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 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
Following his marriage Mr. Harrison purchased a farm of one hundred and ten acres on section 15. Walker township. and his first home there was a log cabin. He has since made all of the improvements upon the property and now has a splen- didly developed farm. In 1862 he and his wife made a trip across the plains, going overland to Oregon, which trip required seven months. They lived upon a farm in Willamette valley for a time and greatly enjoyed the journey westward and their sojourn on the coast. They visited many large cities on this trip and returned home by way of New York, being passengers on a large boat. Constitution, to Panama. They were accompanied on the trip by their two eklest children. On again reach- ing Hancock county Mr. Harrison re- sumed farming here and has since given his attention to general agricultural pur- suits. He now has a well improved farm property and derives therefrom a good income.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Harrison has
5-3
HANCOCK COUNTY. ILLINOIS
been born a most interesting family of a broad reader. Both our subject al six daughters: Flora M., born in 1859. his wife have traveled to a considerable extent, visiting various parts of the west At the same time he has lived and well ( business hie and broke much of the late of his farm with of teams He has a vanced step by step in his business mitel costs and is now comfortably situated life, having a good farm which returns him a gratifying ammal income and educated in Hamilton, is the wife of Augustus Davis, of Los Angeles, Cali fornia, and has one son, Lay A. Smith. twenty-three years of age, who married Anna Schultz and lives in Los Angeles. Sophia Adaleine, born in 1802, is the wife of Harry York, of St. Alban's township and they have two sons, Gay and Shirley Eva B. born in 1806, was educated in Warsaw. afterward engaged in teaching school, and is now the wife of B. F. Clark. a resident of St. Alban's township. In whom she has two sons, Glenn and Car- roll. Oral is the wife of Walter Hem- GEN. CHARLES A. GILCHRIST mings, of Keokuk, lowa, and prior to her marriage was a successful teacher. Nora B., born in 1872. and a graduate of llamilton high school, after which she engaged in teaching school, is now the wife of John Kirkendall, of Keokuk. Towa, and has two children. Wayne and Fern. Ollie B. born in 1876, was edu- cated in Hamilton and is the wife of Jesse Tracey, of Macomb. Ilinois, by whom she had a son, Clyle E., who died at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have every reason to be proud of their family of daughters, most of whom have been capable teachers and are now com- fortably situated in life in homes of their own. Mrs. Harrison, the daughter- and grand-daughters are all eligible to mem- bership in the society of the Daughters of the Revolution, for her paternal grand- father was a soldier of the Revolution She also had two brothers, Jesse and Mart York, who were soldiers of the Civil war. enlisting from Minor, Mrs. Harrison is a lily of literary tastes, who has been
General Charles A. Gilchrist, at one time a resident of Carthage, was respect- ed and esteemed in this community and wherever he was known because of his possession of sterling traits of character. His public spirit and his devotion to the general good stood as an unquestioned fact in his life and in the greatest crisis in the country's history his manhood, his loyalty and his valor were so manifest that his military record became an honor to the state which he represented. His life was varied in its activity, honorable in its purpose and far-reaching and ben oficial in its effects.
General Gilchrist was born at Saxton's River, Vermont, February 13. 1834. and was but three years of age when, in 1837. his parents removed to Hills Grove. Me Donough county. Ilness In his cult In hood he attended a school taught h Isaac Holton m a log cabin at 11h firme, which was called the "Somnie" In the people there In isto cene.
524
BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEIT'
tied his studies in Galesburg, Illinois, and the following year taught a district school in AleDonough county. In 1851-52 he attended school in New York city, and in 1853 entered upon his business career in connection with the engineering depart- ment of the Northern Cross Railroad. then building from Galesburg to Quincy. In 1855 he was elected and served as sur- veyor of McDonough county. He then turned his attention to the lumber busi- ness in Macomb, Illinois, but that ven- ture proved disastrous financially.
