USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 31
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 31
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 31
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and was a missionary through the West. He died wlien he was forty years old. He left six children, all dead but two daughters: Minnic, wife of George Schultheis; Henrietta, wife of Chris Kuhl. By their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kuhl have four children: Louis, a clerk for Philip Kulıl in Beardstown, and married to Emma McVey, now deceased ; Henry E., a clerk in Nashville, Illinois, mar- ried Allie Mcans; Mary, a teacher in the High School of Springfield, and slie is an accom- plished lady, and a graduate in English and German; Lydia, wife of Rev. M. D. Horn- beck, a minister of the Methodist Church.
AMES B. MOORE, a soldier in the late war, was born in Newark, Delaware, November 26, 1819. His father, John, was born in the same place, October 9, 1791, and his grandfather, Archibald, was a native of Jamestown, Virginia. The great-grand- father of our subject was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and came to America and settled in Virginia, where he spent his last years. Archibald moved from Virginia to Newark, Delaware, bought land from Joseph Eagle, and there spent his last years as a far- mer. The farm is still owned by his descend- ants. The name of his wife was probably McDonald, and as far as known, she spent her entire life in Newcastle county. John always followed agricultural pursuits, and the house where he was born was his home throughout his entire life. His wife was Mary Webb Temple of Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, whose father, Samuel, was born in the same locality, and whose grandfather, Caleb, was also a native of Pennsylvania. He was a Magistrate for several years under King James. He was an extensive land owner,
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owning the land, including Chad's Ford and Burningham in Chester county, where the battle of Brandywine was fought. He spent his last years in Chester county, was a Quaker. and reared his family in the same faith. The grandfather of our subject was an extensive farmer and stock-raiser, and spent his last days in Chester county. His wife was Elizabeth Clements. The mother of James died near Newark, Delaware, October 1883, aged eiglity-three.
James was reared and educated in Newark, attending school quite steadily until twenty years of age, when he engaged in farming for five years. He then became a merchant for one year, but sold out and turned his atten- tion to the study of law in the office of John M. Clayton, and in 1848 was admitted to the bar, and the same year came to Mt. Sterling. He practiced here until his enlistment, July 15, 1861, in Company G, Third Illinois Cav- alry, and served eight months. He was hon- orably discharged on account of disability incurred in the service. He then accepted the position of Provost Marshal of the Ninth Illinois District, and served in that capacity two and one-half years. On account of fail- ing eyesight, he resigned and returned home. Although not totally blind, he is so nearly so as to incapacitate him for the practice of liis profession, and he lives retired in liis pleasant home he has built in Mt. Sterling.
He married Cordelia Merritt on September 8, 1851. She was born in Naples, Illinois. Her father, Joseph, was born in Sussex county, Delaware, July 16, 1803. When he was eight years old his parents went to Ohio. The removal was made with two horses at- tached to a cart. They located in Pickaway county, where they lived until 1828, and then moved to Illinois, and were among the first settlers of Morgan county. Later they bought
land in Pea Ridge township, lived there until 1850, when they came to Mt. Sterling, where they continued to reside for the re- mainder of their days. Mr. Merritt died in 1890. His wife died in Mt. Sterling in 1875. She was Rebecca Drew and was born in Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore have had ten children: Joseph, James B., Kate, Will, Eugene, Annie, Sladie, Lottie, Jennie and George. Mr. Moore has been a member of the Republican party since its formation. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are among the best people of Pea Ridge and are greatly respected by all who know them.
ACKSON HIGGINS, of Brooklyn, Illi- nois, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, in 1832. His father, Daniel, was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1807, and his father, Joseph, was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and was engaged in farming. He was born in 1777, and died in 1840, marrying Polly Henderson, and raising a family of twelve children. He was drafted into the war of 1812, but sent a sub- stitute. Daniel was married February 28, 1828, in Green county, Pennsylvania, to Sarah Brewer. They moved from there to Morgan county, Ohio, about 1830. In the fall of 1838, they came to Illinois with a small horse and wagon, bringing four small children, being twenty-six days on the road. There were six families in the party. The trip was a pleasant one, and the winter following was nild. They found the grass very tall, gone to seed, all kinds of game, and very recent marks of the buffalo remaining. Agues and fevers were universal.
