USA > Illinois > Johnson County > A history of Johnson County, Illinois > Part 34
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Mr. and Mrs. English were residents of Vienna for many years where they and their family added much to the social life of the community. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Church
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and Mr. English assisted in its activities and support. He is a mason, an odd fellow, and they were both members of the Egyptian chapter O. E. S. number 30.
FARRIS
Manuel E. and Elizabeth (Jones) Farris were Virginians, but emigrated to Tennessee in the early part of the Nineteenth century. Their youngest son was Thomas G., born in Giles County, that state, 1823, and when about twenty-one years old came to Union County, Ill., but later entered land in Johnson County, which is a part of the six hundred acres on which he lived at the time of his death. He brought his mother to this home where she lived many years. He was a first class farmer of his time and his widow and youngest son still resides on the farm. Thomas G. (2) married Catherine Gillespie and they had Stephen (3), who married Frances Helm, they had Loyd (4), Retta (4), Allice (4). Loyd (4) married May Jamison and has Marion (5) and Frances (5). Retta (4) married Thomas Duncan and has Helen (5) and Donald (5). Alice (4) married Byron Dunn. After Catherine's death, Thomas G. (2) married Amanda Gillespie · and their children are J. F. (3), who married Mary Grissom, also a native of this county, their children are Dawes (4), who married Zona (see Simpson). Mamie (4) married H. A. Spann (see Simpson) and Maple (4) in school. Charles (3) married Mary Terrhanious. Tennie (3) married Joshua Howell (see Simpson). Nettie (3) married William Grissom and had Curtis (4), Dorthy (4) and Mildred (4). Nora (3) married Thomas Cowan (see Worley). Lilly (3) married George (see English). Neoma (3) married Edward Carlton, has Dale (4), Lewis (4) and Ned (4). This family resides at Coulter. ville, Ill., where Mr. Carlton is cashier of the First National Bank of that city. Dr. G. K. (3) married Edith Burnett. Maude (3) is the widow of Roscoe Walker and has Joseph (4). Ward (3) married Bernice McMecan. The children are Mildred (4), Dema (4), Florence (4). He lives on the home farm. Other members of Emanuel and Elizabeth's family were Ned (2) who married Elizabeth Ball and had Mary (3), who married Pleasant (see Rose). Minerva (3) married John Howell and had Claud (4). Malinda (3) married James Stout, their children were Edward (4) and Thomas (4). John M. (3) mar- ried Margaret Murrie, children Hartzel (4), Edward W. (4), Lawrence (4), Charles (4), Mrs. Dick Morgan (4) and Mrs. Duff Howell "(4). Ned Farris (2) married second Mary Wilsford; children living, J. W. of Bloomfield and Fred. William (3) married Sarah Redden. They had children, Charles (4), Alonza (4), John (4), William (4), Newton (4), Joseph (4), Alice (4), Martha (4), Sidney (4). Most of this family have left the county. Irene (2) married William Keith and their children were John (3), who married India Grissom, and had
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William (4), James (4), Lula (4), Charles (4), Mabel (4) and George (4), who resides in San Diego, Calif., where his mother makes her home. William (4) has been an employe of the War College, Wash- ington, D. C. for many years and reached the rank of Major during the World War. Irene (3) married Pleasant Veach (see Chapman). Thomas (3) married Mary Slack and had Ida (4), James (4), Nora (4), and John (4). Mary (2) married Blant Keltner and their chil- dren were Ned (3), Louis (3), John (3) Stephen (3) and Alice (3) who married Thomas C. Murrie. Most of this family are residents of this county. One other daughter of Manuel and Elizabeth married Neal Carter, Sr.
J. F. Farris was born in this county and for years was a first class farmer, residing four miles east of Vienna. He moved to Vienna to give his children the benefit of the schools about fifteen years ago and engaged in the farm implement, hardware and trans- portation business which he has followed with success. For family see Farris.