In the meantime General Gilchrist was married, on the ist of October, 1857, to Miss Lucy Ellen Walker, of McDonough county. a daughter of Joseph Gilmer and Susan Pope (Bell) Walker, the former a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia. The mother was a descendant of Nathan- iel Pope, an own cousin of George Washı- ington. Joseph Gilmer Walker was close- ly and prominently identified with the early history of Illinois and especially of McDonough county, where he resided with his family and practiced law until his death in 1842. Histories of early Illi- nois associate four names in legal and po- litical prominence in that period: Abra- ham Lincoln, Stephen .A. Douglas, Jo- seph Gilmer Walker and Cyrus Walker, his brother. His son, Pinckney H. Wal- ker, of Rushville, Illinois, a brother of Mrs. Gilchrist, was judge of the supreme court for many years. Mrs. Gilchrist lied in 1898 and was buried near her childhood home at Scottsburg, McDon- ough county.
Following the outbreak of the Civil war General Gilchrist promptly respond- ed, when, in 1861. the call was made for
troops. The Illinois quota being full he enlisted in the Tenth Missouri Infantry and was elected and commissioned cap- tain of Company A. On the 9th of March, 1862, he took the examination at St. Louis for promotion. Four days prior to this time he studied eighteen hours out of twenty-four the book of tactics and was under examination four consecutive hours. The thoroughness of his meth- ods, his great determination and tenacity were here exemplified. He answered correctly two hundred and forty-four questions out of two hundred and fifty and was complimented upon his exami- nation. He also answered satisfactorily in artillery and fortifications. By spe- cial order. No. 23, from the war depart- ment he was appointed colonel of the Fiftieth Louisiana Colored Infantry with headquarters near Vicksburg, Mississippi. He lacked but three days of serving five years and was mustered out in 1866 as colonel and breveted brigadier general. commanding the Fiftieth United States Infantry. As a soldier he won credit in every position in which he served. The troops under his command before Vicks- burg were stationed for a long time in an unhealthy location in a marshy spot. with no water fit to drink and the most deplorable sanitary conditions, while the shelter afforded was entirely inadequate. The surgeons attached to his regiment were inexperienced eastern political ap- pointees, who soon deserted or were transferred through political pull to more agreeable locations and he was left with but a nurse or two. His men were dying like flies from typhoid and dysentery. An appeal to the commanding general
HANCOCK COUNTY. ILLAVOR
brought no relief. The adjutant general snubbed him outright. He threatened to bring the matter personally before bien- eral Grant. The adjutant threatened to have him arrested for insubordination. Colonel Gilchrist left the adjutant's tent. mounted a male, rode post haste to Gen- eral Grant's headquarters. He was re- fused admission by the guard at the door. He slipped around to the rear of the tent. went in through another opening and found himself in the presence of General Grant, alone. He was covered with mud and his uniform of an indifferent nature. Ilis case was a desperate one and he came to attention before General Grant, saluted and poured out his story. A loud com- motion was made at the door and an or- derly came in with the information that an officer wished to see him at once. General Grant told him to wait and turn- ing to General Gilchrist said. "What you say is no doubt correct. but we have no surgeons." "General, my men are dy- ing. They are brave men and are hokdl- ing uncomplainingly the worst place be- fore Vicksburg. I must have surgeons if any are left to guard." "All right," said Grant, "I will send you surgeons. "Can I have two today?" "Yes." "Can I have four" "Yes." "Can I have them in an hour?" "Yes." With a salute. Colonel Gilchrist passed out the front way almost into the arms of the adjutant, who was impatiently waiting to see General Grant about his arrest for insubordination. The surgeons came and later he succeeded in having his regiment moved to higher ground. This incident was typical of his dogged and determined nature under dif- ficulties. Within his breast burned the
fires of patriotism and loyalty and de vation, and he wrote home cheery atal optimistic letters of hus wol. . und tlie ultimate outcome of the war
For a year after the war Geperile, christ remained in the south, but was in successful in his attempt to raise cotton In 1807 be removed his family to far- thage and here established a lumber bus; ness, in which he was succesful. He following year he was employed as eng neer in charge of the construction of the Carthage & Burlington Railroad, and subsequently built the road to Quines and also the La Harpe & Burlington branch of the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad. Extending his activity into other fields of business, he was chosen president of the Rand Boot and Shoe Company upon its organization in Car thage, and in the interests of the hole made various trips over the country. To make time and save expense he often walked from one point to another and the failure of the enterprise was due to hu lack of judgment or energy on his part. In 1872 he made the survey for a road to run from Grinnell to Webster City. lowa, a distance of over one hundred miles, and in 18;1 he made surveys and accumulated data for an atlas of Ilu cock county, that today is regarded as the most accurate in existence In 180 and 1881 he was employed at a survey of the route of the Hennepin canal feeder from Sterling to a point near Search] at the mouth of Rock river, and walked from Chicago to Rock Island exams the topography of northern Binbis for a feasible live river canal ramte Heils traveled in the same maurer ir m Che
526
BIOGRAPHICAL REȚIEII'
cago to Minneapolis and farther west on an engineering tour, the purport of which he was never informed by his employers.
