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 58
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HANCOCK COUNTY ILLINOIS
continuously since, of for three years. Ile was administrator of his father's e- tate, has also acted as administrator. guardian, trustee and conservator of many estates for many years and in this connection has settled many intricate business problems.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones has been born a som. Emmanuel W., whose birth occurred in Hancock county, March 31. 1871. Ile pursued his education here. passing through successive grades until he had completed the high school work. and he also attended a year and a half at Carthage College. He afterward at- tended Eureka College at Eureka. Illi- nois, for nearly two years, when his health failed and he returned home. He is a carpenter and contractor and is an expert mechanic. He spent six years working at his trade in Omaha, Nebraska, with a prominent builder, going there in 1899 or 1900. During the winter of 1905-06 he worked on the tax books at Carthage. He wedded Miss Mary Chris- tensen, at Council Bluffs, Iowa. in 1903. and they make their home in Carthage. Like his father he is a stalwart democrat and is a man of good education.
Both Judge Jones and his wife are con- sistent members of the Christian church. He became identified therewith October 26. 1862, and beginning in 1873 he served for two years as an elder in Oak Grove church and was also assistant superin- tendent of the Sunday school for one year and superintendent for one year of that school. He served as deacon in the church at Carthage from 1877 umtil 1879 and since that time has been elder, being again and again re-elected. He was assistant s11-
perintendent of the Sunlt . no1 . thage for three years and a half and for many years has been superintendent and continuously has served as a teacher when not in the former position. He has also been church treasurer, and in fact has la- bored untiringly for the benefit of the church whether in office or out of it and has contributed in direct measure to its improvement. His wife is also deeply m- terested in the church, sharing with him in all of his work in its behalf. Mr. Jones is an honored member of the Odd Fellow - society, belonging to Bentley lodge. No. 412, of which he served as secretary for two years. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 388. and for five terms has served as keeper of the records and has been both chancellor commander and vice chancellor.
Judge Jones has spent nearly his entire life in this county and few men are more widely known and none are held in higher esteem because of a life of uprightnes -. honor, integrity and kindly purpose. His life has been filled with many good deeds and benevolent actions. He is pleasant and genial and the number of his friends is almost co-extensive with the number of his acquaintances.
EMMANUEL JONES
Emmanuel Jones, deceased. was born in Reiley township. Butler county, Ohio. December 25. 1813, and was a son of Nicholas and Mary ( Farnsworth ) Jones
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who removed from Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio after the war of 1812. in which Nicholas Jones had participated. He had three brothers who served in that war, under General Anthony Wayne. On removing west- ward to Ohio Nicholas Jones arrived at Cincinnati, Ohio, which was a village of log cabins on the bottom then called Lo- santville. He did not like it there. He then went back thirty miles and settled in the midst of a timbered tract in Butler county. three miles south of where Ox- ford now stands. the trees growing so thick that it was necessary to remove them before he could build a log cabin. The family there lived in true pioneer style. There was no glass for windows and instead greased paper was used. In the cabin were large. broad chimneys and they hung their candles in the chimneys so the Indians could not see the lights. for the red men were still numerous in the neighborhood and were a constant menace to life and property. The first tax which Nicholas Jones paid was fifty cents on his quarter section of land. He won the half dollar by driving a heifer which a neighbor had sold to a man at the county-seat. a distance of ten miles, but while walking back home he lost the money. There were many privations and hardships incident to pioneer life which were borne by the family but as the years passed they succeeded in converting the place into a good and well improved farm.
Emmanuel Jones spent his boyhood days upon the old homestead farm in Butler county and in his youth learned the trade of a carpenter and millwright.
He afterward spent ten years in Venice, Ohio, and in May, 1856, removed west- ward to Carthage, Illinois, where he re- sided continuously until his death, which occurred in 1900. He was a fife major in the second regiment of the Third Battalion of the Ohio Militia. This com- mission was dated September 14, 1831. He played the fife throughout his entire life, his services in that direction being much in demand at different celebrations. He did duty as a fifer under Colonel Griffin Halstead. the father of Murat Halstead. of Cincinnati, Ohio, the official historian of the war department. Mr. Jones received his appointment as fifer from L. D. Kennard, lieutenant colonel, attested by L. D. Campbell, adjutant and the commission papers are now in posses- sion of his son, Judge George W. Jones. of Carthage. (This commission was dated Hamilton, Ohio, October 17. 1835). In the year 1857. Emmanuel Jones served as collector in Hancock township. Han- cock county, and he was in many ways identified with the public life of the com- munity and the development and prog- ress of this portion of the state. He was also one of the school trustees of said township.
