USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 27
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 27
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 27
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
William stayed at home until he was nine- teen years old, assisting his mother and at- tending school in winter. After he became nineteen, he engaged to work for a neighbor at 50 cents a day, but worked for him only two months, and then went to his first free school,the other being a subscription school. He worked out by the montli for a year, aud then returned home, and buying out the heirs settled there. He liad one yoke of oxen at that time.
He was married in 1853, to Miss Abigail Swisegood, who was born in North Carolina, and came with her parents to Illinois in 1846, being the daughter of John and Elizabeth Swisegood. She was one of six children, five yet living.
At his marriage he had only a small farm, but by dint of hard labor he has increased it to 900 acres of as fine land as there is in the county. He commenced work, plowing corn at 25 cents a day, taking his pay in bread and meat, which he carried to his mother who hired him out. He never went into debt for anything, but by great economy and much
249
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
self-denial he succeeded in buying some land, and afterward stock. He feeds two or three cars of cattle and hogs, and has always been a man devoted to his home.
He voted the first time for Fillmore and the Republican ticket ever since, as his father was an old-line Whig. The whole family are considered good, honest people, and highly re- spected by everybody, making no pretensions. He built his present liome in 1865, and was visited by the soldiers returning from the war. All of his land is in this township, and 600 acres of it is highly cultivated. He had six children, five living, namely: Eli, the eldest, is deceased; Laura A., John J., Isabell V., Tad J. and Emberry J. A grandson, William, a son of his oldest son, lives with thein.
EORGE I. FIELDS was born in Wythe county, Virginia, May 16, 1837. His father, John D. Fields, was born in Rap- pahannock county, Virginia. His grandfather was a native of Scotland and came to this country at an early date and settled near Richmond, Virginia. Here lie died at the advanced age of 100 years. Mr. John D. Fields was a brick inason and a farmer. He attended to his trade and had his sons work the farm. He lived on his farm until his death in October, 1868, when he was ninety- six years old. He was a Sergeant in the war of 1812, and made a fine record in tlie naval service, especially at Norfolk, Virginia. He was honorably discharged. He received his land warrant for 160 acres, which he sold. His wife's name was Nancy E. Williams, a native of Culpeper county, Virginia. She died in Wythe county, Virginia, after a happy married life of sixty years,' Mr. and
Mrs. John D. Fields liad seven children, three of whom are still living.
Mr. George I. Fields is the youngest of the family. He left his home in 1867 and settled in Versailles, Brown county, Illinois. Until that time he liad been a farmer, but from then until 1884 lie was engaged in inilling. Since then he has engaged in news- paper work as editor and publisher of the Versailles Enterprise.
He was married to Ellen P. McWane April 16, 1865. She was born in Nelson county, Virginia, and is still spared to lier family. They have had nine children, six of whom are still living, namely: Maggie V. Nancy E., Emina J., Addie D., Lonie and Stella May.
Mr. Fields has been elected Tax Collector for the township seven times. He is a Re- publican in politics and is the Chaplain of the blue lodge, A. F. & A. M. He connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1870, and has been a Class-leader and ex- horter most of the time. Mr. and Mrs. Fields are worthy members of society and are greatly esteemed by their host of warm friends.
HOMAS RYAN, Supervisor of Bncna Vista township, resides on section 20, Schuyler county, Illinois. He was born October 20, 1845, and raised in this county. His parents were Charles and Mar- garet (Strong) Ryan. His father was born in Ohio, but removed with his parents to Frederick, Illinois, where he married, and settled in Buena Vista township in 1833. He was a brickmaker, and burnt the first brick - ever made in Rushville. He also worked at the shoemaker's trade. He finally located on land in section 21, where he im-
.
250
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
1
proved this farin of 120 acres, besides which he owned 320 acres more. He erccted good substantial buildings on this place and otherwise improved and cultivated the land. Here he resided until the time of his death, which occurred Jannary 9, 1891. His wife, motlier of our subject, died December 16, 1879. They had eight children, five sons and three daughters: John, deceased; George, now residing in Texas (Grapevine); Cathar- ine, wife of Thomas Armstrong; Louisa, wife of Alexander Young; Charles, deceased; Thomas, the subject of our sketch; William; and Margaret E., wife of Thomas Stonghel.
