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 32

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

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him with its early settlers, while his ac- tivity in agricultural and manufacturing lines gained him considerable prominence as well as a gratifying measure of success in his business dealings, so that he is now enabled to live retired in the enjoy- ment of a rest which he has justly earned and richly deserves.

SAMUEL C. VINCENT.

Samuel C. Vincent, deceased, came to Hancock county in 1844 and although he passed away in 1870 he is yet remem- bered by many of the older settlers who knew him and respected him as a man of genuine personal worth. He was born January 6, 1822, in West Avon, Living- ston county. New York, and attended school in Erie county, that state, but was largely self-educated. On the 8th of Oc- tober. 1843, he wedded Mary J. An- drews, who was born in Connecticut in 1821. In the spring of 1844 they re- moved to La Harpe, where for about ten years Mr. Vincent was engaged in teach- ing school. Soon after his arrival in this county, however. he purchased a tract of land, to which he added at inter- vals until at his death he owned one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in the cor- porate limits of La Harpe. He died An- gust 15, 1870, leaving a wife and six children. He was well known among the early settlers of this part of the county and his interests were closely allied with its progress and development,

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for he gave hearty support to any move- ment that tended to promote the material or moral welfare of his community.

The six children of the Vincent family are: Mary .A., born April 24. 1845. and now the wife of J. W. Cassingham; Maria Rosabel, who was born April 10. 1847. and is the wife of Farmer R. Nudd : Frances A., who was born February 10. 1850, and is the wife of Frank James. of Galesburg. Illinois: Byron Zelotus. who was born July 4. 1852, and is in Shenandoah. Towa: Judith Keziah, who was born July 8. 1855. and after her marriage to Charles Sanford died in De- cember. 1875: and Elma, who was born September 19. 1858, and died October 25. 1903. The mother. Mrs. Mary J. Vincent. passed away January 28. 1800.

The eldest daughter. Mary .A. Vin- cent. was educated in the public schools of La Harpe and at the age of fifteen began teaching, which profession she fol- lowed for fourteen years. She was then married, on the ist of July. 1874. 10 Cowden M. Bryan, who was born in Pennsylvania, June 16. 1830, a son of Jacob and Mary ( Bagsley) Bryan, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. Cowden M. Bryan came to La Harpe township with his parents about 1840 and lived upon a farm until 1857. when they removed to the village of 1 Harpe. He was a natural mechanic and possessed considerable genius in that di- rection. At different times he was call nected with photography, gunsmithing and the jewelry business and conducted a jewelry store in La Harpe for about fifteen years.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bryan was born

a daughter, June 1. Bram, when bort occurred March 27. 1875. and what the 21st of August, 1844, became 11 wife of Frank J. Scott, now a resident of Galesburg, Ilinois. The death of Mr Bryan occurred December 9. 1884. And on the 1st of October, 1888. bis wali became the wife of James W. Casing ham, of La Harpe township.

JAMES J. MOFFITT

Few native sons of Hancock county can claim so extended a residence within its borders as James J. Moffit, who was born on section ;. Sonora township. Feb ruary 15. 1831. This was the winter of the great snow in Illinois-memorable m the history of the county-and a year prior to the Black Hawk war, a fact which indicates that the Indians were still numerous in this part of the Misis sippi valley. His parents were John and Mary ( Moffit ) Moffit, natives of county Sligo, Ireland. The latter was a dangh ter of Thomas Moffit, who on a silny vessel crossed the Atlantic iem 'e Emerald isle to the new world, and to e his way to St. Louis In the Whe ther route and up the Mississippi he settled in St. clair comment. I vor ing on the river bottom by tee vel after which he returned to the staff it New York and took up ps alme Rochester. John Matin Tone of an subject. emigrated fron Tre040Et Aner ica in 1818, and settle sole les mer id

