USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 68
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 68
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 68
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during that memorable winter of deep snow, and it was not a large cabin, either. With his good span of horses, Mr. Alexander helped Mr. Rosses harvest his first crop of grain and hay. He took a half section of land close by, to which they moved in tlie spring of 1830, and lived in the rough log cabin on the placc. It was in this mansion that our subject first saw the light. Eight years later they moved into the two-story hewn-log house, and in this very good dwell- ing the father died, in 1846. He died a com- paratively young man, leaving his wife, who survived him some thirty years, and died in Kansas, aged seventy. She was the mother of twelve children, many of whom have also passed away. The living ones are: Thomas M., a ranchman in Arizona, now seventy-one years old, who killed two mountain lions at this age; Milton H., living at Versailles, Illinois; Mrs. Hinman; James, now in Ari- zona, and the youngest of the family; John P., pastor of the Baptist Church at Anburn, Illinois.
Mrs. Hinman was married in this county, in 1851, to Gideon Hinman, who was a widower with three sons. They have had eight children: Clara. Otis, Ralph and Hes- ter have died. The living are: Minerva J. Withrow, of Cooperstown; Nellie Swenson, wife of a farmer at Mound Station; Abra- ham Lincoln, the unfortunate son, crippled and nervous from infancy from whooping- cough. He is very bright in some things, especially in figures. He cannot express himself. Elizabeth is the next child, and is known as Dolly, a young lady at home, who graduated at the Rushville Normal College, being the valedictorian. Two of the sons of Mr. Hinman's first marriage are still living, large farmers and stock dealers.
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Mr. Hinman left his wife this finc estate of 160 acres of rich farm land with good buildings, well stocked. She has made a suc- cess of conducting it, pays taxes like her male neiglibors, even if she cannot vote. She believes in a rotation of crops and clover. She grows from forty to sixty acres of corn, yielding from fifty to sixty busliels per acre, and feeds the niost of it to hogs, of which she sells from fifty to sixty-five per year. She has colts, and about thirty head of cattle raised on the farm. The farm is in a finer condition than ever before.
Mr. Hinman came here about 1840. He was a school teacher, and he soon settled on eighty acres south of Cooperstown, and two years later he entered 160 acres. He started with no means at all, but by his industry he accumulated a large property. He was in ill health some time before his death, and Mrs. Hinman had the experience that has proved so valuable to her in the management of the farm.
ARO HARRIS was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, November 10, 1864. His parents were F. Marion and Arthusia (Hollingsworthi) Harris. Mr. Har- ris, Sr., was born on the farm, on which his son now lives, in 1844, and he died March 27,1892.
Maro Harris is the only surviving child, and he was educated in Schuyler county. When about fourteen he decided to see some- thing of the world outside of Illinois; so visited Pikes Peak, Denver, ctc. He is a fine inusician, and there is a great demand for his talents. He enjoyed himself to such a degree during his trip that he did not re- turn until three years ago. He tried farming 87
when in the West, and was successful in liis undertakings. He lias inherited a fine farm of 320 acres in Schuyler county from his father, and owns valuable property in the vicinity of Beardstown, besides the finc farm in Colorado.
He was married about three years ago to Miss Melinda Betville, of Arkansas. They have one child. Mr. Harris is a Republican in politics, and is a good business man, and is respected by all who know him.
ILLIAM PERRY .- The gentleman whose sketch it is our pleasure to present to our readers, was born in Cooperstown township, at the present home of his father, March, 1844. His father, James Perry, was born on Powel's river, in Tennessee, in 1808, coming to Illinois in 1830.
William Perry was reared to farm life, and was well cducated in the common schools, teaching several terms after finishing his education.
His marriage occurred, in 1866, when he was only twenty-two to Miss Mary E. Grover, daughter of W. P. Grover, and his wife, a Miss Patterson, both natives of Ohio, but residents of Brown county.
Mr. and Mrs. Perry first rented the old home farm, and in 1876 bought eight acres for $3,200, which he sold two years later, buying his present farm of eighty acres on section 32, paying the same price for it.