ough county. Illinois, by the side of his wife. They were the parents of eight children: Joseph G., who is living in' Brookfield, Missouri; Mrs. Lansing P. Wood, of New York: Charles, died in in- fancy: Mrs. Leslie L. Cleveland, of Keene, New Hampshire : Ellen F., died in Florida in 1895: Allen R., who is now city engineer at Montgomery, Alabama : Edward P., an attorney. in New York : and Ann M., who is dean of the Woman's Department, University of Tennessee, at Knoxville.
Going to Dakota to locate some land under the soldier's claim law General Gil- christ found the country in a chaotic con- dition and speculation rife. He acted as commissioner there and his official du- ties involved him in the county seat fights and all the troubles incident to the set- tlement of government land. He sur- veved and built the Fort Madison and the Northwestern and the Keokuk and Mount Pleasant roads and as the receiver In his life he made the best use of his talents and his opportunities. In his pro- fession he possessed broad. scientific knowledge as well as the practical attain- ments which are indispensable to the best work. In every relation of life, whether of a business nature or otherwise, he was true to duty and a high standard of con- duct. He possessed rare personal bravery and a determined spirit that enabled him to face dangers and hardships unflinch- ingly and death came to him in his pro- fessional career. He was conscientious in the fulfillment of his duty as a man in his relations to his fellowmen and as a citizen in his relations to his locality, his state and his country. of the former attended to the business of the road for five years, successfully op- erating it until the line was sold. He then went to Texas, where he surveyed a line from Lampasas to Llano. During the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago he was employed by the Way- kesha Mineral Company in running a pipe line from Waukesha, Wisconsin, into the fair grounds in Chicago. About the same time he became associated with the Bannings in the Florida phosphate beds and went to the south to assume the man- agement in the development of the mines. He introduced the placer method for min- ing phosphate that has since been adopted in all phosphate mines. Other mines were located that could furnish phosphate more cheaply and the mine in Florida was abandoned by the owners. General Gil- christ then went to New York city, where his remaining days were spent with his S. G. MCBRIDE. children. In his last years he perfected a rail joint and was engaged in its man- S. G. McBride is a representative of one of the carly families of the county and is numbered among the native sons of Ap- ufacture at the time of his death. Ile died in New York city. January 22, 1906. and was buried at Scottsburg. MeDon- panouse township, where his birth oc-
527
ILINCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
curred in 1802. He is now devoting his time and energies to general farming in this township, where two hundred and forty acres of land pay tribute to him. as the reward of his labors and enterprise in the fields. His parents. John and Ann Elizabeth ( Shields) McBride, were na- tives of Ireland and in early life came to America. The father, a farmer by occu- pation, came to Hancock county at a prim- itive period in the development of this part of the state and settled first in Appa- moose township, where he aided in re- claiming wild land and converting it into valuable farms. When he married An Elizabeth Shields his capital consisted of only twenty cents and ere his death he was able to give to each of his sons a quarter section of land, at Wichita, Kansas, ex- cept S. G., he being the youngest. re- ceived fifty-one acres in Pontoosue town- ship, so that one can see how he progressed step by step in the business world, adding to his possessions as the result of his industry, frugality and care- ful investment, until his holdings were extensive and valuable. He raised and sold corn for ten cents per bushel in an carly day and used the proceeds to pur- chase horses and other stock or for farm machinery. His untiring energy was one of the strongest elements in his success and he left behind him not only a valuable property but also an untarnished name and a record well worthy of emulation About eighteen years ago be removed from his farm to Nauvoo, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred August 17. 1001. when he had reached the age of eighty-four years, seven months and twenty - four days, while his wife del
December 5. 1807. aged seventy Se two months and nineteen days Of the ten children, four are being Hurah. wife of Damel Harrington, of Ke bil. lowa: Ellen, wife of George Burke, of Nauvoo: Anna Belle, wife of Gus Well ner, of Sidney, Nebraska: and $ 1. this review
The last named remained upon the home farm with his father until twenty one years of age when his father gave him fifty-one acres of good land on section 22. Pontoosuc township. For three years he boarded while operating his land and then his sister kept house for him for the and a half years. He has added to his original holdings until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of farm land and five acres of timber, the latter in Apps- noose township. In 1905 he buik a part of his present home, which is a neat resi- dence, and he has also built barns and made many other substantial improve- ments.
