USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 11
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 11
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 11
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In 1867 he resuined farming and continued that occupation till 1876. That year he moved to Virginia and established himself as a con- tractor and builder. Many of the best store buildings and residences in this city are monu- ments to his skill. Nor have his labors been confined to Virginia. He has done work in Springfield, Jacksonville, Beardstown, and various otlter places. For some years past Mr. Black has devoted his time to architecture, which he studied in his younger days, pre- paring plans and specifications and superin- tending the construction of buildings. He made the plans for the county jail and super- intended its construction ; also the two addi- tions to the courthouse.
Mr. Black was married May 17, 1849 to Mary F. Wilmott, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Charles R. Wilmott. They had five children, as follows: Charles W., born September 23, 1850, was married November 24, 1870, to Elsie Buckley, and has five children: Mabel, Roy, Mary, Stella and Clyde; Mary, born May 28, 1855, married Armstead Mains, and has seven children: Mande, Elma, William, Reatta, Toura, Louese and Leslie;
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Eva, born August 29, 1860, was married January 26, 1882, to William G. Payne; Robert, born September 22, 1864, was mar- ried October 18, 1889, to Maggie Gray and has two children, Edna and an infant; and Frank born March 23, 1868, married a Miss Elliott, and has one child, Edward. Mrs. Black died January 26, 1879, and in May, 1883, Mr. Black wedded Mary (Thompson) Skiles.
Mr. Black is a member of the Christian Church, as also was his first wife. His pres- ent companion has her membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he was formerly a Whig, but since the organiza- tion of the Republican party he has affiliated with it.
ARTIN W. GREER, a life-long res- ident of Rnsliville township, was born August 5, 1843, a son of James Greer, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, born in the month of May, 1812. Martin Greer, the paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, was also a native of Ireland, but of Scotch ancestry; he was a farmer by occupa- tion, and spent his entire life in his own conntry; he married Lucy Crosier, who after the death of her linsband came to America with her children; she died at the residence of her son James in 1870, at the age of eighty-three years. She was the mother of five children, all of whom came to this country: George, James, Jane, Richard and Robert. James Greer was a youth of eigh- tcen years wlien he crossed the sea to' Amer- ica; he resided in the State of New York until 1836, and then came to Illinois, lo- cating in Schuyler county. After is mar- riage he bought a farm on which he passed
the rest of his life; he died in 1875. He was married in 1842, to Martha Wilson, a native of Nelson county, Kentucky, born October 15, 1818. Martha Wilson was the daughter of Elijah M. Wilson, who was born in Prince William county, Virginia, a son of Henry Wilson, also a Virginian by birth ; Henry Wilson married Sarah Melton, who was a native of Virginia; they removed to Kentucky and were among the pioneers of the Blue-grass State. Elijah M. Wilson inarried Jane Hawley, a native of Virginia and a daugliter of Absalom and Martha (Field) Hawley. He removed with his wife to Illinois, and entered a tract of Government land four miles south of Rushville; at the end of five years he sold this place for $600, and removed to Littleton township, where he purchased a farm on which he lived until his death. To them were born nine children: Martin W., Elijah M., William J., George S., Samuel E., Lucy J., Mary E., Maria E. and Vietta. Lucy married James Neill; Mary is the wife of Felix Jackson; Maria E. married Charles E. Lawler. The parents were both devoted church members, the father having joined thie Methodist Episcopal Church in his youth; the inother first united with the Baptist Church, but after her marriage was a inem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Martin W. Greer passed his youth on his father's farnı, assisting in the labors of seed- time and harvest, and attending the district school a portion of each year. At the age of twenty-one years he began to teach school, and was engaged in this profession for a pe- riod of six terms. Aside from this experi- ence lie has been interested exclusively in agricultural pursuits, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful. He intro- duced the first Berkshire logs into the connty, and lias a fine herd of short-horn
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cattle; his horses are of excellent pedigree,- and he takes great pride in elevating the standard of all classes of live stock. At the time of his marriage Mr. Grecr settled oll the farm he now owns on section 34, Rush- ville township; he has good, substantial farm buildings, an orchard, and very attractive grounds surrounding his residence; in fact, the farm is one of the inost desirable in the county.
