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 62
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 62
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 62
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Captain Geo. M. Keniepp was born March 18th, 1838. He learned the blacksmith trade in his father's shop, moved to the farm with his father and followed farming until, and since the rebellion. On the 17th of February, 18 4, he married Miss Rosalind Murray, by whom he has a family of three sons and two daughters. Mr Keniepp enlisted Sept. 1st, 1861, as private in Co. "G," 48th Regt. Illinois Vol. Inft'y. Promoted 1st Sergeaut March 1st, 1862 Promoted 1st Lieutenant (vice T. S. Bowers, transferred), Nov. 17th, 1862. Promoted Cap- tain March 24, 1864, in Veteran service, same Regiment. Was discharged under Special Order No. 45, Jan. 28th 1865. Accepted April 2, 1865, at Goldsboro, N. C. Was wounded by shell on the thigh and calf of left leg, April 5th, 1862, at Shiloh. Again by gun-shot in left hip, at Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 1st, 1864, while Captain in charge of an advancing skirmish line. Came home on wounded leave. While en route for his Regiment, was detailed on special service under Special Orders of General Sherman, No. 274, Nov. 10th, 1864, in Subsis- tence and Q. M. Dep't., with Captain Shaw, at Louis- ville, Ky., on request was released and ordered to report to commaud, Jan. 8th, 1865; reached his Regiment at Beaufort, S. C., Jan. 21st, 1865.
Received special mention and thanks in reports of actions of the Regiment by his superior officers.
He was in all actions of his Regiment except those between Sept. 1st, 1864 and Jan. 21st, 1865, after which time he was second in command of his Regiment, occa- sionally having entire command, at one time closing up action at Duck Branch, S. C.
Left the Regiment for home April 2d, 1865; after the urgent request of his Col. Maj. and Adj. and line officers of the Regiment, joined by General Oliver, com- manding Division, to remain and offering the Lieut. Col- onelcy of the Regiment. But after three years and eight months' hard service believing the war over, having an honorable discharge, preferred home and its comforts to promotion after the fighting was done, (the Regiment was never in action afterwards), believing he had done his duty faithfully to the best of his ability, gaining the lasting regard of the officers and men with whom he served,
He wasalways connected with the Army of the Ten- nessee, 15th and 16th Corps.
He now resides on his farm, one and a half miles southwest of Mt. Carmel, Illinois,-is a member of the following secret Societies: Eureka Grange, P. of H., No. 784; Wabash Lodge, No. 35, I. O.O. F .; T. S. Bowers Post, No. 125, G. A. R.
WILLIAM SEITZ, JR.
THE Seitz family are old settlers of Wabash county. Christian Seitz, the father of William, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, January 20th, 1806. He emigrated to America, landing at Baltimore, Md., July 19, 1831. He settled at Pittsburg, where he remained until the spring of 1834, when he came west to Evans- ville, in Indiana, and two months later came to Mt. Carmel. in Wabash county, and here he engaged in dif- ferent callings, merchandising, etc., until a few years ago, when he retired from business. On the 25th of Oct., 1832, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Elizabeth Shafer, by which union there were ten children-seven yet living. William Seitz is the only son living. He was born in Mt. Carmel,, December 13, 1837. Here he grew up, and in 1853 commenced the trade of carriage making and continued at it until 1858, when he engaged in trading, butchering and other enterprises until 1867, when he formed a partnership with his father, in the bakery and grocery busines. In 1871 he purchased his father s interest, and from that time has continued alone. Mr. Seitz is a live, active business man, and has been very successful. On the 5th of January, 1860, he married Miss Henrietta Sanders, and by that union there are five children, whose names are, Elijah William, John Alexander, Alfred F., Ada Elizabeth and Mary Ellen. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
As before stated, Mr. Seitz belongs to the progressive order of men. He never allows his business to push him, but is in the lead and always ready for any enterprise that may appear, or in which there is a · reasonable chance to improve his condition financially. He is prompt and honorable in all matter where his obligation is given, and in his intercourse with men he is affable pleasant, and agreeable, and in consequence has a host of friends.
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
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DR. JACOB LESCHER.
DR. CHARLES JAMES MILLER (DECEASED.)
