USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 44
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 44
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 44
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
Prairie, where he secured a farm and resided until his death.
Oswell Skiles was an infant when his mother died, and he was reared by a family named Smith. Mr. Smith was a poor man, had ten children of his own, and lived on a rented farın. In addition to his farmning operations he also had a contract to carry the mails between Washington Court House and Columbus, a distance of thirty-seven miles, and to Chillicothe, twenty-five miles. As soon as he was large enough, young Skiles com- menced to earn his living by assisting on the farnı, and when about fifteen years old he carried the mail, making the journey on horse- back. They used to make two trips a week to Columbus. Many of the streams were not bridged, and during high water he had either to swim his horse or wait until tlie water subsided. When he was about twenty years old he began to learn the trade of harnessmaker. He continued work at that trade, in Ohio, until the fall of 1851, when he came to Illinois, making the journey with a horse and buggy, to Springfield. He rode on the cars from there to Jacksonville, that being the first railroad he had ever seen. He landed in Jacksonville with $5 in his pocket; hired a horse and rode to Arcadia, from which place he walked to the hoine of his uncle, Oswell Thompson, having sent the horse back. On his arrival at his uncle's he received $100 which he had inherited from his grandfather's estate, and with that he bought a horse, saddle and bridle. Thus equipped, he made the journey on horseback the following winter to Iowa, where he joined another uncle residing in Lonisa county, for whom he worked about one year. Then he returned to Cass county, and in April, 1853, started for California. A man named Welch liad fitted out a train of ox teams, and Mr.
Skiles paid him $75 to carry his provisions, clothing, etc., and he assisted in driving the oxen and loose stock. They crossed the Illinois river at Beardstown, on the 6th of April, and continued their way westward over rivers, plains and mountains, arriving in the Sacramento valley in October. At that time there were no white settlers between the Missouri river and California, except the Mormons at Salt Lake, and the country abounded in game of all kinds. Mr. Skiles had only about $2 left when he reached California. He engaged to work for Mr. Welch on liis ranch for $75 per month and board, and the two lived together in a cabin, keeping bach. Mr. Skiles was soon taken sick, however, and had to seek quarters where he could receive better attention, and for which he had to pay $9 per week. With the first money he earned after his recovery, he paid his board. He remained with Mr. Welch about one year, and then went to Forbestown, Butte county, where he bought an interest in a mining claim, for which he paid $100. He was successful in his mining operations that winter. In the spring he sold out and went to Sierra county, prospected for a time, and then for some months was engaged in preparing a tunnel for deep diggings. The winter was very severe, the snow falling to the depth of ten feet. In the spring lie engaged in mining, being thus occupied there for two years, at the end of which time he sold his interest for $1,000. He then worked by the day about three months, for $5 per day. Next we find him in the Sacramento valley, engaged in farming and stock raising, he having pur- chased an interest in a claim to a tract of Government land near Marysville. In 1858 he took passage on the steamer Oregon and went to Victoria; but, instead of being cn-
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couraging, the reports from the mines in the British possessions were the opposite, and consequently he returned to his ranch, where he remained till 1862. Then, with four yoke of oxen he started to take a load of flour to Virginia City, Nevada. On his arrival there, he sold his load and engaged in draw- ing cord wood to the quartz mill, receiving $15 per cord. In the fall he returned to his ranch and spent the winter, and the follow- ing spring went back to Virginia City. The next autumn he took a load of shakes to Austin, Reese river, 150 miles distant from Virginia City, selling them for $150 per 1,000. He spent the winter there, and in the spring sold his oxen and wagon, and started on his return East. He journeyed by stage, via Anstin and Salt Lake City, to Atchison, Kansas, thence by steamer and rail to Jack- sonville, arriving at his uncle Oswell Thomp- son's on the 4th of July, 1864. His suc- cess in California was not unlike that of many others who sought their fortunes in the Golden State-sometimes successful and at other times in hard luck. On his arrival in Cass county, he had about $1,000. He formed a partnership with his brother Igna- tius, and engaged in buying and shipping stock, in which he was very successfully en- gaged for a number of years. For the past few years, however, he has devoted his atten- tion to banking and farming. He is a mem- ber of the firm of Petefish, Skiles & Co., of Virginia; of Skiles, Rearick & Co., of Ash- land; and of Mertz, Skiles & Co., of Chand- lerville; and Bloomfield, Skiles & Co., of Mt. Sterling. He owns farms in different parts of Cass county, some of which he rents and some of which he superintends.
