War governor; born in
Warsaw, Ky., Jan. 18, 1818.
In early youth he went to
Illinois; graduated at Illinois College; studied law, and became eminent in the profession.
He was often a member of the State legislature.
He
was a member of Congress from 1851 to 1855, and governor of
Illinois from 1861 to 1865—a most active “war” governor during that exciting period.
The legislature of
Illinois met on Jan. 7, 1861.
The governor's message to them was a patriotic appeal to his people; and he summed up what he believed to be the public sentiment of
Illinois, in the words of
President Jackson's toast, given thirty years before: “Our federal Union: it must be preserved.”
Governor Yates was elected to the United States Senate in 1865, and served therein six years. He died in
St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 27, 1873.
His son, Richard, was elected governor of
Illinois for the term 1901-5.
