It's time to party like it's 1818 all over again.
This year's celebration of Illinois's statehood comes shortly after the 250-year birthday of Shadrach Bond, the first Illinois governor.
I thought this would be a good opportunity to share some of what I uncovered about previous Illinois governors. I found some information on the National Governors' Association website, with short biographies.
Other info I found in a new book, A House that Made History, which current First Lady M.K. Pritzker authored, and it showcases her redecorating project at the Illinois Governor's Mansion (#1).
The second Illinois governor was Edward Coles (#2) who first entered public service as President James Madison's private secretary. He took a decisive stance for equality when he arrived in Illinois and freed his enslaved people. Later, during his time as governor, there was an antislavery referendum.
Ninian Edwards (#3) was the governor of the Territory of Illinois from 1809-1818 and then served as the third governor from 1826-1830.
Richard Oglesby (#4) was the first Sectional War veteran to be Governor. He also went to California for the gold rush and he supposedly coined the phrase "Rail Splitter" for Abraham Lincoln's campaign. He also served nonconsecutive terms.
Joel Matteson (#5) was the first governor to reside in the Illinois Governor's Mansion.
Joseph Fifer (#6) was honorably discharged from the US Army after being wounded in the Vicksburg campaign led by General Grant. His daughter, Florence Fifer Bohrer, started the Mother's Club, which merged with the PTA, and she became the first female elected to the Illinois State Senate.
John Reynolds served as governor and later as Speaker of the Illinois House in 1852 (#7).
John Altgeld immigrated to the USA from Germany (#8).
Richard Yates, Sr., (#9) and Richard Yates, Jr., (#10) were a father-son governor pair. And so far as I can tell on the NGA website, Richard Jr. was the first Illinois governor born Illinois.
Frank Lowden (#11) married Florence Pullman, daughter of George Pullman.
Henry Horner had a large collection of Lincoln memorabilia (#12).
Richard Ogilvie's time in office oversaw a major restoration of the Illinois Governor's Mansion, with his wife, First Lady Dorothy Ogilvie, taking a major oversight role in that project (#13).
Dwight Green (#14) was a prosecutor in Al Capone's income tax evasion trial before serving as Governor during World War II. He gave radio broadcasts from the Governor's Mansion to update citizens on the war efforts, and he broadcasted special Christmas programs from the mansion, too.
After serving as governor, Shelby Cullom (#15) was the chairman of the Lincoln Memorial Commission and a regent of the Smithsonian Institution.
Adlai Stevenson (#16) served in several national roles, like UN ambassador, and also created a permanent library in the Governor's Manion, the Lloyd Lewis Library.
Governor William Stratton (#17), along with Mayor Richard J. Daley, co-hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip when they visited Chicago as part of a trip to Canada and the USA.
John Tanner began his time in office with the first official inaugural ball in Illinois (#18).
Governor John Palmer welcomed Frederick Douglass to a public reception at the Governor's Mansion (#19).
William Bissell (#20) was elected the first Republican governor of Illinois in 1856.
Also of note for 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Sears Tower. Among its amenities today is the Catalog (#21), a food court on the Jackson Boulevard side of the building facing south.
So with this list and many other items of note in mind, let's celebrate what's great about Illinois.
No comments:
Post a Comment