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 8
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EDMOND PARKER DENTON.
Edmond Parker Denton, who. since 1808 has made his home in Hamilton. but for many years was extensively and successfully engaged in stock-raising in Hancock county, as proprietor of the Catalpa Grove stock farm, was born in Bath county, Kentucky. April 2. 1832. his parents being Reuben and Jane ( Perkins ) Denton, the former born near
HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the Holstein river in Tennessee, and the latter in Bath county, Kentucky. llis paternal grandparents. Abraham and Sarah ( Hunt ) Denton, were natives of Tennessee, while the maternal grand- parents, Edmond and Elizabeth (Van Landingham) Perkins, were natives of Bath and Fleming counties, Kentucky. respectively. The parents were married in Fleming county, where the father died in 1862, while the mother passed away in 1868. Their son. Edmond P. Denton, was the third in order of birth in a fam- ily of five children, of whom one dangh- ter. Matilda, died at the age of four years, while Abraham T., who was born in 1830, died in Missouri, in February. 1904. The other brother. Oliver B., re- sides in Fleming county, Kentucky, while Allen H., born in 1840, died at the age of thirteen years.
Edmond P. Denton spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native state. being reared to the occupation of farm- ing, and on the 8th of March, 1854. when a young man of twenty-two years. he left Kentucky and removed to Co- Jumibus, Illinois, where he spent the suc- ceeding year. He then came to Hancock county, settling in Wythe township. where he secured a tract of land which had been fenced and cultivated. He be- gan the further improvement of the place, which he called the Catalpa Grove stock farm and here he was extensively engaged in raising Wilkes horses, always making a specialty of this breed. When his son Henry attained his majority he was admitted to a partnership and the business of raising and breeding fine stock was conducted under the firm style
of Denton & Son. Mr. Denton became known as one of the most prominent stockmen in this part of the state, raising some very fine animals upon his place. which sold for high prices. He is an excellent judge of horse flesh and has owned some splendid specimens of the noble steed. As a breeder and stock- raiser he met with excellent success and continued in active business until 1898. when he retired from his farm and re- moved to Hamilton, where he has since made his home.
On the 15th of December, 1853. Mr. Denton was united in marriage to Miss Jemima Ellen Whitney, who was born in Bath county, Kentucky, December 29. 1845, a daughter of Elijah K. and Julanie (Jones ) Whitney, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Bath county. Kentucky. Mrs. Denton was educated in Kentucky and spent her girl- hood days in her parents' home. By her marriage she became the mother of the following named: Charles A., who is circuit judge of Bates county, Missouri ; Julania Jane, the wife of Charles Cole. a liveryman of Omaha, Nebraska: Mar- garet B .. the wife of J. T. Guy, who is proprietor of Hotel Hamilton, at Hamil- ton, Illinois; Henry K., who is in the livery business in Hamilton ; Sarah E .. the wife of R. R. Wallace, cashier of the State Bank at Hamilton : Edmond Grant. a farmer, whose home is two miles north of Hamilton : Albert C., a groceryman of Hamilton, and is also a mail carrier on the rural route: and Jemima Ellen. the wife of Harry Kentchler, employed as salesman for Bolls Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Denton passed away July
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10, 1889. and was buried in Oakwood cemetery at Hamilton, Illinois. She was an estimable lady, who had been a faith- ful companion and helpmate to her hus- band on life's journey. Her loss was deeply regretted by many friends as well as her immediate family. Mr. Denton now boards with his daughter at Hotel Hamilton. He is a republican in his political views and served as supervisor of Wythe township for three terms. while for one term he was collector. He was appointed postmaster of Hamilton on the Ist of June, 1899. and has had three appointments to that office, the last coming from President Roosevelt on the Ist of March, 1905, so that the incum- bency will continue until 1909. He is a capable official, giving a public-spirited administration in the affairs of the office. Fraternally he is a Mason, and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. In business, in political circles and in social life he has always been known as a man worthy of the public es- teem and confidence and the circle of his friends is a very extensive one.
LORENZO D. LITTLE.