The subject of our sketch was reared on the home farmn, and received his education at the country schools of that district, residing at horne until he was twenty-three years of age. In 1868, he was married to Ellen Shields, daughter of Joshua and Julia (Fut- ler) Shields. She was born in Ohio, June 16, 1847. Her parents were natives of Pennsyl- vania and New York, who came to Illinois in 1857, locating in Rushville. Mr. Shields served in the late civil war, being a member of the One Hundred and Nineteenthi Regi- ment, and died while in the army. His wife, mother of Mrs. Ryan, is still living, in Can- ton, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have had twelve chil- dren, eight of whom are living, the latter be- ing Martin, Josie, Homer, Minnie, Herman, Clarence, Lula and Lena, the last two being twins.
Mr. Ryan is one of the most successful farmers of the county, owning 160 acres of highly improved and cultivated land, devoted to mixed husbandry. He has a comfortable home and large barns for his grain and stock, besides other modern improvements.
Politically, he affiliates with the Demo- cratic party, and has been honored by his cou-
stituents by being elected to the office of Supervisor of his township.
He is a respected member of the commun- ity on account of his many adinirable traits of character, and has the good will of a large circle of acquaintances.
ENRY D. RITTER was born August 6, 1819, son of Michael and Barbara E. (Schafer) Ritter. The former was born in 1795, being of German ancestry. By occupation he was a stone mason, and in 1812 he went to the German and French war and served as a soldier for nineteen or twenty years, and was an officer at the time of his deatlı, at the age of fifty-one years. He was the son of Reinhart Ritter, who were natives of the same place. They were farmers. Sub- ject's mother was born in Germany in 1796, and died when about sixty-five. Her parents lived to be very old people.
Henry was one of seven children, two of whom are living, and lic is the eldest. He remained at home until he was twenty-five years old and worked as a clerk. He sailed in the Mentor for Ainerica from Bremen, Prussia, and arrived in New York after a voyage of six weeks. Here he remained for cightcen months, engaged in painting and the manufacture of parasols and umbrellas. From there he went to Virginia and followed the business of painting houses for three years, when he married and came to Ohio, settling in Fayette county, where he bought a lionse and four acres of land, and there lived until 1854, when he sold and came to Illinois in the fall, settling where he now lives. Here he bought 120 acres of land, which he imn. proved, and in the same winter he added . eighty acres to the farm. There was a log
251
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
house on the laud in which they lived until 1861, when he built liis present house. He later bought 120 acres, and thien eiglity acres mnorc, making in all 400 acres. He rents al- inost all of his land, and has practically re- tired from active business. Mr. Ritter has always been a Democrat, and has filled nearly every office in the county. He was School Trustee and Assessor for twenty years, Jus- tice of the Peace for twelve years, Constable and Coroner four years, Sheriff two years, Comunissioner two years, Supervisor eight years, and was chairman of tlic Board of Su- pervisors for a time, and he is considered one of the most prominent men in the county.
He was married April 24, 1848, by Rev. William N. Scott, near Petersburg, Hardy county, Virginia, to Miss Lucinda E. Hall, born in Virginia on the south side of Blue Ridge mountains, April 13, 1823. She was a daughter of James and Judy (Taylor) Hall. James Hall was a native of Virginia, and fol- lowed farming. When Mrs. Ritter was three years old the family inoved to Rockingham county, Virginia, where they lived several years and then moved to Hardy county, and bought a farm, on which he erected a log house, where he lived a year or two, and then built a new and better hewn-log house in another neigliborhood, about a mile from the first one. Here he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the advanced age of onc hundred and two years, on his birthday. He was the father of eighteen children, seven boys by his first wife and eleven children by the second one, Judy Taylor. Seven of the latter are still liviug. One of the sons, Henry, by the latter marriage, was starved to death in one of the prisons of Richmond, Virginia, during the war of the Rebellion. Mrs. Judy Hall was a native of Virginia, and a daughter of George Taylor. She died
in Hardy county, aged seventy years. Mrs. Ritter and her brother went to school in the old subscription schools where the parents paid according to the number of children sent; and Mr. Hall had so many children he could not afford to send more than two or three at a time. Mrs. Ritter retnembers her first teacher, a Mr. Nick Hawk, who managed to keep school the entire year in a log house with benches of slabs, without backs. Their slates and pencils were pieces of soapstone aud slate that they could find in the neighborhood of the school.
