USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 19
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 19
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 19
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was engaged in agricultural pursuits; he was still devoted to the study of medicine, and after the family came to Illinois and located at Rushville, in 1845, he began the practice of his profession, which he continued to the time of liis death. While for many years he enjoyed a wide and paying practice, lie did not accumulate wealth; he was kind to the poor and did muchi for charity; in his death the poor lost one of their stanchest friends. In politics he was an ardent supporter of Republican principles; in his religious faith he was also possessed of the courage of his convictions, denying any future state; he did not approve of secret societies. His wife died in February, 1892; they had born to them nine children, all of whom lived to years of maturity: Marcus, a physician, died at Vermont, Illinois, in 1892; Franklin is a farmer in McDonough county; Victor is a farmer in Adair county, Missouri; Luke W. is the subject of this sketch; Albert R. is practicing medicine at Vermont, Illinois; Mary married Dr. B. F. Taylor, and died at Vermont, Illinois; Lucy is the wife of Jacob Trout, of Rushville; Cornelia is the wife of C. P. Neill; Emaline married William Barber.
Dr. Luke W. Clark received his literary education in the common schools of Rush- ville, and at the age of sixteen years began the study of medicine under the preceptor- ship of his father, with whose botanical rem- edies he became familiar. After finishing his medical education he came to Rusliville and engaged in practice with his father. He is now one of the oldest physicians in Schuy- ler county, and has a large and lucrative practice.
Dr. Clark was married, in 1872, to Miss Frances Schenk, a daughter of John Schenk, and a native of Fulton county, Illinois. 14
Four sons have blessed this union: Wheeler' Myron, Earl and Homer.
The Doctor is a member of the State Medi- cal Eclectic Society; in all his professional relations he has preserved that integrity and honor which graced the name of his father. He has been a close student of the science of medicine, and employs a set of remedies which have come to be known as "Clark's Family Medicines," and are now manu- factured for the trade. In politics lie affili- ates with the Republican party.
.
ETER W. RICKARD, an intelligent and progressive farmer of Cass county, Illinois, residing in township 19, range 9, was born in Windham county, Connecti- cut, August 26, 1823.
His parents were Peter and Mary (Healy) Rickard, both natives of Massachusetts, the mother's birth having taken place in Dudley, of that State. The father died one month previous to the birth of the subject of this sketch. Grandfather Rickard was a brave and efficient soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died in the service. The Rickard family is of French ancestry and took a prominent part in early Colonial times. Our subject's motlier was a daughter of Stephen and Rhoda (Marcy) Healy, also natives of Massachusetts, both of whom were related to old and re- spected families of that State. They died in the Bay State between tlie ages of seventy and eighty years. Both her father and grand- father were distinguished soldiers in the Revo- lutionary war, although the fame of her grand- father, Major Nathan Healy, rather outshone that of her father, the elder gentleman receiv- ing a liberal pension from the Government for his able services in that memorable
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struggle. The Healys were originally from England, and, as far as known, were success- ful farmers. On the maternal side, Mr. Rick- ard's motlier was an own cousin of William L. Marcy, at one time Governor of New York. Their revered parents had eight children, of whom our present subject is the sole survivor; some of these were tradesmen and successful merchants. The mother died in Windliam county, Connecticut, aged about sixty-niue years, universally lamented for her kindly ways and Christian character.
The subject of this sketch lived with his mother until he was eight years of age, when he went to live with a brother-in-law, with whom he remained until he was fourteen. He, then, found employment by the day or month, and at the same time diligently prose- cuted liis studies in the free school, which lie continued to attend until he attained the age of twenty-one.
He then started for the West, Illinois be- ing the objective point, then on the extreme frontier. In these days of rapid transit, it is interesting to note, by way of contrast, the time consumed by the journey. He went by cars and boat to New York city, and thence, via the Erie canal and Cumberland stage route, to Philadelphia and Wheeling, which took four weeks' time. He thence proceed- ed by the rivers to Beardstown, Illinois being twenty days en route, arriving at the latter place in the fall of 1844. He taught a subscription school for several terms, after which he tauglit a free school, continuing thus for many years, teaching in the winter and farming during the summer. He first purchased 120 acres in his present township, on which he settled soon after marriage. He afterward kept a general store for a year in Chandlerville, when, in 1857, he sold his first farm and bought 240 acres, on which he
now resides. He lived on the old farm while the present one was being prepared for occu- paney. Besides this valuable and extensive property, he owns a fine tract of forty acres, in this vicinity, all of which is devoted to mixed farming, in which he is very success- ful, being numbered among the most pros- perons farmers of the county.
