USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 24
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 24
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 24
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Mr. Watkins is an old Andrew Johnson Democrat, and cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas. With the exception of his vote cast for General Weaver for President, he has voted a straight Democratic ticket ever since. Acknowledging his ability, his con- stituents have sought the advantage of his judgment and experience by electing him to various local offices. He went from the school room to the position of school director, in which capacity he has served ever since. He has held the responsible position of Justice of the Peace for twenty years, dis- charging his duties with justice and impar- tiality.
His wife is a faithful member of the Prim- itive Baptist Church, and, both by her in- influence and means, contributes to its sup- port.
Mr. Watkins' life is a brilliant example of what may be accomplished by intelligent and persistent effort, which not only insure ma- terial prosperity but also crown their vota- ries with honor and happiness.
DAM P. SEASLY, a progressive and enterprising young farmer of Oakland township, was born in Carroll county, Maryland, in 1860. His father, Adam Seasly, now a resident of Adams county, Pennsyl- vania, is a native of Germany, but emigrated to America when a young man; he was reared to the life of a farmer, and also mas- tered the blacksmith's trade in his own country. After arriving in this country he went directly to Pennsylvania, and there was married to Elizabeth Cook, a daughter of Benjamin Cook; she died in early woman- hood in Pennsylvania, leaving two sons and a daughter: Mary, Adam P. and George; Mary died in infancy, and George lived only a few years. At the age of three years Adam P. was taken by Henry Riffle, and under his care was reared to manhood.
In the spring of 1869 Mr. Riffle came from Pennsylvania to Illinois, and located at Ver- mont, Fulton county; he was a plasterer by trade, and followed that calling in connec- tion with farmning. Mr. Riffle had no chil- dren of his own, but adopted a son and daughter, for whom he carefully provided. Adam P. Seasly, the son, was given a good education, and was taught the printer's trade.
Mr. Seasly was married in 1881, to Miss Rebecca E. Kost, of Fulton county, Illinois, a daughter of John and Catherine Kost, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kost is a car- penter and farmer, and in 1850 he emigrated to Illinois and settled in Fulton county. He is now one of the wealthiest resident land
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owners in this section, but is retired from active business pursuits. Mr. Seasly engaged in agricultural pursuits in Fulton county, which he continued until 1885, when he re- moved to his present farm of eighty acres; he rents an additional eighty acres, and is carrying on a successful business. To him and his wife have been born three children: Ross H., Edgar and Rutlı.
Politically our subject affiliates with the Democratic party; he has served as School Trustee, and has always been a liberal sup- porter of home industries and enterprises.
HOMAS P. PARROTT, an intelligent and public-spirited citizen of Buena Vista township, is a pioneer of 1831, since which time his interests have been identified with those of his favorite county. He is a native of Kentucky, having been born in Glasgow, that State, on September 3, 1825.
His father, Josiah Parrott, was a native of Maryland, having been born in Talbot county, that State, on July 20, 1800. He had no school advantages, but acquired an excellent business education in Glasgow, Kentucky, to which place he early removed. He was pos- sessed of unusual financial ability, and had a remarkable aptitude for mercantile pursuits. In time he became the owner of three stores, one at Glasgow, one at Thompsonville, and another at Gainesboro, Tennessee. He was married in Kentucky, to Nancy G. Bransford, a native of Rockingham, Virginia, in which place she was born on July 27, 1807. She was a daughter of Thomas Bransford, a promi- nent citizen of that place.
In 1830 Mr. Parrott came to Ruslıville, Illinois, which was then a new and sparsely settled country, and opened a store at that
place. He had at that time $60,000 and a large stock of goods. After starting liis store, he returned to Kentucky, and in the spring of the following year, 1831, he removed his family to Rushville, where he continued in business for more tlian forty years, being the oldest merchant of that place. He also started several other stores at the same time, in different towns, one at Beardstown, and another at Princeton, while he had still another at Pulaski. All were general stores and all carried large stocks of goods. He possessed very great euergy and excellent financial ability, and was eminently success- ful in business. He invested largely in land, and became the owner of thousands of acres of the richest land of Schuyler county. He voted with the Whig party, and later with the Republican, but never desired to hold office. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, being one of the charter members of the lodge in Rushville. He was a promi- nent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a liberal supporter. He helped to build the first Methodist churchı in Rushville, and contributed toward the erection of the present handsome edificc.
