USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 62
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 62
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 62
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five children, three of whom are still living.
Mr. Hoffman started out to carve his own fortune one year after the death of liis father in Lexington, Virginia, and worked there until nineteen years of age. He then volunteered for the Mexican war and served twelve months. The regiment was detailed for guarding train provisions from Camargo to Monterey. It was discharged at the foriner place and Mr. Hoffman returned to Frankfort, Kentucky, where he remained for two years. He then built a mill on Camp creek, in Estill county, Kentucky, and car- ried it on as a saw and gristmill for a time and then moved to Irvine and worked at his trade for about two years and then moved to Madison county, Kentucky, near Clay connty. Here he remained for four or five years. He then moved from there to Clark county, Kentucky, near Winchester, and there run a sawmill for two years. From there lie moved to Armistead, Blackwood's place, the same county. After that he went to Mt. Sterling and followed his usual occu- pation of carpentering. He remained there six years and then removed to Cooperstown township, and there remained six years, then went to Missouri and farmed for one year, and then returned to Versailles, where he has since remained.
ACKSON C. HOFFMAN was born in Lexington, Virginia, February 14, 1826. His father, Joseph Hoffman, was born in 1801 at the same place, but his grand- father, David, was born in Germany and came to America at the close of the Revolu- tionary war and settled one mile west of Lexington, Virginia. His occupation was He was married in Kentucky. to Margaret Eads, born in Estill county, Kentucky, abont 1825, and is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffinan have five children: Elizabeth, Charlton, Matilda, Joseplı and Mary Ann. Mr. Hoffman has held the offices of Magistrate and School Trustee and has belonged to the Metliodist Episcopal Church for seventeen years. Politically he is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F., and for eighteen that of a farmer and tanner, which he con- tinued as long as he lived, dying at the age of eighty-nine years. His father, Joseph, was also a tanner, continuing the business of his father until his death, which occurred at the age of fifty-two years. He was a great temperance man and advocated his doctrines upon any and all occasions. His mother's name was Elizabeth Windel, born in Lex- ington, Virginia, and dying in Huntsville, Alabama, at the age of fifty-six. She left | years has held all the offices of a subordinate
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lodge. He has twenty-eight grandchildren and two great grandehildren. He is the owner of a well improved farm of forty acres.
RED W. HUGE, one of Beardstown's most influential contractors and builders, was born in Hanover in 1832, January 27. He learned his trade of earpenter with his father and worked with him until twenty years of age. He was the first to leave the liome roof when he set forth for America. He came from Bremen to New Orleans and landed after a voyage of six weeks and three days. Fifteen inore days were consumed in going to St. Louis, and from there he came to Beardstown. Here he has had his home ever sinee. Four of his brothers and sisters have joined hin, and one brother, William, was a soldier in the Rebellion for two years. The other brother is a furniture dealer in Beardstown. The parents of Mr. Huge, Casper H. and Anna M. (Peters) Huge, both lived and died in their native country. One daughter still lives in Germany.
Mr. Huge liad made a suceess of his busi- ness, and has built nearly all of the business houses in Beardstown and a good many of the residences. He is a member of the Cen- tral Building and Loan Association, and is influential in many other ways. He is a Demoerat in politics and a Lutheran in reli- gion.
Mr. Huge was married in Beardstown, to Miss Auna Slater of the sanie town in Ger- many as Mr.Huge. She grew up there, and was educated there, also. Her parents lived and died there, but she and a sister, Eliza, came to the United States. They were the only ones, however, of the family that ventured across the deep sea. Mrs. Huge was only seven-
teen years of age when she landed in this country. She has resided, ever since her arrival, in Beardstown. Mr. and Mrs. Huge are members of the Sixth Street Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Huge is Trustee, and has been for sixteen years. They have six ehildren: Dina, now Mrs. John Leger, a shoe dealer of the city; William, a tailoring cutter in Chicago; Lizzie, who died in her fifth year; Fred, a hotel clerk in St. Nicholas Hotel, Springfield; and Julius, who died when six montlis old.
Such men as Mr. Huge are wonderful aids in the building up and growth of the town. He is honored and respected by all who know him.