By this marriage Mr. Perry had six chil- dren, one of whom died when an infant. Mrs. Perry died in 1878, leaving tliree sons and one danghter, namely: Oscar, twenty- four; Elmer, twenty-two; Scott, eightcen, and Hattie, fourteen. He was again married in
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
1882, to Miss Anna Whitehead, of this county, daughter of Dr. John and Mary (Gilford) Whitehead. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have one living child, Orpha, aged six.
Mr. Perry was Town Collector, at twenty- two years, and served as Assessor for two years, from the time he was twenty-three un- til he was twenty-five. He next served as Township Treasurer for twelve years. Until 1876 he was a Democrat, but since that time he has been an advocate of reforms, being now a member of the Farmers' Alliance, or People's Party.
Mr. Perry carries on general farming on his beautiful farin, where he resides, sur- rounded by his children and his loving wife; and if ever a man had cause to be proud of his past life, it is the subject of this sketch, William Perry.
ILLIAM H. GRIFFITH is & native son of the State of Illinois, born in Woodstock township, Schuyler county, April 5, 1847. His father, Joshua Griffith, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and was there reared to the occupation of a farmer. In 1837 lie accompanied his fatlıcr to Iowa, and three years later he came to Schuyler county, Illinois, and purchased forty acres of wild, timber land. He built a log-house, which was his dwelling for fifteen or twenty years. In connection with his agricultural pursuits he had mastered the cooper's trade, which he followed after com- ing to this county. His father was Nathan Griffith, and he died in this county at the residence of liis son, Joshua, aged ninety-three years; he was a soldier in the war of 1812, and drew a pension from the Government in recognition of his service. Joshua Griffitlı
married Margaret Hoffman, who died at the age of fifty-seven years; they reared a family of eleven children, all of whom are living. Mr. Griffith is living a retired life at Lewis- town, Fulton county, Illinois. He has a few acres of land, and is devoting his energies to fruit culture. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and while a resi- dent of Schuyler county was Justice of the Peace for many years. He is a self-made man, and has accumulated his entire property since coming to the State; lie has been very successful in his farming operations, but has relinquished the care and management of his land to his son, William H. He has bravely done his share in' the development of the re- sources of Schuyler county, and the present prosperity of the commonwealth is due to the men of his type.
William H. Griffith was married October 9, 1870, to Miss Susanna Custer, a native of Washington county, Iowa, born August 12, 1852. Her parents, Abraham and Susanna (Antrim) Custer, were natives of the State of Ohio; the father died in Iowa, but the mother survives, and is a resident of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are the parents of fonr children: Elmer E. was born September 17, 1871; Wilmer E. was born January 26, 1877; Edith L. was born February 26, 1880; Myrtle was born March 22, 1888. After his ınar- riage Mr. Griffith settled on a farın with his grandfather, renting for a year; he then pur- cliased forty acres, to which lie removed, and later bought an additional forty; he lias the - inanagement of the entire farin, which con- sists of 200 acres.
In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, having cast his first vote for General Grant's second term.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was one of the pioneers of the county; he
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
made the journey to the frontier when the distance was wearily covered by driving or walking, and met the privations and hardships unflinchingly, as became the sturdy soul who undertook to rescue this wilderness and con- vert it into one of the most fertile States of the Union. Let the coming generations never forget the debt of gratitude they owe their worthy forefathers.
AMES M. PATTERSON, one of the successful farmers of Cooperstown, re- siding on section 21, was born in this county, June, 1849. His father was Joseph Patterson, a native of Highland county, Ohio, who lost his father when very young and was reared by an uncle, learning the wool- carding business. He canie to Brown county, when young, in company with the family of James B. Russell, making the journey by team, in 1830. The gentleman with whom he came brought his family of seven. Mr. Patterson married one of the daughters of Mr. Russell, Phœbe, whose mother had been a Miss Sarah Lincoln, a native of Pennsyl- vania. Her husband, however, hailed from the State of Vermont. They were married in Fulton county, between 1843 and 1845, and Mr. Patterson pursned his trade at the Cardic mills, near Versailles, and then in Versailles. Their next place of settlement was in Elkhorn township, and later they moved to this county, where he worked in a flouring mill. He also cleared a fine farm of heavy timber.
The gentleman whose name appears at the heading of this sketch was reared to farm life, and was offered plenty of opportunity for improvement, but like many boys of that age he did not appreciate nor take advantage
of his opportunities. When twenty-one he began working by the day and month.
