USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 36
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 36
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 36
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
1 316
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
of the Connty Board of Supervisors. He was elected to his present office in 1890, and has discharged the duties devolving upon him with a wisdom and justice that liave dispelled all donbt as to his ability. He has been a liberal contributor to all movements tending to advance the county's interests, and is numbered among her mnost loyal citizens.
ILLIAM ANTHONY CLARK, the subject of this brief sketch, was born in Logan county, Kentucky, Febru- ary 16, 1811. His ancestors were residents of North and South Carolina, his father having been born in Orange county, North Carolina, August, 1770, his early home being not far from Guilford Court House, and he could hear the cannon during the battle at that place. He often referred to that inci- dent in later life. After the battle a division of the British army encamped near his motli- er's house, for several days. His mother was unprotected as her husband had died when Thomas, the father of subject, was five years old. Thomas was reared in North Carolina, and, braving the dangers of the wilderness, he crossed to Kentucky, settling in Logan county, abont 1795. Here he married Mary Anthony, daughter of Philip Anthony, pio- neer of Kentucky. Here Thomas Clark lived until the fall of 1839, when he came to Illinois, and settled in Missouri township, where he died in 1847.
W. A. Clark was one of a family of thir- teen children, being the third. His boyliood was passed in Logan connty, Kentucky, where he attended the schools of seventy years ago, which were only provided with benches of split logs, heated by a fire-place, and lighted
by windows of greased paper. This gentle- man was married, April, 1832, to Mehala Roberts, daugliter of John Roberts. She was born in Maryland, but reared in Wash- ington connty, Virginia.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark resided in Logan county, Kentucky, until 1837, and three children were born to them there. They then came to Illinois, and rented land for one year, then entered eighty acres in Pea Ridge township, but five years later settled in Mis- souri township, on section 17, and with his two sons became the owner of 600 acres of fine land in the aforesaid section. Mr. Clark was a member of the Presbyterian Church, having joined it in 1833. He voted for Henry Clay, but afterward became a Demo- crat in politics. Mr. Clark was a poor man when he came to Illinois, but by his earnest endeavors and hard work he managed to accumulate a large fortune.
Jolın Thomas Clark, the son of the above mentioned gentleman, is one of the prosper- ous farmers of Missonri township, residing on section 17. He was born in Pea Ridge township, Jnne 12, 1844. The family re- inoved to Missouri township abont 1850, settling on section 17, where the father accu- mulated a large farm, dying December 16, 1890, while his wife died June 10, 1875. John is one of five children, namely: Mary E., wife of Peter Rigg; Sarah J., wife of J. M. Parker; Martha, wife of T. B. Aus- mus, of Camp Point; William N .; and John, who is the youngest of the family. He was reared on the home farm nntil he attained his majority, when lie became a partner with his father. They bought land and carried on farming, cultivating about 300 acres of land. John now owns 255 acres of land, on which he has a fine class of farm buildings. He carries on farming and deals in stock.
317
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
Mr. Clark was married, October 24, 1870, to Amanda Carter, daughter of Jolin B. and Elizabethı (Bell) Carter, born in Brown county, January 3, 1851. John B. Carter, the father of Mrs. Clark, was born in Tennes- see, and was a son of Joseph Carter. They came to Illinois in 1830, and first stopped in Brown county, but Joseph Carter later re- moved to McDonough county, where he died. His son Jolin grew to manhood, and was married in Brown county, and had one child, but it died in infancy. He later married Elizabeth Bell, and settled in Lee township, Brown county. He then removed to Clayton, Adams county, where he enlisted, and was mustered into service in the Eighty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company I, serv- ing three years. After the war he resided in Brown county, until 1869, when he removed to Crawford county, Kansas, where he died in 1872. His wife also died, in Kansas, in 1883. He and his wife had seven children, of whom Mrs. Clark was the eldest.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark have three children: Daisy, Arthur A. and Oliver B. Mr. Clark is a strong Democrat, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He and his charming wife are among the most prominent people of their township, and enjoy the respect of all who knew them.