ICHARD B. FULKS is a retired mer- ehant, living at his pleasant home at Beardstown. He was born at Rushville, Schuyler county, New York, February 6, 1840. This boy grew up under the name of Dick, and has borne that title ever sinee, be- ing scareely known by any other title. He is a man who has made his own fortune and earved his own history. His early life was a struggle to aequire book knowledge. Dur- ing his boyhood days he studied hard and served as clerk as early as fourteen. He was with the firm of Shaw & Merriman of Beardstown for some time, and in 1857 he beeamne a clerk for Charse, Rich & Parker, of this eity, and was thus engaged until the breaking out of the war. He enlisted August 21, 1861, as a private in Company K, Thirty- third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Captain Lippineott and Colonel Charles Hovey, of Normal, Illinois, in command. In 1862, while eneamped at Ironton, Missouri, Mr. Fulks issued for three months a camp jour-
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
nal called the Camp Cricket. This knowl- edge of newspaper work he had acquired when but yet a boy; and later, in 1860, by working at night and at odd times in the office of Thompson & Irwin as assistant in publishing The Central Illinoian of Beards- town. After a service of two and a half years as a private Mr. Fulks was commissioned as Quartermaster Sergeant and in that capacity served till the close of the war on the staff of General Lippincott. After serving as a brave soldier he was mustered out and discharged properly and honorably at Springfield, in De- cember, 1865. During the war he was in many engagements, including the burning of the big bridge on the Iron mountain railroad in 1861, later at Frederickstown, Missouri, and afterward did guard work on the Missis- sippi river, and he saw much active service, but escaped without a scratch. He went through the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mobile and Spanish Point and at Placeo, Texas. While at Meridian, Mississippi, he received a severe sunstroke, from which he has never recovered. The Government re- members him with a pension. When the war closed he laid aside the soldier's habili- ments and resumed citizen's dress and re- turned to Beardstown. He then resumed his mercantile pursuits. The qualities for which Mr. Fulks is noted are grit and puslı, and as he put them in his business he has made a success of it. He has added to the general welfare of the city, which gives himn credit for making it the thriving place it has beconie. No misfortune ever shocked or worried Dick. He has had three disastrous fires, which in each case represented heavy losses to liis stock and his business, but he has pulled through and managed to have a surplus at the bankers, to supply all demands. Hard work and years finally told upon him,
he lost his health, and had to retire from active labors in 1887. He has owned and dealt, sometimes quite extensively, in city property.
He was married first, in this city, to Lydia M. McClure, who was born and reared in Cass county and dicd at Denver, Colorado, April 10, 1878. Her body was brought to this city and interred in Oakwood cemetery. She was then in the prime of life, being born about 1843, and was a well educated woman, having been second principal of the school in this city. She was a member of the Con- gregational Church, and left one daughter, now a well educated young lady, namned Inas. He was a second time married, in this city, to Miss Mattie, of Louisville, Kentucky, a bright young woman, who died two years after, and was buried at her old home. He was married a third and last time to Miss Etta Brown, who was born and reared here, but died at the birth of her first child, in 1885. The child is a bright little girl of seven years, namned Anna D. He has been a member of I. O. O. F. for some twenty-five years, a member of the Knights of Honor, and one of the pro- moters and charter members of the G. A. R. order. He has served the city as an Alder- man for some time, and has been a member of the Board of Education. He has always been a strong Republican.
HOMASEDWARDCUNNINGHAM, a highly respected citizen of section 30, Buena Vista township, Schuyler county, Illinois, was born in Rushville, of this State, on May 2, 1860.
His paternal grandfather, William Cun- ningham, was a native of Kentucky, in which State he was married, and in 1837, came to
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Rushville, near which place he was for somne years engaged in farming. Later, he has kept a hotel, and still later, removed to Mt. Sterling, where he continued in the hotel business until the time of his death, which occurred in February, 1871. He was twice married. His first wife, the grandmother of our subject, died, leaving nine children. He had no children by his second marriage. The nine children were as follows: William, born on October 31, 1816, died in Schuyler county; Nancy J. was born on October 31, 1818, and married William Cooney, who died in Canton, Illinois; Woodson was born on September 23, 1820, and died in Brown county; Caleb was born on Angust 22, 1822, and died in California; Joseph was born on October 17, 1824, and died in Brown county; Ellen was born on November 17, 1826, and married William Bowling, who died in Schuyler county; John was born on November 30, 1828, and died also in Schuyler county; Thomas was the father of onr subject; Lu- cinda, the only surviving member of the family, was born on October 16, 1834 ; she married Isaac Warrington, and resides in Camden township, Schuyler county.
