Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-01-07
|DENEENS WHO BECOME THE HEAD
FAMILY IN STATE NEXT MONDAY
GovernorEIect Egyptian by Birth and Man Who Has
Risen in Politics From an Humble Beginning.

an Humble Beginning.
4 The first of the race to gain distinc-
ton in Illinois was Risdon Moore, the
great-grandfather of Charles S. Den
cen, whose name and fame still re-
sound through the southern part of the
state.
i Grandfather Minister
Mr.. Deneen's grandfather was the
Rev. William l.. Deneen. whom old
residents will remember as one of the
pioneer Methodist ministers of south
ern Illinois.
Mr.. Deneen's father. Samuel H. Den
cen was born near Belleville. ST
Clair county, in 1885, and was brought
UP in Lebanon. He graduated from
Mckendree college, and after gradua-
ton became professor of Latin and
medieval history in that renowned in
stitution, which position he held for
80 years.
Charles S. Deneen was born May 4,
1863, at the home of his uncle, A W.
Metcalf, at EdwardsvilIe. Madison
county. His parents believed in the
| discipline of hard work, and young
Deneen was the BENEFICIARY of that dis
cipline. He went through the common
| schools and then entered McKendree
college. graduating from the classical
course in 1882, and from the law
course in 1885. Mr. Deneen is now
one of the trustees of his alma mater.
After his graduation he taught in the
country schools one term near New
ton. Jasper county, and two terms
near Godfrey, Madison county. All the
while he was completing his law stud
les, and late in 1885 determined to
start out for himself. and set out for
Chicago, always the goal of his ambi-
ton.
Funds Were Lacking.
He reached Chicago and started to
attend the Union College of Law. but
was compelled to quit after 10 weeks
because of a lack of funds. In at
tempting TO acquire law practice he
was a frequent visitor to the criminal
courts, where. through the influence of
court officials. he was given cases of
poor defendants and sometimes re-
ceived a fee, but generally got nothing
more than a shake of the hand and
a mumbled thanks. Then an attorney
in st. Paul offered him a clerkship in
that city, but six months saw him back
in Chicago.
This time he sought the advice and
presence of the pastor of an Engle
wood church whom he had known in
southern Illinois, and from that day
his advancement has been rapid. He
made his home in that vicinity, which
was then outside the city limits of Chi
cago, and through his genial person
atty gained many friends. Meanwhile
the legal prospect was Frightening, and
through men who later were his politi-
cal allies in the Cook county ma
chine" he gained a satisfactory prac
tice and became associated with legal
firms which have since become noted.
In 1891 he was married to Miss Bina
Maloney, daughter of James S. Ma
lOney. a farmer of Carroll county,
and they have since made their home
in Englewood. on SiXty-third street.
All the while that Deneen was at
tending to his legal and church duties
he was losing none of his friendships
which he had made, and early in his |
Chicago career got into the poiitica!
game. One year there was being made |
a determined effort to defeat William
Lorimer for the congressional nomina-
ton in the old Second district, and |
Lorimer needed the town of Lake, not
then a part of the city, and in which |
the future governor resided.
Lorimer was looking for compe-
tent manager in that territory, and ul-
timately Deneen made the fight in his
district for Lorimer and won. The
next year there was a contest between
two factions over the member of the
county committee from the same dis
trica. Lorimer played the game quiet
ly. and when it was all over Mr..
Deneen was the committeeman. Short
ly after the town of Lake came into
the city as the Thirtieth ward. and
Deneen was the first ward committee
man. Later he extended his influence
over the Thirty-first, the adjoining
ward. and for II years he has been one
of the influential members of the Cook
county organization" For 10 years
he has been a member of the state
committee from his congressional dis
trict.
Elected to Legislature.
In 1892 he was elected member of
the Illinois legislature from the Sec
ond district. but served only one term.
In 1895 he was made the attorney for |
the drainage board. and appointed as
his assistant Judge McEwen, one of |
his earliest partners. In 1886 he re-
signed to become the republican candi- |
date for states attorney, 10 which ne
was elected. and reelected in 1900,
with a majority over his opponent TO-
900 votes greater than the majority OF
Mckinley over Bryan.
The Diamond Cure.
The latest news from Paris is, that
they have discovered a diamond cure
for cons,,mDtion. If YOU fear con- |