Piatt County, Illinois - The whole text, 1917 (part 3 of 26)

BERRTy (Col.) William W., lawyer and soldier, was bom in Kentucky, Feb. 22, 1884, and educated at Oxford, Ohio. His home being then in Covington, he studied law in Cincinnati, and, at the age of 28, began practice at Louisville, Ky., being married two years later to Miss G^rgie Hewitt of Frankfort. Early in 1861 he entered the Civil War on the Union side as Major of the Louisville Legion, and subsequently served in the Army of the Cumberland, marching to the sea with Sherman and, during the period of his service, receiving four wounds. After the close of the war he was offered the position of Governor of one of the Territories, but, determining not to go further west than Illinois, declined. For three years he was located and in practice at Winchester, 111., but removed to Quincy in 1874, where he afterwards resided. He always took a warm interest in politics and, in local affairs, was a leader of his party. He was an organizer of the G. A. R. Post at Quincy and its first Commander, and, in 1884-85, served as Commander of the State Department of the G. A. R. He organized a Young Men's Republican Club, as he believed that the young minds should take an active part in politics. He was one of the committee of seven appointed by the Governor to locate the Soldiers* and Sailors' Home for Illinois, and, after spending six months inspecting various sites offered, the institution was finally located at Quincy; was also Trustee of Knox College, at Galesburg, for several years. He was frequently urged by his party friends to run for public ofilce, but it was so much against his nature to ask for even one vote, that he would not consent. He died at his home in Quincy, much regretted, May 6, 1895.

BESTORy George C.y legislator, bom in Washington City, April 11, 1811; was assistant document clerk in the House of Representatives eight years; came to Illinois in 1885 and engaged in real-estate business at Peoria; was twice appointed Postmaster of that city (1842 and 1861) and three times elected Mayor; served as financial agent of the Peoria & Oquawka (now Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad), and a Director of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw; a delegate to the Whig National Convention of 1852; a State

Senator (1858-62), and an ardent friend of Abraham Lincoln. Died, in Washington, May 14, 1872, while prosecuting a claim against the (Government for the construction of gunboats during the war.

BERWTN, a city (suburb of Chicago) on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Illinois Central Railroads; is a popular residence section; has one local paper. Pop. (1910), 5,841.

BETHANY, a village of Moultrie County, on Peoria Division 111. Cent Railroad, 18 miles southeast of Decatur ; in farming district ; has one newspaper and four churches. Pop. , mostly American bom, (1890), 688; (1900), 873; (1910), 859.

BETTIE STUART INSTITUTE, an institution for young ladies at Springfield, IlL, founded in 1868 by Mi^ Mary McKee Homes, who conducted it for some twenty years, until her death. Its report for 1898 shows a facility often instructors and 125 pupils. Its property is valued at $28,500. Its course of instruction embraces the preparatory and classical branches, together with music, oratory and fine arta

BEYERIDOE, James H., State Treasurer, was bom in Washington County, N. Y., in 1828; served as State Treasurer, 1865-67, later acted as Secretary of the Commission which built the State Capitol. Hla later years were spent in superintending a large dairy farm near Sandwich, De Kalb County, where he died in January, 1896.

BEYERIDGE, John L., ez-Govemor, was bom in Greenwich. N. Y., July 6, 1824; came to Illinois, 1842, and, after spending some two years in Granville Academy and Rock River Seminary, went to Tennessee, where he engaged in teaching while studying law. Having been admitted to the bar, he returned to Illinois in 1851, first locating at Sycamore, but three years later established himself in Chicago. During the first year of the war he assisted to raise the Eighth Regiment Illinois Cavalry, and was commissioned first as Captain and still later Major; two years later became (Ik>lonel of the Seventeenth Cavalry, which he commanded to the close of the war, being mustered out, February, 1866, with the rank of brevet Brigadier-General. After the war he held the office of Sheriff of Cook County four years; in 1870 was elected to the State Senate, and, in the following year, Congressman-at-large to succeed General Logan, elected to the United States Senate; resigned this office in January, 1878, having been elected Lieutenant-Gk>vemor, and a few weeks later succeeded to the governorship by the election of Governor Oglesby to the United States Senate. In 1881 he was appointed.

by President Arthur, Assistant United States Treasurer for Chicago, serving until after Cleveland's first election. His last home was near Loe Angeles, Cal., where he died May 3, 1910.

BIENTILLE, Jean Baptlste le Mojne, Sleur 4e, was bom at Montreal, Canada, Feb. 23, 1680, and was the French Governor of Louisiana at the time the Illinois country was included in that, province. He had several brothers, a number of whom played important parts in the early history of the province. Bienville first visited Louisiana, in company with his brother Iberville, in 1698, their object being to establish a French colony near the mouth of the Mississippi. The first settlement was made at Biloxi, Dec. 6, 1609, and Sanvolle, another brother, was placed in charge. The latter was afterward made Governor of Louisiana, and, at his death (1701), he was succeeded by Bienville, who transferred the seat of government to Mobile. In 1704 he was joined by his brother Chateaugay, who brought seventeen settlers from Canada. Soon afterwards Iberville died, and Bienville was recalled to France in 1707, but was reinstated the following year. Finding the Indians worthless as tillers of the soil, he seriously suggested to the home government the expediency of trading oflf the coppercolored aborigines for negroes from the West Indies, three Indians to be reckoned as equivalent to two blacks. In 1718 Cadillac was sent out as Governor, Bienville being made Lieutenant- Governor. The two quarreled. Cadillac was superseded by Epinay in 1717, and, in 1718, Law's first expedition arrived (see Company of the West), and brought a Governor's commission for Bienville. The latter soon after founded New Orleans, which became the seat of goverfament for the province (which then included Illinois), in 1728. In January, 1724. he was again summoned to France to answer charges; was removed in disgrace in 1726, but reinstated in 1733 and given the rank of Lieutenant-General. Failing in various expeditions against the Chickasaw Indians, he was again superseded in *1743, returning to France, where he .died in 1768.

BIGGS, William, pioneer, Judge and legislator, was bom in Maryland in 1753. enlisted in the Revolutionary army, and served as an officer under O>lonel (George Rogers Clark in the expedition for the capture of Illinois from the British in 1778. He settled in BeUefontaine (now Monroe County) soon after the close of the war. He was Sheriff of St. Clair County for many years, and later Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He also represented his

BIGGSTILLE, a village of Henderson County, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Bailroad, 15 miles northeast of Burlington ; has a bank and one newspaper and a brick yard; considerable grain and live-stock are shipped here. Population (1890), 487; (1900), 417; (1910), 400.

BIG MUDDT RITEBy a stream formed by the union of two branches which rise in Jefferson County. It runs south and southwest through Franklin and Jackson Counties, and enters the Mississippi about five miles below Grand Tower. Its length is estimated at 140 miles.

BILLINGS, Albert Merritt, capitalist, was bom in New Hampshire, April 19, 1814, educated in the common schools of his native State and Vermont, and, at the age of 22, became Sheriff of Windsor County. Vt., Later he was proprietor for a time of the mail stage-coach line between Concord, N. H., and Boston, but, having sold out, invested his means in the securities of the Chi« cago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and became identified with the business interests of Chicago. In the '50*s he became associated with Cornelius K. Garrison in the People's Gas Company of Chicago, of which he served as President from 1850 to 1888. In 1890 Mr. Billings became extensively interested in the street railway enterprises of Mr. C. B. Holmes, resulting in his becoming the proprietor of the street railway system at Memphis* Tenn., valued, in 1897, at $3,000,000. In early life he had been associated with Commodore Vanderbilt in the operation of the Hudson River steamboat lines of the latter. In addition to his other business enterprises, he was principal owner and, during the last twenty-five years of his life. President of the Home National and Home Savings Banks of Chicago. Died, Feb. 7, 1897, leaving an estate valued at several millions of dollars.

BILLINGS, Henry W.^ was bom at Conway, Mass., July 11, 1814, graduated at Amherst College at twenty years of age, and began the study of law with Judge Foote, of Cleveland. Ohio, was admitted to the bar two years later and practiced there some two years longer. He then removed to St. Louis, Mo., later resided for a time at Waterloo and Cairo. 111., but. in 1845, settled at Alton; was elected Mayor of that city in 1851, and the first Judge of the newly organized City Court, in 1859, serving in this position six years. In 1869 he was elected a Delegate from Madison County to the State Constitutional Convention of

BIBKBECK, Morris, early colonist, was bom in England about 1762 or 1763, emigrated to America in 1817, and settled in Edwards County, m. He purchased a large tract of land and induced a large colony of English artisans, laborers and farmers to settle upon the same, founding the town of New Albion. He was an active, uncompromising opponent of slavery, and was an important factor in defeating the scheme to make Illinois a slave State. He was appointed Secretary of State by Governor Coles in October, 1824, but resigned at the end of three months, a hostile Legislature having refused to confirm him. A strong writer and a frequent contributor to the press, his letters and published works attracted attention both in this country and in Europe. Principal among the latter were: "Notes on a Journey Through France" (1815); "Notes on a Journey Through America" (1818), and "Letters from niinois" (1818). Died from drowning in 1825, aged about 63 years. (See Slavery and Slave Laws.)

BISSELL, William H.^ first Republican Governor of Illinois, was bom near Ck>oper8town, K. IT., on April 25, 1811, graduated in medicine at Philadelphia in 1835, and, after practicing a short time in Steuben County, N. Y., removed to Monroe County, 111. In 1840 he was elected a Representative in the General Assembly, where he soon attained high rank as a debater. He studied law and practiced in Belleville, St. Clair County, becoming Prosecuting Attorney for that coimty in 1844. He served as Colonel of the Second Illinois Volimteers during the Mexican War, and achieved distinction at Buena Vista. He represented Illinois in Congress from 1849 to 1855, being first elected as an Independent Democrat. On the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, he left the Democratic party and, in 1856, was elected Governor on the Republican ticket. While in Congress he was challenged by Jefferson Davis after an interchange of heated words respecting the relative courage of Northern and Southern soldiers, spoken in debate. Bissell accepted the challenge, naming muskets at thirty paces. Mr. Davis's friends objected, and the duel never occurred. Died in office, at Springfield, 111., March 18, 1860.

