Elijah Iles
Elijah Iles (March 28, 1796 – September 4, 1883) was an American businessman, pioneer, and politician who was one of the first settlers of Springfield, Illinois. He was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1826 and fought in the Winnebago and Black Hawk Wars. During the latter engagement, Iles commanded future President Abraham Lincoln.
Biography
Elijah Iles was born in
In 1831, he enlisted as a private for the Black Hawk War, later promoted to captain. During his service as captain, Iles led a young Abraham Lincoln in his unit. He built the American House hotel in 1839, the largest hotel in the state, which became a meeting place for early Illinois statesmen. By the time of his death on September 4, 1883, he had accumulated large land holdings. Iles was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Iles' house is now the oldest standing house in Springfield.[2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on February 23, 1978.
See also
References
- ^ The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. XII. New York City, NY: James T. White & Company. 1904. p. 205.
- ^ a b Bateman, Newton (1915). Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Cass County. Chicago, IL: Munsell Publishing Company. p. 286.