**************************************************************************** File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net. **************************************************************************** Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890 **************************************************************************** The Biography of Lieut. George Washington CONE Pages 508-509, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins and Alice Stipak Note: Another version of this biography appears in the same book on pages 290-291. We think it was probably a rough draft included by mistake, since it is less complete and polished, and has nothing to offer beyond what is in this version of the biography. [Surnames: BERGE, CONE, GRIER, PAGE, SMITH] LIEUT. GEORGE WASHINGTON CONE. It is a well known fact that circumstances in life may make or mar the prospects of a man to a certain extent, but a determined spirit will bend even the force of circumstances to its will. The career of Lieut. Cone since his arrival upon the stage of human action is abundant proof of this trite saying: That which is better than silver or gold, a good name, gains added lustre in adverse circumstances, and the sterling qualities of character are strengthened in the combats of life. The subject of our sketch is the fifth son of Joseph Cone, founder of Farmington, and a man of extended fame, whose life and character are appropriately set forth in the sketches of Spencer and Henry Cone, found elsewhere in the ALBUM. Born in Harwinton, Conn., July 10, 1821. George Cone received an excellent education, first attending the common schools, and later the Harwinton academy, as well as institutions of learning in this State. He was a lad of but thirteen years when he accompanied his father to Illinois, and here he attended the primitive log schoolhouses. At the age of sixteen years he entered the Peoria Academy, which was at that time under the charge of the Rev. David Page. Possessing great natural ability, and a fondness for study, young Cone found no difficulty in mastering the depths of hidden lore. Lieut. Cone continued to live at home until his marriage in 1848, to Miss Cordelia Ann Smith, who died within a year. In 1850 he was united with Miss Harriet Berge, a daughter of Deacon Luther Berge, who was well known to the pioneers of this State for his rousing utterances on abolition and temperance, as well as his religious zeal. Mrs. Cone inherits much of the energy and strength of character which made her father so prominent, and in her these traits are combined with the softer qualities of womanhood, thus qualifying her for the important duties which devolve upon her in home life as well as in society. She is the mother of four children, viz.: Cordelia, who died in infancy; Frank, who lived to the age of but six years; Everett Luther, who is at home; and George C., a student in the University of Illinois, at Champaign, belonging to the class of '93. Mr. Cone improved a wild quarter-section of land before his marriage, the tract being near Elmwood. He sold it and next bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres near Henry, where he established a home of his own. In a short time he sold the farm and embarked in the dry-goods business at Elmwood, where he carried on a prosperous business career for seven years. He was enjoying a happy and successful life when the Civil War broke out and his loyalty drew him from his peaceful pursuit to a place amid his country's defenders. He enlisted in Company I, Seventy-seventh Illinois Infantry in the fall of 1862, and went to the front under command of Col. Grier, who afterward became a General. The company was mustered in at Peoria, and after spending a brief time in drilling, left for the front, their objective point being Lexington, Ky. They marched from Covington to Lexington, and were ordered on to Louisville, where they embarked on a boat from which they landed to participate in the Vicksburg campaign. The first heavy engagement in which Mr. Cone participated was Port Gibson, which was followed by Haines Bluff, where the Union forces met with a repulse. At Arkansas Post they took six thousand prisoners, at Champion Hills had a hard fight, as also at Black River Bridge. Before the company left the North, our subject had been elected Second Sergeant, and immediately after the engagement at Black River Bridge, he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant for valiant services, the commission being signed by U. S. Grant. In the second charge on Vicksburg, May 22, Lieut. Cone was shot through the left ankle, and was on crutches for eight months. He resigned and was honorably discharged on account of physical disability at New Orleans in November, 1863. He returned home scarcely more than a physical wreck, but with a war record of which any man might be justly proud. Since the war Mr. Cone has carried on farming, and now has property at Great Falls, Mont., and at Peoria. In 1863 he went to Memphis, took a permit to trade with the people of the South, and bought mill property there. He sustained a heavy loss in this venture, never receiving pay for the property and being thereby practically ruined. He did not apply for a pension until about seventeen years after the war, when reverses compelled him to do so. In politics Lieut. Cone is in sympathy with the Republican party, but is no office seeker. He is noted for integrity and honesty, which characteristics have been maintained throughout adversity and prosperity alike. He is slightly inclined toward the Swedenborgian religion, liberal-minded toward those of diverse faiths, and generous in aid of worthy enterprises.