USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 53
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 53
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 53
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Mr. Garm was married in Beardstown, to Mary D. Harris. She had come to the State of Illinois from England, when yet qnite young, with the relatives of her parents. They settled in Cass county, and she has been since a resident of Beardstown. Mr. and Mrs. Garm have eight children three of whom are dead. Those still surviving are, Robert H., who married Tillie Dutch; John T., married to Minnie Lamoreux of Mason City, Illinois; Mamie, now the wife of Dr.
Norbury, the head of the wards at the in- sane hospital at Jacksonville, Illinois; Joe E., completing his education at the Depauw University at Greencastle, Indiana; Frank, a graduate of the Beardstown high school, and still at home.
Mr. Garm and the oldest son are members .of the blue odge and chapter, A. F. & A. M. The latter is present Master; the former has also served in the same capacity for three terms previously.
Mr. and Mrs. Garm are regular and con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Garm is a man of which his town feels proud, as well it may, for he is one of the representative men, not only of his town and connty, but of the State to which he came so many years ago.
ARRY J. CRUM, of township 17 north, range 11 west, section 24, post office Virginia, was born in Morgan county, near Prentice, November 24, 1863. He is the son of William A. and Nancy (McHenry) Crum. The McHenry family were among the first settlers of the county. Mr. Crum came here about 1860, and was married. They first lived in Morgan county, and then re- inoved to the eastern part of the State, where lie now resides. Harry is the eldest of a family of cleven children, nine of whom are still living. The grandfather was William Crnın, brother of James Crnm (see biography of James Crum).
Harry was educated in Mattoon, Illinois, in the high school of the place. He lived inost of his life in Coles county, but came to this county in 1883, locating on the farm where he now lives.
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He was married February 26, 1890, to Mrs. Ida C. Bowers, whose maiden name was Crum, daughter of Robert Crumn, and third cousin of Mr. Harry Crum. They have one child, Robert A., born December 30, 1890.
Mr. Crum is a Democrat in politics, and his wife is a inember of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He is a young man of intelli- gence and progressive ideas. He had a good financial start in the world, which, combined with his industrious habits, will make him one of the foremost men in the county.
A maiden sister of the mother of Mr. Crum resides with himn, Miss A. M. McHenry. She is a lady who is a fair representative of tlie settlers of Cass county. She owns 300 acres of land adjoining the farm of Mr. Crum, which is highly cultivated. Mr. Crum's farm consists of 160 acres in a high state of cul- tivation.
ILDEROY SETTLES, one of the larg- est landowners in Schnyler county and a man of great force and integrity of character, is the subject of the following bio- graphy. It is fitting that the history of such men be preserved to the coming generations, that they may have some idea of the vicissi- tudes and privations and trials which beset the path of those sturdy pioneers which pre- parcd the way for the onward march of prog- ress. To this worthy band belongs Gilderoy Settles, who was born in Fulton county, Illi- nois, November 14, 1837; one of seven chil- dren: Polly Ann, Gilderoy, David J., Serena, Penina, Nancy and Josiah. His father, William Settles, was a native of Ten- nessee, and emigrated froin that State to Illinois, becoming a pioneer of Fulton county ; there he was united in marriage to Peggy
Carlock, a danghter of Abraham and Mary A. Carlock; he spent more than fifty years in Fulton county, but died in Morgan county, Illinois; his wife died in Fulton county; their son Gilderoy was reared to the occupa- tion of a farmer, and remained under the pa- rental roof and guidance until he was twenty years of age; he then began to face the world laying the foundation of the fortune which has since attended his path. He rented land, as he had no capital to invest, and managed in this way until 1859, when he inade his first purshase of eighty acres, at $10 per acre; there was a log cabin on the place, and this was the extent of the improvements, but it was truly a home, the first he could call his own.
Mr. Settles was occupying this quiet little place, when in March, 1865, he enlisted in Company I, Third Illinois Cavalry; he joined the regiment at Springfield, and did garrison duty until October of the same year; he was then honorably discharged, returned to his home, and resumed the pursuit of agriculture. The following year he bought another farm in the saine township, and afterward sold the farm he had first purchased; he resided in Browning township until 1871, and then re- inoved to land he had bonglit in Frederick township; this was his home until 1884 when he bought the farm on which he now lives; this tract consists of 204 acres in an advanced state of cultivation and improved with excel- lent buildings; besides this Mr. Settles owns another farm of 200 acres in the same town- ship, 120 acres in Oakland township, and 160 acres in Clark county, Kansas.