Mr. and Mrs. Ritter have had eleven chil- dren, nine yet living: Mary E., married Cal- vin Hill; Judy V. married Henry C. Hill, seven children, six yet living; Justina C. married Calvin S. Hill, eight living children ; Calvin Z. married Viola Weatherby; George W. married Sylvina Weatherby, one child; Douglas J., at home with his father at work on the farm; Elisa Jane, inarried William H. Mc Daniel, five children; James H. S. mar- ried Mattie Shelton, four children; Franklin W. living at home; Martha O. aud Marthia Ann dicd when small.
Mr. Ritter is a member of A. F. & A. M. Lodge, No. 108, at Versailies, and the Mere- dosia Chapter and Council, No. 56, and also of I. O. O. F., Irene Lodge, No. 72. of Ver- sailles, and Encampmeut of I. O. O. F.
He follows general mixed farming and is a well educated inan, being educated in Ger- many.
ENRY F. WITTE, a practical farmer and stock-raiser, lives on a good farm in section 3, township 18, range 11, where he owns 120 acres of fine prairie land and forty acres of timber. He bought this
252
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
land in 1862 and lias since been successful as a farmer. He was born in Harford, Men- den, Westphalia, Prussia, Germany, on August 9, 1824. He is the son of Fred and Minnie (Isserman) Witte, natives of Prussia, Germany, where they married and began life as farmers. There, too, all the family was born, and in 1855 the parents, with three children, set out for this country, taking passage on a sailing vessel, the Berker, from Bremen, leaving September 8, 1856, and landed in New Orleans after a voyage of nine weeks and two days. From there they came up to Beardstown on a steamer, landing here November 24, 1855. Here the parents lived and died, the father when about seventy years old and the mother when ten years younger. They were members all their lives of the Lutheran Church.
Henry had two brothers and a sister that finally came to this country, Henry being the only one now living. He was a single man when lie made the voyage and worked for two years in the Park House and brick yards in Beardstown.
In 1856 he was married in Beardstown to Minnie Vette, born near the birthplace of her husband. Her mother liad died in Ger- many, and her father, Fred Vette, followed his daughter to the United States and spent his last years, dying in Cass county when nearly eighty years old. He and his wife were life-long members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Witte had come to the United States when a young woman, in 1855, on the same vessel that brought her future husband. They were married about eighteen months after landing. They have lived and labored to build up a good home. They have reared a large and intelligent family of eight cliil- dren, two deceased, Carrie and Edward, aged eight years and one month, respectively.
Those living are: William H., a farmer in Arenzville, married Sophia Roegge of this county; Bertha, wife of Ed. Krohe, in Hickory precinct; Anna, wife of Frank Lebknecher, farmer in this county; Marialı, wife of Albert Krohe of Hickory precinct; Lizzie, wife of William Roegge, a farmer near Arenzville; and Minnie, who is still at home and cares for her parents. She is an intelligent and accomplished young lady and is greatly beloved by her parents. The entire family are members of the German Lutheran Church, and Mr. Witte is a stanch Re- publican.
When Mr. Witte was a young man he traveled extensively in Germany, and was in the regular German army from 1845 to 1847, but was not in the Revolution of 1848. He and his family are highly respected by all who know them.
HOMAS KNIGHT was born in Corn- wall county, near Land's End, England, August 14, 1836. His father, Thomas Knight, was also born in Cornwall, of Cor- nish parents, and followed the trade of cooper until he came to this country in 1846. He first settled in Meredosia and then came into Cass county, where the family has since made their home. The father had brought a little money with him and was able to buy forty acres of land. He became a farmer, which business was entirely new to him. He was very industrious and had good judgment and all the family became well off. The father died there, after having increased his property to 264 acres. His wife survived him some years, and died when past four-score years. She was remarkable for being a very beautiful old lady and a very consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
-
R. W. Mills
253
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
Mr. Knight is one of a family of six, of which all are still living. He is one of the wealthy and influential men of Beardstown, and is now living at the corner of Eleventh and Washington streets, where he recently purchased a fine home, and has lived here ever since lie retired fromn active life on lis farm. He has been a successful farmer aud stock-raiser in Hickory precinct. He was a progressive farmer and kept ap with the times. His possessions amount to 520 acres, most of it under the plow and suppled witlı the finest improvements. As he was only ten years of age when he reached Cass County, he is one of the oldest settlers of the county.
