USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 13
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 13
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
the Brown County Agricultural Society. He is also a member of the Western Catholic Union, and his wife is a member of the Sacred Heart Society.
ORTIMER AYERS, M. D., a lead- ing member of the medical fraternity in Schuyler county, Illinois, has been a resident of Rushville since October 1, 1873. He was born at Springfield, Illinois, June 25, 1848, a son of Grover and Jane (Stock- dale) Ayers. The father was a native of New York state, born near Penn Yan, May 21, 1818, and emigrated to Wapakoneta, Olio, with his family at an early day. There he was married, and in 1844 he emigrated to Illinois, and settled at Springfield; here he embarked in a general mercantile trade, which he carried on until 1862, when he retired from active life; he removed to Vermont, Fulton county, in 1876, and there passed the remainder of his days; his death occurred in 1880; his wife survives him, and is a resident of Vermont, Illinois. He was very prosperous in business and accumulated a competency. In his religious faith he was a Baptist. The family consisted of five children: Bryon W., died in Springfield, Illinois; Ada is the wife of George W. Whitney; Sylvanus resides in La Fayette, Indiana; the fourth born is the subject of this sketch; Grover died at Spring- field, at the age of twenty years.
Dr. Ayers passed his boyhood days at Springfield, and attended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age. He then entered the United States Navy as midship- man, and served in this capacity for three years; the greater portion of this time was spent at Annapolis, Maryland, although he made several cruises. In 1866 he returned
145
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
to Springfield, and began the study of medi- cine, soon afterward going to St. Louis, wlicre he continued the pursuit of the science under the direction of Prof. T. G. Comstock. Hc entered the Homeopathic Medical College of Missonri at St. Louis, and was graduated in the spring of 1868. He then located at Pana, Illinois, where he engaged in practice. He had not yet attained his majority, being only twenty years of age, and he soon decided to enter the navy; when he reached New York, however, he went on board a merchant vessel as surgeon, sailed to South America, and was absent three years. Returning to the United States at the end of that period, he located at Rushville, Illinois. He has taken several special courses in medicine, the last of which was at the Royal Ophthalinic Hospital, London, England; he has been a closc and careful student of all topics per- taining to the science and practice of medi- cine, and has made his mark as a skillful physician. He is the only member of the Homoepathic school in Rushville.
Dr. Ayers was united in marriage, July 15, 1874, to Miss Dora Hill, a danghter of Major William Hill, and a native of Little- ton township, Schuyler county. Two chil- dren have been born to them, Ethel and Olive. In his religious faith the Doctor is a Presbyterian. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery; he has held the office of Commander of Rushville Com- mandery, No. 56, K. T.
Major William Hill was born in Lan- cashire, England, June 27, 1825. At the age of twenty-one years he emigrated to America, and became one of the pioneers of Schuyler county in 1846. He was a cabinct- maker by trade, and followed this vocation for ten years. He married Rachel Knowles,
a daughter of Joseph Knowles, who came to the United States with his family aboard the same vessel witlı the Major. After abandon- ing his trade he was interested in a flonring mill, but when the Civil war broke out he was one of the first to respond to the call for troops; he raised a company, which was innstered into the service as part of the En- gineer's Regiment of the West; he was elected Captain, served through the entire conflict, and was mustered out with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by brevet; he had arisen in regular order to the rank of Major. After the war he became a member of the firm of J. & J. Knowles & Co., and was con- nected with this firin until his death, which occurred March 25, 1877. His wife died April 12, 1877. They had a family of five children, four of whom lived to mature years: Maria, wife of C. M. Cowan, of York, Ne- braska; Mary A. is Deputy County Clerk of York county, Nebraska; Dora is the wife of Dr. M. Ayers; Lanra was the wife of the late Luther Jackson, of Rushville.
Major Hill was a staunch Republican, and took a prominent part in local affairs. He was a man of plain and unpretentions manner, true to his convictions, and worthy of the esteem in which he was held.
ARL TRAUGOTT JOKISCH, a good fariner and stock-raiser of sections twenty-eight and twenty nine, township eighteen, range eleven west, was born in Ger- many near Bautzen, January 4, 1822. He is the fifth of his father's children and the oldest one now living. He was thirteen years of age when his parents left Germany for the United States in the fall of 1834, com- ing on a sailing vessel and landing in New
146
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
Orleans, Jannary 1, 1835. They came up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Beards- town, landing February 2, 1835, and have as a family since been identified with the history of the county. The mother died in the latter part of January, 1835, at St. Louis, while the family were on the way. She was only forty two years of age. She was always a member of the German Lutheran Church, as was her husband who survived her.
