USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 51
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 51
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 51
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Mr. Taylor and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbytorian Church. They were among the original inembers of tlie San- gamon Bottom Church. The first meeting of this society was held on the fifth Sunday in July, 1848, and was organized late in the month of August following by Rev. Nathan Downing and by Rev. James White.
Politically, Mr. Taylor was reared a Whig, but joined the Republican party when it was formed. He has always been a Prohibition- ist in principle, and of late years has voted with that party in national elections.
SAAC NEWTON PEVEHOUSE was born on the farm on which he now re- sides, November 1, 1849. His father, Jolın J. Pevehouse, was born in Kentucky in 1818, and his father, John, also was born in Pennsylvania, while his father was a native of Germany and came to America in colonial times and served in the Revolutionary war. He was a farmer and lived in Washington
county, Pennsylvania. Jolin served in the war of 1812 and removed to Kentucky di- rectly after the war, being a pioneer of Wayne county. He lias served as County Com- missioner several terms. In 1833 he removed to Illinois and settled in Adains county, where he bought land in Honey Creek township, residing there until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Beeson. She survived her husband a few years and died at her home in the house of her son, John, Jr., in Pea Ridge township. The father of our subject, John, Jr., was sixteen years old when he came to Illinois with his parents. He made the entire journey overland with teams. At that time the county was but sparsely settled and Quincy was but a hamlet. He bought eight acres of unimproved land on time, paying $80 for the tract. He bought it at a public sale and did not have the money to pay for it with. He soon found a pur- chaser for his bargain at a small advance. He married in Brown county and lived there on a farm of 147 acres that he bought at a big bargain, and also bought other tracts of land. He was very successful. Here Isaac was born and when his father died lie left 800 acres for his heirs. His death occurred March 17, 1891. The maiden name of liis wife was Susanna Peveliouse, born in Wayne county, Kentucky. Her father, Joseph Peve- house, was well known in Kentucky from which he removed to Illinois, settling in Scott county, where he resided in that part which was Morgan county at that time. He was one of the first teachers of the county. He bought land and followed farming and mercantile business in Clayton and resided there until his death in 1863. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Slagle. She was born in Kentucky and died on the farm. The mother of our subject is still living on the
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home farm. She reared five children, Thersa A., Elizabetli J., Isaac N., Martha E. and Saralı E.
Isaac was reared and educated in his native township and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits and still occupies the old liomestead wliere lie lias always lived.
Politically he has always been identified with the Democratic party. His parents were firm members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Pevehouse is an upright gentleman and is greatly respected by all who know him.
RANK LAWRENCE, a highly respected citizen of Oakland township, was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, in 1851, a son of Thomas Henry Lawrence. His father removed to Illinois abont 1848, and settled near Rockford, where he bought a farm on which he passed the remainder of his days; he died in 1853, in the prime of a prosperous life, leaving a widow and eight young children. Soon after his deatlı his wife disposed of the estate, whichi was valued at $1,300, and returned to Orange county, New York. Her mnaiden namne was Sarah Randle, and she was a daugliter of Jesse Randle; she now resides in Warwick, New York, and is still vigorous both in mind and body. Five of the children survive. Thomas H., Jesse R. and A. P. were volunteers in the late war; they all came out alive, but all were wounded; Thomas H. and Jesse R. are both deceased.
Mr. Lawrence came to the West in 1871, luis objective point being Council Bluffs, Iowa. In the spring of 1873 he went to Colorado, making part of the journey by rail, and the rest overland by pack train. In 1882
he returned to the East, and then came to Ray, Schuyler county, where he lias since rc- sided.
He was united in marriage to Mary E. Baxter Sumner, in 1885; Mrs. Lawrence died July 15, 1889, leaving one son, Thomas H. Lawrence, born in August, 1888. Mr. Law- rence was married a second time, February 8, 1891, when he was united to Josie Glimpse, a daughter of James and Sarah (Shirley) Glimpse, natives of Illinois; the Shirley family is front New Jersey, and the Glimpse family came fromn Indiana. James Glimpse died in 1891, at the age of forty-five years, leaving a family of five childreu. Mr. Lawrence occupies a pleasant home in Ray, which he erected in 1891; lie owns abont sixty acres of land. He has liad charge of the Ray tile works as superintendent and fore- man; he has filled the position with marked ability. Politically he affiliates witli the Democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic order, and belongs to the blue lodge, chapter and commandry.
