History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

60 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
with all the accessories necessary to issuing a high-class paper,
presenting the most attractive forms of the printer's art.
Through all the }-ears Mr. Shaw was an ardent supporter of
the republican party and took ju^^t i^ride in the fact that he had
been one of its organizers. In February, 1856, he was an active
participant in the meeting, held in Decatur, of Illinois editors
who were opposed to the repeal of the IVIissouri Compromise. The
political questions and the issues of the day were earnestly dis-
cussed and the editors' meeting resulted in calling a convention
to meet in Bloomington in June of the same year. It was at the
latter meeting that the republican party had its real organization
and nominated the first state ticket. On that occasion Mr.
Shaw was in consultation with Abraham Lincoln as a member
of the committee on resolutions. In his capacity of journalist
he was brought into contact Avith man,y of the distinguished men
of that and later periods and had personal acquaintance with the
prominent political statesmen and leaders of Illinois. Few men
not active in polities and seeking the rewards of office have had
more intimate, accurate and conq)Lehensive knowledge of the
political situation and the ([uestions of the day. Mr. Shaw held
some local offices but he regarded Jounialism as his profession and
his real life work. In 18-59 he was elected clerk of the circuit
couit and was reelected to that position, his term expiring in
1868. The following year he was connected with the internal
revenue dei»ai'tment and was appointed by the government to
locate the asylum for the insane at Elgin. In 1876 he was
appointed state canal commissioner and served for six years as
one of the three conunissioners who had charge of the Illinois and
Michigan canal and the Rock River improvement work. He
acted as secretary of the first meeting held in the interests of the
Hennepin canal. In 1891, without his solicitation, he was
appointed postmaster of Dixon and served for the full term of
four years. In 1899 he was again called to that office and by
reappointment served until his death, filling the position alto-
gether for twenty-two years. He was interested in all matters of
pTdilic progress and im]U'()vement, and from the time of its organ-
ization mitil his death was president of the O. B. Dodge public
library. Progressive public measures which he deemed practi-
cable always received not only his ]iersonal indorsement but the
support of his paper, and it was well known that the Dixon Telegra])h
was at all times the champion of advancement and improvement.
He stood as a high type of public-spirited citizenship, and