FERN
Lawrence W. Fern was a native of England, born in Derbyshire, Jan. 14, 1818. He came with his parents to the United States when only six years old, and states in his biography that they sailed from Liverpool, with a Captain Collins, and were sixty-nine days on the voyage. They lost their way in a fog, and when it cleared they found themselves on the coast of Nova Scotia. Mr. Fern's parents settled in New York State, where he received a liberal education, and was admitted to the bar when twenty-one years old and practiced in both New York and Illinois, coming to the latter state as a resident, in 1843, although a lawyer he followed farming and teaching a greater part of his life. He was one of the pioneer educators of this county and was county surveyor in 1865. He purchased one thousand acres of land which was thought to be a very follish idea at that time. his neighbors called him land poor. He paid one dollar taxes in 1846, and for forty-five years paid forty-five dollars. a year taxes. His wife was Ellen Lasley, a native of Kentucky. Their children were W. J. (2), Andrew J. (2), a farmer of this county, Sarah E. (2), wife of E. H. Lemons, Missouri L. (2), wife of J. J. Whiteside, a merchant of Simpson, India L. (2), wife of William Simpson, Fransis (2), wife of Alfred Willis. Mr. Fern was a mason, a republican and in religion, a Missionary Baptist. He died in 1890. W. J. Fern (2) was born in this county in 1846. He remained on his fathers farm till about sixteen years old, receiving a good education in the district school. He afterward attended College Hill Seminary and later graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., when twenty-one years of age. He began the practice of medicine in Grantsburg, this
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· county, 1868. The following year he married Sarah J., the daughter of S. D. and S. J. Poor. They lived five years in that community, two years in Vienna, and removed to Tunnel Hill, where they resided the remainder of their lives. He had an extensive practice and was a trusted physician, also owned a drug store there for many years. Dr. and Mrs. Fern had three children, Nora (3), who married R. S. Gil- liam, Lawrence D. (3) of Vienna, who is engaged in the drug business who married Margaret Whitehead, two sons were born to them, Herbert (4) and Louis (4). Herbert was drowned at New Orleans, La., 1924. W. J. (3) married Ada Taylor and their children are William, a pharmacist ,and Lucile (4), a teacher who married Mr. Mc- Cuan, 1924.
FINNY
Judge James Finny was a very prominent man in the early history of this section of the state. His name appears on the Cahokia records 1780., and on Randolph County records as early as 1806. He was the first county clerk of this county and seved till about 1830 or later. He was also recorder of deeds, and must have been a man of classical education. His writing of more than one hundred years ago, is neat and legible, and the records kept by him are in good form as long as he was in office. He was never married. David Finny of Pope County born 1833, says he was the grandson of Alex- ander Finny, a prominent educator of Virginia, who had seven sons eight daughters, of which his father, Norman was one, and that Judge James Finny was Alexander Finny's brother. James Slack, grandson of John Finny said Judge James Finny was his great uncle, which would mean that Norman was one of Alexander's sons and John another. R. M. Finny of Kennet, Mo., says, it has always been his understanding, that Alexander Finny of Virginia was his grand father, and gives as his father's brothers Greenville Penn (2), John (2), William (2), his father James M. (2), who was born 1817. R. M. Finny gives as his fathers sisters, Mary (Polly) (2), who married William Slack, Matilda (2) married David Penrod, another sister married a Mr. Penrod, another sister married Walton John Gore, still another married a Mr. Hooker. William and John Penrod were mentioned as buyers at the sale of the John Finny estate, 1837. John (2) married Sarah Reynolds and had Mary, who married William (see Slack). James M. (2) married Mary Ann Smith, born 1829 and had Matilda (3), Milinda (3), John Marshall (3), Jefferson G. (3), R. M. (3), Sarah Elizabeth (3), W. B. (3), Virginia M. (3), and Sample Parks (3), this family has all noved out of the county. R. M. is a successful business man of Kennet, Mo. and is well known in this and his community. Sally Finny entered land in this county 1837 and was the mother of John Finny.
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Will of John Finny, October 24, 1836, I, John Finny, of the county of Johnson, being weak in body but sound mind and memory, do ordain and establish this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all others and I do hereby appoint Sally Finny, my mother to be the executrix of this, my last will and testament. This is my will that she will take all my family and let them live at her house, and that she will take all my property and spend it to raise my children, and my wife must work and help to raise my children, and she is to have her part with them, and if there is any more than it takes to raise them, I want her to let them have it when they be- come of age. William Slack, James M. Finny and Polly Slack, wit- nesses. In connection with this estate is an instrument signed by Polly Finny, wife of John Finny in which she renounces all claim to her husband's property and also a notice to Mary Ann, Lucinda, and William Finny, heirs of John P. Finny to appear at court in 1837. The estate of Green P. Finny who died in 1863, was administered on by John Slack. Rachel is given as the wife of Greenville P. and their children were William M., John M. and Gilbert.