Mr. Rickard was first married June 22, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Pease, an intelligent lady, and a native of Ohio. Her parents were Aborn Pease and wife, natives of Con- necticut, prominent and carly settlers of Illi- nois, who died at an advanced age. By this marriage, Mr. Rickard has one son, Henry A., who was born February 12, 1848; he married Julia Hardin, and has two children. Mr. Rickard's union was destined to be of short duration, his wife dying on the old farm, in the twenty-seventh year of her age.
November 5, 1854, Mr. Rickard was again married, liis second wife being Miss Mary Harbison, an estimable lady, a native of this county and a sister of Moses Harbison, a prominent resident of this locality. (See sketch in this book.) By this marriage there was one child, now deceased. This union was also suddenly dissolved by the hand of deatlı, before whose power all must bow. This gentle and beloved lady expired October 6, 1856, leaving many friends to mourn lier untimely taking away.
April 21, 1856, Mr. Rickard was married to Miss Mary C. Taylor, well and favorably known in this community, where she was born March 21, 1840. Her parents, Henry B. and Mary P. (Hawthorn) Taylor, are hon- ored pioneers of Illinois. Mrs. Rickard was a pupil of her husband when he taught school here in the early day. She is well informed and intellectual, being well adapted to be a companion to a person of her
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husband's superior ability and training.
By this marriage there have been nine children, five now living; all born on this farm. Those surviving are: Charles E., born July 28, 1860; John T., born June 29, 1862; Francis M., born October 8, 1867; Mary, born March 4, 1871; James A., born Decem- ber 25, 1879.
Mr. Rickard was formerly an old-line Whig, and cast his first vote for William H. Harrison, at a time when there was no tick- ets, each person writing the name of the can- didate of his choice. He has taken an active interest in the politics of his township, and has held the position of superintendent and other local offices, discharging his duties in his several capacities with ability and integ- rity.
Mr. and Mrs. Rickard and all the family are earnest and uscful members of the Con- gregational Church, of which Mr. Rickard is a Deacon and Trustee. The entire family arc prominent in temperance work and all mat- ters tending to the material and moral ad- vancement ot the community.
Although caring less for pedigree than our English cousins across the water, yet we tacitly admit that tendencies and early train- ing have much to do with shaping a man's career through life. While Mr. Rickard has worked out his own prosperity and salvation, yet he lias, no doubt, often drawn inspiration from the contemplation of the virtues of his illustrious ancestors, whose example he has insensibly been led to emulate.
OSEPH FENTON VAN DEVENTER was born in Highland county, Ohio, June 25, 1826, a son of Jacob Van De- venter, who was born in Loudoun county,
Virginia, a descendant of the colonial settlers who came from Holland in the early history of this country. The father of our subject was rearcd and married in Virginia, but re- moved to Ohio, where he was a pioneer of Highland county; there he bought a tract of timber-land, erected a log cabin, and made it his home until the fall of 1832, when he sold and came to Illinois; he was accompanied by his wife and children, and liis brother and family. The trip was made overland, and after a journey covering three weeks he ar- rived in Schuyler connty, which portion is now included in Brown county; he made a claim to a tract of Government land, bought a log cabin, and lived there until his deatlı in 1833. He was twice married, the second wife being the mother of Joseph F. Her maiden name was Jane Rogers, and she was born near Paris, Kentucky, a dangliter of Thomas Rogers; she kept the family together until her death in 1843. Joseph F. was a child of six years when his parents emigrated to the frontier; most of the land was owned at that time by the Government, the country was thinly settled, and the river towns were the only market-places, He attended the pioneer schools until he was old enough to as- sist on the farm; the mother had rented land which the sons cultivated. In 1850 Joseph and his brothers, Thomas and Henson, and a Mr. Adams and his son, crossed the plains to California; they started with ox teams March 27, and arrived at Weavertown, August 27. They engaged in mining thirty-five miles east of Sacramento until the following spring, and then went to Humboldt, and from tliat point across the mountains to Weaverton; there they resumed mining and continued the industry until June, 1852, when they started to Sacramento. They turned their attention to feeding cattle now, and fol-
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lowed the business until 1853, when they re- turned to Illinois, coming by the Isthmus to New York, and thence overland to their prairie home. Mr. Van Deventer and his brothers, Thomas, Barnett and Henson, com- bined their interests in farming and stock- raising, and bought land at different times, until they owned at one time 3,500 acres; Barnett and Henson are now deceased.
