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 60
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 60
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 60
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In 1877 Judge Green's ability as a sound and thorough lawyer, and his worth as a man, received suitable and honorable recognition, by being nominated for the office of Circuit Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit. In 1879 he was further honored by the nomination for a position upon the Supreme Bench of this State, but in both in- stances was defeated, owing to the fact that the canvass took a partisan turn, and the party who nominated him were in a hopeless minority in the districts. His defeat was much regretted, as he would have brought to the bench ripe scholarship and a profound knowledge of the law, acquired by long years of practice and studious
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
habits ; and, with his naturally clear, logical mind, he would have added honor to that distinguished body.
Politically, Judge Green is a republican. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1862, and in all sub- sequent elections has voted and remained a staunch and active supporter of the principles and tenets of that po- litical organization. In 1882 he was selected by his party as the standard-bearer in the Sixteenth Congres- sional District, and made the campaign for congress against Judge Aaron Shaw, the present incumbent, but was defeated by a small majority. He, however, demon- strated that he was a strong and popular man, and made a vigorous canvass and succeeded in reducing the demo- cratic majority of 1476 in the district in 1880, to 628,- and this, too, in the face of the fact that the great tidal wave of democracy swept other portions of the State, and threatened seriously to engulf the ruling and domi- nant party of the county.
On the 23d of October, 1861, Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Lutes of York county, Pa. That union has been blessed with three children, whose names in the order of their birth are: Daisy, Pearl, and Paul Green. Mr. Green is an honored member of the I. O. O.F., and A. F. and A. M. orders, and holds mem- bership with the Lodges of Mt. Carmel. In his habits he is temperate, and an advocate of the cause of tem- perance. He, however, believes that temperance is a great moral question, and should be so treated, and taken out of politics, where it is too often made the stock in trade of the demagogue and political charlatan. He also takes an active interest in the cause of education, and by his zeal and energy has succeeded, in connection with other members of the Board of Education, in build- ing up the present excellent graded schools of Mt. Carmel.
HON. WILLIAM WOOD, (Deceased).
THE subject of the following memoir, was one of the pioneers and early settlers of Wabash county. He was also at that time the leaving representative merchant of this section of the State. It is eminently proper that a sketch of his life should be written and published in a history of this county, so that the present generation may know something of the men who came here in an early day and braved the hardships and exposures of frontier life, that their posterity might enjoy in perfect fulness the benefits arising therefrom. All honor to those brave men, who by their energy subdued the forests and wilds of this country, and made it a habitable abode for the present generation. The first that is known of the Wood's family is the will written in the year 1537, and passed down through the succeeding generations. It was an entailed estate and passed to his uncle's family. We attach the will verbatim :"
1537, November 22nd.
In the name of God amen I Michael Wood of Tenker Hey North Dean in the Vicarage of Hallifax & County of York Yeoman, Being in health yet Weak in Body,
but of Sound mind memory and understanding, do make Publish this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form Following to wit first of all yt all my just Debts and funeral Expences after my Decease be Discharged & paid out of my personal Efee By my Executors herein after named wt all Convinent Speed 2dly I Give & Be- queath to my well beloved Son Josh. Wood yt place called ye moorend Situate Lying & being in Norland in sd Vicarage & County wt all ye Land & Appurtenances thearunto belonging now in ye tenner & occupation of Jonas Bates, for & during my sd Sons natural, But after his Decease I Give ye same to his Son my Grand- son Robt. to hold to him & his Lawful issue If any Surviving after him for ever. But in Default of Such Issue I Give it to his Son, Joseph my Grandson & his Children after him for ever Lawfully begotton or to be begotton of his Body, and in Default of Such Issue to ye next Heirs Deceudant by Law: Also I Give to my sd son Josh Wood Cottages wt 3 Crofts or Meadows thereunto adjoining or belonging Lying & being in sd north Dean wt thear appurtenances to hold to him & his Heirs & Assigns for ever he paying such Legacies thearout as I hearof appoint Which primisses are now in ye Tenner & occupation of Joseph Hey Joseph Glead- hil & Mary