BLACK, John Charles, lawyer and soldier, bom at Lexington, Miss., Jan. 29, 1839, at eight years of age came with his widowed mother to Illinois; while a student at Wabash College, Ind., in April, 1861, enlisted in the Union army, serving gallantly and with distinction until Aug. 16,

1865, when, as Colonel of the 87th III Vol. Inf., he retired with the rank of BrevetBrigadier-General; was admitted to the bar in 1857, and after practicing at Danville, Champaign and Urbana, in 1885 was appointed Commissioner of Pensions, serving until 1889, when he removed to Chicago ; served as Congressman-at-large (1893-95), and U. S. District Attorney (1895-99); Commander of the Loyal Legion and of the G. A. R. (Department of Illinois) ; was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army at the Grand Encampment, 1903. Gen. Black received the honorary degree of A.M. from his Alma Mater and that of LL. D. from Knox College; in January, 1904, was appointed by President Roosevelt member of the U. S. Civil Service Commission, and chosen its President

BLACKBURN UNITEESITY, located at Carlinville, Macoupin Coimty. It owes its origin to the efforts of Dr. Gideon Blackburn, who, having induced friends in the East to unite with him in the purchase of Illinois lafids at Government price, in 1837 conveyed 16,656 acres of these lands, situated in ten different counties, in trust for the founding of an institution of learning, intended particularly ''to qualify young men for the gospel ministry. " The citizens of Carlinville donated funds wherewith to purchase eighty acres of land, near that city, as a site, which was included in the deed of trust. The enterprise lay dormant for many years, and it was not until 1857 that the institution was formally incorporated, and ten years later it was little more than a high school, giving one course of instruction considered particularly adapted to prospective students of theology. At present (1898) there are about 110 students in attendance, a faculty of twelve instructors, and a theological, as well as preparatory and collegiate departments. The institution owns property valued at $110,000, of which $50,000 is represented by real estate and $40,000 by endowment funds.

BLACK HAWK, a Chief of the Sac tribe of Indians, reputed to have been bom at Kaskaskia in 1767. (It is also claimed that he was bom on Rock River, as well as within the present limits of Hancock County.) Conceiving that his people had been wrongfully despoiled of lands belonging to them, in 1832 he inaugurated what is commonly known as the Black Hawk War. His Indian name was Makabaimishekiakiak, signifying Black Sparrow Hawk. He was ambitious, but susceptible to flattery, and while having many of the qualities of leadership, was lacking in moral force. He was always attached to British interests, and unquestionably received British aid of % substantial sort. After his defeat he was made the ward of Keokuk, another Chief, which humiliation of his pride broke his heart He died on a reservation set apart for him in Iowa, in 1838, aged 71. His body is said to have been exhumed nine months after death, and his articulated skeleton is alleged to have been preserved in the rooms of the Burlington (la.) Historical Society until 1855, when it was destroyed by fira (See also Black Hawk War: Appendix. )

BLACKSTOXEy Timothy B., Railway President, was bom at Branford, Conn., March 28, 1829. After receiving a common school education, supplemented by a course in a neighboring academy, at 18 he began the practical study of engineering in a corps employed by the New York & New Hampshire Railway Company, and the same year became assistant engineer on the Stockbridge & Pittsfield Railway. While thus employed he applied himself diligently to the study of the theoretical science of engineering, and, on coming to Illinois in 1851, was qualified to accept and fill the position of division engineer (from Bloomington to Dixon) on the Illinois Central Railway. On the completion of the main line of that road in 1855, he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Joliet & CHiicago Railroad, later becoming financially interested therein, and being chosen President of the corporation on the completion of the line. In January, 1864, the Chicago & Joliet was leased in perpetuity to the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. Mr. Blackstone then became a Director in the latter organization and, in April following, was chosen its President. This office he filled uninterruptedly until April 1,1899, when the road passed into the hands of a qmdicate of other lines. He was also <me of the original incorporators of the Union Stock Yards Company, and was its President from 1864tol868. His career as a railroad man was con- ^cuous for its long service, the uninterrupted soooees of his management of the enterprises entrusted to his hands and his studious regard for the interests of stockholders. This was iUustrated by the tact that, for some thirty years, the C^cago & Alton Railroad paid dividends on its preferred and common stock, ranging from 6 to 8K per cent per annum, and, on disposing of his stock consequent on the transfer of the line to a new corporation in 1899, Mr. Blackstone rejected offers for his stock - aggregating nearly one-third of the whole - which would have netted him 11,000,000 in excess of the amount received, because he was unwilling to use his position to reap an advantage over smaller stockholders. Died, May 21, 1900.

BLAGKWELL^ Robert S.^ lawyer, was bom at Belleville, 111., in 1828. He belonged to a prominent family in the early history of the State, his father, David Blackwell, who was also a lawyer and settled in Belleville about 1819, having been a member of the Second G^eneral Assembly (1820) from St. Clair County, and also of the Fourth and Fifth. In April, 1828, he was appointed by Governor Coles Secretary of State, succeeding Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, afterwards a Justice of the Supreme Court, who had just received from President Monroe the appointment of Receiver of Public Moneys at the Edwardsville Liand Office. Mr. Blackwell served in the Secretary's office to October, 1824, during a part of the time acting as editor of "The Illinois Intelligencer,'' which had been removed from Kaskaskia to Vandalia, and in which he strongly opposed the policy of making Illinois a slave State. He finally died in Belleville. Robert Blackwell, a brother of David and the uncle of the subject of this sketch, was joint owner with Daniel P. Cook, of '*The Illinois Herald" - afterwards "The Intelligencer'* - at Kaskaskia, in 1816, and in April, 1817, succeeded Cook in the office of Territorial Auditor of Public Accounts, being himself succeeded by Elijah C. Berry, who had become his partner on "The Intelligencer,'* and served as Auditor until the organization of the State Government in 1818. Blackwell & Berry were chosen State Printers after the removal of the State capital to Vandalia in 1820, serving in this capacity for some years. Robert Blackwell located at Vandalia and served as a member of the House from Fayette County in the Eighth and Ninth General Assemblies (1882-86) and in the Senate, 1840-42. Robert 9-~the sbn of David, and the younger member of this somewhat famous and historic family - whose name stands at the head of this paragraph, attended the common schools at Belleville in his boyhood, but in early manhood removed to Galena, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He later studied law with Hon. O. H. Browning at Quincy, beginning practice at Rushville, where he was associated for a time with Judge Minshall. In 1852 he removed to Chicago, having for his first partner Corydon Beckwith, afterwards of the Supreme Court, still later being associated with a number of prominent lawyers of that day. He is described by his biographers as "an able lawyer, an eloquent advocate and a brilliant scholar.'* "Blackwell on Tax Titles," from his pen, has been accepted by the profession as a high authority on that branch of law. He also published a revision of the Statutes in 1858, and began an ''Abstract of Decisions of the Supreme Court/' which had reached the third or fourth volume at his death. May 16, 1868.

BIJLIR5 William^ merchant, was bom at Homer, Cortland County, N. Y., May 20, 1818, being descended through five generations of New England ancestors. After attending school in the town of Cortland, which became his father's residence, at the age of 14 he obtained employment in a stove and hardware store, four years later (1836) coming to Joliet, Il|., to take charge of a branch store which the firm had established there. The next year he purchased the stock and continued the business on his own account. In August, 1842, he removed to Chicago, where he established the earliest and one of the most extensive wholesale hardware concerns in that city, with which he remained connected nearly fifty years. During this period he was associated with various partners, including C. B. Nelson, £. G. Hall, O. W. Belden, James H. Horton and others, besides, at times, conducting the business alone. He suffered by the fire of 1871 in common with other business men of Chicago, but promptly resumed business and, within the next two or three years, had erected business blocks, successively, on Lake and Randolph Streets, but retired from business in 1888. He was a Director of the Merchants' National Bank of Chicago from its organization in 1865, as also for a time of the Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company and the Chicago Gaslight & Coke Company, a Trustee of Lake Forest University, one of the Managers of the Presbyterian Hospital and a member of the Chicago Historical Society. Died in Chicago, May 10, 1899.

BLAKELTy Bavidy journalist, was bom in Franklin County, Vt., in 1884; learned the printer's trade and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1857. He was a member of a musical family which, under the name of "The Blakely Family," made several successful tours of the "West. He engaged in journalism at Rochester, Minn., and, in 1862, was elected Secretary of State and ex-officio Superintendent of Schools, serving until 1865, when he resigned and, in partnership with a brother, bought 'The Chicago Evening Post," with which he was connected at the time of the great fire and for some time afterward. Later, he returned to Minnesota and became one of the proprietors and a member of the editorial staff of 'The St. Paul Pioneer-Press." In his later years Mr. Blakely was President of the Blakely Printing Company, of Chicago, also conducting a large printing business in New York, which was his residence. He was manager for several years of the celebrated Gilmore Band of musicians, and also instrumental in organizing the celebrated Sousa's Band, of which he was manager up to the time of his decease in New York. Nov. 7, 1896.

BLAKEMAN^ CnrtisSy sea-captain, and pioneer settler, came from New England to Madison County, IlL, in 1819, and settled in what was afterwards known as the "Marine Settlement," of which he was one of the founders. This settlement, of which the present town of Marine (first called Madison) was the outcome, took its name from the fact that several of the early settlers, like Captain Blakeman, were sea-faring men. Captain Blakeman became a prominent citizen and represented Madison County in the lower branch of the Third and Fourth General Assemblies (1822 and 1824), in the former being one of the opponents of the pro-slavery amendment of the Constitution. A son of his, of the same name, was a Representative in the Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth (General Assemblies from Madison County.