Our subject was married in 1868 to Luti- tia Givens, who was born at Mt. Sterling, Brown county, Illinois, a daughter of John A. and Mary F. (Curry) Givens, pioneers of Brown county. Mr. and Mrs. Van Deventer have two children living, Homer G. and Lloyd T. They are both members of the Presbyterian church. He was formerly a supporter of the principles of the Whig party, but has been a Republican since the organi- zation of that body. He is a man of honor and unquestioned integrity, and has the re- spect of his fellow-inen.
UNCAN TAYLOR, a well-known citi- zen of Rushville township, is a citizen of the Republic by adoption, liis native land being Scotland; he was born in Perth- shire, in Marclı, 1819, a son of Collin and Mary (Watt) Taylor, natives of the same shire. The parents spent their lives in their own country; they reared a family of eight children, named as follows: Jane, Thomas and John, twins, James, Margaret, Duncan, the subject of this biographical sketch, Ann and Catherine. Duncan Taylor and his brother James were the only members of the family who emigrated to America; James entered the service in the Florida war, and was never heard of after leaving Boston. Our subject was reared and educated in Scotland, and re-
sided in that country until he was eighteen years of age. He then went to London, Eng- land, and there followed the baker's trade ull- til 1843. In that year he emigrated to the United States, embarking on board a sailing vessel at Liverpool, which landed in New York after a voyage of thirty days. He worked at his trade in New York city nntil 1848, and then started toward the setting sun. The city of Chicago at that time had a population of a few thousand people, but there was not a railroad entering the place, and stages ran to St. Lonis and other im- .portant points. Mr. Taylor engaged in work at his trade in Chicago, and remained there a year, coming at the end of tliat time to Rushville.
At the breaking out of the civil war he abandoned his private interests, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment in all the marches and campaigns; the most important battles in which he took part were Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Jackson, Miss, and the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg. He was honorably discharged August 26, 1864, the terin of his enlistment having expired.
He returned to his home and resnmed his former vocation, which he pursued a number of years; he was successful in his business operations, and at different times invested in and, until he now owns three farms in Wood- stock township.
Mr. Taylor was married in 1843 to Eliza- beth Fourgeson, a native of Ireland, and a danghter of Daniel and Mary (Fulton) Four- geson. Four children were born of this union, two of whom are living, Robert and William, twins; Sarah and Mary are both dc- ceased. Robert married Ann Beck, and has four children; William married Adele Van-
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davenor; Sarah was the wife of Richard Law- ler, and Mary married Charles Rced; she left two children. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are wortly and consistent members of the Pres- byterian Church. In politics Mr. Taylor is an ardent supporter of Republican principles. He is a member of Colonel Harvey Post, No. 131, G. A. R. He is a man of superior busi- ness ability, is honorable in all his dealings, and worthy of the confidence his fellow-men repose in him.
NDREW J. HEDGCOCK, a prosper- ons farmer and esteemed citizen of Schuyler county, Illinois, was born in Davidson county, North Carolina, November 25, 1831, and is a son of John and Temper- ance (Bodenhamer) Hedgcock. Three gen- erations of the family were born in the old North State: the subject of this sketch, his father, John, and his grandfather, Elisha. The originator of the family in that State was Elisha's father, John, who removed to North Carolina from within sixteen miles of Baltimore, Maryland. This was about six years before the Revolutionary war. Will- iam, an older brother of John's, was a sol- dier in that war; and it is more than proba- ble that John also fought with the Colonies for independence. Elisha, son of John, spent his whole life in North Carolina. He had four sons, all dead but one. His son, John, a farmer, removed to Illinois in 1834, with his wife and three children. The long trip was made overland with a one-horse wag- on, and consumed about eight weeks. He at first settled near Rushville, but afterward removed to Birmingham township, where he bonglit seventy-nine acres of wild land. On this he built a log cabin, 16 x 18 feet,
in which liis family lived for sixteen or eighteen years. He then erected a nice frame liouse, where he resided until his death, at the age of seventy-five years. He was well and favorably known in his com- munity, and was sincerely mourned by many friends. In politics, he was originally a Whig, but joined the Republican party on its organization. He was a devout church member, and interested in all good works. His worthy wife died on the same farm, aged fifty five years.