Leach. Also I Give & bequeath ye Remain- der & Interest of my Leashold Estate for a term of years yet to come, togath w ye Indenture of Lease - Whearby I hold ye same ye sd Tinker Hey in sd Dean to have & to hold to him his Executors Administrators & assigns According to ye tenner thearcf from & Im- mediately after my Dea Also, I give & bequeath to ye sd Josh Wood Children namely Mary Robt. Hannah Sarah Caroline Rebacco Judith & Joseph, to each Child Guinea to be paid to each as he or she shall come to age out of Real Est Called Moorend, from ye first martin- mas & next ensuing Rents after my Decease Whearas during ye minority of such as are not yet at age to Receive ye Executors to Improve ye same to there Dis- cretion for ye of Such Child or Children then Surviving till ye Seaverl Days of payment as they become due. Also I Give & bequeath to my beloved Daughters Mary Wilkinson & Dorothy Simpson to each one Crown Sterling for & During each of thear natural Lives to be paid out of ye other part of my Land Estate Lying in north Dean before mentioned from ye Issuing Rents thence arising us they become Due ye first payment to be made to each Daughters out of sd Rent first Due after my Decease & so ma yearly after every year. Also iny personal Estate I Give to sd Josh Wood Mary Wilkin- son & Dorothy Simpson to be Equally Divided among them after funeral Expences payments of Debtes & ye following Legaries are paid & Discharged out of ye same, to Wit to William Banaclongh my Servant I Give and bequeath £5.0,0 Sterling to be paid him at ye age of 23 years Which Legacy I will be Improved for & to his use from one month after my decease. Till he come of age to Recl. if then Surviving to to Eliz +- beth Brooksbank my Servant I give & bequeath one Guinea to be paid her in one mouth after my Decease & Lastly I give to my son Joseph my Best Coat & Wast- coat on Condition he Gives to sd Win. Banaclough a Deceut Good Wastcoat otherwise I Give & bequeath these together wt all ye Rest of my Wearing apparril Linnen & Woolling &c to sd Banaclough, & I hereby nominate & appoint Mr. John Taylor of ye Halla John fisher in sd North Dean & John Stancliffe of Greenhead in Norland sd Vicarage Executors of this my Last Will & Testament hearby revoking all former Will & Wills heartofore made as Witness my hand, & Seal this 12 Day of January 1550 MICHAEL WOOD
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Signed Seal'd publish & Declared by ye Within named Michael Wood as & for his Last Will & testament in ye presences of us Who have hearunto Subscribed our names as Witness at ye Request in ye presence of ye Sd Testator & in ye presence of each other after ye Words, 1 of Sd first Due were interlined in ye 35 Line,
JOHN STANCLIFFE, ELIZABETH BROOKSBANK WM
WM STONCLIFF
WM STONCLIFFE.
Joseph Wood, the great-grandfather of William Wood, was a cloth manufacturer of Halifax, England. His son Robert, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a man of great energy. He purchased a grant of land in America and set on foot a movement to raise a colony and settle in this country. He had large carved oak chests made and filled with clothing, and preparations were nearly completed for sailing, when the war for the independence of the colonies broke out and thwarted his plans. Robert Wood married Eliza. beth Ingham, one of three sisters of Crowstone Hall, (one of these sisters lived to be one hundred and four- teen years of age.) By that union there were seven children, whose names were Aaron, Moses, John, Robert, Bathsheba, Mary and Hannah. Bathsheba died in Balti- more, Maryland. His property was entailed and left to his eldest son. Moses, the second son, was the father of William Wood. He was born in Halifax, England, in 1765, and married Jane Beilby, daughter of John and Esther Beilby, of Wetwang. He remained in his native country until 1819, when he with his family left the land of his nativity and settled in America. His family consisted of his wife, eight children and two servants. He also brought with him a tailor, shoemaker and blacksmith. The same oaken chests made by his father years before, were brought over. They sailed in the ship Mary Ann Isabella, from Burlington Quay. The owner of the vessel, Mr. George Baker, was a personal friend of the Wood family. After a tedious voyage of nine weeks and four days, they landed in Philadelphia, and from there proceeded to Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where they settled. There Mr. Wood purchased three hundred acres of land, nearly one-third of which has been occu pied as a part of the city. The remainder developed into valuable coal lands. When Moses Wood landed in Philadelphia he had several thousand dollars in gold, which he deposited in a Philadelphia bank for safe keep- ing. While prospecting in the valley of the Wyoming for land, the bank broke, and he lost his deposits. He was therefore compelled to depend on home resources to complete his purchases in Wilkesbarre. In the settle- ment of the affairs of the bank, he, however, realized a part of his money by taking land located in Bradford county. The tract given in part payment was in extent two thousand acres.