LIAS D. LEACH, M. D., deceased, for many years one of the prominent citi- zens of Rushville and a leading member of the medical profession, was born near Youngstown, Ohio, March 26, 1823, a son of Benjamin and Hannah (Raynor) Leach, pio- neers of Malioning county, Ohio. His father died when he was two years old, so that as lie advanced in years he was obliged to make 22
all the opportunities that lie enjoyed; when lie had received a sufficient education he en- gaged in teaching, and soon turned his atten- tion to the study of medicine; his leisure time was fully occupied in this pursuit, and he finally entered the office of Dr. Packard, of West Greenville, Pennsylvania. In 1844 he became a student in the Medical Depart- ment of the Western Reserve College at Cleveland, Ohio. He studied and taught al- ternately, securing the means with which to carry on his own education, and had the gratification of receiving a diploma in 1848.
Dr. Leach came directly to Illinois, and for a short time practiced in Virginia, Cass county; thence he removed to Frederick, Schuyler county, where he resided until 1853. In that year he came to Rushville, and em- barked in mercantile trade, as a member of the firm of Little, Ray & Co .; this relation- ship continued until 1863, when the Doctor withdrew, and devoted his entire time to his private interests and professional duties until 1880; he then returned to commercial circles and continued in business until 1890, when he was obliged to retire on account of ill health; he died in September of that year.
He was three times married, his third wife, the mother of his children, being Harriet J. Paterson; she was born in Russell county, Kentucky, a daughter of Jonathan Paterson, whose history will be found on another page of this volume. Dr. Leach was united to her in marriage December 4, 1856, and to them three children were born, two of whom sur- vive: Warren and Lawrence W. The former married Molly McCreary, and they have two children, Mark and Nina. Junius F., the oldest child, was born March 21, 1858, and died October 9, 1887. Dr. Leach was reared to the faitli of the Christian Church, to which he always adhered. Politically he was
-
318
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF . CASS,
identified with the Democratic party, and served his connty in the capacity of Treasurer; he was a capable official and discharged his duties with a fidelity that won him the confi- dence of the people regardless of party ties. In all the walks of life he was true to the trusts resting with him, and in his death the county lost a citizen of great worth and high merit.
UAR E. MAIN was born on the farmn he now owns, section 16, township 18, range 11 west, Cass county, March 30, 1849. He was reared and educated in this county, and has a fine and well improved farm of 167 acres, and forty acres in timber, and has a fine home in this county also. His grandfather was Joshua, who was born, lived and died in Willington township, Connecti- cut. He died at about the age of ninety, coming of English parents and was a promi- nent farmer in his township. His wife's name was Jernsha Lee, who lived and died in Connecticut. They were good religious peo- ple, and raised a large family. The father of onr subject, Loderick L. Main, was born near Stafford Springs, Connecticut, in 1796, grew up to the carpenter's trade, and later was a seaman for a few years. After that he came to Ohio, settling near Burton, and there married Ann E. Beard, of New York State. In 1837 they came to Illinois, and settled on a farm now owned by our subject, Zuar Main, east of Beardstown. Here Mrs. Main died, in the prime of life, in 1838, leaving several children: Amos B., Lucy Ann, Curtis, Lewis and Myron. Mr. Main married a second time, in Cass county, Sarah Calef, born near Lebanon, New Hampshire, and came when a young woman with her sister to Cass, and
was married in 1840 to Mr. Loderick Lee Main. Her death occurred October 25, 1873, at the age of sixty-six. Mr. Main, (Loderick Lee) died at the same place in 1883. He was one of the well known set- tlers of this county, and he and his wife were strong Methodists. Our subject is one of five children. Zuar E. Main (fourth child), Ann E., Luther, Mary, Daniel L. (fiftlı child).
He was married in this county to Ellen Mc- Kean, born and reared in the county. Her par- ents were John and Nancy (Childress) Mckean, natives of West Virginia. They were mar- ried at Charlestown, West Virginia, and started on a wedding tour to the West, early in the '30s, settling in Monroe precinct, Cass county. On this they lived and died, he at the age of sixty-two and she forty-seven. They were well-known good people. Mc- Kean was a native of Pennsylvania, and was reared in Ohio and married in West Virginia. He was the father of nine children, of whom six are yet living.
.
Mrs. Main is a smart, intelligent mother of three children; two are deceased, -Minta and Lucas A. Miss Minnie, a bright young lady and a good girl, is the only child living. Mr. and Mrs. Main attend the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and Mr. Main is a sound Repub- lican. He is a member of the order of Masons and of the A. O. U. W., and is a very good citizen.