BLANGHABD^ Jonathan, clergyman and edu cator, was bom in Rockingham, Vt., Jan. 19, 1811; graduated at Middlebnry College in 1882; then, after teaching some time, spent two years in Andover Theological Seminary, finally graduating in theology at Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, in 1838, where he remained nine years as pastor of the Sixth Presbyterian Church of that city. Before this time he had become interested in various reforms, and, in 1848, was sent as a delegate to the second "World's Anti-Slavery Convention in London, serving as the American Vice-President of that body. In 1846 he assumed the Presidency of EInox College at Gkdesburg, remaining until 1858, during his connection with that institution doing much to increase its capacity and resources. After two years spent in pastoral work, he accepted (1860) the Presidency of Wheaton College, which he continued to fill until 1882, when he was chosen President Emeritus, remaining in this position until his death. May 14, 1892.

BLANBINSTILLE, a town in McDonough County, on the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad, 26 miles southeast of Burlington, Iowa, and 64 miles west by south from Peoria. It is a shipping point for the grain grown in the surrounding country, and has a grain elevatoi and steam flour and saw mills. It also has banks, one weekly newspaper and several churches. Population (1890), 877; (1900), 996; (1910), 987.

BLANET, Jerome Tan Zandt, early physician, bom at Newcastle, DeL, May 1, 1820; was educated at Princeton and graduated in medicine at Philadelphia when too young to receive his diploma; in 1842 came west and joined Dr. Daniel Brainard in founding Rush Medical College at Chicago, for a time filling three chairs in that institution; also, for a time, occupied the chair of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in Northwestem University. In 1861 he was appointed Surgeon, and afterwards Medical Director, in the army, and was Surgeon -in-Chief on the staff of Greneral Sheridan at the time of the battle of Winchester; after the war was delected by the Government to pay off medical officers in the Northwest, in this capacity disbursing over $600,- 000; finally retiring with the rank of Lieutenant- ColoneL Died. Dec. 11, 1874.

BLITCHFOBD, EUphalet . Wickes, LL^., son of Dr. John Blatchf ord, was bom at Stillwater, N. T., May 81, 1826; being a grandson of Samuel Blatchf ord, D.D., who came to New York from England, in 1795. He prepared for college at Lansingburg Academy. New York, and at Marion College, Ma , finally graduating at Illinois College,^ Jacksonville, in the class of 1845. After graduating, he was employed for several years in the law offices of his uncles, R. M. and £. H. Blatchford, New York. For considerations of health he returned to the West, and, in 1850, engaged in business for himself as a lead manufacturer in St. Louis, Mo., afterwards associating with him the late Morris Collins, under the firm name of Blatchford & Collins. In 1854 a branch was established in Chicago, known as Collins & Blatchford. After a few years the firm was dissolved, Mr. Blatchford taking the Chicago business, which has continued as E. W. Blatchford & Co. to the present time. While Mr. Blatchford has invariably declined political offices, he has been recognized as a staunch Republican, and the services of few men have been in more frequent request for positions of trust in connection with educational and benevolent enterprises. Among the numerous positions of this character which he has been called to fill are those of Treasurer of the Northwestern Branch of the United States Sanitary Commission, during the Civil War, to which he devoted a large part of his time; Trustee of Illinois College (1866-75); President of the Chicago Academy of Sciences; a member, and for seventeen years President, of the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Eye and Ear Infirmary; Trustee of the Chicago Art Institute; Executor and Trustee ct the late Walter L. Newberry, and, since its incorporation. President of the Board of Trustees of The Newberry Library; Trustee of the John Crerar Library; one of the founders and President of the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Manual Training School; life member of the Chicago Historical Society; for nearly forty years President of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Theological Seminary; during his residence in Chicago an officer of the New England Congregational Church; a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and for fourteen years its Vice- President; a charter member of the City Missionary Society, and of the Congregational Club of Chicago; a member of the Chicago Union League, the University, the Literary and the Commercial Clubs, of which latter he has been President. Oct 7, 1858, Mr. Blatchford was married to Miss Mary Emily Williams, daughter of John C.Williams, of Chicago. Seven children - four sons and three daughters - have blessed this union, the eldest son, Paul, being to-day one of Chicago's valued business men. Mr. Blatchf ord's life has been one of ceaseless and successful activity in business, and to him Chicago owes much of its prosperity. In the giving of time and money for Christian, educational and benevolent enterprises, he has been conspicuous for his generosity, and noted for his valuable counsel and executive ability in carrying these enterprises to success.

BLATCHFORD, John, D.D., was bom at Newfield (now Bridgeport), Conn., May 24, 1799; removed in childhood to Lansingburg, N. Y., and was educated at Cambridge Academy and Union College in that State, graduating in 1820. He finished his theological course at Princeton, N. J., in 1828, after which he ministered successively to Presbyterian churches at Pittstown and Stillwater, N. Y., in 1830 accepting the pastorate of the First Congregational Church of Bridgeport, Conn. Lq 1886 he came to the West, spending the following winter at Jacksonville, 111., and, in 1887, was installed the first pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, where he remained until compelled by failing health to resign and return to the East. In 1841 he accepted the chair of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy at Marion College, Mo., subsequently assiuning the Presidency. The institution having been purchased by the Free Masons, in 1844, he removed to West Ely, Mo., and thence, in 1847, to Quincy, HL, where he resided during the remainder of his life. His death occurred in St. Louis, April 8, 1855. The churches he served testified strongly to Dr. Blatchford's faithful, acceptable and successfiil performance of his ministerial duties. He was married in 1825 to fVanoes Wickes, daughter of Eliphalet Wickes. Esq., of Jamaica, Long Island, N. Y.

BLEDSOE, Albert Taylor, teacher and lawyer, was bom in Frankfort, Ky., Nov. 9, 1809; graduated at West Point Military Academy in 1830, and, after two years' service at Fort Gib- , son, Indian Territory, retired from the army in 1882. Ihuing 1838-34 he was Adjunct Professor of Mathematics and teacher of French at Kenyon College, Ohio, and, in 1835-36, Professor of Mathematics at Miami University. Then, haying studied theology, he served for several years as rector of Episcopal churches in Ohio. In 1888 he settled at Springfield, 111., and began the practice of law, remaining several years, when he removed to Washington, D. C. Later he became Professor of Mathematics, first (1848-54) in the University of Mississippi, and (1854-61) in the University of Virginia. He then entered the Confederate service with the rank of Colonel, but soon became Acting Assistant Secretary of War; in 1868 visited England to collect material for a work on the Constitution, which was published in 1866, when he settled at Baltimore, where he began the publication of '*The Southern Review,'' which became the recognized organ of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Later he became a minister of the Methodist Church. He gained considerable reputation for eloquence during his residence in Illinois, and was the author of a number of works on religious and political subjects, the latter maintaining the right of secession; was a man of recognized ability, but lacked stability of character. Died at Alexandria, Va., Dec. 8, 1877.

BLODOETT, Henry Williams^ jurist, was bom at Amherst, Mass., in 1821. At the age of 10 years he removed with his parents to Illinois, where he attended the district schools, later returning to Amherst to spend a year at the Academy. Returning home, he spent the years 1889-42 in teaching and surveying. In 1842 he began the study of law at Chicago, being admitted to the bar in 1845, and beginning practice at Waukegan, 111., where he has continued to reside. In 1852 he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature from Lake County, as an anti-slavery candidate, and, in 1858, to the State Senate, in the latter serving four years. He gained distinction as a railroad solicitor, being employed at different times by the Chicago & Northwestern, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.

Paul, the Michigan Southern and the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne Companies. Of the second named road he was one of the projectors, procuring its charter, and being identified with it in the several capacities of Attorney, Director and President. In 1870 President Grant appointed him Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. This position he continued to occupy for twenty -two years, resigning it in 1892 to accept an appointment by President Cleveland as one of the counsel for the United States before the Behring Sea Arbitrators at Paris, his last official service. Died Feb. 9, 1905.

BLOOMINGTONy the county-seat of McLean County, a flourishing city and railroad center, 69 miles northeast of Springfield; is in a riclf agricultural and coal-mining district Besides oar shops and repair works employing some 2,000 hands, there are manufactories of stoves, furnaces, plows, fiour, etc. Nurseries are numerous in the vicinity and horse breeding receives much attention. The city is the seat of Illinois Wesleyan University, has fine public schools, several newspapers (two published daily), besides educational and other publications. The business section suffered a disastrous fire in 1900, but has been rebuilt more substantially than before. The principal streets are paved and electric street oars connect with Normal (two miles distant), the site of the "State Normal University" and "Soldiers' Orphans' Home." Pop. (1900), 23,286; (1910), 25,768.