The father of our subject was born on De- cember 23, 1830, and removed with his parents to Illinois. He was reared in Rnsh- ville, where he was married on March 16, 1859, to Nancy Ann, seventh daughter of Edmund and Lucy Ann Smith. She was born in Kentucky, on February 23, 1833, and came to Illinois when sixteen years of age. The father of our subject resided in Rush- ville, until the close of the Civil war, and owned and operated the stage ronte between Rushville and Mt. Sterling, for many years. In 1866, he settled on a farm in Buena Vista township, where he purchased 160 acres of land, where he passed his declining years.
On this property he built a large, liandsome brick residence, and made other substantial improvements. He died at his home on September 22, 1882, leaving a wife and family to mourn his loss. His faithful wife survived him seven years, passing away on March 30, 1889, lamented by all who knew her. They were consistent members of the Christian Church, contributing liberally to- ward its support.
Politicaliy, he was a Democrat, and was elected by his constituents to the office of Supervisor of Buena Vista township, serving in that capacity for several years.
They liad eight children: William, born on February 17, 1885, married Margaret Green; Charles D., born on August 5, 1857, married Mary C. Unger; Thomas E., born on May 2, 1860, married Clara A. Wilmott; Lucy A., born on July 30, 1863; Aınanda E., born on May 19, 1866; Nancy J. was born on April 2, 1869, married Charles Hes- ter; Woodson J., born on July 19, 1873; John M., born on July 9, 1876, died on July 10, 1876. Of these, seven are still living, all being residents of Schnyler connty.
Thomas Edward, the subject of our sketch, was reared on the home farm, and attended the district schools. In 1881, he was married to Miss Clara A. Wilmott, a native of Schuyler county, where she was born on June 3, 1859. She was a daughter of Morris and Dorotha Wilinott, highly re- spected citizens of that county. She died on September 30, 1890, leaving a husband and three children to mourn her loss, be- sides a large circle of friends. They had three children: Reverda, who was born on March 13, 1884; Bertha, born on November 9, 1885; Raymond, born on November 13, 1887.
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
Mr. Cunningham carries on the homestead, besides which he owns forty acres of his own, all of which is under a high state of cultiva- tion, and which is applied with all modern improvements, of machinery and buildings, to facilitate the planting and gathering of his crops.
In politics, he follows in the footsteps of his fathers, affiliating with the Democratic party.
Of high integrity and morality, courteous and cordial in inanner, and interesting in conversation, he enjoys the esteem of his fellow citizens and the affectionate regard of his family and friends.
SAAC MISENHIMER, farmer and stock- raiser of Frederick township, was born in Clay county, Illinois, September 28, 1839. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Mc- Grew) Harris. Mr. Harris was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife of Indiana. They were married in Clay connty, Illinois, where their parents had moved, being among the first pioneers of that county. Mr. Harris dicd in 1843, and his widow survived him some ten years. The family moved to Schay- ler county when Isaac was abont nine years old. He was educated in Schuyler county and was reared on the farm, and he lias fol- lowed that business ever since. He enlisted in Company I, First Illinois Infantry, and served three years in the Western army. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Britain Lane, siege of Vicksburg, and was present at the capture of Little Rock, Arkansas. When he returned from a furlough the regiment was back in Tennessee and he there re-enlisted and was in Tennesseo until he was mustcred
out in March, 1865. Returning home after this, he settled down to farming. He owns 223 acres of land in excellent farming condi- tion, and two years ago he built one of the inost commodious and comfortable houses in the county. He has large barns, and alto- gether his farm is among the best in the county. His grade of stock, too, is very fine and he is among the most prosperous of the citizens of this section.
He was married, September 27, 1867, to Miss Penelope Gillet, of Schuyler county. Her parents were Elijah and Eliza Gillet, who were among the very first settlers of the county. She was the youngest of seven chil- dren. Mr. Misenhimer was one of five chil- dren, only two of whom are living. They have one child, Jeunie, born December 28, . 1874, and is still at home. She is a young lady of fine attainments and holds a teacher's certificate. She is a fine musician, also. Mr. Misenhimer is a Democrat in politics.
