USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 76
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 76
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 76
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Richard S., whose name heads this biogra- phy, was reared and educated in Schuyler county, where he was born. He attended the pioneer schools, which were held in log houses withont any floors. The seats were made of small logs, split and hewed smooth on one side, with wooden pegs for legs. A piece of punclieon, supported by wooden pius inserted in the sides of the building, served as a writing desk for the larger schol- ars. The country was sparsely settled, all land that was not patent or soldier's land be- ing owned by the Government. The country was mostly inhabited by wild Indians, while game abounded in great profusion, such as deer, bear, rabbit, turkey, prairie chicken,
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grouse, etc., and thie streams were alive with the choicest fish. No mills were in the country at that time, and all grain was ground by hand. The pioneers subsisted on wild game, fish, and such products as they raised on their land. All clothing was of home- spun, which was manufactured by the women of the family, who carded and spun the materials and afterward cut and made the garments, and that at a time when sew- ing machines were unknown.
The subject of this sketch resided with his parents nntil he attained his majority, when he commenced farming for himself on rented land in Bainbridge township. After a few years of industry and careful management, he had sufficiently prospered to be able to buy land, which he accordingly did, purchasing a tract in the same township. He continued to farm this land until 1869, when he sold ont and bought another tract in Brown county, on which he remained for three ycars. This, he also sold, and removed to Adams county, purchasing a farm in Concord township, where he resided until 1884. He then again dis- posed of his interests and removed to Law- rence, Kansas, where he engaged in the manufacture of cider and vinegar for eight months. The climate there not agreeing with him, he returned to Mound Station, and entered the mercantile business, which he successfully continued for five years. For the the last two years he has been prosper- ously conducting the principal hotel of Mound Station.
Mr. Black was first married, in 1857, to Harriet Terrill, an estimable lady, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Terrill, who were early and prominent settlers of Bainbridge town- ship, where their danghter, Harriet, was born. This marriage was dissolved by death in 1883, the devoted wife and mother going to
her reward. Matilda, the only surviving child, is now the wife of Jolin M. Anderson, a well-to-do farmer of Huntsville township, Schuyler county. They have three children: Hattie, Ora and John Richard.
In 1887, Mr. Black was again married, his second wife being Mary M. McBrackney, a native of Clayton, Adams connty, Illinois. Her parents were Robert and Elizabeth (Marshall) McBrackney, both born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry. Her parents resided in their native country until 1834, when they removed to Clayton, Adams county, this State, where the father purchased and im- proved land, on wliich he resided until his death. Both parents were devout members of the Presbyterian Churchi, in which faith they reared three children.
Mr. Black is, politically, a Democrat, and has been elected by his constituents to vari- ous offices of trust. He was for seven years an efficient member of the Adams county Board of Supervisors, and for the past two years has represented Lee township on the Brown County Board. He and his worthy wife are esteemed members of society, being as widely respected as they are known.
OHN SMITH WALKER was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, in Novem- ber, 1826, the son of Andrew Walker, a native of the same State and county; there the father was reared and married; he was a farmer by occupation, and followed agricultural pursuits in Adams county until 1839, when he emigrated to Illinois, accom- panied by his wife and eight children. They made the entire trip overland, and on their arrival to Schnyler county they settled on
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what is now Littleton township. Mr. Walker rented land, and later purchased a tract un- cultivated and without improvements; he built a small frame house and log stable, and here passed the remainder of his days; he died in 1843. His wife's maiden name was Ann Wilson, a native of Adams county, Pennsylvania. After her husband's death Mrs. Walker lived with her children at their varions homes until her decease, which oc- curred in October, 1870, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. John McGaughey, near Industry, McDonough county, Illinois. She was buried beside her husband in the Camp Creek cemetery south of Macomb, Illinois.
Jolın Smith Walker is one of a family of ten children; he was thirteen years of age when the family left their Pennsyl- vania home and penetrated the wilds of the frontier, as Illinois was then called. The country was thinly settled; there were no rail- roads, game was abundant; they were pio- neers, and had to undergo all the privations incident to the settling of a new country. Our subject attended the common schools taught in the primitive log house, conned his lesson while sitting on a puncheon seat, and learned to write on a puncheon desk. He as- sisted in the farm work and resided with his parents during their lifetime. He has been successfuf in his farming operations, and owns at this time 200 acres of choice farming land. He resided on his farm until 1887, when he removed to Rushville, where he now makes his hoine.
