Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past, Part 12

Author:
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Hobart Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 806

USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past > Part 12

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For the first three years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harnest lived on a farm near Plymouth but their home there was destroyed by fire and they after- ward bought a farm in Carthage town- ship, where they resided for twenty-seven years. They had a comfortable home which they improved with porches, etc. He also built two new barns and out- buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. The farm lay on sections 24 and 25 and comprised two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land, which is still in his possession. For many years Mr. Harnest carefully cultivated the fields. developed the property and won success in his undertakings as an agri- culturist and feeding stock, but in 1801 moved to Carthage, building a pretty home on No. Of Main street, adjoining the Baptist church. He has since lived retired in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest. his labor in former years having

brought to him a competence sufficient to supply him with the necessities and com- forts of life together with some of its luxuries.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Harnest have been born three children, of whom two are now living, the oldest two having been born near Plymouth and the other in Carthage township. Mary Emily, born January 2, 1862, became the wife of F. M. Cutler, who now lives in Carthage. She died May 13, 1895, in the triumphs of a living faith, leaving a son, Fred Francis, who died April 22, 1900, at the age of ser- enteen years. He was a good Christian youth and was a great comfort to his grandparents. John Walton Harnest. born August 4, 1863, married Olive Rob- ertson, and is a stock dealer living in Carthage. He has one child, Forest I. Frederick Eldridge Harnest. born March 19, 1869, lives in Quincy, where he con- ducts a livery stable. He had the mis- fortune to have his barn destroyed by fire January 18, 1906. but has since purchased another livery barn and is again in busi- ness. He married Miss Bertie M. Wright and has three children, Pauline. Waklo W. and Mary Marguerite.

Mr. Harnest is largely a self-made man and owing to his economy and energy in former years is now very comfortably situated in his old age. He has always been a very methodical man and since his marriage has kept a daily diary of events and incidents. Mrs. Harnest is a lady of very retentive memory and intelligence and her good qualities have won her many friends with whom she spends many pleis- ant hours in social conversation on sub- Jects which give enjoyment to all.

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OSCAR HUBBARD BURR.

Oscar Hubbard Burr, who is the owner of valuable farming property in Dur- ham township, consisting of two hundred and forty acres in the home farm and also twenty acres on another section, was born in that township February 4. 1858, his parents being Edward and Julia ( Wil- cox ) Burr, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. The father was born De- cember 24. 1814, and the mother on the 13th of July. 1817. When he came to Hancock county in 1839 from his native state he traveled with a party of sixteen. who made the journey with two small wagons and were six weeks upon the way, crossing the swamps and mountains and suffering many privations and hardships. as they journeyed on after the primitive manner of travel of those days. Here Mr. Burr began life in true pioneer style, living in a log house for some time. The family had no table and scarcely any table cutlery for a number of years. Various wild animals roamed over his land and many evidences of pioneer life were to be seen. In 1852 he built the main part of the house in which his son. O. H. Burr. now resides, and from time to time he added to his possessions until at his death he was very comfortably situated and was known as an enterprising and respected citizen of his community. He died June 11. 1895. while his wife passed away July 18. 1862. their remains being interred in Durham cemetery. Both were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and his political views accorded with the principles of the Republican party. An old-fashioned teapot which he brought

to Illinois in 1839 is now in possession of his son. O. H. Burr, and is a much prized relic. In the family were seven children: Jonathan E., who was born August 11, 1837. and lives in Cowley county, Kansas: Julia C., who was born November 11, 1838, and is the wife of William 11. Avis, of Des Moines, lowa : Esther A., who was born June 3. 1841. and is the wife of Harvey II. Pershin, of Portland, Oregon: Orpha D., who was born February 14. 1845, and is the wife of S. E. Harkness, of southern Nebraska : Emily C., who was born April 15. 1850. and is the wife of D. L. Toof, of Aurora. Nebraska : Demmis V., who was born December 14. 1854, and became the wife of Edwin Burr, her death occurring in Hancock county, Illinois, March 30, 1881. while Mr. Burr resides in Nebraska : and (). H., who was born in Durham town- ship, February 4. 1858.

