HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
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other local offices, and was for many years a part owner and senior editor of "The Ottawa Republican." From 1881 to 1885, as a Republican, he represented the Eighth Illinois District in Congress.
CULLOM, Richard Northcraft, farmer and legislator, was born in the State of Maryland, October 1, 1795, but early removed to Wayne County, Ky., where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Coffey, a native of North Carolina. In 1830 he removed to Illinois, settling near "Washington, Tazewell County, where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life. Although a farmer by vocation, Mr. Cullom was a man of prominence and a recognized leader in public affairs. In 1836 he was elected as a Whig Representative in the Tenth General Assembly, serving in the same body with Abraham Lincoln, of whom he was an intimate personal and political friend. In 1840 he was chosen a member of the State Senate, serving in the Twelfth and Thirteenth General Assemblies, and, in 1852, was again elected to the House. Mr. Cullom's death occurred in Tazewell County, Dec. 4, 1873, his wife having died Dec. 5, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Cullom were the parents of Hon. Shelby M. Cullom.
CULLOM, Shelby Moore, United States Senator, was born in Wayne County, Ky., Nov. 22, 1829. His parents removed to Tazewell County, Ill., in 1830, where his father became a member of the Legislature and attained prominence as a public man. After two years spent in Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, varied by some experience as a teacher, in 1853 the subject of this sketch went to Springfield to enter upon the study of law in the office of Stuart & Edwards. Being admitted to the bar two years afterward, he was almost immediately elected City Attorney, and, in 1856, was a candidate on the Fill-more ticket for Presidential Elector, at the same time being elected to the Twentieth General Assembly for Sangamon County, as he was again, as a Republican, in 1860, being supported alike by the Fillmore men and the Free-Soilers. At the session following the latter election, he was chosen Speaker of the House, which was his first important political recognition. In 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln a member of the War Claims Commission at Cairo, serving in this capacity with Governor Boutwell of Massachusetts and Charles A. Dana of New York. He was also a candidate for the State Senate the same year, but then sustained his only defeat. Two years later (1864) he was a can