In early manhood Emmanuel Jones was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Rees, a daughter of John Rees, who came from Wales to America in company with a brother in the latter part of the eight- centh century. They landed in New York and John Rees at once associated himself with the English people of the new world. so as to become familiar with the language spoken. He worked for a man who was a whig. One day his land-
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lord asked him how he was going to vote. telling him the whigs were in favor of the landlords. Rees replied "If that is the case I will not investigate farther but will vote against them" and so voted the democratie ticket all his life. He was married in New York to Miss Sarah Lloyd and together with his brother they removed to Kentucky, where Mrs. Rees died. John Rees afterward welded Miss Ann Laing and removed to Rossville. Ohio, which is now a part of West Hamil- ton, Ohio. There he worked at his trade of blacksmithing, which he had perfected in a seven years' apprenticeship in Wales. After a residence of several years in Hamilton, Butler county, he took up his abode upon a farm in Butler township. that county, where he conducted a black- smith shop and also carried on general farming until he retired from active busi- ness life. He was influential in commu- nity affairs and served as assessor for many years in Ohio. He was also cap- tain in one of the old militia companies and was always known by that title. He came to America in order to escape com- pulsory military service in the English army but was so well pleased with the country that he never returned. The last letter he ever received from home was written by his mother, who was then one hundred and five years of age. He died in 1853, at the age of seventy-six years. George W. Jones has in his pos- session the Bible in the Welsh language that was given to John Rees by his mother when he left Wales. It was his daugh- ter. Mary Ann, who became the wife of Emmanuel Jones. Her grandmother. Sarah Chamberlain, who married John
Laing, at one time kept the Ameno's and British from meeting at her helle m New Jersey, being at that time a little girl. When the British marauder- self around over the country demanding everything thất they cared to the, they saw her one day out in the yard and toll her they wanted honey. She advised them to go to the house for it but instead of that they knocked the hives to preces and took the honey. Mrs. ( Chamberlain) Laing also remembered of seeing General Washington. She died in Union county. Indiana, when between ninety-seven and ninety-eight years of age. Mrs. Lamg's mother's maiden name was Hannah Lawrence. Her ancestors had settled on Long Island at a very early day, one of them being John Lawrence, an English man.
Mary Ann Rees, wife of Emmanuel Jones, was born in Rossville, now West Hamilton, Ohio. April 7. 1818, and on the 12th of March, 1835. gave her hand in marriage to Mr Jones, with whom she lived happily for fifty six years. She. with her husband, became members of the Christian church in 1857, being bap tized by Elder Thomas S. Brockman, in Crooked creek near their home. She was a kind-hearted woman, was never known to do an unkindly act in her life and she was greatly beloved by all. Her funeral sermon as well as that of her husband was preached by Elder Charles Scotich Mr and Mrs. Jones became the parents of i me children, of whom four are now hung: George W., mentioned chewhere m t- work : Jerome B. who is living in (if thage township: Anna M. the wie of Alfred Adams, who resides upon the del
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homestead farm in Hancock township; and Tylee R. Jones, who is living with his sister on the old homestead. The parents were devoted members of the Christian church. in which Mr. Jones served as an elder for thirty years. In the work of the church they took a very active and helpful part and their influ- ence proved a potent element for good. Mr. Jones was a quiet unostentatious man and good citizen, who was well respected by all who knew him. A devoted chris- tian gentleman. he did much to promote the cause of the church at Oak Grove and largely aided in the erection of the sub- stantial frame building there. He fur- nished every piece of timber for the frame work and heavy sills and hauled them to the place of building over a miserably poor road for a distance of four or five miles, in which he had to cross two creeks. The timber was hewed by George W. Jones and his brother and was framed for the church by the father. He also worked by the day as a carpenter on the building. likewise gave money for its con- struction and was never known to refuse a call for aid in worthy christian work or benevolent purpose. He was one of the first converts under the teaching of General T. S. Brockman in 1857 and throughout his entire life his actions were guided by high purpose and worthy mo- tives. His christianity was not in reserve for Sunday use but permeated his every- day life and work and found exemplifi- cation in his business. He was a very industrious man and could never be in- duced to execute a poor job. He was always at work, rain or shine, and did all of the work for Norman Hobart, who
had the best mill ever erected in the county. He also built other mills and he wove thousands of yards of carpet. operating looms in an early day. A man of domestic tastes he had great love for his home and in his family displayed the most kindly. generous spirit. All who knew him respected him for his genuine worth and his history well deserves men- tion in this volume, as he was one of the early settlers of the county and did much to promote its upbuilding and develop- ment.