The last named was educated in the district schools of his native township and remained with his parents until in his twenty-first year, when he was mar ried and started out in life on his own account. It was on the 20th of October. 1878, that he wedded Miss Mahala 1. Potter, who was born in Durham town- ship. Hancock county. June 28, 1859. one of the ten children of Warren and Mahala ( Collins) Potter. Her father. who was born in Pennsylvania, August 4. 1813, followed the occupation of farming as a life work and after living for some time in Adams county, Illinois. removed in 1858 to Hancock county and took up his abode in a log cabin, living in true pioneer style. As the years passed be improved his farm and at a later date

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added modern equipments. He died Jan- C., born October IS, 1888, is at home ; uary 23. 1883, and his wife, who was born in Indiana, October 3, 1821, passed away March 2. 1899, at the age of sev- enty-seven years and was laid to rest by his side in Union cemetery. Six of their children are yet living: Rebecca E., the wife of James Potter, of Macomb, Illi- nois: Cynthia J., the wife of R. T. H. Bartlett. of Dallas City: Mary Effie, the wife of W. O. Stout, of Thayer, Oregon county. Missouri; Olive E., the wife of C. F. Bross, of Colusa : Mahala I., now Mrs. Burr: and Josephine, the wife of George Arnt. of Beatrice. Nebraska, while Allen Potter was killed by a runaway in California. and Weaver Potter died in Missouri.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Burr began their domestic life in a house on the place where he now lives. After a year they removed to his father's house. Throughout the intervening years Mr. Burr has carried on general agricultural pursuits and is now engaged in cultivat- ing two hundred and forty acres of land in Durham township. He has improved the house. built barns and sheds, while one of the barns upon the place was erected by his father in 1861. He has brought the fields under a high state of cultivation and everything about the farm indicates his careful supervision and pro- gressive methods.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Burr has been blessed twith four children. all born in the house which was their father's birthplace. Oscar 11 .. Jr., the eldest, born July 14. 1882, married Catherine Kloss- ing. of Durham township, and they have a som. Ralph Joseph Oscar Buir. Bessie

Mamie, born July 8. 1891, died two days later; Hazel C., born March IS, 1893, is with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Burr are members of the Free Methodist church and take an active interest in its work. living the lives of earnest Christian peo- ple. He votes with the prohibition party, which indicates his views on the temper- ance question, and he is a school director. standing at all times for intellectual and moral progress and giving his endorse- ment to every measure which he believes will uplift humanity.

JOHN A. FLETCHER.

John A. Fletcher, living retired in Carthage, was born in Muskingum county. Ohio, May 22. 1838, and his parents. Elisha and Elizabeth (Lane) Fletcher, were also natives of that county. where the father lived and died. follow- ing the occupation of farming as a life work. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party and he served as tax collector. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church, but both have passed away. their remains be- ing interred in Ohio.

Of their family of five children John A. Fletcher is the only one now living. lle was educated in the district schools of Ohio, the little "temple of learning" being a log building with puncheon floor. and small windows, slab seats and an im- mense fireplace. He remained upon the

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home farm with his parents until his mar- riage. It was on the 13th of January. 1858, that he wedded Miss Elizabeth Palmer, who was born June 9. 1840. in Muskingum county, Ohio, a daughter of Frederick and Sarah ( Butler ) Palmer, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Muskingum county. Mr. Palmer was a farmer by occupation and was killed in Ohio in April, 1844, by a log falling upon him. lle was at that time serving as road su- pervisor. The mother was a member of the old primitive Baptist church. In the family were three children by the first marriage, but only two are now living, Mrs. Fletcher and Augusta, the latter the widow of Mr. King, who is living in Kansas City. Kansas. The mother later married Abner Lane. They left two liv- ing children.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher lived upon a farm in Muskingum county, Ohio, until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when Mr. Fletcher, in re- sponse to his country's need, enlisted as a member of Company D. Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ile was afterward transferred to Company I of the invalid corps and was promoted to the rank of first sergeant. He served for three years and one month and was honorably dis- charged in October, 1864. At Camp Dennison, Ohio, in the first year of the war, he had an attack of typhoid fever. being ill in the hospital there for a long time and as a result his left side was paralyzed and has always remained so. Ile participated in the battles of Mills Springs and Cumberland, where he was After his return from the war Mr. wounded in the leg by the explosion of Fletcher located upon a farm in Licking