In 1857 he was united in marriage to Miss Penina Tracy, who was born in Fulton county May 24, 1835, one of the eight children of her parents: Perry, Leonard R., Mary A., Thomas C., Penina A., Minerva, Arminda
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and Cynthia A. Her father, Lyman Tracy, was born in the State of New York, and came to Illinois when a young man; he was one of the early settlers of Fulton county, lived there a few years, and then removed to Missouri; at the end of seven years lie came to Schuyler county, and settled in Browning township, where he passed the remainder of his days; his wife, Annie Carlock, died on the farm in Browning township. Mr. and Mrs. Settles are the parents of six children: Leander, Florentine, Logan, Doran, Charles and Orpha. Politically Mr. Settles affiliates with the Republican party.
DWARD GUINN HALL, deceased, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, Sep- tember 10, 1810. His father, Wash- ington Hall, whose parents were Dutch, was uncertain whether his birthplace was in Eng- land or Maryland. He was engaged for a number of years in the wholesale mercantile trade, at the end of which period he removed to Cecil county, same State, where he resided upon a farm for fifteen years, when he re- turned to Baltimore, where retired from the cares of trade he enjoyed in tranquillity the fruits of a well spent life, dying a good old age, respected by all who knew him. His wife, whose maiden name was Guinn, bore him seven children, namely: Edward, Wash- ington, Samuel, Charles, Richard, Ann R. and Achsah.
Edward Guinn Hall was reared and edu- cated in Baltimore. He graduated when he was seventeen years old and was admitted to the bar before he attained his twenty-first year. Soon thereafter he settled upon a 600- acre farm owned by his father in Cecil county, living there until the year 1838, in which 80
year he removed to Illinois and took up his residence in what is now known as Rushville township, on land which he inherited from his father. He continued to reside there un- til his death, which occurred July 28, 1857.
He was a man of good, strong sense and excellent judgment. A sound patriot, he took active interest in the affairs of his country. An admirer of old "Tippecanoe" and "Harry" Clay, each of whom received his vote for President, the defeat of the latter sat heavily upon him. He was an ardent Whig and at the organization of thie Republi- can party in 1854 he identified himself with that organization, continuing a faithful mem- ber of it to his death. Being educated him- self, and thoroughly appreciating the advan- tages of knowledge, he desired his children should have the benefit of a liberal education, which wish his widow carried out.
He was married, August 26, 1845, to Pris- cilla Baker, born in Flemingsburg, Fleming county, Kentucky, April 9, 1825. Her father, Francis Baker, was a native of Maryland, having been born near Baltimore. When a young. man he removed to Kentucky, engag- ing in farming in Fleming and Maysville un- til 1837, when he emigrated with his wife and four children to Illinois, making the en- tire journey overland. During that winter he visited in Indiana, and in the following spring settled in section 7, Rushville, where he bought a tract of land. At that time the country was sparsely settled and frame houses were the exception, the people being well satisfied to own log cabins. Wild turkeys and other game were abundant and the trusty rifles of the neighbors kept their tables well supplied with this kind of food. Mr. Baker died there in 1844, aged eighty-seven years, universally mourned. Hc was a soldier dur- ing the war of 1812.
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
The maiden name of Mrs. Hall's mother was Mary Magdalene Brandenburg, who was born in Berlin, Germany, and who dicd at the home of her son, Dorsey Baker, while on a visit, February 16, 1858. Her home was at Mrs. Hall's. When a girl Mrs. Hall attended the Black Jack school, a house built of logs resting upon underpinning of logs, with slab seats and heated with a fireplace. She re- sided with her parents until her marriage. Mrs. Hall is the mother of seven children, namely: Achsah A., Washington, Charles, Melinda, Mary, George Edward and Richard. Mrs. Hall is a lady of intelligence and great worth and is held in great esteem by all who know her. Her days pass peacefully and she is happy in the consciousness of having done well the duties and responsibilities of hcr station.
