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to the Empire State to teach school, in order that Thurlow Weed might be given an opportunity to attend."

Mr. Cook was a delegate to the Second Convention which nominated Lincoln, and as has been already stated, presented his name to that convention.

While serving as a member of the State Legislature, he was one of the framers of the Free School Law, under which, with various amendments, the present magnificent common school system of Illinois has been built up, and he was also the author of the first law giving to married women the right to hold property in their own names, in the State.

In 1861, in company with ex-Governor Wood, Stephen T. Logan, John M. Palmer, and Thomas J. Turner, he was appointed by Governor Yates to represent Illinois in the 'Peace Congress" which met at Washing

ton.

When that body recommended to Congress as a basis for the adjustment of the differences between the slave and free States, legislation which would insure the perpetuity if not the extension of slavery, Mr. Cook and Governor Wood were among the delegates who protested against such action, and caused their protest to be spread upon the journal of the conference.

While in Washington at that time, he listened with mingled feelings of grief and indignation to the farewell address of Jefferson Davis in the Senate, and four years later, stand

ing in the same place, he saw Blanche K. Bruce, who had been born a slave, take the oath of a Senator of the United States and pass to the seat which Davis had left vacant.

In 1864, he was elected a Representative in Congress from the Sixth District of Illinois, and was re-elected in 1866, 1868 and 1870, from the same district. He resigned in 1871, to resume the practice of law, so that his term of service in Congress covered a period of something less than four full terms. During this time he was recognized as one of the abler members of that body, both in the committee room and upon the floor of the House.

While serving as Chairman of the Committee on Railroads and Canals, he introduced a bill proposing to provide for the building of a government postal and military railroad, between the cities of Washington and New York, and in support of this measure he made a speech in which he laid down the principle, that the provision of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress the right "to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States," empowers that body to authorize the building of railroads, to the same extent that it is empowered to authorize the construction or improvement of waterways.

As a member of the Committee on Elections, in the case of the late Senator Beck, who at that time had just been elected to the lower branch.

of Congress from a Kentucky district, Mr. Cook reported the measure which governed the action of the House in the admission of the Southern members-elect, who had been active participants in the rebellion; and as a member of the Judiciary Committee, he prepared a report which embodied the principles since made the basis of national legislation against polygamy. The occasion which brought out the last named report, was the reference to the Judiciary Committee, of a memorial adopted by the Legislature of Utah, praying Congress to repeal the then existing law against polygamy. The report submitted by Mr. Cook, set forth that the family is the basis of society and government, that polygamy is calculated to destroy the family relation, and for that reason it was subversive of good government and should be dealt with accordingly.

The recommendation contained in the report was, not only that the law in force should remain upon the statute books, but that there should be additional legislation relative to polygamy, which was deemed necessary to make the law fully effective.

When he retired from Congress, Mr. Cook removed to Chicago, to accept the position of General Solicitor of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company. This position he held for fifteen years, becoming distinguished throughout the west for his broad knowledge of corporation, and particularly of railroad law.

As a public man he has borne his part well in some of the most stirring events of the nation's history, and as a lawyer he has ranked with the leaders of the Illinois bar.

HOWARD LOUIS CONARD.

HON. ELLIOTT ANTHONY.

THE history of the Anthony family in America, dates back to the period when the colony of Rhode Island furnished asylum to the much abused and persecuted quakers. to which religious sect the Anthonys belonged. Before the Revolutionary war they were conspicuous among the colonists for inteligence, industry, and good citizenship. In the struggle for independence they were active participants; and some of the descendants have been among the most noted of those whose public services contributed, not only to the building up of the little commonwealth of Rhode Island, but to that of the great nation of which it constitutes a part.

Naturally an enterprising and ambitious people they were largely represented among those brave and hardy pioneers, who moved westward from the eastern states, in the early years of the present century. Isaac Anthony a farmer by occupation, and an intelligent man of affairs, who was born on the Island near Newport, was among the young men who found a home in Central New York during that period. His mother was a Chase and of the same family connections as that of the late Salmon P. Chase,

Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. On his removal from Rhode Island to Washington County, New York, he married Permelia Phelps, a lineal descendant of the Phelps family of Vermont, who migrated at an early period from Connecticut to that state, one of which, family became part owner of the great Western Reserve of Ohio.

The family of Isaac Anthony consisted of four sons and four daughters, six of whom grew up to become residents of the state of Illinois, and one of whom has been for many years a distinguished member of the Chicago bar. At any time within the past decade, when the courts of Cook county have been in session, a reasonably close observer, in passing through the various judicial departments, would have been impressed by the dignified bearing and Victor Hugo-type appearance of one of the presiding judges of the Superior Court. A man of massive physique, broad shouldered and deep chested, with a cast of features stern enough to forbid trifling in the presence of the court, and yet kindly enough to encourage the timid barrister to put forth his best effort, or to assure the still more timid witness of the proper

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