Moses Wood resided upon his farm at Wilkesbarre, for many years after his settlement there, and educated and reared his sons in habits of industry and economy, and also gave them much practical knowledge of farm- ing. He spent the latter part of his life in the city and
there died in 1853, at the advanced age of eighty-eight- years. His wife died in 1852, aged seventy-two years. In 1823, he commenced mining coal and shipped it down the Susquehanna river in keel boats or arks as they were called. He was among the first miners of coal in Wilkesbarre. At that early day the business was unprofitable. His sons became successful merchants and business men of Wilkesbarre. The children, the offspring of his marriage with Jane Beilby, are Sarah deceased, John B. born in 1803, was a wealthy merchant and banker and died at the age of seventy-five years. Moses deceased, William deceased, Abraham died in Trenton, New Jersey ; Mary, wife of Sanford E. Par- sons, of Wilkesbarre, deceased. Isaac, a merchant, set- tled in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1868. Matthew died in Wilkesbarre; Anna M. became the wife of James Jones, cashier of the Wyoming National Bank of Wilkesbarre, deceased, and Esther E. residing in Trenton, New Jersey.
William Wood, of whom we write, was the third son of Moses and Jane Wood. He was born at Pain- slack, Yorkshire, England, in 1807, and was in his twelfth year when he came with his father to America, in 1819. He received a fair education and a thorough business training in his youth. At the age of nineteen he was united in marriage to Jane, daughter of Edward Parkinson, a native of Kendal, England. Her father came to America in 1824, and settled in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. After his marriage Mr. Wood purchased eight acres of land adjoining the city of Wilkesbarre, and laid it out in lots and streets, thereby found- ing the village of Woodville, which was christened by that name at a public meeting of the citizens, called for that purpose by Mr. Miner, brother of the great historian, Charles Miner. Subsequently Mr. Wood en- gaged in the mercantile business in partnership with Benjamin Drake, at Wilkesbarre.
In 1836, (in his own private carriage) in company with his wife, he made the journey to Illinois, which was then considered the "Far West." The journey was a hard one, occupying six weeks of tedious travel, partially through an unbroken wilderness with here and there a log cabin, where travelers from many parts would meet to relate their various hairbreadth escapes, and to be fed upon the never varying corn dodger and bacon, and where the one room would often accommo- date twenty persons for the night. A part of the jour- ney was made over the great National Road, which was then the great thoroughfare between the East and West. A portion of it was macadamized then, and it was already filled with traveling vehicles moving westward with the seat of empire. Many of them came to grief in being unacquainted with the mud and swamps after leaving the finished part of the road. Mr. Wood spent the winter in Mt. Carmel, in Wabash county. The kind- ness and sociability of the people pleased him. He purchased a lot on Main street, near where the Mansion House now stands, and afterward erected a house on it. In the Spring of 1837, he returned east and spent the
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
summer, settled up his business there, and in the fall of the same year, came back to Mt. Carmel. He gave a glowing account of this country, and was instrumental in bringing many others here. The west then wanted sturdy settlers to subdue her forests and bring into culti- vation her rich lands. That winter Mr. Wood entered iato partnership with his brother and Mr. Miller, and opened a general store in Mt. Carmel.
In 1838, he opened a store at Friendsville, in this county, and had a post-office established there. He placed Robert Parkinson and William R. Wilkinson, two young men, in charge of it. In 1841, his brother, having re- turned east, and Mr. Miller dying, Mr. Wood made ar- rangements with Parkinson and Wilkinson to conduct the business, he furnishing the stock as against their labor. The firm of Wood & Parkinson took charge of the store in Mt. Carmel, and Wood & Wilkinson, of the stock at Friendsville. Mr. Wood then spent much of his time east, where he bought the goods and shipped them west, and took charge of the produce, grain and pork that was consigned to him by his western partners. The partnerships thus formed continued for seven years, and were a source of profit to all parties concerned. When Mr. Wood first came to Mt. Carmel it was a small, active, bustling frontier village; emigrants were com- ing iu from all parts of the east ; houses were scarce, and he was compelled, temporarily, to occupy a two-roomed house on Main street, below the hill. It was not lathed nor plastered, no floor over head, no partition except a curtain which was used in separating the rooms. There he lived until a better house could be secured. . In 183%, he purchased a cannon stove in Pittsburg, Pa., brought it to Mt. Carmel, placed it in his store, and was the first to burn bituminous coal in southern Illinois .. He re- turned to Wilkesbarre, after leaving here, and continued there his mercantile operations until 1857. During that time he laid out six acres more into lots and streets, a part of the homestead property which forms a part of the city of Wilkesbarre. He was closely identified with the commercial and banking interests of Wilkesbarre, and was one of the founders of the old Wyoming bank, a director of the same for many years. Both he and his father were among the original subscribers of the stock. He was one of the founders of the Wilkesbarre Water Company ; a director until 1866, and retained his con- nection through life.
