HR1208 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1208 LRB097 22550 MST 71325 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize the life and accomplishments of James J. Shields, who by the time of his passing in 1879, at the age of 73, had served his fellow citizens as a soldier, teacher, lawyer, judge, Illinois Supreme Court Justice, State Auditor, and State Representative; and

WHEREAS, James J. Shields arrived in America in the 1820's, a penniless Irish Catholic immigrant without a friend or patron; and

WHEREAS, James J. Shields served the public in numerous positions such as Illinois House Representative, Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts, Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, U.S. Army General in the Mexican War, Governor of the Oregon Territory, U.S. Senator from Illinois, U.S. Senator from Minnesota, Union Army General in the Civil War, Missouri House Representative, and U.S. Senator from Missouri; and

WHEREAS, James J. Shields fought a duel with Abraham Lincoln over defaming newspaper articles supposedly written by Lincoln; bloodshed was avoided with Shields and Lincoln ending up as friends; and

WHEREAS, James J. Shields, during the Civil War, handed "Stonewall" Jackson his only defeat at the hands of the Union Army at the Battle of Kernstown; and

WHEREAS, James J. Shields holds the distinction as the only person ever to be a U.S. Senator from three different states: Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize James J. Shields, a little known, often overlooked, great American of Irish descent, whose achievements serve as an inspiration to all, immigrants and native born alike; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Irish American Hall of Fame as a symbol of our recognition.