Mr. Higgins is the oldest resident in this part of Schuyler county. He took up eighty
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acres of school lands, and soon obtained a deed, which he has held until he came to live with his son. He was a tailor by profession, hav- ing learned his trade in Waynesburg, Penn- sylvania, when a young man, having worked at it much of the time. In those early days the wives carded, spun and wove wool and flax, and Mr. Higgins in his trade, served the neighborhood well. His wife died, No- vember, 1880, aged seventy-four years, leav- ing four living children, ten having been born. Mr. Higgins, in his eighty-sixth year, is bright and active.
Jackson has been a farmer all his life. He started on forty acres, and has from time to time added to it until his farm is now 227 acres, all fenced and more than one-half under the plow. There is some tiinber and large pasturage.
He was inarried in 1858, to Sarah, daugliter of William and Polly, (Fowler) Burnett of England, but who have been residents here for many years. They have two sons, William Harrison, married, residing on the home farm, and John R., married, and also on the farm, They are all Democrats and Methodists. Mr. Higgins has been Justice of the Peace for four years and has served the county as Road Commissioner.
ARON MILLER was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1837. He was the son of Warwick and Mary (More) Miller of the same place. He was the son of William and Rebecca Miller, both of whom died at a good old age. Mr. Will- iam's mother was the daughter of Aaron and Mary (Hanney) More, who were natives of Pennsylvania, where they spent their lives and died at a good old age. Warwick was
one of nine children, seven of whom are still living, and his wife is one of six children, one of whom alone survives.
Aaron Miller is one of seven children, all living. He remained at home until twenty- eight years of age, having spent his time in attending school, farming and wagoning. After his marriage Mr. Miller lived in Penn- sylvania on his father's farın, but in 1869 he came to Illinois and bought eighty acres of land, later adding to it 360 acres. He has been a general mixed farmer and very suc- cessful.
He was married January 6, 1866, to Mar- tha Robinson, born in 1836, daugliter of William and Elizabeth (More) Robinson. The Robinson ancestors came from Ireland. Elizabeth More was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and died there, aged fifty-seven years. She was a daughter of Colonel More, who was in the war of 1812. The Mores were of Scotch descent and first settled in Maryland, and all were honest mechanics or farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have three children, Robert W. and Ruth, living at home, and Mary, a teacher of music, all graduates of the Plymouth school. Mr. and Mrs. Mil- ler are members of the Congregational Church of Plymouth. Mr. Miller is a Republican and voted for Abraham Lincoln for his first term.
ON. ROBERT BROWN was born at Rushville, Schuyler county, Illinois, October 19, 1835, a son of John and Jane (Beckett) Brown; the father was a na- tive of Fayette county, Kentucky, and emni- grated to this State about 1831, settling at Rushville; he was a carpenter by occupation,. and followed this calling until his death at the age of fifty-eight years; the mother was
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born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and died in this county at the age of sixty-six years; they liad born to them a family of ten cliil- dreu, five of whoni are living. Robert Brown remained at home until he was thirty-one years of age, when he was married. At the age of twenty-four he was practically at the head of a large family, but he early developed remarkable business ability, and was quite equal to tlie cares that devolved upon him.
He was united to Miss Mary M. S. Hoff- inan, October 31, 1866. She was born in Woodstock township, Schuyler county, Illi- nois, September 7, 1845, a daughter of Sam- uel and Margaret C. (Narding) Hoffman: Samuel Hoffman was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Illi- nois in 1838, and here spent the remainder of his life; he was a soldier in the Mexican war, and died of a fever contracted in the ser- vice, at the age of twenty-eight years; lie was a son of Joseph and Mary (Meyers) Hoffman, natives of Pennsylvania; Margaret C. Nard- ing was born in France, October 26, 1822, and emigrated with her parents to America in 1823; they first settled at Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1839 came to Illinois and lo- cated in Woodstock township, Sclinyler county. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had born to them five children, four of whom are liv- ing: Robert W., born October 26, 1868; Lilly J., born April 28, 1870; Herman H., born June 14, 1875; Edward C., born All- gust 24, 1880.
After his marriage Mr. Brown bouglit eighty acres of land, a portion of the farm he now owns; as his means increased lie invested in land, and now has 400 acres in a body in Woodstock township. In 1881 he replaced the old log house which had been a liome for so many years witli a modern structure, and he has made many valuable improvements
upon the place; he does a general farming business, but makes a specialty of high grades of blooded stock.
