Master in St. Paul's lodge. No. 500, is a memlierof Springfield Chapter No. 1, Royal Arch Masons, and has been two years Recorder of ElwoodCommandery No. C, Knights Templar. His ))arents reside in Springtield; father was born in 1818, mother in 1827. John C. Lanphier, second son of Hon. Charles H. Lanphier. Born October 19, 1850, in Spring- tield, Illinois; graduate of class of 1866, of loO HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Springlield High School. Studied law with Robinson, Knapp & Shutt and with Morrison & Patton. Admitted to the Bar July 4, 1871. Practit-ed in Chicago three years. Went into partnership with James W. Patton in January, 1875, firm of Patton & Lanphier. Married April 11, 1877, to Miss Susie C. Young, at St. Louis, Missouri. Henry H. Rogers is a native of Ohio. He came to Illinois in 18C9, and settled in Lawrence county. In 1872 he was admitted to the Bar, and commenced practice. In 1875 he caffe to Springfield and opened an office. For about two jears he was a partner of Henry B Kane, the partnership being dissolved on the election of Mr. Kane to the office of Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1881 . John C. Snigg, lawyer, 220 South Si-xth street, was born in New Hampshire in November, 1849; came to Springfield, Illinois, in the fall of ISSii. His parents were Edward Snigg and Margaret Murphy. Ilis education was chiefly attained in the printing office, he having never attended school more than six months in his life. Mr. Snigg entered the office of the Springfield Reg- ister as an apprentice boy in 1802, and worked in that and the Journal office until 1871. He began reading law in May of that year, in the office of Robinson, Knapp & Shutt, and carried newspapers meantime to defray current expenses. Passed his first examination in Michigan, in 1873, and received license to practice law; passed another examination before the Supreme Court of Illinois in June of the same year, and commenced practice in Springfield. He was elected City Attorney in 1875, and re-elected in 1876 and 1877. During the last term he revised the city ordinances, after thirteen years without revision. In the fall of 1878, Mr. Snigg was elected Representative to the legislature on the Democratic ticket, for its thirty -first session. Robert H. Ha/.lett, State's Attorney for San- gamon county, Illinois, late senior member of the law firm of flazlett & Kane, is the second child and eldest son of a family of six children — three of each sex — of William P. and Zerelda Hazlett, nee Haggard, and was born in Christian county, Illinois. His grandfather Hazlett came from Western Virginia, and settled in Spring- field in 1828, his father being then but seven years of age. Some years later the family removed to Christian county. There his parents raariied and remained until 1860, when they returned to Sangamon county any in New York City. Resigning that position in February, 1S68, he returned to. Springfield, and, resuming his busi- ness relations with his Ijrolher, E. L. Gross, became an active member of the Law and Law Publishing firm of E. L. & W. L. Gross, so well known throughout 'his State. In 1868 the firm issued the first volume of Gross' Statutes of Illinois, a work accepted by the courts and Bar as authority, and specially legalized by an act of the legislature. The following year a second ■edition was issued, including the laws of 1869; and the firm also issued an Index to all the Laws of Illinois, a work of great research, minute detail and merit. In 1872 the second volume of Gross' Statutes apjjeared, and the following year the firm was dissolved by the retirement of the elder brother on account of ill health. The publications of the firm were continued by the fiubject of this sketch, and in 1874 appeared the third volume of Gross' Statutes. Of these pub- lications it is not too much to say that they were acceptable alike to the courts, the Bar, and the people, and will long remain models of their kind. Since 1874 Mr. Gross has been actively en- gaged in the practice of his profession in this city. lie was elected Representative from Sanga- mon county to the Thirty-First General Assem- bly, upon the Republican ticket, and served dur- ing that session. In January 1881 he formed the law partner- ship now existing, with Mr. Clinton L. Conk- ling, one of the leading law firms of Sangamon connty. Upon the organization, in January 1877, of the Illinois State Bar Association, Mr. Gross was elected its Secretary, and by successive elections still holds that important position. In 1864 Mr. Gross was married to Miss Althea Livingstone, of Poughkeepsie, New York, and to tliem have been born two children, Edgar S. and Louise. John McAuley Palmer was born in Scott county, Kentucky, September 13, 1H17. While yet in his infancy, he was taken by his parents to Christian county, Kentucky, where he re- mained until 1831, when, in company with his parents, he came to Illinois and settled in Madi- son county. At this time he was in his four- teenth year, with but little education, and only such as was derived from the common country schools of that day. About two years after, his mother died and the family was broken up. The old college at Alton, commenced on the manual labor plan, was started at this time, and he de- termined to avail himself of its privileges. For one year he arose at daylight, built the tires, swept the floors, and did other chores until school hours, when he prosecuted his studies. Some four years after (in 1838), while travel- ing as a clock peddler, he stopped all night at a hotel in Carthage, Hancock county. A friend accompanied him to the hotel, and the two were assigned a room with two beds. Late in the night they were aroused by the landlord, who ushered in two strangers. "Sorry to waken you, gentlemen," said he, "but here are two strangers who want a bed. You two must sleep together, or share your beds with them." Palmer turned over, rubbed his eyes, and saw before him a short, spare man, with broad, expansive forehead, and large, luminous eyes. The other was taller, tine-looking, and had the appearance of being a college professor. The tali man in- quired about their politics. "Well," replied Palmer, " My friend's a Whig, and I am a Demo- crat." "You take the Whig, and I'll take the Democrat," said the short man. They got into bed, and all were soon sound asleep. The next morning Palmer inquired the name of his bed- fellow. It was Stephen A. Douglas, the Little Giant of the West. His fellow-traveler was John T. Stuart. In 1839, Mr. Palmer went to Carlinville, and entered the law oflice of John S. Greathouse, and commenced the study of law. In Decem- ber of the same year he went to Springfield to apply for license to practice. The court appoint- ed Judge Douglas and J. Young Soammon to examine him. His examination was satisfac- tory, Mr. Douglas remarking, "You may not now be able to take charge of important law cases, but from the cut of your features and set of your clothes, you soon will be." In the even- ing Mr. Palmer took a stroll around town, and into a church used as a State House, where a tall, long, bony man was entertaining a crowd with a speech that was full of anecdote, logic and com- mon sense. He inquired his name, and was in- formed that it was Abe I^incoln. The next day he was introduced to Mr. Lincoln, and from that 132 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. day to the death of Lincoln they were warm personal friends. Returning to Carlinville, he at once com- menced the practice of law, and, although he was not a good speaker, he soon commanded a lucrative practice. In 1840 he supported Van Buren for the Presidency, taking an active part in the canvass. On the 20th of December, 1842, he was united in marriage to MelindaAnn Neeley. Two weeks after marriage the couple went to housekeeping. The whole cost of furniture and everything nec- essary to go to housekeeping, was less than tifty dollars. While a strong Democrat, Mr. Palmer was always an anti-slavery man, and when the