USA > Illinois > Johnson County > A history of Johnson County, Illinois > Part 38
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Other children of Robert (1) and Mary were William (2), who died in Young manhood and D. M. who married first Mary Win- chester, she died soon after and he married Mary Stout, their children are Mary (3), Ruth (3), Robert (3), Lily (3), George (3). Mary (3) married Newton Murrie and had two sons; she married second J. C. Grinnel of Buncombe community. Ruth married Frank (see Mar- berry).
McCARTNEY
M. N. McCartney is a native of Massac County. He came here as principal of the first high school of the county, 1895, where he taught several years. After leaving here he taught in other schools for some time, finally returning in 1920 to take charge of the Vienna
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Township High School. Professor McCartney is a graduate of Hol- brook Normal University of Ohio; he also has a number of credits from Columbia University, N. Y. and has been prominent in educa- tional work all his life. His father, John F. was a native of Scotland and an early educator of this section. M. N. McCartney married Ida Huckleberry, (see Harvick 1895). She is also a teacher of ability hav- ing followed that profession since early girlhood. She has also had training in Columbia University. Their daughters, Marcia May and Alice Elizabeth are graduates of Cornell University, New York State.
MCCORKLE
Joseph was the head of the McCorkle family in this county. He came here about 1818 from Virginia. The maiden name of his wife was Randolph. He entered land and settled east and a little south of Vienna about one and one half miles. He owned a tanyard here in the twenties, and later had a' mill. His children were John R. (2), who was born 1825 on the home farm and resided there all of his life, which was eighty-nine years. He married Louisa J. Hogg and they had Joseph W. (3) who married Margaret Lundy and their chil- dren were Pansy (4) who married a Mr. Brown and resides in one of the Dakotas; Donald (4) lives at Anna, and Margaret (4) lives with her sister in the west. William N. (3) married first Mary Red- den, and they had Lula (4) who married Oliver Fisher, a business man of Vienna, and they have William (5). Sadie (4) married Oscar M. Wiesenbaum and resides in California. Charles (4) not married. W. N. (3) married second Gertrude (Verhines) Hundley. They have Helen '(4). J. F. (3) married Martha (see Veach). John R. (2) mar- ried second Mrs. R. N. Shirley and their children are Mrs. May Anderson of Chicago, and Mrs. Adolph Baur of Kankakee. Amanda (2) married William (see Price). Nicinda (2) married Preston (see McFatridge). Lorina (2) married Robert Hight and their children were Frank (3) and Alonzo (3).
MCEVOY
J. P. McEvoy, the author, was reared in our county where his mother still resides. She is not unknown to fame, at least locally, as an orchardist of Burnside Township. J. P. has made a name for himself through the writing of "The Potters." He is acknowledged by critics as the man with his hand on the American pulse and his eye on the average American. He observes everything from an unlaced shoe to the flicker of an eye lid. He writes not by the page but by the yard-length. He turns out greeting cards, couplets for birthday wishes, humorous notes, comic editorials, serious magazine articles, vaudeville sketches and plays. He has said "Merry Christmas" oftener and to more people than any man living. He makes copy
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out of anything that comes to his hand the stray remark, the ponderous sermon, the street car conductor's gibe, the cash girl's slang, everything. We as a community are proud to have contributed to his childhood bringing up, but like all our famous men, as soon as they attain fame they seek new centers of activity.
McFATRIDGE
William McFatridge settled in this county about 1810, eight miles east of Vienna. He was said to be of Irish descent and from the best information to be obtained, came originally from North Carolina. He was quite prominent in the official affairs of the county in its infancy, served as justice of the peace in 1818, was a delegate to the first constitutional convention and also served in the States Legislature. His estate was settled by Ivy Reynolds, 1840. There is a chancery suit on record in that year in which his wife, Nancy, with John, George Washington, Sarah, Mary and Micheal Hale, Margaret and Ezekiel Choat, Nancy and Simon Jones, Matilda and Richard Riddle, were given as defendants and are supposed to be the widow and children of William McFatridge. Traditions says, Washington McFatridge removed from this county many years ago and there is no further knowledge of him. Ezekiel Choat lived in Burnside Township, 1828 and left many descendants in that section, but there can be no authentic data except the above as to his family. relations, and no knowledge of any of this family except John (2), who married Margaret Bain and they had Preston (3), he married Nicenda McCorcle and had John Henry (4), Margaret (4), Joseph Brooks (4), Grant (4), Kate (4), Norma (4), Robert (4). John Henry (4) married Susanna Bain and had John (5), Ruth (5) and Abner (5). John (5) not married. Abner (5) married Miss Taylor. Ruth (5) married Charles King and has three children. Margaret (4) married Franklin Murrie and had Emma (5), Daisy (5), Margaret (5), May (5). Emma (5) married W. H. (see Carter). Daisy (5) married Dave Ragsdale and left one daughter, Velma (6). May (5) married Arthur Throgmorton and has Robert (6), Marguerite (6), and Arthur Jr. (6). Margaret (5) married Earl D. (see Veach). Joseph B. (4) married Nancy Mount and they have Bertha (5) who married Mr. Foy. Charles (5), Walter (5) married Etta (see Whiteside); Ola (5) married Earl Simpson. Grant (4) married Letha Simmons. Kate (4) married George Brown, one child, Lula (5) who married Oscar (see Simpson). Kate (4) married second Jefferson (see Reuben Brown) and had Guy (5), Reuben (5), Ray (5), Walter (5), Clyde (5), Ruth (5). Norma (4) married James P. (see Simpson).