Mr. Patterson was married, January 16, 1879, to Miss Saralı Howell, born May, 1856, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Bearel) Howell, natives of Indiana and North Caro- lina, respectively. Mr. IIowell came to Illi- nois when he was eleven or twelve years old, in 1832, and was there married, twelve years later. They bought eighty acres of land, built a log house, where they spent the first year of their married life, and then moved to a much better piece of land on which they built a permanent house, and lived there for twenty-one years, when they moved one half a mile away. Mrs. Howell died November, 1878, aged fifty-three years and fourteen weeks; on February 14, the husband followed the partner of his joys and sorrows, dying at the age of fifty-seven. They had ten children, but lost all but three, they all dying at the farm, some in infancy and otliers later. These good people liad been extremely poor when they were married, but when they died they had 100 acres of fine land and a property worth about $30,000. They were good, worthy people who richly deserved their good fortune.
Mr. and Mrs. Patterson began their mar- ried life on the old homestead, where they remained for one and one half years, then, in 1881 bought their present farm of 160 acres, paying $8,000 for it. On this farm was the present fine frame farm house, built by the former owner, J. Stiles. They built their large, ornamental barn in 1885. It is a fine structure, 40 x 60 feet, withi eighteen-foot posts and a shed 12 x 60, and they can house sixteen horses.
These good people have buried one infant son and still have two living: Otho T. and Lee R., the former twelve years old, the lat-
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
ter ninc. They are intelligent little lads, who are fond of their books.
Mr. Patterson is pursuing general farm- ing, growing corn, wheat and hay, of which he has just cut a fine crop, filling both barns. He engages in stock-raising, having some forty to sixty head of cattle, hogs, and now feeds sixteen head of horses, three of whom he has raised.
Mr. Patterson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and adheres strictly to the princi- ples of the Democratic party. Mrs. Patter- son is a devout inember of the Christian Church, and she and her husband are worthy members of the society of Cooperstown.
RTHUR A. MCCABE, M. D., one of the most prominent physicians of Ver- sailles, was born in Macomb, Mc- Donough county, Illinois, December 17, 1856. His father, John McCabe, was a na- tive of Ohio, and his father, also John Mc- Cabe, was a native of the same State. The latter gentleman was a blacksmith who came to Fulton county, Illinois, about 1849, where he followed his trade until he went into the army, in 1862. He had a family of seven · sons and one son-in-law when he went to the defense of the old flag. Four of his sons, he, himself and the son-in-law, all perished in the army. Mr. McCabe dying from the effects of poison in a mince pie, which was bought of a Confederate and contained poison. The names of his sons who fought in the late struggle, were: John, father of subject; Miles, James, Marion, Westley and the son-in-law, James W. Jefferson, who married the daughter, Mary McCabe. There were four other brothers, also. Miles survived
the war, but died of consumption, contracted in the service. John was a volunteer in the Eighty-fourth Illinois Infantry, entering as a private and coming out as an Orderly of Company A, after a service of three years. He was wounded at the battle of Lookout Mountain, a ball passing through his ankle. He received a furlough, but on his way back to Washington he was hurt by jumping from the cars; so badly was he injured that he was obliged to delay joining his command for some weeks. While waiting he joined the Masonic fraternity, and while sick in a strange city proved the worth of the order. When he returned, he was given a commissary position, and served his time out. His brother James was in the service three years and came out of the war sound and hearty, and is now a resident of Texas, in the employ of the railroad. He had quite a romantic accident some time since. He was injured by an explosion in Ohio, and he was nursed back to life in a Catholic hospital by the Catholic Sisters. So impressed was he by their sweet faces and kind, skillful treatment that he declares that if he ever inarries, one of those sisters will be his wife!
John McCabe was married, at Indian- apolis, Indiana, to Mary Ann Clark of that city, when twenty-two years of age. They came to Illinois soon after marriage, and made their home on a farın in Littleton township, Schuyler county, moving from there to Macomb, and from there to Rush- ville, where they have lived ever since. Here Mr. McCabe has carried on a successful busi- ness in the manufactury of brick and tile, in connection with his son, James. Mr. Mc- Cabe lias three sons and one daughter, namely : James; Arthur, subject; Howard C .; Cora May, wife of Allen Walker, of Rushville. Two sons and one danghter died in infancy.