ENRY STARK, of Mt. Sterling, was born in Prussia, in 1848. His par- ents were Peter and Elizabeth Stark, botlı of Prussia. The father spent his entire life there, and after his death the mother and children came to America, and settled in Mt. Sterling, where she spent her last days.
Henry attended school quite steadily, until he was fourteen years old, and then com- menced work in the mines for three years, and worked in the rolling mills until 1869, wlien he concluded to come to America to try and better his condition. He came di- rectly to Rushville, where he landed with empty pockets. He at once found work in
29
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
the mines, where he continued about three months, went from there to Beardstown, and worked on the railroad for nearly a year, and then went to Peoria and entered the coal mines. A short time after his employer failed . and left him with no money. He went from there to Rochelle, and from there to Mt. Sterling, and entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company. He then worked two months in a pork-packing estab- lishment, in a brick-yard one summer, then went to St. Louis, in order to learn a trade, and finally back to Mt. Sterling, where with a partner he finally opened a market. He very soon failed again, but a friend lent him money and thus far he has met with remarkable suc- cess. In the meantime he has engaged in various lines of business. He was in the junk business, and for two years he ran a skating rink. He was the first ice dealer in the town, and for about twelve ycars engaged in that business. He continued in the butcher- ing business for eight years, and then entered into his present business. He is one of the largest real-estate owners in the city. In 1890, he erected a handsome business block on Main street, with a forty-foot front, and he owns another block on the same street, 40 x 100 feet, seven dwelling houses, besides vacant property.
He married in 1877, Sarah Ward, of Mt. Sterling, daughter of Nicholas Ward, of Ireland. He learned the trade of wheel- wright, came to America a young man, and carried on his business in Mt. Sterling, where he died as the result of an accident by fall- ing backward from the upper story of his wagon shop, breaking his neck in the fall. He had four daughters. This death left the family in rather straitened circumstances, but by their industry, all learning the dress- makers' trade, they managed to keep the
family together. One of Mrs. Stark's sisters, Kate, is married, and lives in Rushville; the other two still continue to carry on the dress- making trade, in Mt. Sterling. Their mother, nee Bridget McCabe, a native of Ireland, is still living.
The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Stark died in infancy. They both are members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Stark is a popular and well-thoughit-of man, he is very liberal to . the poor, and is recog- nized as a good citizen.
OSEPH ALLISON was born near Dover, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, October 17, 1828. Joseph Allison, his father, was supposed to have been born in Pennsylvania, as he was reared and married in that State, and moved from there to Ohio. He bought a tract of timber land in Tuscarawas county, built a log cabin in the wilderness, settled on his frontier farm and began the work of clear- ing it. He lived there till 1840, when he came Illinois, being accompanied by his wife and eight children. He made the journey overland with teams, working and camping on the way. After a month's travel in this way, they landed at Jacksonville, Morgan county. At that time Jacksonville was a hamlet and Springfield only a small place, the surrounding country being thinly settled. Renting land in Morgan county, he lived there four years. Then he moved to Cass county, and in 1847, after renting land here three years, bought a farm in section 23, of township 18, range 9, it being unimproved at the time of purchase. He brought a log lionse front Morgan connty and erected it on this place. It was years before there were any railroads here. Settlers were few and
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
wild game was plentiful. Beardstown was the chief inarket for supplies. Mr. Allison resided on this place till his death, February 11, 1859. He spent years of toil here, im- proving and beautifying his farm, and at the time of his death liad it in a flourishing con- dition, with good frame buildings, etc. The maiden name of his wife, inother of the sub- ject of our sketeli, was Elizabetlı Spawn. She was born in Pennsylvania, and died on the home farin, February 18, 1859. They were married in 1812. Following are the names of their eight children: Mary, Mar- garet, Jane, John, Elizabeth, Martlia, Joseph and Catherine.
Josepli was twelve years old wlien his par- ents came to Illinois, and lie well remembers the incidents connected with their pioneer life here. His mother used to card, spin and weave, and dress her children in homespun. He resided witli his parents until their death, and now owns and occupies a part of the old homestead. The farin contains 137 acres and is well improved with good buildings, etc.