Mr. Knight was married in Beardstown, to Emma Dunn of Cornwall, England, where she was reared. She came to Illinois with her brothers when yet a young girl and set- tled in Cass county, where she and her brother Jolın still reside. ] Mr. and Mrs. Kniglit have six children. Robert, who married Delia Thiveaght, danghter of a farmer of Monroe, Illinois; Minnie married Fayette Post, a railroad conductor on the Ohio & Mississippi, living in Beardstown; Myrtle inarried L. W. Berry, train dispatcher on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad; Al- bert and Eddie are at home, as is also the youngest, Clarence Lloyd. Mrs. Knight and some of the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Knight, since he became of age, has become a Democrat, and his party elected liim to the office of County Commissioner. He is a strong local worker for his party.
ICHARD WATSON MILLS, one of the leading attorneys of Cass county, Illi- nois, was born in Jacksonville, Morgan county, this State, August 3, 1844. 18
His father, Chesley Mills, was born near Lebanon, Tennessee. son of James Mills, a native of the eastern shores of Maryland, James Mills was born during Revolutionary times, a son of John Mills, who lost his life in the Revolutionary war, and in Maryland lie was reared. When a young man he went to Tennessce, married the daughter of Isaac Lindsey, located a few miles from the Her- mitage, and resided there until 1808. That year he removed to tlie Territory of Missouri and located three miles from Hannibal, being one of the earliest settlers there. He im- proved a large farm and resided on it till the time of his death. Isaac Lindsey, his father- in-law, was a resident of Eastern Maryland at the breaking out of the Revolutionary war. He was loyal to the crown, bnt preferred not to fight on cither side; so he sought the furtherest bounds of civilization, taking up his ahode in the wilderness eight miles from the Hermitage. At that time the Indians were numerous and often there was trouble with them. For a long time the settlers all lived in block houses. He improved a farm in the locality which is still known as Lind- sey's Bluff, and resided there till his death.
Chesley Mills learned the trade of plasterer and bricklayer, which he followed till his death, in 1844. He married Harriet Cadwell, a native of Edwardsville, Madison county, Illinois, born on January 10, 1814, daugh- ter of Dr. George Cadwell. Dr. Cadwell was born and reared in Vermont, and in 1799 went to Kentucky with his father-in-law, Matthew Lyon. He objected strennously to the institution of slavery, and in 1804 came to the Territory of Illinois, becoming one of the original settlers of Madison county. He rc- sided there till 1820, when lie went to Mor- gan county with his wife and children, mak- ing the journey with flatboats via the Missis-
254
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
sippi and Illinois rivers to Naples. He located near Lynnville, being the first physi- cian to settle in Morgan county, and continued practice there till the time of his death. The maiden name of his wife, grandmother of the subject of our sketch, was Parmelia Lyon. She was born in Vermont. Her father, Matthew Lyon, was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and when a young man came to America and located in Vermont, where he married the daughter of Governor Chitten- den, the first governor of Vermont. He took part in the Revolutionary war and attained the rank of General. After the war, he repre- sented Vermont two terms in Congress. He was the first victim under the Sedition Act, the charge being that of speaking disrespect- fully of John Adams, the President of the United States. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000; served his time in jail and paid his fine. In 1799, he emigrated to Kentucky and located in Lyon county, which is namned in honor of him. He founded the town of Eddyville, the county seat of Lyon county, and became a prominent and wealthy man. He was a slave owner and trader. While residing there he was sent as a representative to Congress. He removed from Kentucky to the Territory of Arkansas, was among the pioneers of Helena, and soon after his arrival there was sent as delegate to Congress. He died in Arkansas about 1825:
The mother of our subject now resides in Jacksonville. Slie reared five children: Thomas, spent his last years in Dakota; Emily, married Thomas W. Jones, of Ritchie, Will county, Illinois; Martlia, married Henry Demarest; George, resides in San Francisco, California, and is a member of the Judson Manufacturing Company of Oakland.
