The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-06
ILLINOIS SENATORS.


faith of the successful man was not I'M
derstood beforehand
The first senators of the United States
from Illinois were Ninian Edwards and
Jesse B. Thomas. Both were elected by
the first legislature which met after the
admission Of the state. As is the custom
now so it seems to have been then-the
leading territorial officers were chosen to
the highest places in the gift of the new
state. Ninian Edwards was thoroughly
identified with the history of the terri>
tory lie had been territorial governor
from 1909 to 1912, and was again ap-
pointed in 1915. and served two years
longer While governor he took lead
ing part in the Indian wars of the period,
leading his own troops and planning his
own campaigns against the Indians and
their British allies. In his earlier life
Edwards had been known as genteel
sport" He was said to have been
gambler and good deal Of rake gener
ally, but with his advent into public life
he reformed all this and became a credit
to the state. In drawing for the terms as
first senators, Edwards got the short
term, hut he was reelected without oppo~
sition in 1919, for the full term of six
years. just before its expiration, in 1924,
President Monroe appointed Senator Eds
wards minister to Mexico, which was the
last of his public career. Senator Ed
wards left a numerous progency, and
some of the best families of tne state are
descended from him. One of his Sons>in>
law, Joseph b. Cook, became governor
of the state 1t was from him that the
great Cook county Of today took its
name. Senator Edwards is said by Ford
the Illinois historian, to have been in
later life an exceedingly pOmpOus man.
He was very fond of display and of per-
sonal adornment, and in Washington he
was noted for the elegance of his car.
riages aud horses, and the extravaganza
of his entertainments. RE used to dress
in embroidered waist coats, powdered
wig and silk knee breechcs, and was any
thing but the type Ex-senator that is today
in some quarters identified with the
"Rowdy West"
Jesse B. Thomas, the other Of the first
Illinois senators, had been territorial
Judge since 1909. He was a more con
servative man than Edwards, but without
the latter's dash and ability. lie drew
the long term at the start, and was re-
elected in 1928. When Edwards resigned
to become Minister to Mexico, he was
succeeded by John Mclean, who was APP
pointed by Governor Bond to fill the
brief unexpired term. Mclean strove hard
for reelection to the regular term, but
was defeated by Elias Kert Kane, another
Wing, who served that term, was elected
to succeed himself, and died in 1885
Mclean came up again and ran for the
seat to be vacated by Thomas That
time he was successful. He took his seat
in 1880, but died few months later.
When the legislature again met it elected
John B. Robinson, who served the re-
mainder of the term and was reelected for
another six years Dec. 90, 1884.
The first real contest over the senator
ship came up IN December, 1885, when "A
successor had to be chosen to Kane, de-
ceased. There were three candidates in
the field-R A. Young, who had been a
standing candidate for several years, vii
liam L. D. Ewing. democrat, and James
Semple, a brilliant young lawyer of the
term This election created considerable
excitement, for it was the first time the
democrats had obtained control of the
legislature since the state was organized
There were twelve ballots taken before a
choice was made, when the prize was fin
ally won by Ewing by vote of 40 to 81
for Semple, Young having been dropped
out on the eighth ballot. AT the next
election, however, Young was chosen 10
succeed Robinson, who had died, and
served portion of the term only, for he
died during its continuance in the insane
asylum at Washington. 1t is worthy OF
note how few of the earlier senators
served our their terms. Death invaded
their ranks freely in those days
Samuel Roberts was the first native OF
Illinois to be chosen for the senate. Tic
was young imam and democrat and wa;
elected Dec. IS, 1910, beating Cyrus Ed,
wards by n to so. Roberts died, how
ever. in 1S43, and James Semple was APP
pointed by Governor Sam Ford to sue
coed him. Sydney Breese, democrat
succeeded Senator Young, and served
from 1913 to 1949, but was defeated fO
reelection by General James Shields, tht
gallant soldier, then fresh from the Mexi-
can war, with all the poetry and romance
of his wounds filling the souls of his ad-
mirers.
The immortal Douglas came first to thu
senate as the successor Of James Semple
being elected in December 1916, owe
Cyrus Edwards, by vote of 100 to Al
He was reelected in 1853 and again il
1859. While Douglas retained his seat
of course, no democrat contested his RICH
to it, and for fourteen years one of TIT
senatorial chairs was permanently filled
Lyman Trumbull was first elected in 1875
to succeed Shields, and held the seat from
that time until succeeded by Oglesby il
1878 Trumbull came in on the anti-Le
compton tidal wave, and was elected as
Douglas or free soil democrat. Prior t,
his election to r. third term and durin,
the -.arary canvass occurred tn
snemorable debate between Douglas ant
Lincoln, which made both their name
famous and had such potent influence OF
the future of the country This was il
1858. Douglas won his victory on tina
occasion, but two years later his grea
adversary was elected president.
o. II. Browning, republican, was APP
pointed by Governor Yates to succce
Douglas, who died in 1861 He was ap
pointed at about the close of his term i
Lincoln's Cabinet and so left the roa
open for Uncle Dick himself, who wa
elected in 1879 and served his full tern
being succeeded by Logan, who serve
from 1871 to 1877. At neither of Ties
periods was there any marked contes
Illinois was then as now overwhelming
republican, and the democrats had not
ghost of show in the legislature. Trum
bulls retirement in 1873 left the pat
open for our other Uncle Dick-Uncl
Dick Oglesby, who served until 1879, an
was succeeded by General Logan, VIII
had been defeated two years before i
the memorable contest with David Davi
The latter was succeeded by GovernC
Cullom, which brings the record down