Mr. Allison was united in marriage, De- cember 26, 1849, with Cecelia E. Logue, who was born in Warren county, Tennessee, April 26, 1829. Her father, Oliver Logne, was born in the same county, January 17, 1805, son of William Logue, thought to have been a native of Georgia. William Logue was a farmer and teacher, and served as a Justice of the Peace in Warren county, Tennessee, where his death occurred. The maiden name of grandmother Logue was Hannah Sturgis. She, too, died in Warren county. Oliver Logne was reared and married in Warren county, and from there moved to Illinois, in 1829, becoming one of the first settlers of what is now Menard county. About a year later he moved to tliat part of Morgan connty now included in Cass. Here he entered a
tract of Government land, improved a farm, and resided till his death. Mrs. Logue, nee Rebecca Cole, was born in Warren county, Tennessee, January 12, 1805, danghter of James Cole.
Mr. and Mrs. Allison have three children : John Wesley, who was born March 3, 1851, and married Mary Mellstead, and has two children, Bessie and Cassie; James E., born in 1857, who married Lillie Wyatt, has one child, Etta; and Arthur, born August 11, 1866, who married Sarah Morgan; Elizabeth E., born June 1, 1854, died December 30, 1854.
Politically, Mr. Allison is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Allison has disposed of liis farm and intends to retire from active business pursuits.
ANIEL G. SMITH, M. D., who resides on a farm in Hickory precinct, Cass county, Illinois, is well known as a prominent and successful physician of this vicinity. Briefly given, a sketch of liis life is as follows:
Daniel G. Smith was born a mile and a half east of Scottsville, Macoupin county, Illinois, October 3, 1847. His father, Sam- uel Smith, one of the pioneers of Maconpin county, was born in Clinton county, North Carolina. Grandfather Smith removed with his family, from North Carolina to Kentucky, where he spent his last years and died. Sam- nel Sinith was reared in Kentucky, and re- sided there till 1835, when lie moved to Illi- nois, first locating in Morgan county. At that time much of the land in Morgan county belonged to the Government, and lie entered land near Woodson, and resided there a few
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
years. He then sold out and moved to Ma- coupin connty, where he bought a tract of land near Scottville, a part of it being prai- rie, and a part timber. After improving this land, and residing on it some years, he sold out and moved to Franklin; thence to Waverly, where he lived retired from active business until the time of his wife's death. He then went to Franklin, and spent his last days with his daughter. His wife was be- fore her marriage Miss Dorothy Hull, a na- tive of Tennessee, and a daughter of Jesse Hull. They reared eight of their eleven children.
Dr. Smith first attended the district schools and afterward the Scottville high school. At the age of eighteen he commenced teach- ing, and taught and worked on the farm for four years. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. G. W. Bradley, of Wa- verly. He attended one course of lectures at the Cincinnati E. M. Institute, and two courses at the American Medical College at St. Louis, graduating at the latter institution with the class of 1877. He began the prac- tice of his profession in Franklin, and after remaining there four years removed to Vir- ginia. Here he acquired a lucrative practice, and remaincd a resident till 1889. That year he bought a tract of land in section 1, township 18, range 11, moved upon it, and has since conducted farming operations. He still, however, continues his medical practice, being equally successful in each.
In 1866, Dr. Smith was united in mar- riage with Melinda J. Thompson, a native of Wayne county, Illinois, and a daughter of William C., and Amelia Thompson. Dr. and Mrs. Smith have five children living: Charles W., Fred M., Dottie E., Lois and Zella F. Myrtie, the first-born, died in her fourth
year, and Katie, the fourth, died in her tenth year.
Politically, the Doctor is a Democrat. He and his wife and three oldest children are members of the Christian Church.
YMAN HAGER, a successful farmer and stock-raiser living near Beardstown, was born in Sullivan county, New Hampshire, August 30, 1828. His father, Reuben Hager, was also a native of New Hampshire, and died in 1871. His parents had died when he was fourteen years of age. He was afterward reared by a Mr. Town until he was of age. While yet in Sullivan county he had become owner of a small farm, which he sold in 1835, and with his wife and children came West, by canals and rivers, until he landed in Beardstown. He made a settlement on a farm consisting of Govern- ment land, and later added to it from time to time until he owned a farm of several hundred acres. He spent his last years in quiet comfort in Beardstown. He was a genial, good man, well known for his good judgment. He had been for years a member of the Grand Jury of Beardstown, and was often called upon to arbitrate in difficulties. His wife, who had died in 1846, was named Sarah Reed, and was born in New Hamp- shire. She had been a good woman, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.