Bloomingtox Convention Of 1856

BLOOMINGTOX CONVENTION OF 1856. Although not formally caUed as such, this was the first Republican State Convention held in Illinois, out of which grew a permanent Republican organization in the State. A mass convention of those opposed to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise (known as an "Anti-Nebraska Convention") was held at Springfield during the week of the State Fair of 1854 (on Oct. 4.and 5), and, although it adopted a platform in harmony with the principles which afterwards became the foundation of the Republican party, and appointed a State Central Committee, besides putting in nomination a candidate for State Treasurer - the only State officer elected that year - ^the organization was not perpetuated, the State Central Conunittee failing to organize. The Bloomington Convention of 1856 met in accordance with a call issued by a State Central Committee appointed by the Convention of Anti-Nebraska editors held at Decatur on February 22, 1856. (See AntxNdh nuka Editorial Convention.) The call did not even contain the word '* Republican," but was addressed to those opposed to the principles of the Nebraska Bill and the policy of the existing Democratic administration. The Convention met on May 29, 1856, the date designated by the Editorial Convention at Decatur, but was rather in the nature of a mass than a delegate convention, as party organizations existed in few counties of the State at that time. Consequently representation was very unequal and followed no systematic rule. Out of one hundred counties into which the State was then divided, only seventy were represented by delegates, ranging from one to twenty-five each, leaving thirty counties (embracing nearly the whole of the southern part of the State) entirely imrepresented. Lee County had the largest representation (twenty-five), Morgan County (the home of Richard Yates) coming next with twenty delegates, while Cook County had seventeen and Sangamon had five. The whole number of delegates, as shown by the contemporaneous record, was 269. Among the leading spirits in the Convention were Abraham Lincoln, Archibald Williams, O. H. Browning, Richard Yates, John M. Palmer, Owen Lovejoy, Norman B. Judd, Burton C. (^kx>k and others who afterwards became prominent in State politics. The delegation from Ckxyk County included the names of John Wentworth, Grant Gkxxirich, George Schneider, Mark Skinner, Charles H. Ray and (ITharles L. Wilson. The temporary organization was effected with Archibald Williams of Adams County in the chair, followed by the election of John M. Palmer of Macoupin, as Permanent President. The other officers were: Vice-Presidents - John A. Davis of Stephenson; William Ross of Pike; James McKee of (^kx>k; John H. Bryant of Bureau; A. C. Harding of Warren; Richard Yates of Morgan; Dr. H. C. Johns of Macon; D. L. Phillips of Union; George Smith of Madison; Thomas A. Marshall of Coles; J. M. Ruggles of Mason ; G.D. A. Parks of Will, and John Clark of Schuyler. Secretaries - Henry S. Baker of Madison; Charles L. Wilson of Cook; John Tillson of Adams; Washington Bushnell of La Salle, and B. J. F. Hanna of Randolph. A State ticket was put in nomination consisting of William H. Bissell for Governor (by acclamation); Francis A. Hoffman of Du Pa^ 0)unty, for Lieutenant-Governor; Ozias M. Hatch of Pike, for Secretary of State; Jesse K. Dubois of Lawrence, for Auditor; James Miller of McLean, for Treasurer, and William H. Powell of Peoria, for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Hoffman, having beeoi found ineligible by lack of residence after the date of naturalization, withdrew, and his place was subsequently filled by the nomination of John Wood of Quincy. The platform adopted was outspoken in its pledges of unswerving loyalty to the Union and opposition to the extension of slavery into new territory. A delegation was appointed to the National Ckmvention to be held in Philadelphia on June 17, following, and a State Central Committee was named to conduct the State campaign, consisting of James C. Ck>nkling of Sangamon Ck)unty; Asahel Gridley of McLean; Burton C. Cook of La Salle, and Charles H. Ray and Norman B. Judd of Cook. The principal speakers of the occasion, before the convention or in popular meetings held while the members were present in Bloomington, included the names of O. H. Browning, Owen Lovejoy, Abraham Lincoln, Burton C. Cook, Richard Yates, the venerable John Dixon, founder of the city bearing his name, and Governor Reeder of Pennsylvania, who had been Territorial Governor of Kansas by appointment of President Pierce, but had refused to carry out the policy of the administration for making Kansas a slave State. None of the speeches were fully reported, but that of Mr. Lincoln has been universally regarded by those who heard it ' as the gem of the occasion and the most brilliant of his life, foreshadowing his celebrated "housedivided-against-itself'' speech of June 17, 1858. John L. Scripps, editor of **The Chicago Democratic Press," writing of it, at the time, to his paper, said: '*Never has it been our fortimeto listen to a more eloquent and masterly presentation of a subject. . . . For an hour and a half he (Mr. Lincoln) held the assemblage spellbound by the power of his argument, the intense irony of his invective, and the deep earnestness and fervid brilliancy of his eloquence. When he concluded, the audience sprang to their feet and cheer after cheer told how deeply their hearts had been touched and their souls warmed up to a generous enthusiasm." At the election, in November following, although the Democratic candidate for President carried the State by a plurality of over 9,000 votes, the entire State ticket put in nomination at Bloomington was successful by majorities ranging from 8,000 to 20,000 for the several candidates.

BLUE ISLAND, a village of Cook C:k>unty, on the Calumet River and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, the Chicago & Grand Trunk and the Illinois Central Railways, 15 miles south qf

Chicago. It has a high school, churches and two newspapers, besides brick, smelting and oil works. Pop. (1910), 8,043; annexed to city of Chicago, 1911.

BLUE ISLAND RAILROAD, a short line 8.96 miles in length, lying wholly within Illinois; capital stock $25,000; operated by the Illinois Central Railroad Company. Its funded debt (1895) was $100,000 and its floating debt. $3,779.

BLUE MOUND, a town of Macon County, on the Wabash Railway, 14 miles southeast of Decatur;! in rich grain and live-stock region; has three grain elevators, two banks, tile factory and one newspaper. Pop. (1900), 714, (1910), 900.

BLUFFS, a village of Scott County, at the junction of the Quincy and Hannibal branches of the Wabash Railway, 52 miles west of Springfield; has a bank and a newspaper. Population (1880), 162; (1890), 421, (1900), 539; (1910), 766.

BOAL9 Robert, MJ>., physician and legislator, born near Harrisburg, Pa., in 1806; was brought by his parents to Ohio when five years old and educated at Cincinnati, graduating from the Ohio Medical College in 1828; settled at Lacon, 111., in 1836, practicing there until 1862, when, having been appointed Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment for that District, he removed to Peoria. Other public positions held by Dr. Boal have been those of Senator in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth General Assemblies (1844-48), Representative in the Nineteenth and Twentieth (1854-58), and Trusted of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Jacksonville, remaining in the latter position seventeen years under the successive administrations of Gk>vemors Bissell,' Yates, Oglesby, Palmer and Beveridge - the last five years of his service being President of the Board. He was also President of the State Medical Board in 1882. Dr. Boal continued to practice at Peoria until about 1890, when he retired, and, in 1898, returned to Lacon to reside with his daughter, the widow of the late Colonel Oreenbury L. Fort, for eight years Representative in Congress from the Eighth District. Died June 12, 1903.

BOARD OF ARBITRATION, a Bureau of the State (Government, created by an act of the Legislature, approved August 2, 1895. It is appointed by the E^xecutive and is composed of three members (not more than two of whom can belong to the same political party), one of whom must be an employer of labor and one a member of some labor organization. The term of office for the members first named was fixed at two years; after March 1, 1897, it became three years, one member retiring annually. A compensation of

$1,500 per annum is allowed to each member of the Board, while the Secretary, who must alsolM a stenographer, receives a salary of $1,200 per annum. When a controversy arises between an individual, firm or corporation employing not less than twenty -five persons, and his or its employ^ application may be made by the aggrieved psatj to the Board for an inquiry into the nature of the disagreement, or both parties may unite in the submission of a case. The Board is required to visit the locality, carefully investigate the cause of the dispute and render a decidon as soon as practicable, the same to be at once made public. If the application be filed by the employer, it must be accompanied by a stipulation to continue in business, and order no lock-out for th^ space of three weeks after its date. In like manner, complaining employ^ must promise to continue peacefully at work, under existing conditions, for a like period. The Board is granted power to send for persons and papers and to administer oaths to witnesses. Its decisions are binding upon applicants for six months after rendition, or until either party shall have given the other sixty days' notice in writing of his or their intention not to be bound thereby.- In case the Board shall learn that a disagreement exists between employes and an employer having less than twenty-five persons in his employ, and that a strike or lock-out is seriously threatened, it is made the duty of the body to put itself into communication with both employer and employ^ and endeavor to effect an amicable settlement between them by niediation. The absence of any provision in the law prescribing penalties for its violation leaves the observance of the law, in its present form, dependent upon the voluntary action of the parties interested.

BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION (STATE). By act of the General Assembly, passed June 15, 1909, the Crovemor was authorized to appoint a State Board of Administration, with power to assume control of the State charitable institutions which had been under supervision of the Board of Public Charities since 1869. The first members of the new Board, with periods for which they were appointed, were: L. Y. Sherman, President (1909-11); Thomas O'Connor and Benj. R. Burroughs (1909-13); James L. Greene and Frank D. Whipp (1909-15), their successors being appointive for terms of six years each. Members of the Commission are required to give all their time to the duties of the office, receiving a salary of $6,000 per annum, with traveling expenses while on duty, and are authorized to exercise executive and admin- istrative control over all State charitable institutions, to assume property rights of previous Boards over duch institutions and expend money appropriated by the Legislature for the same; to accept and hold in trust, on behalf of the State, grants, gifts or bequests of money or property for the benefit of the insane in State hospitals, etc. They are charged with the duty of inspecting, investigating and licensing all institutions where persons are under treatment for mental or nervous diseases; have power of appointment or removal of superintendents or managers of the same; are authorised to inspect county jails, city prisons and houses of correction, to examine sanitary conditions and regulate the admission of patients to the same; and to this end it is required that each State institution imder their supervision shall be visited at least once per quarter by some member of the Board. The institutions coming under their jurisdiction by this act are: Schools for the Blind and Deaf, Jacksonville; Industrial Home for the Blind, and Eye and Ear Infirmary, Chicago; Institution for Feeble-Minded, Lincoln; Hospitals for the Insane at Jacksonville, Kankakee, Elgin, Anna, Peoria, Watertown and Chester; Soldiers' and Sailors* Home, Quincy; Soldiers' Widows' Home, Wilmington; Soldiers' Orphans' Home, Normal; State Training School for Girls, Geneseo; and St. Charles School for Boys.

Auxiliary Boards. - Two auxiliary bodies, appointive by the Governor, are provided for to act in co-operation with the Board of Administration: First, a Charities Conmiission consisting of five members, with practically the same power as the former Board of Public Charities. This commission serves without compensation, except for traveling expenses while on duty, is required to investigate the whole system of State charitable institutions, examine into their condition and management and report their findings and recommendations to the Ciovemor.

The second is a system of Boards of Visitors, each Board consisting of three members for each State charitable institution, and appointive under the same conditions as members of the Charities Commission, for a term of six years. These Boards are required to make an inspection of the institutions under their 8up>ervision, for this purpose a majority of each Board, at least once each quarter, visiting such institutions as have the whole State for a district, in other cases at least once a month, and report thereon to the Charities Commission.

Pbtchopathio Institutb. - ^It is also made the doty of the Board of Administration to establish and maintain a State Psychopathiclnstitute, appoint a Director and a Psychologist, who shall perform their duties imder direction of the Board, and all State institutions are required to co-operate with the Institute in such manner as the Board may direct - the object being to secure information in reference to mental diseases for the benefit of managers of institutions for the insane. All the employes of the Board of Administration, the Charities Commission and the Psychopathic Institute, except the managing officers, are placed under the civil service law.