Andrew is one of the eight children, seven of whom are yet living, nearly all in this county. He remained on the old farm un- til he was twenty-two years old working with his father at the cooper trade, and at- tending tlie subscription school. He mar- ried early in life, and rented a farm for two years, but at the end of that time he bought eighty acres that were but little improved, on which he built a log house. Here they lived for four years and then he replaced the old house by a neat frame one. He has 520 acres now, and it is divided into several as good farms as are in the county, all having fine farm houses and buildings upon them. Mr. Hedgcock has always been a strong Re- publican in politics, and voted for John C. Fremont. Hc and his wife are prominent members of the Congregational Church, he having joined in 1857.
He was married April 17, 1855, to Miss Martha P. Hall, of Iredell county, North Carolina. She is the daughter of Robert S. and Annie (King) Hall. Her parents were married in 1819 and came to Illinois in the spring of 1835, for the purpose of freeing their slaves, of wliom they had some eleven or twelve by inheritance, which they suc- ceeded in doing after several years of trouble and expense. They had ten children. Mr.
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Hall was a good man, and always acted up to his convictions of right and wrong. He lived in Indiaua for some time and then re- turned to Illinois, and died here at the age of seventy-two. The whole family were very prominent wherever they lived.
Mr. and Mrs. Hedgcock had eight chil- dren, seven of whom are still living: Robert S., born February 28, 1856, married Laura Balton, and they have three children; Mary J., born September 10, 1857, married Albert S. Glass, and they have one child; John F., born November 3, 1861, married Anna E. Wade, and they have four children. He is Township Treasurer, to which office he. was elected in 1886. He is a farmer, and resides on his own farm. The fourth child, Bessie E., born June 14, 1864, married George Dorsett, and they have one child; Matilda A., born September 25, 1866, and Anna E., born May 16, 1875, are both at home. Lil- lie E., born November 8, 1870, married William E. Dorsett, September 10, 1891.
All but two of the children have been at Plymouth High school, of which three are graduates. Most of the family are active in church work, and the occupation of them all is farming and stock raising. This is a family of whom the county may well be proud.
ON. JOHN J. MODANNOLD, a promi- nent citizen of Brown county, is the sub- ject of the following biography, and is cheerfully accorded a space in this history. He was born on the homestead in Pea Ridge township, Brown county, Illinois, August 29, 1851. His father, Thomas I. McDannold, was born near Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, a son of John McDannold, a native of Virginia. The
great-great-grandfather of our subject, Alex- ander McDannold, was born near Aberdeen, Scotland, and emigrated to America in colo- nial days; he settled near Culpeper Court House, Virginia, and spent the remainder of his life in that State. John McDannold re- inoved from Virginia to Kentucky and was an early settler of that State; he improved a farm on which lie lived the remainder of his days. Thomas I. MeDannold grew to man- hood in his native State, and came to Illinois. After liis marriage he purchased a tract of wild land in Pea Ridge township; there he built a small frame house, and began the task of reducing his land to cultivation. As his means increased he made other investments in land, and now owns 500 acres. He was united in marriage to Mary E. Means, a na- tive of Kentucky and a daughter of Major John and Patscy (Parker) Means. They rearcd a family of four children: John J., Thomas R., George R. and Clara. John J. received his early education in the district schools, and this training was supplemented by a course at the Quincy high school, one term at Farwell's English and Classical school, and two years at Dr. Corbin's private" school.
Supplying himself with the necessary books, he returned to the home farın, and be- gan the study of law. In 1873 he entered the law department of the Iowa State Uuiver- sity at Iowa City, and was graduated from that institution in 1874; December 25th of that year he opened an office in Mt. Sterling, and has since devoted himself to legal work.
