USA > Illinois > Johnson County > A history of Johnson County, Illinois > Part 15
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Dr. L. L. Shadrick was a native of and practiced in this county more than sixty years ago in the neighborhood of Mt. Pisgah. He married Elizabeth Fisher who after his death married W. I. Joiner, a Civil War veteran and a busi- ness man of Vienna many years. "Aunt Betty" as she is familiarly known, now eighty-four years old is still a resi- dent of Vienna.
Dr. W .R. Mizell was the first doctor to locate in New Burnside, which must have been about 1873. He built the second residence there and has practiced continuously for more than fifty years. He married Miss Thompson and has one son, Adolph, who is a physician of Shelbyville, Ill.
Dr. N. M. Hudson owned a drug store and practiced medicine in Tunnel Hill for a short time in the early seven- ties, but later removed to Harrisburg, Illinois.
Dr. J. F. Blanchard came from Pope County to New Burnside when it was a thriving town and followed his profession there for several years, but later removed to Creal Springs, Illinois, where he still resides. He married
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Mary Frizzel, sister 'to Lewis, of this county and had Bertha, Vernell, Norve and Verne.
Dr. H. D. LaRue was a native of Kentucky. He came to New Burnside and practiced medicine about twenty-five years but removed from the county several years ago. He married Bonnie Trovillion, of Pope County and has a son, Dr. Claude, who practices in Boulder, Colo., and one daugh- ter, Robbie, who married Mr. Robbs, and they reside in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
Dr. M. J. Kerley was a physican in Flatwood neigh- borhood near Simpson, beginning his work about 1886. He was the ninth son of Thomas Kerley and the Uncle of Dr. T. B. Kerley of Simpson.
Dr. Albert McConnell came to Simpson neighborhood as a physican about 1886, where he continued his practice for many years. His son, C. A. is a leading physican of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Dr. J. T. Loney is a native of this county, and a son of Dr. W. A. He acquired his education in the public schools and Southern Illinois Normal and also graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago. He was appointed assistant physican at Chester prison, but later settled at Simpson where he practiced for some time when he re- moved to Vienna continuing his work there for several years. He removed to Tishomingo, Oklahoma, where he follows his profession. (For family see Simpson.)
Dr. Asher was a physician of New Burnside for a few years.
Dr. J. H. Simmons was a son of Peter Simmons who came from North Carolina and was a native of Simpson Township, practicing there several years about 1888. He removed to Vienna and with Dr. Joseph Walker engaged in the drug business for a short time when he removed to Missouri where he still follows his profession. He married Nancy Kerley of this county.
Dr. I. N. Graves is a native of this county, a son of Joshua and Katherine (Stewart), born in 1849. His an- cestors were among the first settlers of the county, coming from North Carolina. He graduated from the College of Physicans and Surgeons in 1889; he married Maude Rich-
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ardson, they had Rollo, who married and removed from the county ; Cora, married Charles Stanley ; Zora, married Ray Bradley and has Vivian and Gale and resides in Goreville; Mabel, married Frank Stevens and has one child; James, married Helen Coleman; Hazel is a teacher in the Goreville schools. Dr. Graves has been a resident of Gorville for many years ; and a physician for fifty-five.
Dr. J. J. Fly came to Goreville about 1904 practicing there about fifteen years, when he moved to Herrin, Illinois. He maried Elmiranda McIntosh and had children, Nettie, who married Newton Lentz, Carrie, married Zach Hudgens, Bert, married J. B. Hudgens and had Arbie, Valjean, Wil- helma, Emma, Jack and Kay; Emma married Roe Hubbard, Whilhelma married Earl Thornton, has Robert T. Eva mar- ried Pat Kelley; Ethel married (first) Tine Huggins and had two sons, second Mr. Lentz; Ralph, married Mary Grissom, lives in Franklin County; Afton, married Mr. Johnson and lives in Herrin.