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Harrisburg. Pennsylvania, where he unbridged, the prairie was covered with worked at farm labor for two years. At its native grasses, the timber was uncut. and only here and there had a little clear- ing been made to show that the work of civilization had been begun on the fron- tier, while deer was plentiful and there were many wild animals roaming over the prairies or in the woods. The In- dians, too, were numerous and going upon the warpath. Mr. Moffitt, during the Black Hawk war, enlisted in the army under Captain James White. He partici- pated in the military movements that ended in the ejection of the savages and received a land warrant for his services. He afterward added to his land until he had about four hundred acres in Sonora township. He figured prominently in many events which are now recognized as of historic importance and lived in this locality throughout the period of the Mormon difficulty. He saw them estab- lish the city of Nauvoo, and later saw them driven from their homes and the Mormon temple destroyed by fire. He died March 15. 1853. while his wife long survived him, passing away March 17. 1881. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom three sons and three daughters reached mature years but the daughters are all now deceased. The liv- ing sons are: James J .: John, a lawyer of Chicago: and Thomas B., who is liv- ing on the old home place. the end of that time he journeyed west- ward with George Middleton and his un- cle. James Moffitt, going to Galena, Illi- nois, where he worked in the lead mines for three years. They then left that state in canoes, floating down the Mississippi river. Becoming hungry while thus mak- ing their way down the stream, they one evening saw a light. toward which they proceeded to make their way. It was upon the present site of the city of. Quincy, and on landing they found there a camp of Indians, so that they hastily made their departure. They continued on their way to St. Louis, and in a short time left that place for Rochester, New York, making the overland journey with ox teams. John Moffitt was married there about 1826 to Miss Mary Moffitt. and with his bride returned to St. Louis. where he resided until the fall of 1828. when he came to Hancock county, set- tling near Nauvoo. He entered from the government about three hundred and twenty acres of land on sections 7 and 18. Sonora township, most of which was at that time covered with timber. In the midst of the forest he built a log cabin and began clearing away the trees. As soon as it was possible to plow he would place his land under cultivation and in the course of time became the owner of a well developed property there. The year 1839 James J. Moffitt lived with his parents until 1852, sharing with the family in the hardships and privations of pioneer life. and aiding in the work of the fields when plowing, planting and harvesting were largely done by hand. for the improved farm machinery of the present day was witnessed the advent of the Mormons into that locality and he gave them some of his land that they might improve it. The pictures of pioneer life indicated exactly the conditions which existed in Hancock county at that period. The streams were

HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

then unknown. In 1852 he went to Cal ifornia, starting across the country with ox teams, and after getting near the mountains he traded his oxen for pack horses. At length the party with which he traveled reached Eldorado county. Colorado, where he remained for a year and a half. During that period his fa ther died. and his mother wishing him to return home, he made the journey in way of the Nicaragua route and up the Mississippi to Nauvoo. He then re- mained with his mother and established a general mercantile business in connection with T. J. Newton, his father-in-law. Three years later, on account of failing health, he retired from the store and took up his abode on his farm, which com- prised eighty acres of the oll homestead. He then bought forty acres from his sis- ter and subsequently made purchase of another tract, so that he owned altogether one hundred and seventy acres on section 7. Sonora township. In 1850 he erected a good frame residence thereon and has since made some additions to this house.

As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Moffitt chose Miss Saman- tha A. Newton, to whom he was married on the 13th of February, 1855. She was born in Erie, Pennsylvania. December 3. 1837, a daughter of Timothy J. and Fi- clelia ( Webster ) Moffitt, the former a na- tive of Erie and the latter of Fredonia. New York. She is also a granddaughter of Thomas and Mary ( Hillsgrove) New - ton, natives of England, and Ebenezer and Roxie (Benjamin) Webster, natives of New England. Mrs. Moffitt was the eldest of seven children and accompamed her parents on their removal from the

Keystone state ti Cantell oumb county, Ohne. A year Later fact In 1 residents of Rochester, lowa. Loro oct father engaged in merchandising. nd May, 1847. they took up their abul Nauvoo, where the following spring Mo Newton established a general mercalli d store, which he conducted success in hs until his death on the 4th of Lebru ry 1800. His wife long survivel him and died March 24. 1801. Unte Mr and Mrs. Moffitt were born seven children Ida E ... now of Billings, Montana; Fram- cis E .. who died at the age of one and a half years: Louis J., who is engaged in mining at Wallace, Idaho: Mary F. the wife of J. Henry Dover, a cattle dealer and horseman of Billings, Montana : James A., who died at the age of two years: Julia, the wife of J. F. Ochner, of Nauvoo; and Edward P., who is cashier in a bank at Anaconda, Montana.

