USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 66
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 66
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 66
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Samuel W. Cook, our worthy subject, was married in 1857, to Elizabeth Lovell, of Schuyler county, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Seaver) Lovell; Mrs. Cook's father 86
was a native of Kentucky, and her mother was of German extraction; the maternal grandmother lived to the extreme old age of 104 years; Mrs. Cook was born in 1840. They began their married life here in Schuyler county, and with the exception of a legacy of $3,000, which was recently received by Mrs. Cook, lave accumulated their property through their own efforts. They own a fine, fertile farın of 110 acres, and Mrs. Cook has a tract near by which consists of fifty-six acres.
They are the parents of eleven children: one son and two daughters died in infancy; Charles E. died at the age of nineteen years, in 1885; Mary E. is the wife of Thomas Chalkley; William T. married Laura Straus- baugh, and has two children; Lizzie is the wife of Harry Smith; Hannalı married James Lybarger, and is the mother of one child; Inez L., Samuel W. and Wilmar F. are at liome.
In his political opinions Mr. Cook adheres to the principles of the Democratic party ; he lias represented his township in some of the local offices, and has discharged his duties with great credit to himself. Mrs. Cook is a consistent member of the Church of the Disciples.
OAH W. BAKER was born in Summit county, Ohio, June 25, 1835. He was the son of James M. and Eliza (Taylor) Baker. James M. Baker was of New York, and came from there to Ohio, and rented in Summit county, and soon after bought and began farming. In 1840, he sold his Ohio property and drove of oxen and one wagon, and settled in Pike county, near Griggsville, and lived there eight months. He then came
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to this county and bought forty acres and built a log honse in which they lived. He then bought sixty acres more, and he lived there till his death, which occurred when he was eighty-six years of age.
Onr subject's father was one of five chil- dren. Our subject's mother was born in Connecticut and came West to Ohio with her people, and she died here about seventy-one years of age. Noah W. was one of eight children, four yet living, and all in this neighborhood but onc. The subject of this sketch is a Democrat, aud was from his twenty-first year. His people all belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was at home till he was of age, and then worked out by the month.
He was married February 21, 1867, to Miss Margaret Greenleaf, who was born in Elkhorn township, July 10, 1843. She was the daughter of Peter and Mary (Furguson) Greenleaf, she being of Ohio, and he came from Canada to Illinois. Their daughter Margaret, was one of four children, and all are living. Margaret's father and mother died in Elkhorn township and had about 160 acres of land at his death. He went to Cali- fornia overland and part of the way he walked and rode. He staid there four years, and while there he practiced the trade of a tanner. He returned by land.
Our subject's wife had nine children, seven of whom are living: Hattie M. was born De- cember, 1869; Perry was born February 4, 1870; Susie was born October 22, 1873; Nellie was born September 6, 1875; Fred was born November 16, 1878; Carson was born October 13, 1883, and Mart was born April 13, 1885. After his marriage our sub- ject settled on the forty acres lie had bought and built a log house and then a frame one. He lived there till 1888. He has now in the
neighborhood, over 480 acres and eighty un- der cultivation.
Subject's children are all cultivated and in- tellectual. One of them is teaching, two are musical, and the others are more or less gifted. He himself is a Democrat and voted for Steplien A. Douglas. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is also a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a fine man, and very much respected by all of his fellow citizens:
LLEN WEBB was born in Madison county, Kentucky. July 25, 1820. He was the son of Joshua and Letta (Haw- ard) Webb. The former was born in Vir- ginia and came with his parents at an early day to Kentucky, where he lived and died at the age of eighty years. He was in the war of 1812 and drew a pension, having been a brave soldier. He was the son of John and Millie Webb, who were both natives of Vir- ginia and died in Kentucky, the former at eighty. five, the latter at 103. All the family were farmers. Mrs. Letta Webb was born iu Virginia and died in the same State as her husband when she was fifty-five. She was a daughter of John and Nancy Haward. A brother of Joshna Webb was in the Revolu- tionary war and was at the Cornwallis sur- render.
Allen Webb was one of five children and remained at home until nineteen years of age, working on the farm. He then hired himself out to a man as blacksmith's apprentice and stayed with him two years, and then started a business for himself in Clark county, Ken- tucky. He continued working at his trade until 1851, and then started by wagon for Illinois. Hc first located at Mt. Sterling
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.