Mr. Parrott's first wife died on July 26, 1835, leaving four children to the care of her husband, and many friends to mourn her loss. She was a woman of intelligence and many charms of character, a faithful wife and fond motlier, and was much lamented by all who knew her. The children were: Thomas P., subject of our sketch; James H., now a real- estate man of Omaha, Nebraska; John B., who died in Buena Vista, unmarried; and Susan, who died unmarried.
Mr. Parrott was subsequently married again, his second wife being Catharine Scripps, a native of Missouri. They had twelve chil- dren: George, deceased; Maria, who married
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Colonel William McAlister, and died in Rushville; Lydia, married; Sarah, who mnar- ried Albert Clark, and died in Kearney, Ne- braska; Josiah, a traveling salesman; Catha- rine, deceased; Charley, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, and was for many years a banker in Omaha; Walter, a wholesale dealer in hats, caps and notions, in Chicago; Frank, deceased; Marcus, a resident of Omaha; Ellen, deceased; and Lewis, a real-estate man of Omaha, Nebraska.
The fatlier died at his home, surrounded by his family and friends, on May 29, 1881, aged eighty-one years, much lamented as a faithful friend and fond husband and father.
The subject of our sketchi was but a inere boy when the family came to Ruslıville in 1831. He attended school in Rusliville, and when young began to assist in the duties about liis father's store, and when grown, be- came a partner. The confinement of indoor work, however, did not agree with his health. and consequently, during the war lie located on a farm in Buena Vista township. He is now the owner of 320 acres of highly cultivated land. Besides his farming interests, he is largely engaged in stock-raising, being a breeder of shortlorn and red-polled cattle, and of Morgan and Clyde horses, and has soine of the finest specimens of the various breeds to be found in the country.
On January 25, 1848, he was married to Sarah Wright, a daughter of E. M. and Sarah Wright. She was born in Syracuse, New York. Their happy married life was doomed to be of short duration, for, after little more than a year, on November 12, 1849, his wife died, leaving to his care one child, Sarah G., now the wife of Insco Marine, and resides at Beatrice, Nebraska.
On October 10, 1860, our subject was ınar- ried again, his second wife being Emma
Window, born in Macomb, Illinois, a dauglı- ter of Rev. William H. Window. Her fa- ther was a Methodist Episcopal minister, widely and favorably known in Illinois. They had eight children, two sons and six daughters: Susan, wife of E. H. Lugg, of Warsaw, Illinois; William; Grace; Harry; Catharine; Ida; Blanche and Margaret. The faithful wife and devoted mother died on July 22, 1890, much mourned by her family and friends. April 13, 1892, Harry married Miss Carrie McCormick, of Buena Vista.
Our subject affiliates with the Republicans in politics, and thoughi averse to office has, at the earnest solicitation of his numerous friends, served in some local positions of trust, to the entire satisfaction of his con- stituents. He is, like his father before him, a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which denomination has found in him an carnest and sympathetic friend.
Of high integrity and morality, of rare ability and warm impulses, he enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens, and tlic es- teem of his family and a host of friends.
ASPER ROHN, a general farmer in sections 32 and 33, range 12, township 18, Beardstown precinct, has a well improved tract which has been his farm for twenty-one years. He was born on a part of the farm which he now owns, September 23, 1842. His parents were Henry and Elizabetlı (Longore) Rohn. They both came to America and were married after landing in St. Louis, and later came to Beardstown (for further history, seehistory of J. Henry Rohn, this book). They were very early settlers, having come to the county three years after the In- dians had left the State.
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Mr. Casper Rohn has been a hard-working man, has been moderately successful, and has made his way in the world by his own efforts.
He was married first to Mary Jockissh, of Cass county, Illinois, and resided in this county until her death in 1876, at the age of twenty- five years. She was a good, kind wife and mother, and left her husband four children: Lizzie Eveland, living in Fulton county, Illi- nois; Clara, at present in Jacksonville, Illi- nois; Philip is at home on the farm, and George, who lives at Boody, Illinois. Mr. Rohn was married a second time in this county, to Delia Dunn, born in Morgan county, daughter of an old settler. Her fatlier now lives in Missouri, but her mother died there somne years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Rohn are the parents of six children: Lulu, Walter, Frank, Charles, Samuel and Ruth. They are associated with the people of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Rohn is an ardent Republican. Mr. Rohn is an honest, peaceable, home loving German citi- zen, and he and his worthy wife are greatly estecned by their hosts of friends.