ASPER J. BUCK, deceased, was one of the good farmers and citizens of Arenz- ville. He was the youngest of thirteen children. His father, Jasper Buck, was born in Bertie county, North Carolina, in 1792; removed to Cass county, Illinois, about 1825 or '30, where he died in 1846; his mother,
-
319
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
Sophia Buck, survived her husband ten years, dying in 1856. Of the twelve brothers and sisters of tlic subject of this sketch, four only survive at this writing (1892), viz .; Sarah, wife of Courad Reining; John H .; Albert; and Betsy, wife of Richard Davis.
Jasper J., whose namnc lieads this biog- raphy, was married to Miss Mary A. Mor- rison, February 27, 1862. They have four children: Josephine, born January 5, 1863, wife of William J. Kircher; Jolin A., born September 4, 1864; Elizabeth M., born December 12, 1868, wife of John Huss; and Edward A., born October 8, 1872.
In 1864, Mr. Buck enlisted as a soldier, but as his two children were young, and his wife sickly, he withdrew and employed a substitute.
He was known as a good and true inan, and was loved and respected by all. He was identified with no church organization, though he was a professed Christian. He was a member of the I. Q. O. F. and in poli- tics was a Democrat of the Jacksonian type.
After a long, painful illness, he died Sep- tember 25, 1883, leaving a wife and four children to mourn his loss. Since his death Mrs. Buck has had the inanagement of the farm of eighty acres, left her by her husband, She has raised her family of four children, two of whom are married and doing for themselves; two, John and Edward, are at home. She is a true Christian woman, and a useful member of the Presbyterian Church.
EORGE RITCHEA, deceased, was one of the honored pioneers who braved all the dangers and privations of the front- ier, and labored earnestly and indefatigably to to prepare the way for the marcli of prog-
ress and the advancing steps of civilization. He was a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, born near Dayton, February 19, 1814, a son of Jaines Ritchiea; his father was born in the north of Ireland, but emigrated to the United States, and was an early settler of Montgomery county; there he passed the re- maiuder of his life. His son, George Ritchea, came to Illinois at an early day, and located in Schuyler county; the journey was made overland, as there were then no rail- roads; the products of the farm were shipped down the river, and all commerce was carried on in the mnost primitive style.
Mr. Ritchiea engaged in tlie lumber busi- ness, rafting his stock for market down the river; later he embarked in the mercantile trade at Rushville, being one of the earliest inerchants in the county. After his mar- riage he settled on a farm four miles from Rushville, and engaged in agriculture until luis deatlı, Marchi 5, 1887. He was united to Lucinda Walker, a native of Hardinsburgh, Kentucky, and a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Walker. To them were born five children, two of whom now survive: Francis P. and Anna Kate; Mary E. died January 10, 1888, aged forty-three years; George D. died in November, 1888, aged thirty-five years. Francis P. owns and occupies a farm joining the old homestead; Anna Kate, the surviving daughter, owns the homestead. She received a good education at Abingdon College, and also took a course at the Gemn City Business College. At the age of six- teen years she began teaching, and has fol- lowed tliis profession in Illinois and Colo- rado, mecting with marked success and inak- ing an enviable reputation among educators of the West. Mr. and Mrs. Ritchea were worthy and consistent members of the Chris- tian Church. Politically he affiliated with
320
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
the Republican party, and was a stanch snp- porter of its principles. He was a man of excellent business ability, and although he began the struggle of life single-handed and alone, having no capital excepting that with which nature had provided him, he amassed a considerable amount of property. He em- ployed the highest and most correct business methods, and had an enviable reputation as a man of integrity and honor.
5
OHN H. HAGENER, of the firm of Hagener & Bros., was born January 7, 1850, in Beardstown, where he has lived all his life. His father, Willianı Hagener, was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Ger- many, and in 1841 he crossed to St. Louis, and upon his arrival he married Eleanora Peters, who had come over on the same ves- sel from the same province that he had. Shortly after their marriage they went to Beardstown, and here resided until Mr. Ha- gener's death, which event occurred in the fifty-eighth year of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Hagener were leaders among their class, and Mr. Hagener was instrumental in the build- ing of the Lutheran Church, and he and his wife were among the first members of it. Mr. Hagener purchased a piece of land in 1842, which has become very valuable since that time. He followed his trade of mechanic, and later began contracting and building, and in 1861 entered into the lumber business. He continued the latter business until the time of his death. He was a good and influ- ential man, and his loss was felt by all wlio knew him. His wife is still living at the age of seventy-three, bnt is very feeble.