He was united in marriage, in 1876, to Miss Cora Harris, who was born in Macomb, Illinois, a daughter of Dr. Ralph and Mary Harris. Two children were born to Judge and Mrs. McDannold, Malcolm and Helen.
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Judge McDannold has filled various offices of trust and honor; he has served as a mem- ber of the School Board, has served in the City Council, has been Mayor of the city, Master in Chancery for seven years, and County Judge for six years; the last namned position he resigned in 1892. He was made the nominee of the Democratic party for Congress at the convention held at Jersey- ville, in May, 1892, being the first inan in Brown county to receive this distinction. He is a member of Hardin Lodge, No. 44, A. F. & A. M., of the chapter, and of Delta Commandry, No. 48, K. T. In his profes- sion he has been very successful, and has at- tained a prominent position among the mem- bers of the bar of Illinois.
NOCH EDMONSTON, a member of the county Board of Supervisors, rep- resenting Bainbridge township, is one of the prominent citizens of Schuyler county, and is entitled to recognition in its annals. He was born in Carroll county, Missouri, . March 2, 1856, a son of Enoch Edmonston, Sr .; the father was born in Buncombe county, North Carolina, July 20, 1801, a son of Baziel Edmonston, who removed from Maryland, his native State, to North Carolina, and thence to the Territory of Indiana, in 1808; he was a pioneer of Dubois county, and there spent the last years of his life. He was married to Hannah Rose, who was born in North Carolina and died in Indiana. Enoch Edmonston, their son, was reared in Indiana and was married there. In 1829 he emigrated to Illinois with his brother, spent the summer in Schuyler county, and in the autumn returned to Indiana. In 1834 he again came to the State, accompanied by his
family; he made the trip overland with two teams, camping on the way, and located on a tract of land that was afterward found to be patent land; he then removed to section 31, where he resided a short time, soon mak- ing a claim to a tract of Government land on section 29; he crected a house on this place, inade some improvements, and lived there until he purchased land on section 32. As he prospered he added to his landed estate, and at one time owned about 1,000 acres. In 1855 he rented his farms, and went to Carroll county, Missouri, where he purchased land and resided for two or three years; at the end of that time he returned to Schuyler county, where he was living at the time of his death; August 2, 1872. He was twice married; the first wife was Susan Allen, a native of Buncombe county, North Carolina, and a daughter of Daniel and Celia (Hyde) Allen; she died in 1854; the second marriage was to Sarah (Barbee) Newsom. Mr. Ed- monston was prominently identified with the best interests of the county ; for six years he was Sheriff of the county, and was Treasurer for two years, discharging his duties with marked ability and fidelity.
Enoch Edmonston, Jr., was two years old when his parents returned from Missouri to Illinois. He received his education in the common schools, and had the advantage of a terin at a business college in Quincy. For a period of three years he was engaged in busi- ness at Quincy, and with the exception of that time he has given his attention exclu- sively to agricultural pursuits; he now occu- pies the old homestead. He was inarried in March, 1885, to Nancy Ater, a native of Cass county, Illinois, and a daughter of John J. and Mary Ater, natives of Morgan county, Illinois, and pioneers of Cass county. Mr. and Mrs. Edmonston arc the parents of four
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children: Belle, Roy, Floss and Fay. Inde- pendent in thought and action, Mr. Edmon - ston has never been associated with any political party, but cast his first vote with the Labor party, and now gives his support to the organization known as the People's party. He is a member of Woodstock Grange, No. 443, P. of H.
OHN KERR, Rushville .- America has drawn her population from every conti- nent and all the islands of the sea. Ireland has contributed her quota, sending many of her sturdy sons, who have aided in the de- velopment and growth of the New World, and pushed their way to the frontier, that the path might be made for the onward march of civilization. John Kerr, proprietor of the Schuylerville coal mine and one of the prom- inent agriculturists of Schuyler county, Illi- nois, is a native of County Fermanagh, Ire- land, born near Five-mile Town, July 15, 1840. His father was also a native of the Emerald Isle, but the grandfather was born in Scotland, although he spent his last days in County Fermanagh. The father was a weaver by trade, and operated a hand loom with great skill; later in life he became the proprietor of a shop, and employed several men; the last years of his life, however, were devoted to farming, the land being leased; he inarried Rebecca Wier, a native of Scotland, and to them were born eight children.
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