He was married in April, 1867, to Susan H. Kruse, who was born in Rushville town- ship, a daughter of Francis H. and Elizabeth Kruse, whose history appears on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Greer arc the parents of five children living: Fred A., Luther M., Henry E., Millie M. and Owen J. The father is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, but the mother belongs to the Christian denomination. Politically, Mr. Greer has always, until the past two years, been a Democrat, and has been School Treasurer of Rushville township for a period of sixteen years; he has always been loyal to home interests and home industries, and is one of the most highly respected men in the county. For the past two years Mr. Greer has advocated the principles of the People's party and was nominated for Congress on that ticket for the Eleventh district by the convention held at Bushnell, June 11, 1892.
ASHINGTON BROCKMAN is one of the leading business men of Mount Sterling, where he was born Septein- bcr 13, 1844. His father, James, was born in Kentucky, and was there reared and edu- cated. He turned his attention to the study of medicine when young. He graduated from Lexington Medical College, and in 1836 -
or 1837 lie came to Illinois, locating in Mount Sterling, where he began his practicc. It was at this time that he had a very narrow escape from being drowned by being caught in the high water at Mcredosia. His prac- tice extended into Pike and Morgan counties, where he had to go on horseback. He con- tinued practicing until 18-, when he was elected Circnit Clerk, which position he held until his death. His wife's name was Sophia Price, of Scott county, Kentucky, the dangh- ter of one of the pioneers of Brown county. Dr. Brockman was a Democrat; served as school commissioner of Brown county; was a member of the Second State Constitutional Convention; was one of the charter members of Hardin Lodge, No. 44, A. F. and A. M., and was buried with Masonic honors.
Washington was an infant when his mother died, and but eight years when his father died. His step-mother was left in limited circumstances with four children to care for, and consequently at thirteen years of age he went to live with an uncle. He remained with him about a year, and then went to live with another uncle, who owned a flour mill. For several years he worked in the mill, in a black- smith shop and on a farm, and was also in a drug store in Mount Sterling. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Tenth Illi- nois Cavalry, and went to Missouri. His company was one of the four detached from the regiment and sent to join General Curtis after the Pea Ridge fight. They marched to Helena, Arkansas, and then participated in the capture of Vicksburg, after which he was granted a furlough of twenty days, which was extended to twenty days inore, and then his health being poor he was assigned to duty in the drug department. He remained there by order of the physicians until the spring of 1864, when he was ordered to take charge of
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a company of the Veteran Reserve Corps. He was honorably discharged in December, 1864, as his term had expired, and he returned home and soon secured a position in the post office for thirty days, and then was clerk in the enrolling department of the Provost Mar- shal's office, remaining there until after the war, when the office was discontinued. He went to Macomb, Illinois, to secure a job, but not being successful he returned and bought a book and stationery store. In less than a year he sold out, and was employed at various kinds of work for a few months, and then purchased one-half interest in another book and stationery store; later he bought the interest of his partner and conducted the busines alone. He carries a full line of books, stationery, wall paper, sporting goods and other goods of like nature. In 1886 he opened a buggy repository and farm imple- ment business and conducted it successfully for six years, but in 1892, owing to poor health, he was obliged to sell that branch of the business.
He was married, in 1865, to Estella J. Leeped, of Mount Sterling, daughter of John- son and Catherine (Dawson) Leeped. Mr. and Mrs. Brockman have four living chil- dren: George Leon, Clarence Eugene, Ernest Edgar and Percy Washington. Mr. Brock- man organized the Isaac McNeil Post, of which he is a member, No. 289, G. A. R. He is also a member of Unity Lodge, No. 310, I. O. O. F. He is a charter member of the Mount Sterling Lodge, No. -- A. O. U. W .; and of the Crescent Lodge, I. O. M. A .; also a Fellow-craft member of Hardin Lodge, No. 44, A. F. and A. M. He and his wife are greatly respected by their host of friends. He is one of the directors of the Mount Ster- ling Building and Loan Association, and is vice-president of the Mount Sterling Elec-
tric Light and Power company, which he helped to organize.
Politically he is a strong Republican, hav- ing cast his first ballot in 1864 for " honest Old Abe " Lincoln, and from this party he has never departed, believing that the prin- ciples of said party are just and true.
ILLIAM T. BLACK, a prominent farmer of Woodstock township, was born in Dubois county, Indiana, March 18, 1821. When he was four years old his parents removed to Schuyler county. and here he has since resided. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, and then he started out in life on his own account; he first rented a farm in Woodstock township, which he cultivated one year, and then removed to Rushville town- ship.
