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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
General Assembly (1820-22) as Representative from Union County; was a Circuit Judge, 1825-27; Presidential Elector in 1828; Circuit Judge again, 1829-37; elected United States Senator in 1837 as successor to W. L. D. Ewing, serving until 1843, when he was commissioned Justice of the Supreme Court, but resigned in 1847 to become Commissioner of the General Land Office at Washington. During the session of 1850-51, he served as Clerk of the National House of Representatives. Died, in an insane asylum, in Washington, in 1853.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, first permanently organized at Chicago, in 1858, although desultory movements of a kindred character had previously been started at Peoria, Quincy, Chicago and Springfield, some as early as 1854. From 1858 to 1872, various associations were formed at different points throughout the State, which were entirely independent of each other. The first effort looking to union and mutual aid, was made in 1872, when Robert Weidensall, on behalf of the International Committee, called a convention, to meet at Blooming-ton, November 6-9. State conventions have been held annually since 1872. In that of 1875, steps were taken looking to the appointment of a State Secretary, and, in 1876, Charles M. Morton assumed the office. Much evangelistic work was done, and new associations formed, the total number reported at the Champaign Convention, in 1877, being sixty-two. After one year's work Mr. Morton resigned the secretaryship, the office remaining vacant for three years. The question of the appointment of a successor was discussed at the Decatur Convention in 1879, and, in April, 1880, I. B. Brown was made State Secretary, and has occupied the position to the present time (1899). At the date of his appointment the official figures showed sixteen associations in Illinois, with a total membership of 2,443, and property valued at 8126,500, including building funds, the associations at Chicago and Aurora owning buildings. Thirteen officers were employed, none of them being in Chicago. Since 1880 the work has' steadily grown, so that five Assistant State Secretaries are now employed. In 1886, a plan for arranging the State work under departmental administration was devised, but not put in operation until 1890. The present six departments of supervision are: General Supervision, in charge of the State Secretary and his Assistants; railroad and city work; counties and towns; work among students; corresponding membership depart
