USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 61
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 61
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 61
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Our subject is the owner of a fine and highly improved farm, consisting of one hundred and thirty acres, sixty-five acres of which are in cultivation. He carried on general farming, but now in his old age he is leading a practically retired life at the home of his son, Harvey.
Mr. Kelchner has always been a public- spirited man and in 1882 he was nominated on the Union Labor ticket for Circuit Clerk. He has very ably and acceptably filled the offices of Town Clerk, School Director and Township Treasurer.
He votes a mixed ticket, always believing in honesty in politics and preferring to place the best men possible in local and na- tional offices. He is a Prohibitionist at heart, and he believes in a Democratic gov- ernment. Religiously he is a member of the Christian church.
Although Mr. Kelchner is eighty years old he still has a very bright mind and is well read and keeps abreast of the times. Having during his entire life been closely identified with the interests and develop- ment of whatever section of the country he
lived in. By close application to the duties which lay before him, he has won his way into the hearts of the people who know him.
TILMON J. ROGERS.
There can never be aught but apprecia- tion of the services of the men who fol- lowed the stars and stripes on the sanguin- ary battle fields of the South during the most crucial epoch of our national history. One of the honored veterans of the war of the Rebellion, who went forth as represen- tative of Marion county patriotism is the subject of this tribute, who has passed the greater portion of his useful life in this county.
Tilmon J. Rogers was born in Maury county, Tennessee, February 24, 1842, the son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Alderson) Rogers, the former a native of Tennessee, where he was born in 1801. The latter was also born in that state, the date of her birth occurring in 1811. There were ten chil- dren in this family, an equal number of boys and girls, our subject being the eighth in order of birth.
Tilmon J. Rogers came with his parents to Marion county, Illinois, when ten years old, in 1852. The family rented a farm and made a good living in the new home.
Our subject drove an ox team to break the ground in this county, and assisted with the farm work until he reached maturity, having gone to school but very little. How- ever he learned to spell, read and write but
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he never studied arithmetic a day, but prac- tice in the business world has been his edu- cator and he counts interest and all meas- urements mentally. His first school was in Tennessee, a subscription school. He has always been a hard worker and is even now a strong man both physically and mentally. keeping well posted on current events and is therefore an interesting conversationalist.
Mr. Rogers was united in marriage in 1866 with Martha C. Clack, daughter of B. B. and Cornelia (Vanduzen) Brown, who were the parents of seven children, six girls and one boy. Mrs. Rogers' mother was born in Edgar county, Illinois, in 1825. Seven chil- dren have been born to our subject and wife, three boys and four girls, namely: Emory J., who was married to Lora Keller, is the father of two children, both girls; Laura Stella married Frank Arnold, and they have five children, four of whom are living, three boys and one girl; Vantoliver married Lu- ella Stevens, and they have one son; Henry O. married first Leona Arnold, by whom he has one daughter; his second marriage was to Edith Southward and one daughter has also been born to this union; Martha C. married John Davis; Nellie E. married Li- ther Beard and they are the parents of two sons; Bessie T. died at the age of eleven years. These children all received fairly good common school educations and are comfortably situated in reference to this world's affairs.
Tilmon J. Rogers was one of the patriotic citizens of the fair North who believed that it was his duty and privilege to offer his
services and life, if need be, in defence of his country's integrity, which was threat- ened during the dark days of the sixties, consequently he enlisted August 14, 1862, in Company E, One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under J. M. Martin, and was in the service nearly three years, having taken part in many a hard- fought battle, being wounded at Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1864, having been struck in the right arm by a musket ball which took effect near the shoulder. He was in the hospital but a short time as a result of this wound. He was in a number of en- gagements while in Sherman's march from Atlanta to the sea. He was discharged June 28, 1865, at Washington City, after which he went to Springfield, Illinois, where he received his pay, then he came back to Marion county and took up farming, at which he has prospered ever since.
In politics Mr. Rogers is a loyal advocate of the principles fostered by the Democratic party, and while he has never found time to take much interest in active political affairs his vote is always cast for the men whom he believes will best serve the public inter- ests. In religious matters his parents were Missionary Baptists on his mother's side. Personally Mr. Rogers adheres to the prin- ciples of good citizenship and believes in at- tending strictly to his own affairs.