Mr. MeBride was married June 12. 1888. to Miss Minnie 1 .. Schaefer, who was born in Appanoose township in 1804. a daughter of Marcus and Martha ( Myers) Schaefer, who were natives . i Germany and in early life came to the United States. About 1858 or 1800 they settled on a farm in this county and after many years identification with agricul tural interests here, they removed to Nam ton, where they lived retired The father died February to, 18og at the age of sixty six years, and the mother " August fourteen days They had eleven children
Sven now living John Weber, of Mener comp
528
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW'
fornia : William, a resident of New York : Ann. wife of Christ Hutts, of North Da- kota ; Henry, of Geneva, Nebraska; Ber- nard. who resides on the old home farm in Appanoose township: Mrs. McBride, of Colusa. Illinois: and Emma, wife of Phillip Farren, of Henderson county.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. McBride has been blessed with five children, all born in Pontoosuc township: Elmer, born June 19, 1889; Maurice, February 17, 1891 ; Leo. December 28, 1893 : Guy, June 23. 1898: and Joseph, March 4, 1904. The family are pleasantly located on the home farm near Colusa and in ad- dition to tilling the soil Mr. McBride feeds cattle and hogs. shipping five or six carloads of stock to Chicago each year, where he always receives good prices. In politics a democrat, he has hield township offices and filled other positions of public trust. He was administrator of his father's estate and recently he and Ber- nard Shaefer have closed up the Shaefer estate as administrators. He has accu- mulated a nice property and is classed not only with the men of affluence of his com- munity but also with them whose business methods are straightforward and whose rules of conduct are in harmony with high principles. Ile and his family are com- municants of the Catholic church.
SELAH G. HART.
its splendidly improved condition is at- tributable entirely to his earnest efforts. A native of New York. he was born at Candor, Tioga county, January 31, 1829, his parents being Samuel and Lois (Grid- ley) Hart, natives of New York and of Connecticut respectively. His paternal grandparents were Abel and Rachel (Sey- mour) Hart, the former born in Eng- land, and the latter in Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather, Selah Gridley, was also a native of England, and like Abel Hart, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, aiding valianty in the cause of in- dependence. Samuel Hart, the father, was a wealthy landowner. having about six hundred acres of land, and in addi- tion to carrying on general agricultural pursuits he conducted a sawmill. He died when his son Selah G. was fourteen years of age. and two years later. Her- man Hart, the elder brother of our sub- ject, went to Wisconsin, where he pur- chased eighty acres of land, covering what is now the central part of Fond du Lac. Later he sold this all out in town lots and he now lives in Michigan, where he purchased a large farm and set it out to fruit. After his brother left home Selah G. Hart remained with his mother until he reached the age of twenty-four years, when, thinking that he would have better business opportunities in the middle west. he made his way to Newark. Kendall county. Illinois, where he arrived in 1853. Soon afterward he rented land there and engaged in farming for two years. On the expiration of that period he came to Hancock county and for seven years operated a rented farm in Montebello
Selah G. Hart is the owner of an ex- cellent farm in Montebello township and township, at the end of which time he
529
ILINCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
bought forty acres of timber land on section 6. Hle built a cabin in the midst of the forest and at once began clearing away the trees in order that he might plon the land and convert it into productive fields. He kept adding to this place from time to time as his financial resources per- mitted until he now owns forty acres on section 6, and fifty-two and a half acres on section 31. Sonora township. He planted extensive orchards of apples. peaches, pears and plums and also set out much small fruit, and in addition to the conduct of his horticultural interests he is now engaged in cultivating about forty- five acres planted to corn. He has put all of the improvements upon the place and after living in a little log cabin for about fifteen years he erected his present frame residence. He has good buildings upon the farm and everything is in keeping with modern ideas of progressive agri- culture.