His original farm was 160 acres, worth but little at that time, and he lived in a log house for some time. He then sold that farm for 100 per eent. profit and bought another farm of 225 acres. He built a good farm house and soon had one of the best farins in the county. This farm he sold also, and moved to another place for a year. He then settled on the old Dennis farin and lived there for three years, when he again sold out and inoved back to Mt. Sterling and retired from active business, having been an extensive stock-grower. He now has a fine town house and the old General Signtetan farm of twenty acres. He was an old Whig and voted first for Henry Clay and in 1856 for John Fre- mont. He has voted the Republican ticket ever since. Mr. Webb had only six month's sehooling in his entire life, but he has edu- eated himself and is a well-read man. Mr. Webb now enjoys life in an easy way looking after his property and real estate interests.
He was married for the first time to Emily Oliver, of Madison county. She died in Lee township aged forty-eight years. She bore her husband ten children, four now living, namely: Jennie, John A., Emneline and Isaae.
Mr. Webb was married for the second time to Miss Martha Harper of Ohio, daughter of Stephen and Martha Harper, who came here at an early day. Mrs. Webb died in this county, aged forty-eight years. She bore him one child, that died at the age of four years. Mr. Webb was married for the third time, to Miss Sarah Dennis of Bourbon county, Ken- tucky, near Georgetown. She was the daugh- ter of Clark and Elizabeth Dennis. They were also natives of Kentucky and eame to this State at an early date, and Mr. Dennis was made the first Sheriff of the county. Mrs. Webb was one of nine children, five yet living. Her whole family were members of
the Christian Church of which her father was an Elder.
Mr. and Mrs. Webb have edneated the four living children of Mr. Webb very finely, and the oldest son was in the late war, being one of the first 100-day inen. Mr. and Mrs. Webb are influential people who are greatly respected by their large circle of friends.
RS. ALMIRA YOUNG, widow of John Yonng, is the danghter of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Seaver) - Lovell, natives of Ohio. Her parents emigrated to Illinois in the fall of 1836, when she was an infant of two years; they made the journey overland with horses and a prairie schooner, being five weeks on the way; the family eon- sisted of the parents and three children. They first settled on the Illinois river, but shortly afterward removed to the present home of Mrs. Young. The mother died in 1841, leav- ing a family of six children, four sons and two daughters; she was forty-two years of age; the father survived her forty-nine years, and died at the age of eighty-six years.
Mrs. Young was married in 1849 to Ladon Beghtol, a native of Kentucky, a son of Peter Beghtol, who emigrated to Illinois about 1840; they lived here until the death of Mr. Beghtol, which oecnrred in 1857; he left a family of three children: Mary Eliza- beth, Sarah Melvina and William Levi. Mrs. Beghtol was then married a second time, this union being with John Young; he was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, was reared in the State of Ohio, and removed to Illinois with his first wife and four children in 1855; the wife died soon after their arrival in this State. Mr. and Mrs. Young were married in 1859, and seven years later they moved to Hamil-
·
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
ton county, Iowa, where they settled on a small farm; there they resided until the deatlı of Mr. Young, which occurred March 20, 1876, at the age of fifty-seven years. Nine children were born of this union: John died in infancy; Oscar was accidentally killed in childhood; Justine is the wife of Marion Stockton; William, Eli, George, Nola, Mar- ion, Joseph; Nola is married to Webster Aten of Schuyler county.
OSEPH PARKE was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1818. His father, Jonathan, was born in the same place and died at an advanced age, when his son was so small that he has no recollection of him. There were ten sons and the same number of daughters in this family, all com- ing to adult years, but all have now died. The mother of this remarkable family was Marjory Woodward of the same county. She lived some fourteen years after her husband's death and they both now rest in the Marshall- town cemetery, a large Quaker cemetery. These parents were well-to-do and gave the family a good education.
Joseph was sent to a Quaker school at Western Academy. He was reared to farm life, but at twenty-one he began school-teach- ing, taught two years in Pennsylvania and four years in Ohio. At his mother's death he was put under a guardian, who gave him additional educational advantages.
