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| Affiliation | Republican |
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| Name | Joseph W. Fifer |
| Address |
Bloomington, Illinois , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
October 08, 1840
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| Died | August 06, 1938
(97 years)
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| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Modifed | RBH
Mar 07, 2016 02:15am |
| Tags |
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| Info | Born at Stanton, Va., Oct. 8, 1840; in 1857 he accompanied his father (who was a stone-mason) to McLean County, Ill., and worked at the manufacture and laying of brick. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted as a private in the 33 ILL Inf, and was dangerously wounded at the assault on Jackson, Miss., in 1863. On the healing of his wound, disregarding the advice of family and friends, he rejoined his regiment. At the close of the war, when about 25 years of age, he entered the Wesleyan University at Blooming, where, by dint of hard work and frugality, while supporting himself in part by manual labor, he secured a diploma in 1868. He at once began the study of law, and soon after his admission, entered upon a practice which subsequently proved both successful and lucrative.
He was elected Corporation Counsel of Bloomington in 1871 and State's Attorney for McLean County in 1872, holding the latter office, through re-election, until 1880, when he was chosen State Senator, serving in the 32 and 33 General Assemblies. In 1888 he was nominated and elected Governor on the Republican ticket, but in 1892, was defeated by John P. Altgeld, the Democratic nominee, though running in advance of the national and the rest of the State ticket. His name was elevated to state level after fighting with General John Black, the pension commissioner, when the latter tried to remove him as a “typical Republican politician who did not deserve a pension.” Fifer’s pension was $24 a month. Due to his celebrity status Fifer was elected Governor in 1889.
Governor Fifer lived to see his daughter elected as the first woman state senator in 1924. “Private Joe” was hit by an automobile at the age of 92; he lived blind, deaf, and crippled another six years before he died on 6 August
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