Traugott has always been a farmer in the county to which lie came so many years ago. He was raised by an uncle, C. G. Jokisch, now deceased, the father having died in 1851. The father had obtained new lands in this county and here spent the remaining years of his life. (See William Jokisch, this book.)
The farm of our subject has a beautiful lo- cation near Bluff Springs, in the Illinois river valley, where he owns a fine and well im- proved farm of 235 acres, with substantial farm buildings.
He was married, in this county to Mary Ellen Carls, born in Hanover in 1834. She came with her parents to the United States and Cass county in 1845 and has since lived here, being a true helpmate to a good hus- band. She is an honest, good woman. Shc was the daughter of John Frederick and Elizabeth Carls, natives of Hanover, who came with tlicir family to this country, but misfortune overtook them. Early after land- ing the father was killed by an accident while building a house for his family in Beards- town. A piece of timber fell on him and caused his death. He was then in the prime of life, being then about thirty-eight. He was a very skillful cabinet-maker, a good citizen and devoted Christian for many years. His wife survived him for four years and then died, in Beardstown, iu 1849, of the
cholcra, which was epidemic at that time. She was a Christian woman.
Mrs. Jokisch has one sister and two brothers. The sister, a widow, is Mrs. Eliza- beth Knhl, living in Pekin, Illinois; Henry is a farmer in Montana; and Johu F. is a farmer in Cass county,, Illinois. They are both married.
Mr. and Mrs. Jokisch and family are mem- bers of the Methodist Church, and are very good, moral, upright people. Mr. Jokisch is a Republican in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Jokischi are the parents of twelve children, four of whom are deccased: John W. died an infant; Edward, marricd, left a wife and one child; Philipena died at the age of thirty-six, leaving two children; Ida died in Montana when twenty years of age. The living ones are: Louis, a teacher for more than twenty years in Central Illinois, and is single; Emme, wife of Charles Wilson, farmer and fruit- grower of Virginia; Elizabeth, wife of Adam Hegeman, farmer in this county; Albert W., living near the homestead, farming; George F., living in the east end of the county on a farm; Richard, at home, helping on the farm ; Cora and Tillie are also at home.
L. CALEF, one of the old, representa- tive families of Cass county, lives on a fine farm on section nine, township eighteen, range eleven, where he owns 320 acres, all well improved except a few acres, and all lying in the familiar and famous Sangamon bottom. On this fine land he lias erected two sets of fine buildings. He camne to the county in the fall of 1844, when he was a man of small means, but in a year's time he was able to purchase his first land of eighty acres and began to farm on his own
1
---- i
147
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
account. Soon after this he bought another eighty, and some years later invested in 160 acres more, making 320 acres in all. He has as fine land as there is in the county, and it is all paid for. He has a comfortable bank account in addition, and is considered one of tlie well-to-do men of the county. He gave up active farming some fifteen years ago, and since that time has been taking life easy, having rented his farm to William Coleman (see biography). Mr. Calef came to this county and State from New Hampshire, where he was born, near Plainfield, Sullivan county, June 25, 1820. He camne of New England parents, born in New Hampshire, of Englishi ancestry. His father, Nathaniel Calef, was a native of Salisbury, New Hamp- shire, son of Benjamin Calef, who was born in New Hampshire, and lived and died in Salisbury, New Hampshire, being a farmer all liis life. He was an old man when he died, and had always been a prominent mem- ber of society. He married a New Hamp- shire lady who li ed and died there when quite old. Nathaniel Calef was married twice. He was married for the first time to Miss Elizabeth Hall, who died on the farm where they had settled after marriage. She left several children, of whom John Hall Ca- lef is still living. He is on the old Calef farın in New Hampshire, and is an old man, aged eiglity-six. His second wife, mother of subject, was Sarah Pettengill, she having been first married and borne a family to a Mr. Little, who died, and she married Na- thaniel Calef, to whom she proved a good and faithful wife. She bore him our subject and a daughter, Lucinda, who became Mrs. Harrington, and died in New Hampshire, as did her mother, both old people. Nathaniel Calef, the oldest half-brother of the subject of this sketcli, was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Our subject was married in Cass county to Lucy A. Main. She was born, reared and educated in Geanga county, Ohio, in 1829, and came to Illinois when young, settling on a farın in Cass county with her parents, Lod- rick and Ann Eliza (Beard) Main. They were early settlers and improved their farm, and died when old people. They were na- tives of Connecticut and went to Ohio when yonng, marrying in Genaga county, from which they came to Cass county, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Calef have no children, but have raised and helped several young people. They are very well known people and have made a liost of friends for them- selves during their lives in this county. Mrs. Calef is a Methodist, and her husband is a Republican in politics.