He owns a valuable and highly improved farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres, having lived on the same since the fall of 1867, and during his lapse of years he has seen this county undergo great changes.
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ORVILLE T. WALTON.
The subject of this sketch has passed his life in Marion county, and as a representa- tive of one of the honored families early set- tled in this section he is well entitled to rep- resentation in this volume.
Orville T. Walton was born in Patoka township, Marion county, November 6, 1868, the son of Iradell and Louisa (Fos- ter) Walton, both natives of Illinois. They lived mostly in Patoka and Foster town- ships, having come to the latter in 1869 and settled in section 19. He first purchased sixty acres and later sixty acres more were added and then another sixty acres, still later, forty-eight acres, all in Foster town- ship and twenty acres in Patoka township, having always been a farmer, well known and highly respected by all; an active Dem- ocrat, having served as Town Clerk and Treasurer, and he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His death occurred April 17, 1897, and his wife passed to her rest April 27, 1900. The subject's grandfather and grandmother Walton both died of cholera in 1849. Iradell Walton and wife were the parents of eleven chil- dren, namely: Monroe, a farmer in Foster township, who married Harriet Friend, the latter dying January, 1908; Rosie Maud, now deceased, married Arthur Irvin; Rachel married Marshall Livesay, of Foley, Mis- souri; Lillian married Thomas Bundy, of Fayette county, Illinois; Orville T., our subject; Effie married Leonard Arnold, of Foster township; Abbie is the wife of David
M. Giddeon, of Slater, Missouri; William A., who married Annie Crouse, of Patoka, this county; Edna is the wife of Charles Meadows, of Patoka; Della is a nurse, liv- ing in Foster township; Robert lives on the old home place in Foster township and mar- ried Lizzie Ballance.
The subject of this sketch had only a limited education, attending the home schools for a short time. He remained a member of the family circle until he was twenty-three years old.
Orville T. Walton was united in marriage March 17, 1891, with Florence Chance, of Foster township, daughter of Willis J. and Matilda (Foster) Chance. They were both born in Marion county and lived in Foster township. They are farmers and have four children, namely: Florence, the subject's wife; Mary, the wife of Eli Logan, of Pa- toka township; Elza is a traveling salesman with headquarters at Clay Center, Kansas ; John is living at home.
The subject and wife are the parents of two sons, Charles Addis, born December 27, 1895, and Kenneth O., born March 31, 1899.
After the subject's marriage he located on the George McHeny place in Foster township, where he remained for one year, also one year on the Chance place and one on the Foster place. He then bought forty acres in section 18, the J. H. Walker place, where he lived for five years and then moved to Harvey, Illinois, where he lived two years, when he moved back to Foster township in the fall of 1907, locating where
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.he now lives. He bought the John Chick place, consisting of forty acres. He was al- ways a hard worker and thrifty, consequent- ly he has been enabled to add on to his place until he now has ninety acres of as good land as can be found in this locality, which is well improved and managed so that abundant harvests are reaped from year to year. He raises good horses, cattle and hogs and carries on a general farming business. He has a comfortable dwelling and convenient out buildings. He has al- ways been a public-spirited man and has ably served as school director and Town Clerk. He is a loyal Democrat and a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is regarded by his neighbors as among the leading young farmers of Foster township.
PROF. J. H. G. BRINKERHOFF.
The biographer in wrting of the repre- sentative citizens of Marion county, Illinois, has found no subject worthier of representa- tion in a work of the province of the one at hand than Professor Brinkerhoff, author of the historical portion of this history, who is known as a man of high attainments, and practical ability, as one who has achieved success in his profession principally because he has worked for it. His prestige in the educational circles of this locality stands in evidence of his ability and likewise stands as a voucher for intrinsic worth of char- acter. He has used. his intellect to the best
purpose, has directed his energies in legiti- mate channels, and his career has been based upon the wise assumption that nothing save industry, perseverance, sturdy in- tegrity and fidelity to duty will lead to suc- cess. The profession of teaching which our subject has made his principal life work offers no opportunities to the slothful, only to such determined spirits as that of Mr. Brinkeroff. It is an arduous, exacting, dis- couraging profession to one who is unwill- ing to subordinate other interests to its de- mands, but to the true and earnest devotee it offers a sphere of action whose attractions are equal to any and whose re- wards are unstinted. That the subject pos- ·sesses the qualities enumerated is undoubted owing to the success he has achieved and the high regard in which he is held by all who know him.