Lorenzo D. Little is one of the most venerable citizens of Hancock county. yet the years rest lightly upon him and he appears to be a much younger man than the records state, for he is still ac- tive in business life, managing his farm- ing interests in Pontooste township and
maintaining a deep interest in current events and matters of general progress. His has been a useful and honorable ca- reer. He was born in Hampshire county. Virginia, in 1821, and is a representative of an old family that was founded in America in colonial days. His uncle. David Little, was one of the Revolution- ary heroes who won independence for the nation and when the country again be- came engaged in war with Great Britain. in 1812, he once more fought for Amer- ican rights. Martha and Sarah ( Rit- nour) Little, parents of our subject, were likewise natives of the Old Dominion, born near Winchester in 1794 and in 1796, respectively. In the '20s they became residents of Greene county. Ohio, and on the 25th of April, 1847, arrived in Hancock county, settling in Ap- panoose township. Soon. however, the father purchased land from a Mormon elder, Fullmer, and the family were in- stalled in a log cabin in Pontoosuc town- ship, where they experienced the usual hardships, . privations and pleasures of pioneer life. the father following farm- ing there until his death in 1854. He was long survived by his wife, who died in 1882.
L. D. Little, accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio in 1827. was educ- cated in that state and there lived for twenty years, and at the time of the re- moval of the family to Illinois, in 1847. he also came to Hancock county, taking up his abode in Pontoosuc township. where he purchased forty acres of land and began the development of a new farm, performing all the arduous labor connected with such a task. In later
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years he purchased another forty-acre tract on section 20, and throughout his residence here has carried on general farming and stock-raising, his prosper- ity coming as the legitimate and well- merited result of his own labor.
Mr. Little was married July 15. 1849. to Miss Hester A. Full, who was born in Maryland, February 25. 1827.a daugh ter of John R. and Nancy ( Langford) Tull. The father, who was born in Maryland, in March, 1807, died in 1808. while the mother, whose birth occurred in the same state and in the same year. died in August, 1882. They were mem- bers of the Methodist church and many good qualities endeared them to their family and friends. Of their nine chil- dren only three are now living: Mrs. Little: Elizabeth, the wife of Daniel .A. Little, of Pontooste township: and Sarah, the wife of Isaac Grove, of Pay- son. Adams county, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Little became parents of three chil- dren who have passed away and three who still survive. Naomi became the wife of Marion Jacobs, who died in .Ar- kansas in 1904, leaving six children : Rosa. the wife of Arthur Jacobs, of Mena, Arkansas, by whom she has three children, Evelyn, Lorenzo and Clara : Joseph Jacobs, who married Zelpha Choate, of Arkansas; Ella, wife of Jolm Mckinstry, of Texas; Orley, living in Arkansas; and Lorenzo and Clarence Jacobs, also of that state. John Little married Flora Wilcox and resides in Pontoostie township. Joseph Little, of Pontoostic township, married Louisa Cress, and has four children : Emma P .. wife of Frank Perkins, of Pontoosite
township; Lester, Guy and Walter. Ar- melda Little is the wife of Benjamin Ri- ter, of Pontoosue township, and has three children: Arthur L ... Goklie M .. and Lizzie E., Harry (. Riter died at the age of ten months. One child of the famn- ily died in early infancy. Elizabeth Lit tle, who was the first born, died at the age of four months and twenty-three days.
Mr. Little is a republican and has served as road supervisor and as a mem- ber of the school board. His wife is a member of the Methodist church. They have traveled life's journey together as man and wife for fifty-seven years, and are a much-esteemed couple of Pontoo- suc township. They vet enjoy good health and are active, bearing the burden of the years lightly. While they have had sorrows and hardships, they have yet had many pleasures and successes.
HENRY RICE.
Henry Rice, whose well developed farm is one of the attractive features in the landscape in Durham township. was born in Fayette county, Pennsylva- nia. June 15, 1827. and the nearly eighty years of his well-spent life have made him a most respected and honored man. His parents were Sammuel and Fantic ( Strickler ) Rice, likewise natives of Bay ette county, Pennsylvania, the former born in 1804 and the latter in 1802 Samuel Rice was also a farmer by se
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cupation and was a local preacher in the River Brethren denomination in Penn- sylvania. He remained in the Keystone state until his later years. when he came to Illinois and lived with his children. passing away in Henderson county, De- cember 19. 1885. His wife died No- vember 30, 1870, and was laid to rest in Ohio, while his grave was made in Dur- ham cemetery. They were the parents of eleven children : Nancy and Christian, deceased; Henry, of this review; John and Fannie, who have passed away; Samuel, of Durham township: George, deceased; Lydia, the wife of John Hershey. of Ohio; Rebecca, who died in April, 1906: and Mary and Cyrus, also deceased.
