stealthy hold, to the close of his life, March 18,
i860, over nine months before the expiration of his
gubernatorial term, at the early age of 48 years. He
died in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church, ol
which he hafi been a member since 1854,
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBAMA
GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.
'55
-5—
I iHN WOOD, Goveriio.- 1860-1, and
?%;*« the first settler of Quincy, III.,
was born in the town of Sempro-
\. niiis (now Moravia), Cayuga Co.,
,:•■N. Y., Dec. 20, 1798. He was
the second child and only son of
Dr. Daniel Wood. His motlier,
nee Catherine Crause, was of
German parentage, and died
while he was an infant. Dr.
Wood was a learned and skillful
physician, of classical attain-
ments and proficient in several
modern lai guages, who, after
serving throughout the Revolu-
tionary War as a Surgeon, settled on the land granted
him by the Government, and resided there a re-
spected and leading influence in his section until his
death, at the ripe age of 92 years.
The subject of this sketch, impelled by the spirit
of Western adventure then pervading everywhere,
left his home, Nov. 2, 18 1 8, and passed the succeed-
ing winter in Cincinnati, Ohio. The following sum-
mer he pushed on to Illinois, landing at Shawneetown,
and spent the fall and following winter in Calhoun
County. In 1820, in company with Willard Keyes,
he settled in Pike County, about 30 miles southeast
of Quincy, where for the next two years he pursued
farming. In 1821 he visited "theBluflfs" (as the
present site of Quincy was called, then uninhabited)
and, pleased with its prospects, soon after purchased
a quarter-section of land near by, and in the follow-
ing fall (1822) erected near the river a small cabin,
18 X 20 feet, the first building in Quincy, of which
he then became the first and for some months the
only occupant.
About this time he visited his old friends in Pike
County, chief of wJiom was William Ross, the lead-
ing man in building up the village of Atlas, of that
county, which was thought then to be the possible
commencement of a city. One day they and others
were traveling together over the country between the
two points named, making observations on the com-
parative merits of the respective localities. On ap-
proaching the Mississippi near Mr. Wood's place,
the latter told his companions to follow him and he
would show them where he was going to build a city.
They went about a mile off the main trail, to a high
ix)int, from which the view in every direction was
most magnificent, as it had been for ages and as yet
untouched by the hand of man. Before them swept
by the majestic Father of Waters, yet unburdened by
navigation. After Mr. Wood had expatiated at
length on the advantages of the situation, Mr. Ross
replied, " But it's too near Atlas ever to amount to
anything!"
Atlas is still a cultivated farm, and Quincy is a
city of over 30,000 population.
In 1824 Mr. Wood gave a ^lewspaper notice,
as the law then prescribed, of his intention to apply
to the General Assembly for the formation of a new
county. This was done the following winter, result-
ing in the establishment of the present Adams
County. During the next summer Quincy was se-
lected as the county seat, it and the vicinity then
containing but four adult male residents and half
iSO
JOHN WOOD.
that number of females. Sinoe that period -Mr.
Wood resided at the place of his early adoption un-
til his death, and far more than any other man was
he identified with every measure of its progress and
history, and almost continuously kept in public posi-
tions.
He was one of the early town Trustees, and after
the place became a city he was often a member of
the City Council, many times elected Mayor, in the
face of a constant large opposition political majority.
In 1850 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1856,
on the organization of the Republican party, he was
chosen Lieutenant Governor of the State, on the
ticket with Wm. H. Bissell for Governor, and on the
death of the latter, March 18, i860, he succeeded to
the Chief Executive chair, which he occupied until
Gov. Yates was inaugurated nearly ten months after-
ward.
Nothing very marked characterized the adminis-
tration of Gov. Wood. The great anti-slavery cam-
paign of i860, resulting in the election of the honest
Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, to the Presidency of the
United States, occurred during the short period
while Mr. Wood was Governor, and ttie excitement
and issues of that struggle dominated over every
other consideration, — indeed, supplanted them in a
great measure. The people of Illinois, during all
that time, were passing the comparatively petty strifes
under Bissell's administration to the overwhelming
issue of preserving the whole nation from destruction.
In 1861 ex-Gov. Wood was one of the five Dele-
gates from Illinois to the " Peace Convention " at
Washington, and in April of the same year, on the
breaking out of the Rebellion, he was appointed
Quartermaster-General of the State, which position
he held throughout the war. In 1864 he took com-
mand as Colonel of the 137th 111. Vol. Inf., with
whom he served until the period of enlistment ex-
pired.