Other Boards. - Sketches of other Boards connected with the administration of State affairs will befoimd on page 448a of this volimie, viz.: Boards of Civil Service, of Equalization, of Health, of Pharmacy, of Pardons and Food CommissioiL

BOOABDUS, Charles, legislator, was bom in Cayuga County, N. Y., March 28. 1841, and left an orphan at six years of age; was educated in the common schools, began working in a store at 12, and, in 1862, enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Infantry, being elected First Lieutenant, and retiring from the service as Lieutenant-Colonel "for gallant and meritorious service" before Petersburg. While in the service he participated in some of the most important battles in Virginia, and was once wounded and once captured. In 1872 he located in Ford County, 111., where he has been a successful operator in real estate. He has been twice elected to the House of Representatives (1884 and '86) and three times to the State Senate (1888, '92 and '96), and has served on the most important committees in each house, and has proved himself one of the most useful members. At the session of 1895 he was chosen President pro tern. of the Senate.

BOOOS5 CarroU C.^ Justice of the Supreme Court, was bom in Fairfield, Wayne CJounty, 111., Oct. 19, 1844, and still resides in his native town; has held the offices of State's Attorney, County Judge of Wayne CJounty, and Judge of the Circuit Court for the Seoond Judicial Circuit, being assigned also to Appellate Court duty. In June, 1897, Judge Boggs was elected a Justice of the Supreme Court to succeed Judge David J. Baker, his term to continue until 1906.

BOLTWOOD, Henry L., the son of William and Electa (Stetson) Boltwood, was bom at Amherst, Mass., Jan. 17, 1881; fitted for college at Amherst Academy and graduated from Amherst College in 1853. While in college he taught school every winter, commencing on a salary of $4 per week and "boarding round" among the scholars. After graduating he taught in academies at Limerick, Me., and at Pembroke and

Historical Encyclopedia Oe Illinois

Derry, N. H., and in the high school at Lawrence, Mass. ; also served as School Commissioner for Rockingham Ck)unty, N. H. In 1864 he went into the service of the Sanitary Commission in the Department of the Gulf, remaining until the close of the war ; was also ordained Chaplain of a colored regiment, but was not regularly mustered in. After the close of the war he was employed as Superintendent of Schools at Griggsville, 111., for two years, and, while there, in 1867, organized the first township high school ever organized in the State, where he remained eleven years. He afterwards organized the township high school at Ottawa, remaining there five years,, after which, in 1888, he organized and took charge of the township high school at Evanston, where he hai^ since been employed in his profession as a teacher. Professor Boltwood has been a member of the State Board of Education and has served as President of the State Teachers' Association. As a teacher he has given special attention to English language and literature, and to history, being the author of an English Grammar, a High School Speller and "Topical Outlines of General Hislbry," besides many contributions to educational journals. He did a great deal of institute work, both in Illinois and Iowa, and was known somewhat as a tariff reformer. Died Jan. 23, 1906.

BOND, Lester L*^ lawyer, was bom at Ravenna, Ohio, Oct. 27, 1829; educated in the common schools and at an academy, meanwhile laboring in local factories; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1853, the following year coming to Chicago, where he gave his attention chiefly to practice in connection with patent laws. Mr. Bond served several terms in the Chicago City Council, was Republican Presidential Elector in 1868, and served two terms in the General Assembly - 1866-70. Died April 15, 1903.

BOND, Shadrach, first Territorial Delegate in Congress from Illinois and first Governor of the State, was bom in Maryland, and, after being liberally educated, removed to Kaskaskia while Illinois was a part of the Northwest Territory. He served as a member of the first Territorial Legislature (of Indiana Territory) and was the first Delegate from the Territory of Illinois in Congress, serving from 1812 to 1814 In the latter year he was appointed Receiver of Public Moneys ; he also held a commission as Captain in the War of 1812. On the admission of the State, in 1818, he was elected Grovemor, and occupied the executive chair until 1822. Died at Kaskaskia, April 13, 1832. - Shadrach Bond, Sr*, an uncle of the preceding, came to Illinois in 1781 and was elected Delegate from St. Clair County (then comprehending all Illinois) to the Territorial Legislature of Northwest Territory, in 1799, and, in 1804, to the Legislative Council /of the newly organized Territory of Indiana.

BOND COUNTY, a small county lying northeast from St. Louis, having an area of 880 square miles and a population (1910) of 17,075. The first American settlers located here in 1807, coming from the South, and building Hill's and Jones's forts for protection from the Indians. Settlement was slow, in 1816 there being scarcely twenty-five log cabins in the county. The county -seat is Greenville, where the first cabin was erected in 1815 by George Davidson. The county was organized in 1817, and named in honor of Gov. Shadrach Bond. Its original limits included the present counties of Clinton, Fayette and Montgomery. The first court was held at Perryville, and, in May, 1817, Judge Jesse B. Thomas presided over the first Circuit Court at Hill's Station. The first court house was erected at Greenville in 1822. The county contains good timber and farming lands, and at some points, coal is found near the surface.

BONNET, Charles Carroll, lawyer and reformer, was bom in Hamilton, N. Y., Sept. 4, 1881 ; educated at ELamilton Academy and settled in Peoria, 111., in 1850, where he pursued the avocation of a teacher while studying law ; was admitted to the bar in 1852, but removed to Chicago in 1860, where he was afterwards engaged in practice; served as President of the National Law and Order League in New York in 1885, being repeatedly re-eleoted, and had also .been President of the Illinois State Bar Association, as well as a member of the American Bar Association. Among the r^orms which he advocated were the constitutional prohibition of special legislation; an extension of equity practice to bankruptcy and other law proceedings; civil service pensions; State Boards of labor and capital, etc. He also published some treatises in book form, chiefly on legal questions, besides editing a volume of "Poems by Alfred W. Arrington, with a sketch of his Character" (1869). As President of the World's Congresses Auxiliary, in ISSbS, Mr. Bonney contributed largely to the success of that very interesting and important feature of the great Columbian Exposition. Died Aug. 23, 1903.

BOONE, Ley! B*, M. B*^ early physician, was bom near Lexington, Ky., December, 1808 - a descendant of the celebrated Daniel Boone; received the degree of M. D. from Transylvania University and came to EdwardsviUe, 111., at an eaiiy day, afterwards locating at Hillsboro and taking part in the Black Hawk War as Captain of a cayaby company ; came to Chicago in 1886 and engaged in the insurance business, later resuming the practice of his profession; served several terms as Alderman and was elected Mayor in 1855 by a combination of temperance men and Know-Nothings; acquired a large property by operations in real estate. Died, February,

BOOITE COUNTY, the smallest of the ''northem tier" of counties, having an area of only 288 square miles, and a population (1910) of 15,481. Its surface is chiefly rolling prairie, and the principal products are oats and com. The earliest settlers came from New York and New England, and among them were included Medkiff, Dunham, Caswell, Cline, Towner, Doty and Whitney. Later (after the Pottawattomies had evacuated the country), came the Shattuck brothers, Maria Hollenbeck and Mrs. Bullard, Oliver Hale, Nathaniel Crosby, Dr. Whiting. H. C. Walker, and the Neeley and Mahoney families. Boone County was cut off from Winnebago, and organized in 1837, being named in honor of Kentucky's pioneer. The first frame house in the county was erected by S. F. Doty and stood for fifty years in the village of Belvidere on the north side of the Elishwaukee River. The county -seat (Belvidere) was platted in 1837, and an academy built soon after. The first Protestant church was a Baptist society under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. King.

BOUTELL, Henry Sherman, lawyer and Congressman, was bom in Boston, Mass., March 14, 1856, graduated from the Northwestern University at Evanston, 111., in 1874, and from Harvard in 1876; was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1879, and to that of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1885. In 1884 Mr. BouteU was elected to the lower branch of the Thirty-fourth (General Assembly and was one of the "103" who, in the long struggle during the following session, participated in the election of Qen. John A. Logan to the United States Senate for the last time. At a special election held in the Sixth Illinois District in November, 1897, he was elected Representative in Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the sudden death of his predecessor. Congressman Eklward D. Cooke, and at the regular election of 1898 was re-elected to the same position, receiving a plurality of 1,116 over

BOUTON5 Nathaniel S*, manufacturer, was bom in Ck)ncord, N. H., May 14, 1828; in his youth farmed and taught school in Connecticut, but in 1852 came to Chicago and was employed by a foundry firm, of which he soon afterwards became a partner, in the manufacture of carwheels and railway castings. Later he became associated with the American Bridge Company's works, which was sold to the Illinois Central Railroad Company in 1857, when he bought the Union Car Works, which he operated until 1863. He then became the head of the Union Foundry Works, which having been consolidated with the Pullman Car Works in 1886, he retired, organizing the Bouton Foundry Company. Mr. Bouton was a Republican, was Commissioner of Public Works for the city of Chicago two terms before the Civil War, and served as Assistant Quartermaster in the Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry from 1862 until after the battle of Chickamauga. Died April 3, 1908.

BOYD, Thomas A., was bom in Adams County, Pa., June 25, 1830, and graduated at Marshall College, Mercersburg, Pa., at the age of 18; studied law at Chambersburg and was admitted to the bar at Bedford in his native State, where he practiced tmtil 1856, when he removed to Illinois. In 1861 he abandoned his practice to enlist in the Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, in which he held the position of Captain. At the close of the war he returned to his home at Lewistown, and, in 1866, was elected State Senator and re-elected at the expiration of his term in 1870, serving in the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twentyseventh Gteneral Assemblies. He was also a Republican Representative from his District in the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses (1877-81). Died, at Lewistown, May 28, 1897.

BRACETILLE, a town in Grundy County, 61 miles by rail southwest of Chicago. Coal mining is the principal industry. The town has two banks, two churches and good public schools. Pop. (1890), 2,150; (1900), 1,669; (1910), 971.

BRADFORD, village of Stark County, on Buda and Rushville branch Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway ; is in excellent farming region and has large grain and live-stock trade, excellent high school building, fine churches, good hotels and one newspaper. Pop. (1910), 770.