Dr. R. A. Cavitt is a native of Tunnel Hill and a son of Jackson Cavitt. He graduated from the College of Physicans and Surgeons, St. Louis, Mo., and practiced in his home community a few years, but later removed to Morrison, Oklahoma, where he is continuing in his pro- fession.
Dr. A. D. Thornton is a resident physician of Gore- ville and a native of that community. He is a son of William P. and Alice (Calhoun) Thornton, and married Fanie Boles. He was educated in the public schools of Goreville and acquired his profesional education at the Chicago College of Medical Surgery, graduating in 1913. He has extensive farming interests and is a fancier of thoroughbred horses and registered cattle.
Dr. Whittaker and Dr. Hurst owned a drug store in Goreville and practiced there several years. Dr. Whit- taker married Miss Hurst, a sister of Dr. Hurst. Dr. Hurst married Ursula daughter of Charles Calhoun.
Dr. G. K. Farris was born in this county and received his elementary education here and later graduated from the Medical Department of St. Louis University. He be- gan practice in Vienna in 1906 and has developed extensive practice. (For family see Farris.)
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Dr. Earl Veach is a native of this county and received his education in its public schools. He selected medicine as his profession and graduated from the St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1915. He opened an office in Vienna where he enjoys a lucrative practice.
Dr. William Thompson came to this county from Ten- nessee in 1862. He was an M. E. minister and a physican. He settled on a farm east of Vienna, now owned by Frank- lin Marberry, living there till about 1874 when he moved to the villiage of Bloomfield, continuing his work as a phy- sician and minister fifteen or twenty years. Rev. Fred L. Thompson (2), was his son and had been licensed to preach in the M. E. church before his father came to this county. He married Mary Bruner of Metropolis. Later in life he became quite prominent as a minister of the Southern Illi- nois M. E. Conference. The other children of Dr. Thomp- son were Elizabeth (2), who married James Williams, they lived for a while in Bloomfield, later moved to Missouri. Robert (2), married Cynthia Thomas, of this county and they had children Effie (3), Mary (3), Theodocia (3). J. H. (3), lived in Simpson Township. He married first Mary Cornish and they had William (4), (see Physicans) J. H. (3), married second (Mary McKee) Wormack and had Robert (4), Cletus (4) ; Virginia (3), married Jasper Mount, they had Ella (4), Fred (4), Frank (4), Elizabeth (4), Lily (4), Laura (4), Mable (4), Ella (4), married John H. Whiteside, Frank (4) married Nellie Short, Fred (4) married Luella Rushing, Elizabeth (4) married J. W. (see Reynolds), Lily (4) married J. S. Galoway, of Herrin, Illinois, Sophia (4) married George Williams, Mable mar- ried Mr. St. John, of Fort Worth, Texas.
Dr. William Thompson, a son of J. H., and a native of this county is a graduate of the Barnes Medical College, St. Louis, Mo., finishing in the class of 1909. Dr. William began practice in Belknap immediately after his gradua- tion, continuing there till 1918, when he enlisted in the World War, going as a captain to France in 1918, and serv- ing till the close of the war. In 1922 he removed to Cypress where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice. He married Bertha. (see Marberry.)
