pioneer, was born in
Warren County, Ohio, in 1792, and taken to Kentucky at an early day, where
he remained until 1817, when his family removed to Illinois, finally
settling in what is now Clark County. Although pursuing the
avocation of a farmer, he became one of the most prominent and influential
men in that part of the State. On the organization of Clark County in
1819, he was appointed the first County and Circuit Clerk, resigning the
former office in 1820 and the latter in 1822. In 1824 he was elected to
the lower branch of the General Assembly, and two years later to the State
Senate, serving continuously in the latter eight years. He was thus a
Senator on the breaking out of the Black Hawk War (1832), in which he
served as a Captain of militia. In 1834 he was an unsuccessful candidate
for Lieutenant-Governor; was appointed by Governor Duncan, in 1835, a
member of the first Board of Commissioners of the Illinois & Michigan
Canal; in 1838 was returned a second time to the House of Representatives
and re-elected in 1840 and 46 to the same body. Two years later (1848) he
was again elected Circuit Clerk, remaining until 1852, and in 1854 was an
Anti-Nebraska Whig candidate for Congress in opposition to James C.
Allen. Although Allen received the certificate of election, Archer
contested his right to the seat, with the result that Congress declared
the seat vacant and referred the question back to the people. In a new
election held in August, 1856, Archer was defeated and Allen elected. He
held no public office of importance after this date, but in 1856 was a
delegate to the first Republican National Convention at Philadelphia, and
in that body was an enthusiastic supporter of Abraham Lincoln,
whose zealous friend and admirer he was, for the office of Vice-President. He was also one of the active promoters of various railroad enterprises
in. that section of the State, especially the old Chicago & Vincennes
Road, the first projected southward from the City of Chicago. His
connection with the Illinois & Michigan canal was the means of giving his
name to Archer Avenue, a somewhat famous thoroughfare in Chicago. He was
tall of stature and great energy of character, with a tendency to
enthusiasm that communicated itself to others. A local history has said
of him that he did more for Clark County than any man in his day or
since, although no consideration, pecuniary or otherwise, was ever given
him for his services. Colonel Archer was one of the founders of Marshall, the county-seat
of Clark County, Governor Duncan being associated with him in the
ownership of the land on which the town was laid out. His death occurred
in Clark County, August 9, 1870, at the age of 78 years.
Notes & Sources:
1H. W. Beckwith, Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Clark County, 1907, Transcribed
& Edited by L.
K Ortman
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