FISHER
Robert M. Fisher was born in Johnson County, 1843, and de- scended from William Fisher, which is among the earliest names found on the county record. William (1) came to this county about 1810 from Indiana. William Fisher (2), son to the former, and the father of our subject was born in this county in 1816, died in the prime of life when R. M. was one year old. He was reared on a farm and attended public school occasionally, but the most of his education was gained outside of school, having a preference for law, he began the study of law under John F. McCartney of Massac County, and studied later under Judge Duff of Benton, Franklin County. He opened an office in Vienna 1873, and continued to practice here till 1895 when he left the county, going to Oklahoma. Mr. Fisher held office in the county, was elected County Superintendent of Johnson County Schools in 1869. In 1876 he was elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney and again in 1888, as a republican. He married first, Mary E. Fisher (see Simpson.) Mr. Fisher married second, Mrs. G. O. Hamilton, who was a native of Williamson County. They had Amy and Mildred. Amy married Charles Johnson, resides in Canton, Ohio. Mildred married Robert Kerr, and resides in Tulsa, Okla. Mr. Fisher lives at present (1924) at Long Beach, Calif.
FRANCIS
James S. was the son of Olmstead who was born in Virginia 1823 and Nancy (Dorrity) Francis. He was born in Tennessee, 1852 and came to this county when a child with his parents. He was 1
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educated in the schools of the county and McKendree College, Leban- on, Ill., followed teaching for some time, in 1880 he was elected C .- cuit Clerk for the county and was later elected to serve on the State Board of Equalization. He then engaged in the mercantile business till 1897 when he was appointed to a position in the Secretary of States office, Springfield, Ill., which position he filled till his final illness. Mr. Francis married Nannie E. Hogg (see Harvick). His widow and family reside in Springfield, Ill.
FRIZZELL
L. H. Frizzell was a native of this county and born in Burnside Township, 1852. He was reared and educated in that community, and on arriving at the age of manhood, set out for himself on a farm · in Grantsburg township, where he resided until 1886, when he was elected sheriff of the county. He was interested in the drug business with T. B. Powell for several years and was elected to the Legisla- ture of this state as a Democrate in 1900. After this service ex- pired he lived for a short time in Metropolis, but returned to Vienna where he spent the rest of his life. He married Sidney, daughter of S. D. Poor, and their children are Arista (2), widow of Ernest Moore, who resides with her sons Len Wallen and Ernest Jr. at Caruthers- ville, Mo. Mattie (2) wife of Thomas Johnson, a business man of Cairo, Ill. They have one son, Dan. Lewis (2) is a druggist and conducts a business at Mounds, Ill. Herman (2) the youngest is a graduate of the Bloomington Lew school and is practicing his pro- fession in East St. Louis. He married Mary Hooker of Vienna and they have Lewis (3).
GALEENER
.W. E. Galeener came to this county from Union in 1869, but was a native of Ohio. He served in the Civil War, though not from this county. He lived for several years at Tunnel Hill and was the pioneer nurseryman of this county. Mr. Galeener was a man of influence in his community and was always found on the right side of all moral questions. He was a republican, mason and Odd Fellow, belonged to the G. A. R. and took a great interest in the general welfare of the community and in the Methodist church of which he was a member. For his family (see Simpson). He married second widow of J. B. Chapman, with whom he lived for twenty-five years. Mr. Galeener died in 1921.
George E. Galeener is a native of this county and a son of W. E. and India (Perkins) Galeener. He was educated in our public schools and the University of Illinois. He is one of our young, energetic men who adds knowledge to his experience as a nurseryman. He is a member of the M. E. Church, a Republican and one of our dependable citizens. For family (see Chapman).
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GIBBS
Dr. Worthington J. Gibbs settled in Vienna, Johnson County, 1830. He was born in Phildelphia', Pa., where he acquired his train- ing in medicine under his father who was also a physician. He practiced here more than twenty-five years and was well and favor- ably known. The work of a country doctor was a much more diffi- cult task in those days than at the present, owing to the primitive highways and the inconvenient modes of travel. He represented this district in the State Senate from 1838 to 1842. His home has been referred to as being one of the most modern of its time and standing where the Carnegie Library now stands. Dr. W. J. (1) married Sabrina Rentfro, 1830 and their children were Worthington J. (2), Elizabeth B. (2), Mariah (2), J. A. Mack (2) and Sidney Breeze (2). W. J. (2) married Eliza Whitemore. Eliza B. (2) married James J. (see Bridges). Mariah S. (2) married J. F. Benson and their children were George (3) who married Emma McKee. Edward (3) married Minnie Cavitt. May (3) married John Blanchfill. Belle (3) married Frank Lay and had Mariah (4), Leah (4), Benson (4), and June (4). Dr. J. A. Mack (2) married Louisa Burkhouser and settled in Alexander County, near Thebes, where he practiced medicine until about two years ago when he removed to Cairo, Ill. He died in 1924, a very old man leaving one son. Sidney Breeze (2) married William J. Owen and their children were Ida (3), June (3), Winifred (3), Myrtle (3) most of whom are teachers.
