HENRY D. DEMENT , Secretary of State of Illinois, was born in Galena, Illinois, October 10, 1840, is the son of John and Mary L. Dement, of Dixon, (natives of Tennessee and Missouri, respectively) and grandson of Henry Dodge, of Wisconsin. Mr. Dement began his education in the common schools of Dixon, Illinois, which was preparatory to his collegiate education at Rock River Seminary, Mount Morris, Illinois; and a Catholic College at Sinsinawa Mound, Wisconsin, and a Presbyterian College at Dixon, Illinois. The breaking out of the late war, at which time Mr. Dement was attending the last named College, was the cause of his not completing his collegiate course, as he enlisted in the Union army and took an active part, as is shown by the service he rendered his country during the war. Mr. Dement enlisted in the United States army in 1861, and received his commission of Second Lieutenant of Company A, Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, April 20, 1861, and the following day was commissioned First Lieutenant. Lieutenant Dement received a complimentary commission as Captain, February 3, 1863, for gallantry at Arkansas Post and Vicksburg, which rank he held to the close of the war. He served with Generals Fremont and Curtis throughout all their campaigns west of the Mississippi, was with General Sherman in his defeat at Chickasaw Bayour; with General Grant when he marched to the rear of Vicksburg, and present in all the assaults upon the works of that stronghold; was with General Sherman's corps, in both engagements, in the capture of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. Captain Dement served until August, 1863, and subsequently, after his returning home, was elected to the Lower House of the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth General Assemblies, and as Senator in the Thirtieth and Thirty-first General Assemblies from the Twelfth Senatorial District, composed of Lee and Ogle counties. Was elected Secretary of State at the election of 1880, which position he fills at present. Secretary Dement was engaged in the manufactory of plows from 1864-1870, with the firm known as Todd & Dement. In the year 1870 he engaged in the manufactory of flax bagging for covering cotton bales, in which he is still engaged. The factory is located in Dixon, Illinois, and does a flourishing business. Secretary Dement was married in Dixon, Illinois, October 20, 1864, to Miss Mary F. Williams, of Castine, Maine, who is the daughter of Hon. Hezekiah and Eliza (Patterson) Williams, natives of Vermont and Maine, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Dement had five children, of whom three daughters are living, Gertrude May, Lucia W., and Nonie E. Mr. and Mrs. Dement are members of the Presbyterian Church, and their residence is in Dixon, Illinois.