He was married in Logan county, Ohio, in his twenty-sixth year, to Mary Ann Wilson, She was a daugther of Robert and Elizabetlı (Holt) Wilson. They, Mr. and Mrs. Parke lived for five years in this county and taught school. In October, 1840, they came West, overland, and settled in Brooklyn township, entering
160 acres. This was wild and they made the first improvements, building a log cabin with a sod chimney. Mr. Parke still has the cabin as a part of his present dwelling but the sod chimney is now a brick one and the cabin is weather-boarded externally and lathed and plastered inside. He has 300 acres, a part of which he has deeded to his daughter. About 1865 they buried one son, Jonathan, aged twenty. They next buried Elizabeth, Mrs. Taylor Gray, at the age of twenty-six; in 1885 their daughter, Ada Sario, aged about eigliteen years old, died at Dr. Prince's establishment at Jacksonville. His wife had fits for some twenty years and in March, 1891, fell into the fire and died the same day. He has only one living daughter, Eliza, second wife of Taylor Gray. She has four children: George W., Mary Florence, Estelle and Nellie Jane. She has buricd one infant son. She and her husband are operating the farm for her father, who lives with them. Mr. Parke has been a constant toiler since 1840, when lie came to this home. He has served in some of the township offices and taught school one year. He has been a general farmer, although he has made the most out of wheat, growing front fifteen to thirty busliels per acre. Hogs liave been the best- paying stock and horses have paid well in a small way.
He has voted the Democratic and Repub- lican tickets, but' is now a Farmers' Alliance man. He and his family have been Univer- salists, although he has been reared a Quaker.
AMES E. NEELEY, a prominent farmer and dealer in live-stock, Littleton town- ship, was born at Fort Larned, Kansas, March 3, 1864, a son of John and Lucinda
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
(Snyder) Neeley. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Kansas, where he engaged in farming. James E. is the only child of the first marriage; the mother died April 8, 1864, at Larned, Kansas. Mr. Neeley married a second time, and had one child by this union. After the death of his mother our subject was taken to the home of Major Wheeler, where he was reared with all the affectionate care that could be bestowed upon him. The farm he now occupies was inherited from the Major, and he is engaged in general agriculture.
Mr. Neeley made a specialty of breeding and raising fine, thoroughbred horses, and fine stock of excellent pedigree; Roan Dick is an animal of good record, and a colt that he is now raising promises to be one of the fastest horses in the State. He has managed all branches of farming with keen intelli- gence, and has met with merited success.
In 1886, November 25, he was united in inarriage to Miss Rachel A. Greer. Mr. and Mrs. Neeley are the parents of one child: John F., born March 13, 1891. Politically, onr subject adheres zealonsly to the principles of the Republican party, having cast his first presidental vote for James G. Blaine. He is a young man of superior business qualifica- tions, and his judgment carries due weight throughout the agricultural district of this section of Illinois.
JENRY FISCHER, a successful and practical farmer, living on section 24, township 17, range 11, was born November 1, 1854, and is the son of Henry Fischer, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, wliere he learned the trade of shoemaker. There he was inarried to Miss Margaret Kraft, a
native of the same province. After the birth of two daughters and a son, the family em- igrated, in the '40s, to the United States, settling in Beardstown, Illinois, where Mr. Fischer established a shoemaking business, and ran it for some years with the assistance of his son, our subject; but when the latter began to farm the father withdrew from his trade and is now retired. Although now quite an old man he is still very active and energetic, and is a Lutheran in religion and a Democrat in politics. His mother is still living, in Beardstown, with her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Bolirnmau, and is over ninety years old. The excellent wife of Henry Fischer is yet living, about seventy years old. She has been a valued member of the Luther- an Church for many years. Our subject and two sisters are yet living: the latter are Mar- garet, widow of Martin Bolle, deceased, having died from the effects of an accident on the Quincy railroad; and Sophia, wife of George Speaker, who is now foreman of the wrecking department of the Quincy railroad.
Our subject has been a farmer for eleven years. He enjoys it more than his former trade of shoemaker. He is now located on section 24, and the land of which he owns one-half interest is known under the firin name of Keil & Co. They purchased to- gether the old John Weiss homestead, em- bracing 500 acres of land, mostly well im- proved with good farmi buildings. On this land is Hagener station, and besides this they own 200 acres in this township, known as pasture land, and forty acres of timber in township 17, range 11, which is very valnable. He has, for the last eleven years, had the management of this land and is a practical man and an excellent farmer.