ANIEL STEPHENS has been closely identified with the history of Schuyler county, Illinois, since 1836, and it is fitting that his name should appear in this volume. He was born in Davidson county, North Carolina, April 4, 1819, a son of Alcx- ander Stephens, who died in 1825; the mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary Dealy, was a native of New Jersey; she was married a second time in Illinois, spend- ing the last of her life in Bainbridge township. Daniel Stephens, in early life, became inured to the hard labor of a farm; he made the most of his opportunities
to secure an education, but as there were no free schools and his father was in limited cir- cumstances, the advantages offered himn were very few. He lived in North Carolina until 1836, when he emigrated to the West, and settled in Illinois; the entire journey was made overland with teams, and the country reaclied was little better than a wilderness. Mr. Stepliens settled in that portion of Schuy- ler county which is now included in Brown county, but he had no means to invest in land, and so was obliged to work for wages; lie received $12 a month, and from this small snm saved enough to make a beginning. In 1841 he settled on a tract of patent land that is now a part of his farm, and three years later he bought eighty acres, for which he paid $170; this place was covered with tim- ber and brush, and in the heart of the forest he erected a cabin that afforded protection and shelter; he courageously undertook the task of placing the land under cultivation, and as he prospered he invested in other lands, until he now owns 572 acres, lying in Bainbridge and Woodstock townships.
Mr. Stephens was married January 26, 1840, to Rebecca Kimbel, a native of Simp- son county, Kentucky, and a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Kimbel. Of this union were born seven children: George W., William M., David, Samuel, John R., Saman- tha Jane and Olive.
George W. Stephens has been three times married, his present wife being Ann Irvin; they have seven children: William M. has been married twice, Martha J. Eason being the second wife; he has eight children; David married Martha Landreth, and has a family of seven children; Samuel married Cornelia Persinger, and lias four children; John mar- ried Mary J. Macombs, and has one child; Samantha J. is the wife of Richard Black,
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and has three children; Olive marricd L. F. Nooner, and is the mother of four children. Mr. Stephens has thirty-five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
OBERT B. MoMASTER was born in Highland county, Ohio, February 3, 1827, a, son of David McMaster, who was born in county Down, Ireland. The pa- ternal grandfather, John McMaster, was a native of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry. He emigrated to America in 1807, and settled in Rockbridge county, Virginia, where he lived until 1818. He removed to Ohio in that year, and located in Highland county. He bought a tract of heavily timbered land, built a log cabin in the midst of the forest, and re- sided there until his death. He married Jen- nie McKee, of County Down, Ireland; she died on the farm in Highland county, the inother of four children: James, David, Ar- thur and Robert. David McMaster, the father of our subject, was a lad of twelve years when his parents crossed the sea to America. He was married in Virginia, and lived there until 1816, when he removed to Kentucky; at the end of one year he went to Highland county, Ohio, where he was among the pioncers; he bought a tract of timber land, erected the characteristic log cabin with a inud-and-stick chimney, and began the task of clearing a farm. Cincinnati was the nearest market-town, sixty miles distant, wild game was abundant, and the mother carded, spun and wove the cloth with which her children were dressed. In 1836 Mr. McMaster sold this farin and came to Illinois, accompanied by his wife and six children; they made the journey in a four-horse wagon, camping on the way. He first located in Fulton county, and in 1838 came to Schuyler county, and
rented until he bought land in Rushville township, where he resided until his death in 1866. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Wardlaw, a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, and a daughter of William and Mary Wardlaw, natives of Scotland. They reared a family of six children: Mary C., William W., John M., Robert B., Jane C. and Sarah A.