Kan- sas-Nebraska act of 1854 became the issue, he sided with the Anti-Nebraska Democrats. He was elected to the State Senate this year, which contained four Anti-Nebraska Democrats. A United States Senator was to be elected in place of General Shields. The Anti-Nebraska Demo- crats held the balance of power. Palmer ottered to go into the Democraticcaucus, provided fealty to the Kansas-Nebraska act was withdrawn. His otter was refused. Shields was nominated by the Democrats, Lincoln by the Whigs, and Palmer ))Ut Lyman Trumbull in nomination as the representative of the Anti-Nebraska Demo- crats. Trumbull was elected. Douglas labored hard with Palmer to get him to vote for Shields, and both in the wordy contest lost control of their temper. Doug'as taunted him with going- over to the Aljolitionists, and said he could till his place with plenty of good Whigs. Palmer grew hot and retorted, "So help me God, I'll never vote for Shields. You know how warmly I have supported you. You now tell me you are willing to part with me, and that you can fill my place with your life-long enemies. You demand that I shall surrender my personal independence and manhood, and threaten me if I refuse. From this time forward I will tight you, and will never speak to you until you are beaten, and lose your power to make and unmake men." The friend- ship was severed and not renewed until 1861, when the Governor of Illinois sent Palmer to Washington as a member of the Peace Confer- ence. The morning after his arrival Douglas sent a card to his room requesting an interview. The great statesman came in, and, offering his hand, said: "Well, Palmer, the time has come when, by your own limitation, we are to be friends. I beat you a long time ago, but it has taken you a long time to beat me. I'm glad to .see you." "Yes, Judge," said Palmer, "You were a thundering hard man to beat." Douglas then said: "You have always misunderstood me. Years ago I saw that Davis and others meant disunion. I sought to force the issue upon them in the Lecompton controversy, aiid would have done so if Buchanan had not proven false. Then, there was Union feeling enough even in the South to crush them. They have since had two years to educate the South into secession." Then rising, and, in a solemn, prophetic voice, he said: "And now you will see millions of men in arms before the question is settled." The campaign of 1856 was the first in which figured the newly organized Ivepublican party. Palmer gave his adhesion to that party. In 1 860 he did much service in the election of Lincoln to the Presidency. When the war broke out. Palmer raised the 14th Illinois Infantry, and by brave and gallant deeds was promoted to Major General, given command of a corps, and afterwards a department. After the close of the war he returned to the practice of law, and in 1868 was elected Gov- ernor of the State, serving four years with marked ability. On the expiration of his term of ottice, he located permanently in Springfield, and is now an active, honorable member of the Sangamon County Bar. John Mayo Palmer, of the firm of Palmers, Robinson resent partner, William F. Herndon. They were schoolmates and law students together. Mr. and Mrs. Colby have two children, Charles P., five years of as,"e, and Henrietta, three years old. William F. Herndon was born in DeWitt county, Illinois, in 18-18; is the eldest of three sons and five daughters of Archer G. Herndon; was educated chiefiy in Springfield; taught school about ten years; read law in the office of CuUom.Scholes ifc Mather in 187.5and 187(5; was admitted to the Bar in January, 1878, and has since been in practice in Springfield. In September, 1871, he married Mary H. Bryant, of Sangamon county, who has borne him one son, Edgar B. Mr. Uerndon's parents have resided in Rochester township, Sangamon county, many years. Henry B. Kane was born in Springfield, Illi- nois, January 17, 1855. His father. Elder A. J. Kane, is one of the oldest ministers of the Christian Church, in this county. His mother is the daughter of Philo and Martha (Stillman) Beers, supposed to be the first couple married in the county. Mr. Kane graduated in the Spring- field High Sciiool, in 1872. In 1873, he was ap- pointed one of the -mail carriers in the city, and served three and a half years, and on account of ill-health resigned. He read law during that time, utilizing his spare hours for that purpose, and in January, 1878, was admitted to the Bar. He then entered the office of N. W. Branson, Register in Bankruptcy, as his deputy, and re- mained with him until the law was repealed, about a year after. Subsequently he formed a partnership with II. H. Rogers, in the practii'o of law. which continued until he was elected Justice of the Peace, in 1881. Frank H. Jones was born in Pike county, Illi- nois, in 1854, and is the son of George M.Jones, Clerk of the A))pellate Court, in Springfield. He entered Yale College in 1871 and graduated in the class of 1875. Returning to Pike county, be read law one year in Pittsfield, then spent a 16— year in the Law Department of Columbia Col- lege, and a year in liie Chicago Law School. He was admitted to the Bar in the spring of 1878, and immediately opened an office in Pittsfield, where he remained one year, and then came to Springfield. John A. Chestnut, attorney and Justice of the Peace, was born in Kentucky, in January, 1816. James Chestnut, his father, was a native of South Carolina, of Irish descent, and married Elizabeth Stevenson, a North Carolina lady. They settled near \Vaverly, Morgan county, Illinois, in 1826, where Mr. Chestnut died in 1849, and his widow in 1833. John was princi- pally educated in the common schools of Ken- tucky; read law in the office of P. H. W^inchester, Carlinville, Illinois, and was admitted in Decem- ber, 1837, to practice in the Illinois Supreme Court, and in 1841, to the LTnited States Courts. He practiced in Carlinville from 1837 till 1855, Governor John M. Palmer being his chief cim- petitor. He then abandoned the law, and en- gaged in the real estate and banking business in that place, which proved so successful that he retired in a few years with a comfortable com- petence, and came to Springfield. Here Mr. Chestnut made some investments in real estate that proved unprofitable, and he lost consider- able. In 1867, he was made cashier of the Springfield Savings Bank, holding the position till May, 1872. After spending a year in the office of Stuart, Edwards & Brown, he opened a law office and resumed practice in 1879. In the spring of 18-^1, he was elected Justice on the Republican and Reform tickets. From 1838 to 1850, he filled the office of County Clerk in Ma- coupin county; was three times nominated on the old Whig ticket for the legislature, but the party being in the minority, failed to elect their candidate. He declined the nomination for Con- gress in 1860. Mr. Chestnut has been twice married, first to Sarah A. Blair, of Greene county, Illinois, in 1844, who died; and in 1854 he mar- ried Kate N. Corbett, of Jersey county. He has one daughter, Leonora, by the first marriage, now Mrs. Tingley S. W^ood, of Leadville, Colo- rado. Mr. C. is a member of the M. E. Church. Thomas J. Thompson, Justice of the Peace and Attorney-at-law, is the son of John and Margaret Thompson, nee Coleman, of Irish nativity, and was liorn in Philadeljihia, Penn- sylvania, in 1853. During his childhood they moved to Dayton, Ohio, where Thomas at- tended the public school, after which he took a course in Williams C!ollege, Massachusetts, grad- uating in the class of 1874. He taught as Prin- 138 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. cipal of llic U illiainstown Academy out' year; then returning to Ohio, read law in the office of Samuel A. Brown, of Springfield. He came to Springfield, Illinois, in December 1878, and was admitted to the Bar in the spring of 1879, since wliich time he has divided his attention between professional practice and stenographic reporting of court proceedings, until elected Justice in the