Since coming to the west Mr. Hart has continuously followed farmning save for the period of his services in the Civil war. He enlisted in February, 1864. as a mem- ber of Company I. One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry, the regiment being assigned to Sherman's division of the Army of the Cumberland. He did guard duty at Nashville. Memphis and Chattanooga, and was honorably dis- charged at Nashville, September 30, 1865. after which he was mustered out at Men- phis. On one occasion while attending the sick he did not receive relief as he should have done and became overheated. This underminded his health and he was able to do little service from June until cold weather.
When the war was over Mir But at once returned to Ilmon and formal his family in this county He had been that ried in Spencer, Tioga county. New York. November 1. 1851, to Miss Emeline Van Etten, a native of Spencer, in which pace she acquired her education in the public schools. Her father was killed while en- gaged in logging during the infancy of his daughter. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hart were born three children : Albert B., at home: Mary E .. the wife of Wilham Peak, of Montebello township; and George H., who is engaged in farming and raising and shipping fruit at Nauvoo.
In his political views Mr. Hart is a stalwart republican and has served as school director for twenty-one years and also acted as road overseer. He attends the Christian church and is an upright, honorable man, Whose well-spent life has gained for him the regard and friendship of many with whom he has come in contact.
JOSEPH E. LORD.
Joseph E. Lord, who is now practically living a retired life, making his home upon a fann of seventy-two acres which adjoins Augusta on the west. Was born in that village on the corner where you stands the First National Bank, his natal day being the toth of June. 1842. His paternal grandparents were Thomas and Elizabeth Lord, in whose family were cleven children, all of whom are now che
530
BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEI'
ceased. Among the number was one who became a missionary to Natal, South Af- rica. and sent his children back to this country, where they were educated, being graduates of Oberlin College, Ohio. His parents were Robert B. and Elizabeth ( Ireland) Lord. The father was born in Abingdon. Connecticut. where he lived until coming to the west about 1836, mak- ing and overland journey. He located in Jacksonville, Illinois, and subsequently re- moved to Augusta, purchasing a tract of land south of the village in Adams county of one hundred and sixty acres. He bought this from the government and it was wild and unimproved. but with char- acteristic energy he began its cultivation and improvement and made a good home for himself and family. He remained thereon for only a few years and then went to Quincy, where he spent his re- maining days. his death occurring Oc- tober 2. 1875. when he was sixty-five years of age. his remains being interred in a Quincy cemetery. While living in the city he followed the carpenter's trade and was known as a reliable and skilled workman. He hekdl membership in the Presbyterian church and during his resi- (lence in Augusta served as one of the deacons and also as choir master and at all times he was deeply and actively in- terested in the material. intellectual and moral progress of the community in which he made his home. In politics he was a republican but never sought or de- sired office, although he was a public spirited man and kept well informed on the current topies and political issues of the day and was an advocate of all that tended to advance the best interests of his
adopted city. His wife was born in Eng- land and came to America in her child- hood days, her father being Thomas Ire- land, who was a paper manufacturer. owning a large paper mill in New York city. After operating this successfully for a number of years the mill was de- stroyed by fire and with his family he removed to Hancock county, Illinois, set- tling at Augusta, where he engaged in farming for a considerable period. 1Ie afterward took up his abode in Quincy. where he engaged in the dairy business. there making his home until his death. which occurred when he had reached an advanced age. He was a man of honor- able principle and high Christian char- acter and for some years served as a dea- con in the Presbyterian church in Quincy. His wife. Miss Elizabeth Ireland, was also a native of England and was a lady of more than average culture, education and refinement. Her father. Rev. Lacon Ireland, was a minister of England. and the grandmother of Joseph E. Lord was a descendant of Phillip Henry, a promi- nent and talented divine of that country. In the family of R. B. and Elizabeth ( Ire- land) Lord were four children.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.