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MILITIA
In 1775 a law was passed by the delegates of the coun- ties of Virgina as follows, "Each company of infantry shall consist of fifty-eight riflmen, one captain, two lieuten- ants, one ensign, four sergants, four corporals and a drummer." As Illinois was a part of Virgina, a little later the law prevailed in this section. "A battallion of militia was formed in that part of Randolph County lying on the Ohio River in 1809." E. J. James Territorial Laws. (This section later became Johnson County) "An order was issued by the Governor, June 2, 1809, to hold elections in these respective companies to elect persons to command these companies." The reason for organizing these companies of militia, no doubt, lay in the fact that the Indians in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois had become troublesome and frequent depredations were inflicted on the pioneer settlers. Major John Worebeck petitioned congress in 1812, to raise four companies of mounted trops in Illinois to be used in defense of the frontier settlements against the Indians. In 1810 and 1812 there were a series of massacres by Indians in Illinois territory. In 1811 settlers on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers manned a fort which had been built in 1804 on Muddy River near where old Fort Massac trace crosses that stream. This section was considered an exposed position and many people moved away on account of fear of the Indians. In 1813, two families were killed on Cache River about where Mound City is now located. The following was the territorial law under which the militia companies were formed for protection against Indian at- tacks. "All free white inhabitants, residents of the state of the age of 18 years and under 45, except as herein after excepted, shall be enrolled in the militia by the commanding officer of the company within whose bounds such persons shall reside, within ten days after he shall be informed of such residence and at all times, therein after, in like manner shall be enrolled, those who may from time to time arrive at the age of eighteen or come to reside in the district, be- ing of that age and under forty-five." This was copied from the early laws passed at Vincennes for the defense of the territory. "The governor shall provide for raising com- panies of grenadiers, light infantry, riflemen and artillery agreeable to the laws of the United States at his discretion and when such companies are raised and officered shall be
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subject to the laws and rules of the United States and of the territory as any other militia." June 26, 1811. "All officers shall reside in the respective commands." The third and fourth regiments of militia were formed along the Ohio and Wabash Rivers and located in Johnson and Gallatin Counties. The following are some of the appoint- ments in the militia in this part of the state later known as Johnson County : January 10, 1810, Hamlet Furguson, William Simpson, Phillip Trammell, James Ford, William Alexander, and Absalom Cox were appointed captains of militia by Governor Edwards, August 2, 1810, Thomas Griffith was appointed captain in the third regiment of the militia; January 20, 1812, the governor appointed John Bradshaw, captain, Louis McMillian, John Patterson and Daniel T. Coleman, lietutenants, John Tweedy, Stephen Kuykendall, Irvil Borin, ensigns in the third regiment; January 2, 1810 David Anderson was appointed adjutant of the militia of Randolph County; July 9, 1810 the gover- nor appointed William Simpson, Jr., ensign in the third regiment; September 24, 1814 John F. Smith, Daniel Cole- man, James B. Bailey, and William Thornton were appoint- ed captains; John Harris, Ebenzer Kealough, John Tweedy, Stephen Smith, William Huckam, lietuenants, Nathan Langston, William Johnson, John Whitiker, Issac Borin, William Tripp, John Schultz, ensigns in the third militia of Johnson County. Joseph Kuykendall was ap- pointed lieutenant, George Weir, John Ruft, ensigns and D. T. Coleman Captain in the third regiment; January 20, 1812, Owen Evans and William Simpson were appointed majors in the third regiment, April 2, 1812, James Fox and Rice Sams were appointed captains, Martin Harvick and Vincent Larkin, lieutenants, James Simpson and William McFatridge, ensigns in the third regiment; June 15, 1815 Thomas Griffith was appointed major and Martin Harvick a captain in the third regiment; August 4, 1815 William Richy, James Fisher, James Johnston were appointed lieu- tenants, John Fisher, Robert Miller, ensigns in the third regiment; January 10, 1816 William Hickman was ap- pointed captain, William Lindsey, John Whitiker and Will- iam McNorton lieutenants, R. Davis, Joseph Perrin, en- signs of the third regiment; June the 3, 1818 Benjamin Means was appointed captain, Daniel Coleman, Vice captain Allen Mckenzie captain and vice captain J. C. Smith, John
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C. Smith promoted to major, Thomas Cox and John Graves were appointed captains, Joseph Kuykendall, William Mc- Ginnis and William Shelton, lieutenants.