He was united in marriage, October 30, 1842, to Matilda Matheny, a native of Mor- gan county, Ohio, born March 29, 1823. Her parents, Andrew and Sarah (Harris) Matheny, were natives of New England and Virginia respectively; they emigrated to Illi- nois in 1835, purchased a farm in Schuyler county, and there spent the balance of their days. Both the paternal and maternal an- cestors were patriots and fought in the war of the Revolution. Mrs. Black is one of a family of four children. After his marriage, Mr. Black rented land for a few years longer, and in 1849 bought 120 acres, on which he built a small frame house; this was his home until 1867, when he sold the place and pur- chased 280 acres in Woodstock township. In 1869 le erected a dwelling, which has since been enlarged and remodeled; he has made all the improvements on the farm, and has
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developed it into one of the most desirable in the township. He carried on a general farm- ing business, and is considered one of the leading agricultorists of the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Black are the parents of six children: Austin married Nancy King, and they have one son; Athelinda is the wife of Richard Kettenring, and the inother of two sons; Harriet A. died at the age of forty-two years; William H. married Rachel Boiles, and they have seven children, five sons and two daughters; Richard married Jane Stevens, and they have two sons and a daughter; Frank- lin P. married Sarah Kennedy, and they have two solls.
Politically, Mr. Black affiliates with the Democratic party; he has filled the office of Assessor for three years, and in 1877 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and is the present inenmbent. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance. In his religious faith he is a Bap- tist. He has endured all the vicissitudes of life on the frontier, and has accumulated his property entirely by his own exertions. He has always employed the most correct busi- ness methods, and has the respect of the en- tire community.
EORGE W. ALLPHIN, section 15, Huntsville township, was born in Ken- tucky, September 13, 1830. He is the son of Reuben and Susan (Brumbeck) All- phin. He was five years old when the family carne to Illinois. He was reared on the farm and helped improve the new land. He at- tended such schools as those early days afforded, when they had log houses, with slabs for seats, and holes on the south side for windows. In the spring of 1850 he crossed the plains to California, and followed
inining for four years, and was successful, re- turning by way of New Orleans. On his re- turn he purchased eighty acres, on which he now resides. The land was unimproved and covered with timber. He now owns 115 acres of land, and lias the same well im- proved. He has also a fine quality of stock. He is a Republican in politics, although he was a Democrat for thirty years. He has been Justice of the Peace and held many minor offices. He has been a successful man, having made his money since 1854, when lie came to Illinois, settling in Huntsville.
He married, December 10, 1854, Miss At- lanta Wilson, daughter of Jamison Wilson. She was born in Huntsville township, in February, 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Allphin have had six children, three living: Anna, wife of James Burmood; Calvin and Sherman. They were members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church for many years, and when that society failed they united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Allphin is a mem- ber of Huntsville Lodge, No. 365, A. F. & A. M., and of Cyclone Lodge, I. O. O. F. He and his wife are highly respected citizens of Huntsville.
Jamison Wilson, the oldest living settler in Huntsville township, was born in what is now Grant county, Kentucky, November 29, 1829. His parents, John R. and Rachel (Jnnip) Wilson, were early settlers in this part of the State. He resided in Kentucky until 1836, and then came to Illinois, locating in Cass county, but finally settled in Adams county. They had eight children, of whoin the subject was the oldest. The second child was Polly; the others were Nancy, Jane, Sarah, Lucy, Dora and Robert. Jamison Wilson was reared a farmer, and in 1834 he came to Illinois and settled in Huntsville township. He entered and purchased land,
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where he resided until quite recently. Hc became the owner of 207 acres of land. He continued to reside on a farm until 1886, since which he has resided with his daughter, Mrs. Allphin. In politics he was a Republi- can, and a Justice of the Peace for a time. "He has been a church member all his life, having been connected with different denomi- nations, as convenient.
He was married in 1832, to Miss Ellen Thornhill. She was boru in Kentucky in 1810, being a danghter of John and Jane Thornhill. She died July 23, 1881. They had seven children: Ulysses resides in Linn connty, Kansas; Atlanta, now Mrs. G. W. Allphin; Melvina married Solomon Rawson, of Jacksonville, Iowa, and died in 1862; Mary married John Rawson, and resides in Grant county, Kansas; Lucnrgus resides in Frederick, Illinois; Paleniens resides on the old homestead; and Xenophon resides in Huntsville township, Illinois.