Politically, Gov. Wood was always actively identi-
fied with the Whig and Republican parties. Few
men have in personal experience comprehended so
many surprising and advancing local changes as
vested in the more than half century recollections of
Gov. Wood. Sixty-four years ago a solitary settler
on the "Bluffs," with no family, and no neighbor
within a score of miles, the world of civilization away
behind him, and the strolling red-man almost his
only visitant, he lived to see growing around him,
and under his auspices and aid, overspreading the
wild hills and scraggy forest a teaming city, second
only in size in the State, and surpassed nowhere in
beauty, prosperity and promise ; whose people recog-
nize as with a single voice the proverbial honor and
liberality that attach to the name and lengthened
life of their pioneer settler, "the old Governor."
Gov. Wood was twice married,— first in January,
1826, to Ann M. Streeter, daughter of Joshua Streeter,
formerly of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. They had
eight children. Mrs. W. died Oct. 8, 1863, and in
June, 1865, Gov. Wood married Mrs. Mary A., widow
of Rev. Joseph T. Holmes. Gov. Wood died June 4,
1880, at his residence in Quincy. Four of his eight
children are now living, namely: Ann E., wife of
Gen. John Tillson; Daniel C, who married Mary J.
Abernethy; John, Jr., who married Josephine Skinner,
and Joshua S., who married Annie Bradley. The
last mentioned now resides at Atchison, Kansas, and
all the rest are still at Quincy.
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
I?i(l\ard Yat(^^.
^^
â– WCHARD YATES, the "War
Governor," 1S61-4, was born
Jan. 18, 1818, on the banks of
the Ohio River, at V'arsaw,
Gallatin Co., Ky. His lather
moved in 1831 to Illinois, and
after stopping for a time in
Springfield, settled at Island
Grove, Sangamon County. Here,
after attending school, Richard joined
family. Stibseqtiently he entered
Illinois College at Jacksonville,
vi'here, in 1837, he graduated with
fiist honors. He chose for his pro-
fession the law, the Hon. J. J. Har-
din being his instructor. After ad-
mission to the Bar he soon rose to distinction as an
advocate.
Gifted with a fluent and ready oratory, he soon
ajjpeared in the political hustings, and, being a
passionate admirer of the great Whig leader of tlie
West. Henry Clay, he joined his political fortunes to
.he party of his idol. In 1840 lie engaged with great
s.ydor in the exciting "hard cider" cain|)aign for
fiarrison. Two years later he was elected to the
Legislature from Morgan County, a Democratic
stronghold. He served three or four terms in the
Legislature, and such was the fascination of his ora-
â– t-nry that by 1S50 his large Congressional District,
extending from Morgan and Sangamon Counties
1 orth to include LaSalle, unanimously tendered him
tne Whig nomination for Congress. His Democratic
opponent was Maj. Thomas L. Harris, a very pop-
vlar man who had won distinction at the battle of
Cerro Gordo, in the Mexican War, and who had
oeaten Hon. Stephen T. Logan for the same position,
two years before, by a large majority. Yates was
elected. Two years later he was re-elected, over
John Calhoun.
It was during Yates second term in Congress that
the great question of the repeal of the Missouri Com-
promise was agitated, and the bars laid down for re-
opening the dreaded anti-slavery question. He took
strong grounds against the re[)e;il, and thus became
identified with the rising Republican party. Conse-
quently he fell into the minority in his district, which
was pro-slavery. Even then, in a third contest, he
fell behind Major Harris only zoo votes, after the
district had two years before given Pierce 2,000
majority for President.
The Republican State Convention of rS6o met at
Decatur May g, and nominated for the offi. e of Gov-
ernor Mr. Yates, in preference to Hon. Novmaii B.
Judd, of Chicago, and Leonard Swett, of Blooming-
ton, two of the ablest men of the State, who were
also candidates before the Convention. Francis A.
Hoffman, of DuPage County, was nominated foi
Lieutenant Governor. This was the year when Mr.
Lincoln was a candidate for President, a period re-
membered as characterized by the great whirlpool
which precipitated the bloody Wir of the Rebellion.
The Douglas Democrats nominated J. C. Allen cf
Crawford County, for Governor, and Lewis W. Ross,
of Fulton County, for Lieutenant Governor. The
Breckenridge Democrats and the Bell-Everett party
had also full tickets in the field. After a most fear-
ful campaign, the result of the election gave Mr.
Yates 172,196 votes, and Mr Allen 159,253. Mr.