Mr. John Hagener is in a business that was established in 1875, and he and his
brother do a large and thriving business in the lumber and honse-furnishing supply trade, and also a large grain buying and sel- ling business. They have a large mill and their elevator has a capacity of 50,000 bush- els. They are doing a 300,000-bnshel-grain business. They have warelionses at Concord, Arenzville, Browning and Hagener, and they keep local agents at the places men- tioned. Their milling trade is well repre- sented in the two leading brands of flour known as Best Patent and Four Leaf. Part of their goods are shipped to Europe. Both brothers are stockholders and directors in the First National Bank of Beardstown, and John Hagener is the vice-president, and has occupied that position ever since the bank was organized, in 1887. The bank is cap- italized at $50,000 with a surplus of $20,000, and J. H. Harris is the president, and Thomas K. Condit occupies the position of cashier. Mr. John Hagener is a School Trustee and a Director in the Mutual Loan and Savings Association. He is a Republican in politics and is a hard-working, industrious citizen, ready to promote anything tending to the improvement and development of his town.
He married Miss Kate Pappmeier, of Beardstown. She was born and reared in Beardstown, and her father is in the store of Pappmeier & Sons. Mr. and Mrs. Hagener are leaders in their society, and are Lutherans in religious beliefs. They have five children, all of whom are living at home: Nora, Fred R., Emma, Lewis and Arthur.
RANK ANDERSON, a widely and fa- vorably known citizen of Schuyler county, is Superintendent of the poor farm of that county, in whichi capacity he has
.
321
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
served since March 1, 1891. He was born in Schuyler county, in Huntsville township, on May 15, 1836, and has lived in that vicinity ever since. His parents were William and Prudence (Wallingsford) Anderson, both na- tives of Kentucky, who were married in their native State, coming to Illinois in 1835, and locating in Huntsville township, where they cleared and improved a farm of 640 acres. On his property he built a substantial and comfortable residence, besides barns for grain and stock, and added many other modern im- provements, the land being under a good state of cultivation. He died in August, 1887, aged eighty-seven years. His wife still sur- vives at the age of eighty-five years, sup- ported and comforted by her kind and loving children.
The paternal grandparents of our subject, Andrew Anderson and wife, were natives of Kentucky, who removed to Schuyler county; Illinois, in an early day, locating near Rush- ville, where the grandmother died. The grandfather died in Camden township. They had eiglit children, six sons and two daugh- ters: William, father of our subject; John; Jeremiah, Riley, Jackson and Perry, and two daughters.
The parents of our subject had ten chil- dren, of whom seven arrived at maturity. Cyrus died in Huntsville township, Illinois; Andrew, died in Huntsville township; Jane married Danforth Cady, and now resides in Camden township; Vincent resides in Hunts- ville township; our subject comes next in order; John died in Camden township; and Sarah, now Mrs. Samuel McCadann, of Cam- den township.
Our subject was reared on a farm in Hunts- ville township, and on January 1, 1858, was married to Harriet Kniss, daughter of Samuel and Polly Kniss, and a native of Indiana.
After his marriage he resided with his wife on a part of the homestead, where he pursued his trade of blacksmithing, and also conducted a farm. He resided here until he took charge of tlie County Poor farm. He owns 171 acres of well improved land in Huntsville township, which is under a good state of cul- tivation. The poor farm contains 310 acres of land in section 26, of Buena Vista town- ship, there now being thirty-one inmates of the home. This farm almost pays expenses, being well conducted under the able manage- ment of the subject of our sketch and his estimable wife.
Mr .. and Mrs. Anderson have tliree chil- dren: Isabel, wife of Henry Powell, of Hunts- ville township; Millie and Fred.
Mr. Anderson affiliates with the Demo- cratic party, though taking no active interest in politics aside from desiring the advance- ment and welfare of his native county and State. Socially he is a member of Cainden Lodge, No. 648, A. F. & A. M.
Sober and intelligent, honest and industri- ous, kind and obliging, he lias gained the good will of his fellow citizens and the affectionate regard of a host of friends.
