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 30
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ceased. Edward M. is a resident of Cen- terville, lowa. Of this family Charles A. Gilchrist enlisted for service in the Tenth Missouri Infantry in the Civil war. join- ing the army as a captain. He served for five years and was mustered out with the rank of brigadier general, being then in command of the Fiftieth Regiment of Missouri Colored Troops. Edward M. was also a soldier in the Civil war.
After the parents removed to Illinois, Mrs. Ferris and her brothers, Charles A. and VanBrugh Gilchrist, were sent back to New York to be educated, and attended the private school conducted by Miss Hol- ton. for four years. She was an aunt of Mrs. Ferris and her school was then lo- cated at No. 1I Amity street in New York city. When Mrs. Ferris returned home she brought with .her a piano, which was the first one in McDonough county, and it is still in her possession. It is a square piano, having six beautiful carved legs and is much narrower than the square pianos were ordinarily made. It was manufactured by J. Thurston some time between the years 1812 and 1817. This piano was shipped from New York to New Orleans, thence up the Mississippi river to Warsaw, and from there hauled to McDonough county. Mrs. Ferris's children, grandchildren and friends still love to hear her play the old-time melodies with which she became familiar in her girlhood days.
U'nto Dr. and Mrs. Ferris were born ten children, all born in the old home in Fountain Green township. Fidelia, the eldest, died in childhood. Dr. Charles 1. Ferris, of Carthage, the second in order of birth, is a graduate of the Rush Med
ical College. He married Ella Connor, of Warsaw, this county, and they have two children. Helen I., a graduate of Carthage College and now principal of the high school in Mt. Carroll, Illinois : and Ruth A. Lelia, the third member of the family. is the wife of Edward Lionberger, of Fountain Green township, and they have four children. Fay. Gay, John and Edith. Delia died in childhood. Alice Lovina is the wife of Charles R. Martin, of Car- thage township, and has two sons, Leon- ard Ferris and Edward Stephen Martin. John Milton died in childhood. Ulysses Stephen lived in Carthage township. wed- ded Miss Mary White and has one son, Wilber White Ferris. Ralph William married Carrie Banks, lives on a farm in Fountain Green township and has one child. Frances. Mary H. Ferris is at home with her mother. Hiram Gano is traveling for Irwin Neisler, a druggist, of Decatur, Illinois. The death of Dr. Fer- ris occurred on the 19th of July, 1900, when he was eighty-three years of age. In politics he was a republican. inflexible in support of the party from the time of its organization, but his father, his brother, and his brothers-in-law were all democrats. He served as town clerk. as collector and as school director for many years and was instrumental in building the brick school -. house at Fountain Green, superintending the construction of the same. Fraternally he was a Mason, joining the lodge in Ma- comb, McDonough county, in 1849. He became a charter member of Carthage lodge, in which he passed all of the chairs. His remains were interred in Fountain Green township by the side of his parents and all of the Ferris relatives. There was
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allotted to hun a long life, which was char- acterized by usefulness and honor and his name was to many a synonym of all that is straightforward and upright in life. He and his wife not only celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary but also their fiftieth wedding anniversary, on which occasion their children and grand- children were present. They traveled life's journey happily together for many long years and theirs was largely an ideal married relation. After Dr. Ferris passed away Mrs. Ferris lived in the old home- stead, which was in the same yard as the Doctor's office in Fountain Green. There she remained until 1902, when she re- moved to Carthage, purchasing a home on Madison street, which she has since great- ly improved. She and her daughters. Mary H. and Mrs. Martin, are all devoted members of the Presbyterian church and likewise belong to the Daughters of the American Revolution, in which order Mary Helen has been the efficient record- ing secretary for the past three years. Mrs. Ferris is a lady whom it is a rare pleasure to meet. for she possesses a true. warm heart for all mankind and strong. native intelligence and a retentive mem- ory combined with innate culture and re- finement. She also possesses a marked wit and jovial disposition and her kindly humor serves to draw to her all with whom she is brought in contact. She is vet actively interested in matters of pub- lie moment and she deserves prominent mention in this volume among the rest dents who have lived in this part of Ill nois from pioneer times. She celebrated her seventy-fifth birthday October 23. 1906, when fourteen ladies from !!
five to seventy five years of age Were present.