ONE of the prominent and able physicians of the past in Mt. Carmel was Dr. Charles J. Miller. He was born in Dumbarton, Windham county, Vermont. The date of his birth was January 25, 1816. He entered Yale College with the intention of studying for the ministry. Soon after his graduation he went west to Ohio, and in the fall of 1840 came to Mt. Carmel, where he was employed for three years as teacher in the High School. He then commenced the study of medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. Jacob Lescher, of Mt. Carmel. He commenced the practice, and soon after removed to and located in Friendsville, and there lived and practiced medicine for a number of years. He re- turned to Mt. Carmel and 'formed a partnership with John J. Lescher, M. D., son of his preceptor, and together they continued the practice until the death of Dr. Miller, the date of which was May 9th, 1859. His faithfulness to his patients, and fidelity to his profession, was the cause of his early demise. Dr Miller was a member of the Presbyterian church, and presiding elder at the time of his death. On the 6th of January, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Elvina Lescher. She was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1817. By that union there were seven children, four of whom died in infancy. Jacob Marshal, in his early childhood ; Samuel Charles, another son in his 15th year ; Mary Alice, in her 12th year. Mrs. Miller is a resident of Mt. Carmel, and a member of the Lutheran church.
DR. JACOB LESCHER,
THE father of Mrs. Charles J. Miller, was born in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, and adopted the profession of medicine, in which he became learned and eminent in after years. He came west from his native State to Ohio, in 1832, and the year following came to Mt. Car- mel, and here remained until his death, which took place' August 31st, 1854. He was the father of ten children, five sons and five daughters-four sons and one daughter yet living. Dr. Lescher in his day read much, and had absorbed a vast amount of information upon almost every subject. His library at the time of his death was extensive, and embraced standard and mis- cellaneous works upon every popular theory, and fact of the day. He was the most generous and kind-hearted of men. His sympathies were always enlisted for the poor, and his donations and labors in that direction for their aid and benefit were frequent and generous, and none ever called in vain, or went away empty-handed. He was not a member of any church, neither subscribed to any of the formulated creeds or dogmas, but acted upon the golden rule of doing unto others as you would have others do unto you, and believed that in so doing he was fulfilling a large part of the requirements of the Divine law.
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ROBERT PARKINSON (DECEASED).
ONE of the leading business and representative men of Mt. Carmel in pa-t years was Robert Parkinson. He was a native of England, born in Westmoreland county, near the Yorkshire line, October 19, 1816. His parents, Edward and Mary Parkinson, with . the family, emigrated to America in 1824, and settled in New- port township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where they farmed, and Mr. Parkinson followed his trade of stone-mason. A few years later he sold out and re- moved north to Susquehanna connty, near the village of Friendsville, and remained there until 1836, when Mr. Parkinson came west to Illinois, and stopped in White county, and worked upon the stone bridge at Carmi. He died in White county a few years later. Robert was one of five children, the offspring of Edward and Mary (Beilby) Parkinson. During the residence of the family in Pennsylvania, William Wood, an Eng- lishman by birth, married his sister Jane. Mr. Wood was a capitalist and one of the leading men of Wilkes- barre, the county seat of Luzerne. He took Robert into the store with him, and learned him merchandizing and trained him to business. In 1836 Mr. Wood and his brother came west to Wabash county, Illinois, and established a general store in Mt. Carmel, and bought and shipped the produce of this section of the country. Mr. Wood brought Robert with him in the spring of 1837, when he came west the second time, to assist him in the store as clerk. He entered upon his duties and remained in Mt. Carmel for one year, then Mr. Wood established a store at what is now known as Friends- ville, and placed Robert in charge. At that time there were few houses there, and the country was sparsely settled. To give the village more prominence and at- tract the trade of the surrounding country, a post-office was established, and Mr. Parkinson named it Friends- ville, in honor and recollection of the village of . that name in Pennsylvania where he had passed his youth. He was appointed the first postmaster and held the office until 1841. In the fall of 1841 Mr. Wood con- cluded to remove back to Pennsylvania, which step was taken on account of the continued ill health of his wife. He made a proposition to Mr. Parkinson and Wm. R. Wilkinson, his two clerks, to enter into partnership with him and continue the business. An invoice of stock on hand was taken in both stores, and found to aggregate nearly eleven thousand dollars, about equally divided be- tween the two stores. Mr. Parkinson was selected to go to Mt.Carmel, and Mr. Wilkinson to stay at Friendsville. Mr. Wood gave them three thousand dollars in stock, as an offset for services and time. The partnership thus entered into under the firm name of Wood & Parkinson, continued seven years. When the stock was run down and sold, Mr. Parkinson continued the business alone. During the life of the firm of Wood & Parkinson they were the leading merchants and produce shippers in Southern Illinois. They shipped large quantities of grain and pork, which was consigned to the eastern
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partner, and he would purchase goods in return and ship them west _ The management of the business mainly depended on Mr. Parkinson, who was then comparatively a young man ; but he was untiring, in- dustrious, bold and aggressive, and possessed a quick, business mind. The business grew and prospered under his management. He thus laid solidly the foun- dations of his future business life. After the retire- ment of Mr. Wocd he continued the business alone for the greater part of his life. He occasionally had partners, but only for a short time. In 1852 he built the flouring and saw-mill at Grand Rapids. He suffered severe losses at different times, but never gave up-the greater his losses, the higher his courage seemed to rise. He did not pine or fret, but went to work, and with his indomitable energy and perseverance, would wrench success from what others would abandon in despair. In June, 1877, he was one of the heaviest sufferers from the terrible cyclone that visited Mt. Carmel. His losses aggregated $35,000, and he was buried for three hours in the ruins of his building, which took fire, and it was only by the most herculean efforts on the part of the citizens that he was rescued from a horrible death. After a few days he was again at work and from the wreck gathered up his remaining resources, and soon was under way again. His credit, which he was always ex- tremely careful of, was about all he had left, but it stood him good service now and enabled him to get started once more. His sons then went into partnership with him, and continued until his death, which took place April 8th, 1878. In his intercourse with men he was affable and agreeable, and made many strong friends, who were held to him as with hooks of steel.