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MCGEE
F. M. McGee was born in Graves County, Ky., in 1833 and was brought to Illinois when a child. The father, Benjamin F. was a native of Sumner County, Tenn., his father, James, came to this country from the southern part of Scotland, his wife was of Irish ancestry. They came early to the colonies and settled first near Charlestown, S. C. and later came to Tenn., where he died. Benjamin F. was married in Tennessee to Nancy Armstrong, they moved from Tennessee to Kentucky and later to Illinois, settling in that part of Johnson County which is now Pulaski County, which at that time was the most improved section in the state. Benjamin F. drew up the petition to make Pulaski a separate county. Francis was one of a family of twelve children all of whom reached maturity. He at- tended subscription schools in the community, also a school at Center- ville, Iowa. He worked on a farm until grown, was a flat boatmar on the river, this was a common and lucrative business in pioneer days. Men had timber cut into cord wood and logs and loaded it on fiat boats, floated it down the Ohio to the Mississippi and thence to New Orleans where there was a ready sale for the wood for fuel and the logs for lumber. Francis was a man of varied occupations, a farmer, a teacher and at one time peddler for a Jew for which he received $7 per month, also a merchant at Caledonia, Ill. In the spring of 1865 he started a mercantile business at Reynoldsburg, this county. While living there he was elected to the State Legislature. He moved his business to New Burnside in 1875 and continued it there until his death which occurred in 1896. He was a Mason and a Methodist, He married Mrs. Elizabeth (Peterson) Weaver and had Ardana, William, Ella and Benjamin F. Ardana married Dr. W. R. Littell and had one son, Guy who lives in Chicago; William died leaving no family, Ella never married, and Benjamin F. married and has one child, Elizabeth, he is a prominent business man of New York City.
NEWTON
Mr. and Mrs. D. Newton are old residents of this county living in Goreville Township. The Newton homestead was entered from the government in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Newton have been married fifty years and have reared five sons namely Charles J., James W. George F., E. M. and O. A. These sons have families and are all residents of this county.
NOBLES
John B. Nobles was one of the successful pioneer farmers of Elvira Township. He married and had Nancy who married James Harpending, they had one son, Mancil. Mr. Nobles married second Elizabeth Brown (sister to R. W. and Reuben) they had William,
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Frank and Charles. William married Martha Cowan (see Worley). Frank married Elizabeth (see Pearce). Charles married Cora Redden, they have Clarence who is a graduate of the University of Illinois and a teacher in an agricultural college at Blacksburg, Va. Charles is a first class farmer and an influential citizen of Buncombe community. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church.
