Governor Edward Coles

Here is an old book that I've had for several years. Elihu Benjamin Washburne (1816-1887) was a noted Illinois Republican congressman, ally of President Lincoln and President Grant, and the U.S. Minister to France in 1869-1877. He is my fourth cousin four times removed. Washburne also wrote this important biography of Illinois’ second governor, Edward Coles. 

Coles was born on this day (December 15) in 1786. A neighbor and associate of Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, he was James Madison's secretary. An anti-slavery advocate, Coles urged Jefferson to free his slaves. Coles himself moved to Illinois in 1819 and manumitted 19 of his slaves, obtaining land for them. He was one of a very few slaveowners to entirely manumit his slaves. Coles was elected Illinois governor in 1822 and served until 1826. Vandalia was still in its early days as Illinois' state capital. During his term, Coles led the effort to prevent a constitutional convention that was a potential way by which slavery might be increased in Illinois. It is said that he contributed his gubernatorial salary ($1000 a year) to the anti-convention/anti-slavery effort. Later, Coles was a founding member of Illinois' first historical society. He moved to Philadelphia in the 1830s. Although he didn't resume a political career, he continued his anti-slavery advocacy and lived to see passage of the 13th amendment. He is considered one of the two best governors of early Illinois statehood (the other is Thomas Ford, governor in 1842-1846).