Mr. Fischer was married to Miss Mamie Weiss, who was born on the farm where she
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
now lives, April 26, 1856. She is the yonngest child of John and Katherine (Hahn) Weiss, natives of Germany. They married immediately before sailing to the United States, in 1842, and on reaching here made a settlement on a farın in town- ship 17, range 11, which is now the home of Mr. Fischer. They began to make improve. ments and bought more land, and in tinie Mr. Weiss' possessions increased until he owned 900 acres of valuable land. Here they remained the rest of their lives. Mr. Weiss died in 1876, aged seventy-two years. He had been an active, hard-working man all his life and was regarded by his neiglibors as an upright citizen, worthy of their respect and regard. He was a member of the Lutheran Clinreli and was a Republican. His wife died somne years later, at her old home, in 1887, aged sixty-two years. Slie had been a member of the Lutheran Church all her life. Of the family of four children left by Mr. and Mrs. Weiss, all were daugh- ters: Lizzie, wife of Christian Meyer, died at the age of forty, leaving a family of eight children; Katie is the wife of William Hack- man, grocer of Jacksonville; Sophia is thic wife of Henry C. Keil (see sketch of saine).
Mr. and Mrs. Fischer are the parents of five children: Adelaide, Ervin L., Ray H., Rena K. and Albert H., who died when an infant. This is one of the wealthy and greatly respected families of the township with whom it is a pleasure to become acquainted.
HARLES D. RITCHEY, a substantial farmer and influential citizen of Little- ton township, Schuyler county, was born in this county on June 11, 1862. His father, Addison B. Ritchey, is a prominent
pioneer of Schuyler county, and a sketch of his life is subjoined. Our subject was reared on a farm and was educated at a college in Vaparaiso, Indiana, from which institution he graduated with honor.
He was married June 13, 1889, to Miss Dena Saunders, a native of Atlanta, Macon county, Missouri, in which place she was born June 15, 1864. She was a daughter of James W. and Martha A. (Stone) Saunders. Her fatlier was born in Kentucky, and accom- panied his parents to Missouri when he was but nine months old. His father, Woodward G. Sannders, is also a native of Kentucky, and is still living, at an advanced age, in Mis- souri. George W. Saunders, father of Wood- ward G., was a school teacher, and died in Missouri a number of years ago. Woodward G. Saunders located on a farm in Missouri, where lie and family began the life of pio- neers, experiencing all the inconveniences and hardships incident to those similarly circun- stanced. Here, James W. Saunders was reared, and was educated at the William Jewell College, located at Liberty, Missouri, and was for twenty years a Baptist minister. It was in Missouri that he met and married Martha A. Stone, a very attractive lady, and daughter of Hiram and Laura J. (De Freire) Stone, both natives of Tennessee, the father still surviving in Macon county, Missouri, a graduate from the high school in Elletts- ville, Monroe county, Indiana. Our subject's wife was a school teacher for more than six- teen years, and is a highly educated and in - teresting lady, of superior ability and culture.
After his marriage, Mr. Ritchey went into business with Mr. De Witt, in a general store, where he remained for some time. He was later elected Clerk of Littleton township, in which capacity lie served for one year. He was afterward elected Collector of that
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
township, serving for two years in a highly creditable manner.
Mr. and Mrs. Ritchey have one child: Edna M., who was born December 25, 1890.
Mrs. Ritchey is a member of the Baptist Church, to which she contributes liberal aid.
He is a Republican, and cast his first vote for James G. Blaine. His constituents have demonstrated their esteeein by electing him to two of the most responsible positions in their power to bestow.
Of unswerving fidelity and integrity, and high morality, together with generous im- pulses and cordial manners, he enjoys the re- spect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
ADDISON B. RITCHEY, one of the oldest pioneers of Schuyler county, is a native of Ohio, and was born in Green county, of that State, September 17, 1817. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Reed) Ritchey. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Alleghany, that State, and was a farmer all his life. He went to Ohio in 1816, and in 1824 came all the way to near Rushville with a four-horse wagon. All the worldly posses- sions of the family were in the wagon and they had very little money besides, as they paid their last fifty cents for being ferried across the river at Beardstown, then known as Beard's Ferry. He had come out for the purpose of taking land, for which he had a patent, but after camping on the land, for one night, he would not remain, and moved to near Rusliville, where he located on a quarter section, building there a small log cabin abont 16 x 18, in which they lived for several years. His was the thirteenth family in the county. In 1826, he traded his claim for 160 acres of land in Littleton township, in section 35, on which he built another log house, where they lived for one season, then rented land and removed to his former farm,
where on account of some trouble about trade, he moved to Rushville, buying there 160 acres adjoining the town, on which he built another log house, in which he and family lived for about eight years. He then sold and came back to Littleton township. Dur- ing all this time our subject was employed in various pioneer work, splitting rails, plowing and doing whatever other work he found to do. His father died in 1842, aged fifty-three years; His father's father was a native of Ireland, from which country he cmnigrated in the early days of this country, and died many years ago, in Pennsylvania. His inother, Elizabeth Reed, was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio when our subject was but three years of age. Our subject remained at home until his father's death, after which he spent one year with a brother, in the inean- time farming the old homestead on his own account.