Mr. Moffitt is a democrat an | has held the offices of assessor, collector and other local positions. His religion- faith is that of the Catholic church. The name of Moffitt has been interwoven with the history of the county since its earliest pioneer development, and he of whom we write has taken an active and helpful part in the progress and improvement from a very early period His mind bears the impress of many of the early historie annals of the county and lem relate many interesting incidents i the locality, when it was a frontier solo far removed from the glee souffel ill tricts of the east because of de Beek all rapid transportation factoids - mo 1 means of commumcati 9 hto the the "far west." in which there ne ct m

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BIOGRAPHICAL RET'IEN'

difficulties of pioneer life to be borne, while dangers were not lacking owing to the proximity of the red men and their opposition to the encroachments of the white race upon their hunting grounds. Mr. Moffitt has lived to see remarkable changes here and as a worthy pioneer set- tler deserves prominent mention in this volume.

WILLIAM K. SMITH, M. D.

Dr. William K. Smith, successfully en- gaged in the practice of medicine and sur- gery in La Harpe, was born in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of De- cember, 1844, of Scotch parentage.

Dr. Smith completed his more specific- ally literary education in a high school of Iowa and having determined upon the practice of medicine and surgery as a life work he prepared for his chosen calling in the College of Physicians and Sur- geons at Keokuk. Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1875. He had. how'- ever. been a student in the Chicago Med- ical College in the winter of 1867-8 but completed his medical training in Keo- kuk. He entered upon the active prac- tice of medicine in Mercer county, Illi- nois, and was a practitioner of Hender- son county, Illinois, from 1869 to 1883. when he came to La Harpe, where he has since built up a good business, having to- day an extensive patronage which is in- dlicative of the confidence reposed in his skill by the general public.

In carly manhood Dr. Smith enlisted

for service as a soldier of the Civil war in 1861, becoming a member of the Ninth Missouri Infantry, with which he served until the spring of 1862, when that regi- ment became the Fifty-ninth Illinois In- fantry. He continued at the front for three years and was honorably discharged in 1864 but was afterward attached to the cavalry bureau and did duty in the southwest and on the frontier until 1866. The same spirit of loyalty that he dis- played during the dark days of the Civil war has always been manifest in his citi- zenship.

In January, 1873. Dr. Smith was unit- ed in marriage to Miss Alice M. Hub- bard, who was born in Hatfield, Hamp- shire county, Massachusetts, a daughter of the Hon. Elisha and Cordelia (Ran- dall) Hubbard, who were natives of Massachusetts. Dr. and Mrs. Smith have now resided in La Harpe for twenty -. three years and have a wide acquaintance here, the hospitality of the best homes being cordially extended them. More- over Dr. Smith has the respect of his pro- fessional brethren, for he always closely adheres to a high standard of professional ethics and has that laudable ambition which prompts thorough and discrimi- nating study whereby his skill and effi- ciency are being continually increased.

WILLIAM L. WOODSIDE.

William L. Woodside, who for many years was connected with agricultural in-

HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

terests in Mcdonough county, Illinois, barn on the place no Valand wow !! but is now living retired in La Harpe ment sheds. He boug was born in Washington county, Vir- ginia, February 2, 1833, a son of John G and Jane Woodside, natives of Virginia and North Carolina respectively. Ilis paternal grandparents were James and Mary (Goliber ) Woodside, also natives of Virginia. The father was a farmer by occupation and at a very early period in the development of Illinois made his way across the country to this state from Virginia, being six weeks on the road. lle arrived in Blandinsville township. MeDonough county, November 16, 1833. and took up his abode in a little log cabin on section 9. securing the title to one hundred and sixty acres of land. Not a furrow had been turned or an improve- ment mide upon the farm and with char- acteristic energy he began its develop- ment, clearing away the timber and breaking the prairie land and in course of time the farm was developed into a good property, the fields yielding rich re- turns in bounteous harvests. There the father resided until his life's labors were ended in death on the 18th of March. 1853. and his wife survived until Sep tember 23. 1871. when she, too, was called to her final rest.