AMES M. AGNEW, a liberal-minded and progressive citizen of Littleton township, Schuyler county, Illinois, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1825. His parents were George and Esther (Sleighit) Agnew, both natives of New York State and Genesee county. They went to Pennsylvania in an early day, where they followed farming until 1849, wlien they re- moved to Illinois, then a new country and very sparsely settled. They located in Ruslı- ville, where they resided until their deatlı,
322
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
his father living to be seventy-two years of age, and his motlier sixty-eight. His grand- parents lived in New York State, and lived to be very old people, his grandfather being Samuel Agnew.
The subject of our sketch was one of nine children, of whom three are living. He lived at home until twenty-one years of age, when lie removed with his parents to Illinois in 1849, working by the month until he was inarried. He was married on June 12, 1851, to Miss May J. Bunnell, who was born in the same place as our subject. Their happy married life was, however, of short duration, his wife dying in Rushville, aged twenty-five years.
He was married a second time on April 27, 1853, his second wife being Delilah Hodgson, a native of Indiana. They liad five children, four of whom are now living, viz .: Millard F., single; Oral M., married, and has one child; James E., married to Miss Edgar; Ralph D., now in Kansas. His second wife died, aged forty years, leaving to him the care of their children. She was much regretted by a large circle of friends, being a faithful wife and fond mother.
Mr. Agnew was married some years later to Mrs. Louisa Hamn, who was born in Indi- ana. They have one child, Jessie, now living at liome.
After his first marriage Mr. Agnew rented land near Rushville, on which he lived for a couple of years. He then rented another piece, on which he remained for three years, when he again inoved, remaining four years in the last place, when he removed to Little- ton township, where he rented land for five years, at the end of which time lie purchased a farm of 160 acres of wild land. This he has improved by the erection of buildings, and lias the land well cultivated. He has a
comfortable home and other modern im- provements. His land is devoted to mixcd husbandry, in which he is very successful.
Mr. Aguew has been a Republican ever since the organization of that party. His first presidential vote was cast for General W. H. Harrison. He and family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the support of which denomination he is a liberal contributor. Honest, intelligent, moral, liberal and progressive, Mr. Agnew enjoys the good will of the community, and the esteem of a large number of friends.
OSEPH PENCE, of township 17, 7 north, range 10 west, section 18, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, March 10, 1814. His parents were Jolin and Mary (Smitlı) Pence, both being natives of Vir- ginia. They had three sons and five daugh- ters; Mr. Pence, of this sketcli, is the only survivor. One brother died in Davis county, Iowa, and two sisters also died in the same placc. The other three sisters died in Cass county, Illinois, and the remaining brother in Scott county, Illinois. The parents both died in Rockingham county, Virginia, the father in June, and the mother in September, 1834.
Mr. Joseph Pence was married in Page county, Virginia, in 1837, to Sarah A. Sam- uels, of the same county, born in 1812. After marriage the young couple went to Kentucky and remained until 1838, when they removed to Morgan county, Illinois. From there they went to Cass county, Illinois, where they have since resided. Mr. Pence bought 205 acres of land, which he lias greatly im- proved. Mrs. Pence died in 1878, and her husband still mourns her loss. Mr. Pence
323
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
has always been a Democrat and has held the various offices in his township, and was a member of the I. O. O. F.
Mrs. Pence bore her husband six children, namely: Joseph W., a farmer in Iowa, is a widower with nine children; Sarah Ellen, a widow who keeps house for her father. The other children are dead. The daughter mnar- ried Thomas D. Chapman, who was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1842, and was a soldier in Company I, One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, serving three years and three months. He returned home somewhat broken in health, and never entirely recovered, dying August 5, 1885. He left four children and a widow to mourn his loss. The children were: Louie, now Mrs. P. H. Caldwell; Charles F., Albert B. and Joseph H. are all at home with their grandfather, the first named being a member of the Sons of Veterans. Mrs. Chapman was born on the farm on which she now re- sides, and has always lived there. She is a member of the Providence Presbyterian Church. Her husband was a member of the Masonic order.
BNER A. CLARK of section 31, Cam- den township, is one of the pioneers of 1835, born in Logan county, Kentucky, February 6, 1823. His father, Abner Clark, was born in North Carolina. He removed to Kentucky when a young man and became a farmer. He married Nancy Gorum, of Kentucky. In 1835 he came to Illinois and settled in what is now Missouri township, Brown county. He entered land and resided there until January, 1847, when his wife died, and in consequence he moved to Schuy- ler county and lived with a son until his
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.