spring of lssi,on the combined vote of tlie Citi- zen's and Democratic tickets. Mr. Thomj)son served as Secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee during the political cam- paign of 1880. Wlien a lad in school, young Thompson received an injury through the rough conduct of a fellow pu))il, which rendered him a permanent cripple, resulting in the shortening of the right leg some three inches. He posseses adaptation both by nature and culture for the legal profession, and gives promise of a success- ful career at the B ar. Winfield S. Collins, lawyer, is the son of Horace W. Collins, a native of Champaign county, Obio, and .Julia E. Sattley, born in San- gamon county, Illinois. Her father, Robert H. Sattley, settled in the county in a very early day. The subject of this sketch was born in Cham- paign county, Ohio, March 30, 1848. In 1855 his parents moved to Johnson county, Iowa, where he labored on the farm till twenty one years of age, then set about earning means with ■which to obtain a more complete education. He taught school twelve terms; took a course in Iowa Agricultural College, from which he was graduated in civil engineering in theclassof 1876, with distinguished honors as a draughtsman, having won the prize for the finest piece of me- chanical drawing at a State exhibition. In the spring of 1877, Mr. Collins came to Springfield, Illinois, read law with Robert L. McGuire and was admitted to practice in the courts, in May, 1879. He immediately opened an office in the city, and began the business of his profession. June 1, 1881, he formed a partnership with Martin Sprague, wliich still continues. William A. Vincent is a native of West Vir- ginia, and came to Sangamon county with his parents in 1868. He received a literary educa- tion in the Ohio Wesleyan University, and grad- uated from the Law Department of Columbia College, New Jersey, in May, 1879. Returning to Springfield the same month, he passed an ex- amination before the Supreme Court of this State, and at once commenced the practice of his profession in S|iringfield. Larue Vredenburgh was born in Springfield in 1855, graduated from Rutger's College, New Jersey, in 1877; read law in Chicago, and was admitted to the Bar in the fall of 1879, and has since been in active practice in Springfield. Alexander H. Robertson is a native of Ken- tucky and a graduate in both the Literary and Law De]iartments of Transylvania University, in that State. His father was George Robert- son, for many years Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court of Kentucky, and Professor in the Law Department of Transylvania University, and acknowledged as one of the ablest lawyers of his time in that State. In 1853 Alexander came to Illinois and located in Jacksonville, in the practice of his profession. Subsequently he returned to Kentucky, where he remained until 1862, during that time serving as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of Lexington, to which office he was elected shortly after his return. Coming back to Illinois, he remained for a time and again returned to Kentucky to look after his interests in that State. In 1879 he came to Springfield, and at once became an active mem- ber of the Sangamon County Bar. Judge Rob- ertson, during the civil war, was a decided Union man, and incurred many of the perils and disadvantages without any of its benefits. His father was also outspoken, with tongue and pen, in defense of the LTnion .against secession. On coming to Springfield, Judge Robertson formed a partnershij) with R. W. Maxwell, which still continues. William T. Houston was born in Sangamon county, his parents moving here in 1828. He read law with John B. Jones, Taylorville, Chris- tian county, and was admitted to the Bar in 1878. In the fall of 1680, he came to Springfield and opened an office. He served in the army as a member of the 114th Illinois Infantry. Albert Salzenstein, of the firm of McGuire, Hamilton & Salzenstein, is a native of Sanga- mon county. After graduating in the Spring- field High School in 1876, he was Assistant Clerk of the Supreme Court about eighteen months, at the same time pursuing the reading of law. He then entered the office of L. F. Hamilton, and continued his studies. He passed examina- tion before the Supreme Court in July, ISSO, but being a minor, he could not be admitted. In September following, he attained his majority, and opened an office in Springfield. In April, 1881, he was admitted a member of the present firm. Frank R. Williams, of the firm of Sanders & Williams, is a native of New York, and was educated in Cazinovia Seminary, in that State. He afterwards entered the law department of 1I1ST(3IIY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 139 Michigan University, and graduated in 1880. He was admitted to the Bar the previous Janu- ary, and came to Springfielurchase, or forty-mile strip. Rankling under what Black Hawk believed to be a wrongful dispossession of their homes along Rock river, and hunger and want coming to his people in their new homes, they re-crossed the Mississippi in the spring of 1831, and took possession of the site of their old village and corn fields. This movement of Black Hawk ex- cited alarm among the white peoj)le who had settled in that part of Illinois, and complaint was made to Governor Eevnolds, of Illinois, HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.. 151 against their presence. The coraplaiuts lepre- senteil that the Indians were insolent, and had comniitted many acts of violence. Governor Ford says the Indians ordered the white settlers away, threw down their fences, unrooted their houses, cut up their grain, drove oif and killed their cattle, and threatened the people with death if they remained. These acts of the In- dians were considered by Governor Reynolds to bean invasion of the State. He immediately addressed letters to General Gaines, of the United States army, and to General Clark, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, calling upon them to use the influence of the Government to procure the peaceful removal of the Indians, if possible: at all events, to protect the American citizens who had purchased those lands from the United Stales, and were now about to be ejected by the Indians. General Gaines repaired to Rock Island, and btcoming convinced the Indians were intent upon war, he called upon Governor Reynolds for seven hundred mounted volunteers. The Governor obeyed the requisi- tion, and issued a call upon the northern and central counties, in obedience to which fifteen hundred volunteers rushed to his standard at Beardstown, and about the lOth of June were organized and ready to be marched to the seat of war. The whole force was divided into two regiments, an odd battalion, and a spy battalion. The First Regiment was commanded by Colonel James D. Henry, of Si^ringtield. Black Hawk, becoming convinced tliat he could do nothing against the force sent against him, retreated across the river, and fearing pur- suit from General Gaines, returned with his chiefs and braves to Fort Armstrong, and sued for peace. A treaty was here formed witli them, by which they agreed forever to remain on the west side of the river, and never to re-cross it witliout the permission of the President or the Governor of the State. The treaty of 1804 was thus at last ratified by these Indians. Notwith- stan men, from the counties of McLean, Tazewell, Peoria, and Fulton, under the command of Majors Still- man and Bailey. 