MARTIN A. HENRY
Martin A. Henry, mimbered among the veterans of the Civil War, who is now living a retired life in Augusta, for many years was actively identified with agri- cultural interests. He is a native of Brown county, Illinois, born on the moth day of February, 18.14. and there be re- sided until about twenty years ago, when he came to Angusta. He acquired his education in the common schools of las native county, where he was reared to manhood, and assisted in the operation of his father's farm. He is a son of Rob ert 1 .. and Mary A. (Langdon) Henry The former was born in the state of New York, and the latter in Kentucky. Mr. Henry arrived in Illinois in 1820, and his wife came a few years later. They were married in Brown county, this state. which was then a part of Schuyler county. and throughout his entire life Mr Henry carried on general agricultural pursuits and also worked at the cooper's trade Following the death of his wife he Thel with his children and spent his last days . in Fulton county. Illinois, where he passed away at the age of eighty von He held membership in the Freshterm church, while his wife was . des 'el member of the Baptist church Pet were laid to rest in Brown min !!! nois. In their family were ter collien but only two are now Bring, they melder
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brother being Hiram Henry, of Fulton county. Illinois.
As before stated, Martin A. Henry was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, early becoming familiar with all the work incident to the development and cultiva- tion of the fields. When twenty-three years of age he started out in life on his own account and was engaged in farming for some years. He continued actively in that occupation until 1885. when he sold his farm and removed to Augusta. He had been enterprising and progressive in his methods, tilling the soil and cultivat- ing his crops, and gained thereby a com- fortable competence, finding a ready sale on the market for all of his farm prod- 11cts. His labors as an agriculturist were uninterrupted save when on the 9th of August. 1862. he responded to the coun- try's call for troops, enlisting as a mem- ber of Company D. One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Infantry. He contin- ued at the front until the close of the war and took part in many of the principal en- gagements of the Western Army. be- ing frequently under fire. He was mus- tered out at Mobile, Alabama, on the ISth of August. 1865, and received an hon- orable discharge at Springfield. He held the rank of corporal and at the time he was mustered out was a sergeant. He now maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his member- ship in Union post. No. 302. G. A. R. at Augusta, of which he has been com- mander for five terms and is now acting as quartermaster of the post.
Mr. IJenry was first married on the ist of December. 1866. to Miss Mary C. Cox. who was born in Brown county, Illinois,
a daughter of James Cox, one of the early settlers of that locality. Mr. Cox was a native of Kentucky and reared his fam- ily in Brown county, where Mrs. Henry acquired her education. She died there on the 8th of August, 1870, at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving two chil- dren, Mertie M. and Joseph E. The daughter is the wife of Albert H. Kin- ney, of Lavonia. New York, where he is engaged in merchandising. Joseph E. Henry resides in St. Louis, Missouri, where he is head shipping clerk for the Medart Patent Pulley Company. He was born in Brown county, as was his sister. and he married Ellen Walsh, by whom he has two children, Herbert R. and Isabelle. For his second wife Mr. Henry chose Eliza J. Burgesser, a daughter of George WV. and Margaret (Thomas) Burgesser. both natives of Pennsylvania. In 1844 her parents came to the west, locating in . Brown county, Illinois, where her father followed farming, and there they resided until called to their final rest. Mrs. Henry was born in Adams county. Ohio. but was reared and educated in Brown county. Illinois, being only four years of age at the time of her parents' removal to this state. She was first married to Charles Todd. of Springfield, Illinois, who died leaving a son, Ala, who died when twenty-five years of age. By the present marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Henry there are three children: Robert E., re- siding at home, is the principal of the schools at West Point, Illinois. Lettie is a teacher at Warsaw, this state. How- ard M. died when eight years of age.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Henry are consist- ent members of the Methodist church
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and he gives his political support to the Republican party. He served as a mem- ber of the town board for two years and has been street commissioner of Augusta for the past thirteen years. He is hokl- ing that position at the present time, and is a capable official. manifesting the same loyalty whether in public office or ont of it that he displayed when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefiekls and defended the Union cause. Ilis busi- ness activity in former years was crowned with a measure of success that now en- ables him to live retired and he is spend- ing his days pleasantly in Augusta amid many friends, who entertain for him warm regard.
