The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-04-27
His Career.

His Career.
tGen. Richard j. Oglesby was born in Old
nam county KY, July %, 1924. His parents
were Of Scottish extraction. In 1886 he was
taken by his uncle, Willis Oglesby to De
catur, H., and in that city grew to man
hood First he was a farmer three years
and then he returned to Kentucky and
learned the carpenters trade. At the age
OF ~ he returned to a farm in Illinois. In
the campaign of 1910 he sided with Lincoln,
In 1914 Mr.. Oglesby began the study of law
al Springfield and upon his admission to
the bar located in Moultrie county, where
he praCtiCed until the Mexican war broke
out in 1876, when he enlisted as a volunteer.
Al the close OF the war he returned to De-
Catur and in lA9 drove overland to Cali
6ornia in search of gold. He was not very
fortunate in the gold regions, and in the
Halter part of 1851 he came home and once
more resumed his practice, continuing it
successfully for five years. Then he spent
a year In European travel Besides the
regular line of tourists he visited Egypt,
Syria and Palestine, making use of the
knowledge thus acquired in lectures and in
campaign speeches, for on his return he
was nominated for congress and ran
against James c. Robinson. who defeated
him. Two years later he was made state
sens tor his election as a republican max
ing the senate Of Illinois republican for the
Grst time in the party's history of this state.
Career as soldier.
The call 20 war in April. 1861, found him
Teady TO answer, and his resignation a SEN
ator promptly followed. April % he was
elected colonel of the Eighth regiment, Hi
nois volunteer infantry. In February of
the next year, after six months at Bird $
Point he was given command OF the First
brigade, First division, Army of West Ten
nessee. His men were the first to enter
Fort Henry and for gallant conduct in the
Senvestmert and capture of Fort DonelsOn
H. was made brigadier general. In this ca
pacity he fought In the second battle Of
~Gorinth. October 3, - and was so severe
Y y wounded that he was carried from the
field supposed to be dying. HaCkleman,
who commanded with him, was killed. Cen
OElcshy was taken 10 his home In Decatur
WHERE he lay waverng between life and
death for three months The an,i-war
legislature was in session in Springfield,
and as soon as The general was strong
enough 10 bear excitement he was invited
10 speak before the senate. He appeared in
the hall, his form emaciated and his face
pale from suffering and long confinement
His voice trembled when he began to speak
bur when his emotion and the intensity Of
his feelings had keyed his strength 10 the
right pitch he made one of the most thrill
Ing speeches ever heard in the legislature,
Becomes Governor.
That speech made him the candidate for
governor in 1864 His wound did not heal
and in June, 1868 he asked that his resfgna-
tion he accepted he having in the mean
time resumed his place in the army Gen.
Grant refused 70 accept the resignation,
but granted Oglesby. now major general.
six months leave of absence. The next
year. May "A, 1864, he again urged his res
ignauon, and the next day was nominated
for governor. His opponent was the same
James c. Robinson who had defeated him
for congress in 1855. November Ogleshy
was elected. After a rest of four years at
the conclusion Of his term Gov Oglesby
was again chosen to lead the republicans "a
victory and in November 1872, was agar
elected governor of the commonwealth
In the senate.
He was soon transferred to the senate
of the United States. taking his seat Marcel
O. 1873. Six years Of life In Washington were
enough for Uncle Dick" as he was fondS
called by his party all over the state and OF
the expiration of his senatorship in 1879 h,
declined a reelection. In November, 1884
h was again elected to the office OF gov
ernor. Since the close of his term January
!, 1889, he had been out OF public life ant
lived most OF the time on his farm nea