He and his wife lived upon the farm until their children prevailed upon them to leave it and take up their abode in Car- thage, where they remained until called to their final rest. They experienced many privations and hardships during their early life as pioneers in Illinois. He first built his house on the hill at the advice of friends but had to move it down. so that the neighbors hitched twenty yoke of oxen to it and in this way took it to its present site, hauling the building with very strong chains. The number of their friends was almost co-extensive with the number of their acquaintances and they were classed among the most respected and worthy pioneer residents of the county.
HENRY C. WILLIAMS.
Henry C. Williams, one of the promi- nent residents of Walker township. who has attained a goodly measure of suc- cess in his farming operations, was born
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in Kentucky on September 20, 1829, his parents being Levi and Mary ( Reid) Williams, who were likewise natives of Kentucky. Both were born in Madison county, the father in 1794 and the mother in 1796. His life was given to the work of the farm, and thinking to more readily achieve success by establishing a home on the frontier he came to Hancock county in 1832, settling in Walker town- ship. The land was largely unbroken prai- rie or uncut forests, and he lived in a little log cabin for some years in true pioneer style, sharing in the hardships and pri- vations, the pleasures and the opportuni- ties which come to those who establish homes on the frontier. He had previous- ly served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, and again his military spirit was manifest in the attempt which was made by the settlers to drive the Mor- mons from the county in 1844, resulting in the expulsion of the sect whose polyg- amous practices were obnoxious to the law-abiding citizens. He was also a member of the Illinois militia and served with the rank of colonel, commanding a regiment. His political allegiance was given to the whig party and his last pres- idential vote was cast for Abraham Lin- coln. He died in the year 1860, while his wife passed away in 1872, and they were laid to rest in Walker township. People of the highest respectability, they won the hearty esteem and confidence of all with whom they were associated. In their family were five children, of whom three are now living : John R .. of War- saw : Rice C., of Peoria, Illinois; and Henry C., of this review.
When only three years of age Henry (.
Williams was brought by his parents to Hancock county, and in the primitive school of Walker township he acquired a knowledge of the common branches of English learning. This traming at farm labor was not meager, for he early as sisted in the arduous task of developing new land and remained upon the old homestead with his parents unul long after he had attained his majority. It the time of the early goldl excitement m California . he made a trip to the Pacific coast, spending three years in the mines and in traveling over that part of the country. Following his return to Han- cock county he engaged in farming in Walker township and throughout the greater part of his life has continuously followed general agricultural pursuits. Ile completed his arrangements for hav- ing a home of his own, by his marriage in 1858, to Miss Martha J. Quick, who was born in Bullet county, Kentucky, in 1810. a daughter of Wired and Susan E. Quick. both of whom were born about twenty - five miles from Louisville, Kentucky. whence they came to Hancock county in 1847. settling in Rocky Run township. Her father was a stalwart republican but not an office seeker. In his family were seven children: Preston N. Quick, now living in Rocky Run township: Samuel. of the same township: James L, a resi- dent of Missouri; Susan, the wife of James Shipe, of Warsaw ; and three who have passed away. The mother's death occurred in July. 1802, and the father died in 1895, his remains being then interred by her side in a cemetery in Rocky Run township.