Henry Rice was educated in the dis- trict schools of Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, but his opportunities in that direc- tion were somewhat limited. The little "temple of learning" in which he pursued his studies, was a log structure with puncheon floor and slab seats. He re- mained with his father until about the time he attained his majority and was then married, in 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Stoner, who indeed proved a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. She was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, in September, 1826, a daughter of Jacob and Barbara ( Bosler) Stoner, natives of eastern Pennsylvania, in which state the father followed farm- ing. In the Stoner family were nine children: Abraham, now living in Des Moines, lowa: Mary, deceased: Mrs. Rice : Ann and David, who are residents of Pennsylvania; Joseph and Rebecca, who have passed away : Susan, living in
northern Illinois: and Sarah, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rice began their domes- tic life in Fayette county. Pennsylvania, where they lived for six years and then removed to Stark county. Ohio, where they spent four years on a farm. On the expiration of that period they located in Adams county, Illinois, and after a year and a half came. in the fall of 1859, to Hancock county, settling in Durham township, where Mr. Rice purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 10. Improvements had already been made upon the place, and in 1871 he erected an elegant residence, while in 1868 he built a commodious barn. He also put up a windwill and built good sheds and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, together with fences which divide the place into fields of convenient size. It is today one of the finest farms in Durham township. and comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land, Mr. Rice having sold two hundred and forty acres. However, he still owns three hundred and twenty acres of farm land in Lee county, Iowa. Fle has always raised stock and 'has car- ried on general farming. Although now well advanced in years he still gives per- sonal supervision to the place, which. under his capable management, is kept under a high state of cultivation, the rich and productive fields annually re- turning to him gratifying harvests. Mr. Rice is also a director of the Farmers State Bank of Dallas.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rice, as the years went by, were born ten children, three in Pennsylvania, two in Ohio and the others upon the home farm in this county.
HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
The family record is as follows: Fan- family. She was indeed a loving wife nie AAnn, deceased: Jacob, of Nebraska. who married Miss Luella Lydie and has five children, Nellie, Elizabeth, Laura. Jay and Dean : Samuel, also of Nebras- ka, who married Miss Jennie Boyle, and died leaving three children, Lena. Stew- art and Harry : Mary, the wife of James Babcock, of Durham township, by whom she had three children, Frank, deceased, Rolla and Ina : Le Roy, who has passed away: Clara, the wife of John Smith, of łowa, by whom she has nine children. Bessie. Grace. Laura, Maggie, Lawrence, Ina, Helen, Beulah and Ruth: Laura, who is with her father : Jenora. deceased : Clark, of Pontoosue township, who mar- ried Miss Minnie Bradfield and had three children; Bertha, deceased, Charles, and Eulah, who has also passed away ; and Etta. at home with her father. The children have been provided with liberal educational privileges, the sons all at- tending city schools, some in Burlington, in Denmark and in Keokuk, lowa.
In the early days of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Rice had to undergo many hardships and privations, but as the years passed prosperity attended their labors and Mr. Rice is now in very comfortable financial circumstances. In addition to his farm property he is a stockholder in the Farmers Exchange Bank of Dallas City, as are his two daughters who are at home. In 1902 they were called upon to mourn the loss of wife and mother, who passed away on the 7th of November of that year and was laid to rest in Durham cemetery, her death being deeply regretted by many friends as well as her immediate
and mother, her interests centering in her own household. She did everything in her power to promote the welfare and happiness of her family and she extended a most gracious and cordial hospitality to her many friends. Her many excel- lent traits of character wom her the es- teem and love of all with whom she came in contact. In his political affiliation Mr. Rice is a democrat and at one time served as school director but has never sought or desired office. His success is attributable entirely to his own labors. He is of a modest and retiring disposi- tion but the consensus of public opinion is that he deserves prominent mention among the representative men of the county. He is a representative of one of the oldest families of the township and is one whose life record is indeed worthy of emulation and of admiration.
ZIMRI WHITE.
Zimri White is a retired farmer and veteran of the Civil war, living in Ham- ilton. He was born in Coatsburg, Adams county, Illinois, September 22. 1839, and is a son of John and Drusilla (Lasley ) White, natives of Virginia and South Carolina respectively. His paternal grandfather, William White, was a na- tive of Scotland and the maternal grand- father was John Lasley, of South Caro- lina. In the year 1822 John White went to Springfield, Illinois, with his mother.
