History of Greene County Illinois United States of America

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Ben Franklin Caldwell, representative, was born in Greene county, Ill., Aug. 2, 1848; son of John Caldwell. He was educated in the public schools and in 1853 removed to Sangamon county, and subsequently engaged in farming. He was married, May 27, 1873, to Julia F. C|oyd. He served four terms in both branches of the Illinois legislature; became president of the State bank at Chatham, and was elected a representative in the 56th, 57th and 58th congresses as a Democrat.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Passmore Carlin, soldier, was born in Greene county, Ill., Nov. 24, 1829. He was graduated at West Point with the rank of brevet 2nd lieutenant of infantry in 1850, and assigned to duty at Fort Snelling, Minn. He was in active service during the Sioux expedition, and also in the Cheyenne and Utah campaigns, as 1st lieutenant, which rank he received in March, 1855. In 1858 he marched to California, where he remained in service for two years. In 1861 he received the rank of captain, and entered the volunteer service as colonel of the 38th Illinois volunteers. He was present at the defeat of Gen. Jeff Thompson at Frederickton, Mo., after which he commanded the district of southeastern Missouri. In October, 1862, he won, at Perryville, Ky., the promotion to brigadier-general of volunteers. He took part in the Tullahoma campaign, and the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. In November, 1863, he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for distinguished service at Chattanooga; and in February, 1864, as major of the 16th United States infantry, was engaged in the Georgia campaign and at the surrender of Atlanta. On Sept. 1, 1864, at Jonesboro, Georgia, he won the brevet of colonel in the regular army; and for his faithful and efficient service in the march to the sea, the surrender of Savannah, and the invasion of the Carolinas, he was made, in March, 1865, brevet major-general U. S. volunteers, and in the same month received the rank of brevet brigadier-general U. S. army. At the close of the war he was brevetted major-general of the regular army. He left the volunteer service in August, 1865, and was engaged in frontier duty during the Indian troubles, and in April, 1882, was made colonel. He was retired as brigadier-general, 1893. He died on a train in Montana, Oct. 4, 1903.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Harvey Clelland De motte, educator, was born in Greene county, Ill., July 17, 1838; son of John L. and Phebe Amanda (Curry) De Motte. He was prepared for college at Bloomington, Ill., and in 1861 was graduated at the Illinois Wesleyan university, where he was professor of mathematics, 1861-84, and vice-president of the university, 1866-84. In May, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army, under special call, for three months, going to the front as 1st lieutenant of Company G, 68th Illinois volunteers, and returned to his work as a teacher in October. In 1884 he was elected president of Chaddock college, Quincy, Ill., resigning in 1887 to become superintendent of the Soldiers' Orphans' home, at Normal, Ill. In September, 1896, he assumed the position of editor-in-chief of the Leader, published at Bloomington, Ill. He was married, July 26, 1864, to Sarah J. Kern of Atlanta, Ill. He received the degree of Ph.D. from Syracuse university in 1877 and that of LL.D. from Baker university in 1883.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Greene County Illinois

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