Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 52

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. L. McDonough & co.
Number of Pages: 490

USA > Illinois > Edwards County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 52
USA > Illinois > Wabash County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 52
USA > Illinois > Lawrence County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 52

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thirds of the way across the territory. From here they went to Vincennes, where a halt was called. For some weeks the party remained, and here at the house of Colonel La Salle, George Flower was united in marriage with Miss Andrews, Elihu Stout, a justice of the peace, and editor of the only paper there published, being the officiating magistrate.

Miss Andrews was the second daughter of the Rev. Modecas Andrews of Eigeshall, in the county of Essex, England. In his history Mr. Flower speaks of her as being a woman of rare intelligence and excellent edu- cation, to which she united an energetic character and a courageous spirit ; an affectionate wife, a devoted mother, a kind friend and a good neighbor, she proved herself in all the relations of life a true and noble woman. When misfortunes and poverty came to her family in the later years, she met the changed circumstances with a cheerful spirit and unsubdued courage. She was of the best type of an English country woman. and preserved to the end of her days, the characteristics of her nationality. With her high shell comb and ber tasteful turban, no weary guest will ever forget her cheery welcome, or the satis- factory and kindly manner in which he was entertained. All the old settlers of Edwar is county, who now survive and who shared her hospitality call her memory blessed.

It was determined on leaving the family at Princeton, to enable Flower and Birkbeck to reconnoitre.

They started ont in search of prairics, and in Edwards county found them in all their luxuriant growth of grass, and enticing beauty. In August 1818, Wanborough was laid off and in October following Albion. Soon after the parents and immediate family of Flower, located on Albion, where the " old Park house " was upreared and whence their hospitality was dispensed. The mas- ter spirit of the colony ; the directing genius was George Flower. He it was who introduced improved methods of husbandry, imported fine cattle and sheep from the best herds of England, and when in 1823 it was attempt- ed to legalize African slavery in Illinois, no one enlisted with a truer heroism than he. So nearly balanced were the contending parties of the state, that the note of the English colony, ever true to the instincts of freedom, turned the scale, a handful of sturdy Britons being the forlorn hope to stay the triumph of wrong and oppress ion, whose success might have sealed forever the doom of republican and constitutional liberty in America. When the pro-slavery advocates found themselves beaten, before the might of right and justice they sought to harass and render miserable the life of free blacks, and this it was that caused George Flower to come forth the champion, as he was the originator of the idea of col- onization of free negroes, in Hayti. His arguments ar- rested the attention and gained the co-operation of many leaders of thought and molders of public opinion through- out the north. Although the plan met with but partial success, its conception and management reflect great credit upon the originator, and' place him high among the ranks of human benefactors.

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Mr. Flower's clear, philosophic bent of mind made him the peer of leading statesmen, who sought his coun- sel, and exchanged with him views on public polity that present a running commentary on the formative history of republicanism. Among his correspondents he numbered Jefferson, La Fayette, Cobbett, of England, Madame O'Connor, of Ireland and the Counte de Lasteyni, of France.

He met with reverses which seem the inevitable lot of all colonizers. Financial embarrassments surrounded him, and compelled his retirement from life's activities. Here he lived again in memory his eventful career, and gave to literature a resume of the hardships he had en- dured, the trials he had encountered, the triumphs he had experienced, in the volume entitled " A history of the English settlement in Edwards county."

He was a clear, simple writer. His narrations are straightforward and highly interesting. The account of long, wearisome, horseback journeys, encountering friends and foes, of the primitive dismalness of Cincinnati ; of the period placed on immigration by the waters of the Wabash ; of the floods and unbridged rivers; of the re- treating Indians, painted as he found them at Vincennes, as if ready for war, when their hearts were cowed before the white man's might; of the back-woodsman who equally dreaded the advance of true civilization ; of the town of Albion pre-arranged by two men, germinating in a log inn, a smithy, followed by a store, a meeting- house, court-house, jail and newspaper, are presented with a perspicacity at ouce forcible and inviting.

Of his ancestors George Flower wrote in the evening of his life. " They were men of strong and impulsive feeling. One of them, William Flower, is recorded in print in Fox's Book of Martyrs," where he is represent- ed as tied to the stake, the fagots piled about him, refusing to recant; but offering his hand, which the ex- ecutioner has lopped off, and is holding on a pike, as an atonement for an act which heacknowledged to be wrong : striking a priest with a wood-knife whilst officiating at an altar. His mother was a Fordham, a family that made their name famous under Cromwell.