O'BANNON
(Pressly J. O'Bannon alias Judge T. C. Brown)
Some time in the early seventies, a man, woman and child came to Vienna and settled down to make a home together apparently with very little to begin with. They were recognized by neighbors and friends as Mr. T. C. Brown and family. He applied himself to work of different kinds to procure a living. It was soon discovered that he was a man of ability and he was elected Police Magistrate and to some minor offices of the village. Being and educated man and con- ducting himself with propriety and good judgement, he made many friends in the village and county. He acquired some property and was a citizen and officially (County Judge) in good standing in the county. Early in the spring of 1879 a messenger from the Masonic Man- ual Life Insurance Company came here looking for Pressley J. O'Ban- non who had disappeared from the town of Leavensworth, Crawford County, Ind., seven years before. O'Bannon was about 34 years old when he disappeared. A lawyer by profession, interested some in poli- tics and was Township Trustee. Where he resided he had a wife and two sons and a some of property. Up to within a few months before his leaving he had borne a splendid character and was supposedly happy in his family life. A short time before, however, he began drinking. He left his home, Fredonnia, Ind., one evening to attend a meeting of his Masonic lodge at Levensworth, a town nearby, conduct. He entered the lodge room intoxicated, so the story goes, and asked a stay of proceedings which was granted. He staggered out of the room and was seen no more. His horse was found tied in an unused stable a few days afterward, but no trace of the rider. A rumor was current that he had boarded an Ohio River steamboat on that fateful night and had been seen to leave it at Evansville, Ind. He seems to have lost track of himself for several days and when he came to himself he was sawing wood for a man in Southern Illinois. He decided never to return home thinking his family would be better off without him. He picked up a woman and child and wandered into Vienna and would probably have lived here many years as he had the last seven if he had not had a policy in the above mentioned in- surance company. His family mourned him as dead. His wife ad
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ministered on his estate and applied for the money due on her hus- band's policy. It seems she could not prove his death and they could not prove he was living but they continued to postpone the payment as long as they could and a short time before the seven years had expired a letter was received by the Postmaster at Leavensworth, Ind., from Dr. N. S. Hudson, a druggist of Tunnel Hill, Ill., who had served under O'Bannon in the army, asking if he would like to know the whereabouts of P. J. O'Bannon. The company sent a man in question. O'Bannon told thhis man he had never been married to the woman he was living with and the understanding between them was that she would accept what he had to give and that he might leave at any time.
He immediately returned to his father's home at Alton, Ind., where his two sons were. His father was overjoyed and while his wife was willing to forgive his absence, she was not willing to for- give the Mrs. Judge Brown and applied for a divorce. Any further knowledge of these parties is hidden by time and distance, but since truth is stranger than fiction, no doubt, the story ended with ample punishment for the transgressor. (A statement was given out that Brown as Judge had assessed a heavy fine on Dr. Hudson for selling liquor unlawfully and stung by this act Hudson sought revenge by reporting him. The court records show the case dismissed and no fine had been assessed.)
PARKER
Reverend [. A. J. Parker came to this county about the close of the Civil War from Mississippi having served in that war as a Lieut- enant in the Federal Army. He taught in this county many years and was also a minister of the Christian Church. He understood music and frequently taught community singing in various neighbor- hoods. He represented this district in the Legislature as a Demo- crat, 1888-90. He married Jennie Clary, also of Mississippi. Their children are Addison (2), who is a physician of Dongola, Illinois (for family see Henard); Lucas (2) is a prominent business man of Vienna. He married Delia (see Clymer) ; Agustus (2) married Alice (see Harvick) and resides in California; Willis A. (2) fitted himself for a minister, graduated at Harvard and was connected with the Columbia University of New York as student and teacher. He fol- lowed the work of the ministry for some time, but later took up Com- munity Service work. Myrtle (2) married Daniel (see Marberry). Ethel (2) is the wife of Rev Sears of the Christian Church and has one son, Parker (3). Beverly (2) is also a minister of the same denomination and resides in Kansas; Lilly (2) has been an invalid for many years, regardless of this handicap, she is a great influence for good and devoted to church work, which she carries on through her
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friends. Mrs. Parker is very active at the age of eight-six and rarely misses a service at her church, the Christian.