Politically, Mr. Brown was identified witlı the Democratic party, but was elected to the State Senate by Democrats and Grangers by a majority of 1,476; he served four years, giving entire satisfaction to his constituency ; lie was a member of several important com- mittees, and always showed a wise considera- tion of the subject in question. He was a member of the School Board for fiteen years, and has favored elevating the educational standards, and has filled the office of Super- visor. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and belongs to the State Grange. In addition to the business interests mentioned, Mr. Brown is a stockholder in the Bank of Rushville. He is a man of excellent business ability, his judgment carrying great weiglit. He has accumulated his property through his own unaided efforts, and he is in every way worthy of the esteem in which he is held.
OHN F. ROBINSON, County Clerk of Cass county, is one of the prominent and influential men of the county. He is eminently a self-made man. Beginning life a poor boy, he has worked liis way up to his present position of wealth and influence, being now classed with the leading citizens of his county. A review of his life gives the fol- lowing facts:
John F. Robinson was born in Crawford county, Ohio, May 31, 1851. His father, Andrew D. Robinson, was a native of the same State, and a son of James Robinson, one of the pioneers of Ohio. Andrew D. was quite young when his father died, and he was reared by his mother. He married in Olio, and resided there till 1852. That
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year, leaving his wife with her parents, he started for California, making the journey with teams across the plains. At that time there were no white settlers between the Missouri river and California, except the Mormons. After his arrival in the Golden State, he engaged in packing provisions to the mines, and subsequently assisted ill operating the first threshing-machine in that State. He remained there till 1856, when he returned East via the Isthmus route, and located in Linn county, Iowa, on a rented farm between Marion and Cedar Rapids. A year later he bought a partially improved farm in Spring Grove, two miles and a half west of Paris, where he lived till 1887. Leaving his son James in charge of the farm, he then removed to Center Point, where he now lives retired. The maiden name of his first wife, mother of John F., was Elizabeth E. Wachtel. She was born in Ohio, and her death occurred in Iowa, in 1865. The maiden name of his second wife was Eva L. Putney. He reared five children by his first wife, and of those born to his second wife three are living.
The subject of our sketch was an infant when his father went to California. In 1854, when he was three years old, he was taken by his mother and her parents to Iowa, making the journey with a horse and buggy. Iowa at that time was thinly settled, and there were no railroads in the State for two years afterward. Young Robinson attended the common schools, and advanced his edu- cation by attendance at the State University. In 1871 he came to Cass county, Illinois, to seek liis fortune, landing here with no capital save a willing hand and a determination to succeed in life. He found employment on the farm, working by the month in summer, and during the winter of 1871-'72 he at-
tended school iu Chandlerville. The follow- ing ten years he taught school a part of each year. In 1874, he made his first purchase of real estate-a farm of 120 acres in Rich- mond precinct. Since, then he has been an extensive and successful dealer in both farm and city property. He now owns four farms in Cass county, and a half interest in five other farms here. He is also interested in farm land in Clarke county, lowa, and has city property in Kansas City, Missouri, and Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
In March, 1873, Mr. Robinson married Caroline (Houghton) Davis, who died April 19, 1874, leaving one child, Ada L. In August, 1879, he was united in marriage with Mary J. Witty, by whom lie has two children, Lavina E. and Lee E.
Politically, he has always affiliated with the Democratic party. He cast his first vote for Horace Greeley. While teaching school he devoted a portion of his spare time to the study of law.
In 1882, Mr. Robinson was elected to the office of County Clerk of Cass county, for the legal term; was re-elected in 1886, and again in 1890.
Fraternally, Mr. Robinson is associated with Virginia lodge, No. 544, A. F. & A. M .; Clark Chapter, No. 9, R. A. M .; Hospitaller Commandery, No. 32, K. T .; Ashland Lodge, No. 341, I. O. O. F .; and Virginia Camp, M. W. A.
ENRY W. KROHE was born at Beards- town, Illinois, November 27, 1841, and died suddenly at his home in that city, of heart failure, December 19, 1889. He grew up here, and in 1862, when just about of age, he started for Calfornia, with an uncle and aunt. Going to New York, they took a
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steamer to Aspinwall, crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and was landed by a Pacifie steamer at the eity of San Francisco, where Mr. Krohe remained for some time. Later, he went to Portland, Oregon, Umatillia, Vancouver Is- land, etc., and thence up to British Columbia, and back again into California. He was amongst the Cherokee Indians, whose lan- guage he learned to speak well. He spent four years as a miner, and had a varied ex- perience, inaking and losing money.