Mr. Lyman Hager could not help being the fine man he is, after having such a good father and mother. He has lived in this county since he was six years of age, and has spent his entire life since then near where lie now lives, with the exception of five years spent in California during the '50s. Since
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
early boyhood days he has been a hard worker and he has been fairly successful. He was not able to obtain much early education in the new country.
He was married in this county, to Cordelia Spalding, of Posey county, Indiana. She died at her home, December 23, 1878, at the age of thirty-eight years. She was the mother of seven children. They are: Rose Phelps, living in this county ; Douglas, a farmer near this city; Clara Phelps, of this township; Emma Crum, of this county; Christina Red- shaw, also of this county; Mary Thompson, of the same; and Joseph at home helping on the farm.
Mr. Hager was a second time married, in Beardstown, to Mrs. Annie Coort. She was born in 1847, in Dublin, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1853, with her par- ents, who are not living at the present time.
Mr. and Mrs. Hager have three children. One, William was fatally scalded when five years old. The living ones are Charles and Eva.
Mr. and Mrs. Hager are good and intelli- gent people, and she is of the Catholic faith. Mr. Hager is a Democrat.
ARRISON HINES, foreman in the car shops of the Quincy Railroad, St. Louis division, was born in Montgomery county, New York, February 19, 1841. His father, Henry, and grandfather, Jolın Hines, were natives of New York, but came of Hol- land ancestry. The latter lived and died in the Empire State a very old man. He had married a kinswoman of Commodore Perry and she also lived and died in New York. Henry Hines grew up in his native State as a carpenter and mechanic. After he came to
Illinois he engaged in contracting and build- ing and helped build the Chicago division of what is now the Quincy railroad main line. He lived in Anrora and spent his last years there, dying some fourteen years ago, over eighty years of age. His wife's maiden naine was Betsey Howard, who was born and reared in New York, also. The old stock of Hines were Methodists.
Harrison is one of eight children, all living, and was only one year old when his parents came to Aurora, Illinois. He learned his trade as a mechanic under his father and be- came a skilled artisan. Mr. Hines en- listed in 1861, in the Forty-fifth Regiment, known as Washburn Lead Mine Regiment, Colonel John E. Smith and Captain Hol- comb, commanding. He served through three years and six months, being in the First Division of the Third Brigade of the Seven- teenth Army Corps, and was in all the ter- rible battles that that brigade took part in. He received a gunshot wound in his left leg at Shiloh, and at Vicksburg he was wounded in the head by the bursting of a shell. He saw much hard fighting and for ineritorions conduct while running the batteries at Vicks- burg, he received from General Grant, through General Rawlins, a grant of leave home and a free transportation. He is justly proud of his war record. He was all through the Sa- vannah campaign, march of Sherman to the sea, and finally was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, July 12, 1865. He has been in his present position at Beards- town for the past twelve years. He came from Ottumwa, Iowa, where he was foreman in a car shop for nine years. In 1866 he be- gan with the Quincy Railroad at Aurora, Illinois. He was there for some years in the building department until 1869, when he was sent to Burlington, Iowa, and was there in
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
the building department from Galva to Keithisburg, Illinois. nntil 1871, when he be- came connected with the car-building depart- ment and has been a foreman most of the time. He has grown very popular as a citizen.
He was married in Chicago, Illinois, to Miss Nettie Thompson, who was born, reared and educated in Wisconsin. Her parents, now old people, live in Brookings, Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Hines of this notice are prom- inent citizens of Beardstown and members of the Congregational Church. They are parents of seven children: Russel, Edgar, Nettie, Augustus, Grace, Mabel and Ralph M.
Mr. Hines is a member of the Board of Education and is a Republican. He is a member of the MacLane Post, No. 91, G. A. R., of Beardstown; of the Masonic chap- ter, of the Odd Fellows encampment of this place, and of the commandery at Rushville. Mr. Hines' record witli the Chicago, Bnrling- ton & Quincy Railroad is an excellent one; for his fifteen years of service he has never missed a monthi's salary. He is a refined gentleman.