Richard W. Mills received liis early educa- tion in the district schools. He was in his seventeenth year when the war broke out, and he enlisted in Company B, Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and went with the com- pany to Cairo. He was there rejected on ac- count of his age, and returned home. He had becn at home, however, only a few days when he again enlisted, this time in Company F, Nineteenth Illinois Volnnteer Infantry, and was accepted. He went South with his regi- ment and remained with it till after his term of service had expired. He participated in the battles of Stone River and Mission Ridge, and was in the reserve at Chickamauga. After his return home he received an academic edi- cation at Jacksonville, after which he taught school four years. During that time he com- menced the study of law with Judge Cyrus Epler, and in May, 1870, was admitted to the bar. He practiced with Judge Epler till 1871, and January 6 of that year he came to Virginia, where he has since been engaged in 'a successful law practice.
1
February 4, 1873, he married Matilda A. Tate, a native of Cass county, Illinois, and a daughter of Dr. Harvey Tate. She died March 26, 1884. His second marriage was consummated November 29, 1889, with Nellie W. Epler, a native of Cass county, her parents being William and Jennie Epler.
Mr. Mills is a member of Virginia Lodge, No. 544, A. F. & A. M .; Clark Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M .; Hospitaller Commandery, No. 31, K. T. Politically, he has always affilia- ted with and been an ardent and efficient worker in the Republican party. He has served as Master in Chancery.
Mrs. Mills' father, William Epler, a resi- dent of the city of Virginia, was born in what is now Princeton precinct, Cass county, Illi- nois, April 15, 1835. His father, John Ep
-
255
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
ler, was born in that part of Lancaster now included in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1795. His father, the great-grand- father of Mrs. Mills, Abram Epler, was born in the same locality. His father, great-great- grandfather of Mrs. Mills, John Epler, was born in Germany, and was reared there to young manhood, and in 1734, with his brother Peter, came to America. They located near Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania. They were Lutherans and establishied a church of tliat denomination there. Peter's descendants removed to Northumberland county ; John's removed to that part of Lancaster now in- cluded in Dauplin county in 1768. He pur- chased a tract of land there, which he occupied till his death in 1782. A natural bowlder marks lis resting place, upon which is in- scribed a shield, his name and the date of liis deatlı. The farm which he owned is now in possession of his great-great-grandson. He reared three sons and one daughter.
Abram Epler was reared and married 'in Pennsylvania, and resided there till 1798. Then, with his wife and three children, he rc- inoved to Kentucky, making the journey across the mountains with teams, down the Olio river on flatboats to the Falls of tlie Ohio, landing at the site of the present city of Louisville. He remained there two years; then crossed the river into Northwest Terri- tory, and located in what is now included in Clark county, Indiana. There he erected a log cabin in the wilderness. In 1807 he built a stone house there, which is still stand- ing, it being the oldest stone house, in a good state of preservation, in the State of Indiana. He resided there until 1832, when he came to Illinois. He died in Cass county in 1837. The maiden name of his wife was Anna Old- weiler. She was born in , Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1768, and died at
the home of her son George, May 3, 1847. There were eleven children born to them, all of whom reached adult years: Elizabeth Nor- ris, John, Nancy Austin, Abram, Catherine, Blizard, Jacob, David, Saralı Weir, Isaac, George, Mary Short.
John Epler, grandfather of Mrs. Mills, was but three years old when his parents moved to Kentucky, and five years old when they moved to the Northwest Territory. There he was reared and married. He resided in Clark county till 1831, when with his wife and six children, he came to Illinois; made the journey with teams, and after three weeks' travel landed in Cass county. He bought a tract of land on which he engaged in farm- ing and was very successful in his operations. From time to time he purchased other lands until lie became the owner of 1,200 acres in Cass and Morgan counties. He spent the last years of his life in Virginia and died May 25, 1876. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Beggs. She was born in what is now Clark county, Indiana, April 28, 1800. Her father, Charles Beggs, was born in Rock- ingham county, Virginia, October 30, 1775, and his father, Thomas Beggs, was born in the same county. He took part in the Rev- olutionary war and died in the service. Charles Beggs was reared and married in Vir- ginia, and resided there till 1798, wlien he moved to Kentucky. In 1799 he removed to the Northwest Territory and settled in that part now included in Clark county, Indiana. He served in the war of 1812, and fouglit with Harrison at the battle of Tippecanoe; was an old Whig, and personal friend of Gen- eral Harrison; served in both the Indiana Territorial and State Legislatures; resided in Clark county till 1829. In 1829 he came to Illinois and was one of the pioneers of Mor- gan county. He bought a tract of land and
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.