BRADSBT, William H., pioneer and Judge, was born in Bedford County, Va., July 12, 1787. He removed to Illinois early in life, and was the first postmaster in Washington County (at Cov- ington), the first school-teacher and the first Circuit and County Clerk and Recorder. At the time of his death he was Probate and County Judge. Besides being Clerk of all the courts, he was virtually County Treasurer, as he had custody of all the county's money. For several years he was also Deputy United States Surveyor, and in that capacity surveyed much of the south part of the State, as far east as Wayne and Clay Counties Died at Nashville, 111., August 21, 1889.

BBADWELL, James Bolesworth, lawyer and editor, was bom at Loughborough, England, Aptil 16, 1828, and brought to America in infancy, his parents locating in 1829 or *30 at Utica, N. Y. In 1888 they emigrated to Jacksonville, UL, but the following year removed to Wheeling, Cook County, settling on a farm, where the younger Bradwell received his first lessons in breaking prairie, splitting rails and tilling the soil His first schooling was obtained in a country logschool-house, but, later, he attended the Wilson Academy in Chicago, where he had Judge Lorenzo Sawyer for an instructor. He also took a course in Knox College at G^esburg, then a manual-labor school, supporting himself by working in a wagon and plow shop, sawing wood, etc. In May, 1852, he was married to Miss Myra Cc^by, a teacher, with whom he went to Memphis, Tenn., the same year, where they engaged in teaching a select school, the subject of this sketch meanwhile devoting some attention to reading law. He was admitted to the bar there, but after a stay of less than two years in Memphis, returned to Chicago and began practice. In 1861 he was elected County Judge of Cook County, and re-elected four years later, but declined a re-election in 1869. The first half of his term occurring during the progress of the Civil War, he had the opportimity of rendering some vigorous decisions which won for him the reputation of a man of courage and inflexible independence, as well as an incorruptible champion of justice. In 1872 he was elected to the lower branch of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly from Cook County, and re-elected in 1874. He was again a candidate in 1882, and by many believed to have been honestly elected, though his opponent received the certificate. He made a contest for the seat, and the majority of the Committee on Elections reported in his favor; but he was defeated through the treachery and suspected corruption of a professed political friend. He is the author of the law making women eligible to school offices in Illinois and aUowing them to become Notaries Public, and had always been a champion for equal rights for women in the professions and as citizens. He was a Second Lieutenant of the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Illinois Militia, in 1848; presided over the American Woman's Suffrage Association at its organization in Cleveland; served as President of the Chicago Press Club, of the Chicago Bar Association, and, for a number of years, as Historian of the latter; wa3 one of the founders and President of the Union League Club, besides being associated with many other social and business organizations. He was identified in a business capacity with "The Chicago Legal News," founded by his wife in 1868, and after her death became its editor. Judge Bradwell's death occurred Nov. 29, 1907.~M7ra Colby (Bradwell), the wife of Judge Bradw^ was bom at Manchester, Vt., Feb. 12, 1831 - being descended on her mother*8 side from the Chase family to which Bishop Philander Chase and Salmon P. Chase, the latter Secretary of the Treasury and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by appointment of Abraham Lincoln, belonged. In infancy she was brought V> Portage, N. Y., where she remained until she was twelve years of age, when her family removed west. She attended school in Kenosha, Wis., and a seminary at Elgin, afterwards being engaged in teaching. On May 18, 1852, she was married to Judge Bradwell, almost immediately going to Memphis, Tenn., where, with the assistance of her husband, she conducted a select school for some time, also teaching in the public schools, when they returned to Chicago. In the early part of the Civil War she took a deep interest in the welfare of the soldiers in the field and their 'families at home, becoming President of the Soldiers' Aid Society, and was a leading spirit in the Sanitary Fairs held in Chicago in 1868 and in 1865. After the war she conmienoed the study of law and, in 1868, began the publication of "The Chicago Legal News," with which she remained identified until her death - also publishing biennially an edition of the session laws after each session of the General Assembly. After passing a most creditable examination, application was made for her admission to the bar in 1871, but denied in an elaborate decision rendered by Judge C. B. Lawrence of the Supreme Court of the State, on the sole ground of sex, as was also done by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1878, on the latter occasion Chief Justice Chase dissenting. She was finally admitted to the bar on March 28, 1892, and wub the first lady member of the State Bar Assooi* atkm. Other organizations with which she was identified embiaoed the Illinois State Press Association, the Board of Managers of the Soldiers' Home (in war time), the '^Illinois Industrial l^hool for Girls'* at Evanston, the Washingtonian Home, the Board of Lady Managers of the World's Columbian Exposition, and Chairman of the Woman's Committee on Jurisprudence of the World's Congress Auxiliary of 1898. Although much before the public during the latter years of her life, she never lost the refinement and graces which belong to a true woman. Died, at her home in Chicago, Feb. 14, 1894.

BRAIDWOOD, a city in Will County, incorporated in 1860; is 58 miles from Chicago, on the Chicago & Alton Railroad; an important coalmining point, and in the heart of a rich agricultural region. It has a bank and a weekly newspaper. Pop. (1900), 3,279; (1910), 1,958.

BRANSON, Nathaniel W^ lawyer, was bom in JacksouTllle, BL, May 29, 1887; was educated in the private and public schools of that city and at Illinois College, graduating from the latter in 1857 ; studied law with David A. Smith, a prominent and able lawyer of Jacksonville, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1860, soon after establishing himself in practice at Petersburg, Menard County, where he continued to reside. In 1867 Mr. Branson was appointed Register in Bankruptcy for the Springfield District - a position which he held thirteen years. He was also elected Representative in the Qeneral Assembly in 1872, by re-election in 1874 serving four years in the stormy Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Qeneral Assemblies; was a Delegate from Illinois to the National Republican Convention of 1876, and served for several years most efficiently as a Trustee of the State Institution for the Blind at Jacksonville, part of the time as President of the Board. Politically a conservative Republican, and in no sense an office-seeker, the official positions assigned to him came unsought and in recognition of his fitness and qualifications. Died Feb. 27, 1907.

BRATMAN9 Mason, lawyer and soldier, was bom in Buffalo, N. Y., May 28, 1818; brought up as a farmer, became a printer and edited **The Buffalo Bulletin," 1884-85; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1886; removed west in 1887, was City Attorney of Monroe, Mich., in 1888 and became editor of "The Louisville Advertise" in 1841. In 1842 he opened a law office in Springfield, IlL, and the following year was appointed by Qovemor Ford a commissioner to adjust the Mormon troubles, in which capacity he rendered valuable service. In 1844-45 he was appointed to revise the statutes of the State. Later he devoted much attention to railroad enterprises, being attorney of the Illinois Central Railroad, 1851-55; then projected the construction of a railroad from Bird's Point, opposite Cairo, into Arkansas, which was partially completed before the war, and almost wholly destroyed during that period. In 1861 he entered the service as Major of the Twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, taking part in a number of the early battles, including Fort Donelson and Shiloh; was promoted to a colonelcy for meritorious conduct at the latter, and for a time served as Ad jutant-(>eneral on the staff of General McClernand; was promoted Brigadier-Oeneral in September, 1862, at the close of the war receiving the brevet rank of Major-Oeneral. After the close of the war he devoted considerable attention to reviving his railroad enterprises in the South; edited **The Illinois State Journal," 1872-73; removed to Wisconsin and was appointed Governor of Idaho in 1876, serving four years, after which he returned to Ripon« Wis. Died, in Kansas City. Feb. 27, 1895.

BREESE, a village in Clinton County, on Baltimore & Ohio S. W. Railway, 89 miles east of St. Louis; has coal mines, water system, bank and weekly newspaper. Pop. (1910), 2,128.

BREESE, Sidney, statesman and jurist, was bom at Whitesboro, N. Y., (according to the generally accepted authority) July 15, 1800. Owing to a certain sensitiveness about his age in his later years, it has been exceedingly difficult to secure authentic data on the subject; but his arrival at Kaskaskia in 1818, after graduating at Union College, and his admission to the bar in 1820, have induced many to believe that the date of his birth should be placed somewhat earlier. He was related to some of the most prominent families in New York, including the Livingstons and the Morses, and, after his arrival at Kaskaskia, began the study of law with his friend Elias Kent Kane, afterwards United States Senator. Meanwhile, having served as Postmaster at Kaskaskia, he became Assistant Secretary of State, and, in December, 1820, superintended the removal of the archives of that office to Vandalia, the new State capitaL Later he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney, serving in that position from 1822 till 1827, when he became United States District Attorney for Illinois. He was the first official reporter of the Supreme Court, issuing its first volume of decisions; served as Lieutenant-Colonel of volunteers during the

Histoeical Encyclopedia Op Illinois

Blaok Hawk War (1882); in 1835 was elected to the circuit bench, and, in 1841, was advanced to. the Supreme bench, serving less than two years, when he resigned to accept a seat in the United States Senate, to which he was elected in 1848 as the successor of Richard M. Young, defeating Stephen A. Douglas in the first race of the latter for the office. While in the Senate (1843-49) he served as Chairman of the Committee on Publio Lands, and was one of the first to suggest the construction of a transcontinental railway to the Pacific. He was also one of the originators and active promoters in Congress of the Illinois Central Railroad enterprise. He was Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1851 ; again became Circuit Judge in 1855 and returned to the Supreme bench in 1857 and served more than one term as Chief Justice, the last being in 1873-74. BAs home during most of his publio life in Illinois was at Carlyle. His death occurred at Pinckneyville, June 28, 1878.

BREICTANO, Lorenzo, was bom at Mannheim, In the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, Nov. 14, 1818; was educated at the Universities ol Heidelberg and Freiburg, receiving the degree of LL.D., and attaining high honors, both professional and politicaL He was successively a member of the Baden Cliamber of Deputies and of the Frankfort Parliament, and always a leader of the revolutionist party. In 1849 he became President of the Provisional Republican Government of Baden, but was, before long, forced to find an asylum in the United States. He first settled in Kalamazoo County, Mich., as a farmer, but, in 1859, removed to Chicago, where he was admitted to the Illinois bar, but soon entered the field of journalism, becoming editor and part proprietor of **The Illinois Staats Zeitung." He held various public offices, being elected to the Legislature in 1862, serving five years as President of the Chicago Board of Education, was a Republican Presidential Elector in 1868, and United States Consul at Dresden in 1872 (a general anmesty having been granted to the participants in the revolution of 1848), and Representative in Congress from 1877 to 1879. Died, in Chicago, Sept. 17. 1891.