Yates received over a thousand more votes than did
Mr. Lincoln himself.
Gov. Yates occupied the chair of State during the
RICHARD YATES.
most critical period of our country's history. In the
fate of the nation was involved that of each State.
The life struggle of the former derived its sustenance
from the loyalty of the latter; and Gov. Yates
seemed to reaHze the situation, and proved himself
both loyal and wise in upholding the Government.
He had a deep hold upon the affections of tiie
people, won by his moving eloquence and genial
manners. Erect and symmetrical in person, of pre-
possessing appearance, with a winning address and a
magnetic power, few men possessed more of the ele-
ments of popularity. His oratory was scholarly and
captivating, his hearers hardly knowing why they
were transported. He was social and convivial. In
the latter respect he was ultimately carried too far.
The very creditable military efforts of this State
during the War of the Rebellion, in putting into the
field the enormous number of about 200,000 soldiers,
were ever promptly and ably seconded by his excel-
lency ; and the was ambitious to deserve the title of
"the soldier's friend." Immediately after the battle of
Shiloh he repaired to the field of carnage to look
after the wounded, and his appeals for aid were
promptly responded to by the people. His procla-
mations calling for volunteers were impassionate
appeals, urging upon the people the duties and re-
quirements of patriotism ; and his special message
in 186.^ to the Democratic Legislature of this State
pleading for material aid for the sick and wounded
soldiers of Illinois regiments, breathes a deep fervor
of noble sentiment and feeling rarely equaled in
beauty or felicity of expression. Geiierally his mes-
sages on political and civil affairs were able and com-
prehensive. During his administration, however,
there were no civil events of an engrossing character,
although two years of his time were replete with
partisan quarrels of great bitterness. Military ar-
rests. Knights of the Golden Circle, riot in Fulton
County, attempted suppression of the Chicago Times
and the usurping State Constitutional Convention of
1862, were the chief local topics that were exciting
during the Governor's term. This Convention assem-
bled Jan. 7, and at once took the high position that
he law calling it was no longer binding, and that it
:.ad supreme power; that it represented a virtual
assemblage of the whole people of the State, and was
sovereign in the exercise of all power necessary to
effect a peaceable revolution of the State Government
and to the re-establishment of one for the "happiness,
prosperity and freedom of the citizens," limited only
by the Federal Constitution. Notwithstanding the
law calling the Convention required its members to
take an oath to support the Constitution of the State
as well as that of the general Government, they
utterly refused to take such oath. They also as-
sumed legislative powers and passed several import-
ant "laws!" Interfering with the (then) present
executive duties. Gov. Yates was provoked to tell
them plainly that " he did not acknowledge the right
of the Convention to instruct him in the performance
of his duty."
In 1863 the Governor astonished the Democrats
by " proroguing " their Legislature. This body, after
a recess, met June 2, that year, and soon began to
waste time upon various partisan resolutions; and
while the two houses were disagreeing upon the
question of adjourning sine die, the Governor, having
tlie authority in such cases, surprised them all In
adjourning them " to the Saturday next preceding tlv
first Monday in January, 1865 ! " This led to greai
excitement and confusion, and to a reference of the
Governor's act to the Supreme Court, who decided ii;
his favor. Then it was the Court's turn to receive
abuse for weeks and months afterward.
During the autumn of 1864 a conspiracy was de-
tected at Chicago which had for its object the liber-
ation of the prisoners of war at Camp Douglas, the
burning of the city and the inauguration of rebellio.i
in the North. Gen. Sweet, who had charge of the
camp at the time, first liad his suspicions of dangei
aroused by a number of enigmatically worded letters
which passed through the Camp postoffice. A de
tecUve afterward discovered that the rebel Gen
Marmaduke was in the city, under an assumed
name, and he, with other rebel officers — Grenfell,
Morgan, Cantrell, Buckner Morris, and Charles
Walsh — was arrested, most of whom were convicted
by a court-martial at Cincinnati and sentenced to
imprisonment, — Grenfell to be hung. The sentence
of the latter was afterward commuted to imjirison-
ment for life, and all the others, after nine months'
imprisonment, were pardoned.
In March, 1873, Gov. Yates was appointed a Gov
ernment Director of the Union Pacific Railroad, in
which office he continued until his decease, at St.
Louis, Mo., on the 27th of November following.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
^/
GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS.