All the officers were first elected by the militia and then appointed by the Governor. These appointments have been compiled from the territorial records by E. J. James from 1809 to 1818. William Russell was allowed one dollar for acting as clerk of the election for militia officers in 1825. The men serving in the militia were given land by the government. John White states he was a private in Cap- tain Joseph Phillips Company, enlisted May 6, 1814, dis- charged August 21, 1815. He gave George Brazel power of attorney for him. His deed is recorded in Johnson.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Johnson County was so far away and so new that there were none here to enlist to fight for the freedom of our country from the English. But a number who had served from different states came here afterward and we have many descendants of Revolutionary soldiers now liv- ing among us. Alexander Beggs was a Revolutionary soldier and at one time a resident of Union County and he drew a pension as such. His widow, Elizabeth Beggs, held certificate No. 13,389, dated at the war office Washington, D. C., July 1833; signed by John Rabb, acting as Secretary of War. Alexander Beggs died in 1837. The court of Johnson County ordered the clerk to certify the same to August for paying pension at Carmi, State of Illinois.
Mary McMahan was certified to as being the widow of John McMahan, a revolutionary pensioner. It was recom- mended by the court of Johnson County that she be allowed a pension from December 1823, the date of his death, till October, 1837. The court certified to her application to the war department. Hezekiah West stated that he served in 1780 as a private in Captain Frost's company of Mounted Rangers, in Col. Winn's regiment, for one month in 1781, in Captain Robert Frost's company of foot, three months; in 1782 in Captain John McNeal's company of Mounted Rangers, in Colonel Davis Hopkin's regiment three months. He was allowed a pension December 3, 1832, at which time he resided in Johnson County, Illinois.
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Jacob Harvick-From sur. File No. 32, 289 Revolu- tionary War Pension office, we find Jacob Harvick was a resident of Surry Co., North Carolina and volunteered as a private, early in 1781, under Captain Hulet or Hewitt, in Colonel Phillip's regiment and served three months. In the fall of 1781, he again entered the service as private in the North Carolina line, under Captain Charles Gorden and served one year. He was allowed a pension on applica- tion executed July 3rd, 1833 while a resident of Johnson County. William Wiggs or Weggs, from the papers in the claim Sur. File No. 32,608; it appears that Wm. Wiggs was born in Wayne County, North Carolina, about 1758. He served as private 1775 for thirty-five days in Captain William Fellows' Company; in 1779 for five months under Captain John Canada, and in 1781 three months under Captain Joseph Sessions and was in the battle of Guilford. He was allowed a pension on his application executed April 26, 1833 while residing in Johnson County, Illinois. Ran- dolph Lawson-In the rejected claim R. 6, 205; it appears that Randolph Lawson was born in Cumberland County, North Carolina, in the fall or winter of 1752, and while liv- ing there, volunteered in the summer of 1780, under Cap- tain Cox or Gholson and guarded baggage during the battle of Camden, also he again volunteered in 1781 under Cap- tain Duck or Cox and guarded baggage during the battle of Guilford, and that he did not actually engage in either battle. He applied for pension, executed April, 1835, while living in Johnson County, Illinois, but his claim was re- jected as he did not furnish sufficient proof of six months military service as required by the act of June 7th, 1832, under which he applied. His children are referred to but their names are not given and that of his wife is not stated.
Daniel Chapman-In the Spring of 1775, he volun- teered in West Chester County, New York for the nine months under Captain Sackett, who joined the regiment of Colonel Thomas. The population of the county had an un- usual proportion of tories, who in the latter part of 1775. as well as during the following winter, were very active and aggressive in plundering and burning the buildings occupied by the patriots, to prevent these depredations he was involved in a number of skirmishes, one of them oc- curring at New Castle, Westchester County, where his cap- tain was taken prisoner. After his term had expired he was
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detained two months longer before he received his dis- charge. In the spring of 1776 he again volunteered for nine months under the same officer, Captain Sackett having been exchanged and was employed in the same partisan war fare as no regular British troops were stationed above New York City until after it was occupied by the enemy Sep- tember 15, 1776. A Colonel Holmes, who had lived in Bed- ford had joined the British and with a body of Tory horse- men destroyed the buildings in that town except his own house.