Prof. J. H. G. Brinkerhoff was born De- cember 14, 1844, in Hackensack, New Jer- sey, and he came to Illinois with his father in 1852, who settled in Grandview, Edgar county, where the subject's father estab- lished a plow and wagon shop, which he conducted for four years. In 1856 his father moved on a farm where young Brink- erhoff was inured to the hard work of the farm on that day. He was educated in the common schools of those early days when opportunities for higher learning were limited. Being desirous of making the most of his life work, he later attended Steele's Academy and the Kansas high school, also the Indiana State Normal School. He de- cided to take up the profession of law and
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TROF. J. H. G. BRINKERHOFF.
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
subsequently entered McKendree College moved to a farm on the Hackensack river and received the degree of Bachelor of Law in New Jersey, which farm remained in pos- session of the family until after the Revo- lutionary war. The paternal great-grand- father of the subject was a lieutenant in the New Jersey Continentals and he was in ac- tive service during the war except for a period of eighteen months when he was a prisoner of war on the Jersey prison ship in the East river, from which he finally es- caped by jumping overboard and swimming to the New York side of the river. The family have always been patriotic, law- abiding and firm believers in the right of man to govern himself. from that institution, but believing that teaching was best suited to his tastes he ac- cordingly began that line of work in 1864 and he followed that profession with un- abated success for a period of thirty years, becoming known as one of the ablest educa- tors of this section of the state. During that long stretch of continuous service he never lost a day on account of sickness. For ten years he was at the head of the city schools in Lebanon, Illinois, and for the same length of time held the same posi- tion in Salem. Owing to his high educa- tional attainments, his close application to duty and his native ability in this line of work, he was a favorite with both pupils and their parents and his services were al- HENRY C. FOSTER. ways in great demand.
Professor Brinkerhoff was united in mar- riage with Amanda S. Clark at Mascoutah, St. Clair county, Illinois, in 1873. She is a representative of a well known and influential family of that county. To this union seven cihldren have been born, four sons and three daughters, one daughter dying in infancy. The other six are all living in Salem.
In 1878 our subject united with the Christian church and he has for many years preached the Gospel of Christ, as occasion permitted.
Professor Brinkerhoff is a descendant of sterling old Knickerbocker Dutch stock, the founder of the family having settled in Long Island in 1632, and in 1685 he re- to Foster township, Marion county, and
Among the sturdy and enterprising farm- ers of Foster township, Marion county, is the gentleman whose name appears above, whose life has been one of industry and strict adherence to honorable principles, which has resulted in gaining a comfortable living and at the same time winning the respect of his fellow men.
Henry C. Foster was born in Clinton county, Illinois, January 29, 1842, the son of William Henry and Nancy (Lowe) Fos- ter, the former of Georgia and the latter of Tennessee. William Henry Lowe came as a boy with his parents to Illinois and lo- cated in Clinton county, where they were among the early pioneers. They later came
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purchased wild land and made extensive im- provements on the same. The subject's father grew up in Foster township and re- ceived only a limited education, having scarcely any chance to attend school. He married here and lived at the old homestead. Although he at one time conducted a store, he devoted his life to farming pursuits. He was a Republican but never aspired to office. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The follow- ing children were born to them: William, deceased, married Pyrena Nichols; Johu was in Company I, One Hundred and Elev- enth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, who lived in Clinton county, Illinois, after the war un- til his death; Jane, who married David Nichols, of Foster township, the former is now deceased; Elizabeth, deceased, married David Nichols, of Foster township; Andrew J. was in Company F, Seventh Illinois Cav- alary, having served four years and four months, who located in Kinmundy after the war, where he has since resided; Henry C., our subject ; Irwin W., a farmer of Labette county, Kansas, who was in the Union army during the Civil war; Winfield Scott is single and living in Foster township.