AVID CARR was born on a farm in township 18, range 10, Cass county, Illinois, February 21, 1842. As one of the prominent and highly esteemed citizens of this county, and as the son of an early pio- neer, biographical mention of him is appro- priate on the pages of this volume. We ac- cordingly present the following facts in re- gard to his life and ancestry :
John Carr, grandfather of David Carr, was born (tradition says) in Ireland, his parents having come from Ireland to America and located in Philadelphia, where they died soon afterward. Thus, left an orphan at an early age, he was reared by strangers. He located in Ohio, and resided there till 1825. In that State his son, David Carr, father of the sub- ject of our sketch was born. In 1825 the Carr family started for the far West. It is said Mr. Carr's destination was the Platte
Purchase. He was accompanied not only by liis wife and seven children, but also by his son Elislia's wife and two children, and Pe- ter's child, its mother having died in Olio. They took passage on a kecl-boat down the Ohio river to Shawneetown, and from there wended their way northward with teamns. They struck the Sangamon river bottom in the locality known as Bluff Springs. At- tracted by the natural beauty of the country, they concluded not to go further; selected a site about six miles up the river, and niade permanent settlement. At that time there were very few familics residing in the present bounds of Cass county, Indians being much more numerous than whites, and all the land was owned by the Government. Mr. Carr at once made claim to a tract of Government land on section 6, township 18, range 10. It is said that the family had but seventy-five cents in caslı among them on their arrival here. The first thing he did was to build a log house. No nails whatever or sawed lum- ber were used in its construction. He rived boards to cover the roof, and they were hield in place by poles which were laid lengthwise of the cabin. He made a puncheon floor, and built his chimney of earth and sticks on a rock foundation. For some time there were no flouring mills nearer than St. Louis. Mr. Carr took a section of a log, hollowed out the top, and in that pounded his corn, using the finer part for bread and the coarser for mush. Cornmeal, wild game and fish constituted their chief living. As there was no improved land here and no market for grain even if they had it to sell, the question was how to raise the money to pay for the land, even at $1.25 per acre. The lead mines of the vicin- ity of Galena were then attracting attention, and in the fall of the year some of the male members of the family walked to Galena, and
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worked in the mines through the winter. In the spring they returned and continued the improvements they had commenced on the land, afterward working several seasons at Galena. In this way the father and sons earned money with which they acquired large tracts of land in the Sangamon river bottoms. The grandfather resided here until the time of his death. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Wolliver. She was born in Penn- sylvania, of German ancestry, and died ou the home farm. She reared seven children: Elisha, Peter, William, James, Benjamin, David and Jemima.
David, the youngest son, came with them to Illinois in 1825, and resided in the parental home until the time of his marriage, when he located on the place where his son David was born and now resides. Here he passed the rest of his life. His wife was before her marriage Julia A. Wells. She was born in Wheeling, Virginia, and died on the home farm.
David Carr, the subject of our sketch, re- ceived his education in the pioneer log school houses, the schools being taught on the sub- scription plan, each family paying according to the number of pupils sent. When a mere lad he commenced to assist in the farm work, and was actively engaged in agricultural pur- suits till the breaking out of the war. At the first call for troops he enlisted in the State militia, served one month, and then enlisted in Company A, Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving until June 24, 1864. During his time of service he was in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. He took part in nine- teen different engagements, the most import- ant of which were the battle of Shiloh and the siege and capture of Vicksburg. He was honorably discharged June 24, 1864, his
term of enlistment having expired, and re- turned home. After his return he located on that part of the homestead which he now owns and occupies. He has bought other land and is now the owner of 305 acres, the home buildings being located on section 8, township 18, range 10.
December 11, 1867, Mr. Carr married Mag- gie McNeill. She was born in Cass county, Illinois, daughter of Lachlan McNeill; their union resulted in the birth of six children: Florence N., Julia, William D., Lizzie J., Carrie E. and Chalmer M. Mrs. Carr died May 25, 1890.
Mr. Carr is independent in his political views. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he has been Ruling Elder for a number of years.