BRIDGEPORT, a town of Lawrence Coimty, on the Baltimore & Ohio S. W. Raihoad, 14 miles west of Vincennes, Ind., in oil field; has a bank and one weekly paper. Pop. (1900), 487; (1910), 2,703.

BRIDGEPORT, a former suburb (now a paji; of the city) of Chicago, located at the junction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal with the South Branch of the Chicago River. It is now the

BRIGHTON, a village of Macoupin County, at the intersection of the Chicago & Alton and the Rock Island and St. Louis branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railways; coal is mined here; has a newspaper. Population (1880), 691; (1890), 742; (1900), 660; (1910), 595.

BRIMFIELD, a town of Peoria County, on the Buda and Rushville branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway, 38 miles south of Buda; coal-mining and farming are the chief industries. It has one weekly paper and a bank. Pop. (1890), 719; (1900), 677; (1910), 576.

BRISTOL, Frank Milton, clergyman, was bom in Orleans County, N. Y., Jan. 4, 1851; came to Kankakee, 111., in boyhood, and having lost his father at 12 years of age, spent the following years in various manual occupations until about nineteen years of age, when, having been converted, he determined to devote his life to the ministry. Through the aid of a benevolent lady, he was enabled to get two years' (1870-72) instruction at the Northwestern University, at Evanston, afterwards supporting himself by preaching at various points, meanwhile continuing his studies at the University until 1877. After completing his course he served as pastor of some of the most prominent Methodist churches in Chicago, his last charge in the State being at Evanston. In 1897 he was transferred to Washington City, becoming pastor of the Metropolitan M. R Church, attended by President McKinley Dr. Bristol is an author of some repute and an orator of recognized ability.

BROADWELL, Norman M., lawyer, was bom in Morgan County, 111., August 1, 1825; was educated in the common schools and at McKendree and Illinois Colleges, but compelled by failing health to leave college without graduating; spent some time in the book business, then began the study of medicine with a view to benefiting his own health, but finally abandoned this and, about 1850, commenced the study of law in the office of Liiicoln & Hemdon at Springfield. Having been admitted to the bar, he practiced for a time at Pekin, but, in 1854, returned to Springfield, where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1860 he was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives from Sangamon County, serving in the Twenty -second General Assembly. Other offices held by him included those of County Judge (1863-65) and Mayor of the city of Spring- field, to which last position he was twice elected (1867 and again in 1869). Judge Broadwell was one of the most genial of men, popular, highminded and honorable in all his dealings. Died, in Springfield, Feb. 28, 1898.

BROOKS, John Flayel, educator, was bom in Oneida CJounty, New York, Deo. 8, 1801; graduated at Hamilton College, 1828; studied three years in the theological department of Yale College; was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry in 1831, and came to Illinois in the service of the American Home Missiouary Society. After preaching at Collinsville, Belleyille and other points, Mr. Brooks, who was a member of the celebrated '*Yale Band," in 1837 assumed the principalship of a Teachers* Seminary at Waverly, Morgan County, but three years later removed to Springfield, where he established an academy for both sexes. Although finally compelled to abandon this, he continued teaching with some interruptions to within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1886. He was one of the Trustees of Illinois College from its foundation up to his death.

BROSS, WlUlam, journalist, was bom in Sussex County, N. J., Nov. 14, 1818, and graduated with honors from Williams College in 1838, having previously developed his physical strength by much hard work upon the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and in the lumbering trade. For five years after graduating he was a teacher, and settled in Chicago in 1848. Th 3re he first engaged in bookselling, but later embarked in journalism. His first publication was ''The Prairie Herald,*' a religious paper, which was discontinued after two years. In 1852, in connection with John L. Scripps, he founded "The Democratic Press," which was consolidated with "The Tribune** in 1858, Mr. Bross retaining his connection with the new concern. He was always an ardent f reesoiler, and a firm believer in the great future of Chicago and the Northwest. He was an enthusiastic Republican, and, in 1856 and 1860, served as an effective campaign orator. In 1864 he was the successful nominee of his party for Lieutenant-Governor. This was his only ofiicial position outside of a membership in the Chicago Common Council in 1855. As a presiding officer, he was dignified yet affable, and his impartiality was shown by the fact that no appeals were taken from his decisions. After quitting public life he devoted much time to literary pursuits, delivering lectures in various parts of the coimtry. Among his best known works are a brief "History of Chicago," "History of Camp Douglas,*'

BROWN, Henry, lawyer and historian, was bom at Hebron, Tolland County, Conn., May 13, 1789 - ^the son of a commissary in the army of General Greene of Revolutionary fame; graduated at Yale College, and, when of age, removed to New York, later studying law at Albany, Canandaigua and Batavia, and being admitted to the bar about 1813, when he settled down in practice at Cooperstown ; in 1816 was appointed Judge of Herkimer Coimty, remaining on the bench until about 1824. He then resimied practice at Cooperstown. continuing imtil 1836, when he removed to Chicago. The following year he was elected a Justice of the Peace, serving two years, and, in 1842, became Prosecuting Attorney of Cook County. During this period he was engaged in writing a "History of Illinois," which was published in New York in 1844 This was regarded at the time as the most voluminous and best digested work on Illinois history that had as yet been published. In 1846, on assuming the Presidency of the Chicago Lyceum, he delivered an inaugural entitled "Chicago, Present and Future,** which is still preserved as a striking prediction of Chicago's future greatness. Originally a Democrat, he became a Freesoiler in 1848. Died of cholera, in Chicago, May 16, 1849.

BROWN, James B., journalist, was bom in Gilmanton, Belknap County, N. H., Sept. 1, 1833 - his father being a member of the Legislature and Selectman for his town. The son was educated at Gilmanton Academy, after which he studied medicine for a time, but did not graduate. In 1857 he removed West, first settling at Dunleith, Jo Daviess County, IlL, where he became Principal of the public schools; in 1861 was elected Coimty Superintendent of Schools for Jo Daviess Coimty, removing to Galena two years later and assimiing the editorship of "The Gazette** of that city. Mr. Brown also served as Postmaster of Galena for several years. Died, Feb. 13, 1896.

BROWN, James N*, agriculturist and stockman, was bom in Fayette County, Ky., Oct. 1, 1806; came to Sangamon Coimty, 111., in 1833, locating at Island Grove, where he engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising. He served as Representative in the General Assemblies of 1840, *42, *46, and *52, and in the last was instrumental in securing the incorporation of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, of which he was chosen the first President, being re-elected in 1854. He was one of the most enterprising grow* era of blooded cattle in the State and did much to introduce them in Central Illinois; was also an earnest and influential advocate of scientific education for the agricultural classes and an efficient oolaborer with Prof. J. B. Turner, of Jacksonville, in securing the enactment b^ Congress, in 1862, of the law granting lands for the endowment of Industrial Colleges, out of which grew the Illinois State University and institutions of like character in other States. Died, Nov. 16, 1868.

BROWN, William, lawyer and jurist, was bom Jime 1, 1819, in Cumberland, England, his parents emigrating to this country when he was eight years old, and settling in Western New York. He was admitted to the bar at Rochester, in October, 1845, and at once removed to Rockford, IlL, where he commenced practice. In 1852 he was elected State's Attorney for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, and, in 1857, was chosen Mayor of Rockford. In 1870 he was elected to the bench of the Circuit Court as successor to Judge Sheldon, later was promoted to the Supreme Court, and was re-elected successively in 1878, in '79 and '85. Died, at Rockford, Jan. 15, 1891.

BROWN, William H., lawyer and financier, was bom in Connecticut, Dec. 20, 1796; spent his boyhood at Auburn, N. Y., studied law, and, in 1818, came to Illinois with Samuel D. Lockwood (afterwards a Justice of the State Supreme Court), descending the Ohio River to Shawneetown in a flat-boat. Mr. Brown visited Kaskaskia and was soon after appointed Clerk of the United States District Court by Judge Nathaniel Pope, removing, in 1820, to Vandalia, the new State capital, where he remained until 18^. He then removed to Chicago to accept the position of Cashier of the Chicago branch of the State Bank of Illinois, which he continued to fill for many years. He served the city as School Agent for thirteen years (1840-58), managing the city's school fund through a critical period with great discretion and success. He was one of the group of early patriots who successfully resisted the attempt to plant slavery in Illinois in 1828-24; was also one of the projectors of the Chicago & Oalena Union Railroad, was President of the Chicago Historical Society for seven years and connected with many other local enterprises. He was an ardent personal friend of Prudent Lincoln and served as Representative in the Twenty-second Oeneral Assembly (1860-62). While making a tour of Europe he died of paralysis at Amsterdam, June 17, 1867.

BBOWN GOUKTT, situated in the western part of the State, with an area of 306 square miles, and a population (1890) of 11,951; was cut off from Schuyler and made a separate county in May, 1839, being named in honor of G^en. Jacob Brown. Among the pioneer settlera were the Vandeventera and Hambaughs, John and David Six, William McDaniel, Jeremiah Walker, Willis O'Neil, Harry Lester, John Ausmus and Robert H. Curry. The county-seat is Mount Sterling, a town of no little attractiveness. Other prosperous villages are Mound Station and Ripley. The chief occupation of the people is farming, although there is some manufacturing of lumber and a few potteries along the Illinois River. Pop. (1900), 11,557; (1910), 10,397.