On June 4, 1845, Mr. Ritchey was married to Miss Mary Ann Hayes, a native of Ver- milion county, Illinois, where she was born October 3, 1829. Her parents were John and Debora (Hankins) Hayes. Her father was a native of Virginia, from which State hc emi- grated, first to Kentucky, afterward to Illi- nois, at a very carly day, where in Vermilion county he rented a tarm, which he worked for some time, when he later came to Carroll conuty, and still later to Putnam county, fi- nally going to Henry county, all in Illinois, in which latter place he died, aged seventy years. His wife, Debora Hankins, was a na- tive of Tennessee, in which State she was born and is at present living with a daughter in Kansas. Grandfather Hankins also came to Illinois at an early day, where he died, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. Grand- mother Hankins also died in Illinois, aged sixty-five years. Grandfather and grand-
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mothicr Hayes were also pioneers of Illinois, where they died, in Whiteside county, both very old people. The Hayes were of Irishi descent. Our subject's wife was one of seven children, four of whom are yet living. Our subject is one of three children, of whom he ist he only survivor; he has, however, a half- sister and half-brother, both of whom are liv- ing.
After marriage, our subject lived in section 34, in his old home, where he remained for two ycars, at the end of which time he bought 160 acres of wild land, on which there was a log house. Here he and his wife lived until he built his present home. He has improved the farin in numerous ways, until now it is the finest in the county. He has erected a large and comfortable residence, and com- modions barns for the accommodation of grain, stock and machinery, besides adding other modern improvements and conveniences to facilitate agricultural pursuits. He has planted ornamental trees and shrubs around his house, which now only renders his place attractive from a distance, but is a welcome retreat from the sun's too ardent rays on a mid-summer day.
He has reared fifteen children, eleven of whom are living. His oldest son, John Q. Ritchey, served for four months in the war in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty seventh Illinois Infantry, and also was in the hundred days' service.
Our subject's father was an old-line Whig, as was also his son, who was later a Free- soiler, and now a Republican. Our subject cast his first vote for General William H. Harrison. His father voted for John Quincy Adams. Neither he nor his father were poli- ticians in the modern acceptation of the term, never desiring office but wishing only the ad- vancement and welfare of their country.
Mr. Ritchey and wife are members of the Baptist Church, to which they have liberally contributed.
Commencing life in a new country, with- ont means and without friends, he now has both money and friends, which have accum- ulated and increased with the progress of the country. He is the oldest living pioneer of his county, and as such enjoys a pre-emi- nence among his neighbors, which superior age always bestows. Of superior ability and unswerving integrity, he has retained the re- gard of all through his checkered career, and now holds an eminent position in the com- munity.
EYTON HARDING, farmer of town- ship 17, range 9, section 19, Philadel- phia postoffice, was born in Barren county, Kentucky, December 17, 1817. His parents were Martin and Isabella (Beard) Harding. The father came from Virginia, . born in 1792, and the mother from Tennessec, born in 1794. They were married in Barren county, Kentucky, where their eldest chil- dren were born: Peyton, Paschal, William, Sarah and Andrew; and after coming to Illi- nois, Winnie, Isabella and Martin were born. Paschal lives with Peyton; Andrew is a farmer in this precinct; Martin lives in Vir- ginia, Illinois; and Isabella, now Mrs. Foster, resides in Lucas county, Iowa. The parents removed from Kentucky to Illinois in 1826, and located on the farm where Andrew now lives. The father entered a large tract of land here on which he died in 1854, and the inother dicd in 1867. At the time the Hard- ing family located here the country was en- tirely new. There was no improved land, except two small improved tracts in this neighborhood. The forest was overrun with
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