A deserter brought the information that Col. Holmes was coming to destroy them. To prevent this, Chapman, with a party of forty-five or fifty others volunteered under Lieutenant Mosier. His party was surrounded by four times its number of Tory horsemen, yet by forming a hollow square they received the attack at the point of their bayonets, with a great slaughter, of men and horses, killing the horse of Colonel Holmes and badly wounding him. The enemy was repulsed by the patriots without the loss of a man.
Early in 1777 Chapman, being well acquainted with the country, volunteered as a scout and received the ap- pointment of 2nd Sergeant under Colonel Weisenfelt in which capacity he served one year; having occasional fights with parties of the enemy. He continued with Colonel . Weisenfelt until the main army, late in August, 1781, marched south to meet Cornwallis, in Virginia. He was in conflicts at Dobbs Ferry where there was a small fort, which to some extent prevented the enemy's vessels from passing up the river.
William Copeland-Adjutant General's office, Wash- ington, D. C. It is shown by the records of this office that Wm. Copeland of Virginia served as a private in Captain William Smith's company 11th. Virginia Regiment, com- manded successively by Colonel Daniel Morgan, Major Thomas Snead, Captain William Blackwell, Captain Charles Porterfield and Lieutenant Colonel John Cropper, Revolu- tionary war. He enlisted November 23, 1776, to serve dur- ing the war, was promoted to Corporal, in December, 1776, transferred about November 1878 to Captain Charles Porterfield's Company, 7th Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel Daniel Morgan transferred about May 7, 1779
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to Captain John Marshall's company, same regiment, and he is reported on the company muster roll for November, 1779, dated at Camp Morristown, December 9, 1779 as dis- charged.
The service of Copeland and Lawson had not been established at the time the Tablet was placed in the Court Yard at Vienna in 1919. William Copeland is buried in this county, tradition says, on the Alfred Hook farm.
John Damron, maternal grandfather of Captain Mark Whiteaker was a pioneer of New Burnside Township, this county and has many descendants here. Benj. Gill was also a Revolutionary soldier and resided in Johnson County. They are buried in Williamson County at the Drake Ceme- tery, just across the line of Johnson. Their graves were marked by the government as Revolutionary Soldiers through their descendants several years ago. Daniel Chap- man's grave was marked as a Revolutionary Solider by his family. Jacob Harvick and Hezekiah West's graves were marked by the Daniel Chapman Chapter D. A. R. of Vienna.
They have not yet been able to locate the graves of the other men whose revolutionary services have been estab- lished.
WAR OF 1812
The roster of 1812 does not give the address of the soldiers enrolled. It only states what county they were from and in most cases the county in which they enlisted. The following names have been selected as men probably serving from Johnson County as the names also appear on record here: James N. Fox commanded a detachment of rangers on the frontier of Johnson County from February 13, 1813 till March 1, 1813. James Fox was sergeant in this company. The privates were William Edwards, James Flannery, Buckner Harris, James Buchen, George Deason, Daniel Griffith, Moas Blain, John F. Norton, Shadrock Rawlinson, William Rawlinson and John Davis. William Simpson, father of J. J. Simpson served in the war of 1812 under Captain James Whiteside. James Bradshaw served in Captain John Scotts Company. John Worley in Captain Alexander's company. There is no way of knowing posi- tively, but the following were more than likely men who served in this war from this county: Joseph and John Fur-
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guson, Captain Craig's Company; Jeremiah Lissenbee, Captain Henry Cook's Company, Joshua Talbot, J. B. Moore's Company ; William Cravens and Elisha Ladd, Cap- tain Dudley William's Company; Andrew Roberts and William Brazel, Captain William Jones' Company; Nathan Langston, Captain Nathan Chamber's Company.