Mr. Walker was united in marriage, in 1868, to Elizabeth Huckeby, a native of Brecken- ridge county, Kentucky, and a daughter of Thomas Huckeby, her parents emigrated to Illinois in 1836, making the journey by the river on steamboat; they were pioneers of Schuyler county.
The mother died within three years after coming to this State and was buried in the Thompson cemetery a short distance south- west of the village of Littleton. The father married again and removed to Fulton county, where he resided until the time of his death in March, 1847.
Mrs. Walker was but sixteen months old when she was brought to Illinois, and has therefore witnessed the transformation of the country froin a wild prairie to a rich farming community. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parents of two children, Anna and John.
OHN FOOTE, the senior member of the firm of John Foote & Son, proprietors of the Rushville Hosiery Factory, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, January 17, 1827. His father, John Foote, was a native of England, and a weaver by trade; he oper- ated a hand loom for many years, and spent his last days in Leeds. He married Mar- garet Hines, who spent her entire life in Eng- land. Three of their children came to Amer- ica, Frank, Mary and John. The last named, the subject of this biography, began when quite young to learn the trade of cloth dresser, and followed this vocation in Leeds until 1844. In July of that year he sailed from Liverpool on board the Greenock, and landed in New York city after a voyage of six weeks. He went directly to Boston, and thence to Mill- bury, Massachusetts, where he followed his trade for two years; he was afterward in Cherry Valley and Foxboro; and later went to Oxford, Massachussetts, where he was elll- ployed in a satinette factory for a few months. Next he went to Winchester, where he was in a flannel factory, and after that to a place
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now called Bridgewater, Massachusets, where he worked at the boot and shoe trade until the beginning of the Civil war. At this time he went to Newport, New Hampshire, and secured employment in a flannel factory. After the close of the war he removed to Charleston, but in 1866 went to Michigan; he resided in that State for two years, and then removed to Rock Island, Illinois, where he was foreman in the carding and spinning department of the Rock Island Woolen Mills, a position he filled until 1874. In that year he came to Rushville, and two years later established the Rushville Hosiery Factory, which has been in successful operation since that time; both cotton and woolen hose are inaufact- ured, and are sold directly to the trade in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska.
Mr. Foote was united in marriage in Fox- boro, Massachusetts, in May, 1846, to Mar- tha A. Childs. a native of Maine and a daugh- ter of Amos Childs; there are five surviving children born of this union: Charles F., Al- fred A., Ada, John W. and George H. The last named is in partnership with his father. Mr. and Mrs. Foot arc zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are act- ive in all movements tending to elevate hu- inanity. Politically, Mr. Foote affiliates with tlic Republican party.
EORGE W. AND F. M. WILSON are among the few men in Brown county who own and occupy the sanie farin on which they were born and on which they have resided continuously since childhood. Their grandfather, Savile Wilson, was born in Egg Harbor city, New Jersey, in 1770, of English parents. He was a fariner by oc- cupation, owning several hundred acres of
choice agricultural land. He made a specialty of dairying, having several hundred milk cows, and made cheese and butter, which he marketed in New York city and Philadelphia. He also engaged extensively in truck farm- ing and poultry raising. In 1790, he mar- ried Susan Carver, and they had seven children, four sons and three daughters. On the outbreak of the war of 1812, he enlisted in a New York regiment, and participated in most of the great battles. He was in the battle of Bladensburg and saw Washington city burned. In 1817, he emigrated to Ohio, settling near Cincinnati, where he engaged in farming. His entire family, some of whom were married and had children of their own, emigrated with him. In 1825, he removed farther westward, settling near Indianapolis, Indiana. Here he bought 640 acres of wild land, from which he and his sous proceeded to clear the timber, prepara- tory to its cultivation. One would have thought that a man who had passed the meridian of life, and who had borne the hardships and privations of two settlements in the wilderness, would be content to re- main where he was, but such was not the case. Indeed, a desire for change increased with the gratification of a naturally ad- venturous and roving disposition. Conse- quently, we again find him, in 1836, tnrn- ing his steps toward the setting sun. This time he removed to Illinois, settling in Adams county, where he bought twelve sections of land, some of which now lies within the limits of the city of Quincy. In this same year, shortly after their arrival in the Prairie State, the devoted wife and mother was called to her reward, leaving a break in in the family which time could never repair. As if the severance of those tender ties was too severe a blow to be endured, the husband