A lad of nine years, Robert B. McMaster came to Illinois, and well remembers many incidents of the journey and the trials and privations to which they were subject on the frontier. He attended the pioneer schools, and received a training which fitted him for the ordinary datics of life. He remained with his parents until 1850, and in March of that year started for the Golden State. He took the overland route, and accomplished that perilous journey without accident or dis- aster. He arrived in California in July, and at once engaged in mining; he continued this industry until 1852, when he returned to Illi- nois. He bought land included in the tract he now owns on section twenty-two, Rush- ville township, and has been one of the most progressive and prosperons farmers of the county. He was actively engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until 1884, when he purchased property in and adjoining Rushville, and erected a handsome residence which he now occupies.
Mr. McMaster was married in 1853, to Rachel Quinn, and they had a family of three children: Curtis died at the age of twenty- eight years; Jennie died in infancy; Mary married Marshall Finch, and has two sons, Robert and Wade T. Mrs. McMaster was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, November 14, 1836, a daughter of Thomas Quinn, a native of Virginia. He married Nancy Ken- nedy, a native of Hardin county, Kentucky,
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and a daughter of Peter and Rachel (Colvon) Kennedy. In' 1837 they moved to Illinois with their family of eight children, and settled in Schuyler county; the father died in 1844, but the mother survived until 1886, in her eighty-fifth year.
HENRY ROHN, farmer and stock- raiser, living on the old homestead in township 18, range 12, of the precinct of Beardstown, was born at the same place, September 20, 1837. He is the eldest mem- ber of the family. The father, Henry, was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt. Henry Rolın, Sr., had grown up, but was yet single, when he came to the United States with his brother John, and after a long, tedious passage, they landed in New Orleans, and from there pro- ceeded to St. Louis. Here he stopped and married the girl who had come with liim from the same province. Her name was Elizabeth Longore, and they soon came to Cass county and entered, in the year 1837, Government land. They added to it from time to time until he owned 1,300 acres, inade by him and his thrifty wife. He was $105 in debt when lie landed in Beardstown, having to borrow money to come there. He continued on this same land, improving it until his death in 1891.' He was then nearly eighty-six years of age. He was a well- known pioneer, a successful fariner, a good neighbor and husband, and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife is yet living, aged eighty-one years, smart and active, making her home with her son William, and is still an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
. J. Henry has lived on the farm he now owns all his lifetime. It consists of 820
acres, and of this 500 acres are under the plow, with good farm buildings. He has owned the old homestead for fifteen years.
He was married in this county to Malinda Wagle, born in Brown county, in 1840. Her father was Jephtha Wagle, of Madison county, Kentucky, who was married there and came to Brown county as an early settler, and later moved on a farm near Arenzville, and there lived and died. His wife is yet surviving, at the age of eighty years, making her home in this county. Her maiden name was Phoebe Todd, and she was a relativeof Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Rohn are the parents of four children: Albert and Louis H. are botlı at home helping on the farm, and Carrie and Nettie are twins, and both are bright and intelligent children. The whole family are Methodists, and are good types of German citizens. Mr. Rohn is a stanch Republican.
OHN A. YOUNG, one of the most prominent and prosperous agriculturists of Schuyler county, resides on section 21, Buena Vista township. The following space will be devoted to a brief biography of which he is the subject. He was born in Schuyler county, on the farm which he now occupies, June 14, 1832, a son of John Young, a native of Ireland; the paternal grandparents were Jolin and Margaret Young. John Young emigrated to America when a young man, and stopped for a time in Phila- delphia; thence he continued his journey to the West, and after locating in Rushville he sent for his parents; they left their native land, crossed the sea, and made a home in the new world; they now reside in Buena Vista township, at a good old age. There were born to them tliree sons and two daugh-
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ters: John, William K., Alexander, Mar- garet and Elizabeth. The father of John A. Young was married at Rushville to a daugh- ter of Hugh McCreary, a native of Ireland, who came to America aboard the same ship as her husband, and it was on this voyage that they met. He died in early life, the date being February 8, 1835; he was a farmer, and liad entered land in Buena Vista township; the wife died June 14, 1883; they liad two children: James M. died in infancy; John A. is the only surviving member of the family. During his boyhood days he lived with his inother and relatives; from early childhood he was self-sustaining, working for his board; he attended school until six- teen years of age, and then settled with his inother on the homestead that had been en- tered by the father. In 1852 he went to California, making the journey overland, and remained on the Pacific coast six years; he was engaged in mercantile and agricult- ural pursuits, and was reasonably successful. He returned via the Isthmus and New York city; he made a visit to relatives in Philadel- phia, and then came to his old home. Here he resumed agricultural pursuits, making many improvements in the way of erecting buildings; his mother resided with him until her death.