W. H. AND J. A. PLUMB.
W. H. and J. A. Plumb, the president and secretary respectively of Plumb Brothers Brick & Tile Company, with offices at Carthage, are prominent repre- sentatives of industrial activity in this county. The factory is located in Pilot Grove township, between Burnside and Carthage and is devoted to the manufac- ture of brick and tile. The business has been conducted by the present company for about four years and the plant bas three kilns which turn out about fifty thousand brick or twenty thousand tile of high grade every week. The com pany is incorporated and since its estab lishment has borne an unassailable repu tation in business circles by reason of the
honorable methods instituted and also by reason of the excellence of its product
William 11. Plumb. one of the active members of the corporation and the pres ident of the company, was born in Int ton county, Illinois, July 17. 1862. His parents are Thomas J. and Elizabeth (.Anderson ) Plumb. The father, a native of London, England, came alone to the United States when fourteen years of age and with brave spirit and resolute pur- pose sought to earn a living in the new world, thinking that he might enjoy bet ter business opportunities on this side of the Atlantic. One of his first positions was assistant to the cook on a Missis sippi river steamboat, and he gradually made advancement in the business world until he became connected with the coal mining interests of Illinois, continuing in that field of activity until his death, which occurred at Bernadotte. Fulton county. this state, when he had reached the age of fifty-one years. His widow still sur vives and resides in Baseo, Hancock county, at about the age of seventy years. being now the wife of William lien- dricks, a retired farmer.
William 11. Plumb pursued his eu- cation in the public schools of Fulton community and became a resident of Hancock county in 1881. For two or three ve is thereafter he was located in Baseenund then removed to Carthage, where, in con nection with his brother, he engaged 1 the manufacture of brick and tile jup about twelve years, so that he had broad practical experience when they are dal the present company and remove l to P't lot Grove township, where they resist
William Il Plumb was mantel 11
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1897 to Mrs. Laura E. Taylor, who was born in Bear Creek township and was ed- ucated there. she bearing the maiden name of Laura E. Fisher, and was a daugliter of Greenberry Fisher, one of the early settlers of the county. She was the widow of Joseph Taylor, by whom she had two children, Alta and Gertie, the latter now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Plumb has been born one child. Norvin. Mr. Plumb is a democrat in his political views and he belongs to the Hancock County Mutuals-a fraternal insurance order.
John A. Plumb, who is associated with his brother in the manufacture of brick and tile as secretary of the company. was born in Fulton county, Illinois, November 8. 1864, and was educated in the common schools. Since attaining his majority he has been associated with his brother Wil- liam in the line of business in which they are still engaged. They have a well equipped plant, supplied with all modern machinery, and the output is of such a quality as to command a ready sale on the market and bring the highest prices. The office of the company is located in Car- thage but the factory is situated in Pilot Grove township. George W. Jones is treasurer of the company but the Plumb Brothers hold the greater amount of stock, and the enterprise has gained a place among the leading manufacturing interests of the county.
John A. Phumnb was married to Miss Katie Morris, a daughter of O. P. Mor- ris, of Dallas City. Illinois, and the 110 families are prominent socially, while in business circles the brothers have gained a most commendable place. They have
the enterprise and determination which enable them to overcome difficulties and to solve intricate business problems and their history illustrates the possibilities that are open in this country to earnest. persistent young men who have the cour- age of their convictions and are deter- mined to be the architects of their own fortunes.'
JOHN H. CRABILL.