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and father also expired, two years afterward, in 1838. They were aptly mated, both be- ing persons of intelligence, activity and great perseverance, which contributed to their marked success in life. Mr. Wilson's in- fluence and strong sense of justice retained his family around him until his death, many of his children having families of their own. The interests of these were consolidated, their land and agricultural interests being held in partnership, and all accomplished with the utmost satisfaction and good will. His forethought and perseverance were re- inarkable, and seldom failed to carry him forward to success. As witness of this, we append an incident, showing with what care the last removal of the family to Illinois was contemplated and brought to a happy con - summation: Previous to disposing of his farm in Indiana, which in itself was contrary to the time-honored custom, of leaping first and looking afterward, he and his eldest son, John S. Wilson, went all over the proposed route to the " West," as Illinois and Mis- souri were then called, traveling through the Prairie State to St. Louis, thence to Fort Scott and Fort Leavenworth, at that time the extreme western part of Missouri. At the latter place they rested a few days, after covering this long stretch of territory on horseback, and then resumned their journey homeward, returning by way of Iowa and central Illinois. This was, indeed, an under- taking in those days, the magnitude of which cannot be correctly estimated in these times of rapid and comfortable transit. Their way led over lonely distances, the silence of which was, at times, oppressive, many days some- times elapsing without disclosing to view a single habitation or the face of a white man. All glory be to those who went before and blazed the path for others to follow!
Reuben Wilson, father of the subjects of this sketch, was born in New Jersey in 1790. The schools in that State were then but primitive affairs, but his quick perception and inherited judgment stood him in good stead, and he imbibed a fair amount of knowledge of books. He married Sarah Spencer, a bright, active girl, whose parents were German. His father, some time later, becoming inspired with his customary desire for travel, Reuben accompanied him to Ohio, afterward to Indiana, and finally to Illinois. He at first settled in Adams county, the latter State, whence he removed, two years later, to Brown county, locating on the west half of section 32, township 1 south, 3 west. Reuben Wilson was thus a pioneer in three different States, and was well acquainted with the hardships and privations incidental to settling a wild, new country. He was always a champion of education, and es- pecially favored free public schools. He was one of three or four men, who built the first school-house in district No. 1 township 1 south 3, west, which served for school purposes for twenty years. It was christened White Oak College, from the white oak logs used in its construction, and that name still clings to the large frame house, which took its place years afterward. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he had belonged froin his twentieth year; and he helped organize the first Meth- odist Episcopal Church in Brown county, his residence often serving for the public meeting-house. This good and greatly es- teemed man was called from this life in 1855, leaving a stricken family and many friends to mouru his loss. His worthy wife, Sarah, the companion of his youth and sharer of his hardships, survived him many years, expiring in 1873. They had ten children,
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seven sons and three daughters, all but the two, whose names head this biography, hav- ing passed away. Following are their names:
John S., born in New Jersey, May 15, 1817, came to Brown county, where he died April 22, 1885; he married Elizabeth Adams, in 1845, who was born March 14, 1827, and died June 13, 1892; they had six children, three sons and three daughters, all now living in Brown county.
Savile Wilson, born in New Jersey, came to Brown county, married Mary McDaniel, in 1845; he emigrated to Texas in 1853, and his wife died in Shreveport, Louisiana, with the cholera, on the way to their destination; he settled near Gainesville, Cooke county, where he died in 1880; his children consisted of four sons and two daughters, all but two now dead.
Reuben J., born in Ohio, came with his parents to Brown county, where he died in 1860; he married Lncinda Marden in 1846, who died in 1889; they had three daughters and one son.
Jesse J., born in Ohio, died in Brown county, in 1877, unmarried.