William 1. Woodside was the young est of a family of three sons and three daughters and is now the only one sur- viving. He was educated in the common schools of MeDonough county and after his father's death he purchased the inter- est of the other heirs in the old home stead property, which was then partially improved. In 1872 he built a large frame house. He also has a large hay and horse

times one hundred and fifteen due w loso is situated on the northwest one of the old home place. The land his heves han out of possession of the family and through the efforts of Mr. WongJade 200 his father has been converted mto a vem valuable and productive farm. manvi his business undertaking. he has been practical and progressive and his fibers have brought him very desirable success He continued to engage in general tar ing and stock raising intr October 2. 1899, when he was injured by t tree fill ing upon him, breaking his left leg and hurting him internally. He was coll fined to his bed all winter and on the ;th of March, 1900, the family removed to La Harpe, where he has since resuled lle remained upon the old homesfeil place from November to, 1833. until March, to00, covering a period of more than two thirds of a century. He still owns the farm, which he now rets ist six dollars per acre and this brings Jom a very gratifying income. On the 1st of March, root, he purchased his present residence on East Main street and 15 11 11 comfortably sitnated in a pleasant hene in La Harpe.

On the roth of April. 1850. Mr, W' -1 side was married to Miss Mary Isabel Frits, who was born in Monroe ch Indiana. August 24. 1830. 1 daughter of Captain James Frits, Who CHI Company F of the Sixteenth Ponds lo fantry in the Civil war .and : 1-e and loyal soldier Her me ber bec lla maiden name of Julli Ano Kem and o bom in Indiana, while Mr For vs

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native of Virginia. Mrs. Frits' parents were Conrad and Mary A. ( Berry) Kern. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Woodside have been born six children: Thomas Franklin, who was born April 1, 1860. and is living in Keokuk, Iowa: Emma Jane. born January 1, 1862, and now the wife of Nathan Ferris. of Blandinsville. Illinois; Sarah Louisa, born July 23. 1864, and now the wife of Joel Smith, of Walnut, Kansas: Mary Ella, born Jan- ary II, 1868: Jennie. May, who was born May 14, 1870, and is the wife of J. E. Quayle, of Orion, Illinois: Mina Alice, who was born October 18. 1874, and is the wife of Dr. C. H. Stockon, of Love- land. Colorado. The wife and mother passed away October 18, 1903. and was laid to rest in La Harpe cemetery. She was a most estimable lady and they had traveled life's journey together for forty- four years. Mr. Woodside is a member of the Christian church, in the work of which he has taken an active and helpful interest. He served as deacon of the church for many years and was clerk and treasurer for ten years. His political al- legiance has been given to the Republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he is a member of the Blue lodge of Masons and of the An- cient Order of United Workmen. His entire life has been passed in this section of Illinois and he has a wide acquaint- ance, having long been known as an en- terprising farmer and one thoroughly re- liable in all business transactions. His success is attributable in very large meas- ure to his own efforts and his persever- ance and energy have enabled him to work his way steadily upward until he is

now numbered among the men of afflu- ence living in La Harpe.

JOHN FAULKNER.

John Faulkner, a horticulturist and agriculturist living in Sonora township. is one of the worthy citizens that Penn- sylvania has furnished to Hancock county. His birth occurred in Chester county of the Keystone state, on the 6th of June, 1839. and he comes of Irish and German lineage. The paternal grandfa- ther, a native of the Emerald isle, took up his abode in New Jersey in the latter part of the eighteenth century and died soon afterward. His son, James Faulkner. was born in Ireland and came to the United States when only eighteen months old. When about fifteen years old he went to sea and for five years was upon the water. He was afterward married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Miss Catherine Kimes, who was born in Penn- sylvania and was a daughter of Jacob Kimes, a native of Germany. The young couple began their domestic life in the Keystone state and James Faulkner worked at the shoemaker's trade, which he had learned after leaving the sea. In the spring of 1844, however, he made his way westward to Nauvoo but on reach- ing his destination he found things very different than had been reported and in consequence thereof he removed to An- gusta. where he lived until 1848. when he returned to Nauvoo. Not long after-

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IL.INCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

ward he purchased sixty acres of land on section 6. Sonora township, and ninety acres in Appanoose township, where he carried on general farming and also raised stock. Thus his life was one of activity and his industry was to him a source of gratifying income. He died December 28, 1870, and was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery, at Nauvoo, on the first day of the year. 1871. His wife survived him for exactly fifteen years. passing away on the 28th of December. 1885. In their family were the follow - ing named: Ellen, who died the wife of Martin Roser. Mrs. Sarah Ritter, of Fort Madison, Iowa: John, of this re- view: Mrs. Catherine Fulton. of Su- nora township; and Mrs Mary Webber. of Las Vegas, New Mexico.

