Coles County IL Archives History - Books .....Political And War Record 1879
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 7, 2007, 1:15 am

Book Title: History Of Coles County

POLITICAL AND WAR RECORD.

   In the days of Whigs and Democrats, Coles was a Whig county by several
hundred majority, in contests where party lines were closely drawn. Upon the
organization of the Republican party, a change came over the color of its
politics. and for a number of years it was Democratic; but, eventually, the
Republicans gained the ascendency, and for several years carried the day in all
important elections. At the present time, the political question is toned down
to a point, that both of the great parties claim to be the dark horse. At the
last Presidential election, the county was carried by the Hayes Electors by a
small majority. In the local elections of the last few years, the spoils have
been pretty equally divided between Democrats and Republicans. The present
county officers and their political faith are thus represented: Hon. J. R.
Cunningham, County Judge, Democrat; J. F. Goar, County Treasurer, Republican;
William R. Highland, County Clerk, Democrat; W. E. Robinson, Circuit Clerk,
Republican. The latter was elected by a small majority, and his election
contested by Mr. Clarke, his Democratic competitor for the office. The case was
tried in the County Court, and occupied the spare moments of Judge Adams, of
that august tribunal, from December until the June following, when it was
decided in Robinson's favor. Clarke, still unsatisfied, appealed to the Supreme
Court, which body confirmed the decision of the County Court, and thus Mr.
Robinson's title to the office was settled. The other county officers-J. E.
Brooks, Sheriff; T. J. Lee, Superintendent of Schools; and John L. Aubert,
County Surveyor-are Democrats. Such is the political record of the county. It is
probable, however, that, in a State or national contest, with a full vote on
both sides, the Republicans would carry the day.

   Coles County's war history is written in characters of blood upon a hundred
battle-fields. Citizens of Coles have figured in every war, from the Revolution
down to the great rebellion that shook the republic to its very foundation. In
many of the Indian wars of the times, they have borne an honorable part. Upon
the records of the County Commissioner's Court of 1885, we find the certificates
of Elisha Hadden, John Parker, Joseph Painter, John Hart and Griffin Tipsoward,
made under oath to the Commissioners' Court for the purpose of obtaining a
pension under an act of the United States Congress passed in 1832. These parties
made oath to their services in the armies of the United States during the
Revolutionary war and the wars with the Indians of those times. Hadden stated on
his oath that he was in the battle of Kind's Mountain, in North Carolina,
"against the British and Tories;" and that, in a battle soon after with the
Cherokee Indians, he was wounded, and for three months lay in the fort helpless,
and was then carried home to North Carolina on a litter. Painter testified that
he was in the Revolutionary battle of Eutaw Springs, and several skirmishes in
North Carolina. Hart, that he entered the service of the United States in 1776,
and served under Gen. Clarke, and was in several battles with the Indians.
Griffin Tipsoward, that lie entered the service in Virginia, in 1775, and at the
close of the war was discharged by Gen. Washington.

   In the war of 1812, many of the pioneers of this county had participated, as
elsewhere noticed, and some are still living who took part in that struggle with
Johnny Bull. In the Black Hawk war of 1832, an entire company from Coles County
(then in her infancy) responded to the call of the Governor for troops. Many of
them are still surviving. The officers of this company were: James P. Jones,
Captain; Thomas Sconce, Isaac Lewis and James Law, Lieutenants. In the Mexican
war, notwithstanding it was considered a Democratic issue and Coles was a Whig
county, a full company was raised and participated in many of the battles, among
which were those of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. The officers of the company were:
W. W. Bishop, Captain: J. J. Adams, First Lieutenant; H. C. Dunbar, Second
Lieutenant, and Charles Jones, Orderly Sergeant. Bishop and Adams are dead,
Dunbar lives in Texas, and several of the rank and file are still living in the
county.

   In the war of the rebellion, Coles County furnished quite a little army. The
Seventh and Eighth Regiments of three-months men, each drew a company from the
county; the Seventh a company from Mattoon, and the Eighth a company from
Charleston. The Twenty-first (Grant's old regiment) contained many men from
Coles, as well as the Twenty-fifth, Thirty-eighth, Fifty-fourth, Sixty-second
and One Hundred and Twenty-third Volunteers and the Fifth Cavalry. The One
Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment contained seven companies that were called
Coles County companies. In a history like this, however, it is impossible to
give a complete and correct record of a county's participation in the late war.
Space will not permit. Besides, from the records that have been kept, it is not
an easy matter to obtain the names of all who deserve mention. Therefore, we
shall make no attempt to particularize any one, but will add that the record of
Coles County soldiers is above reproach. Their deeds are engraved upon the
hearts of their countrymen, and their reward is found in the happy reflection
that the old flag still floats over all the States. And for those who laid down
their lives to maintain the Union, and whoso lone graves are fanned by Southern
winds, we know of no better meed to their bravery, no sweeter tribute to their
memory, than the beautiful lines from the pen of Col. Theodore O'Hara, of
Kentucky, and dedicated to the heroes of that State who fell in the Mexican war,
when their bones were collected and interred in the State Cemetery at Frankfort:

    "The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
       The soldier's last tattoo!
     No more on life's parade shall meet
       That brave and fallen few;
     On Fame's eternal camping-ground
       Their silent tents are spread,
     And glory guards with solemn round
       The bivouac of the dead!"

   These beautiful lines, written for the Kentucky dead of the Mexican war, have
been adopted by Massachusetts and inscribed upon a splendid monument erected to
her dead heroes of the late war. They are a touching tribute to the soldier who
lays down his life for his country and sleeps the eternal sleep, never more to
heed the call to arms until the last reveille shall sound from the battlements
of heaven. Peace to their ashes.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

THE HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. ILLINOIS,

CONTAINING

A History of the County—its Cities, Towns, &c; a Directory of its Tax-Payers;
Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General and Local Statistics; Map
of Coles County; History of Illinois, Illustrated; History of the Northwest,
Illustrated; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c, &c.

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO:
WM. LE BARON, JR., & CO., 186 DEARBORN STREET.
1879.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/coles/history/1879/historyo/politica116gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/

File size: 7.6 Kb