'J he officers of this force begged to be put forward upon some dangerous service in which they could distinguish them- selves. "To gratify them they were ordered up Rock river to spy out the Indians. Major Stillman began his march on the 12th of May, and pur- suing his w-ay on the sotitheast side, he came to "Old Man's" creek, since called "Stillman's Run," a small stream which rises in White Rock Grove, in Ogle county, and falls into the river ^^^. HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 155 near Bloomingville. Here he eucamped just before night; and in a short time a party of In- dians on horseback were discovered on a rising ground about a mile distant from the encamp- ment. A party of Stillman's men mounted their horses without orders or commander, anukmorton, believing this to be treacherously intended, ordered them to send a boat on board, which they declined doing. Allowing them fifteen minutes time in which to remove their squaws and children, he fired upon them with a six-pounder, and contin- ued the " fight " about one hour, with a loss to the Indians of twenty-three killed and a large number wounded. Tlie boat then fell down the river to Prairie DuChien, and before it could return the next morning, the land forces, under General Atkinson, had come up and commenced a general battle. The Indians were encamped on the banks of the INIississippi, some distance below the mouth of Bad-Axe river. Being aware that General Atkinson was in close pursuit, and to gain time for crossing into the Indian country, west of the Mississippi, they sent back about twenty men to meet him, with instructions to commence an at- tack, and then to retreat to the river, three miles above this camii. Accordingly, when General Atkinson came within three or four miles of the river, he was suddenly tired upon from behind trees and logs, the very tall grass aiding the con- cealment of the attacking party. General At- kinson rode immediately to the scene of action, and in person formed his lines and directed a charge. The Indians gave way, and were pur- sued by General Atkinson and all the army, ex- cept Henry's brigade, which was in the rear, and in the hurry of pursuit left without orders. When Henry came up to the place where the attack had been made, he saw clearly that the wily stratagem of the untutored savage had tri- umphed o\ er tlie science of a veteran General. The main trail of the Indians was plainly to be seen leading to the river lower down. He called a hasty council of his principal officers, and by tbeir advice, marched right forward upon the main ti-ail. At the foot of the high bluff bor- dering the river valley, on the edge of a swamp, densely covered with timber, driftwood and un- derbrush, through which the trail led fresh and broad, he halted his command and left liis horses. The men were formed on foot and thus advanc- ed to the attack. They were preceded by an ad- vance guard of eight men, who were sent for- ward as a forlorn hope, and were intended to draw the first fire of the Indians, and to disclose thereby to the main body where the enemy was to be found, preparatory to a general charge. These eight men boldly advanced some distance, rrntil they came within sight of the river, where they were fired upon by about fifty Indians, and five of the eight instantly fell dead or wounded. The other three, protected behind trees, stood their ground until the arrival of the main body under General Henry, which deployed to the right and left from the centre. Immediately the bugle sounded a charge, every man rushed for- ward, and the battle became general along the whole line. These fifty Indians had retreated upon the main body, amounting to about three hundred warriors, a force equal, if not superior, to those contending against them. It was soon apparent that they had been taken by surprise. They fought bra\-ely and desperately, but seem- ed without any plan or concert of action. The bugle again sounded a charge. The Indians were driven from tree to tree, and from one hid- ing place to another. In this manner they receded step by step, driven by the advancing foe, until they reached the bank of the river. Here a desperate struggle ensued, but it was of short duration. The bloody bayonet, in the hands of excited and daring men, drove them into the river, some of them trying to swim it, while others took shelter on a small willow island near the shore. About this time General Atkinson, with the regulars, and Dodge's battalion, arrived, followed by Posey's and Alexander's men, but the main work had been accomplished before they came up. It had been determined that Henry's men should have no share in this day's glory, but the fates taking advantage of a blunder of General Atkinson, had otherwise directed. After the Indians had retreated into the river and on the island, Henry dispatched Maj' r McConnell to give intelligence of his movements to his com- mander, who, while pursuing twenty Indians in another direction, had heard the tiring where HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 161 Henry was eugaged. General Aikin.-tou lel't the pursuit of the twenty Indians, and hastened to share in the engagement. lie was met by Henry's messenger near the scene of action, in passing through which, the dead and dying In- dians lying around bore frightful evidence of the stern work which had been done before his arrival. However, he lost no time in forming his regulars and Dodge's battalion for a descent upon the island. These forces, together with Ewing's battalion and Fry's regiment, made a charge through the water up to their arm-pits on to tlie island, where most of the Indians had taken their last refuge. All the Indians who atterai)ted to swim the river were picked off with rifle«, or found a watery grave before they reached the opposite shore. Those upon the island kept up a severe iire from behind logs and driftwood upon the men, as they advanced to the charge, but most of them there secreted were either killed, captured or driven into the water, where they perished miserably, either by drovvning, or the still more fatal rifle. The In- dian loss in this battle, known as the battle of Bad-A.\;e, is estimated at one hundred and fifty killed, as many more drowned in the river, and fifty prisoners taken, mostly squaws and chil- dren. The loss of the whites were seventeen killed and twelve wounded The twenty men who led General Atkinson astray, were led by Black Hawk in person, and as soon as Atkinson ceased his pursuit, they re- treated to the Dells on the Wisconsin river. A number of Sioux and Winnebagoes went in pursuit of him, headed by Decorah, a Winne- Ijago chief, and captured them on the upper Wis- consin river. The prisoners were brought down to Prairie DuChien and delivered up to General Street, the United States Indian Agent. Aicong the number captured was a son of Black Hawk, and also the Prophet, a noted chief, who form- erly resided at Prophet's town, in Whiteside county, and wlio was one of the principal insti- gators of the war. Thus ended the Black Hawk war. The militia were sent to Dixon and dis- charged. Black Hawk and the Prophet were taken east and confined in F'ortress Monroe for a time. On the 4th day of .June they were set free. Before leaving the fort, Black Ilawk de- livered the following farewell speech to the commander: " Brother, I have come on my own part, and in behalf of my companions, to bid you fare- well. Our great father has at length been pleased to permit us to return to our hunting grounds. We have buried the tomahawk, and the sound of the rifle liereafler will uiily bring dealli to the deer and the buffalo. Brothers, you have treated the red man very kindly. Your squaws have made them presents; you have given them jjlenty to eat and drink The memory of your friendship will remain till the Gieat Spirit says it is time for Black Hawk to sing his death song. Brother, your houses are as numerous as the leaves on the trees, and your young warriors like the sanev day for their serv- ices, could afford to be a little more liberal with those who periled their lives in a contest with the savage Indians. 