BROWNE, Franels Fisher, editor and author, was bom in South Halifax, Vt., Dec. 1, 1848, the son of William Gk>ldsmith Browne, who was a teacher, editor and author of the song "A Hundred Years to Come.'* In childhood he was brought by his parents to Western Massachusetts, where he attended the public schools and learned the printing trade in his father's newspaper office at Chicopee, Mass. Leaving school in 1862, he enlisted in the Forty-sixth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, in which he served one year, chiefly in North Carolina and in the Army of the Potomac. On the discharge of his regiment he engaged in the study of law at Rochester, N. Y., entering the law department of the University of Michigan in 1866, but abandoning his intenton of entering the legal profession, removed to Chicago in 1867, where he engaged in journalistic and literary pursuits. Between 1869 and '74 he was editor of 'The Lakeside Monthly," when he became literary editoi^ of * *The Alliance, ' ' but, in 1880, he established and assumed the editorship of "The Dial," a purely literary publication which has gained a high reputation, and of which he has remained in control continuously ever since, meanwhile serving as the literary adviser, for many years, of the well-known publishing house of McClurg & Co. Besides hia journalistic work, Mr. Browne has contributed to the magazines and literary anthologies a number of short lyrics, and is the author of "The Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln" (1886), and a volume of poems entitled, "Volunteer Grain" (1898). He also compiled and edited "Golden Poems by British and American Authors" (1881); "The Gk)lden Treasury of Poetry and Prose** (1886), and the "Laurel .Crowned"series of standard poetry (1891-92). Mr. Browne was Chairman of the Committee of the Congress of Authors in

BROWNE, Thomas CU early jurist, was bom in Kentucky, studied law there and, coming to Shawneetown in 1812, served in the lower branch of the Second Territorial Legislature (1814-16) and in the Council (1816-18), being the first lawyer to enter that body. In 1815 he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney and, on the admission of Illinois as a State, was promoted to the Supreme bench, being re-elected by joint ballot of the Legislature in 1835, and serving continuously until the reorganization of the Supreme Court under the Constitution of 1848, a period of over thirty years. Judge Browne's judicial character and abilities have been differently estimated. Though lacking in industry as a student, he is represented by the late Judge John D. Caton, who knew him personally, as a close thinker and a good judge of men. While seldom, if ever, accustomed to argue questions in the conference room or write out his opinions, he had a capacity for expressing himself in short, pungent sentences, which indicated that he was a man of considerable ability and had clear and distinct views of his own. An attempt was made to impeach him before the Legislature of 1848 **for want of capacity to discharge the duties of his office,*' but it failed by an almost imanimous vote. He was a Whig in politics, but had some strong supporters among Democrats. In 1822 Judge Browne was one of the four candidates for Governor - ^in the final returns standing third on the list and, by dividing the vote of the advocates of a pro-slavery clause in the State Constitution, contributing to the election of (Governor Coles and the defeat of the pro-slavery party. (See Cplea, Edward, and Slavery and Slave Latcs.) In the latter part of his official term Judge Browne resided at Gk^ lena, but, in 1858, removed with his son-in-law, ex-Congressman Joseph P. Hoge, to San Francisco, Cal., where he died a few years later - probably about 1856 or 1858.

BROWNING, OrriUe Hiekimaii, lawyer. United States Senator and Attomey-Ctoneral, was bom in Harrison County, Ky., in 1810. After receiving a classical education at Augusta in his native State, he removed to Quincy, 111., and was admitted to the bar in 1881. In 1882 he served in the Black Hawk War, and from 1886 to 1848, was a member of the Legislature, serving m both hoosee. A personal friend and political adherent of Abraham Lincoln, he aided in the organization of the Republican party at the memorable

Bloomington Convention of 1856. As a delegate to the Chicago Convention in 1860, he aided in securing Mr. Lincoln's nomination, and was a conspicuous supporter of the Government in the Civil War. In 1861 he was appointed by Governor Yates United States Senator to fill Senator Douglas' unexpired term, serving until 1863. In 1866 he became Secretary of the Interior by appointment of President Johnson, also for a time discharging the duties of Attomey-GeneraL Returning to Illinois, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, which was his last participation in public affairs, his time thereafter being devoted to his profession. He died at his home in Quincy, 111., August 10, 1881.

BRTAX, Silas LiUard^ legislator and jiu^t, bom in Culpepper County, Va., Nov. 4, 1822; vras left an orphan at an early age, and came west in 1840, living for a time with a brother near Troy, Mo. The following year he came to Marion County, IlL, where he attended school and worked on a farm; in 1845 entered McKendree College, graduating in 1849, and two years later was admitted to the bar, supporting himself meanwhile by teaching. He settled at Salem, 111., and, in 1852, was elected as a Democrat to the State Senate, in which body he served for eight years, being re-elected in 1856. In 1861 he was elected to the bench of the Second Judicial Circuit, and again chosen in 1867, his second term expiring in 1878. While serving as Judge, he was also elected a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70. He was an imsuccessful candidate for Congress on the Greeley ticket in 1872. Died at Salem, March 80, 1880. - WilUam Jennings (Bryan), son of the preceding, was bom at Salem, HI. , March 19, 1860. The early life of young Bryan was spent on his father's farm, but at the age of ten years he began to attend the public school in town ; later spent two years in Whipple Academy, ;the preparatory department of Illinois College at Jacksonville, and, in 1881, graduated from the college proper as the valedictorian of his class. Then he devoted two years to the study of law in the Union Law School at Chicago, meanwhile acting as clerk and studying in the law office of ez-Senator Lyman Trumbull. Having graduated in law in 1883, he soon entered upon the practice of his profession at Jacksonville as the partner of Judge R P. Elirby, a well-known lawyer and prominent Republican of that city. Four years later (1887) found him a citizen of Lincoln, Neb., which has since been his home. He took a prominent part in the politics of Nebraska, stiimping the State for the Democratic nominees in 1888 and '89, and in 1890 received the Democratic nomination for Congress in a district which had been regarded as strongly Republican, and was elected by a large majority. Again, in 1892, he was elected by a reduced majority, but two years later declined a renomination, though proclaiming himself a free-silver candidate for the United States Senate, meanwhile officiating as editor of "The Omaha World-Herald." In July, 1896, he received the nomination for President from the Democratic National Convention at Chicago, on a platform declaring for the "free and imlimited coinage of silver*' at the ratio of sixteen of silver (in weight) to one of gold, and a few weeks later was nominated by the "Populists" at St. Louis for the same office - being the yoimgest man ever put in nomination for the Presidency in the history of the Grovemment. He conducted an active personal campaign, speaking in nearly every Northern and Middle Western State, but was defeated by his Republican opponent, Maj. William McKinley. Mr. Bryan is an easy and fluent speaker, possessing a voice of unusual compass and power, and is recognized, even by his political opponents, as a man of pure personal character.

BRTAN, Thomas Barbour, lawyer and real estate operator, was born at Alexandria, Va., Dec. 22, 1828, being descended on the maternal side from the noted Barbour family of that States graduated in law at Harvard, and, at the age of twenty-one, settled in Cincinnati. In 1852 he came to Chicago, where he acquired extensive real estate interests and built Bryan Hall, which became a popular place for entertainments. Being a gifted speaker, as well as a zealous Unionist, Mr. Bryan was chosen to deliver the address of welcome to Senator Douglas, when that statesman returned to Chicago a few weeks before his death in 1861. During the progress of the war he devoted his time and his means most generously to fitting out soldiers for the field and caring for the sick and wounded. His services as President of the great Sanitary Fair in Chicago (1865), where some $800,000 were cleared for disabled soldiers, were especially conspicuous. At this time he became the purchaser (at $3,000) of the original copy of President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had been donated to the cause. He also rendered valuable service after the fire of 1871, though a heavy sufferer from that event, and was a leading factor in securing the location of the

World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1890, later becoming Vice-President of the Board of Directors and making a visit to Europe in the interest of the Fair. After the war Mr. Bryan resided in Washington for some time, and, by appointment of President Hayes, served as Commissioner of the District of Columbia. Possessing refined literary and artistic tastes, he has done much for the encouragement of literature and art in Cliicago. His home was at Elmhurst, III. Died Jan. 25, 1906. - Charles Page (Bryan), son of the preceding, lawyer and foreign minister, was bom in Chicago, Oct. 2, 1855, and educated at the University of Virginia and Columbia Law School; was admitted to practice in 1878, and the following year removed to CJolorado, where he remained four years, while there serving in both Houses of the State Legislature. In 1888 he returned to Chicago and became a member of the First Regiment of the Illinois National Guard, serving upon the staff of both Governor Oglesby and Governor Fifer; in 1890, was elected to the State Legislature from Cook County, being reelected in 1892, and in 1894; was also the first Commissioner to visit Europe in the interest of the World's Columbian Exposition, on his return serving as Secretary of the Exposition Commissioners in 1891-92. In the latter part of 1897 he was appointed by President McKinley Minister to China, but before being confirmed, early in 1898, was assigned as Minister to Brazil, serving until 1902; has since served in similar capacity in Switzerland (1902-03), Portugal (1903-10), Belgium (1910-11); in 1911 was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan.

BRYANT, John Howard, pioneer, brother of William Cullen Bryant, the poet, was bom in Cummington, Mass., July 22, 1807, educated at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N. Y, ; removed to Illinois in 1831, and held various offices in Bureau County, including that of Representative in the General Assembly, to which he was elected in 1842, and again in 1858. A practical and enterprising farmer, he was identified with the Illinois State Agricultural Society in its early history, as also with the movement which resulted in the establishment of industrial colleges in the various States. He was one of the foimders of the Republican party and a warm personal friend of President Lincoln, being a member of the first Republican State Convention at Bloomington in 1856, and serving as Ck>llector of Internal Revenue by appointment of Mr. Lin coin in 1862-64. In 1872 Mr. Bryant jomed in the Liberal Republican movement at Cincinnati, two

^ears later was identified with the ''Independent Reform" party, but later co-operated with tb» Democratic party. He produced two volumes of poems, published, respectively, in 1855 and 1885, besides a number of public addresses. Died at his home at Princeton, 111., Jan. 14, 1902.

BUCK, Hiram, clergyman, was bom in Steuben County. N. Y., in 1818; joined the Illinois Methodist Episcopid Conference in 1848, and continued in its service for nearly fifty years, being much of the time a Presiding Elder. At his death he bequeathed a considerable sum to the endowment funds of the Wesleyan University at Bloomington and the Illinois Conference College at Jacksonville. Died at Decatur, 111.. August 22.1892,