ILLIAM MORRELL, a prominent farmer of Elkhorn township, was born September 28, 1825, in Clermont county, Ohio. He was the son of Elmore and Nancy (Wright) Morrell, born in Maine, son of David Morrell, of Portland, that State. The subject's father was reared on a farm and came to Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, in 1812, with his parents and was one of the pioneers who in 1832 came into Illinois. The journey into the wilderness was made by ox team and they suffered all the hardships of that early date. He was married in Camp- bell county, Kentucky, where his wife was
born. He brought his wife and three chil- dren to Illinois and settled first in Morgan county, where he bought eighty acres and im- proved that, and three years later sold this out to buy the farmn where our subject now lives and there he spent his life, dying in 1891, aged eighty-six years. He left his original purchase of 100 acres on which he first built a house, the lumber for which was first sawed with an old-fashioned whipsaw. That was the first lumber sawed in this part of Illinois. The father of our subject was one of the first and inost active pioneers. He was a Democrat politically. His wfie was a Universalist and her life ended ou the old farm when she was abont sixty-two. She was born in 1806. The father was born in 1803.
Our subject was one of seven children, three of whom are yet living. He remained at home until his marriage and was employed as are all the sons of farmers. After marriage he picked up the wagonmaking trade and rented the farm where he now lives. He lived there from 1853 to 1876, when lie moved into his present home. He first houglit forty acres and later bought more until he now has as fine a farm of 154 acres as there is in the country. He also has a fine farm in Buckhorn township, and is one of the most successful farmers in the State. He has carried on a mixed farming.
The marriage of Mr. Morrell took place February 6, 1846, to Miss Abigail Smith, who was born in Aslıtabula county, Ohio, July 18, 1826, and was a daughter of Ben- jamin and Abigail (Hackett) Smith. He was born in New Hampshire and she in Vermont, and after their marriage in Ohio they came as pioneers to Illinois, and in 1889 rented land in Morgan county for two years, and then went over into Brown county and re-
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
435
mained there a year, and then finally settled in Cass county, where Mr. Smith, died at the age of forty-six. He has always followed farmning .- The mother died in Cass county, Illinois, aged about forty-four. George Hack- ett, an uncle of Mrs. Morrell, came to the county about 1824, and was one of the first settlers in central Illinois, and the owner of the first tanyard west of the Illinois river.
Our subject is a strong Democrat, having given his first vote for Franklin Pierce. He and.his wife are both church-going people and are highly esteemed in their neiglibor- hood. They have had seven children: four yet living. Rosalie is a widow and has one grandchild and five children. Delah is mar- ried, with four children; William J. is a married man; Henry has two children and rents all the old farm.
The whole family are good, quiet people, and these are the citizens wliose namnes properly appear in a record of this kind.
OBERT RICH was born in Germany on the Rhine, in Baden, in 1852. He is the son of Matthias Rich of the same place, who came to the United States in 1855, settling in St. Louis with his wife and two children, where he pursued the trade of cooper, which he had learned in Germany. From there he came to Brown county in the fall of 1858, and there continued his trade. He bought 100 acres of timber land that had been cleared, although there was plenty of brush. This farmis Mr. Rich's (Sr.) home at present, and is east of Cooperstown. Al- though Mr. Rich, Sr., had barely enough to come to this country with, he now owns 300 acres of good land in this county with fine farın buildings on it. He raises a good strain
of cattle. Beside this lie has 500 acres in the bottoms of Illinois. He is now worth abont $35,000. His wife is named Parthina. They buried one infant son, and have ten living children, namely: Robert; Julius, a farmer of this township; Emma, now Mrs. Charles Petei, farmer in this township; Joseph, a farmer in this township; Louisa, wife of Newton Quinn, farmer of Cooperstown; Sophie, wife of John Snyder, farmer; Matthias, farmer; Henry, farmer; Ellora, wife of Charles Barton, farmer of this county; Perfina is at home and brightens up the home circle with her merry presence.
Robert Richi lived on the home farm until he was twenty-one, when he went into a store as a clerk, as he was in falling health and found the farmn work too wearing on him. This work did not suit him, either; so a year later he went to California by rail, in the summer of 1873. There he worked out of doors, doing farming, and this proved of great benefit to him. He was there until the win- ter of 1875, when he returned to Brown county to his old farm. Here he worked on the farm again for two years, and then farmed on his father's bottom lands for three years. He then bought 160 acres of his present place, buying it at a low price, $6,000 in all for the worked land. He moved his wife into a shanty, where they lived until the farm was paid for. In 1888 he built their present comfortable two-story frame house, one of the, best in the township, costing nearly $2,000. In 1891 Mr. Rich built a fine new barn, 40 x 60 feet, costing $1,200. This, too, is one of the best in the section. Twenty-four to thirty fine horses or cattle can be housed in the large basement. Mr. Ricli devotes him- self chiefly to hogs, although he does other farming also. He generally grows an equal amount of corn and wheat, but has eighty
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