OHN SHANK, a successful farmer, hor- ticulturist and florist, and a prominent citizen of Mount Sterling, Illinois, was born in Franklin, Johnson county, Indiana, Juiy 11, 1843. His paternal grandparents were John and Catherine (Dosing) Shank, the former a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent, while the latter was of French ancestry. The former was an early settler of Ohio, when that State was the fron- tier of civilization, his last days having been passed at liis home in Preble county, near Eaton, that State. His son, William Shank, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, in May, 1821, and was twelve years of age at the time of his father's death. After this event his mother removed with her family to Indiana, and located in Johnson county, near Morgansville. Here William Shank grew to manliood, and, in 1842, married Julia E. Mc-
148
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
Cord, a native of Tennessee. Her parents were John and Mary (Brown) McCord, both of Scotch-Irish descent, who emigrated in an early day from Virginia to Tennessee, whence, about the year 1836, they removed to In- diana. They resided in that State nearly twenty years, when finally, in 1855, they re- moved to Illinois. Here the father pur- chased land in Moultrie county, near the vil- lage of Bethany, on which he and his wife settled, and where his death occurred in 1865, lamented by all who knew him. Will- iam Shank and his young wife preceded her parents to Illinois by eleven years, having removed thence in 1844, two years after their marriage. They settled in Pea Ridge town- ship, Brown county, where William bought a tract of land, a portion of which was heav- ily timbered. Here they resided for many years, the wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, dying in 1889, universally beloved and mourned.
John Shank, whose name heads this biog- raphy, was thus about a year old when his parents removed to the Prairie State, which was then new and sparsely settled. Here, in the freedom of a wild expanse, he grew to manhood,-physically strong and athletic, and mentally acute and active,-receiving the educational advantages afforded by his surroundings and circumstances.
On the breaking out of the great Civil war, with all the enthusiasm of youth and patriot- ismn, lie rallied to the defense of his country's flag, enlisting in Company B, Fiftieth Vol- unteer Infantry, on August 20, 1861, and serving until the close of the war. The most important engagements in which he partici- pated were the siege of Corinth, Shiloh, Co- rinth and Resaca. In January, 1864, he re-enlisted or veteranized, and was given a furlough of thirty days. After the battle of
Resaca, at Rome, Georgia, he was placed on detached duty in the Commissary Depart- ment of General Sherman's army, where he continued until cessation of hostilities. He was honorably discharged with his regiment at Springfield, Illinois, on July 14, 1865.
He then, like thousands of others, resumed his former peaceful occupations, engaging, during the first year of his return, in farm- ing. Later, he embarked in mercantile pur- suits at Clayton, Illinois, remaining there for about three years, when he sold his business and acted as traveling salesman for about eight years, making Clayton his home. Dur- ing the latter period, he bought a part of his father's land in Pea Ridge township, and, discontinuing traveling, he engaged in gen- eral farming, making a specialty of horti- culture. In 1874 he engaged in the nursery business and raising of small fruits, in which lie continned successfully for some time. Finally, in 1884, he removed to Mount Ster- ling, the county seat, his present home, where he continued the nursery and fruit business, to which he later added that of floriculture. His natural adaptability and careful attention to business have resulted in well-merited suc- cess, while his liberal methods and uniform courtesy have secured for him a constantly increasing patronage, until he now realizes a comfortable income from these varions indus- tries.
Mr. Shank was married in 1867, to Miss Sue Mead, an estimable lady and a native of Morgan county, Ohio. She was a daughter of Zaccheus and Margaret (Logue) Mead, the former a native of New York, where he was reared and married. He and his wife were prominent and esteemed pioneers of Morgan county, Ohio, where they resided many years, the father finally expiring there, regretted by his family and many friends. The mother
149
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
still survives, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Shank.
