Category Archives: Politics

Sangamon County circuit clerks, 1821-2023 (list)

Posted on December 30, 2014 by editor

The histories of most of the 28 people – 26 men and two women – who have held the office of Sangamon County circuit clerk were researched in 2011 by Savannah Little. The resulting brief biographies can be read on … Continue reading →

Posted in Local government, Politics, Prominent figures, Sangamon County | Leave a comment

National Lincoln Monument Association directors, 1865

Posted on November 15, 2014 by editor

The National Lincoln Monument Association, officially organized on May 11, 1865, oversaw fundraising for and construction of Abraham Lincoln’s tomb. Although members originally planned to build the structure on land that now is the site of the Illinois Statehouse, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Sites, Illinois capital, John T. Stuart, Journalism, Lincoln Tomb, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Media, Politics, Prominent figures | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Suicide of Secretary of State Harry Woods, 1914

Posted on October 26, 2014 by editor

Springfield and Illinois as a whole were shocked when the news broke Oct. 12, 1914 that Secretary of State Harry Woods had shot himself in the garage of his home at 628 S. Walnut St. Woods, 51, had been dead … Continue reading →

Posted in Law enforcement, Politics, Prominent figures, State government | 2 Comments

General strike, 1917

Posted on August 7, 2014 by editor

Union members shut down mines, railroads, bakeries, restaurants, laundries and construction sites across Sangamon County in September 1917 following the violent breakup by police and the Illinois state militia of a pro-labor march. The march — for which city officials … Continue reading →

Posted in Labor unions, Law enforcement, Local government, Politics, Prominent figures, Transportation, Women | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Duncan McDonald, labor leader

Posted on August 1, 2014 by editor

Duncan McDonald (1873-1965), while not as well-known as John L. Lewis, was almost certainly more principled as both a United Mine Workers leader and a politician. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Chronicling Illinois collection characterizes McDonald’s labor career this way: … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Business, Coal mines and mining, Lincoln, Abraham, Politics, Presidential candidates, Prominent figures, Springfield Survey | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Benjamin S. Edwards

Posted on July 3, 2014 by editor

Benjamin Stephenson Edwards (1818-86) was the youngest son of Ninian Edwards, governor of the Illinois Territory and third governor of the state of Illinois. Benjamin received his education at Yale University and became the first citizen born in Illinois to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Early residents, Historic Sites, John T. Stuart, Lincoln, Abraham, Politics, Prominent figures | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Gambling and the Sangamon County underworld,1948

Posted on June 4, 2014 by editor

The 1948 slaying of a dice game “stickman” helped expose a Sangamon County underworld that featured wide-open gambling and, allegedly, systematic bribery of state, county and city officials. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch at the time had a team of reporters … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and vice, Journalism, Law enforcement, Local government, Media, Politics, Prominent figures | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum controversies

Posted on May 26, 2014 by editor

Design and construction of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum took years and involved a variety of political squabbles and maneuvering. If politics could have been put aside, the facility would have been completed much sooner. Of course, since … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Buildings, Historic Sites, Illinois capital, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Museums, Politics, Presidential candidates, Presidents, Prominent figures, State government | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Senators with Sangamon County links

Posted on March 30, 2014 by editor

Note: The following list of U.S. senators with connections to Sangamon County does not include those who lived here solely because of their involvement in state government or politics.  *Ninian Edwards (senator from 1818 to 1824): Edwards, who was territorial … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Illinois capital, Politics, Presidential candidates, Prominent figures, State government | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Springfield mayors

Posted on March 23, 2014 by editor

Springfield was incorporated as a village on April 2,, 1832. For the next eight years, it was governed by a village president and board of trustees. (Dates below refer to election or appointment dates.) Village presidents Charles R. Matheny, 1832-39 … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Politics, Springfield | Leave a comment