John L. Beveridge (1824-1910), Republican governor of Illinois (1873-1877), was born in Greenwich, N. Y. on July 6, 1824. He moved to Illinois (1842); studied at Granville Academy and Rock River Seminary; and moved to Tennessee where he taught school, studied law and married Helen Judson (1845). After being admitted to the Tennessee bar, Beveridge returned to Illinois, settling first in Sycamore (1851) and then moving to Chicago (1854). During the Civil War, Beveridge helped raise the 8th Regiment Illinois Cavalry and served as a major in that regiment. Two years later, Beveridge became Colonel of the 17th Cavalry, which he commanded at the war's end, being mustered out with the rank of brevet Brigadier General. After the war, Beveridge was Cook County sheriff for four years.
Beveridge was elected to the State Senate (1870) and served briefly in the General Assembly before being chosen Congressman-at-Large to succeed John A. Logan when he moved from the House to the U. S. Senate. In January 1873, Beveridge resigned his Congressional seat after being elected Lt. Governor. A few weeks later he succeeded to the Governorship when Gov. Oglesby was elected to the U. S. Senate. After leaving office, President Arthur appointed Beveridge Asst. U. S. Treasurer at Chicago (1881), a position he held until the Cleveland administration. Beveridge moved to Hollywood, Calif., when he died on May 3, 1910.
From the description of John Lourie Beveridge correspondence, 1873-1877. (Illinois State Archive). WorldCat record id: 35766040