162 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Forty-nine years have now passed since the events of the Black Hawk war, and yet justice has never been done the brave men who partici- pated in it, by the United States Congress. A few of the men participating in the war yet live — a very few. Some of them are in need of the necessaries of life, and yet nothing is done for them by representatives who annually squan- der millions of the people's money. Surely, the time has come when something should be done. Upon the return of the Sangamon county soldiers, a ball was given in Miller's hotel in Springfield, "in honor of General James I). Jlenry and the brave soldiers lately under his command." The local papers chronicle it as "a pleasant affair." The following are the names, compiled from official sources, of Sangamon county men serv- ing in this war: CAPTAIN CLAYWELl's COMPANY. Ninety Days Men. CAPTAIN. Jesst. Claywell. FIRST LIEUTENANT. .John H. Wilcoxen. SECOND LIEUTENANT, Rcziu H. Constant. SERGEANTS. Archib'ild Cass, Valentine R. Mallory, Andrew Moore, Williimi S. Hussey, CORPORALS. Robert L Gott, James C. Hagan, William B. Hagan, John McLemoor. PRIVATES. Anderson, Alexander, Anderson, Lewis C, Anderson, James, Anderson. Washington, Burns, John R., Barnet, William I., Brewer, John, Jr., Barnet, ^Villiam, Barnet, Hugh, Cass, Anderson B , Constant, Nathan E , Constant, Isaac Crocker, Harvey, Copelaud, John, Currey, George, Dement, William, Elliot, Haddon, Elliot, Richard, -Glenn, David A , Green, George, Helm, Guy, Hagan, Samuel C, Hide, John, Kclley, Jeremiah, Langston, James, Lucas, Thomas, Martin, Joseph, Neueane, William T., Prim. Abraham, Powell, John, Powell, Hiram, Rogers, William F., Riddle, James, Snelson, John W., Shearley, James, Smith, Joseph I., Smith, Philip, Stone, William A. PRIVATES. The foregoing received paj^ for services ren- dered. The following named received no pay: FIRST LIEUTENANT. Sowyel Cox. CORPORALS. Nathan Hussey, Harrison McGary. Brewer, John, Sr., Dooley, Jeremiah, McGaiy, Hugh, Pickrell, Benjamin F., Stone, Caleb,' Smith, Elicphas, Turner, William, Waldrent lives, have gone to the grave, and a few still linger on its brink. They were a part of the hardy, brave and adventurous early settlers of Illinois, who fought and drove off the Indians, relieved it of wolves and wild beasts, built its first bridges, school houses and churches, and prepared it for that higher civiliza- tion it now enjoys." TUE MEXICAN WAK. Texas, under Spanish rule, was a nearly unin- habited part of Mexico, lying between Louis- iana and the Rio Grande river. It was a fertile region, with a fine climate. The Spanish posses- sors of Mexico, in the bigoted and bitter spirit that was traditional with the Spaniards toward Protestants, and deeply hostile in feeling from the rather high-handed and vigorous proceed- ings of General Jackson before and after the cession of Florida, did not encourage the settle- ment of Texas, preferring to be separated by a wilderness from the United States. In 1821, the Mexicans finally threw off the Spanish yoke, and established an independent government. About this time the Americans, and especially those of the South, foreseeing the probable spread of the northern part of the Rejiublic to the Pacific, began to look with covetous eyes upon the fine savannas of Texas, as an excellent field for land speculations, and also for extend- ing the southern area, so as to keep its balance in the numljer of slave States, equal to the free States of the North. It was believed to be the plan of Mr. Calhoun, an able and far-seeing statesman, thoroughly in earnest in the mainte- nance of slavery, and the political equality of the slave with the free States. Settlements were made by people from the United States. Ina few years they grew to be numerous, and came in contact with the rigid Spanish laws, still maintained by tlie Mexicans. The United States Government made advances toward purchasing Texas, but the JNIexicans were resolute in their purpose to hold it, and bring its people under the dominion of strict Mexican law. The Americans resisted this with the settled determination of ultimate separation from Mexico, and probable annexa- tion to the United States. The Mexicans undertook to reduce them to submission. The Texans, supported by bold and fearless adventurers from the southern States, resisted. The war commenced October 2, 1835, by a battle at Gonzalez, followed by various others. On the 2d of March, ISoO, the Texans formally declared independence, which they maintained by force of arms. On the 3d of March, 1837, the United States Government recognized the independence of Texas. Eng- land did the same in 1842. Propositions of an- nexation had been made to Presidents Jackson, Van Buren, and Tyler, successively, l)y the Texas government, but as often rejected by them, as tending necessarily to a war with Mexico, that power having distinctly and repeat- edly declared that she should regard such a step as a declaration of war. The Democratic party regaining the ascen- dency in the election of 1844, made this annexa- tion one of the issues of the Presidential cam- paign. A majority of the people were in favor of it. The Southern view, however, was not alone in its influence on this decision. Indig- nities and injuries had been inflicted by the Mexicans on American citizens in that country ; its haughty, exclusive and unfriendly spirit awakened strong indignation; and the Pacific coast of California, with the mining regions of the northern interior of Mexico, both nearly un- inhabited, were objects of desire to the Amei'i- can people. Thus a wish to extend the bounds of the Republic, and to chastise an insolent neighbor, comlnned with the ardent wishes of the pro-slavery interest, to lead the nation to determine on a war, somewhat ungenerously, with a neighbor, notoriously too weak and disor- ganized for effectual resistance to the whole strength of the United States. On the 12th day of May, 1846, Congress ordered the raising of 50,000 men and voted 3 68 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY §10,000,000, to cany on the war. A requisition being made upon the Governor of this State for three thousand men, a call was issued by Gov- ernor Ford upon the militia of the State, to volunteer for the war. John J. Hardin, com- mander of the Third Brigade of the Third Division of Illinois Militia, also issued an address to those who had served under him, urg- ing them to respond to the call. He closed his address by saying "The General asks no one to go where he is not willing to lead. Let volun- teers respond by enrolling their names in the service of their coimtry." On Saturday, May :^9, 184G, a public meeting was held in Springfield addressed by Governor Ford, Dr. Merrynian, D. L. Gregg, T. Campbell and Abraham Lincoln, on the condition of the country, and the necessity of prompt and united action of her citizen soldiery to sustain her na- tional character, secure our national lights, as Avell as an everlasting peace. The speeches were in the right spirit — warm, thrilling and effective. Some seventy men responded to the call and volunteered for the war. A glance at the names of those from this county will reveal some who greatly distinguished themselves and reflected honor upon that county in which they resided. A treaty of peace was signed between repre- sentatives of the two governments, February 2, 1848, and formally ratified by the United States government, March lOtli, and the Mexican gov- ernment, March 20th. The Mexicans relin- quished all claims to Texas and ceded Upper California and New Mexico to the United States. In return the United States gave them ?! 