My Genealogy Hound

SINGLETON, GEN. JAS. W. The subject of this sketch at present resides at his beautiful home, near the city of Quincy, known as “Boscobel Stock Farm;” Sec. 32; P. O. Quincy, and gives his attention exclusively to the rearing of fine stock. He is a native of Virginia, and was born at Paxton, the country residence of his father, in Frederick county, Va., Nov. 23, 1811, and received his education at the Winchester, Va., Academy. He took up his residence at Mt. Sterling, Schuyler county, (now Brown county) in 1834; was admitted to the bar in 1838; represented Brown county several times in the Legislature, and also in the convention that formed the Constitution of 1847. He was elected Brigadier-General of the 4th Brigade, 5th Division, Ill. Militia, in 1844, and was commissioned by Gov. Thomas Ford. He acted a conspicuous part in the so-called Mormon difficulties of the times; was elected to the Legislature from Brown and Adams counties in 1850, and again in 1852. He removed from Brown county to the city of Quincy in the spring of 1854, and practiced law until 1860, when he was elected to the Legislature from the county of Adams; and in 1861 a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of that year. In 1862, he was appointed by Gov. Yates, under authority of an act of the General Assembly of the State, one of a commission to visit, and confer with, the British and Canadian authorities on the subject of establishing a continuous water communication between the two countries. In 1868, he was nominated by the Democratic convention at Monmouth, for Congress, and ran against Mr. John B. Hawley, the Republican candidate, and present Assistant Treasurer of the United States. The district at the time being very overwhelmingly Republican, he was of course defeated, but received the largest vote ever given to a Democratic candidate in the district before or since, but lost the election by a greatly reduced and small majority. In 1878, he was again nominated by the Democrats for Congress, being supported by all parties. He carried the city of Quincy by the unprecedented majority of 1,732 out of 3,000 votes, receiving large majorities in every county in the district; was of course elected, and is now the Representative in Congress of the Eleventh District. It is a peculiarity of Gen. Singleton’s life, worthy of remark, that he has never permitted political differences to interrupt his social intercourse and enjoyment. Although an active, political opponent of President Lincoln and Gov. Yates, and at the same time opposed to the war, he was the warm and respected personal friend of both, and retains many valuable testimonials of their confidence and esteem.