USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 67
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 67
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 67
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
549
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
wild game and Indians. Mr. Harding has lived to witness the development of this wilderness into one of the most fertile and valuable sections in the United States. He has also witnessed the growth of inventions, the extent of which is wonderful, railroads, plows, reapers, mowers, binders, separating threshers, telephones, electric lights and thousands of other inventions, more than in the past 200 years previously. Mr. Harding taught school here in 1840, but preferred the less confining occupation of farming. He has been a farmer and stock-raiser all his life. He is comfortably situated and will spend his old age in ease. He owns 280 acres of good land. He has never married, but his brother, Paschal, resides with him with his four children. He is a Democrat in politics and cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk war, also in the Mormon troubles, but none of the family took part in the late Civil war.
SAAC BLACK, a retired farmer, is proba- bly the oldest settler of Schuyler county. now living in Rushville; he has endured the trials and toil in a pioneer country, and is entitled to more than passing mention in this history. He is a native of Indiana, born in Dubois county, February 24, 1824, a son of Richard Black; the father was born in Mecklenburgh county, North Carolina, and was reared in that State; hie removed thence to Hancock county, Kentucky, and lived there a few years; he then went to the Territory of Indiana, and was one of the pioneers of Du- bois county. In 1826 he again started to the West, keeping close upon the frontier border. Accompanied by his wife and four children,
he made a journey to Illinois, and located in Schuyler county, where he purchased a claim to land entered by Willis O'Neil; this land is the present site of the city of Rushville. When the county was organized the claim was selected as the county seat, and so was taken from Mr. Black; he was afterward reimbursed in part. He then went five miles to the southwest, near the present site of Bethel Church, and there bought a tract of patent land, on which he erected a log cabin, sixteen feet square; there were a puncheon floor and a stick-and-clay chimney. Later he made an addition to this domicile, and resided there until his death in 1853. The maiden name of his second wife was Elizabeth Fowler, a native of Jefferson county, Kentucky; she spent her last years with her son Isaac, the subject of this notice. The family reared by her consisted of eight children, two of whoni were born of her luisband's former marriage: Elizabeth, William, Isaac, Cecelia, John L., Richard S., Austin F. and Mouroe.
Isaae Black was an infant when his parents removed to this county; the country was thinly settled, and Indians still tarried in the vicinity of Rushville; game was abundant and the pioneers lived on wild turkeys, deer, and the product of their land; the children were clothed in homespun, woven by the mother's hands. Young Isaac attended the primitive pioneer schools during the winter season, and in the summer he lent valuable assistance in subduing the wild land and pre- paring the way for the coming generation; it is to such men that a deep debt of gratitude is owing from those who have reaped the benefits of those years of privation and labor. Until he was twenty years of age he remained with his parents, and then with his brother rented a farm near Littleton; they cultivated this land four years, and then Isaac Black
550
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
purchased ninety acres in Woodstock town- ship; there he lived two years, and in 1850 sold it, purchasing a tract in Bainbridge township. He was very successful in all his undertakings, made profitable investments, and secured 450 acres of as choice land as lies within the borders of the county. He lived on his farm until 1889, when he retired to Rushville, where he leads a quiet, con- tented life.
In 1848 he was united in marriage to Cynthia A. Edmonston, a daughter of Enoch Edmonston, who located in Schuyler county in 1831; he became prominently identified with public affairs, and served two terms as Sheriff of the county; he was also County Treasurer and Assessor; his wife's maiden name was Susan Allen. Mr. and Mrs. Black are the parents of eight children: Susan, Emily, Sarah E., George M., James P., Enoch, Flora A., Elvira and E. Lonisa. George M. Black has represented the people of his county in the State Legislature. Mr. Black affiliates with the Democratic party, and at one time represented Bainbridge town- ship on the County Board of Supervisors. He has been a loyal citizen, always giving a liberal support to worthy movements and to tliose enterprises tending to benefit the gen- eral public.