18,500,000, of which $3,500,000 was due by a former treaty to citizens of this country, and paid them by our government. Colonel E. D. Baker, who wielded the pen equally as well as the sword, and who com- manded the regiment, largely made up from Sangamon cottnty, contributed to the press of thatday, the following poem: TO THE MEMOKV OF THE DEAD OF THE FOVRTH ILLINOIS REGIMENT. Where rolls the rushing Rio Grande, Here peacefully Ihey sleep; Far from their native ^Northern land, Far from the fiiends who weep. Ko rolling drum disturbs iheir rest, Beneath the sandy sod — The mould lies heavy on each breast. The spirit is with God. They heard their country's call and came. To battle for the right; Each bosom tilled with martial flame. And kindling for the fight, liight was their measured footstep, when They moved to seek the foe, Alas that hearts so tiery, then. Should soon be cold and low. They did not die in eager strife, Upon a well fought field; Not from the red wound poured their life. Where cowering foemen yield. Death's ghastlj' shade was slowly cast Upon each manh' lirow; But calm and fearless to the last, They sleep in silence now. Yet shall a grateful country give Her honors to their name, In kindred hearts their memories live, And history guard their fame. Nor unremembered do they sleep Ujion a foreign strand, Though near their graves the wild waves sweep. Thou rushing Rio Grande. The following is a copy of the roster as fur- nished by the War Department, to the Governor of this State, of those participating in the war from Sangamon county: COLONEL E. D. BAKEr's REGIMENT. FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS. Colonel — Edward D. Baker. Adjutant— William B. Fondey. Sergeant Major — James H. Merryman. Quartermaster General — Richard F. Barrett. Commissary — John S. Bradford. COMPANY A. CAPTAIN . Horatio E. Roberts. FIRST LIEUTENANT. William P. Barrett. .SECOXD LIEUTENANT. William B. Foudey. SERGEANTS. Dudley Wickersham, Argyle W . Farr. CORPORALS. Thomas Hessey, Shelton Ransdell, Edward Conner, Lawson Thomas. MTSICL^N. William C. B. Lewis. PRIVATES. Addison, Grandison, House, Erasmus D., Ballard, Christopher A., James, George, Balantine, John J., Keeling, Singleton, Barrett, James A., Marsin, Joseph, Brown, William W. , Millington, AugustusO., Butler. Joslma, Murray, Matthew, Buel, Abel M , Peter, Peter 0. , Cabanis, ZebulonP., Ransdall, James B., Capoot, John, Rape Henry, Chapman, John, Ryan, Jackson. Crowl, Upton, Spottswood, James H., Darnell. Harvey, Smith, Joseph H., Feriill, William C, Wickersham, Wesley H. Walter Davis, David Logan, HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 169 Foster, John E., Funk, George W. . Frink, .John""S., Gideon, Alfred L., Garrett. Ezra L. Haines, Fletclier, Harwortli, George, Wilkinson, Keulieu, Wilcox, Eiiliriaru, Watson, Charles F. Walls, Levi P , • Whitehurst, Thomi'S, Weber, George R., Yeakles, Joseph, RESIGNED. Second Lieutenant — .John S. Bradford. DISCH.\HGED Before expiration of term of service. Joseph B. Perkins, Samuel Cole, George W. Hall, Alexander J. Seehorn, George C. Whitlock, Samuel O. White. Nicholas Algaire, John C. Butler, John Dupuy, Silas Dowdall, Benjamin F. McDonald, Marion P. JIatthews, Wiliiam R. Goodell, Isaac Davis, Preslf J' Ransdell, James A. AVaugh, Hem-}- Westbrook, Jacob Wise, Vincent Ridgely, William W. Pease, Joseph H. Fultz, Levi Gorlej-. tr.^nsperhed. James H. Merriman, Richard F. Barrett. DE.\D. Henry .1. Moore, James Connelly, Joseph Sfipp, Daniel Hokey, William Hardin, Joseph Newman. Killed at battle of Cerre Gordo. James McCabe. COMPANY B. SECOND LIEUTENANT. William L. Duncan. SERGE.\NTS. B. M. Wyatt, .John D. Lawder, E. D. Dtikshier, Sanborn Gilmore, CORPORALS. Samuel Ogden, John G. Cranmer, E. W. Nantz, A. J. Mason. PRIVATES. Baldwin, William F., Jenkins, .James M., Baker, Mason, Johnston, Thomas P., Brumfield, William, Lash, William, Burnett, William, Lanier, William, Brown, Isaac, McCarroll, Justus, Dodson, lehabod, Mclutyre, R. N., Depew, James, j\[itcliell, Wilson, Elliott, Edward, Newton, Ander.son, Good, John, Owen, Thomas J. V., Gwinn, AVilliam, Palmer, Allen, Graham, Levi. Rule, Alexander, Glimpse, .Joseph, Series, Julius H., Graham, Joseph, Seaman, S3ivanus, Guy, R. B. R.. Stout. .James, Harbard, William, Smock, Fulcard, Harris, A. J., Tennis. John F., Hampton, Felix T., Vanhoru, William M., Harris, J. C, Walker, J. E., H.all, .John, Walker, John, Jones, John, Williams, David, Williams, Peter. RESIGNED. Captain Garrett Elkin, Sec. Lt. J. M. Withers. DISCHARGED. Eskew, James W. or John Reamer. E. C. H., Parks, James E., Savage, Nicholas, Haines, Thomas H., Fling, Charles H., Hall, Samuel, Moor.Thiimas, Mahew, David, Davis, Wm. S., Lash, Henry, Miller, James M., Little, William I., D.iponte. Durant, Johnson, John S. W., Crumbaugh, .John F., Toppas, William A., Poindexter, Clinton, Palmer, Leroj' G., Gwinn, Alexander DEATHS. Lieut. Andrew J. Wallace, Andrew .T. Hodge, .John Jlisncr. George Perry. E. B. Young, JLirion Wallace, George Ruth. WOUNDED. John D. Lander, James Depew, John Walker. COMPANY D. FIRST LIEUTENANT. Alfred C. Campbell. SECOND LIEUTENANT. John D. Foster. SERGE.'i.NTS. Henry M. Spotswood, David Meigs, John"Davis, Jonathan Morris. CORPORALS. William Campbell, Thomas Higgins, Chris. C. Holyer, Hugh Paul. PRIVATES . Alsbury, Edward R.,, Jones, T. B., Bloyd, James B , Kent, Alexander, Cast, Ai'chibald, ICing. John W., Cutter, William, Morris, Hamilton R., Duulap, James T., Morris, Randall G , Daly, John, Meigs, Scverell, Darneille. Harvey, Odell, John, Dodd, John C, " Philps, Joshua, Dillman, David, Rhodes, William G., Duncan, Jerome, Shoemaker, Thomas C, Edwards, David, Short, James F., Emmett, Robert S., Shelton, John, Foster. Peyton, Smith, AlonzoH., Foster, William, Skinner. John H., Henwood, William, Tinker, William, Hillyard, James P., Thompson, Samuel M., Howey, Willi>tm, Terpin, James, Huckelbury, .John, Williams, .John R., Hutt'master, Edward, Wilcox, I)aniel, Huti'master, William, Workman, Benjamin, Hoskins, John S., Brauuan, Josiah . DISCHARGED. Joseph Bridges, 'Samuel Drennan, Newton Dodds, William Penix, Levi Campbell, Riley Cross, Asa L. Morris, Logan C Snyder, Benjamin Henwood, Jett'erson Finger, Daniel Cross, William Terpin, William Sampson, William Vermillion, David Lind.say, Ashley Walker, LaFayette McCrillis, Joel JI Walker, Christoiiher R Pierce, Rowan I. Short, Calvay Sexton, James Morris, Benjamin Sullivan, Wilson Robbins. DEAD. Captain Achilles Morris, William F, Nation, .Jacob Morris, John Hillyard, Henry B. Reed, John Allison, William Morris, .James Jones, James Harralson. Morris Shelton Samuel JlcICee. IVO HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. Chapter X REMINISCENCES. lu the followingtchapter is presented a few pioneer reminiscences, in most cases written by pioneers or their descendants. In no case has the compiler of this work attempted to change the diction of the writers, thus giving variety to the style of the reminiscences given. COTTON PICKING. Previous to the winter of the deep snow, cot- ton Avas raised to some extent in Sangamon county, and it was once thouglit that it would be a profitable article to raise in the State. Ex- Governor John Reynolds, the " Old Ranger," as he was familiarly known, contributed the fol- lowing to the State Journal, in 1867, as part of a series of articles on " Pioneer Times." "Cotton, at as early a day as 1800, and for many years after, was cultivated to a considera- ble extent in Illinois. My father had resided in Tennessee previous to his emigration to Illi- nois, in the year above named, and we were tolerably well acquainted with the culture of cot- ton in that State. At that time I had often heard it computed, that an acre of good cotton land in Illinois, would yield in the seeds, ten or twelve hundred pounds. This was then considered such a crop as would justify cultivation. We cultivated the crop in Randolph county, where the climate is more congenial to its growth than the north of the State. "At that early day, more than half a century back, the disadvantages in the article of cotton was the labor in picking the seeds from it so as to prepare the cotton for the spinning wheels. There were then no improved spinning jennies invented, and the old fashioned wheels were the only means of preparing the threads for the looms. Two classes of wheels were used at that day; the little wheel, so called, was turned by the spinner, with a crank on an axle running through the centre of the wheel. The other was known as the big wheel. The person spinning on this wheel was always on foot and in motion. The thread was drawn out as the motion was given to the wheel. The operator on the little wheel sat still, and produced the motion with their feet. The big wheel gave opportunity for the display of elegant