PEARCE
McKinny Pearce, tradition says, was born in England. On coming to America, he settled first in North Carolina, but later moved to Maury County, Tennessee, where he followed teaching and farming, using slave labor to work his farm. His son Arthur with his wife and four children came to Illinois, settling first in Union County, 1823, but about ten years later removed to Johnson. His wife was Elizabeth Bissell, and their children were William (2), Stokely (2), Isaac N. (2), Rayford (2), Garner (2), Mary (2) and Elizabeth (2). Issac N. (2) served the county as clerk several times residing in Vienna. He married Clara, a sister of Turner Jones and they had Bazil (3) who married Betty Cheek; Emma (3), married Calvin Mathis; Frank (3) married Miss Baker; Jennie (3), married a Mr. Ray and had Harold (4), Clara (4); Albert (3), resides in Texas, where he married and has Chester (4) and Alice (4); John (3) mar- ried Georgia Magnor and had Harry (4). Rayford (2) was a farmer of this county and married Susan Jones, sister to Turner. They had William (3), Mary (3), who married a Mr. Rentfro and Clara (3). Garner (2) born in 1829, entered land in Elvira township, near what is now the village of Buncombe, 1852, where he lived and farmed throughout his life. He added to his, at first, small farm, built a good dwelling and was above the average farmer of his neighborhood. He married Eliza J. Canady and their children were Bundy (3), Mary E. (3) and Eliza (3). Bundy (3) married Amanda Ragsdale and their children are Blain (4), Albert (4), Earl (4). Blain (4) married Bessie Miller and has two children Marshall and Carl (5); Albert (4) mar- ried Iris Rude and their children are Glen (5) and Ruth (5). Eliza (3) married Frank Nobles and their children are Bessie (4), Harry (4), Oran (4). Bessie (4) married Caleb Montgomery and has Harry (5) and May (5). Harry (4) is a resident of Washington and married in that state. Bundy (3) is one of the substantial farmers of Elvira Township and lives neighbor to his mother who has lived at her pres- ent home for sixty-eight years, having gone there as a bride. She re- members the notches on the trees near her home which indicated a public road and was no doubt the old road leading from Golconda to Jonesboro. Mrs. Pearce came to this county with her parents when twelve years old and attended a school taught by Branum Worrell, grandfather to our present County Superintendent of Schools. Wil- liam (2) was a Baptist minister and labored many years in this coun- ty for the moral and spiritual welfare of its citizens.
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PEELER
The Peeler family came to this county a little later than the Wests, Axleys, Martins and Mercers, but settled in the same neighbor- hood. There were three brothers who came from North Carolina, John was born 1810, and his wife, born 1809, in that state. They came here 1860, and their children were William D. (2), Sarah (2) and Mary (2). W. D. (2) was born in North Carolina, 1839. He was a suc- cessful farmer of Lincoln Green for many years, served in the Civil War, and was an influential man of his time. He married Catherine E. Bishop, who still resides on the home place. They had Samuel D. (3), Olin (3), Francis (3). Samuel D. (3) was one of the progressive men of this county. His farm was known as the Cypress Live Stock farm, in acreage, production and equipment was equaled, if at all, by few. Mr. Peeler served the county as commissioner and was for years an efficient member of the Cache Drainage Commission. Owing to ill health he retired from the farm and business. He married Mary D. Rees and has Ralph (4). Olin (3) is also one of the foremost farmers of that neighborhood. He married Flora Sowers, and they had Roscoe (4), Lola (4), Luther (4), Lena (4). Roscoe is a graduate of the Chicago College of Veterinary Surgery. Lola (4) married Ella Pen- rod; Luther (4) married Violet Capron; Lena (4) married Olin Hunter. Francis (3) married Thomas Wilhelm and they have Floyd (4) who married a Miss Cook, Ora (4) is a teacher of this county. Mr. Wilhelm is another good farmer of the above neighborhood. These farms and residences show progress and a desire for the best in country home life. Sarah (2) married Benjamin Bishop and their children were Frank (3) who married Miss Adams, Mary (3) married William Newton, children Thomas (4), Joseph (4), John (4), Lena (4), Phoebe (4), Ethel (4). Mary (2) married Carrol Axley and had Sarah Olive (3), who married Finley Bean and their children are Eva (4), Oma (4), married Dow Drake and has Cecil (5) and Olive (5); Thomas (4) married Vida Coke; Eva (4) with Ruth (4) and Paul (4) are at home. Abraham Peeler was another of the brothers, but the date of his coming is not known. He had children Eva Levisa (2), Calvin (2), Louisa (2), Adam (2), Sarah (2), Jane (2), Julia (2) Frank (2). Eva Levisa (2) married Whitson File; Calvin (2) married Nancy Evers. Louisa (2) married Emmerson Mercer. Sarah (2) married Terry Axley. Julia (2) married John Shadrick and their daughter Della married Calvin Dewitt, and resides in Anna, Ill. Jane (2) married James Axley and had John (3), who married Nancy, daughter of Emmerson Mercer, Ellen (3), married William Lizenbeck. Clark (3) married Lydia Hardy. Jane (2) mar- ried second W. D. Deans (see Gore). Adam (2) married Martha Whitnel, and they had Frank (3) who lives in Anna, Ill. Frank (2)
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married Mary Jones. Jacob a third brother came here in 1848, but lat er removed to Union County. His wife was Margaret Richey, and they had Richey D. (2), Pleasant (2), Joyce (2). Richey D. (2) was a substantial farmer of this county for many years and married Amanda Burns, they had Otto (3), Lenna I. (3), Cora M. (3), Alta (3), Flora (3), Floyd (3), Inez (3). Joyce (2) married Miss Niblock.