ENRY ZAHN, a practical farmer and stock-raiser, living on the old Zalın homestead, which he has owned since 1882, was born in Pike county, near Waverly, in 1857. He came with his father to Illinois when only fourteen years of age, and has since lived in this county. His father, Frederick Zahn, was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, and was a boy of sixteen years when his parents
came to America and settled in Pike county, Ohio, where they were pioneers. There the parents of Frederick Zahn died when he was quite young. There he grew up as a farmer, and was there married to Tinna Creek, who had settled there, with her parents. The lat- ter had come with a colony at the same time the Zahn family had come from Hesse- Darmstadt. Frederick and his wife began life in the usual pioneer fashion, both work- ing very hard, raising a family of eight chil- dren. There Frederick's wife died, being thien thirty-two years of age. He was mar- ried for the second time, in Pike county, Ohio, to Miss Margaret Halensteine, who was born in Germany, but reared in the United States. In 1864 they decided to remove to Illinois and settled on a large farın of 507 acres, where they remained two years, and then purchased 200 acres on the line of Morgan and Cass counties. There they lived until 1876. They then removed to Missouri, where they now live. Mr. Kahn was seventy-three years of age, December 29, 1891, his wife being not quite so old. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Churchi, and are good, respectable people. Mr. Zahn has been a life- long Democrat.
Our subject was reared a farmer lad and lived at home until he took a farm to run on his own acconnt. He has lived on this farm, which is one and one-lialf miles from Arenz- ville, section 36, township 17, range 12, and consists of 250 acres, well improved and well stocked. He has excellent farm buildings and everything convenient about him.
He was married, in this county, to Miss Mary Hinners, who was born, reared and edu- cated in Cass county, her birth occurring Octo- ber 7, 1852. She was the daughter of John and Caroline (Miller) Hinners, who were born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. They came
551
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
to the United States, and were married in Morgan county, and here lived to amass a fine property. In 1891 Mr. and Mrs. Hinners retired to Meredosia, Illinois, where they live, respected members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Zahn are members of the same denomination, and Mr. Zahn has been an official member of the church.
Mr. and Mrs. Zahn are the parents of three bright, well educated children: Mamnie Ella, Lusetta and Henry A. This is a fine family, well thought of in and around Arenzville.
EORGE H. HOFFMAN, a successful farmer of section 2, township 17, range 11, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, May 20, 1840, and when young came alone to the United States. In 1856 he sailed from Bremen and after forty-nine days of the ocean he landed in New York city. He came on to Chicago, and thence to Springfield, from there to Jacksonville, and across the country to Arenzville. When he landed iu Arenzville he was $5 in debt. He is the only member of the family who came to this country. His father, George, is still living in Germany, and is hale and hearty, at the age of eighty- six, but his mother, Mary, died when he was eight years old. They always were members of the Lutheran Church. Two of our sub- ject's brothers are still living in Germany, and are married, pursuing the occupation of farmers.
After our subject first came to this county he began work, near Hagener Station. After some years he began his agricultural life as a renter, and later purchased his present farm.
Mr. Hoffman was first married to Eliza- beth Schuman, who was born and reared in
this county at what is known as Hageuer Sta- tion, March 9, 1849. She is the eldest child of John Schuman (see biography of Adam Schuman for family history). Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman are members of the Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Hoffman has been a Deacon for six years. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife are the parents of eleven children: Mary, wife of Adolph Kruse, a farmer in this county; John A., at home, helping his father; Attia, Henry, Emma, Edward, Willianı, Eva, Ralph, Martha, and the two-year-old baby, are all healthy, intelligent children. The older children have been well educated in both German and En- glish, and are able to speak and write in both languages. Mr. Hoffman is a very progres- sive farmer, and owns a fine place, containing 170 acres, 135 of which is under the plow. He came into possession of this in 1865, and has since this made all of liis excellent im- provements.
RED MEYER, a retired farmer of Arenz- ville, was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1805. He came of Prussian parents, who lived and died when quite old. His father, Gotlieb H. Meyer, was a German farmer, and his wife was a Prussian lady, formerly Anna Roche. They were members of the Lutheran Church.