Susan, born in Indiana, married Silas Campbell in 1868, and died in 1878; they had three daughters, two of whomn survive.
Hester, born in Indiana, married Dr. T. J. Norvell, and died in 1885.
James M., born in Indiana, died in 1847, in boyhood.
Sarah Ann, born in Adams county, Illi- nois, married Arthur Newenhan, in 1872; she died in Missouri, in 1879; they had two sons, one of whom is now living.
George W. Wilson, senior partner of Wil- son & Brother, was born January 19, 1837, on the west half of section 32, township 1 sonth, 3 west, Brown county, Illinois, where he has resided continuously ever since. He
was educated in the country schools, which were crude at that time, attending usually for three months during the winter. He soon learned that it was a virtue to be in- dustrious. The chief occupations were: cul- tivating and harvesting the various crops; attending and feeding stock; clearing off new land; splitting rails and building fence. There was ample recreation in the hunting of wild game, with which the prairies and woods on the streams abonnded, especially wild turkey and smaller game, such as squirrels, quails, etc., affording great sport in shooting and trapping.
When twelve years of age, he and his younger brother, F. M. Wilson, built a small pen out of fence rails, covering it with the same, and made a trap door, which they set for turkey. They caught ten at one time, besides one or two on various other occasions.
He was never married. He was never identified with any church, although a strictly moral and upright man. He ex- perienced a great affliction in 1855, when his father dicd, leaving him and F. M. Wilson, the youngest of the family, and their mother, alone, the older members being married and having homes of their own. Such had been their training, however, that they successfully carried on the farm as usual. It was this trying ordeal, sharing a common . sorrow through the long and lonesome days, as they went about their daily tasks, that laid the foundation for the partnership which has survived for more than a generation. In 1880, they, in company with William Eckler and Manville Larkin, took a trip out West, to look for a more favorable location. After visiting Missouri, Kansas and other por- tions of the West, they concluded Illinois was the best place, and accordingly com- menced life in earnest.
·
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
In 1865, they formed a partnership in sawmilling, of which the inembers were, Jesse J., George W. and F. M. Wilson, the firm namne being Wilson & Brother. They continued successfully in the lumber busi- ness for eight years, sawing large quantities, which they shipped to Turner, Jacksonville and other places, besides supplying a large home trade, and in the meantime they were also farming. In the spring of 1866 and 1867, they set out a large orchard of apple trees, covering 120 acres, which, after a great expense, proved a failure, the winter of 1875 killing the trees, so they had to be cut down.
In 1873, they were called upon to mourn the loss of their devoted mother, who went to her reward after a life of the purest un- selfishness and entire subservience to the happiness of her children. She was widely known in her community, and was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends.
In 1877, Jesse J. Wilson died, and the business was continued by the two brothers, who, for several years past, have carried on general farming and stock-raising. At the present time they have a feed mill, where they grind all the grain for their stock; and they have also a sınall sawmill, which they operate principally for their own use.
F. M. Wilson was born March 3, 1839, in Brown county, on the west half of section 32, township 1 south, 3 west; and has re- sided continuously on the same farm ever since. He was known as a quiet, unassuni- ing boy, ever ready to stand for the right and condemn the wrong, which characteristic is equally marked in himn as a inan. He never belonged to any churchı, but is an up- right man, accepting for his guide the great- est of rules, that " Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye also even
unto thein." He was a member of the Grange until that lodge was discontinued. He belongs to the Farmers' Alliance, is president of the Board, and lias been School Director for twenty years, which position he still holds.
He has been twice married: first, in 1862, to Martha Carpenter, who died the following year. In 1866, he married Minerva J. Richey, who died in 1874, leaving two chil- dren to his care, a son and daughter, who are living at home with him.
Mr. Wilson was educated in the common schools of his vicinity, then called subscrip- tion schools, which he attended for three months each winter. The term "subscrip- tion" arose in consequence of each parent signing a paper, which assured a teacher a certain number of scholars, the tuition be- ing usually $2 for each child for a term of sixty days, including the teacher's board, who lived around for equal lengths of time among the various families. The school houses were crude, being built of logs, usually sixteen feet square, with a stove in the center. The furniture corresponded with the appearance of the house, the seats being made of slabs, a slab being the first piece sawed from a log. These were sup- ported by wooden pins, inserted in auger holes bored in the bark side. These seats were placed around the stove, usually about two feet apart. For writing-desks a plank was fastened to the walls, all around the room. Thus in this room would be crowded probably forty pupils, of ages ranging from five to twenty years. The studies were neces- sarily crude, nothing being attempted but the rudiments of reading, writing and ciphering, often denominated the " three R's." However, on the foundation thus at- tained many built well, and afterward took
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their place in the world as nseful members of society.