A brother, Edward Fordham Flower, after a sojourn in Illinois of five years, returned to England, where he became Mayor of Stratford upon Avon. To him the world is indebted for the recovery of the Stratford of Shakspeare. He preserved relics of the great poet ; put his house in perfect order ; erected a theatre ; opened a Shakspearean library and museum. Here he entertained Emmerson Fields, "George Eliot," (Miss Evans), and others who loved associations clustering around the mem- ory of the Bard of Avon.

A cousin of George Flower, Sarah Flower, by mai- den-name, afterwards Adams, wrote the world-wide words of "Nearer my God to thee," and a sister Eliza set the words to music. The members of the im- mediate family of George Flower are scattered. A son, Alfred, is a very acceptable and popular preacher in the Christian church, Paris, Illinois ; a grandson, Richard,

is a leading physician and scientist of Boston ; another, George E, is an able proclaimer of the truth in the Christian church in Paducah, Ky., as well as a writer of power, beauty and pathos.

Mr. Flower died ou the 15th of January, 1862, under the loving and sad watch of friends at Grayville, White county, Illinois, where death had claimed his companion but a few hours before. They had often expressed a hope that united in life they should not be divided by death. The hope was gratified, and together their spirits winged their flight from their clayey tenements.

GEORGE MICHELS

WAS born in Gallatin county, Illinois, May 18, 1818. His father, for whom he was named, was a native of the State of Maine, as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Getchell. George Michels, Sr. and family, in company with Moses Michels and wife, John Michels, widow of James Michels, Permelia Michels, (now Shepherd and the only survivor of the company among the grown people), and a sister of the wife of George Michels, left their homes in Maine for the West by wagons, in 1817. In this primitive manner they arrived at Cincinnati, Ohio, where they took a flat boat the following spring, which bore them on to Shawnee- town. At Cincinnati they made a halt, where the men improved the time by gathering corn, receiving for their labor one half the crop. This generosity (?) upon the part of their employers was due to the fact that an unusu- ally severe cold spell was upon them, and corn was needed for stock. Proprietors thought it too cold to engage in such labor, but these hardy sons of Maine thought differ- ently, and were glad of the opportunity afforded of re- plenishing their stores. To George Michels, Sr. and wife, were born ten children; Nancy Melrose, Lucy Naylor (dead), George, Mary Naylor, William, Cyrene, Lambert, Christopher, Ezra, Reuben and Sarah Melrose. In the fall of 1818. the family came to Edwards county. Here George, in common with his brothers and sisters, obtained a fair common school education. He was mar- ried to Margaret Spencer, daughter of John Spencer, a native of England, by whom he had seven children, namely : Emily, Louis A., Frederick G., Jacob R., Isaac G. (dec'd), Joseph (dec'd), and Benjamin.

Mr. Michels is a leading republican, who early espoused the cause in the advocacy of which the party was institut- ed. His first presidential vote was cast for Gen. William H. Harrison. In the year 1860, he was elected Sheriff of Edwards county, and upon the occasion of the death of Mr. Morgan, who was then Sheriff, he was appointed in 1873. In 1874, and again in 1876, he was elected to the same position. Prior to his term as Sheriff, he had been elected Treasurer in 1872, and Coroner in 1856. The many official positions he has held attest his worth as a man and citizen.

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

LITTLE

ELIZA JULIA FLOWER.

MRS. ELIZA JULIA FLOWER, relict of the late George Flower. Among the pioneers of Edwards county, no one is held in dearer esteem, because of excellent quali- ties of bead and heart, than Mrs. George Flower. In connection with her husband's sketch on the preceding pages, is a brief presentation of her leading charac- teristics. Her maiden name was Eliza Julia Andrews. She was the second daughter of the Rev. Mordecai Andrews, of Eigeshall, Essex county, England. There existed a strong friendship between Miss Andrews and the family of Birkbeck, and she being on a visit to Wanborough when Mr. Birkbeck decided on coming to America, concluded to accompany them, and under their protection share the adventures of the New World. They arrived from England, and landed in Richmond, Virginia, in 1817, she being at the time twenty-five years of age. The long horseback journey from thence to Vincennes, Indiana, was made by her in company 214-A

with others. When others grew despondent she was cheerful. Ever buoyant in her disposition, the discour- agements incident to such journeys never affected her. After reaching Vincennes she became the wife of George Flower, to whom she was married at the residence of Colonel La Salle in 1818. The same year found her residing in Edwards county, where she lived for forty-one years. Although all her surroundings were so different from those to which she had been in earlier life accus- tomed, she maintained her light-heartedness, and to her, more than to any other, is due the reputation acquired by Park Hall for its hospitality. In 1844 the family moved to New Harmony, Indiana, and in 1860 to Mt. Vernon, same State. In 1862 she and her husband were visiting a daughter, Mrs. Agniel, of Grayville, when on the 15th of January they both died. She upon the dawning of the morning, and he in twilight's hour. (See sketch of George Flower.)