a shell, which also cut off the stock of his gun. He was likewise in the battles of Tazewell, Tennessee, Cumberland Gap and Vicksburg, where he was stripped of his clothing by the rebels and lay for two days and nights in the rain. Ile likewise participated in the engagements at Thompson's Hill and Mckenzie Bend. Ilis regiment was the Sixteenth Ohio In- fantry and Company D was commanded by Captain Milton Mills, while the first lieutenant was Thomas Hedge and the second lieutenant William Dorsey. All were from Dresden, Ohio. Ile was a brave soldier and made a great sacrifice for his country, but he did it cheerfully and willingly and no one displays a more patriotic spirit than does Mr. Fletcher, who is always interested in the welfare of his country and her progress. His eldest and his youngest brothers, Spencer and Joshua Fletcher respectively, were also soldiers of the Civil war. Joshua died from the effects of injury sustained at Cumberland Gap and was buried there. Spencer was wounded at Vicksburg and died at Milliken's Bend. They, too, were soldiers of the Sixteenth Ohio Regiment and Henry Fletcher, a cousin, was with the three brothers in this regiment, while George Fletcher, an uncle, was in the Seventy-eighth Ohio Regiment. Charles and Henry Tatham, . cousins of Mrs. Fletcher, were likewise soldiers of the Sixteenth Ohio and Charles H. Butler, another cousin, was a soldier of Company D. Twelfth Illinois Infantry and was hon- orably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. in 1865.

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BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEI'

county, Ohio, and in 1869 came to Illi- nois. About 1871 or 1872 he located upon a farm of ninety acres in Carthage township, and for many years thereafter was devoted to general agricultural pur- suits, conducting his business interests with good ability. He has now been re- tired for twelve years, has made his home in the city of Carthage since February, 1903. and is in poor health. He possesses, however, a cheerful nature and most kindly disposition and bears his sufferings uncomplainingly. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher have been born eight children. four of whom were born in Ohio and the others in Carthage township. Francis L .. the eldest. married Miranda J. Kim- brough, has a son, Charles, and lives in Carthage. Sarah L. died in infancy. Al- feretta May is the wife of Willis Ervin, a resident of Carthage township, and has six children: Edward. Ethel. George. Genevieve. Hazel and Harry. Of these children Edward Ervin married Bernice Reed. resides in West Point. Towa, and has a son, Frederick. Ethel Ervin is the wife of Frank Briley. lives in Carthage member of the family, married Miss Cora township, and has a little son. Thomas Briley. Joshua E. Fletcher. the fourth Linn and resides at Carthage. Abner P. Fletcher owns a farm near West Point. Towa, married Miss Martha Conn and has five daughters: Ada. Georgie. Lena. Alice and Blanche. Mina .A., is the wife of Perry D. Myers, of Pilot Grove town- ship, and has four children : Ray, Hurl. Florence and Ernest. Knox B. Fletcher wedded Miss Mary B. Comoughton, re- sides in Carthage, and has a daughter. Lola D. Winnifred is the wife of Fred

Craig, of Hannibal. Missouri. He en- listed in the Twentieth Infantry of the regular army and was transferred to the Fifth Regiment, being stationed at San- tiago during the Spanish-American war. He was in Cuba for eight months, enlist- ing at Keokuk. Iowa, in 1900. He was absent for a year in active service but now resides in Hannibal.

In politics Mr. Fletcher is a stalwart republican, having given unfaltering alle- giance to the party since attaining his majority. He has been actively interested in the cause of education and has done effective service in behalf of the public schools of Carthage during many years' service on the school board, of which he has acted as clerk, while for twelve years he was its president. He is a charter member of the Modern Woodmen of America of Carthage, also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and is a member of the Presbyterian church. to which his wife and some of his children also belong. He owns the comfortable home on Locust street where he has lived since coming to the city. He has been an enterprising, self-made man, whose suc- cess is due entirely to his own labors and efforts. Handicapped by ill health. he has nevertheless worked resolutely and car- nestly year after year and has accumulated a comfortable competence. In his family he has been a devoted husband and father and in his illness his wife and daughter. Mrs. Craig. put forth every effort to as- suage his suffering. ITis life has prac- tically been a sacrifice to his country. Wherever known he is held in high es- teem, for he possesses those traits of character which win friendship. confi-

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dence and regard and his many friends will be glad to receive this record of his life.

