Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Born in South Boston, Virginia, he studied law at Frankfort, Kentucky and was admitted to the bar in 1833. In 1836, he moved to Vandalia, Illinois, when the Illinois State Legislature elected him judge of the Third Judicial Circuit. He resigned in 1841, when the legislature appointed him to the Illinois Supreme Court and served until 1847, when he moved to Chicago, to serve as a delegate to the 1848 Illinois Constitutional Convention. In 1853, he was elected Illinois Supreme Court Justice and served until 1857. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 and was commissioned a Major on the staff of General John A. McClernand. Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, he served as General John A. McClernand's Chief of Staff for the entire war and for meritorious services, was brevetted Brigadier General of US Volunteers on March 13, 1865. He declined President Abraham Lincoln's offer of the New Mexico Territory governorship and served as collector of customs for the Port of Chicago from 1866 to 1869). In 1870, he resumed the practice of law in Chicago and continued until his death at age 78.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Born in South Boston, Virginia, he studied law at Frankfort, Kentucky and was admitted to the bar in 1833. In 1836, he moved to Vandalia, Illinois, when the Illinois State Legislature elected him judge of the Third Judicial Circuit. He resigned in 1841, when the legislature appointed him to the Illinois Supreme Court and served until 1847, when he moved to Chicago, to serve as a delegate to the 1848 Illinois Constitutional Convention. In 1853, he was elected Illinois Supreme Court Justice and served until 1857. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 and was commissioned a Major on the staff of General John A. McClernand. Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, he served as General John A. McClernand's Chief of Staff for the entire war and for meritorious services, was brevetted Brigadier General of US Volunteers on March 13, 1865. He declined President Abraham Lincoln's offer of the New Mexico Territory governorship and served as collector of customs for the Port of Chicago from 1866 to 1869). In 1870, he resumed the practice of law in Chicago and continued until his death at age 78.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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