BLACK HAWK WAR 1831-32
There is no roster of Johnson County men in the Adjut- ant General's report of those who served in the Black Hawk War and no address except the county in which they enlisted. It is a little difficult therefore to decide just who were Johnson County men. There are three old residents of this county whom it is certain were soldiers in this war; Jason B. Smith, Green B. Veach, both from Pope County and Locklin L. Madden given in an independent regiment. There are several other names that belong to early families of this county as follows: Barton Scroggins, John J. Dean, Joseph Harper, Pleasant Rose, James B. Kerley, Milton Ladd, George Vancil, Nathan D. Walker and George W. Chapman.
MEXICAN WAR
In the Adjutant General's report the names of the soldiers who served from this county in the Mexican War were recorded but their address is not given, only the place of enlistment, consequently it is only possible to gather these names from accidental lists and old people and many may be unintentionally omitted.
Mexican Soldiers and widows living in Goreville Town- ship 1887: Daniel Lingle, E. F. Francis, George Black, Mathew Bradley, Mrs. G. W. Gillespie, Mrs. James Stone. Other names given are George Pendergrass, R. C. Miller, A. Cover, Mr. Washer, Joe Thomas, Jack Smith, Jason, B. Smith, Colonel Samuel Hess, D. C. Chapman, Blewitt Bain, Joshua Simpson, James Jackson, John Oliver, Isaac Bain, G. W. Chapman, Green B. Veach, James B. Murray, Samuel Whitemore, Elisha Ladd, B. F. Hayward, Elisha Axley, Larkin and Daniel Simpson, widows Mrs. Pack and Mrs. Short.
SPANISH WAR
The names found of those serving from this county in the Spanish War of 1897 and 1898 were: R. F. Thornsberry
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Elder W. Cline, W. R. Simpson, Thomas Clymer, William Rebman, Frank Milligan, A. C. Karaker, Harry Perkins, Moses Halcomb, Olus Bailsen, D. Edward Jones, Carroll Webb, William Tiller, Benjamin H. Shanklin; Dempsy Summer, Kit Brayboy, colored. John Beauman of this coun- ty served in the Signal Corps of the regular army in this war, and died of yellow fever. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery, Va., Adolphus Worley, a Johnson County boy also served in this war, enlisting from Texas. William Donaghy another native son was a volunteer in this war. His place of enlistment is not known.
D. J. Cowan, former cadet of Southern Illinois Normal raised a company here to serve under Colonel J. P. Robarts, of Mound City. D. J. Cowan was captain, Charles M. Ferris, 1st Lieutenant, W. Y. Davis, 2nd Lieutenant, but the services of the Colonel or the company were not needed in this war.
CIVIL WAR, 1861-65
It is not an easy task to search out the names of the soldiers of this war, but the task was done willingly since our obligation to those old and now fast passing veterans can never be discharged. We want to revere their memory and honor those who are still among us. The only regret is, that by mistake some of the names may be omitted in this list. There were 1,678 men subject to duty in Johnson County in 1861. They were scattered in different regi- ments of Infantry in the following companies 8th, 9th, 11th, 18th, 20th, 29th, 31st, 48th, 56th, 60th, 65th, 72nd, 81st, 88th, 90th, 91st, 109th, 110th, 120th, 123rd, 127th, 128th, 136th, and 145th; Cavalry 1st, 5th, 6th, 9th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and Battery K Light Artillery. Those containing the largest number of men were the 31st Regiment, organized by John A. Logan and composed mostly of men from South- ern Illinois except companies I and K. They were mustered into service September 8, 1861. Their first major engage- ment was at Belmont ; some other battles were Ft. Donelson, Thompson's Hill, Champion Hill, many skirmishes and other duties falling to the lot of the soldier whose term of service was as long as theirs. They participated in the siege of Vicksburgh, receiving the place of honor at its capitulation.
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