Mr. Skiles has been twice inarried. In July, 1870, he wedded Miss Ann Conover, a native of Cass county, Illinois, a sister of
George Conover (a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume). She died in 1877, and in 1879 he married Eliza J. Epler. He has one child living, by his first marriage, Lee Harmon, who is in the bank at Chand- lerville. The children of his present wife are Louis Oswell and Stella.
Politically, Mr. Skiles is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Presby- terian Church.
HILIP JOKISCH, a practical young fariner, living on a beautiful farm of 140 acres almost all highly improved, and the same supplied with good farın build- ings, was born on the Jokiscli homestead belonging to his father, Charles G., in this township January 26, 1854. He was reared and educated in his native county. When arrived at manhood's estate he began farming ou his own account. He is the second son and third child of his father, Charles Jokisch (see his biography). Mr. Philip Jokisch had but limited opportunities for acquiring an education, but is a bright, intelligent man, and has been very prosper- ous. His present farm has been improved by him and lies in the valley of the Illinois river. He has owned this fine farm about ten years and in that time has built the uice residence they occupy. The land has ad- vanced in value since he bought it, and is now very valuable, and he has made his money by hard work.
He was married in this county, near Arenz- ville, to Miss Sarah Hackman, born in this county on her father's old homestead, near Arenzville, October 28, 1869. She was care- fully reared by good parents and received a good education in the schools of the section,
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and at those of Jacksonville, Illinois. She is the fifth child and fourth daugliter of Fred and Minnie M. (Meyer) Hackman, natives of Hanover, Germany. They grew up iu that country, but came to this country when young and single, and were afterward married in Cass county where they began their married life near Arenzville. Here they accumulated a fine property of 400 acres of land. They are still living there and now enjoy the fruits of their labors. Mr. Hackman is not in good health, but Mrs. Hackman is as well as one of her age and after her life of hard work could expect to be. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Jokisch are members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican in politics. They are the par- ents of four children: Oswell, Orin P., Viola E. and Verna M. Mr. and Mrs. Jokisch are good, reliable farmers, and are highly re- spected by all who know them.
EWIS T. BARRY, a prominent and es- teemed citizen of Mount Sterling, Illi- nois, was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on a farm four miles northeast of La Fayette, September 29, 1827.
His parents were John and Priscilla (Richards) Barry, the former a native of Pennsylvania. His father removed to Ohio in an early day, where he married his first wife, and continued to reside in Scioto valley, that State, until her death. He then removed to Kentucky, where he was again married, his second wife being the widow of Mr. Reynolds and became the mother of the subject of this sketch. Abont 1826, he and his wife re- moved to Indiana, at that time the frontier of civilization. They were pioneers of Tippe-
canoe county, that State, where the Indians were then more numerons than the whites. The father here secured a large tract of Gov- ernment land and built a log house, in the construction of which no sawed lumber was used. The floor was of puncheon and the roof was covered with rived boards, held in place by weight poles, while the chimney was made of earth and sticks, called in.those days a " cat-and-stick chimney." Both par- ents resided here until their death, the mother expiring in 1830 and his father in 1836. They both enjoyed the universal es- teem of their community and were widely and sincerely lamented.
Thus the subject of this sketch was left an orphan at the tender age of nine years, and early became self-supporting. He attended a pioneer subscription school whichi was taught in a log house, the furniture being of the most primitive kind. Rough slabs, sup- ported by wooden pins for legs, formed the seats, which had neither backs nor desks; lioles burned in the wall, on which a plank was laid, served as a desk for larger scholars to write on. The country was without rail- roads or canals for many years, and La Fay . ette was the nearest market. People used to team wheat to Chicago, a distance of abont 150 miles. He thus continued to live on the home farm aud attended school until he attained the age of eighteen years. He then commenced to clerk in Carroll county, Indi- ana, where he remained for about five years. After this, he engaged in tanning and thie manufacture of boots, shoes and harness, at which business he continued four years. At the end of this time, he sold ont, and for a couple of years served as Deputy County Anditor, after which he did bookkeeping in Delphi, Carroll county. In 1861, he came to Mount Sterling, where he engaged in the
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boot and shoc business, besides which, for some years, he made harnesses and saddles. Hs is still engaged in the boot and shoe trade, and is the only exclusive dealer in that line in the eity, being one of the few successful merehants of the place.