John Faulkner was only about six years of age when his parents removed from Pennsylvania to Hancock county. so that his education was acquired in the common schools of this part of the state. He always remained at home with his parents and following their death he pur- chased the interest of the other heirs in the old home property, since which time he has resided upon and conducted the farm. Hle raises peaches and grapes. having six acres planted to both fruits. He has followed farming with the best methods of carrying on agricultural pair- suits and has made a close study of the work of cultivating fruit trees, so as to produce the best results. He and his fa- ther built a house of stone taken from their place, and he also has a large barn thirty-two by thirty six feet with st ile basement.

On the 7th of October. 18;1. Mir

Faulkner was part of Do A + 1-110 Ward, who was born to Abdiffe umn. Ohio, August 3. 0850. & daily ter i James and Margaret ( 1Stkes ) \\ natives of Ireland and New Jersey - spectively, the latter a daughter of ve phen A. Striker. Mr. and Mrs Ware were married in Ohio in isti, and for some years he engaged in merchandising in Middletown. In 1852, however, le closed out his business interests in the Buckeye state and came to Nantes, after living for one year at Montrere, where he conducted a tavern. Subsequent to his abode in Nauvoo, he lived retired His wife died May 12. 1852, while he survived until February 1. 1874 Each had been previously married, this being their second union. Mr. Ward had three children by his first wife, and she had two children by her first husband. There were four children by the second union : Ella. the wife of Fred Hellerrich, of Louis ville, Kentucky: Lamia S., the wife "i Frank Brown, of Marion county, Mis- souri ; and Charles and Lillian, twins, but the former died in infancy.

The home of Mr. and Mrs Faulkner was blessed with nine children: Mary. who was born August 20, 1872, and 15 the wife of Thomas G. Kelly, of Rock Creek township: James, who was barn February 16, 1874, and is now having " Carthage: John, who was bory April 18,6, and resides in Somers township Helen, born July 19. 1878: William. wipe was born November 5. 1880. 201 15 cated in Namon: Messing who was b December 10. 1882 and at The Thomas, who was born April Is. and died in December 1856 Igen

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· born July 1. 1889: and Henry. August 8. 1891. The family are communicants of the Catholic church at Nauvoo, and Mr. Faulkner's political support is given to the Democratic party. More than six decades have passed since he came to this county and he has. therefore witnessed the greater part of its growth and de- velopment. for the work of progress had been scarcely begun when he took up his abode within its borders. He has vivid recollections of the typical pioneer con- ditions, for in his youth much land was still uncultivated, while the log cabin was no unusual feature in the landscape. Now these primitive homes have been re- placed by substantial farm residences and there is every evidence of advancement along agricultural and horticultural lines as well as industrial and commercial pursuits.

HUGH JACKSON.

Hugh Jackson, a prominent and pro- gressive farmer, owning one hundred and forty acres of valuable land situated on section 23. Appanoose township, is a na- tive of Fulton county. New York, his na- tal day being September 23. 1837. His parents, James and Mary ( Ferguson) Jackson, were natives of Scotland. the father born near Glasgow, while the mother's birth occurred on the island of Bute. The paternal grandparents were James and Bell ( Thompson) Jackson. and the maternal grandparents were Hugh and Catherine ( McFarlane ) Fer-

guson, who located in Fulton county, New York, about 1830. where he en- gaged in general agricultural pursuits. The father of our subject emigrated from Scotland to America in 1832. his destina- tion being Fulton county. in the Empire state, where he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ferguson. Here he engaged in farming until 1840, when he removed to Albany county, where his death oc- curred in November, 1861. His widow then came to Hancock county in 1862, where she passed away in July. 1885. In their family were nine children : James, who died at the age of twenty-two years ; Hugh, of this review : Peter. of Carthage township. Hancock county: John and Robert. both residents of Appanoose township: William. of Orange county. California : Miller, who was drowned in the Mississippi river in 1867: Lansing, living near Durango. New Mexico: and Catherine, who makes her home with her brothers. John and Robert. in Appanoose township.

Hugh Jackson, whose name intro- chuces this record, acquired his education in the district schools of New York, and was there reared to farm life, assisting his father in the operation of the home farm until nineteen years of age. when he came to Hancock county, where he worked at farm labor, being in the em- ploy of others until 1862. Saving his earnings, he was at that time able to make purchase of land and engage in farming on his own account. He first bought eighty acres situated on section 23. Appanoose township, which at that time was wild prairie. He improved his land. and placed the fields under cul-

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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 32

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