EBULON ALLPHIN resides on section twenty-two, Huntsville Township, and is not only a prosperous farmer, but a specimen of 1835, born in Boone county, Kentucky, in July, 1832. His father Ren- ben Allphin, was a native of Kentucky in 1801, and was the son of Zebulon Allphin, born in Virginia, but emigrated to Kentucky, where he died at the age of ninety-six years. He had nine children, of whom two are still living: William, Dollic, Jackson, Lnke, Shel- ton, Ransom, Rebecca, Nancy and Reuben. All came to Schuyler county except Dollie and Ransom, who removed to Kentucky. Father of subject was a small boy when the family removed to Kentucky and was reared a farmer and overseer on his father's planta-
tion. He married Susan Bruinbeck. She was born in Virginia in 1800. In 1835 they came to Illinois and settled at Camden. Some time after they settled on section ten, Hunts- ville township, where he purchased a claimn. In 1840 he removed to Rushville and re- mained five years, when he enlisted in the Mexican war. In 1848 he came to Mc- Donough county. In 1850 he returned to Schnyler county, and after the Civil war went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he pursned farming until 1870. He then returned to Schuyler county and passed his remaining years with his children. His wife died in 1852. They had eight children: William, Zarilda Thornhill, Sarah Hills, Henry, James, George W., Zebulon, and Snsan Brumbeck. The parents were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The father is buried in Rushville and the mother in Huntsville. Mr. Allphin was a Democrat, and held local offices. He was reasonably snc- cessful as a fariner, notwithstanding he was an uneducated man.
Zebulon was but three years old when he came to Schuyler connty and lived with the family until he was married. He was edu- cated at the district schools.
He was married in 1852, to Mary L. Cal- vin, daughter of Samuel and Phocbc Calvin, and a native of Ohio. After marriage Mr. Allphin settled where he now resides and soon purchased 160 acres of unimproved land.' He has since resided on the samnc, and now owns over 240 acres of land. He is a general farmer, dealing in live stock. Mr. and Mrs. Allphin have eight children: William C. re- sides in Carthage, Missouri; James Henry resides in Huntsville township; Addie, wife of Frank Seward, resides in Huntsville town- ship; Cornelia, wife of Harvey Hoover of Clark county, Misssouri; George M., at home;
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Leonidas, of Huntsville; and Jessie, at home.
Mr. Allphin is a Democrat in politics. He has been Supervisor several times and has held minor offices. His wife died February 25, 1890. She was a member of the Metho. dist Episcopal Church. Mr. Allphin is a member of Huntsville Lodge, No. 465, A. F. & A. M. He has made all his property himself.
OHN W. SNYDER, a well known and highly respected citizen of section 20, Buena Vista township, became a resi- dent of Schuyler county in 1834. He is a native of Virginia, having been born in Frederick county of that State, June 4, 1823. His father, Jacob Snyder, was a farmer. He married Margaret Hughes, and in 1834 emigrated to Illinois, locating in Buena Vista township, where he at first rented land, but later purchased a tract, adding to it from time to tiine until he owned about 500 acres. This he improved by erecting a good substantial residence and commodious barns for his grain and stock, and in time brought the land to a high state of cultivation. He died September 28, 1865, aged sixty seven years. His wife, the mother of our subject, had died on Nov- ember 7, 1849, at the early age of fifty-one years. She was a woman of intelligence and warm impulses, a faithful wife and fond mother, and left many friends to mourn her loss. They had four children: John W., James, now residing near Hamilton, Illinois; Joseph, a resident of Littleton township, Illi- nois; and George Edward, residing in Buena Vista township, same State. The parents were consistent members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and contributed to its support. Politically the father was a Demo- crat, but was never an office seeker, or poli-
tician in the modern sense of the term.