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

SAMUEL NELSON DALBY

WAS born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, April 30, 1817 His father, Robert Dalby, was a surveyor and school teacher. In 1834, father and son came to America on a visit, promising the wife and mother a speedy return. They landed in New York, and, in company with a brother-in-law of the subject of this sketch, came on, in 1835, to Edwards county. Once here they determined on making it their home, and under the shade of a tree, standing out in a prairie, about nine miles north of Al- bion cast lots as to which of the three should return to meet mother and family on their way hither. The lot fell to Mr. Brooks. It was further agreed that he should purchase a stock of goods with which to commence mer- chandising in Albion, so all their funds were given to his keeping. With light heart he started on his journey. No positive tidings were ever heard of him, although it is quite certain that in a steamboat disaster between Louis- ville and Cincinnati, he was lost. Some time after word came that Mrs. Dalby and children had arrived in New York, after enduring great hardships, entailing loss of money, furniture and other household effects. At sea the ship Scotland, on which they were aboard, was ship- wrecked and their lives alone were preserved. Samuel and his father were unable to aid them in their extremity. After stating the facts a Mr. Clark, a Quaker, told them

they were welcome to what money he had in New York, and a draft was sent to Mrs. Dalby. Too late it reached its destination. Mrs. Dalby. worn out with care and anxiety, had sickened and died. The draft was returned, and again sent on its mission of mercy, made payable to any of the surviving children. A gentleman named Swales, saw the children to Pittsburg, another to Louis- ville, thence to Mt. Vernon, Ind., and here. The three children are, David, now of Kansas; Sugden, of Liver- pool, England, and Sarah Thompson, of Newport, Ky. During all this time Robert was engaged teaching a school, and Samuel, the only child who had learned a trade, was engaged in tailoring. Samuel's grandfather was killed at the age of ninety-seven by a fall on a side- walk, and what is remarkable, his father was killed in about the same manner, nine miles north of Albion.

Samuel N. married Elizabeth Brisenden, in 1836, by whom he had three children, Mrs. Agnes Weaver, John and Leroy (dead). She died in 1843. He was again married to Sarah C. Skeavington, by whom he has had seven children. Among his relations he is more proud of John Nelson, the celebrated divine from whom he was named, his mother's uncle, than any other.

Mr. Dalby is a merchant tailor. As a citizen he is a model man. In the enjoyment of universal respect, he is passing the evening of life.

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

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Jael Churchill

FOR many years the merchant prince not only of Edwards, but of adjoining counties-Joel Churchill-is worthy of mention. He was born in Exeter, England, December 16, 1792. His father, Samuel Churchill, was a manufacturer of cloth, and a ship owner. A brother was at one time the largest ship-owner in Great Britain. Joel was ever active in reaching out for trade. He visited Asia, the British possessions in Southern Africa, and traveled through Continental Europe. Iu 1820 he came to Edwards county, where he determined on farm- ing, but it proved too inactive for him, or, rather, was so different to the life he had always lived, that he soon forsook it, in 1823, to enter upon that career of merchan- dising that made him well known throughout Southern Illinois. It is said that for years he was the only mer- chant who paid cash for articles of home production brought to his establishment,-the plan being that of exchange, made so largely through the scarcity of money. He married Eliza Simpkins, daughter of William Simp kins, a miller by trade, in December, 1825. By her he had eleven children, nine of whom are living. He had been raised a Quaker, although he never embraced the faith. It is related that whenever he visited Philadelphia, county.

he adopted the speech peculiar to those people, and for several days subsequent to his return it was "thee" and " thou " to everyone-so much so, that a citizen meeting him and hearing him in conversation would say, Churchill has just returned from Philadelphia. For many years he was post-master. He transacted much business for others-his remittances by draft and otherwise reaching as high as sixty or seventy thousand dollars per annum, a large sum for the early days. One method of sending money is worthy of remark. He would take a bank note, cut it in halves, and seud the parts separately, ofien- times by different mails, to insure their safe transit. He was an Old Line Whig of the most emphatic class, and right royally did he stand up for the party's principles. Just before the war, he went to Washington and Phila- delphia to protect his interests, owning as he did Georgia bonds, and then was a most prominent Union man. A son, Charles, who together with another, James, succeed him in business, went out as a Captain. He died March 16th, 1872. º His benefactions to young men struggling for a start in life are treasured in the memory of many who are now among the wealthiest citizens of Edwards

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

JOSEPH WOOD.

