Yates became the Civil War governor of Illinois and later a U.S. senator .
The first two college graduates in the state of Illinois , Richard Yates and Jonathan E. Spilman , received their degrees from Illinois College in 1835 .
Richard Yates became the Civil War governor of Illinois and later a U.S. senator .
The first two college graduates in the state of Illinois , Richard Yates and Jonathan E. Spilman , received their degrees from Illinois College in 1835 .