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He was then a lad of ten years, his birth having occurred in 1812. The father had died in the south and the widowed mother afterward removed to this state, where John White learned the plasterer's trade. He worked in Springfield for some time. after which he removed to Adams county. Illinois, where he was married in 1838. He then rented land for a few years, after which he removed to Hancock county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land. for which he paid three hundred and fifty dollars and which is now worth six- teen thousand dollars. He also bought thirty acres of timber land. The prairie tract was all wild and uncultivated, but he built thereon good houses, barns and other improvements. He also fenced the land and broke the wild prairie, trans- forming it into richly developed fields. It was the period of pioneer progress in Hancock county and it was no unusual thing to see timber wolves, while deer were quite numerous and turkeys and other lesser game could he had in abund- ance. In fact evidences of frontier life were many, but they gave way before the inroads of an advancing civilization. John White continued to reside upon the farm which he purchased until 1897. when he went to live with a son upon a farm, and in 1899 he took up his abode in the home of his son. Zimri, with whom he continued until his death, which oc- curred on the 22d of August, 1903. His wife had passed away in 1891, when seventy-one years of age. In the family were ten sons, of whom six are yet living.
Zimri White, the eldest of the father's
family, worked upon the home farm un- til twenty-one years of age, during which period he gained practical knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil, while in the public schools he acquired his edu- cation. Almost his entire life has been passed in Hancock county. After at- taining his majority he engaged in the operation of rented land for a year, but at the end of that time put aside all per- sonal considerations in order to aid his country, enlisting on the 13th of August, 1862, as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Infan- try. The regiment went to Camp But- ler, remaining there for a few months and afterward was attached to the Army of the Mississippi. At the battle of Fort Hudson Mr. White had a horse shot from under him. He was with his regi- ment during the entire period of the war save for three months spent in the hos- pital at Jefferson Barracks and at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Returning to the home place. he bought eighty acres on section 9. Wythe township. where he built a house of five rooms but has since made an addition thereto. He carried on general farming and stock-raising un- til 1894. when, on account of ill health, he removed to the Oakwood addition to Hamilton, where he bought six fine lots in one tract, improved with a commodi- ous and pleasant residence. He does general gardening on his lots and his place is one of the most sightly in all the Oakwood addition. He finds it impossi- ble to entirely put aside business cares and thus his time and energies are given to the cultivation of vegetables.
On the 25th of December. 1865, Mr.
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White was united in marriage to Miss Hannah E. Daw, who was born in Bear Creek township. Hancock county, a daughter of Edward and Eliza (Gra- ham) Daw, the former a native of Eng- land. There was one son born of that marriage, John Edward White, whose birth occurred October 4, 1860. The wife and mother died on the 29th of the same month and on the 21st of Novem- ber. 1867. Mr. White was again married. his second union being with Harriet Eliza Smith, who was born in Wythe township. Hancock county, May 22. 1848, her parents being William AA. and Sarah ( Smart ) Smith, the former born in Alabama in 1821 and the latter in Macoupin county, Illinois. Her paternal grandparents were James and Elizabeth (Owens) Smith and the former was a son of a Revolutionary soklier. In the year 1831 William A. Smith came to Hancock county, Illinois, and served as a soldier at the time of the Mormon war. Ile married near Plymouth, Illi- nois, and lived upon a farm in Wythe township up to the time of his death. which occurred on the 20th of November. 1864. His wife long survived him, pass- ing away on Christmas day of 1894. In their family were two sons and five daughters, all of whom are yet living.
Umo Mr. and Mrs. White have been born the following named: William Smith, who was born April 24. 1869. and is living on his father's farm in Wythe township: Myrtle Jane, who was born May 11. 1872, and married Orville French, of Quincy, Hinois: Ira Elmer. who was born April 20, 1870, and re- sides at Glenn's Ferry, Idaho: Ida Mice.
twin sister of Ira and the wife of Burt Barnaby, of Wythe township: Bertha Drusilla, who was born February 14. 1870, and is the wife of Lester Barr, of Downer's Grove, Ilinois; and Sarah Helen, who was born November 18. 1886, and died March 12. 1891.