ETER THOMAS, Supervisor of Coopers- town, was born in Brown county, in 1842. His father, William, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1809, and came to Illinois October 1, 18-, bringing his wife and one daughter. He and his brother-in- law joined teams, and they came emigrant fashion, being four weeks on the way. He took possession of a log cabin in Brown county, in what was then Schuyler. Here he lived four years, making some improvements, which land he sold and then entered 120 acres of Government land. This was wild land, on which he built a rough house, went to work and cleared up a fine farm, where he lived nntil 1860. He came with but enough means to reach here, and had three bits left when he crossed the Illinois river at Beards- town. Before long he had made enough to obtain a deed for his land, which was in 1837, and he moved on it in February, 1838. His
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
wife was Julia, daughter of Morton and Sarah (Stivers) De Witt, both natives of Kentucky, where this daughter was born. _ They came to Ohio in 1815. Mr. De Witt died in Texas in 1836 or 1837, and was no doubt killed. His wife died in Brown county in 1857, aged seventy-five. She was the mother of six children.
Mr. Peter Thomas left home for the battle- fields in July, 1862, in Company D, Eighty- fourth Illinois Infantry (Captain Davis), at nineteen years of age. He enlisted as a Corporal, served three years and then was promoted to be Sergeant. His first engage- ment was at Perryville, where he had the usual experiences of a raw recruit, and the next engagement was Stone River. Here over one-half of the regiment were killed or wounded. The next battle was at Chicka- mauga, wliere the loss was heavy. During his three years' service he was confined in the hospital three weeks, and detached some eight months, guarding prisoners at Nash- ville, Tennessee. They were active in the Cumberland campaign, and the last fight of note of their regiment was in front of Nashville, Tennessee, December, 1864. Mr. Thomas was mustered out at Springfield, June, 1865, and arrived home soon after.
He was married December, 1868, to Irene, daughter of Fielding and Amanda (O'Neil) Glenn. She was born in Brown connty, although her parents were Kentuckians, who came to Illinois in 1830.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas began married life in a log cabin on his father's farm, but at the expiration of three years he bought fifty-five acres, part of his present home, which is now 220 acres. He paid $825 for the fifty-five acres. His next purchase was 152 acres in 1878, costing $1,800; later he bought fifteen acres for $325. He built his present com-
fortable frame house in 1886, and one barn in 1878, and the second one in 1887. He has under the plow 115 acres, and the bal- ance is in woodland and pasture. He grows wheat, corn and hay, and raises horses, cattle and sheep. He keeps fifteen to forty head of cattle, good stock of dehorned and Short- horns. He has fifteen head of draft horses which he has bred, and has also a fine Perch- eron stallion.
They have buried an infant son, and four children are living: Charles S., Oliver O., Daisy E. and James W. They have enjoyed good schooling and are very intelligent. Mr. Thomas lias served the township as Road Commissioner and Town Clerk, and was elected Supervisor in 1891, which office he is filling to the satisfaction of his county. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union.
EONARD SERROT, who is well-known throughout Schuyler county as a pro gressive and intelligent agriculturist was born in Scioto county, Ohio, September 12, 1832, son of Peter F. and Nancy (Patton) Serrot. The paternal grandparents were born in the city of Paris, France, and emi- grated to America to take up part of a tract of land that was granted to La Fayette, near Portsmouth, Ohio; there they settled and passed the remainder of their lives. Peter F. Serrot lived in Ohio until 1835, and in the fall of that year removed to Illinois; he made the trip with four horses and a wagon, and was accompanied by his wife and eight children. He first settled in the village of Rushville, and the following spring bought the land on which Leonard Serrot now lives; the tract consisted of 160 acres, and the con-
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
sideration was $300; there were no improve- ments, and the land was heavily timbered. He, Peter F., erected a log liouse which was then regarded as a very superior structure, and which furnished a shelter several years, when it was replaced by a more modern edi- fice. Mr. Serrot was an old-time Whig, but joined the Republican ranks upon the for- ination of that party. He died at the home of his son, Jolin, aged seventy-six years; his wife, Nancy Patton Serrot, was born in Ohio, and died at the old homestead, at the age of fifty-six years. Leonard Serrot spent his boyhood and youth at home with his parents. He was married January 4, 1855, to Miss Evelina Thompson, who was born in Cecil county, Maryland, April 6, 1834, a daughter of Ezekiel and Mary (Thompson) Thompson; her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and emigrated to the West at an early day, and was one of the honored pioneers of Schuyler county; he died at the age of eighty-two years, and his wife survived to the age of eighty-four years; they reared a family of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Serrot each received a fair education in the common schools, and are the parents of two children: Millard F. was born December 24, 1855; he is one of the prominent teachers of the county, and has followed the profession ten years; Mary E. was born May 4, 1860.