EWIS SCHISLER, JR., son of Lewis Schesler and Anna Schisler, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1851. His parents were natives of the same State, but came to Illinois among the first settlers and located near Astoria. Here Mr. Schisler died when only twenty-seven. His widow married again, but her second husband died in Iowa when out there visiting. Mrs. Schisler bore her husband fifteen children and all are living. Of this large family, Lonis was next to the youngest. He was educated in the country schools and worked on the farm. His father was a miller, and worked at his trade until the time of his death, but afterward his widow bought a farm and removed there with her family. Mr.
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Schisler still resides on this farm with his mother and attends to all the management of it for her.
He was married to Miss Julia Coldrider, of York county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Schisler have eight children, all of whom are living: Ananias, John, Josephine, Sarah, Anna, Daniel, Noah and Harry.
The family of Schislers is of German ori- gin, although remote, as the family has been established in America for several generations. Mr. Schisler is a Republican in politics and hie belongs to the United Brotherhood Church, known as Dunkards. The 160 acres that he farmns for his mother are in splendid condi- tion, and speak well for his management and thrift, for which the well cultivated fields and · comfortable farm buildings the place is one of the finest in the county.
ESLEY M. GRIMWOOD, merchant of Frederick, Illinois, was born at Akron, Ohio, February 7, 1855. He is the only surviving member of a family of four children. The father was a mechanic by profession and a native of England, where he was born February 18, 1816. His father was also born in England and married Maria Clapper, daughter of Daniel Clapper. He started for America with his family in 1830, but was wrecked off the coast of Prince Edward's Island, and lie and his family re- sided there for two years and then removed to Providence, Rhode Island. In 1858 he moved to Akron, Ohio, where he died in 1864. His wife died at Akron, Ohio, in 1876. The father of our subject was born, reared and educated in England and came to America with his parents in 1833. He was
aboard the steamship Royal William on her first trip across the Atlantic, thus demonstrat- ing the feasibility of steam navigation. In the fall of 1837 he removed from Rhode Is- land to Pekin, Illinois, where he married Miss Anna Eliza Brewingam. In 1859 he removed to Schuyler county, where his wife died, in 1868. He was a stanch Abolitionist and later a Republican. During a political riot at Alton, Illinois, lie was struck on the head with a club, and almost killed by a member of the mob, who afterward killed that honored patriot Elisha P. Lovejoy. He served his county as Supervisor, Justice of the Peace and various other offices of respon- sibility. He was an honored and respected citizen. He married Miss Alice A. Bartho- low, of Astoria. She was a daughter of Jasper and Olive Bartholow, natives of Ohio. Both are now dead. They were pioneers of Fulton county. They had four children.
Mr. Grimwood was educated in the com- mnon schools of Schuyler county, and at Wa- bash College, at Crawfordsville, Indiana. He learned the wagonmaker's trade with his father, and followed it for about twenty years, when he engaged at merchandising at Fred- erick, here he carries on a general store. Mrs. Grimwood is a member of the Christian Church, and Mr. Grimwood is a member of Browning Lodge. No. 389, I. O. O. F., and of the M. W. of A., a beneficial order. Mr. and Mrs. Grimwood have three living chil- dren: Charles L., Ferol Fern and Don Wes- ley. Mr. Grimwood is a stanch Republican, and has been Clerk of Frederick township for the last twelve years. He is the candidate of his party from the Thirty-fourth District, for Senator. He ,did not seek this honor, but when notified of his selection, consented to allow his name to appear on the ticket.
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This is a genuine case of the office seeking the man. He stands very high in the esti- ination of the people.
OHN T. HILLS was born in Oakland township, Schuyler county, Illinois, in 1841, a son of Jackson Hills, who was born in 1812; his father died in June, 1842, so that in infancy lie was deprived of his guidance and care. The paternal grand- father, Ephraim Hills, was a native of Penn- sylvania; he was a farmer by occupation, and came to Oakland township from Indiana when Jackson Hills was a lad of twelve years; he settled on a farm of 160 acres, on which he lived until death during the war; he had attained near four-score years of age. His first wife died, leaving a family of five chil- dren, but his second wife survived him; one son, James, died at the age of twenty-four years, leaving a wife and one son; Ephraim is a farmer, residing in Missouri; Jackson, the father of our subject, died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving a widow and two sons, William Henry and John T .; his wife's maiden name was Delilah Fowler, a daughter of Thomas Fowler, of New York, who came to Illinois as early as 1825. John T. Hills was reared from his twelfth year by his uncle, Henry Hills: his mother was married a second time to William Schroder.