HENRY JENKINS.

Henry Jenkins is one of the early settlers of Hancock county, who through many years has been an interested wit- ness of the changes that have occurred and the progress that has been made as the county has emerged from pioneer conditions and taken on all of the evi- dences and improvements of an advanced civilization. He now makes his home in Carthage, and owns a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in Carthage town- ship, that under his care and development has been transformed into a highly im- proved and productive property. He was born in Roan county, Tennessee, on the 17th of September. 1838, and there re- sided until twelve years of age, when he came to Illinois in 1851 with his parents. John and Sarah ( Rayborn ) Jenkins. The father was born in Virginia, representing one of the old southern families, and throughout his active life be carried on farming. Upm coming to Hancock county he settled in Rock Creek township. where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, making his home thereon until 1862. He then removed to llar- mony township, trading his original farm for a tract of land in Harmony township. of two hundred and twenty acres which was partially improved. He gave his time and energies to its further development

for some years and then bought another place in Harmony township, after which he sold the other farm, residing upon the last purchased property for many years. Eventually, however, he went to Bentley. where he lived with one of his daughters until he was called to his final rest, passing away at the very advanced age of ninety- one years. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist church and a man of earnest Christian faith and character. His political support was given to the de- mocracy. In his business affairs he pros- pered and though he only had seventy- five dollars in money when he came to Illinois, he succeeded in rearing a large family, providing for them a comfortable living and acquiring a competency for his last years. His remains were interred in Ilarmony township cemetery. His wife. Who was born in Tennessee, grew to womanhood there. She was also a mem- ber of the Primitive Baptist church, and died about six years prior to her husband's demise. her grave being also made in Harmony township cemetery, Unto this worthy couple were born thirteen children. seven of whom are living.

Henry Jenkins remained upon the home farm until twenty-five years of age. no event of special importance occurring to vary the routine of farm life for him in his youth, his attention being divided between the work of the schoolroom, the duties of the fields and the pleasures of the playground. He was then married but continued to reside upon a part of the old homestead property for a few years. after which he removed to Missouri. where he resided for three years, engaged in farming during that time He then

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returned to Hancock county, Illinois, where he remained for five years in Har- mony township. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Knox county, Missouri, where he spent nine years, when he again came to Hancock county and purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Carthage township. Here he has lived continuous- ly, until recently. He bought the farm sixteen years ago and has placed thereon many improvements, securing the best ma- chinery for the development of the fields, adding many modern equipments and ac- cessories. He has a good frame dwelling and other buildings upon his place and devoted his time and energies to general farming and stock-raising, having good grades of stock. In September, 1906, Mr. Jenkins bought a residence on Scofield street, Carthage, and in October moved with his family to the city in order to give his sons better educational advan- tages.

At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Jenkins was married to Miss Pamily V. Mauk, who was born in Virginia and re- moved to Hancock county, Illinois, with her parents when a small child. Her father, Abram Mauk, came to this county in 1851, and followed the occupation of farming in Harmony township, where he lived until his death, which occurred when he was about fifty-five years of age. His wife died in Virginia. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have been born thirteen chil- dren, nine of whom are living : Robert, a · farmer residing at home : Ada, the wife of Robert E. Granger, a resident farmer of Hancock township, by whom she had seven children : Charles, May, Sarah. Clara and Roy, who are living, and two County.