and graceful motions, which I have often seen performed, even to the steps of the dance, by the modest and pretty pioneer lasses of the olden time. " The cotton cloth was at that day wove in the country, or at least so far as Illinois was con- cerned, in looms worked by either men or women. It was rather an art or trade to weave, and people thus accomplished traveled frequently over the country fof work. The invention of a cotton jenny, made with wood or iron rollers, was subsequently perfected, which aided much in extracting the seeds from the cotton, but the great invention of Whitney, of the iron saws, piopelled by horse power, laid all previous dis- coveries in the shade and immortalized the in- ventor. That illustrious man has accomplished as much for the benefit of mankind as the inven- tor of the steam engine, and has acquired a fame which will hand his name down to posterity as one of the great benefactors of the human race. It will be borne in mind that probably two- thirds or more of the human race are clothed in cotton, and that before this invention, cotton fabrics were almost as costly as silk. "In the pioneer times of which I have spoken, much amusement and innocent mirth were en- joyed at the "cotton pickings," as these parties were called. The whole neighborhood would assemble on these occasions, and the log cabins, in the evening of a winter's night, would be brushed uj) to perfect neatness, and made still more attractive by the large fire in the wooden "Tii0> \ < ^^^— / 'li^^^ HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 173 chimney, with rocks under the fore sticks in place of andirons. A large pile of cotton wa.s spread out to dry, so it could be picked the easier. Generally, two sprightly young ladies were elected to divide the heap of cotton, and then the hands began to pick it; so that a con- test for victory would excite the two contending parties, by which the more cotton would be picked, and with additional merriment. The last, indeed, was the main object of the young- folks. The lady leaders chose their side to pick alternately, and then a general tornado of ex- citement began — picking, talking, and hiding the cotton, and all sorts of frolicking in the sphere of a backwoods cotton picking. A per- fect equality and the best good feeling pervaded the whole company, and each one enjoyed as much innocent merriment as is generally allotted to man. Art or improper education had not spoiled either the morals or the symmetry and beauty of their persons; but the)' exhibited tlie superior woikmanship of Nature over the foolish fashions of wealth, without sense, and spurious refinement without taste. The words of Nature's poet involuntarily forces itself upon us: " ' Yes, let the rich deride and the proud disdain The simple blessings of the lowly train; To me more dear, congenial to my heart, One native charm than all the gloss of art.' " "Frequently, at these gatherings, the young- sters presented masterly models of symmetry and beauty, and such that neither wealth nor fashion can ever surpass But as the pen cannot describe the beauty and brilliancy of human ex- cellence, the comeliness of the figures of the early pioneers of Illinois must pass away and be forgotten. "At these 'cotton pickings' love always be- came the ruling theme, as this passion always will occupy the virtuous and elevate the heart: and many a pioneer courtship and marriage re- ceived their date from some such gathering. But those happy times have passed away, and tlie race has now well nigh passed away with thein." BY GEOKGE BRtlNIC* "I emigrated from the State of Ohio, leaving Fort Harrison and arriving in the, 'St. Gamee country' in the fall of 1821, making the first track that could be followed to the forks of the 'St. Gamee' to the head of the Okaw. "The first cabin I saw was where the village of Rochester now stands. There were no settlers ♦Written in 18.")9, as a contribution to the Old Set- tlers' Association. 20— on the north fork of the St. Gamee, except a few in and about Mechanicsburg. But above that point, there were none except where Decatur now stands, a man bj- the name of Stepliens having made a settlement there. I found Elijah lies and Charles R. Matheny where is now the city of Springfield. The Kickapoos were here then, and I have had many a social hunt with Bassena and Joe JNluney, the chiefs of that na- tion. "In the spring of 1822, myself and the Ddlons raised a cabin, broke the prairie and planted corn in Tazewell county, where stands the town of Dillon. There were no settlers on the east side of the Illinois river from thence to the lake, except Mr. Kinzie's, where the city of Chicago now stands. "On my return I crossed the Illinois river by putting my wagon in two Indian canoes and swimming my horses alongside. On the west bank I found Abner Eads and another settler. During that fall the land in Sangamon county came into market. The first entry was made by Israel Archer, being the west half of the north- west quarter of section eight, township fourteen north, range four west, and the tract of land on which now stands the present Cotton Hill Meth- odist Church. " It is well known now that Robert Pulliam built the first cabin in Sangamon county. The first barn was built by Mr. Rogers, near Athens, in what is now Menard county. "In the spring of 1826, J. Miller and myself, left Sangamon county for the lead mines on Fever river. We fitted out in Peoria, and started in a northwest direction, carrying our provisions on our horses. In consequence of being unacquainted with the route we missed our course, and suffered almost starvation for three days — so much so that all the nour- ishment we had was a fish about as long as my hand, and coffee made from the boiling of a coffee sack. With hard travel, and greatly fatigued, we reached Fever river in seven days, where we found a few miners. I believe we were the first from Sangamon county. In a few days we heard of Lake Phelps being there also. I am not able to say whether he landed previous to us or not. "Much has been said about the origin of the word ' Sucker,' in its application to the people of Illinois. Late in the fall of that year I was standing on the levee, in what is now Galena, watching a number of our Illinois boys go on board a boat bound down the river, when a man IV-I HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. by the name of Walker, a Missourian, stepped lip and said: "'Boys, where are you all going?' The ready reply was. "'We are going home.' "'Well,' said he, "you put me in mind of the 'suckers' — up in the spring, and down in tlie fall.' "Those who stayed over received the humble name of ' Badgers.' That was the first time I ever heard the term 'sucker' applied to the people of Illinois. After that, all lUinoisans were considered suckers, and when Judge Saw- yer came to the mines, he was called 'King of the Suckers.' "That same fall, Van Nov was hungiu Spring- field, the first in the county. " In the spring of 1827, a great number of Mis- sourians came to the mines. The Illinois boys returned the compliment of the Missourians by saying that 'Missouri has taken a, puke,'' and after that all the people from that State were called ' Pukes.' '"At this time, we had a scrimmage with the Winnebago Indians, which has been made the subject of history. I returned to Sangamon countv in the fall of 182^^, from lay northern tour. "The winter of 1830-31 was the winter of the deep snow. It was with the greatest difficulty we could find our shocks of fodder, they were so enveloped in the snow. My father-in-law lost his life in the snow-drifts on the prairies of Sangamon. Game, which had heretofore been always plenty, was nearly destroyed by the cold. Then was the time to try men's metal. The men of our day think that they see hard times. They forget the want of conveniences and pri- vations encountered by the pioneers — oftentimes compelled to wade through the streams up to the arm-pi's and break ice to get the teams across, and, to cap all, to ride through