163
Michard Jf. Ogleshy
i^^if ^-^IL'HARD J. OGLESBY, Gov-
ernor 1865-8, and re-elected
in 1872 and 1884, was born
July 25, 1824, in Oldham Co.,
Ky., — the State which might
be considered the " mother of
Illinois Governors." Bereft of
his parents at the tendar age
' if eight years, his early education
was neglected. When 12 years of
age, and after he had worked a year
and a half at the carpenter's trade,
he removed with an uncle, Willis
Oglesby, into whose care he had
been committed, to Decatur, this
State, where he continued his ap-
prenticeship as a mechanic, working six months for
Hon. E. O. Smith.
In 1844 he commenced studying law at Spring-
field, with Jndge Silas Robbins, and read with him
one year. He was admitted to tlie Bar in 1845, and
commenced the practice of his chosen profession at
Sullivan, the county seat of Moultrie County.
The next year tlie war with Mexico was com-
menced, and in June, 1846, Mr. Oglesby volunteered,
was elected First Lieutenant of Co. C, Fourth Illinois
Regiment of Volunteers, and participated in the bat-
tles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo.
On his return he sought to perfect his law studies
by attending a course of lectures at Louisville, but
on the breaking out of the California "gold fever " in
1849, he crossed the plains and mountains to the
new Eldorado, driving a six-mule team, with a com-
pany of eight men, Henry Prather being the leader.
In 1852 he returned home to Macon County, and
was placed that year by the Whig party on the ticket
of Presidential Electors. In 1856 he visited Europe,
.\sia and .\frica, being absent 20 months. On his
return home he resuned the practice oflaw, asa
member of the fir.n of Gallagher, Wait & Oglesby.
In 1858 he was the Republican no ainee for the
Lower House of Congress, but was defeated by the
Hon. James C. Robinson, Democrat. In i860 he
was elected to the Illinois State Senate ; and on the
evening the returns of this election were coming in.
Mr. Oglesby liad a fisticuff encounter with " Cerro
Gordo Williams," in which he came out victorious,
and which was regarded as " the first fight of the
Rebellion." The following spring, when the war
had commenced in earnest, his ardent nature
quickly responded to the demands of patriotism and
he enlisted. The extra session of the Legislature
elected him Colonel of the Eighth Illinois Infantry,
the second one in the State raised to suppress the
great Rebellion.
He WIS shortly entrusted with important com-
mands. For a time he was stationed at Bird's Point
and Cairo; in April he ivas promoted Brigadier Gen-
eral; at Fort Donelson his brigade was in the van,
being stationed on the right of General Grant's army
and the first l)rigade to be attacked. He lost 500
men before re-inforcements arrived. Many of tliese
men were from Macon County. He was engaged in
the battle of Corinth, and, in a brave charge at this
place, was shot in the left lung with an ounce ball,
and was carried from the field in expectation of im-
164
RICHARD J. OGLESBY.
mediate death. That rebel ball he carries to this
day. On his partial recovery he was promoted as
Major General, for gillantry, his commission to rank
from November, 1862. In the spring of 1863 he
was assigned to the command of the i6th Army
Corps, but, owing to inability from the effects of his
wound, he relinquished this command In July, that
year. Gen. Grant, however, refused to accept his
resignation, and he was detailed, in December follow-
ing, to court-martial and try the Surgeon General of
the Army at Washington, where he remamed until
May, 1864, when he returned home.
The Republican, or U lion, State Convention of
1864 was held at Springfield, May 25, when Mr.
Oglesby was nominated for the office of Governor,
while other candidates before the Convention were
Allen C. Fuller, of Boone, Jesse K. Dubois, of Sanga-
mon, and John M. Palmer, of Macoupin. Wm.
Bross, of Chicago, was nominated for Lieutenant
Governor. On the Deinocratic State ticket were
James C. Robinson, of Clark, for Governor, and S.
Corning Judd, of Fulton, for Lieutenant Governor.
The general election gave Gen. Oglesby a majority
of about 31,000 votes. The Republicans had also a
majority in both thi Legislature and in the repre-
sentation in Congress.
Gov. Oglesby was duly inaugurated Jan. 17, 1865.
The day before the first time set for his installation
death visited his lu na at Decatiir, and toik from it
his only son, an intelligent and spiiglitly lad of six
years, a great favorite of the bereaved parents. This
caused the inauguration to be postponed a week.