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
Dr. McCabe was educated at the Rushville high school, and in the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons of Keokuk, Iowa, grad- uating in the class of 1878. He began his practice in Bath, Mason county, where he re- mained for two years, then removing to Lit- tleton, Schuyler county, where he remained for two years, when he finally renloved to Versailles. Here he practiced for four years and then removed to Mt. Sterling and re- inained for one year, returning to Versailles, where he has remained ever since, enjoying a good practice.
The Doctor was married, January 1, 1879, to Carrie E. Seely, of Rushville, daughter of James Seely and Mary Sanford, born in New York. They have one daughter, Myrtle Isabelle, a promising, beautiful child of ten years of age, whose musical attainments on the piano are wonderful for one of her tender years.
The Doctor is a Master Mason, aud a mem- ber of the fraternity of Modern Woodmen. He has been a Republican since the start of the party, and has always voted according to the principles of that party. He has served on the central committee for some time.
The Doctor has gained the confidence and respect of all who know him, and his large practice testifies to the appreciation in which his services are held. He and his estimable wife hold an enviable position in Versailles society.
S. GLOVER, of Beardstown, was born about thirty years ago at Winnemac, Indiana, and was there reared and partly educated, but desiring to to improve his knowledge of books he at- tended a college at Valparaiso, Iudiana.
Upon completing his course there he became a telegraph operator there, working in the city of his birth for some time and later at Logansport, Indiana, for the Pittsburg, Chi- cago & St. Louis Railroad. He remained here three years and then went to Nickerson, Kansas, in a similar position on the Santa Fe road. He was in active service there as a train dispatcher until he came to Beards- town and the Quincy system, February, 1882. Like most railroad men, he has since that time seen very active service. Mr. Glover's personal appearance and jovial manner are sufficient to make friends for him everywhere. He comes of a respectable line of ancestry, who date their first settlement in this coun- try prior to the Revolutionary war. His grandparents lived and died in Ohio, where his father, Samuel Glover, was born, at Ports- mouth, Ohio. He came to Winnemnac when young and there became a successful me- chanic, and was thus engaged when the Re- bellion broke out. He enlisted in the Eighty- First Indiana Infantry, but was transferred later to the Ninth Indiana Cavalry, and con- tinued in the service for three years, seeing inuchi hard fighting. He was neither cap- tured nor wounded, but he contracted a terri- ble camp malady, from the effects of which he died in 1866. He married in Winnemac, Indiana, Hannah Hawes, of Kentucky, who had been brought to Indiana by her parents in the '40s, where they lived and died, re- spected by all. Mrs. Hannah Glover is still living, and is very active in spite of her fifty- seven years, and makes her home with her son, W. S. Glover. She is a Christian lady and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for years.
September 5, 1886, Mr. Glover received the promotion of chief train dispatcher for the St. Louis & Rock Island Division of
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, affecting 285 miles of line and railroad and places him over several men. His energy and fidelity to business is what brought him this promotion.
While in Nickerson, Kansas, Mr. Glover inet and married Sarah Van Arnsdale, a lead- ing lady of that place. She received a prac- tical education in Ohio, that'being her place of nativity. She has no children, but is known as a worthy wife and kind neighbor, and she and her husband take an interest in bettering humanity. They affiliate with no particular church creed. They are interested in everything that benefits Bcardstown, and have recently built a fine residence with all modern improvements in the best part of the city. Mr. Glover is a sound Republi- can, and is interested in local politics. He is a prominent member of Beardstown Lodge, No. 107, Knights of Pythias, and has filled all the chairs.
UGUST KROHE, an old settler and well-to-do farmer, was born on Saxony, Germany, on August 19, 1812. He came of good German blood and good fam- ily. He is the son of Christian and Rosina (Reicker) Krohe, natives of Saxony, where they grew up and lived until the family of children were all born and part of them grown up. They then took passage on a sailing vessel in Angust, 1835, and after a seven weeks' voyage landed in New Orleans, coming thence up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Beardstown. From there they soon went to Spring Bluff, and here they bought and improved new lands, part of which was Government land. It was on this farm that the father and mother spent their last days,
the former dying at the age of seventy-nine years; the latter was eighty-eight when she died. They were a healthy and prosperous family, and the same quality is in their son, August, who is as bright and healthy at eighty years as lie ever was. The father and mother of our subject were members of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Krohe has a fine farm with good build- ings on it, on which he has lived since 1840. It is in section 8, township 17, range 11. He has always been identified with the best in- terests of the county, and has lived to see wonderful improvements here.
