History of Springfield, (Sangamon County) Illinois United States of America

William Joshua Allen, jurist, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., June 9, 1828, son of William Allen. He removed to Illinois with his parents in 1829; was educated in the public schools and was employed in the office of the Clerk of Williams county, 1846-'47. He attended the law school at Louisville, Ky., 1847-'48, and practised in Metropolis, Ky., 1848-'53, and in partnership with his father at Marion, Ill., in 1853. He was a representative in the Illinois legislature in 1854; U. S. district attorney for the southern district of Illinois, 1855-'59; circuit judge of the 26th Illinois circuit, 1859-'61; and a member of the State constitutional convention of 1861. He was elected to the 37th Congress as a Democrat to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of his law partner, Gen. John A. Logan, and was re-elected to the 38th Congress, serving 1862-'65. He practised law at Cairo, Ill., 1865-'74, and at Carbondale, Ill., 1874-'87, becoming in the latter year, U. S. district judge of the southern district of Illinois. He died at Springfield, Ill., in 1900.

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

Charles Reuben Hale, bishop coadjutor of Springfield, Ill., and 161st in succession in the American Episcopate, was born in Lewistown. Pa., March 14, 1837; son of Reuben Charles and Sarah Jane (Mills) Hale. He entered the sophomore class of the University of Pennsylvania in 1855, and was graduated in 1858 receiving his A.M. degree in 1861. He was ordained a deacon in the P.E. church in 1860, and priest in 1861; was assistant minister of Christ church, Germantown, Philadelphia, 1860; of All Saints', Lower Dublin. Pa., 1861-63; chaplain in the U.S. navy, 1863-70; rector of St. John's. Auburn, N.Y., 1870-75; rector of the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Baltimore county, Md., 1875-77; assistant minister of St. Paul's church, Baltimore, 1877-86; dean of Grace cathedral, Davenport, Iowa, 1886-92; and was consecrated assistant bishop of Springfield, Ill., with the official title of Bishop of Cairo, July 26, 1892. He was secretary to the Italian church reformation commission, 1869; secretary of the Russo-Greek committee, 1871; clerk of the commission of the house of bishops on correspondence with the hierarchs of the Eastern churches, 1874, and with the Old Catholics, 1874; American secretary of the Anglo-Continental society of England, 1874, and secretary to the commission of the general convention on ecclesiastical relations, 1877. He received the honorary degree of S.T.D. from Hobart college in 1876, and that of LL.D from Griswold college, Iowa, in 1889. He was elected a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States; and of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution. He married, Jan. 12, 1871, Anna McKnight, daughter of Maj. LeviTwiggs, U.S.M.C. While at college together with the late Henry Morton and another student, forming a committee of the Philomathean society of the University of Pennsylvania, he wrote a treatise on the Rosetta stone, giving original translations of its various hieroglyphic and demotic inscriptions. This attracted wide attention and was published (1858-1859). His other works include: The Russian Church (1880); Mozarabic Collects, translated and arranged from the ancient Liturgy of the Spanish Church (1881); The Universal Episcopate; A List of the Sees and Bishops of the Holy Catholic Church Throughout the World (1882); The Book Annexed and the Bishops (1882): A Visit to the Eastern Churches in the Interest of Church Unity (1886): An Office for the Centennial Anniversary of the Inauguration of George Washington (1889); An Order of Series for Days of National Observance (1889); The American Church and Methodism (1889). He died in Cairo, Ill., Dec. 25, 1900.

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

Edward Dickenson Baker, senator, was born in London, Eng., Feb. 24, 1811. He was brought by his father to Philadelphia in 1815. Being left fatherless at an early age, he supported himself and his brother by following the occupation of a weaver. In 1830 he removed with his brother to Springfield, Ill., where he studied law, was admitted to the bar, and established himself in practice. His oratorical ability brought him into prominence, and in 1837 he was elected a member of the state legislature. In 1840 he took his seat in the state senate. In 1842 he was one of three Whig candidates for the office of representative in Congress from Illinois before the nominating convention, John J. Harding and Abraham Lincoln being the rival candidates, and Harding was nominated and elected to the 28th Congress. In 1844 the three same candidates, presented themselves, and Baker was nominated and elected a representative to the 29th congress. In 1846 the three candidates again presented their names, and Abraham Lincoln was elected to the 30th Congress. He volunteered for service in the Mexican war in 1848, raised a regiment in Illinois, and fought gallantly in the battles between Vera Cruz and the city of Mexico. General Shields being incapacitated in the engagement at Cerro Gordo, Colonel Baker was given the command of his brigade and led it during the remainder of the campaign. Returning to Illinois at the close of the war he was elected a representative to the 31st Congress in 1848. In 1850 he declined a nomination to the 32d Congress and became interested in the Panama railroad. He removed in 1851 to California, where he led the bar as the most eloquent orator in the state. In 1860 he took up his residence in Oregon, and was elected in the same year U. S. senator. He took his seat, March 4, 1861. At the extra session of Congress, called July, 1861, Senator Baker supported the administration in an able and eloquent speech. He addressed a mass meeting in Union Square, New York, after the firing upon Fort Sumter, urging eloquently the preservation of the Union. He volunteered for active service, and raised in Philadelphia and New York the "California" regiment and commanded a brigade at the battle of Ball's Bluff, where he fell from his horse, mortally wounded, Oct. 21, 1861.

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

Robert Todd Lincoln, cabinet officer, was born in Springfield, Ill., Aug. 1, 1843; son of Abraham and Mary (Todd) Lincoln. He attended a local academy, 1850-53; the Illinois State university, 1853-59, and Phillips Exeter academy, and was graduated from Harvard in 1864. He studied for a short time at the Harvard Law school; applied for admission in the military service and was commissioned captain, serving on the staff of General Grant throughout the final campaign of the civil war. He resumed his law studies at Chicago, Ill.; was admitted to the bar Feb. 16, 1867, and practised in Chicago. He was appointed supervisor in south Chicago in 1876; was a delegate to the Republican state convention held at Springfield in 1880, and was the same year chosen a presidential elector. He was appointed secretary of war in President Garfield's cabinet in 1881, and upon the assassination of the President and the accession of Vice-President Arthur to the presidency, he was the only member of the cabinet that was retained. In 1884 he was prominently mentioned as nominee for President, but declined to oppose the nomination of President Arthurl. On the expiration of Arthur's administration he returned to Chicago and continued the practice of law. He was U.S. minister to Great Britain by appointment of President Harrison, 1889-93. Upon the death of George M. Pullman in 1897 he became acting president of the Pullman Palace Car company. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Harvard in 1898.

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

History of Springfield, (Sangamon County) Illinois

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