who died in infancy ; John, a teamster of La Harpe, Kansas, who married Cora Willis; Sarah, the wife of Homer Rig- gens, a farmer residing in Hancock town- ship, by whom she has one daughter, Anna; Ollie, at home; Anna, married Jesse Ruddle, of Oak Grove, and has two sons, Leland H. and Roy T .; Lu- cinda Belle, who died at the age of twen- ty-four years; Harvey, Edward and Thomas, all at home; one who died at the age of eight years, while three died in infancy.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins are mem- bers of the Primitive Baptist church, and he votes with the democracy, but has never cared for public office, his time and attention being fully occupied with his business interests, which have been care- fully managed, and though his life has not been exempt from the difficulties and obstacles which usually come to all in a business career, he has overcome all these by determination and energy and is now the possessor of a valuable farm prop- erty which yields him a good income. He has also seen many improvements made in Hancock county during the long years of his residence here, and has done his full share in the work of citizenship. standing for progress and improvements along all those lines which are of direct and immediate serviceableness in the pro- motion of material, intellectual, social and moral progress.

Mr. Jenkins and his family richly de- serve the high esteem in which they are held by their many friends in the com- munity where they have so long resided. and they are well worthy of representation in the Biographical Review of Hancock

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VERRIEU'S R. FAUGIIT.

Verrieus R. Faught, for many years identified with general agricultural pur- suits and now doing business as a gar- dener at Hamilton, was born in New Madrid, Missouri. April 1. 1843. His parents were Sanford and Caroline ( Seavers) Faught. the former a native of Frankfort, Kentucky, and the latter of Baden, Germany. The mother was brought from Germany to Pennsylvania during her infancy. Her mother died when the daughter was quite young and she afterward lived with her father until her marriage, which was celebrated in Evansville, Indiana. Sanford Faught had been reared in Kentucky and in early manhood was married there. Two sons were born of the first marriage, but his wife and children all died in Kentucky. Following his marriage to Caroline Seavers he lived in New Madrid. Mis- souri, for a few months and afterward re- moved to Evansville. Indiana. and then to Keokuk. Towa, where he worked at his trade of house building, making his home there from 1849 until 1853. In the latter year, with his family, he took up his abode in what is now the western part of Hamilton, and purchased forty acres of land, which at that time was covered with a dense growth of timber. He cleared a portion of this and built a frame house, bringing the lumber across the river in a skiff. From the door of his house he could frequently see deer and wild turkeys. As the town of Ham- ilton grew he subdivided his land and soll it off in town lots. He was one of the promoters of the movements to secure the

first ferry to Keokuk and one of the in- fluential men of the town, a fact which is indicated in that the early name of the town was Faughtsburg, but after a few years it was changed to Hamilton. He measured off the first town lot in Hamil- ton with a tape line and from the earliest inception of the village until his death was closely identified with its growth and progress. He died March 24, 1856, and his wife, long surviving him, remained an esteemed resident of Hamilton until called to her final home on the 27th of June. 1903. The name of Sanford Faught, however, is inseparably inter- woven with the history of Hamilton and he will always be honored as one of its founders.

Verrieus R. Faught, the eldest in a family of two sons and four daughters. of whom two of the daughters and the brother of our subject are now deceased. spent his boyhood days in Hamilton, his parents removing to Hancock county when he was but a young lad. He pur- sued his education in the public schools and also attended a commercial college at Davenport, Iowa. He has watched the growth and development of Hamilton from a wilderness to a thriving city and has been a co-operant factor in many pro- gressive public movements. Ile assisted his parents on the home farm until the Ist of September. 1862, when he enlisted for active service in the Civil war as a member of Company D. Seventy-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was in the Fourteenth Army Corps in the Army of the Cumberland and participated in the Atlanta campiagn, the battle of Chick amanga and many other important en-

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gagements and in the celebrated march to the sea under General Sherman. He fought in the battles of Jonesboro, Georgia, September 1, 1864; Kingston, Tennessee : Chattanooga, November 25. 1863: Lookout Mountain ; Atlanta, Sep- tember 1. 1864: Savannah. Georgia; Evansboro, North Carolina; Rome and Resaca, Georgia: Kennesaw Mountain, June 27. 1864: and Bentonville, North Carolina. March 19, 1865. He was mus- tered out of service at Washington, D. C .. on the 2d of June, 1865, after almost three years of active duty in the south, and he proved his loyalty and bravery on various battlefields and under many of the arduous conditions which war brings.

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Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past, Part 12

Author: Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Hobart Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 806

Author:
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Hobart Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 806