He was married in this county to Miss Christianna Jockisch, born near the farm of her husband in Saxony, Germany, in 1810. She was yet a young woman when her par- ents and grandparents came to the United States, in 1835, on the same vessel that the Rrohes came on, and they, like the latter, found good homes in Cass county. Soon after com- ing here, Mr. Krohe and Miss Jockisch were married, and lived together until 1889, when Mrs. Krohe died. She was a good mother and wife and was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church. She was the only daugh- ter of Gottlieb and Christianna (Jacob) Jock- isch. Grandfather Jockisch died here in 1836, after he had been here about a year. He was then about sixty-four and was a good, reliable old man. His name was Gottlieb Jockisch, and he was the founder of the fam- ily in this conutry.
Mr. and Mrs. Krohe had six living chil- dren: Louis, a farmer in Schuyler county, married to Sophia Korte; Minnie, wife of Henry Korte (see biography); Louisa, wife of a farmer of Morgan county; Henry (see biography); Amelia, wife of Henry Rupel, a farmer on Mr. Krohe's homestead.
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
Mr. Krohe, wife and all the family lia ve been members of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Krohe and his sons are Democrats. They are all worthy people.
ATHANIEL P. MESERVE, a resident farmer of section 30, Lee township, was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, March 25, 1825. His father, Nathaniel, was a native of Barnstable, New Hampshire, born about 1794, and died at the age of ninety-two, in Vermont.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the best New England schools for a teacher, which profession he followed for over twenty years, in the East and West. He taught sev- eral years in Illinois, both before and after his marriage. He married Mary J. Meserve, a consin who was born in 1839. Slie was a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Meserve, who were English people. The peculiar in- cident that led to this marriage was romantic. After Mr. Meserve had been in Illinois some time, he was shown a letter from this young miss, and he said to his friend who showed it to him, "That girl shall be my wife;" and sure enoughi, when she came West she became his wife. They were married in Brown county, in 1856, and settled on their present farm two years later, first buying eighty acres and later 100 more. In 1870 they went to Colorado Springs, where they remained six years. This move was made partly on ac- count of Mr. Meserve's failing health. While there lie invested in silver mines, and now owns one mine and has an interest in another. They returned to their Illinoian home. They have two children, Ai Meserve, born in 1857, and Rosabelle, born in 1871. The son is a farmer, and both are at home where they
have enjoyed every advantage and have im- proved every opportunity. Mr. Meserve is not strongly partisan, but votes the Republi- can ticket. His wife is a Presbyterian, and is an interesting lady. He is in failing healtlı and strength, and lias retired from all business. They are botlı admirable people, and are greatly esteemed by all who know them.
ON. WILLIAM C. RENO, of Browning, Illinois, dealer in grain and stock, is a native of this township, born in 1838. He is the son of Jonathan and Louisa (Thorn- ton) Reno, both natives of east Tennessee, father born in 1811, the mother in 1813. The paternal grandfather, also named Jonatlian, came to Schuyler county in 1825, and was accompanied by his son, Jonathan. The lat- ter was married in 1834.
William Reno grew to manhood in Brown- ing township, spent a year traveling through Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, and on his return was married to Rebecca A. Wallace of Browning township, in 1860. She was born in 1841, grew up in the same neighbor - hood, as ber parents were very early settlers in this county. Mr. Reno was raised on a farm and followed that occupation until nine years ago, when he went into his present busi- ness. He has been an active man all his life.
In 1880, he was elected Representative to the State Legislature, and served one term of two years, having been elected on the Demo- cratic ticket. For many years he has been an active worker in political affairs, and on the national and State issues has always affil- iated with the Democrats, but in county and township affairs he has voted for men rather than measures. Mr. Reno is a man of ster- ling integrity, having the esteem of all with
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