Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

WILSON, Charles Lush, journalist, was born in Fairfield County, Conn., Oct. 10, 1818, educated in the common schools and at an academy in his native State, and, in 1835, removed to Chicago, entering the employment of his older brothers, who were connected with the construction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal at Joliet. His brother, Richard L., having assumed charge of "The Chicago Daily Journal" (the successor of "The Chicago American"), in 1844, Charles L. took a position in the office, ultimately securing a partnership, which continued until the death of his brother in 1856, when he succeeded to the ownership of the paper. Mr. Wilson was an ardent friend and supporter of Abraham Lincoln for the United States Senate in 1858, but, in I860, favored the nomination of Mr. Seward for the Presidency, though earnestly supporting Mr. Lincoln after his nomination. In 1861 he was appointed Secretary of the American Legation at London, serving with the late Minister Charles Francis Adams, until 1864, when he resigned and resumed his connection with "The Journal." In 1875 his health began to fail, and three years later, having gone to San Antonio, Tex., in the hope of receiving benefit from a change of climate, he died in that city, March 9, 1878.

ADDAMS, John Huy, legislator, was born at Sinking Springs, Berks County, Pa., July 12, 1S22; educated at Trappe and Upper Dublin, Pa., and learned the trade of a miller in his youth, which he followed in later life. In 1844, Mr. Addams came to Illinois, settling at Cedarville, Stephenson County, purchased a tract of land and built a saw and grist mill on Cedar Creek. In 1854 he was elected to the State Senate from Stephenson County, serving continuously in that body by successive re-elections until 1870—first as a Whig and afterwards as a Republican. In 1865 he established the Second National Bank of Free- port, of which he continued to be the president until his death, August 17, 1881.—Miss Jane (Addams), philanthropist, the founder of the "Hull House," Chicago, is a daughter of Mr. Addams.

HATCH, Ozias Mather, Secretary of the State of Illinois (1857-'65). was born at Hillsborough Center, N. H., April 11, 1814, and removed to Origgsville. 111., in 1886. In 1829 he began life as a clerk for a wholesale and retail grocer in Boston. From 1836 to 1841 he was engaged in store- keeping at Origgsville. In the latter year he was appointed Circuit Court Clerk of Pike County, holding the office seven years. In 1858 he again embarked in business at Meredosia, 111. In 1850 he was elected to the Legislature, serving one term. An earnest anti-slavery man, he was, in 1856, nominated by the newly organized Republican party for Secretary of State and elected, being re-elected in 1860. on the same ticket with Mr. Lincoln, of whom he was a warm personal friend and admirer. During the war he gave a zealous and effective support to Governor Yates' administration. In 1864 he declined a renonii- nation and retired from political life. He was an original and active member of the Lincoln Monument Association from its organization in 1865 to his death, and, in company with Gov. R. J. Oglesby, made a canvass of Eastern cities to collect funds for statuary to be placed on the monument. After retiring from office he was interested to some extent in the banking business at Griggs- ville, and was influential in securing the construction of the branch of the Wabash Railway from Naples to Ilannibal, Mo. He was, for over thirty-five years, a resident of Springfield, dying there, March 12, 1893.

DICKEY, Theophilus Lyle, lawyer and jurist, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Nov. 12, 1812, the grandson of a Revolutionary soldier, graduated at the Miami (Ohio) University, and removed to Illinois in 1834, settling at Macomb, McDonough County, where he was admitted to the bar in 1835. In 1836 he moved to Rushville, where he resided three years, a part of the time editing a Whig newspaper. Later he became a resident of Ottawa, and, at the opening of the Mexican War, organized a company of volunteers, of which he was chosen Captain. In 1861 he raised a regiment of cavalry which was mustered into service as the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and of which he was commissioned Colonel, taking an active part in Grant's campaigns in the West. In 1865 he resigned his commission and resumed the practice of his profession at Ottawa. In 1866 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Congressman for the State-at-large in opposition to John A. Logan, and, in 1868, was tendered and accepted the position of Assistant Attorney-General of the United States, resigning after eighteen months' service. In 1873 he removed to Chicago, and, in 1874, was made Corporation Counsel. In December, 1875, he was elected to the Supreme Court, vice W. K. McAllister, deceased; was re-elected in 1879, and died at Atlantic City, July 22, 1885.

LINDER, Usher F., lawyer and politician, was born in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Ky. (ten miles from the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln), March 20, 1809; came to Illinois in 1835, finally locating at Charleston, Coles County; after traveling the circuit a few months was elected Representative in the Tenth General Assembly (1836), but resigned before the close of the session to accept the office of Attorney-General, which he held less than a year and a half, when he resigned that also. Again, in 1846, he was elected to the Fifteenth General Assembly and re-elected to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth, afterwards giving his attention to the practice of his profession. Mr. Linder, in his best days, was a fluent speaker with some elements of eloquence which gave him a wide popularity as a campaign orator. Originally a Whig, on the dissolution of that party he became a Democrat, and, in 1860, was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Charleston, S C., and at Baltimore. During the last four years of his life he wrote a series of articles under the title of "Reminiscences of the Early Bench and Bar of Illinois," which was published in book form in 1876. Died in Chicago, June 5, 1876.