, 1873-01-14

tioneer in a grog-ahop, and he, conl
! m not be beaten, in clecting Constable
! Still there is no doubt but ha was C. man Q
large and versatile ability, q fair lawyer. and til
best historian Illinois has Ind SO far,-which 1e
indeed, flint praise. His history ia interesting
! and would be worth repubhsAing, copies belnl
| now very scarce. General Shields IL believed D.
some to have written the book but, in the pre-
| face, the General aays he gavo it to the worli
without cnanginS any of Ford's sentiments
/ with many of which he entirely disagreed. It i
fair picture of the early times Of Illinois; de
scstses the habiss, customs, !, a and dres
rather = graphic account OF tho India1
and Mormon Wars; but is mado tn
vehicle Of personal spleen ard aninos!ty
Sp bo Gt o II ve an osx o
the stories narrated nre very amusing. FORK
had not much respect for dignity in himself O
in any one else. Ho went to Memphis in 1s45
or thereabouts, with John Dougherty, tls
retiring Lieutenant Governor, 10 attend a Rail
road Convention where John q: Calhoun was *
in a special steamer, End, es ho np
preached Memphis, atanding between tht
amoke-atacks,-"a little bit OF fancy:
looking metaphysic1au," Governor Doughort5
titude, broke out in ringing cheers that were
heard almost over the entire Mississippi Valley.
Ford and DouGherty we're spectators of the scene
Ford was offended by tho air Of dignity surround
ing Calhoun. ':D-n dignity" eaid hoto Dough
erty. II can't stand it.. just look at that fellow
standing there, as rigid as tho s1noke-sthcks' .
When his SUCCESSOR, French, vas taking the oath
OF Office, Ford remarked to 3 bystander, Look
at that d--n fool swearing Ie,' Ho was cyni-
cal and vindictive his look shows it.
GOVERNOR FRENCH
WAS elected in 1876 and, when tile Coastitu-
tional Convention abolished al the State officers,
in 1913, he MAS reelected for four years, making
his term Of service six years, ending in 1852. He
has broad, genial face, full of /; kindness aud
horizontal line, tho hair curly aud falling upon
lis shoulders. He is III tue attitude Of Etand-
ing, and the book III his hand is marked ''Coke
above Litleton," indicating his profession. lie
was good lawyer, and possessed flao scholarly
manly in his department., courteous in his man
ners, Jacksorian in politics, and conservative III
most Of his views on public questions.
ooyEnSoR zlArrEsoN
comes next in order, from 1881 to 1856. He is =
Incorporating man, Of psepossessins. con1.te-
general, having cuto expression. His unfor-
tunata history in connection with Ills Admins
tratio,1 has left q blot on hi5 cscutcheon which
has never been erased. It ia believed TINT he
made restitution afterward, and that the State
did not ioso very heavily. The transaction is
nithin the range of memory. The Executive
Mansion IVES burnt during his time, and is now
se:entean years old
GOVERNOR B1ssELL
was in the Gubernational Chair from 1856 to
1860. From this on, the history Of the State is
within tho memory Of living man. His picture
Rhows T. man Of martial bearing, Of dark COM
plexion, black eyes, q line nose, knocked ewry
By Mexican bullet, and mouth shroudcd By a
black mustache, crowning it like Mansard
FOOL He Was gallant soldier He aoryed ;3'
aurels won on many bloody field. Fascinated
Is the people nlways are by military heroisn,, he
WAS sent to Congress; and oua day, when
left Davis, On the floor OF the Konso,
:lainaed for the Mississippi Troops,
Auna's army ut Buena Vista, Bisseu sprang to
,is feet, apd warmly defended the Illinois aol-
Hers, who. he claimed, performed TINT important
luty, under the command Of Colonel Hardin.
Risseli accused Davis OF Misrepresentation. The
combat. Bieseu accepted, and it is generally
believed that General Harrison intcrposed end
prevented the meeting. There are those, how
,rer, Of his contemporaries still living, who be-
ieve that the duel actually occurred, and that
which Dissef. was afflicted in lis lat-
.er years Uas produced By q bail from the pistol
If Davis. He always denied the deed, mt may
AVE done 60, es no one who participated in one
,ould, under the Inv Of the tlmo, hold Office
lis tenn, in the Executive Mansion, nnd was
succeeded by Lientenant Governor Wood. COY
amor Palnlsr's eulogy on Dissel is one of the
pest OF bis productions, and ranks high among
funeral orations.
GOVERNOR WOOD
sbout thirteen months. His fine, EeneTcleut
ace is known to many in the Slate.
GOVERNOR ETzs
saa elected in 1860 and served four years. It is
to sketch Ills career es Goyernor,
Is Senator, as nothing,-his present position. |
lis picture is good, that OF handsome, fresh
nan, OF exceeding good nature.
GOVERNOR o6IEsBy
erved from 1864 to 1868. A sketch Of his life |
Fiu be found elsewhere Tao picture ia poor. |
t does not do him. justice. Ho is much better |
ooking, and his face far moro jolly.
GOVERNOR PALMER. II
Last, bnt not 1eaBt, probably in many re- |
pects tho greatest of any Of the Gorernors,-
John II. Palmer. It is suparluous to remark |
Elat he was elected in 1868. His history is |
ractice of the profession Of which he is 50 !
right an ornament.
THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.
On Monday next, tho old Administration ro~
heir duties and responsibilities. Nor is the
ttest time to sketch the past lives of the men
'ho are to rule the State, for good or for owl,
tiring the next four yeers. Tic following biog-
aphea are compiled from information derived
rom the best SOURCES:
GOVERNOR AND SENATOR. .
Richard JameB Ogle6by wa5 born in Oldham
ounty, KY. July Is, 1924, aud is, therefore. 4s
ears OF age Ho lost his parents at tho nsa OF
years. and removed. with a1i uncle, to Illinois
hen he was r., settling in Decatur, where lie
40 Rince resided. at TINT time Decatur was
illage OF 80 illLsbitante. Young Oglesby worked
II a living, first on farm, fhon in livery
;ablo. afterwards in carpenters shop, where
0 became quito skilful mechanic. He had not
ANY opportunities il carly Hfo, His lot was
lrd. He had to work when other boys were ut
;hoo1; but his indomitable energy, and his de-
rz11inetion to be somebody, i1nPelled him to
udy i'll His spare hours, 80 thst. by tho
ne he was q, he VAS prepared to
,andon the plano and chiscl and take up
lackstona and Coke. Ho studied law for q
'ar in Springfield aud Decatur, and was atl-
itted to practice in 1Si5. Ho has followed tho
,ofession off and on ever since. Always ready
respond to the call OF his country, he enlisted
1876 for the Mexican War, WIS elected Lieu
nant Of his company, and served, with other
linois volunteers under tho command Of Colo
j Baker. He smelt powder at Yora Cruz and
orro Gortlo, aud stood beside General Shields
lon the 1atter WAS shot, Returning from tho