Mr. and Mrs. Shank have four children: Jesse E., Samuel M., Nora A. and Joe H.
Politically, Mr. Shank affiliates with the Republican party. Religiously, lie is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination. Both are esteemcd residents of Mount Sterling, to the social and financial status of which they have given material aid by their energy, public spirit and sterling worth.
EORGE W. TRONE, one of the most practical and progressive farmers of Schuyler county, has resided here since he was a youth of fifteen years. He was born in Carroll county, Maryland, April 4, 1849, a son of Adam Trone, a native of York county, Pennsylvania. The father was a iniller by trade, and followed that vocation in Pennsylvania and Maryland; he settled in Carroll county before his marriage, and re- sided there until 1858, when he reinoved to Illinois and settled at Astoria. Fulton connty; there he operated a mill until 1863, when he invested in land in Rushville township; the remainder of his life was devoted to agricult- ure. He was united in marriage to Rebecca Erb, a native of Carroll connty, and a daugh- ter of John Erh. The paternal ancestors of onr subject were of German extraction, while those on the mother's side were of Irish ori- gin. Mrs. Trone still resides on the farm in Rushville township. George W. received his education in the common schools of his native county, and at Astoria and in Rushville town- ship. When but a boy he began to assist his father in the mnill, but he preferred farming, and did not follow the trade any length of
tune. After the family removed to Rushville township he was occupied on the farm until he attained his majority.
In 1871 he bought a tract of land in Bain- bridge township, one-half of which he sold afterward. In 1880 he purchased the farm he now occupies; it consists of 150 acres of land in Rushville township, and the most of it is in a high state of cultivation. In 1883 he sold fifty-three acres. Mr. Trone devotes his entire time to farming and stock-raising; he breeds high-class registered stock, and fre- quently exhibits at the county and State fairs, and as frequently carries off the prizes.
He was married in 1874 to Sarah R. Boise, a native of Rushville township and a dangh- ter of Matthew Boise; they have three chil- dren: Libbie E., George Carl and Earl R. The mother is a worthy ineinber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Trone affiliates with the Democratic party.
ENSSELAER WELLS was born in Lo- rain county, Ohio, February 22, 1823. He was the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Durand) Wells. The latter was a native of Connecticut, came to Illinois when subject was eleven years old, and settled in Littleton township, this county, and died at Rushville, aged sixty-five years. His wife was born in the same county as her son, and she died on the old farin, aged thirty-five.
Subject remained at home until his mar- riage, when he bonght his present farm and put up a log cabin, where they lived for sev- eral years, until he built the frame house in which they lived until 1871. He then built their present fine residence, which cost $3,500. He has now about 500 acres of land, where he carries on mixed farmning, and he
150
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
has made this farm one of the finest in the county.
He was married in 1844, to Rebecca Rose, born in Morgan county, Illinois, daughter of Randolph and Rebecca (Bazier) Rose, the latter of Kentucky. Mrs. Rose died in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Rose were among the earliest settlers, and Mrs. Wells was one of eight children, five yet living. Mr. Wells is one of seven children, two yet living.
Mr. and Mrs. Wells have had seven chil- dren: George, married and has three chil- dren, Randolph, married and has two chil- dren; William, at home; David, marricd and has two children; Charles, married and has one child; Mary A., single and at home. They have all been well educated. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Wells is a Democrat, voting first in 1844. He takes no active part in politics.
He traces his grandfather Durand back to his residence in France, of which country he was a native, first settling in Ohio, where he died when a very old man.
Mr. and Mrs. Wells are very good people, and are highly respected by all who have the pleasure of knowing them.