John H. Crabill. a prosperous and pro- gressive farmer of Fountain Green town- ship, claims Ohio as the place of his na- tivity, his birth having occurred in Cham- paign county. September 12, 1837, and in the paternal line he comes of German ancestry, his paternal great-grandfather. Jacob Crabill. having been born in the fatherland, while his paternal grandpar- ents, Jolin H. and Mary ( Rhodes) Cra- bill, were natives of Virginia, and his maternal grandparents, John and Eliza- beth ( Pence) Steimberger, were natives of Maryland and Virginia respectively. His parents, Benjamin S. and Angeline (Steimberger) Crabill. were natives of Culpepper county. Virginia, and Cham- paign county. Ohio, the former born in 1816, while the latter was born in 1814. They were married in the Buckeye state. where the father engaged in farming pur- suits until 1849. when he made an over- land journey to this township, the trip covering a period of twenty-two days. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land located on section 5. and
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HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
owned by William Dann, one-half of the tract being covered with timber, while an old frame house was the only building that stond on the place. He at once set to work to further clear and develop the land and made many improvements in the way of fences and buildings. In 1858 he erected a large brick residence, and he burned the brick on his place which was used in the construction of the house. From time to time he also increased the boundaries of his farm by adding at dif- ferent times two eighty-acre tracts, so that in all he owned three hundred and twenty acres all in one body, this being placed under a very high state of culti vation, so that he annually gathered abundant harvests. He was a very prom- inent and influential man in his part of the country, and his integrity and honesty were never called into question, for he was noted for his reliability and trust- worthiness. His death occurred in 1896. while his wife had passed away several years previous to that time, her death oc- curring in January, 1880.
John 11. Crabill is the eldest of five sons and two daughters, of whom one son and both daughters have passed away. He was reared in Ohio to the age of twelve years, where he attended the Runkel district school, and then ac- companied his parents on their removal to this state, where he continued his studies in the Rossville district school in this township, near his father's home. He remained under the paternal roof until twenty-four years of age, assisting his fa ther in clearing and developing new land. so that he early became familiar with all the duties and labors of the farm, and
shared with the family in the hardsays and privations, as well as the pleasures of at frontier existence.
Choosing as a companion and helpmate for life's journey, he mas married, Octo ber 10, 1861, to Miss Prudence Esperot. likewise a native of the Buckeye state. her birth having occurred in Muskingum county. December 10, 1842. a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Dunlap) Tipton. natives of Maryland and Ohio respective ly. Her mother died in 1845, when the daughter was a little maiden of three years, and the father was afterward mar ried again. his second union being with Margaret Lloyd, a native of Ohio, where they were married, and in 1850 the ia- ther removed with his family to Illinois. their home being established in MeDon- ugh county, where the father passed away about 1888, while his widow sur vived umtil 1880. when she too, passed away.
Following this marriage Mr. Crabill located on a farm on section 34. La Harpe township, which he operated for one year. when he removed to Sheridan county. Missouri, remaining there one year, after which he returned to Ilinois and operated leased land in MeDonough and Hancock counties for eleven years, when, in 1872. he returned to the old homestead farm and continued his farming operations there until the time of his father's death. when he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the estate, and has hice continued his residence to the present time. He has continued the work . i de Velopment and improvement which we begun In his father and now las an up to date and well impressed farm pro pels
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From time to time he has added to his landed possessions and now owns two hundred and six acres all in one body, lying on section 5. Fountain Green town- ship. and at one time he owned eighty acres on section 4, but has since disposed of this to his son Frank. In addition to carrying on general farming pursuits. Mr. Crabill is also engaged quite exten- sively in raising stock, including Norman horses, Short Horn cattle and Poland- China hogs, and this branch of his busi- ness is proving a profitable source of rev- enue to him.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born five sons and five daughters. namely: Ida, now the wife of J. W. Ketchum, of Durham township: Ella, at home: Benjamin, of Fountain Green township; Emma. the widow of William Burrow. who likewise resides in this township; Frank, who owns and operates a farm in this township; Mary, the wife of Edward Rich, of this township: Janic and Fred. at home : Mahlon, who lives in this township: and Ray, at home.