Mr. White of this review is a member of the Baptist church, active and influ- ential in its work, and for many years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school. Since 188t he has served as deacon in the church. In his political affiliation he is a prohibitionist. the cause of temperance having long found in him a stalwart champion. He has served as highway commissioner and as constable and school director in Wythe township and the du- ties of these various positions were dis- charged with promptness and capability. He likewise belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintains pleas- ant relations with his old army com- rades. An analyzation of his life record will show that he has been faithful in citizenship, straightforward in business. trustworthy in friendship and devoted to the ties of home and family, and thus his many excellent characteristics make him well worthy the regard in which he is uniformly held.
JOSIAHI RITCHEY
Josiah Ritchey is a retired farmer re siding at the corner of Clark and Wash ington streets, Carthage. He is accorded
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,
the respect and confidence of his fellow- men not alone because of the success which he has achieved, making him one of the men of affluence in this city but also by reason of the honorable, straight- forward business methods he has ever followed and also owing to the princi- ples of conduct which have shaped his daily life. An analyzation of his career shows that his religious faith has been a strong motive influence in all that he has done and he stands for that higher type of manhood which not only repre- sents justice but teinpers justice with mercy and which recognizes man's obli- gation to his fellowman and his Maker. A native of Tennessee he was born in Monroe county, in 1830, his parents be- ing John and Catherine (Dougherty) Ritchey. Josiah Dougherty, the great- grandfather of our subject, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and his son, Henry Dougherty, was a soldier of the Mexican war. The parents were natives of Ten- nessee, the former born in Hawkins county January 19, 1801, and the latter in Jefferson county on the 21st of May, 1804. The father was a farmer by oc- cupation, and after living for a number of years in Tennessee came to Illinois in 1853. settling first in Adams county. The following year he removed to a farm in Hancock county, Illinois, and at first lived in a log cabin, the family living upon the old home property in Dallas township. Later, however, he sold out and bought an improved farm in Dur- ham township, on which stood a com- fortable brick residence and other equip- ments. Hle devoted his time and ener- gies to general farming and stock-raising
and yet found opportunity to promote public progress through co-operation in many movements for the general good and by efficient service in public office. He held a number of local political posi- tions and was also a member of the school board. He voted with the de- mocracy, of which he was a stalwart supporter and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church, while living .in Tennessee, but following the removal to Illinois Mr. Ritchey joined the United Brethren church. He died in Durham township in 1876, at the age of seventy-five years, while his wife passed away in 1888, at the age of eighty-four years and eight months, both being buried in Durham township. Their marriage had been celebrated on the 15th of March. 1822, and they became the parents of twelve children, all of whom were born in Tennessee and have now passed away, with the exception of Mar- garet and Josiah. The former, born March 15, 1825, is the widow of James Kelley, and resides with a daughter in Colusa, Illinois. Those who have passed away are: Nancy J., who was born No- vember 19. 1823; Alexander H., born July 1. 1826; Sarah M., May 7, 1828: Samuel L .. July 4. 1832: John, February 11. 1834; Martin B., January 7. 1837: Isaac S., July 27. 1839: Elizabeth, Feb- ruary 7. 1841 : James K., November 12. 1842; and Louisa Catherine, January 28. 1845.
Josiah Ritchey largely acquired his education in the schools of Tennessee. but also continued his studies through one winter in Hancock county, Illinois. Hle spent the days of his boyhood and
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youth in his parents' home and remained with them until twenty-three years of age, when, on the 12th of January. 1854. he was married near Blandinsville. Illi- nois, to Miss Amanda F. Knowles, who was born in Delaware, January 27, 1835. and is a daughter of Rev. Phillip and Nancy ( Hill) Knowles, who were also natives of Delaware. The father was a minister of the United Brethren church and after coming to this state resided for a time in Jacksonville, after which he removed to MeDonough county and sub- sequently to Henderson county, while later he had several charges in Hancock county, Illinois. He was thus closely as- sociated with the moral development of this portion of the state, his influence be- ing of no restricted order, as he labored untiringly for the spread of the gospel. He departed this life in Missouri in 1888. while his wife had previously passed away. In their family were eight chil- dren, of whom four are now living : Thomas, a resident of Oregon : William. in Florida: Elizabeth, the wife of Man- love Dawson, of Peoria: and Kinzie, of Nebraska.
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