Oglesby, Richard James (1824-1899)

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Mentioned in (4)
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Republican Party

Tribute to John A. Davis, May 26, 1907

Remarks on Col. John A. Davis, June, 25, 1907 (excerpts)

Wilhelm Bodemann to Jane Addams, March 26, 1910

Autobiographical Notes upon Twenty Years at Hull-House: A War Time Childhood, April 1910

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Birth Date

1824-06-25

Death Date

1899-04-24

Birthplace

Floydsburg, Kentucky

Biographical Text

Richard J. Oglesby was a politician and military officer. He first enlisted for the army when the Mexican-American War began. After the war, in 1848, he began to study law, but in 1849 he moved to California for the gold rush. After traveling through Europe for two years, Oglesby then returned to Illinois. He joined the newly-formed Republican Party, later elected to the Illinois Senate in 1860. During the Civil War, Oglesby was appointed colonel of the 8th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment and led the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, District of Cairo, Department of the Missouri, serving under the command of Ulysses S. Grant. In 1862 he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of the Tennessee. At the Battle of Corinth he was wounded in the chest and back, and while he recovered he was promoted to major general. Between 1865 and 1869 Oglesby served as the governor of Illinois and advocated for care reform for the mentally ill and disabled. In 1872 he ran for governor again and won, but then gave his position to the lieutenant governor for a seat in the U.S. Senate. After serving as a Senator from 1873 to 1879, Oglesby served as governor for a third term.

Oglesby was married to Emma Gillet Oglesby, and one of his children, John G. Oglesby, served as lieutenant governor of Illinois twice.

Oglesby was married to Emma Gillet Oglesby. They had one son, John G. Oglesby, was a two-time Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. Oglesby died in 1899.

Occupation

Military officer

Politician

Collection

People

Map

Edited By

Hajo, Cathy Moran

Lichon, Sara Catherine

Rights

Public domain

Gender

Male

First appears

1907

Bibliography and Links

John G. Oglesby, Wikipedia

SNAC

Wikipedia

Citation

“Oglesby, Richard James (1824-1899),” Jane Addams Digital Edition, accessed July 27, 2024, http://mail.digital.janeaddams.ramapo.edu/items/show/5963.