· He had just attained his majority when the great war of the Rebellion arose, and he offered his service in defense of the old flag. He went to the front a member of Company C, Seventh Missouri Cavalry, and served three years and three months as a private. He was mustered out at St. Louis, after which he returned to Oakland township; he was
held a prisoner at Fort Smith, Arkansas, for three months, at the end of which time he was exchanged; he experienced inany of the horrors of prison life, but was fortunate in being released before the confinement liad sapped his life away.
Mr. Hills was united in marriage the first day of the year 1866, to Miss Mary E. Chock ley, of McDonough county, Illinois, a daugh- ter of Benjamin and Sally (Du Wese) Chockley, natives of Kentucky, who settled in Illinois at an early day. He then settled in Littleton township, on 160 acres of land, which he sold at the end of the first year; he rented one year of his wife's father, and then purchased a tract of forty acres; here he re- sided three years, returning to his wife's home where they passed six years. In 1880 he bought eighty acres of his present farm, paying therefor $700; he has sixty acres un- der excellent cultivation, and he has made many valuable improvements. He carries on a general farming business, raising corn, wheat and clover, and some live-stock; twenty acres have been set to timber, which is in a flourishing condition.
Mr. and Mrs. Hills have buried three infant children, two sons and a daughter, and four children survive; the mother died in 1882. Mr. Hills was married a second time to Mrs. Martha Fowler, nee Chockley, sister to his first wife. The children of the first marriage are: Delilalı I., wife of Hiranı Fow- ler; Genevra; Lilladocia, wife of William O'Donnell; and Tennessee; the children of the present wife are: Eldow C., aged eight years; Inez L., five years old; and Perry E., an in- fant of two years. Mr. Hill has a foster son, a nephew, named Alvin E. Toland, aged twenty-three years, now a resident of Mc- Donough county. He is a member of Fre-
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mont Post, No. 33, G. A. R. He is a man of good business ability, has been fortunate in all his undertakings, and enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow men.
EV. HARVEY A SKILES, pastor of the Union Baptist Churches at Browning and Denver, in Hancock county and Spring Creek in Sangamon county, is one of the very early settlers of Schuyler county, born here August 29, 1829. His parents were William and Sarah (Perkins) Skiles, who lo- cated in Schuyler county after their marriage sixty-eight years ago. The grandfather was a farmer in Rushville township, where he set- tled in his early manhood and died. The mother died during the cholera epidemic in 1852.
Harvey A. Skiles says that he received his education in the backwoods seminary, to which he walked two and one- half miles night and morning. Later in life he applied him- self to sludy in the line of theology. Thirty- nine years ago he was ordained a minister in the Union Baptist Church, and has been con- stantly in the ministry to the present time. He has on ten or more occasions walked forty miles in a day and preached at night. His labors in those days were not pathways lined with roses, by any means. The pay consisted largely in provisions and necessaries, and they were not always in very liberal quantities. He preached two years in Fulton county for a wagon load of frost-bitten corn. It is cer- tain Mr. Skiles did not preach for the emolu- ments derived from it. In late years his pay has been satisfactory and work not arduous. He worked on a farm in his early manhood, and continned until the last twenty years, thus securing a livehihood for his family,
giving his services in the ministry for the good of linmanity. Little was expected in return for his labors except the satisfaction of duty well done; certainly, little was realized in a temporal sense. Mr. Skiles spent four- teen years preaching in Iowa, and has preached two years at Keokuk since locating at Browning, going from here to his appoint- inents.
He married, September 15, 1854, Mary A. Wright, daughter of William and Rebecca Wright, who came to Schuyler county in 1835. Mrs. Skiles was born October 31, 1836. She was the eldest of a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living. Her father died August 15, 1884, and the mother died March 13, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Skiles were born within onc and one-half iniles of each other, attended the same school, grew to maturity as young acquaintances and friends, which resulted in matrimony. - They have had six children, butonly one is living, Bele, now Mrs. Billingsley, and resides near Camden, Illinois, her husband a farmer. Mr. Skiles is a stanch Republican, and takes a lively interest in political matters. The family owns a pleasant home, located in Browning.
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