AMONG the dead of Edwards county whose memory men delight to honor, none stood higher in their good- will than Joseph Wood. He was born in Wymeswold, Leicestershire, England, Nov. 5, 1807. At the age of eleven years, in 1819, he was brought to Edwards county by William Wood, where the family yet live, a few miles southeast of Albion. Here, engaged in farm- ing, he spent his days. On the 2d of May, 1833, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Hill Shepherd, daugh- ter of Thomas Shepherd, who came here as a foreman for George Flower. He had occupied a like position with Mr. Flower in England. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood were born eleven children, six of whom are now living : ' Thomas, Rebecca Rude, Henry, Martha Tribe, Joseph Albert and Rosamond Owen. Mr. Wood was an affec- tionate husband, a loving father, and a citizen of whom all were proud He was ever active in all things calculated to promote his country's welfare, and was recognized as a. representative, influential farmer. He died January 6, 1881. His widow, a noble woman, lives on the old homestead, a view of which can be found elsewhere in this work.

WILLIAM B. TRIBE.

THE present popular circuit clerk was born in Wan- borough, two miles west of Albion, July 22, 1829. His parents were John Tribe and Jane Statey. John was born in Surrey, England, May 16, 1796, and came to America in 1818. Jane Statey who became Mrs. Tribe in 1821, came by the same vessel, an orphan girl, the ward of a family named Pritchard. They landed in New Orleans, thence came to Shawneetown, and here. John Tribe was a carpenter and joiner by occu- pation, and in the new colony found plenty to do. Ile was a hard working and most excellent man. He had the reputation of possessing one of the most accurate memories of any man within the county. When an old man he would rivet the closest attention of listening crowds with his stories of backwoods life. When any dates were desired he was appealed to ; when disputes arose with reference to facts or dates he was the arbiter. He received universal recognition as a walking cyclo- pedia of information. He died, much lamented, August 25, 1880. His widow, now eighty years old, survives him. To them were born James, Mary Bowman, Emma, (dead) Owen (dead), William B., Alfred, Emily Pickering, Harry (dead), Thomas H., and George. The survivors, with the exception of John, Jr., all reside in Edwards county. John lives in the adjoining county of Wayne. William B. received a common school education. Much of his earlier youth was passed aiding in opera- ting a carding machine which his father bought in 1831, and which was owned by the family until 1883. At the age of eighteen he learned the trade of wheel- wright, which business he pursued until twenty-eight years of age. On the 3d of February, 1856, he was

united in marriage to Miss Jane A. Spangler, a native of York, Pennsylvania, whose earlier years were passed in Philadelphia, and who came in company with her mother and sisters to Edwards county in 1844. To Mr. and Mrs. Tribe was born one daughter, Aunie E., now the wife of Horace J. Craig. For four or five years, William B., in connection with. his brother John, car- ried on the livery business in Albion. In 1864 he en- tered the service of the United States in Company H., 87th Regiment Ill. Vol., in which he was commissioned as Lieutenant. In 1866 he was mustered out of service, and soon after entered the office of the county clerk, W. L. Mayo, as deputy. In 1868 he was chosen circuit clerk of the county, a position he has held continuously since. In this capacity he has few, if any superiors throughout the State. Politically he is an ardent, ear- nest Republican ; religiously an active member of the Episcopal church. The temperance cause finds in him a fearless advocate. A true, patriot, an excellent citizen, a tried official, he has hosts of friends.

JONATHAN BRIGGS.

