Shadrach Bond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shadrach Bond
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| 1st Governor of Illinois | |
| In office October 6, 1818 – December 5, 1822 |
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| Lieutenant | Pierre Menard |
| Preceded by | Ninian Edwards (Illinois Territory) |
| Succeeded by | Edward Coles |
| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Illinois Territory's at-large district |
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| In office December 3, 1812 – August 2, 1813 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Stephenson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 24, 1773 Frederick, Maryland, British America |
| Died | April 12, 1832 (aged 58) Kaskaskia, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse | Achsah Bond |
| Children | 3 |
| Signature |  |
Shadrach Bond (born November 24, 1773 – died April 12, 1832) was an important figure in the early history of Illinois. He represented the Illinois Territory in the United States Congress. Later, in 1818, he became the very first Governor of Illinois, leading the state as it was just beginning. He was so popular that he won both of these big jobs without anyone running against him!
Contents
Early Life and Moving West
Shadrach Bond was born in 1773 in Frederick, Maryland. He had an uncle, also named Shadrach Bond, who was a scout. This uncle explored the Illinois Country, which was a rich area of land. The younger Shadrach learned about the great farmland there from his uncle.
Because of this, Shadrach Bond moved to a very fertile area called the American Bottom. This area is near the Mississippi River. He became a farmer in Illinois and stayed one for his whole life.
Bond also joined a group called the Freemasons. He was part of a lodge in Maryland and then in Illinois. He even became the first leader, or Grand Master, of the Illinois Grand Lodge in 1822.
Political Journey
Shadrach Bond was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party. This was one of the main political parties at the time.
First Steps in Government
Before Illinois became a state, Bond was elected to the Indiana Territorial Council. This was like a local government for the area. When the Illinois Territory was created, he was chosen to represent it in the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.
Governor of Illinois
When Illinois officially became a state, Shadrach Bond was elected as its first governor. This was a big job because Illinois was brand new. It had lots of potential but very few roads or money.
Improving Transportation
As governor, Bond's main goal was to improve transportation. Since the state had little money, he supported building private toll roads and bridges. These were roads where people paid a fee to use them. One important road connected Kaskaskia, the first state capital, to Shawneetown, a large city on the Ohio River. This road was built and later became part of Illinois Route 13.
Bond also wanted to build a canal to connect Lake Michigan and the Illinois River. This would help boats move goods easily. While he pushed for it, the canal was not built until the 1840s, long after he left office.
Laws and Justice
Governor Bond was also concerned about crime. He worked to make laws fairer. For example, he took steps to get rid of harsh punishments like the whipping post and pillory. These were old ways of punishing people for smaller crimes.
The State Bank Debate
One of Bond's most challenging moments was when the state government wanted to create a new bank. This bank would print its own money, called banknotes. Bond thought this was a bad idea because the state didn't have enough gold or silver (called specie) to back up the value of the banknotes. He believed that without real money to support them, the banknotes would become worthless.
Even though Bond tried to stop it, the bank was created anyway. Just as he predicted, it quickly ran out of money and failed. This showed that Bond's concerns were right.
Life After Governorship
After serving one term as governor, Shadrach Bond returned to his farm in Kaskaskia. The state capital had moved to Vandalia, so he was no longer at the center of state politics.
However, he still held important roles. President James Monroe appointed him to manage the Kaskaskia land office. This was a key job because it helped people buy land in the growing state. Bond also helped raise money to build Illinois's first state prison in Alton. In his later years, he continued to be a leader in his Masonic Lodge.
His Legacy
Shadrach Bond died from pneumonia on his farm in Kaskaskia in 1832. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Chester. His grave is marked by a special monument called the Governor Bond State Memorial. In 2008, a strong storm called Hurricane Ike damaged his monument.
Illinois has honored Shadrach Bond in several ways. In 1817, before he became governor, a new area was named Bond County in his honor. There is also a lake named after him, Governor Bond Lake, in Greenville, Illinois.
See also
In Spanish: Shadrach Bond para niños