Prior to his marriage Mr. Williams
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purchased one hundred and thirteen acres of land in Walker township and upon this farm he has made all of the improve- ments, erecting a pretty home in 1879. and at different times other substantial structures in the way of barns and sheds for the shelter of grain and stock. He was quite successful in the work of tilling the soil and has also raised some stock. At the same time he has not been neglect- ful of public duties and interests and has served as school trustee and director. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Williams were born five children. the birthplace of all being the present home farm. These are : Rosa A., the wife of J. C. Perry, of Bowen, Illinois, by whom she has three children, Russell, Stella and Grace; Rob- ert M., who wedded Anna Denton, by whom he has three children, Earl, Lo- vetta. and Dolores, their home being in the state of Missouri: William P., who resides in Wythe township, and married Etta Lane, by whom he has two sons, Ralph and Lloyd; Tona J., who is acting as her father's housekeeper; and Luella M., the wife of John T. Gabel, of Wytlie township, by whom she has two chil- dren, Harold and Edna. The wife and mother died April 22, 1895. and was laid to rest in Wilcox cemetery. She passed away in the faith of the Christian church, of which she was a devoted and faithful member. In her life she exemplified many sterling traits of character and thus left behind her many warm friends who vet cherish her memory. Mr. Williams is also a devoted member of the Christian church, in which he has served as deacon
and treasurer, for some time. He began life with limited resources but through economy, upright life and business ability, and the aid of his wife, who was indeed a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey, he has accumulated a comfortable competence and is now en- abled to enjoy many of the comforts of life, while in the community he stands high in public regard as one who is worthy of the ties of home and friendship and to the duties of citizenship as, well as to the obligations of the business world.
JOSEPH E. HELFRICH.
Joseph E. Helfrich. postmaster of Car- thage, was born in this city November 15, 1860. a son of John and Josephine (Loring) Helfrich. The father was born and reared in Germany and in 1857 came to the United States to avoid compulsory military service in his country, settling first in Ohio, but soon afterward remor- ing to Carthage. Here he met and mar- ried Miss Loring. a daughter of Fred- erick Loring, who came to Illinois from Vermont. Mr. Helfrich's desire to avoid military service was not from any lack of courage on his part as was soon dem- onstrated by the patriotism and loyalty he displayed to his native country when the United States became involved in the Civil war. With firm belief in the right- consness of the Union cause, he enlisted in 1861 as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Volt-
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JOSEPH E. HELFRICH
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AVETEMIX
IL.INCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
teer Infantry and served until the close of the hostilities without hospital record. He was always at his post of duty and participated in many important engage- ments. Returning to the north when the war was over he opened a meat market in Carthage in 1865 and continued in that business successfully until his death in 1887. Hle was a very active and earnest worker in support of the Republican party but not an aspirant for office. That he gave his aid willingly and freely to the country in the dark days of the Civil war is not only indicated by his valorous ser- vice on the field of battle but also by his refusal to apply for a pension. He was nominated on the republican ticket for the office of sheriff when the county had thousand and his personal duty and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen is indicated by the fact that he was defeated by only sixty-two votes. He was reared in the faith of the Catho- lic church, while his wife was a member of the Christian church. She is still living and is a most active, effective and earnest worker in the Christian church and its at- tendant societies. She is greatly re- spected and admired among the older residents of the city, where she has many friends. In the family were seven sons and two daughters, all of whom are now living in Carthage: Joseph E., of this re- view : Mary C., the wife of J. L. Wolfe: Estella, the wife of I .. G. Gerard : Charles N. : George V .. state's attorney for Han- cock county : John F. : Albert H. : Len [ .. : and Oliver C. Helfrich.
a normal democratic majority of one thage. a daughter of Peter Cudney, one
Joseph E. Helfrich, the oldest of the family, was educated in the public schools
and afterward became his father . it ant in the meat market and subsequent to the father's death purchased the business. which has been conducted in the stille building for forty years. It is shutted on the south side of the square and is now the property of Mr. Helfrich of this re view. the enterprise being the oldest his ness conducted under the same name in the city. Mr. Helfrich enjoys an unas- vailable reputation in business circles for his reliability and enterprise. He is ever straightforward in his dealing- and well merits the success which has come to him, for it has resulted from close ap- plication and unfaltering energy.
