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.
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.