Mr. Wood settled in Mt. Holly, N. Jersey, in 1866, but, being restless under inactivity after an energetic busi- ness life, settled in Trenton, New Jersey, the same year, where he gave a part of his time to real estate business, and operated in it quite extensively, and caused the erection of some of the most substantial buildings in the city. In 1876, be built a cottage at Ocean Grove, New Jersey, where he, with his family, during the remaining years of his life, spent the summer months, returning in the autumn to his residence in Trenton, N. J.
In early manhood Mr. Wood was interested in mili- tary organizations, and for sixteen years was a member
of the State militia, of Pennsylvania, rising through the various grades to the rank of major. He was a man of correct habits, quick perception in matters of business, and was ever known as a man of strict integrity in all his business relations. The ancestors of the Wood fam- ily were Episcopalian in their religious belief, but his father and his own family have been identified with the Methodist Episcopal church. In early life he became a professed follower of Christ; was a licensed local preacher and an ordained deacon. His discourses were clear and forcible. He was a member of the Local Preachers' Association from the organization of that body, and took great pleasure in attending its conventions, and in 1871, was its president. Among his last contributions to the church was that of $1,100 to the new chapel of State Street M. E. church, one of the most beautiful and complete Sunday-school rooms in the city of Trenton. His last request was, that the remaining debt on the chapel, amounting to nearly $800, be paid. This has already been done.
His first wife was a devoted Christian woman. She died, leaving the following children : Mary J., George, who died at the age of eighteen; Esther and Sarah. Mr. Wood was twice married, his second wife being Eliza, daughter of Capt. Thomas Coward, of Baltimore, Md., who followed a sea-faring life for twenty-five years. Mrs. Wood still survives her husband, and is a resident of Trenton, N. J. Mr. Wood was an affable and digni- fied gentleman ; a man of strong convictions, sound judgment, and strict integrity. The church has lost a wise counselor, and the community an upright and honorable citizen.
He died March 1, 1883, after a lingering illness, in great peace in the seventy-sixth year of his age.
HON. SILAS Z. LANDES,
Eldest son of John and Dellah (Skelton) Landes. His parents were natives of Augusta county, Virginia. They came west to Illinois in 1856, settling in Edgar county. Subsequently removed to Henry county, Missouri. and in 1872 came to Wabash county, Illinois, where John Landes at present resides. His wife died April 28, 1864, in Edgar county. Silas Z. was born in Augusta county, Virginia, May 15th, 1842. He came west with his father's family in the year above-mentioned. He received his education in the subscription schools of his native State and in the Academy at Paris, Illinois. In 1861, he commenced the study of law in the office, and under the direction of Amos Green, of Paris, Illinois. During that time he supported himself by teaching school. He pursued his studies diligently, and in 1863, at the August term of the Supreme Court, held at Springfield, Illinois, he was upon examination admitted to the bar. In May, 1864, he came to Mt. Carmel, opened an office, commenced the practice, and here has remained to the present. Mr. Landes succeeded to a
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
large and lucrative practice, which have been the direct result of close application, studious habits, and unflagging zeal and industry in the cause of his clients. In 1872, he was nominated and elected States attorney for the county of Wabash. Re-elected in 1876, and again elected in 1880, and in that capacity has earned the re- putation of being an able and vigilant prosecutor. In April, 1878, he was appointed Master in Chancery, and held that office until 1883. Politically, Mr. Landes is a thorough Democrat in all that the word implies. In 1882, his zeal and fidelity to his party made him con- spicuous as a suitable candidate for Congressional honors in this district. In the convention, which met at Olney to nominate a candidate for congress, he was placed in nomination, and led all competitors for about three hundred and fifty ballots at the close of the last ballot. Although being the strongest man in the convention, he withdrew from the race in the interest of harmony and good feeling. His withdrawal resulted in the nomina- tion and subsequent election of Judge Shaw, as Con- gressman from the 18th district. In 1876, Mr. Landes was a member of the Democratic State Central Com- mittee.