Mr. Helfrich was married September T: 1881. to Miss Ida May Cudney, of Car- of the earlier residents of the county, who came here from Michigan. They now have three children: Mabel .A., the wife of Alva M. Williams, a resident of Breck- enridge, this county ; and Edith Lyle and Otis Lloyd. both at home. All have re- ceived good educational privileges. The family residence is at the corner of Main and College avenue and the parents and children attend and support the Christian church.
Mr. Helfrich is a member of Hancock lodge. No. 20. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he has been worshipful master for two terms and also representa- tive to the grand lodge. He belongs to Carthage chapter. Royal Arch Masens. to the Independent Order of Odd Fellow -. the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Modern Woodmen camp. Ancient Order of United Workmen and Court of Honer and is a worthy exemplar of these -
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEI'
rious organizations which have their basic element in mutual helpfulness and broth- erly kindness. In politics Mr. Helfrich has always been an active and earnest republican from the time he attained his majority and has been a member of the district central committee and for a num- ber of years. chairman of the township central committee. The first office to which he was elected was that of town- ship clerk, while later he was supervisor of Carthage township for two terms. He has attended as a delegate the various county and congressional conventions but has never been active as a politician in the usually accepted sense of the term. He is. however, now filling the position of postmaster, to which he was appointed by President Roosevelt in 1902. During his incumbency the postoffice has been advanced from a third to a second class and four new rural free delivery routes have been established, while there has been a large increase in the amount of business done, the revenue being increased twenty-five per cent. There are three assistants employed in the office and Mr. Helfrich was re-appointed. May. 1906. which is entirely satisfactory to the citi- zens at large, for his administration has been acceptable to all, owing to his promptness and reliability in the discharge of his duties. His residence in the city covers the entire period of his life and he is one of its most respected and worthy business men and officers.
whole company was very much disap- pointed on finding that the quota for the state had been filled when their regiment was enlisted. Mr. Helfrich served nine years in the state militia, resigning the captaincy of his company, owing to lack of time.
JOHN B. JOHNSON.
John B. Johnson, who since 1901 has resided in Carthage, prior to which date he was engaged in farming and stock- raising in Hancock county, was born in St. Mary's township, March 4. 1867. his parents being M. M. and Mary (Bacon) Johnson. The father's birth also occurred in St. Mary's township, Hancock county. while the mother was born in Tennessee township, McDonough county. The fa- ther died April 7. 1906, and the mother lives at Carthage. Further mention is made of the family in connection with the sketch of the father on another page of this work.
John B. Johnson was educated in the district schools of St. Mary's township. in Carthage College and in Bloomington College in this state. During the periods of vacation he assisted in the labors of the farm and remained with his parents upon the old homestead until he had at- tained his majority, giving his attention to farming and stock-raising. In Octo- ber. 1894. he was united in marriage to Miss Stella Walker, a daughter of Thom- as 1. and Mary ( Atchinson) Walker, and
On the President's call for volunteers for the Spanish- American war in 1808. Mr. Helfrich organized a company of one hundred and thirty men, known as the Hancock County Volunteers, and the a native of St. Mary's. Hancock county.
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where she was born October 3. 1870, and made her home until she came to live in Carthage. Her father is also a resident of Carthage but her mother passed away February 1, 1905. Mrs. Johnson contin- ued her education in the high schools and in the college of Carthage and is a well informed lady of innate culture and re- finement, who presides with gracious hos- pitality over their pleasant home. For seven years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Johnson lived upon a farm in St. Mary's township, but in igot removed to the city, purchasing a new house at the corner of Adams and Buchanan streets. Mr. Johnson is still engaged in farming and stock-raising, but superin- tends his business interests while living in Carthage. He feeds about three hundred head of cattle a year and also a large number of hogs and deals quite exten- sively in horses. He also owns some lots in Carthage in addition to his residence property and he has his office at the Stock Exchange in the MeMahon buikling on Adams street. Ile likewise has an im- proved farm of two hundred and forty acres of land in Carthage township and one hundred and sixty acres of land in St. Mary's township. He is yet a young man but has attained considerable que- cess in business affairs and has accumu- lated a very desirable competence.
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