perfect fields of tire, caused liy the burning grass of the prairies, in the fall and winter, and lie out all night wrapped in a blanket on the cold, bleak prairies. And yet, freed as is the present gen- eration from such privations, we hear more grumbling from them than from men who had in reality to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow. "I am now in my fifty-fifth year, and claim to be the father of eleven children, and can say with certainty that I have never been intoxi- cated, have never used tobacco in any shape or form, or any narcotic, and never was sued for debt of mv own contracting." AUBURN AND VICINITY FOETV YEARS AGO BY M. G. WADSWORTH. "The young people of the present day can have but inadequate conception of the ajipearance of this country forty years ago. The prairies were generalh' a trackless waste, save the Indian trails that were still \isible, and an occasional, and rarely used wagon track. The settlements, with very rare exceptions, were confined to the timber line. When the writer first knew this region, there were but two fields fenced between Old Auburn and the farms along Lick Creek. One of them belonged to George Eastman, on the west side of Panther Creek, (now a part of John L. Mason's farm), and the other was owned bv Piatt S. Carter, now of Loami township, and is included iu J. M. Locliridge's farm. No one re- sided on either of these jjlaces, though Mr. Carter had a barn built and an unfinished house, into which he moved the following winter. The first settlers, who were almost exclusively from Virginia and Kentucky, nniversally selected their land with a view to its contiguity to the forests, and embracing a good proportion of the same, not seeming to think it probable that the vast prairies would ever be occupied. Indeed, any man who bought and improved land out in mid- prairie, at that day, was laughed at for his folly. He labored under several disadvantages, it is true. The wild prairie grass growing to a height of five to seven feet, was the nursery of myriads of horse flies, that, in hot weather, tortured the stock fearfully. Then, in the winter, stock owned by prairie farmers, suffered terribly from the bleak winds, as hardly any one had anj- bet- ter shelter for his animals than a rail fence, and, during severe weather, if not kept u]i, they would find their way to the woods for comfort. "The first houses were all unhewn log cabins. In 1840, a few of the most pi'osperous had begun to 'put on style,' and there were a number of story and a half mansions of hewed logs. Some people even were so extravagant as to have their houses clapboarded, and there were in Southern Sangamon a number of small frame houses, and an occasional small brick building. The lumber used at that day was all hard oak. walnut, cherry, ash, sycamore. Pine lumber had not been intro- duced here, there being no railroads, and to haul it in wagons from St. Louis or Alton, would make it an expensive luxury. " Could the farmers of the present day have the privilege of comparing the stock of horses, cattle and swine of this country, of forty years ago, with that of the present day, they would almost HISTORY OF SAN(;A^!(JX COUNTY. 175 be led to swallow the theory of evolution, so re- markable has been the change and improvement. But in uo direction, perhaps, has there been so marked a progress as in the methods of farming and implements. My recollection extends back to the time when plows with wooden mould boards were used altogether. These would be considered very inefficient implements now, but were looked upon then as the best that could be devised. But few of them would ' scour,' and the plowman was compelled to keep a paddle hanging to one of the handles, to clean his plow oft' at each end, or ofteuer. The average depth of plowing was from two to three inches, and the slovenly habit of ' cutting and cover- ing' (taking several inches more 'land' than the plow could turn) prevailed with most farmers. "As maikers and corn planters at that time were unknown, this was the common modus op- erandi of planting corn: A man with a pair of horses and a breaking plow 'laid oft'' the rows, running below the breaking, in order to make his plow 'scour' (the cross rows having previously been made with a single corn plow). The dropper followed along behind with the seed in a basket or bucket, and another man with one horse and a shovel plow, or ' bull tongue,' which, run in the side of the furrow, left a small ridge upon the seed. By this slow process, seven to ten acres could be planted in a day. It being before the day of double corn planters and of cultivators, either a one-horse 'turning plow' or a shovel plow was used to 'tend' the crop. Twenty to twenty-five acres was all that one hand could take care of, and the rule was to plow it three times. Thirty bushels per acre was considered a fair crop, though hard workers made their land produce forty and even fifty bushels. " For a crop of oats, as the previous year's corn stalks were usually plowed under, rendering the use of a harrow, to cover the seed and smooth the ground, impracticable, the top of a tree was hitched to and dragged over the ground . Wheat was managed the same way, and, of course, failed as often as it succeeded. " At the time here spoken of, a field of timothy grass or clover was a rare sight. The prairies yielded innumerable tons of wild hay, and any man could have all he wanted for tlie cutting. There was no mowing machinery — the good old fashioned scythe, with muscle to propel it, suf- ficed to lay from one to two acres per day, and as reapers and headers were as yet uninventcd, the cradle was the only dependence to fell the grain. Threshing, except among the largest farmers, was done upon the barn floor, two, three, or four horses walking in a circle over the grain until it was separated from the straw, after which it was cleaned with a fanning machine. If a man had no barn of his own he borrowed one for the purpose. "Mules had not come into use at that time. Many thought it wicked, and a violation of the laws of nature to raise them. Mule colts, occas- ionally, might be seen, but they were sold to some buyer for southern use, and taken away generally in the fall after foaling. "Much of the breaking was done by oxen, nearly every farmer owning one or more yoke of these slow but sure beasts. Raw prairie was always broken, at that day, with teams of three or four yoke, which would turn over two or three acres per day. " Forty years ago, cooking stoves, save an occas- ional one in the towns, had not come into use. Everything was cooked by the fireplaces, which every house contained, and were built to receive wood three or four feet in length. Nearly every- thing was cooked in a skillet or a Dutch oven, both being supplied with a lid with a raised rim, upon which coals were piled. It was hot and laborious work for the women to cook by a fire- place, but the meals thus prepared were not to be excelled. "Although the red man's camp-fire at the time of which I write, no longer threw its ruddy glare over the trunks of the forest monarch, he having some years previous abandoned this for more successful hunting ground, much wild game still lingered. Deer abounded in the broad prairies between Apple creek and the east of Sugar creek, and I have frequently seen them within a mile of Old Auburn, and have seen wolves within the limits of the town. Wild turkeys still abounded in the woods, in their season, ftocks of prairie chickens, vast enough to darken the air as they flew, might be seen any hour in the day. Every winter the sharp shooters of this commu- nity, would make up parties of four or five men, and each with its wagon and team, bedding, pro- visions, cooking utensils, rifles and amunition, would drive to the wilds of Christian county, remain five or six days, generally returning home with six or eight deer. The rifle was almost universally used, and the old hunters looked with Bujirenie contempt upon any man or boy who could content himself with a shot-gun. Even s