The political events of the Legislative session of
1865 were the election of ex-Gov. Yates to the
United Slates Senate, and the ratification of the 13th
amend nent to the Conititutio 1 of tiie United States,
abolishing slavery. This session also signalized
itself by repealing tlie notorious " black laws," pari
of which, although a dead letter, had held their place
upon the statute books since 1819. Also, laws re-
quiring the registration of voters, and establishing a
State Board of Eqvialuation, were passed by this Leg-
islature. But tlie same body evinced that it was cor-
ruptly influenced by a mercenary lobby, as it adopted
some bad legislation, over the Governor's veto, nota-
bly an amendment to a charter for a Chicago horse
railway, granted in 1859 for 25 years, and now
sought to be extended 99 years. As this measure
was promptly passed ov.'r his veto by both branches
of the Legislature, he deemed it useless further to
attempt to check their headlong career. At this
session no law of a general useful character or public
interest was perfected, unless we count such the
turning over of the canal to Chicago to be deepened.
The session of 1867 was still more productive of
private and special acts. Many omnibus bills were
propi.sed, and some passed. The contests over tlie
iOcation of the Industrial College, the Capital, the
Southern Penitentiary, and the canal enlargement
and Illinois River improvement, dominated every
thing else.
During the year 1872, it became evident that i(
the Republicans could re-elect Mr. Oglesby to the
office of Governor, they could also elect him to the
United States Senate, which they desired to do.
Accordingly they re-noniinated him for the Execu-
tive chair, and placed upon the ticket with him for
Lieutenant Governor, John L. Beveridge, of Cook
County. On the other side the Democrats pat into
the field Gustavus Koerner for Governor and John
C. Black for Lieutenant Governor. The election
gave the Republican ticket majorities ranging from
3S>334 to 56,174, — the Democratic defection being
caused mainly by their having an old-time Whig and
Abolitionist, Horace Greeley, on the national ticket
for President. According to the general understand-
ing had beforehand, as soon as the Legislature met
it elected Gov. Oglesby to the United States Senate,
whereupon Mr. Beveridge became Governor. Sena-
tor Oglesby 's term ex|)ired March 4, 1879, having
served his party faithfully and exhibited an order of
statesmanship beyond criticism.
During the campaign of 1884 Mr. Oglesby was
nominated for a "third term" as Executive of the
State of Illinois, against Carter H. Harrison, Mayor
of Chicago, nominated by the Democrats. Bf)tli
gentlemen "stumped " the State, and while the peo-
ple elected a Legislature which was a tie on a join;
ballot, as between the two parties, they gave the
jovial " Dick" Oglesby a majority of 15,018 for Gov-
ernor, and he was inaugurated Jan. 30, 1885. The
Legislature did not fully organize until this date, on
account of its equal division between the two main
parties and the consequent desperate tactics of ei- 1".
party to checkmate the latter in the organization of
the House.
Gov, Oglesby is a fine-appearing, affable man, wi.
regular, well defined features and rotund face. I.'.
stature he is a little above medium height, of a lar^e
frame and sjniewhat fleshy. His physical appear
ance is striking and preiiossessing, while his strai^^ht-
out, not to say bluff, manner and speech are wcl
calculated favorably to impress the average masses
Ardent in feeling and sirongly committed to the pol-
icies of liis party, he intensifies Republi;anisa:
among Republicans, while at the same time hisjovia.
and liberal manner prevents those of the opposite
party. from hating him.
He is quite an effective stump or;vtor. With vehe-
ment, passionate and scornful tone and gesture:;,
tremendous physical power, which in speaking he
exercises to the utmost; with frequent descents to
the grotesque; and with abundant homely compari-
sons or frontier figures, expressed in the broadest
vernacular and enforced with stentorian emphasis,
ho delights a promiscuous audience beyond measure
LIBRARY
UNIVERSIIY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
'%J \\
Sl^^^'^Cl^
GO VERXORS OF ILLINOIS.
167
"jOHN iirpA L MEM
l^i^rr^
' f^'^f^fS'ft
';OHN Mc AUI.EY PALMER, Gov-
i^ ernor 1869-72, was born on
!=â– Engle Creek, Scott Co., Ky ,
\. Sept. 13, 1817. During his in-
^J) fancy, his father, who had been
a soldier in the war of 181 2, re-
moved to Christian Co., Ky.,
where lands were cheap. Here
the future Governor of the great
Prairie State spent his childhood
and received such meager school-
ing as the new and sparsely set-
tled country afforded. To this
he added materially by diligent
reading, for which he evinced an
eaily aptitude. His father, an ardent Jackson man,
was also noted for his anti-slavery sentiments, which
he thoroughly impressed upon his children. In 183 1