The subject of this sketch had little chance of attending school. He lived at home until he reached the age of twenty-one years. On September 30, 1869, he married Cynthia A. Garrett, of Foster township, and a daughter of Moses and Hannah (Morris) Garrett, both natives of Georgia. They were pioneers of Foster township, this county, where they devoted their lives to
farming. Four children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: Charles H., who has always lived at home; Nola mar- ried S. Williams, of Foster township, and they are the parents of two children, Flossie and Relzia; Fannie C. married Jake Thomas, of Foster township, and they are the parents of five children, namely : James, Carrie, Nona, Eva and Van; James Emery, the subject's youngest child, is living in Foster township. He married Maude Hol- land, of Patoka, and they have three chil- dren : Basel, Waneta, deceased, and Harrell.
One of the patriotic men of this state who felt it his duty to offer his services in de- fense of the flag was the subject of this sketch, who enlisted in Company F, Seventlı Illinois Cavalry, at Camp Butler, where they drilled for awhile, after which they were sent to Nashville, Tennessee. The subject was in the second battle of Corinth. He was on an eight hundred mile march from Lagrange, Tennessee, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which took sixteen days, having been in many. skirmishes all along the march. He was taken sick and went home on sixty days' furlough. He rejoined his company at Germantown, Tennessee, and went up the Mississippi river and was in Tennessee until the close of the war. He was sick a great deal and his eyes were af- fected, having lost the sight in the left one. He was discharged November 9, 1865, at Springfield, Illinois, after gallantly serving in the Union ranks. After the war he lo- cated in Foster township, and in 1878
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bought the farm where he now lives, this having been his home since that time. The place consists of one hundred acres in sec- tion 23. He has made all the improvements, his farm now ranking with any in the town- ship. He has always been considered a first class farmer. He has a substantial and com- fortable residence and everything about his place shows good management. He is a Republican in politics. He ably served as School Director for many years. He is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JONATHAN A. GREEN.
The subject of this biography has always been an honest and hard-working man, and the success that crowns his efforts is well merited. He is liberal and public-spirited, well known and highly respected in the com- munity which has been his home all his life.
Jonathan A. Green was born in Foster township, Marion county, Illinois, August 13, 1867, the son of Monroe Green, who was the son of Jonathan Green, of Tennes- see. He came to Marion county, this state, in an early day and secured government land, locating in Foster township. He cleared the land and made a home here, having always been a farmer. Monroe Green was also a farmer all his life. He was a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian church and a Democrat; was well known and highly respected. He was a soldier in the Civil war, having been a
member of Company D, One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His first wife was the mother of four children, namely : Jonathan A., our subject ; Cyrus, a farmer in Foster township, this county; Anna, who married Elmer Arnold, of Fos- ter township; Jennie, who married Samuel Arnold, is deceased; Eliza (Jones) Green was the daughter of Samuel and Mary Ann Jones. They were early settlers in Marion county, Illinois.
Jonathan A. Green was educated in the local public schools, having been raised on his father's farm, where he remained until he was married December 31, 1885, to Anna Chick, a native of Ohio, the daughter of John and Lucinda (Carter) Chick, of the Buckeye state, who came to Illinois in 1875 where the former died.
Four children have been born to the sub- ject and wife, namely ; Ora, Ola May, John and Dowe.
After the subject's marriage he purchased his present farm of one hundred and twen- ty-six acres in Foster township, which was partly improved. The subject has made many important changes on the place, which now ranks among the best in the township, being very productive and producing ex- cellent crops from year to year through the skillful management of Mr. Green, who is regarded as one of the best farmers in a general way in the community.
Mr. Green has faithfully served his town- ship as Supervisor for two terms and has always taken a great deal of interest in pol- itics, having held many minor local offices.