The subject of our sketch, John W. Snyder, was but a mere boy when his parents came to Illinois, since which time he has continued a resident of Schuyler county. He was reared to log-cabin life on a farm, and received his education in a log schoolhouse. He lived at home until he attained to the age of man- hood. He married, June 18, 1848, Miss Cynthia Blackley, a daughter of William and Jane Blackley. She was born in Tennessee, November, 1825. After his marriage our subject resided on the farm on which he still lives. He commenced with 260 acres of land, with no improvements, and now owns 190 acres, well improved with good house and barns for grain and stock and other modern improvemente, while his land is well cul- tivated, being devoted to mixed farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have had nine chil- dren, six of whom are living. Sarah Jane was born June 21, 1849, and married Harvey Cole. She died in Buena Vista township May 3, 1878, leaving three children. Mar- garet E. was born December 12, 1850, and resides at home. Martha E. was born April 3, 1853, and died June 18, 1856. Mary E. was born April 3, 1853, and married George Warrington, and resides in Buena Vista township. Lydia F. was born November 18, 1859, and resides at home. Louisa A. was born December 27, 1862, and inarricd Ross Pittman, and now resides in Rushville, of Schuyler county, Illinois. Cynthia B. was born October 9, 1864, and died December 15, 1864. Hannah L. was born May 24, 1867, and resides at home. Mazie C. was born September 25, 1868, and lives with her par- ents at home.
Mr. Snyder affiliates with the Democratic party, and has been lionored by his constitu- ents by an election to the office of Justice of
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the Peace, in which capacity he served his county ably and well. Like his parents before liim, he is a Protestant Methodist, to the support of whichi church he contrib- utes.
Commencing life with little means, he has, by industry and economy, accumulated a competence, and by reason of liis honest deal- ings and cordial manner he has won the friendship and good will of the community.
ILLIAM HUPPERS, an old and suc- cessful business man of Beardstown, was born in the Rhine province, Oc- tober 1, 1839. His parents lived and died in their native province. His father, Gear. heard Huppers, was a mechanic and small farmer, and had been quite active in local matters of his native town. He died at tlie age of eighty-six. His mother, who died at the age of eighty-one, before her marriage bore the name of Elizabeth Waltham. They were members of the German Reformed Church.
Mr. Huppers was well reared, and when thirteen years of age, after attending public school, was apprenticed to the tailor's trade. After completing his time lie started out as a journeyman workman, going to Belgium, where he spent six months, and then pro- ceeded to Paris, where he remained for two years, and then came to the United States, stopping first in New York and then Colum- bus, Ohio, and later coming to Beardstown. Here he has made all his money, liaving, when he landed in Columbus, less than one dollar in his pocket. He now does a large aud lucrative business as merchant tailor and gentlemen's furnisher, at the corner of Main and State streets. He arrived in Beardstown
and established a similar business with Mr. Miller, who continued with him until 1881; since then Mr. Huppers lias carried the busi- ness on very successfully alone. He has been a leader in many local enterprises. He is interested in the Beardstown Electric Light and Power Company, is a director of the First State Bank, and is a member of the Board of Education. His fellow-citizens have always known where to find him in public matters.
He was married in Arenzville, to Minnie Henkel, of Hesse Darmstadt. She came with her inother to this country when she was twelve years of age. Mrs. Henkel, a much respected member of the churchi, died in Beardstown, aged fifty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Huppers are the parents of two children: Lula A., who was educated in Beardstown, but completed her course in the university at Evanston, Illinois, and is now a skilled teacher in vocal and instrumental music; Harry C., twelve years of age, is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Huppers are leading people in this city, Mrs. Huppers being a member of the First Lutheran Church. Mr. Huppers is a member of the order of F. & A. M., a member of Cass Lodge, No. 23, of Clark Chapter No. 29, and is Treasurer in both. He is a sound Republican in politics.
HARLES N. DUNN, a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Beardstown, was born here, and has always lived on this farm. His father was John Dunn, of Cornwall, England, born in 1822. He grew up in his native country as a farmer boy and with his brother Luke came to the United States in the '40s, on a sailing vessel from Liverpool and landed in New York and came
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from there to Beardstown. Soon afterward he came out to his present location where he purchased 160 acres of wild land, which is now owned by his son. On this place John Dunn began life as a young single man and here made farming a success. He was mar- ried to Caroline Treadway, who was born in Maryland, but had come to Cass county when young, as her parents were old settlers. They soon accumulated 320 acres of fine land in what is known as the Sangamon bottoms and here John Dunn died in 1877, aged fifty- five years. His wife survived him until 1885, when she died, aged seventy-two years. Slie was a noble, good woman and the best of neighbors. Mr. Dunn was an honest man and both he and his wife were highly esteemed mein bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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