He was married in Delphi, Indiana, in 1850, to Ann L. Richardson, an estiinable lady, a native of Carroll county, that State, and a daughter of John Richardson, a highly respected citizen. To this union five ehil- dren were born, all living: A. Priscilla, wife of E. W. Reid, a prosperous resident of Los Angeles, California; Ellen E., wife of Isaiah Price, living in Springfield; Kate L., wife of William Mumford, of Pittsfield, who have one son, named Barry; John H. and Bert.
Mr. Barry is a member of Hardin Lodge, No. 44, A. F. & A. M., and in politics sup- ports the issues of the Demoeratie party.
Whatever sueeess Mr. Barry has achieved in life has not been aequired without effort, as inight be inferred. On the contrary, his prosperity and popularity is directly traceable to his unremitting energy and careful super- vision of all the details of his various occu- pations, and to his uniform integrity and courtesy, thus deservedly attaining suecess and esteem.
APTAIN JOHN HEATON, a retired farmer residing in Virginia, Cass eounty, Illinois, was born in Wigan, Lancashire county, England, January 1, 1810. Dennis Heaton, his father, and Bartley Heaton, his grandfather, were also natives of Wigan, the family as far as known being of English ancestry. Grandfather Heaton was a Colonel in the Life Guards. He spent his whole life in England. Dennis Heaton was
engaged in the mercantile business in Wigan, where he died about 1816. The maiden name of his wife was Kate Bartley, and she, too, was a native of Wigan. After the death of Mr. Heaton she married James Richardson. Her death occurred in Yorkshire about 1852. By her first husband she had nine children, all of whom reached adult years; by her seeond husband she reared four children.
The subject of our sketch was reared in Manchester. He was six years old when his father died, and from the time he was seven he earned his own living. From his seventh year till his thirteenth he worked in a cotton factory, after which he began learning the trade of tin and coppersmith with Mr. Moon in Oldham street, Manchester, with whom he worked seven years. He now has a kettle which he made in 1827 and presented to his mother. At the time of his marriage she gave it back to him, and it has been in daily use in his family ever since.
At the age of twenty-one Mr. Heaton en- listed in the Thirty-sixth Begiment of In- fantry, and was soon transferred to the Fifty- ninth Regiment, and marehed aeross Ireland to Dublin, joining the regiment at Port Aa Bella Barraeks, and served two years and eight months. He was in different parts of Ireland ten months and then mnade a forced march to Oldham, England, to quell a riot there; thenee to Liverpool, where he ein barked for Gibraltar, a year later to Malta, then to Carfew, and from there baek to Gibraltar, where his discharge and that of nineteen others was purehased, supposed to have been by the Spanish Government. He then be- eame a member of Shaw's brigade for the Spanish army during the war between Don Carlos and the Queen; was commissioned Captain of the Light Company and com- manded that company in the different
.
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inarches, battles, etc., incident to that war. He served a little more than seven years.
When peace was declared Captain Heaton was lionorably discharged and returned to Manchester. There he began business on his own account as a tin and copper smith, remaining thus occupied until 1850. That year he came to America, sailing from Liver- pool on the 27th of May and landing in Quebec after a voyage of seven weeks and three days. His father-in-law was at that time living four miles fromn Streetsville, On- tario. He joined him, and from there visited the Queen's Bush, a tract of timber land set aside for the soldiers. Not caring to have a farm in the wilderness, he came to tlie United States. After residing in St. Louis a few weeks, he sought a home in Cass county, Illinois, taking up his abode seven miles from Virginia, where he entered a tract of Govern- ment land. He erected a log house and com - menced at once to improve his land. This was before the coming of the railroad and when Beardstown was the principal market for this section of the country. Dcer and varions kinds of wild game were plenty here. Captain Heaton improved fifty acres of land, and in 1854 sold it to John Fravey. He then moved to Beardstown in order to give his children the benefit of schools. He was employed by Horace Billings in his pork house for a time, and later was in the em- ploy of Mr. Crea and Henry Chatsey. While a resident of that place he was sent for from Brooklyn, New York, to superintend a pork-packing establishment there for a Mr. Arris. He remained in Brooklyn one season. In 1863 he went to Decatur, Illi- nois, and established a packing house for Mr. Plato. He subsequently purchased a farm of Major Arnold, in Monroe precinct, and re- sided on it till 1870. The following two
years he lived in Beardstown. His next move was to Virginia. He bought property on Gospel Hill, built a house, and resided there till 1884. He then rented that place, and bought and inoved to his present home.