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Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Vernon, Illinois, and was formerly a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is well informed on current topics and he is wide- ly known and liked in Foster and adjoining townships or wherever his acquaintance extends.
FRANCIS M. ROBB.
One of the influential citizens of Foster township, Marion county, is the gentleman to whose career attention is now directed, and it may be said that the agricultural in- terests of the county have few if any more able representatives.
Francis M. Robb was born in Kinmundy township, Marion county, Illinois, the pres- ent site of the village of Kinmundy, Sep- tember 22, 1847, the son of Samuel and Agnes (Pruitt) Robb, the former of Ten- nessee and the latter of Virginia. Samuel was the son of Eli Robb, a native of Ten- nessee, who came to Marion county, Il- linois, in 1820 and settled where Kinmundy now stands. He secured land which he con- verted into a valuable farm and made a comfortable home here, where he died in 1854 of cholera. He was one of the pio- neers of this county. He was a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church.
Samuel Robb, the father of the subject of this sketch, was twelve years old when his father, Eli Robb, came to this county, the former receiving only a limited educa-
tion and lived the rest of his life on a farm in this county, owning a large tract of land, and he was a stock dealer. He was a strong Democrat and was well known throughout the county, and his death occurred in 1881. The subject's mother, Agnes ( Pruitt) Robb, was the daughter of Robert and Martha Pruitt, who came to Marion county in a very early day, about 1812, settling in what is now Meacham township, where they got government land, but later went to Mis- souri. Samuel Robb and wife were the par- ents of nine children, namely : Francis M., our subject; Martha, deceased; William, deceased; Permelia; Eli, deceased; Robert, Mary, Edwin, and an infant, both deceased.
The subject has spent all of his life in Marion county, where he received only a limited education. He has always been a farmer and is considered one of the best in the township by his neighbors. He first got government land in Kinmundy township, and in 1882 moved to Foster township, where he now lives and owns two hundred and forty acres on which he has made all the improvements and which he has devel- oped into a very fine farm, being well fenced, and the crops have been so skillfully rotated that the original richness of the soil has been retained. He has a substantial and pleasant home, a convenient barn and many good out buildings.
Mr. Robb was united in marriage in 1867 with Julia Lowe at St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Arnold) Lowe, both now deceased. They were na- tives of Tennessee, having come to Marion
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county, Illinois, at an early date, locating on grandparents of the subject. The ancestors of a farm in Foster township.
Eight children have been born to the sub- ject and wife, named in order of birth as follows: Hattie, the wife of J. Arnold; Della, the wife of Charles Doolen; Margar- et; Agnes, the wife of Emmet Jones; Emma the wife of Guy Arnold; Lulu, the wife of Frank Jones; Ella, who died in infancy; Eli, who married Josie Ballance, a farmer.
The subject and wife are faithful mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. The subject is a loyal Democrat, and was Supervisor of this township for two terms. He has also held other minor local offices. He is a faithful member of the Masonic lodge at Kinmundy.
Mr. Robb is honest in all his dealings with his fellow man and public-spirited, and he has many friends in Marion county.
JAMES McNICOL.
The subject of this sketch is a member of that sturdy citizenship from the lands of hills and heather, bonny Scotland, from which rugged country so many hardy sons have gone forth to bless humanity in vari- ous ways, and he is in every way typical of those whose lives benefit all with whom they come in contact.
James McNicol was born on the Isle of Arran, Scotland, in March, 1847, the son of Archibald and Anna (McBride) McNic- ol, both natives of Arran, as was also the
our subject were farmers. Archibald Mc- Nicol and family came to America in the early sixties on the steamship Caledonia. They landed in New York City and then went to St. Louis county, Illinois, where Alexander McBride, the brother of Mrs. Mc- Nicol, lived. The father of the subject rented land there for a while, and then came to Marion county, Illinois, where he bought land two miles west of Patoka. This place was wild and consisted of one hundred and sixty acres. He later went back to St. Louis county, where he remained several years, after which he went to North Dakota where he secured government land in Benson county, living there for a period of eight years, when he sold out and went to Pierce county, Washington, where he lived with his children until his death in 1897. His wife died in 1896.
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