The Messrs. Wilson have witnessed the improvements extending over a period of half a century, many of which are interest- ing for a later generation to note. The first plowing was done with a wooden plow, fur- nished with an iron share. A complete revo- lution has been made in agricultural imple- ments and methods within their lifetime. One of them still bears thic scars on his hands, which were made by a reaping hook, in his first efforts at harvesting wheat. After this came the cradle, which superseded tlie reaping hook; later the horse-power machines, the grain being cut by horse-power, after which it was raked from the platformn and made into bundles by hand. Subsequently to this came the self-raking reaper, which was a great saving of labor entailed in hand raking. After this, the self-binder; first with wire, then with twine, and bunching the sheaves together ready for shocking. But, there have been more improvements, if possible, in threshing and cleaning the grain. First, the flail and tramping floor were used, the modus operandi being as follows: A circle of sheaves, five or six feet wide and ten or twelve paces in diameter, over which four or six horses would tramp, until the grain was out. Then the straw was separated from the chaff and wheat, after which the wheat was run through a fanning- mill, to clean the grain. Fanning-mills wereat first few in number; men often hauled their wheat and cliaff five or six miles in order to get it cleaned; often paying as much to get their wheat fanned as it now costs to have it threshed. The first threshing machines were composed of a cylinder, operated by a belt, which threshed the grain, but did not separate it from the straw, which was after-
-
ward accomplished by liand. The next im- provement made, was a separator which, as the name implied, separated the straw from the wheat and chaff, after which the wheat had to be fanned frce from the chaff. The cleaners were then used, which cleaned the grain as it was threshed.
One would naturally suppose that labor- saving devices would have been readily adopted, but such was not the case. There were men who opposed every advance that was inade. They clung tenaciously to the reap-hook, after they could have a cradle; others would still use the cradle when they could have a horse-power machine; and, in- credible as it may seem, there were binders destroyed in Brown county during the first year of their use, by the professional harvest hands, who said they could get no work to do.
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RNEST JOCKISCH, a practical fariner and stock-raiser of section 5 and 6, of township 17, range 11, owns a fine and well improved property where he lives. Al- together he owns about 500 acres of first- class land, 400 acres of which is highly im- proved and supplied with first-class build- ings. He has lived in the county since hic was ten years of age and has owned land farming it for himself since he was twenty seven. He has been very successful and is very proud of his efforts.
He was born in Saxony, Germany, Febru- ary 6, 1825, and came with his parents and grandparents to the United States. The family began life here as poor people did in those days, but they did not remain poor very long and are all rich at the present writing. They have done much to build up Cass county, where many of them yet live, and
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they are all progressive people. (Sec bio- graphy of William Jockisclı.) .
Ernest was married in this county to Margaret Deiglemeier, born in Hanover, Germany, coming with her mother and brother to the United States when she was young. The family settled in "Cass county. The head of the family had died in Germany before they started on their trip across the ocean. The widowcd motlier died soon after her arrival in this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Jockisch are the parents of seven children: Wilhelmina, deceased after marriage and birth of three children, yet liv- ing. The living children arc: Caroline, wife
of Oscar Lanc, farmer of Concord, Morgan connty, Illinois; William A., a farmer, mar- ried to Tilda Carls; Frank, a farmer in Cass- connty, married Emnia Hesler; Lonisa, at home; Charles and Henry are at home and farm with their father. All are good hard- working people. Mr. Jockisch, wife and children are members of Zion German Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they are gencrous supporters. Mr. Jockisch and sons arc all Republicans and Mr. Jockisch has held local offices. He is a genial man and kind-hearted neighbor, and is highly re- spected by all.
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.347B52 C001 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS, SCHUYLER AN
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