Oglesby, Richard J. (1824-1899) Richard Oglesby was born in Kentucky. He practiced law, served in the Fourth Illinois Regiment during the Mexican War, and established a reputation as outstanding lecturer and campaign speaker. In 1859 he became an Illinois state senator. In 1861 he volunteered to fight for the Union in the Civil War, eventually attaining the rank of major-general. The remainder of his life was devoted to politics: Oglesby served both as governor of Illinois and as a United States Senator. He and Richard Yates visited Abraham Lincoln the day before the president was assassinated.