Fred was one of five sons and one daugh- ter. The latter lived and died in Germany. The five sons all came to the United States at different times. Fred and a brother, Henry, are the only surviving members of the family. The former grew up and was married in his native province, to Catherine M. Burkesikus. She came of an old Prussian family. After the birth of all their children
552
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
but one, they came to the United States, in December, 1848, leaving Bremen on a sail- ing vessel and landing at New Orleans after a trip of nine weeks and three days. They proceeded up the Mississippi river to St. Louis. and from there to Beardstown, and began farming the next year. Here Mrs. Meyer died, in 1865, at the age of forty-three. She and her husband were members of the Lutheran Church. They had five children: William, a farmer in this precinct, married Carrie Talkemeier; Mary, wife of William Dougal, farmer near Taylorsville, Illinois; Minnie, formerly wife of Fred Nordsiek, and the mother of seven childreu; Mary A., at home; Lizzie, wife of Henry Hierman, farmer of this county; Emma, wife of Ed. Kloker, farmer in this county; Henry, Lena, Ann and John are all at home. Another son of Mr. Meyer, now deceased, named Henry A., mar- ried Minnie Yost.
Mr. Meyer begau in this county in 1848, and in the time since then has by hard work accumulated a large property. He had only 100 acres at first, but now has 474 acres,. most of which is well improved, with good farm buildings. He has always been a hard- working man, and although now eighty-eight years of age, is as active as ever and in per- fect health. He lias been a good citizen, a Republican in politics, and now lives in re- tirement with his daughter Minnie (Mrs. Nordsiek), on section 7, township 17, range 11. He is a good old man, greatly respected by all who know him.
AMUEL HINDMAN was born in Rich- land county, Ohio, January 24, 1834; his father, Elijah Hindman, was born in Alleglieny county, Pennsylvania, Novem-
ber 4, 1798, a son of Samuel Hindman, whose nativity is not positively known; tlie year of his birth was 1763, and after his marriage he emigrated to Allegheny county, Pennsyl- vania, where he was one of the pioneers; he was a cooper by trade and followed that vo- cation until his death; he 'was married to Letitia M. Clinithan, a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Elijah Hindman was married in Alleghany county and resided there until 1833: in that year he emigrated with his wife and four children to Ohio, mak- ing the journey overland with a four-horse wagon; he located in Richland county, on a tract of timber land which he occupied until 1838, he again started westward, coming to Illinois and settling where Rushville town- ship, Schuyler county, now is; here he im- proved a tract of land and passed the re- mainder of his life. He married Anua Mace, a daughter of John Mace, a native of London, England, who emigrated to America and fought in the war of the Revolution. Mrs. Hindman, the mother of our subject, resides witli a daughter in Rushville township, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Sam- uel Hindman, Jr., was four years old when his parents removed to Illinois. Here he grew to manhood, among the vicissitudes and privations of frontier life; the `mother carded and spun the cloth with which the children were dressed, and they lived from the products of their land; Mr. Hindman re- lates that on one occasion his father sold a load of wheat at twenty-five cents a bushel, and at the same time paid thirty-seven and one-half cents a yard for calico. Hc received his education in the pioneer schools, the fur- niture and house being constructed in the most primitive style; in early youth lie be- gan to assist in the cultivation of the land, and has since followed farming.
553
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
In 1859 he determined to make a trip to Pike's Peak, but at Fort Kearney the party met many returning with disconraging re- ports; Mr. Hindman then changed his course, going to Coffey county, Kansas, whence he returned home after an absence of three months. He had once before started to the West, in 1855, accompanied by his brother John; their destination was Kansas, and they traveled via the Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Richfield, Missouri, at which point his brother died of cholera; Mr. Hindman pushed on to western Missouri, but on account of his brother's death he came back.
He was married November 8, 1876, to Julia (Ward) Mathews, a native of Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jaines Ward, and a granddaughter of Thomas Ward, a native of England, who passed his life in the British kingdom. James Ward married Nancy Hamilton, a rative of New Jersey and a daughter of Richard Hamn- ilton. Mrs. Hindman was first married in 1853'to Thomas H. Mathews, a son of James and Sarah (McIntire) Mathews; he died in 1873; one child was born of this union, Le- inonia H. Mr. and Mrs Hindman have one child, Jnniata. Mr. Hindman inherited a part of the old homestead, and lias devoted his life to agricultural pursuits.
02.20200
ENRY C. NIESTRADT, a general farmer living on section 12, township 17, range 12, is a young, progressive inan. He has always lived in this county where he was born September 29, 1861. He was rcared and educated in the public schools, remaining home with his father until his ma- jority. He is the third son of Henry B.