After his marriage, Mr. Serrot lived on the liome place for thirteen years, and then embarked in the grocery trade in Ripley, Brown county, conducting the business from 1868 to 1871. He is now engaged in gen- eral farming. For more than forty years he has been a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and has lived a life consistent with its teachings. In politics, he adheres to the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Grange, and in all
movements for the benefit of the public he takes a deep interest. He has always em- ployed strictly honorable methods in liis business relations, and enjoys the highest regard of his fellowmen. Six years ago he erected one of the handsomest houses in the county.
The paternal great-grandfather of Mr. Serrot was Captain of a French man-of-war, and was very prominent among the seamen of his day.
DWARD S. FRANK, for many years a prominent resident of Brown county, and identified with the busines inter- ests there, was born in Davidson county, North Carolina, May 23, 1848, His father, William Frank, was born in the same county, and his grandfather, Peter, was born in Pennsylvania of German ancestors. He emi- grated to North Carolina and was an early settler of Davidson county. He bought a tract of land on the Yadkin river and en- gaged in farming there, where he spent the rest of his days. William Frank was reared and married in North Carolina, and came from there to Illinois in 1852. The re- moval was made overland by teams. He lo- cated at Buckhorn and there established tlie post office of which he was tlie efficient Post- master. It was kept in his house at that time. His house was in section 33, of what is now Lee township. He followed his trade of gunsmith and resided there eight years, and then removed to the locality known as Mt. Pleasant and still lives there. His wife's name was Sarah, daughter of Godfrey and Martha (Merrill) Winkler.
Edward S. Frank was four years of age when his parents brought him to Illinois.
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He was reared and educated in Lee township, and at the early age of fourteen lie began to assist his father in the shop, being a natural mechanic, he soon developed into a first-class workman. He finally established himself in the blacksmith business at Mt. Pleasant and continued there nine years, then closed out that branch of the business. In it he lost less than one hundred dollars on account of bad bills, and never sued a customer. He was married in 1878, to Martha J. Morehead of Butler county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of James and Margaret (Monks) Morehead. Slie is a member of the Baptist Church, and they are the parents of two children, Nona Ruth and Jama E.
He saw the need in that section of a reg- ular undertaking business, and he opened a business of that nature and continued in it successfully for thirteen years. In 1891, failing health compelled him to change his occupation and he sold out thiis business and bought the farni where he now resides, one mile southeast of Clayton, where he is now engaged in raising sheep, breeding recorded Shropshire sheep. Sheep-raising is not a new business to him. While he was in the black- smith business he bought a tract of rough land and in clearing it up he stocked it with sheep, so that he has been in the sheep busi- ness for upward of twenty years. While in the undertaking business he found it neces- sary to divert his mind in some way. In this way he began in his leisure hours to make a study of sheep, and he is now thoroughly acquainted with the subject of sheep farming and breeding for vitality. He has raised dif- ferent breeds, including Merinos, Cotswold, Southdown, Oxforddown and Leicester, and has proven that the Shropshire are by far the superior all-around sleep.
Mr. Frank is a Republican in politics. He has one of the most beautiful homes in the east side of Adams county. It is located on an eminence and is partially surrounded by a beautiful glade. From the natural scenery his home takes the name of the Crescent Glade. Mr. Frank is one of the most prom- inent inen of this section. He is a thorough business man and all his enterprises, which have been many, and has been entirely suc- cessful. It would be well if all the men in the county were as well informed, honest and reliable as is Mr. Edward S. Frank.
MOS HARSHEY, who is well known throughout Schuyler county as a lead- ing farmer of Littleton township, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, October 13, 1847, a son of Jacob and Be- thiah C. (Barnes) Harshey. His father was a native of the same county, and in 1858 he enii- grated to the West, locating near Rushville, Schuyler county, Illinois; after seven years he sold the land he had taken up at that time, and bought the farin now occupied by our subject; here he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring at the age of forty- nine years; his wife is a native of Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, and is still living, a resident of Littleton township. Her par- ents emigrated to Schuyler county in 1859, and were living here at the time of death.
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