Politically a democrat. Mr. Crabill has taken a deep and helpful interest in the work of the party. having served three terms as assessor, while for twelve years he acted as school director. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order. belonging to the lodge at La Harpe, and is popular among the brethren of the craft. Having resided in Illinois since the age of twelve years, which covers a period of more than a half century, the greater portion of which has been spent in Hancock county, he has here a very wide and favorable ac- quantance, for the name of Crabill has long been associated with the develop
ment and improvement of this portion of the state. He is ever reliable in all trade transactions and has won the confidence and good will of all with whom he has come in contact and is accounted one of the representative agriculturists of this county.
ROBERT C. GIBSON.
Robert C. Gibson is the owner of one of one of the model farm properties of Hancock county, situated in Pilot Grove township, and is also engaged in general merchandising and in the hardware busi- ness at Burnside under the firm name of R. C. Gibson & Company. He is like- wise one of the extensive landowners of the county and is a factor in its finan- cial circles. The extent and importance of his interests make him one of the fore- most representatives of business interests in this part of the state, and while promot- ing individual success he has at the same time contributed to general progress and prosperity, which are ever dependent upon the activity and enterprise of the leading business men of the community.
Mr. Gibson was born on section 27. Pilot Grove township. Hancock county. August 11. 1850. and in the common schools of the township acquired his edu- cation, while spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents. James and An- geline (Bennett) Gibson. The father. a native of Ireland, came to this country with his father. the mother having died on the Emerald isle. He was at that time
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only three years of age. The grandia- ther of our subject settled in New York and there engaged in farming and also worked on the canal. When still a young lad James Gibson also began working on the canal and was there employed until about eighteen years of age. He at first was driver on a packetboat and afterward worked on what was called a scow boat. utilized in dredging out and repairing the canal. He continued in that labor until twenty-three years of age, when he was married and came to the middle west, lo- cating first near Rushville in Schuyler county, Illinois, where he spent a few months. He afterward went to Ray county, Missouri, where he remained for about two years, and then became a resi- dent of MeDonough county, Illinois, where he purchased land and made his home for about three years. On the ex- piration of that period he took up his abode on section 27. Pilot Grove town- ship. Hancock county, and invested in eighty acres of land upon which he made his home, residing there for about forty years. When the four decades had passed be removed to section 16 of the same township, where he lived for fifteen years and afterward located at Burnside, where for eight years he lived retired from ac- tive business cares. His life had been one of untiring activity and enterprise through a long period and he well merited the rest which came to him in the evening of his days. He died at Burnside at the age of eighty-nine years and was a re- spected resident of the locality. for he was a faithful member of the Christian church and had lived in harmony with
litical support was given to the demic racy. His wife passed away in 1800, at the age of forty-four years. She, tom, was a member of the Christian church and both lie buried in Mckay cemetery. They were the parents of four children of whom two are now living.
Born and reared on the old homestead Robert C. Gibson continued to reside there until five years ago, when he pur- chased his present farm just north of the village of Burnside, comprising one hun- dred and thirty-six acres. He has placed all of the improvements upon it and has a model farm, on which he raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. He also engages in stock raising and has fed from one hundred to five hundred head of cattle annually for the past thirty years. He has likewise made investment in property that has proved profitable and is today the owner of cleven hundred and forty acres of the rich farming land of Hancock county, all of which is well im proved. the greater part being in Pilot Grove township. He therefore stands as one of the leading representatives of agri cultural interests, and his success is rich ly merited, having come to him through capable business management. unfalter ing industry and close application. In addition to his farming interests he his many other business enterprises under his control. Being a man of resourcetul alt ity he readily recognizes and ut hires the opportunities which surround all He engages in general merchandising al also in the hardware business at Hin dle under the firm style of R C Gh Company For two years he was a d its teachings and his professions. His po- president of the State Bank of Boorde
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