Niestradt, who was born in Prussia, Ger- many, where he grew up and remained until he was twenty five years of age. He then came to the United States and settled where he now lives and now owns a large property. He is the only member of his father's family that came to the United States. He is very active for his eighty years, and is prond of his good, healthy German blood, He was married, in Cass county to Charlotta Miller, who was born in Prussia, Germany and who came alone, the first of her father's family who ventured to this country. Her parents have died, but the most of her brothers and sisters have joined her here. Henry B. and wife are both active members of the Lu- theran Church and he has been an officer in the same for some years. Henry C. is one of seven children, two having died in in- fancy.
Mr. Niestradt lias been a farmer for some years, having carried on farming for three years before he took the present farm. This he purchased September 30, 1890. He is a very practical man and has so improved his eighty acres that one would predict great success for him in the future.
He was married, in this county, to Miss Minnie Lawner, who was born in this town- ship, August, 1868. Her early life was spent at home with her parents, Frederick and Car- rie (Meyer) Lawner, both natives of Illinois. They were married in Cass county and began life as farmers in township 17, range 11, and there Mr. Lawner died, in 1878, being under forty years of age. He was a good citizen, a fine farmer, a member of the Lutheran Church and a Republican in politics. His wife was married for a second time, to John Kern, who lives in Arenzville, Illinois.
Mrs. Niestradt is the only child born to her father. She is an intelligent women and
554
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
makes a good wife and mother. She and her husband have one child, Anna B. Mr. and Mrs. Niedstradt are Lutherans in religion and Mr. Niedstradt belongs to a Republican family. They are highly re- spected people of their neighborhood.
ERMAN H. LOVECAMP, one of the most successful farmers and stoek- raisers of township 17, range 11, near Arenzville, Illinois, was born in this connty in 1840. He has passed his life in this see- tion and is the son of Katherine and Fred Lovecamp, both natives of Germany. born and reared in Hanover, and married after they eamc to St. Louis. They were early settlers of Cass county, coming to Cass county about 1835. They were both industrious and economical. and bravely contended against all the trials that beset the early settlers. They spent their last days on the large farm whieli their united efforts had earned. Mr. Lovecamp only lived to be forty-five years old, but his wife survived him until she was seventy-eight. They had both been Luther- ans, and Mr. Loveeamp was a Republican, a wortlry, good citizen and his wife was one of the best and kindest women in the world.
Herman grew up under his mother's eare and became a farmer also. He was married in this county to Mary Peters, born in Han- over, Germany, December 19, 1843. She eame to the United States and to Beardstown with her parents, Mary and Fred Peters, in 1845. Mr. Peters was a blacksmith by trade, a good mechanic and had always been a hard- working man until the time of his death. He was a Democrat and belonged to the Lutheran Church. He died in 1877, aged sixty-five. His wife is still living in Beards-
town, and upon her last birthday, August 13, 1892, was seventy-three years old. She is still active and has been a member of the Lutheran Church all lier life. Mrs. Love- camp is one of nine children, three yet living. She is one of the good, German women where she resides and she has the respect of the whole neighborhood. She is the mother of twelve children: Emma and Cora died yonng; John is a harnessmaker in Arenzville; Will- iam, a farmer in Cass county, married Miss Caroline Carls; Henry assists in running the home farm ; Mary, Christina, Lueinda, Louisa, Alma Albert and Julius all are at home. They are Lutherans and they have had the pleasure of seeing their children confirmed in the same faith. Mr. Lovecamp and his grown sons agree iu their politieal faith, being members of the Demoeratie party.
Mr. Lovecamp owns over 240 of well im- proved land, and has been the possessor of it for the past fifteen years. He has made a great many improvements on the place and now resides very comfortably in his nice home with his family around him.
DWARD T. MILBY was born in Sus- sex county, Delaware, August 4, 1835. His father, Nathaniel J. Milby, emi- grated with his wife and four elrildren to Illinois in 1840, settling in Rushville town- ship. The journey was made by canals and rivers and proved a tiresome one. The father bought a traet of land and hastened to make it ready for settlement. Two acres of the land had been eleared and a plain log cabin liad been built. This was all. But deft and will- ing fingers soon made things assume a fairly comfortable shape, and western life was fairly under way. This log cabin, by the way, was
555
SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
the first permanent house of its kind in Illi- nois. Mr. Milby, Sr., occupied the farm to the day of his death. The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Mary Wilson, born in Sussex county, Dela- ware. She died on the Schuyler county home farın.