ON. JOHN C. BAGBY, attorney at law, was born in Glasgow, Barren coun- ty, Kentucky, January 24, 1819. His father was Rev. Sylvanus M. Bagby, a native of Louisa county, Virginia, born September 29, 1787. His grandfather was Richard Bagby, a native of the same county, and his great grandfather was John Bagby, a native of Scotland, who went from there to Wales, wlicre he married and lived a number of years,
and then came to America in colonial times, accompanied by his family, and settled in Virginia. He settled in Louisa county, where he became a prominent planter and slave owner. Richard Bagby, the son of John Bagby, and grandfather of our subject, was also a planter and passed his entire life in Louisa county. His wife was Miss Sarah Kimbrough, a native of the Old Dominion and of Welsh descent. The father of our subject, Sylvanus M. Bagby, was left an or- phan at an early age and was cared for by an uncle, John Bagby, of Rockridge county, Virginia. He learned the carpenter trade, and in 1808 removed to Kentucky, and was one of the early settlers of Glasgow. While there, in June, 1813, he married Miss Fran- ces S. Courts, a native of Caroline county, Virginia, born May 17, 1793, her father, John Courts, being a native of England, and an early emigrant to Virginia. His wife was Frances Winn, a native of Culpeper, Virginia.
Sylvanus M. Bagby was converted in early youth and joined the Baptist Church. He became a preacher of that demonination, but did not give up his trade as a carpenter, which he followed during the week, preaching. on Sundays. He remained a member of the Baptist Church until 1828, when he accepted the religious doctrines of Alexander Camp- bell, whom he assisted in organizing a Chris- tian Church in Barren county, and was from that time forward a minister of that denom- ination. He resided in Glasgow until 1842, when, with his wife and eight daughters, he journeyed overland to Illinois, stopping at Rushville, where he engaged in the mercan- tile business. Later he purchased a farm, a portion of which is now included in the city, upon which is located the railroad depot. He died in 1848, having lived a useful, pious and
151
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
honorable life. His wife passed away in 1858. She rearcd ten children as follows: Albert K., who still resides in Glasgow ; Martha A. Hall; Frances H. Montgomery; Clara Ramsey; Sarah C .; Elizabetlı Lusk; Mary M. Doyle; Emily C., Zorelda VanHosen, and our sub- ject. John C.
In the school of Barren county our sub- ject, Jolin C. Bagby, was educated, supple- menting the same by an attendance at Bacon College, which at that time was located in Georgetown, but later was removed to Har- rodsburg. He continued at this college until his gradnation as a civil engineer, in 1840, when he returned to Glasgow, and tanght school five years, devoting his spare moments to the study of law with Judge Christopher Tompkins of that town. He was admitted to the bar in 1846 and in April of that year came to Rushville and began the practice. In 1847 he formed a partnership with William A. Minshall, which partnership continued until 1848, when Mr. Minshall was elected Circuit Judge. Mr. Bagby, with the exception of the time spent in Congress, continued the practice of law until be was elected Circuit Judge in 1885. He cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, and was a prominent Whig and Free Soiler until 1856, when he was one of seven to organize the Republican party in this county. He con- tinued a Republican until 1872, when he branched off and voted for Horace Greeley, since which event he has affiliated with the Democratic party. He has filled various offices of trust, and in 1874 was elected a member of Congress. He served as Circuit Judge six years, entering upon his duties in 1885. He has been a member of Rushville Lodge, No. 9, A. F. & A. M., for forty-six years, and was Master of the lodge eleven terins. He was one of the organizers of Sta-
pleton Chapter, No. 9, R. A. M., and has been a member of the order of the Sons of Temperance. On October 1, 1850, he mar- ried Miss Mary A. Scripps, a native of Cape Girardeau county, Missouri, and daughter of George H. and Mary (Hyler) Scripps. They have been blessed with nine children: Mary Frances; John S .; Virginia Ellen, who died at the age of eleven years; Albert; Morris; George Henry, who died aged twenty-seven years; William Ray, who died in infancy; Catherine B .; Arthur F. and Edwin H.
ENRY CRASKE, a member of the State Board of Equalization, a resident of Rushville, and one of its most promin- ent citizens, was born in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk connty, England, Septein ber 26, 1845. His father, James Craske, was born in the same place, Jannary 4, 1798, and his grand- father was also a native of England, where he passed his entire life. Jaines Craske was the only one of his children to come to America. He was reared and educated in his native land and lived there until 1862, when he came to this country and located at Little Falls, New York, where he still lives, at the unusual age of ninety-four years. His wife's maiden name was Eliza Clark, a native of Barton Mills, England, and died in Bnry St. Edmunds, of the same country, in 1849. Her children were named Marianne, Sarah, James, Caroline, Elizabeth and Henry, all of whom were reared to maturity.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.