GILLESPIE
Thomas L. Gillespie was born in Saulsbury, North Carolina and was a son of George Gillespie, who immigrated to this country in colonial days from Scotland. George resided on a farm near Slates- ville, N. C. Family tradition says, he served in the War of Indepen- dence as a captain in General Green's command. His wife's name was Allison or Ellison, also Scotch. He went from North Carolina to Tennessee and laid the land warrants that had been given him for his services in the war. He took his children with him, Thomas being among the number, who had been apprenticed to a hatter in Sauls- bury, in his youth, where he met Catherine Baird, and later married her. They raised a large family, two sons and nine daughters, all of whom had families. Three of these daughters came to Illinois with their father. Thomas L. who was born 1775. The three daugh- ters who accompanied him to this state were Elizabeth (2), who mar- ried James J. Hogg, they had John L. (3), Matha (3), Thomas (3), Frank (3), Gideon (3), Whitnel (3). John L. (3) married first Frances (see Walker), second Gertrude Stout they have Guy (4), Ray (4), Tony (4), Tenny (4), Rubby (4), Whitnel (4). Guy (4) mar- ried Maud Hamilton. Ray (4) married Virgia Dotson. Matha (3)
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married Adam Harvick. Thomas (3) married Emma (see Boyt). Frank (3) married Emma Elkins; they had Carrie (4), Fanny (4), William (4), Essy (4). Carrie (4) married a Mr. Bruner of Massac County. Fanny (4) married Mr. Castleman of Illmo, Mo. Sarah (2) married John L. Hogg and had Tabitha (3) who married David (see Oliver). James (3), George (3) married Miss Casper. Pole (3) Frank (3) married Martha Cantwell. Neoma (2) married John M. Gillespie, nephew to Thomas L., and their children were Frank (3), Sarah E. (3), who married W. P. (see Walker), William (3), James (3), who married Kate Kuykendall, Martha (3) married Samuel Jačk- son and left one son, Samuel (4). Catherine (3) and Amanda (3) married Thomas (see Farris). Frank (3) married Miss Johnson.
Captain J. B. Gillespie is a descandent of George and a grandson of Thomas L. whose history is given under that name. J. B., was born in Tennessee, 1838. His father was George, and his mother was Martha Swain who belonged to the Eagle family of Arkansas. The parents died before J. B. was five years old, and he came to this county with his grandfather (Thomas L.), with whom he resided un- til 1855, when he came to Vienna and found employment, helping to build the Star Mill, at thirteen dollars per month. After this he began work in John Bain's store at nine dollars per month and board, later his wages were increased to fifteen dollars. His next job was with Chapman and Hess at sixteen dollars per month, where he remained until 1862, when he enlisted in the Union Army, serving as Lieutenant, he was later promoted to Captain of Company I, 120th regiment. He was captured at the battle of Guntown, and was taken as a prisoner to Macon, Ga., where he suffered all the privations and inconviences of a rebel prison. He was transferred from one prison to another and was under fire of Union guns at Charleston, S. C. He was not ex- changed nor released until 1865 after the fall of the Confederacy.
After the war he followed merchandising and farming, also served the county as treasurer. In 1897, he was made a deputy revenuc collector for this district, which position he filled for seventeen years, as long as his health would permit. He and wife are quite old and reside in East St. Louis. They are republican in politics, and mem- bers of the M. E. Church. He is a Mason. James B. (1) married Mary L. daughter of Col B. S. Enloe, a prominent pioneer of Massac County in 1862. Their children are George B. (2) who married Ettie Oliver and they had Alfred (3) born 1892 and killed by accident while in training during the World War. Marion (3) served in the World War as Captain, and Louis (3) is a student of law at Chicago University (later entered the firm of Gillespie and Gillespie). This family reside in Springfield, Ill. F. S. Gillespie (2) married Belle Perkins. He was killed in a railroad accident 1898. James B. Jr.