PENROD
Penrods are an old family of this section many of whom reside in Union County. Samuel Penrod owned a ferry on the Mississippi ili the very first years of the settlement of this county. They were connected with the Finney family, pioneers, and Unity Smith born in . Virginia 1750, married James Allen Penrod, they had a son, Millington which would cause one to think Unity was a sister of Millington Smith, the first. Unity died in Union County, 1844. Not enough in- formation could be obtained to arrange a family tree.
PERKINS
Captain William Perkins was born in 1819 in Kentucky. His mother being a widow his opportunity for an education was limited. He started out to make his own way at the age of nineteen. On coming to Illinois he worked on a farm for twenty-five cents per day. After his marriage, by farming and working for others, he accumu- lated enough to buy a farm two miles east of Vienna. He later sold the farm and turned his attention to milling in partnership with A. J. Kuykendall. When the Civil War came on he assisted in raising a company which was incorporated in the fourteenth cavalry, and was made Captain of Company G. He served four years, and took part in many battles. He was seriously wounded in an engagement near Macon, Ga., and taken to a farm house. When he recovered suf- ficiently to be out on crutches, he was sent to Andersonville prison. Within a few months he was exchanged and was soon discharged on account of his disability. In 1866 he bought what has been known since as the Perkins house and operated it as a hotel as long as he lived. He was elected sheriff in 1868. He married Eliaz, 1840 (see Simpson). Captain Perkins died 1892.
PETERSON
Peterson, Mercers and Axleys are very closely connected with the West family, and so little definite history can be obtained that it seems well to place them together. Tradition says the Peter- sons came first to Illinois, from the South by way of Tennessee. Some of them moved back to their old home, but later returned to this county. The first record of the Peterson family is a will that was made in 1815 by William Peterson and is shown in Wills. His wife was
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Mary, and he refers to Joshua as a child. He also refers to Hezekiah West as his brother-in-law. His wife would have been Osborn or West, leaving the inference that William Peterson came from South Carolina, from which state the Wests came. He further speaks of William and Thomas Peterson, they may have been brothers or they both may have been grown sons. There is also a John Peterson con- nected with this family. There would be at least two Williams, Thomas and John Peterson of the same period. Thomas is the only one whose descendants have materialized in this book although there are numerous people of that name in the county and presumably all of the same family. Thomas (1) married Lucy, one branch of the family says Arbor, the other says Yarberry. He lived in Arkansas, when his son Owen was born 1812. The children of Thomas and Lucy were Owen (2), James (2), Richard (2), Polly (2). 'Tradition says he returned to this county about 1835. Owen (2) married Mercer and his descendants are found in the West family. James Peterson (2) was one of the founders of the M. E. Church at Mt. Pleasant, Bloomfield Township, where he raised a family. His children were T. G. (3). Joshua (3), James (3), Polly (3), Louisa (3), William J. (3). T. G. (3), married M. J. Seay; Joshua (3) lives in Missouri; James (3) lives in Oklahoma; Louisa (3) married Ira Coats and also lives in Oklahoma; William M. (3) married Elizabeth Taylor, he is a retired minister and lives at Creal Springs. Their children are John F. (4) who married Lola Maler; James A. (4) married Myrtle Powles. Charles L. (4) married Phoebe Lewis; Otto (4) married Pearl Oliver; Clyde (4) married Olive Smith; Fred (4) married Mamie Oliver; Daisy (4) married S. A. Mathews, Pearl (4) married John Ragsdale. Most of this family reside in Williamson County, except Charles L. who is an M. E. Minister of Southerin Illinois Conference and is now located at Mt. Vernon, Ill.
Richard Mercer was said to be a native of Wales; he married a daughter of Hezekiah West and was the head of the Mercer family in this county. The Axleys came here about the same time as the West family. Robert, the head of one family, floated down the Ohio River on a flat boat. P. W. and Robert Axley were living in the county in 1814. P. W. had three daughters; one resides in Denver, one in Kansas City and one in Dongola. He settled the farm where the Charles Stone Quarry is now located. The name of Roberts first wife is not known. He had Isaac (2), Elijah (2) and Elizabeth (2). Isaac and Elijah married Mercers and are found in the West family ; Elizabeth married Joshua Copeland and is found under Copeland. Robert Axley settled the farm now known as the Whitnel place in West Eden community.
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