Captain Heaton was married at Bolton, Lancashire, England, November 2, 1840, to Mary J. Fullerton. She was born in the Tower of London, February 29, 1820, dauglı- ter of Major James Fullerton, a native of England. When a young man, her father cnlisted in the Seventh Battalion, and was commissioned Major. He was in command of the tower at the time of her birth. He served in the army about twenty-two years, after which he was retired on half pay. He then cmigrated to Canada, and settled twenty miles from Toronto, Ontario, where lie bought a farm and resided till his death. The maiden name of his wife was Martha Glen. She was born in England and died in Canada.
To Captain Heaton and his wife eleven children have been born, viz .: Noble Jolın, who was married by W. R. Whitehead to Flavila Yaple, December 24, 1873, and has three children, Charlie, Alford and Noble John; Catharine, who was married by R. C. H. Heimerling to Charles Caldwell, Decem- ber 12, 1860, and lias seven children, Pat- rick, John, Emma, Jennie, who became the wife of James Mead, of Virginia; Lizzie, Katie and Edward; Edward, who lost his life in a railroad accident on the Central Pacific Railroad; James, who was married in November, 1873, to Cora Seaman, has one child, Florence; Mary Jane, who was mar- ried by Benjamin Williams to W. B. Will- iams, Angust 7, 1871, and has two children, Eddie and Henry; William, who was mar- ried by John W. Shay to Hannah E. Sea- inan, November 10, 1875, and has five chil-
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dren, Mary, John, Willard, George and Eva; Charles, who was married January 5, 1885, to Sadie Bohman; Susan, who was married by John W. Allen to Reuben Lan- caster, March 11, 1880, and has two chil- dren, Earl and Iva; Alice, who was married by John W. Allen to Edward E. Savage, May 10, 1877, and has four children, Henry, Walter, Bessie and Zella; Martha, who was married by J. E. Roach to Richard H. Payne, November 20, 1884, and has four children, Carey, Inis, Hazel and Irine; and Thomas, who is unmarried. They have twenty-nine grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.
The Captain and liis worthy companion are devout members of the Catholic Church.
The sword which this veteran carried in Spain he lias presented to his son, Noble John, who values it beyond price.
Such is a brief record of one of Virginia's pioneers and highly respected citizens.
ILLIAM L. DEMAREE is a native of Rushville township, having been born there June 7, 1858, and while a young man is a successful farmer, and one who enjoys the confidence and the respect of his friends and neighbors. His father, Lud; well H. Demaree, was born in Mercer connty, Kentucky, and his grandfather spent the last years of his life in that State. Ludwell Demaree, after marrying in Kentucky, a lady by the name of Martha J. Yankee, of Wash- ington county, that State, removed to Illi- nois in 1857, buying a farm in section 16, Rushville township, where he lived until his death, in 1872. He was one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in this county, and spared neither time nor 26
means for its advancement. His wife sur- vived him by sixteen years. Six of her eight children are living, viz .: Belle, married to Leonidas Scott; Laura. married to Alexander Acheson; William L .; John H .; Nora, mar- ried to J. C. Harrison; and George L.
William L. Demaree received his educa- tion in the schools of his native town. Ap- preciating the importance and value of a good education, he sought to improve every oppor- tunity. He was but fourteen years of age when his father died, and he continued as bc- fore to reside at the home place, only leaving it at tle tinie of his marriage, in 1883. This event took place very happily in that year, to Rebecca Hamilton. daughter of a worthy and esteemed couple, John and Margaret Hamil- ton, and he then settled upon the farm where he now resides. In 1891, Mr. Demaree added to his possessions by buying another farm in section 22, Rushville township, so that he now owns 460 acres of land, all in the township named. He carries on general farming and stock raising.