In those days nearly every one lived in log cabins of one room. The housewife spun and wove the cloth used for the clothes for both sexes. She also had many other duties to which the wives of farmers now are strangers.
Edward attended school attired in home. spun that his mother had made for him with her own hands. Notwithstanding his school duties he assisted on the farm and continued to do so until his marriage, when he began for himself on rented land in Huntsville. He continued to pay rent for land for about ten years, when he bought two and a half acres in Buena Vista township. He lived in the latter place but two months as he went to his father's farm, where he stayed for seven years and then bought eighty acres in section 23. After ten years' residence there he sold out and bought the place where he now resides. On his farm of 223 acres he does general farm- ing and stock-raising.
Mr. Milby has been married thrice. The first time he was twenty-three years of age when he married, and the lady who honored him with her hand was Lydia Hillis, of Rush- ville, the daughter of John and Jane Ferres Hillis. She died in 1865 and Mr. Milby re- mained single until 1872, when he again en- tered the married state. The second lady was Lizzie J. Davidson, of Kentucky, and she died in 1879. Mary A. Baner, of High- land county, Ohio, the daughter of Valentine Bauer, was the lady to whom he was married Jannary, 21, 1886.
Mr. Milby has had six children, all of which save one, are living. Three of the children are the issue of the first marriage: Frank, Clement and Lizzie, and the other thrce are the issne of the second marriage. The second child of the second marriage, Herne, died when three years old, but the other two, Walter and Ida, are living.
Mr. Milby is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, while the present Mrs. Milby is a member of the same church in the Northi.
In politics Mr. Milby is a disciple of " Old Hickory," he being a Democrat.
ATHERINE SAUNDERS, who has kept a little storc for years at La Grange, Brown county, Illinois, is the widow of John Saunders, and was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1826. Her father, John Whited, and her inother, Mary Sheckler, werc of the same place in Pennsylvania. Her husband was from Maryland. Mrs. Saunders is the fourth child of a family of eleven. As her parents werc poor, Mrs. Saunders has had no educa- tional advantages, but has worked hard from early childhood.
She was married at the age of twenty- three to William Thomas, with whom she lived ten years, bearing him four children, all of whom have died. In 1855, she came West to this part of Brown county, where she has lived the most of the time. She was married a second time when she was thirty- four years old, to George Welbourn, of En- gland. By this marriage, there were two children, one of whom died in infancy, thic other at eighteen years of age. Mr. Wel- bourn died in 1862, aged thirty-two years,
556
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
of congestive cliills. She was married to hier last husband, John Saunders, of Virginia. By this husband, she had one daughter: Liz- zie, now Mrs. John Cisco. Her husband is a native of Ohio, and a farmer by occupation, working by the day. They live at home with her mother. She received a good education at the public schools, and now conducts the store for her aged mother.
Mrs. Saunders has seen some hard times in her life, but she has bravely met her troubles and conquered them. She owns her little home and store, which are nestled under the hill on the banks of the Illinois river, where she has done a snug little business, paying as she went. Mrs. Saunders is not wealthy, but she owes no one, and expects to finislı lier days here happily. She is a good and worthy woman, and deserves much praise for the way in which she lias supported her- self, keeping out of debt as she has.
RS. MINERVA HINMAN was born near her present farm home, January 2, 1832. Her father was Ralph Alexander, and her mother, Elizabeth Fields. She was born in Indiana, and he in Hillsboro, Ohio, in 1808. Elizabeth Fields was left an orphan at eight years, was reared by a Mr. Scott, of Indiana, who gave her a good school- ing for that period. She was married in Indiana, at sixteen years of age, to Ralph Alexander, when he was twenty-six. He was a tanner and currier by trade, and followed that business until they came West to Brown county, in 1829. They came as other emi- grants did, and made their first stop in this neighborhood, at the home of Ezekicl Rosses, who had come here about six months earlier. The two families dwelt in this one log house
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.