Mr. Landes came to Mt. Carmel in 1864 an entire stranger to the people. He had no strong influential friends to back him, but unaided and alone has made his own way. Whatever success he has attained, both in the law or in the accumulation of property, is owing entirely to his own industry and energy.
On the 31st of October, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara, daughter of Dr. Paul and Eliza J. (Gibson) Sears. Mrs. Landes was born in Mt. Car- mel, Illinois. By that union there are three children.
FRANK W. HAVILL.
FRANK WALDEN HAVILL was born in Roscoe, Ohio, September 15, 1842. His mother was a native of that state, and his father was from Maryland. He was educated in the common schools of Ohio, up to the age of 14, when he came to Illinois in 1857 ; from that time to 1861 he worked as a day laborer. He enlisted as a private in Co. I. 40th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, at the age of 18, in 1861. He carried a rifle in the ranks over two years, and was then promoted to First Lieut., Adjutant, and Captain respectively. He was mustered out as Captain and Assistant Inspector General First Division Fifteenth Army Corps. He was twice wounded, being shot through the right leg at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, and in the left shoulder in the charge on Kennesaw Mountains, Ga. During a portion of his term of service he was assigned to duty in Provost Marshal's and Secret Service Departments, and served for a time as Adjutant of Harrison's Tennessee Cavalry. During his term of service he was in the following battles and skirmishes : Pittsburg Landing, Russell House, No. 7, Siege of Corinth, Coldwater, Como, Lex- ington, Collierville, Altoona, New Hope, Black Jack
Knob, Kennesaw, Nickajack Creek, Chattahoochie, Peach Tree Creek, Ezra Chapel, Atlanta, Rough and Ready, Jonesboro, Turkey Creek, Griswoldville, Sa- vannah, Cumbahee, Broad River, Columbia, Bentonville, Falling Creek, and Raleigh. He served a little over four years, having been in all the important campaigns of the west, and with Sherman in his memorable march to the sea.
Since 1872, he has been publisher and editor of the Mt. Carmel Register, a paper, which under his manage- ment, has taken a front rank in the country journals of the State. He is a member of numerous secret bene- volent societies, and is especially well-known in Masonic, Workingmen and Odd-fellow circles. He was married to Miss Lizzie Willman in Friendsville, Illinois, in 1867.
HON. ISAAC N. JAQUESS.
THE Jaquess family are of French origin. Jonathan Jaquess, from whom the family was descended, died previous to the American Revolution. He had four sons, Jonathan, Isaac, William and John, and five daughters, Polly, Ruth, Susan, Massy and Letty. His eldest son was named Jonathan. He was born April 28, 1875. He went to sea when twelve years of age, and followed a sailor's life, at intervals, until twenty-seven years of age. He served in the war of the Revolution four or five years, both by land and sea. At the close of the war he married Miss Sally Jaquess, a third cousin, daughter of Samuel and Abigail Jaquess. His wife lived only thirteen months. He then married Mrs. Esther E. Koy, and moved from his home in Essex county, New Jersey, to Kentucky, in 1789, and settled near where Cynthiana now stands. His wife Esther died, leaving children whose names were Sarah Christina, and Isaac. The latter was the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in New Jersey, Feb. Ist, 1786, and died June 5, 1812. He married Betsey Johnson, who died in Marion county, Missouri, February 16th, 1841. Her father, John Johnson, was a native of North Carolina, a noted Indian fighter in his day. Jonathan Jaquess, the grandfather of Isaac N., emigrated from Kentucky to Indiana in 1816, and settled in Harrison county, and from there removed to Posey county, where he died.
Isaac N. was the only offspring of Isaac and Elizabeth (Johnson) Jaquess. He was born in Harrison county, Ky., Feb. 10, 1811. He learned the cabinet-making trade in his youth. He went with his mother in 1828 to Marion county, Mo., and in the fall of 1831, came to Posey county, Indiana, on a visit to her friends, and while there came over to Mt. Carmel, Illinois, to see his unele, W. F. Jaquess. Liking the town and people, he concluded to stay here and make it his future home. He commenced working at his trade and continued in it for a number of years. He was elected constable and served for a time, and in 1844, was elected sheriff of the county, and continued to be elected for a number of years. He subsequently engaged in different business, merchandising principally, until about four years age,
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