In 1866, he returned to Beardstown, and shortly afterward he went in partnership with his brother-in-law, George Selineider, into the saloon business, and togethier built the opera-house bloek, in 1873; but when it was nearly completed it was blown down by a terrible storm, July 4, 1873. It was re- built by them the same year. About eight years ago, Mr. Krohe sold his share of the opera-house bloek to his brother, Fred Krohe, who is still the proprietor of the same, with his brother-in-law, George Schneider, now of Omaha, Nebraska.
In 1869, he engaged in the manufacture of mineral and soda water, in which business he continued until the time of his death. He was well known as a hard-working business inan. He built several nice dwelling houses, which became the property of his widow.
He was married at Jacksonville, Illinois, February 11, 1875, to Miss Bertha A. Eber- wein, a native of Cass county, born Decein- ber 2, 1846, daughter of J. C. H. and Maria Eberwein, who were born in Germany, and came to the United States when very young. Mrs. Eberwein died in 1847, leaving two lit- tle girls, Caroline and Bertha, both having good homes at the time they were married. Mr. Krohe and wife were reared in the faitlı of the Lutheran Church. He was a genial and pleasant man, a Democrat in poli-
ties, but not an office seeker. He leaves no children, but a widow, to mourn his early death; and Beardstown lost one of its best citizens when Mr. Krohe died.
ERIC E. CADY resides at Camden, and is numbered among the respeeted pioneers of Schuyler county. He was born in Tolland eounty, Conneetient, Jan- nary 22, 1828, being a son of Isaac F. and Saralı (Chapman) Cady, natives of Connec- ticut. Isaac F. Cady in early life learned the trade of a earpenter, and, being a natural me- ehanic, also worked at the blaeksmith trade. He could make anything in iron or other work in his line.
He first married Clarissa Hunt, who died, leaving seven ehildren, five girls and two boys. He then married Sarah Chapman, and after two children had been born, he with his family came to Illinois, in 1835, via eanal, Lake Erie and canal, to the Ohio river, where he purchased a boat, and eame to Quincy, Illinois, and in the fall of 1835 he settled iu Camden township, where he entered several hundred aeres of land, and resided there till his death, which occurred in 1847, aged seventy-two years, six months and two days.
By his first marriage there were seven ehil- dren, namely: Isaac G., H. H. Franklin, An- geline, Caroline, Emaline, Adaline and Mary Ann. By his second marriage, he had Fran- eis E. and Meric E. The mother of our snb- ject, by former marriage to I. A. Jones, had five children; Austin, Alonzo, Revilo, Charles W., and one died young. All the children were born in Connecticut, and the parents and fifteen children came to Illinois. The mother of our subjeet died aged eighty-one years.
Merie E. Cady was reared on the farm, and being a natural mechanic he worked some-
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what in that line. In 1850, he crossed the plains to California, where he worked in the mines for one year, and then went on a ranch. In 1853, he came home via the Isthmus and New Orleans, and took 124 head of cattle and thirteen head of horses across the plains to California, and remained there till 1855, when he returned home via New York.
He was successful while in California, and on his return home he resumed farming, till 1882, becoming the owner of 268 acres, on which he made inany improvements. When he removed to Camden village, he built a store, and with his son engaged in general mercantile business, and so continued ten years; since then he has lived a retired life. He sold his farm in 1891, and purchased an- other of 130 acres, in Camden township.
In Marclı, 1856, he married Eliza A. Mel- vin. She was born in Maine, in the town of Reidfield, 1835, daughter of Jolin and Eunice Melvin, who settled in Schuyler county, in 1851. Our subject continued farming till 1882.
Mr. and Mrs, Cady have three children living, and one dead. Everett F. is a farmer in Camden township; Charles W. died at the age of nineteen years; Eugenia and Addie. In politics, Mr. Cady is a Democrat, and has hield local offices.
Mr, and Mrs. Cady are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Cady is a Royal Arch Mason, being the Master of the Cam- den Lodge, No. 648, A. F. & A. M., a posi- tion he has held for several ternis.