As furnishing an apt illustration of what may be ac- complished by persistent, persevering effort with a pur- pose in life-that purpose being the acquisition of a home surrounded with life's comforts, Jonathan Briggs may be cited. He commenced a poor boy, the son of a widow, and steadily has he pursued a straightforward course, whose efforts have compelled success. He was born in Edwards county, April 27, 1834. His father, Jonathan Briggs, when a youth in England, put to sea as a sailor-a calling in which five of his brothers were engaged-but losing his hearing, he was compelled to abandon his first love and seek other pursuits. He soon after came to America, and for a short time fol- lowed gardening near Cincinnati, Ohio. He married Eliza Naylor, also of England, in 1833. At the time they both lived in Edwards county, he having come here in 1831 and she the following year. In September, 1833, he died at Terre Haute, Indiana, and the subject of this sketch was born the following April. Jonathan Briggs had like opportunities afforded youth forty or fifty years ago, which consisted of a short term of school each winter and much hard work-largely clearing-at all other times. Habits. of economy and industry were thus fixed upon him. The old homestead selected by his parents fifty years ago is now his; noth- ing has ever tempted him to leave it. His widowed mother married and raised a family of children, whose interests in the home place he acquired by purchase. He was married to Sarah Ann Curtis October 1, 1857. By her he has six living children, George, Eliza, Ann, Nathan, Lee and William, and two dead-both died in infancy. Mr. Briggs is a Republican politically ; a member of the Methodist Episcopal church religiously. As a farmer he is progressive, and was one of the first in this section of the country to adopt a system of tile draining.

JOSEPH WOOD DEC'D.

LIRAAI OF THE DIVERSIT

VIEW LOOKING NORTH WEST.

STOCK FARM (250 ACRES ) AND RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH WOOD, SEC. 18 T.2 S. R.14 W. ALBION PRECINCT, EDWARDS CO. ILL.

OF THE

UNIVERSITY

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

217

WAS born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, March 7, 1791. His parents were Ebenezer and Abigail Harris. (Maiden name Burnham). Ebenezer was a farmer. Gibson came west in 1818 or '19, stopping at Vincennes, Indiana, where he engaged in making plats and maps of the surrounding country. Being a practical surveyor he found plenty to do in his vocation. He aided in lay- ing off the town of Terre Haute. After a few months' sojourn in Vincennes, he came to Albion, where he en- tered the employ of Francis Dickson as clerk. In this capacity he continued until the time of his purchase of . the stock of goods. In the mercantile trade he continued until the time of his death, December 5, 1847. From a humble beginning he established, by prudence, energy and the exercise of an excellent judgment, a large and lucrative business. In an early day he took strong grounds in favor of temperance, nor was it in word- 28

alone, but in action as well. It was the custom of the times to have liquor on sale in such establishments. This he would not do. Years afterwards this was imputed to him as a virtue, though at the time his customers thought it a hardship. He was united in marriage with Eliza- beth Woods, daughter of John Woods, one of the hardy English pioneers of Edwards county, in 1826. By her he had nine sons, Gibson W., now of Cincinnati ; George, Chester, Francis, John, Levinus, Lucius, Morris and Bedford E. Of these, all are living, save Chester, who died February 7, 1870, and John, who died Febru- ary 10, 1850. Mrs. Harris survived her husband several years, during which time she carried on, aided by her sons, the business he had established until the time of her death, which occurred September 9, 1864. . Gibson Harris was one of nature's noblemen, a true friend, a wise counselor, a man of irreproachable character.

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

DAVID S. RUDE.

DAVID S. RUDE was born in Worthington, Massa- chusetts, December 11, 1812. His parents, Alpheus and Hannah Rude (nee Taylor), were of the good old Puritaniç stock who have contributed so much to make all New England revered for steadfastness and morality. The family sought for and found a new home in Lewis county, Virginia, in 1819. Here the subject of this sketch was reared. In 1835 he left his home to try his fortunes in Illinois, and for two years worked for wages, receiving for his labor seven and eight dollars per month. During the winter he got out cord-wood, receiving twenty-five cents per cord for cutting. He husbanded his resources and entered land. In 1837 he returned to Virginia to marry the girl of his choice, Purtania Brake, which he did October 20, same year. His bridal tour was a tedious journey back to Illinois, to the broad acres he had predetermined should become his home. Two years after he identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was ever after a most zealous, faithful member. For nearly forty years he was the circuit steward, and .for much of the time he was a class-leader and Sunday-school superin- tendent. To him were born three sons, Edwin L., Albert and Randle, all living. and one daughter, who died in infancy. Mr. Rude did well in life, being one of the best farmers of his neighborhood. He died January 28, 1879. His widow lives on the old home- tead. She was a native of Virginia, where she was born November 8, 1821. Her parents were John B. and Rachel Drake.

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Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 52

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. L. McDonough & co. Number of Pages: 490

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. L. McDonough & co.
Number of Pages: 490