Mr. and Mrs. Demaree have two children, Dwight E. and William P. They are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, Mr. Demaree being the builder of the McTyeire chapel in 1890. In politics, Mr. Demaree is a Democrat.
HRISTIAN KUHLMANN, one of the substantial farmers and highly respected citizens of Monroe precinct, Cass county, Illinois, was born in the kingdom of Eilstad, Germany, in April, 1827. His parents were natives of Hanover, and passed their lives there. When Christian was three years old his father died, leaving a wife and three children.
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
Mr. Kuhlmann attended school until he was fourteen, when he began to earn his own living, working by the year on a farm. The first year he received only $3 and his board. In 1851 he came to America. Setting sail from Bremen in April in the sailing vessel Capanica, he landed at New York after a voyage of forty-two days. He there found employment in a sugar refinery at $26 per month, and tlins earned the money to pay his way to the West. In 1852 he came to Illinois, coming via the Hudson river to Albany, Erie canal to Buffalo, the lakes to Cleveland, canal to Portsmouth, and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to St. Louis. He found employment on a farm in St. Louis county, and remained there till 1854. That year he came to Cass county and was employed at farm work by the month. He was very in- dustrious, saved his earnings, and in the course of time rented land and began farming on his own account. In 1864 lie made his first purchase of land, 160 acres, located on section 26, township 18, range 11. There was a log cabin on the place. into which the
family moved, and he at once began to ınake further improvements on the land. Prosper- ity attended his well-directed efforts, and as the years rolled by he added to his original purchase and erected suitable farm buildings. His home farm now contains 375 acres, and he also owns another farm, 437 acres, in the ame township. Besides these Mrs. Kuhl- mann has a farm of 120 acres. Mr. Kuhl- mann is indeed a self-made man. His life and achievements serve well to illustrate what a poor young man with ambition, good judgment and plenty of energy can accom- plislı in this free land of ours.
In 1855 Mr. Kuhlmann was married in Cass county, to Mary Middlebusher, also a native of Hanover. She came to America
with her parents. Their union has resulted in the birth of two sons, George H. and John H. The younger resides with his parents. George H. is engaged in farming on his own account. He married Miss Kate A. Hem- inghaus, a native of Morgan county, Illi- nois, daughter of German parents. They have three children: Christian, Adelia and Lydia.
The Kuhlmann family are members of the Lutheran Church at Beardstown.
EMETRIUS H. ALLEN, a prominent citizen of Versailles, was born in Adams county, this State, in 1855. His father, James, was born in New Jersey in 1819, and he came to this State when a young man, in 1838. His wife was Mary Holten, born May 2, 1825. She died in 1875, having borne her husband nine children, two of whom died in infancy; those who lived to maturity were: Mary C., wife of Jeremiah Stnart; William M., farmer of Missouri, has six children; John, residing with subject; D. H., subject; Amanda, wife of Stephen Smith; Stephen A. D., farm laborer of this township; George resides on the farm with his brother, has but one son.
Our subject's father had but limited schooling, being obliged to work on the farm his father purchased, for many years. He enlisted in the Fiftieth Illinois Infantry, serving two years, when he was discharged on account of sickness, but was home only a few weeks when he re-enlisted in the cavalry service, serving in all some four years and a half, being mustered out at St. Louis at the close of the war. Although not very well educated, he was an able and zealous minister of the Baptist Church.
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
Our subject was one of the good sons one so seldom sees, remaining at home, assisting with the farm and caring for the little ones, and lias never ceased to look after their welfare.
He was married Jannary 3, 1878, to Miss Julia Hall, of the same place, daugliter of Elijalı and Susan (Cousin) Hall, Virginia farmers, who came to Illinois about 1830, being then very poor, but then they had 240 acres of good land and other valuable prop- erty. Five of their children are still living. The father died when seventy years old, and the mother when she was eighty years old, in 1884.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen lave buried one son, Charles I .. an infant, and one daughter, May Allen, born September, 1880. Mr. Allen is a Democrat, and has served as School Di- rector for something over one term. He is a Deacon in the Baptist Church.
Mr. Allen carries on general farming on his wife's fifty-acre farm, raising wheat and corn, the former yielding about sixteen bushels to the acre, the latter forty to fifty. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are highly respected young people of their township, and enjoy life on their beautiful farm, which is kept in beautiful order by the care of Mr. Allen.
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