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(2) married Rose Trapp, children Ruth (3), Emmet (3), Robert (3) and Rosemary (3). J. B. Jr., (2) has been Superintendent of the Halliday Grain Elevator at Cairo, Ill., for more than thirty years. W. L. (2) married Clara Huffman (see Simpson). He is yard master in the Illinois Central Railroad yards at Cairo, where they reside. Robert E. (2) married Ida Spann of this county (see Simpson). Robert was one of the founders of the National Bank of East St. Louis. He was very successful in business and died at a very useful time of life (1920). Fannie (2) married Lee Goodwin, a commission merchant of Jackson, Mo., where they reside. They have Lena (3) who married C. W. Henderson, and has Charles Allen (4); Helen (3), Walter (3), Brice (3), Frank (3), Mary (3) and Ray and Roy (3). Thomas E. (2) married Georgia Blanchfil of Vienna. They have Alice (3). He is a graduate of Vienna High and Bloomington Law Schools. Has practiced law several years in East St. Louis and recently removed to Springfield, Ill., where he entered the firm of Gillespie and Gillespie, composed of G. B. and son, Marion.
George B. is a son of Captain J. B. and Mary Enloe Gillespie and was born in this county, was educated in our public schools supple- mented by a course in the High School of Metropolis, Ill. He entered upon a brief career as a teacher at the age of eighteen, teaching one term at Mt. Pleasant this county, he then entered the office of county clerk as deputy which place he filled until the death of that officer, when he was appointed to fill the vacancy till the time for an election, in the meantime reading, law during his spare time. He later entered the law office of A. K. Vickers where he took a regular course of reading with office work finally entering the Law School at Bloom- ington and graduating from there in 1887. In 1890 G. B. Gillespie and L. O. Whitnel formed a partnership under the firm name of Whitnel and Gillespie. This was a strong firm composed of two ambitious and energetic young men, their services were sought far and near, their reputation and ability was such as a law firm, that they soon outgrew this community and sought larger and more remunera- tive fields. Mr. Gillespie served this county as States Attorney, elected 1892, which office he filled with credit to himself and terror to the law breakers, during his residence here, he was appointed Assistant Attorney General of the state. He removed with his family to Springfield, Ill., where his reputation as a lawyer is state wide. For family (see Gillespie)
GILLIAM
W. H. Gilliam came to this county over the same route that most of our residents did. His parents came from Virginia to Tennessee, where W. H. was born, 1856. His father brought his family and settled on a farm near New Burnside in 1860. William was then
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a small boy and was raised on the farm and educated in our public schools and neighboring colleges. He taught for a short time, and began his public career as clerk in the New Burnside postoffice. He served as deputy in the office of the Circuit Clerk and Sheriff of the County at Vienna, from 1882 till 1885, when he entered the Journalistic field, buying the "Weekly Times." Mr. Gilliam continued this work for thirty-four years. He was Postmaster under Roosevelt and T'aft, and was a man of high ideals and held steadily to the right as he saw it. He had much to do with the forming of public opinion and was interested in education taking an active part in securing our high school and always lending his voice as an editor in every movement that was for the uplift of humanity. He was devoted to his church, the Baptist, a member of the I.O.O.F. He died 1919. He was married to Dimple perkins, who was born in Missouri, but reared in this county. (For family see Simpson.)
GLASSFORD
Samuel M. Glassford was a native of Pennslyvania, born 1825. He came with his parents to Kentucky when eight years old, attended school there and remained in that state until a young man, coming here in 1841. Mr. Glassford followed various pursuits, working with Belcher Brothers sugar refiners of St. Louis, also engaged in the coal business of that city. In 1861 he sold his interests there and returned to his farm in Elvira Township, where he carried on a very successful farming business the remainder of his life. He also served in the Legislature as a State Senator, 1874-76. Mr. Glassford owned one of the best farms in the county, located just beyond the present site of West Vienna. He had more than eight hundred acres in one tract, and his dwelling and farm was far above the average of that time. He married first Elizabeth, daughter of James Jones and .she died in 1849, later he married her sister, Juliet, and to them were born Josephine, who married Dr. R. M. McCall, Charles A., a farmer of this county and Mrs. T. E. Williams, a resident of St. Louis, Mo.
GODDARD
Elizabeth Smith Goddard was born in Berry Brow, England, 1825 and died in Vienna 1910. She was married to Joshua Smith in England, 1844, and came to this country with her husband, who was a carder by trade and had charge of the carding machine of J. B. Kuykendall for many years. After his death she married a Mr. God- dard of DuQuoin, Ill. Aunt Betty as she was familiarly known, lived just south of town where Joshua Arnold, her grandson, now lives. She was loved by all who knew. Her children were Martha (2), Clara (2), Martha (2) married A. J. Arnold, their children were Mary (3), who married a Mr. Miner of Divernon, Ill., Lizzie (3) who
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