ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi tˈuː, hiː dᵻklˈɛɹd hɪz kˈændɪdəsi fɚðɪ ˌɪlənˈɔɪ hˈaʊs ʌv ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntətˌɪvz, bˌʌt ˌɪntɚɹˈʌptᵻd hɪz kæmpˈeɪn tə sˈɜːv æz ɐ kˈæptɪn ɪnðɪ ˌɪlənˈɔɪ məlˈɪʃə dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə blˈæk hˈɔːk wˈɔːɹ.
In 1832, he declared his candidacy for the Illinois House of Representatives, but interrupted his campaign to serve as a captain in the Illinois Militia during the Black Hawk War.