OHN UNLAND, of Beardstown, a prac- tical farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Hanover, Germany, July 30, 1833. He was young when he came to this country
with his father, Rev. Casper H. Unlaud. The latter grew up a farmer, was well educated and became early in life interested in religion and while yet a young man began to exhort and preach experimental religion. For this he was persecuted by the State church. He married Maria Calres in Hanover, and, after the birth of eight children, to better their condition they set out for the United States. They left on a sailing vessel October 20, 1844, and landed in New Orleans after a journey of eleven weeks. They landed in Beardstown in the latter part of January, 1845, which was very remarkable, as the river is usually frozen at that time. They settled near Bluff Springs, on what is now known as the Tom Clark farm. After five years Mr. Unland sold, and purchased land five miles northwest of Arenzville, where he lived and died at the age of eighty-one years, his death occuring March 8, 1890. He was prominent in Cass county as a farmer and Methodist preacher, a good, noble man, a Republican, and the only one of his family who came to this country.
John is the second child of a family of thirteen, of whom nine are married and all have families. He remained at home until he became of age and was inarried in this county to Elizabeth Christinaner, born in Germany. She came with her parents when but three years old to Beardstown. Her father, Yost Christinaner, died at the age of eighty, and her mother died about the age of eighty, also. The name of the latter was Gustling. She and her husband were mem- bers of the Methodist Church and old settlers and good people of Cass county. Mrs. Un- land was carefully reared by good parents. She is the mother of seven living children : George married Nancy Henners and is a far- mer in Morgan county; Lucinda, a widow
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with two children, lives with her father; Mary Higginson lives near Philadelphia, Cass county; and Nattie, Frank, Henry and Will- iam (the twins) live at home.
Mr. Unland has lived in this county since 1845 and has been one of its good citizens. He has lived on the farm, except three years, and he has put in all the improvements. He purchased it in June, 1860, and settled there in 1861. He has 200 acres in section 17, township 18, range 11, and his good farın buildings and fine improvements show that he thoroughly understands his business. He and his wife are both active members of the Methodist Church, of which Mr. Unland has been Class-leader since his twentieth year. He is a licensed exhorter. He is a sound Republican, but no office seeker.
HOMAS R. VAN DEVENTER, a pros- perous farmer and stock-raiser and es- teemed citizen of Brown county, Illi- nois, for the past fifty-five years a resident of section 15, Versailles township, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1819.
His parents were Jacob and Jane (Rogers) Van Deventer, the former a native of old Virginia, and the latter of Paris, Kentucky. His father's parents were Jacob and Mary (Slater) Van Deventer, the former born in Holland in 1743, and the latter a native of Glasgow, Scotland. The young Hollander was a powder-maker by trade, and came to America in early manhood. He was married in New Jersey, on the Delaware river, and soon after went to Virginia, where he and his young wife located on a farm, which was situated on the south branch of the Potomac river. He engaged in farming, and having an excellent water-power in the river, 20
also manufactured gun-powder. It was in the latter capacity that he rendered signal service to the patriots at the time of the Revolutionary war, providing them with powder with which to blaze their way into independence. He served for a short time in the regular army in that memorable con- flict, and participated in the battles of York- town and Valley Forge. He was also a mem- ber of the Home. Guards, although he did not take part in the eugagement in which they distinguished themselves for bravery and efficiency. This worthy patriot and his wife were the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters: William; Isaac; Jacob; Peter; Cornelius; Sarah, who mar- ried Jacob Judy; Mary, wife of George Tim- mons; and Peggy, wife of Daniel Timmons brother of George. The mother of this fam- ily died, aged eighty years, while the father expired four years later. They had met with many financial losses, and left only a small estate in worldly goods, although a rich heritage of honor and good deeds fol- lowed and influenced their children through life. Some of this family were of small stature, like the gentleman whose naine heads this notice, but the majority of them, both meu and woman, were large, erect and finely formed. Sarah was six feet tall, while Jacob, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a veritable giant, standing six feet six inches in his socks and weighing 240 pounds. Although possessing great strength and un- daunted courage, he was most peaceable and kind. He was twice married. His first wife was Magdalene Buffenbarger, a member of a wealthy Ohio family. She died early, leaving two children-a son, Jethero, and a daughter, Elizabeth. The former now lives in Versailles, Illinois; and the latter resides in Indiana. Late in the fall of 1815 the
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