The homestead originally consisted of 130 acres, twenty acres of which Mr. Young sold to raise the money to go to California. He now owns 580 acres in one body, well stocked, and in a high state of cultivation. He gives especial attention to the breeding of live- stock, and has a fine herd of short-horns, and somne horses of excellent pedigree.
Mr. Young was united in marriage Oc- tober 13, 1869, to Miss Mary L. Clark, a daughter of Rev. Jolin Clark; she was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, April 1, 1847,
and died May 15, 1878; she was the mother of four children: Carl C., born August 9, 1870, is in the employ of the Illinois Steel Company; Anna F., born August 3, 1872, is a student at De Pauw University, Green- castle, Indiana; Sarah E., born Angust 23, 1874, and James H., December 10, 1876. Mr. Young was married a second time, November 24, 1881, to Miss Elizabeth De Witt, a daughter of James and Ellen (Little) De Witt; she was born at Littleton, Schuyler county, May 22, 1855; five children were born of this union: one died in infancy ; Mary was born September 19, 1882; John D., April 5, 1884; Dwight M., September 28, 1885; Ellen L., April 16, 1888. Mrs. Young is a consistent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
In addition to the business interests al- ready mentioned, Mr. Young has invest- ments in real estate in Duluth and other points; he is also a stockholder in the Bank of Rushville, and is one of the directors of the same. Politically he is identified witlı the Republican party ; he lias been Supervisor of his township, but his private affairs have so taken his time that public office has not been sought. He is a man of broad intelli- gence, and tlie strictly honorable niethods he has employed in his business career has won him the entire confidence and respect of the community.
A. BERRY, foreman of the black- smith shops of the Rock Island and St. Louis division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, located at Beardstown, was born in Medina, Ohio, February 12, 1852. He came when five years of age to Aurora, Illinois, with his par- ents. He grew up there and received a com-
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inon school education and learned liis trade. His father, Thomas E. Berry, had come from England to Medina, Ohio, there learned the carpenter's trade and was married to Anna Pierce, who was also of English birth. In 1857, Thomas Berry, wife and four children, settled in Aurora, where he still lives, aged seventy-three years, and is still hearty enough to work at his trade. His wife died in 1887. They were both members of tlie Congregational Church.
Mr. Berry came here from Aurora and was for one year foreman of the Chicago division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. He has been twenty-six years with this company and has never lost a inonth's time, nor been suspended. He won his promotion by attending strictly to busi- ness.
He was married in Aurora, to Ella Irwin, who was born, reared and educated in the same place. She was the daughter of Jerry Irwin, a prominent and successful tailor of Aurora, who died in 1881. His wife still lives in Aurora. They were both Roman Catholics. Mr. and Mrs. Berry have one child, Maude. He is a member of the Masonic order. He is a sound Republican, but not an office-seeker.
OSEPH GIFFORD, a well-to-do 'and highly esteemed farmer of Versailles township, Brown county, Illinois, where he has lived for twenty years, was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in December, 1833.
His parents, Joseph and Sarah (Davis) Gifford, were both natives of the Keystone State, where his father was born in 1802. His paternal grandfather, also named Joseph,
was of English parentage, and is thought to have been born in England. He was a pros- perous farmer in Huntingdon. county, Penn- sylvania, and left, at his death, a good estate to his family, consisting of five sons and four daughters, all of whom became heads of families, some attaining a great age. One son was more than ninety years of age when last heard from, and, if still living, as is quite probable, he is nearly a hundred. The father of the subject of this sketch moved from Pennsylvania directly to Brown county, Illi- nois, in 1856, and rented land near the village of Cooperstown, where he resided for thirteen years, nntil his death in 1869, at the age of sixty-seven years. He left a widow and five children, four sons and one daughter: David, a successful farmer in Iowa; Joseph, of this sketch; John and Isaac, both prosperous farmers of Nebraska; and Jemima, who married Manuel Whited, and died in Ne- braska, aged forty-two years, leaving five children.
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