William McHenry
William McHenry | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois General Assembly from White County | |
| In office 1834 – February 3, 1835 | |
| Preceded by | John C. Goudy |
| Succeeded by | Edwin B. Webb |
| Member of the Illinois Senate | |
| In office 1828–1832 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Hay |
| Succeeded by | William H. Davidson |
| Member of the Illinois General Assembly from White County | |
| In office 1824–1828 | |
| Preceded by | John Emmett |
| Succeeded by | Josiah Stewart |
| Member of the Illinois General Assembly from White County | |
| In office 1818–1820 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | George R. Logan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1771 Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1835 (aged 63–64) Vandalia, Illinois, U.S. |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Price's Battalion of Mounted Volunteers |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 Battle of Fallen Timbers Tecumseh's War Black Hawk War |
William McHenry was an American politician and military leader.
Early life
McHenry was born in Kentucky in 1771.[1][2]
Career
McHenry served as a lieutenant in Price's Battalion of Mounted Volunteers and participated at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, near modern Toledo, Ohio.
McHenry moved from Henderson County, Kentucky, in 1810. The family settled in what is now White County, Illinois, along the trail between the salt works near Old Shawneetown, Illinois, and Forts of Vincennes, Indiana.
In 1811, McHenry served in the Illinois Militia during Tecumseh's War, which culminated in the Battle of Tippecanoe in the Indiana territory. After the outbreak of the War of 1812, he participated in the attack on the Native American village at Peoria, which was allied with the British.
McHenry served as a major, leading the Mounted Spies, in the Black Hawk War in 1832. He became ill during the campaign.
Politics
McHenry was a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention in 1818. McHenry was elected as a state representative representing White County to the 1st, 4th, and 5th General Assemblies; as a state senator representing White County in the 6th and 7th General Assemblies; and last again as a state representative representing White County in the 9th General Assembly.[3][4]
McHenry died during his last term as state representative in 1835.[5]
Personal life
He married Hannah Ruth Blackford in the late 1790s in Logan County, Kentucky.
McHenry died on February 3, 1835, in a boarding house in Vandalia, Illinois, which was then the location of the state capitol.[6]
Legacy
McHenry is the namesake of McHenry County and McHenry, Illinois, located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.[7]
References
- ^ Walker, Glynnis; Anderson, Arabella (2010). Lost Farms of McHenry County. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-7798-2.
- ^ "Major William McHenry biography". www.genealogytrails.com. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^ Illinois Blue Book (1931-1932). State of Illinois. 1932. pp. 738–744.
- ^ Illinois Blue Book (2023-2024): Illinois Legislative Roster — 1818-2024 (PDF). State of Illinois. 2024. p. 405.
- ^ Blue Book of the State of Illinois. The Secretary. 1908.
- ^ "Day in McHenry County History | McHenry County Historical Society and Museum".
- ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 100.