JAMES MONROE RUGGLES
Page 188

Was born in Mansfield, Richland county, Ohio, and at the age of fifteen, engaged in the printing business. In 1837, he came to Illinois, and continued that business till 1846. Meanwhile, he had studied law, and had been admitted to the bar in 1844. In 1846, he came from Winchester, Scott county, and settled in the town of Bath, then the county seat of Mason county, and engaged largely in merchandising, which was continued until the beginning of the war, in 1861. From 1846 to 1851, there was a fierce contest raging through the county, over the removal of the county seat from Bath to Havana, and Mr. Ruggles fought the battle for Bath against largely accumulated odds. In 1852, without his knowledge, he was taken up by the Senatorial District Convention, composed of the counties of Sangamon, Menard and Mason, and elected to the Senate, where he served four years, with credit to himself and friends. During this time, Mr. Lincoln was elected to the Lower House, and as a constituent of Mr. Ruggles, solicited his support as a candidate to the United States Senate, which was given with cordiality, in the contest of 1855, which resulted in the election of Lyman Trumbull. In the winter of 1856, the disintegration of the old Whig party being in progress, a meeting of the Whigs, and all the elements opposed to the party then in power, was called at the State House, participated in by the most prominent politicians of the old Whig party, and at that meeting a committee, consisting of J. M. Ruggles, Abraham Lincoln and Ebenezer Peck, was appointed to draft a platform and resolutions. Both the other members of the committee being engaged, that work devolved, exclusively, on Mr. Ruggles, who, unaided, drew up the platform, which was the first declaration of principles upon which the Republican party was founded. At the state convention the same year a large number of the delegates were instructed for Mr. Ruggles for Lieutenant-Governor, but he declined in favor of a German candidate, to influence the strength of that important element. In 1844 he received the vote of his party for state printer, without his knowledge or solicitation. In 1850 he began the agitation of the question of an Illinois River Railroad, and when elected to the Senate, prepared a charter and had it passed, (see railroad history otherwheres.) and as chief corporator, worked manfully, from one end of the line to the other, until stock was subscribed to complete the organization and begin the construction. During the existence of that corporation he was an active director and manager of the enterprise. He also projected and located the road from Bath to Havana, now traveled by teams. To him is also due the credit of draining a large scope of country in Havana, Bath and Kilbourn townships, before a desert waste, and now among the most fertile of Mason county. In July, 1861, Governor Yates tendered him a commission as Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the 1st Illinois Cavalry, which he accepted, and went into the service in Missouri, under Gens. Grant and Curtis. He was promoted to Major of the 3d Cavalry, in which regiment he remained until mustered out in 1864. At Pea Ridge he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and was a part of the time in command of the regiment. At the close of the war he was made a Brevet Brigadier-General, for meritorious services. In 1868 he was appointed by Hon. Charles Turner, Circuit Judge of this judicial district, Master in Chancery for Mason county, which position he held for two years, and resigned. In all these various official positions, aught besides strict official duty Mr. Ruggles has not known. His official acts are the seals of his integrity. Possessed of a competency, (a 1,200 acre farm,) he spends his time in leisure and in travel. Of fine literary and aesthetic taste, he enjoys, and is sought by, the best classes of society.

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