On the 22d of November, 1842, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Frances J., daughter of Abraham and Hannah (Stewart) Russell. She was born in Wabash county, Ill., August 9, 1824. Her parents were natives of Nantucket, Mass. Mrs. Parkinson died March 22, 1877. There were ten children by that union, six of whom are living : Abraham R. died January 23, 1880, in his twenty-fourth year ; James R., Ellen L., Mary E, Robert Edward, S. Frank B. are the names of the living. James R. and Robert Parkinson, under the firm name of Parkinson Bros., do a very large business in general merchandising, and also are extensive grain dealers. They have preserved the standing and credit that their father gave the house and name in his life.
JAMES W. RIGG.
SAMUEL RIGG, the father of James, was born in North Carolina, August 14, 1791. His father, Charles, was a soldier of the Revolution. He (Samuel) moved to Greennp county, on the Big Sandy, Ky., and there on the 27th of January, 1814, married Rachael Beauchamp, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 27, 1794. Samuel Rigg moved to Illinois, landing in Mt. Carmel December 25, 1817. There were then five in the family.
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
father, mother, Charles, George and Mrs. Beauchamp, the mother of Mrs. Rigg. Mr Rigg settled where James W. now lives, and there died April 1, 1858. His wife died July 3, 1874. They were both devoted Christians, and joined the church while quite young. There were eight children, seven sons and one daughter : James W., the subject of this sketch, was born on the place where he now lives, October 23, 1829. He was reared upon the farm, and remained at home until attaining his ma- jority. In 1852 he married, then commenced farm. ing for himself, and still continues on the farm, a view of which can be seen on another page. He made a pro- fession of religion in 1844, and joined the M. E. church, and was licensed to exhort in 1853. On the 26th of January, 1867, he was licensed a local preacher by the Conference, in the Olney district. On the 16th of Feb- ruary, 1853, he was married to Justina, daughter of Peter and Justina (Joachims) Ravenstein. Her parents emigrated to America in 1851, and settled in Wabash county. There have been five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rigg. Their names are Elizabeth, Rachael, wife of John G. Seiler, who have four children, named Ru- dolph Jacob, (- Elmira, dead), Justina Matilda and Bertha Menetta; Matina Justina is the wife of James Tanquary, Mary Bertha wife of George E. Gilkerson ; Peter Samuel married Matt Douglass, and have one son, named Earl Raoul ; Lincoln James is a student at the Southern Normal, at Carbondale, Ill. Politically, Mr- Rigg is a Republican-Independent. In 1876 he was a charter member of the first Grange, and was appointed Gen. Deputy of Southern Illinois by the Master Grange.
JOHN M. HARRISON
WAS born in Vincennes, Knox county, Ind., Nov. 1st, 1844. The family on the paternal side is of English ancestry. The grandfather of John H., came from England to America, when quite young, and settled in Baltimore, and there married. By that union was John H., the father of the present subject, born 1806. When he grew to manhood he adopted the ministry, and was ordained as such in the Christian Church. He came west on a mission to preach, and settled in Vincennes, and while traveling upon the circuit, he was drowned in attempting to ford White river, in Green county. The date of his death was Oct. 23, 1845. He married Sarah P. Wheeler, a native of Vincennes. She was the daughter of Henry D. and Esther (Polk) Wheeler, old settlers of Indiana. There were five children born to John H. and Sarah P. Har- rison. John H. is the youngest son. He received his primary education in the public schools and in the University at Vincennes. He was brought up to habits of business and industry. He was in the woolen busi- ness until twenty years of age, then began studying mediciue with a view of adopting it as the profession of his life. He spent two years in the drug business in St Louis. In 1874 he commenced the study of dentistry
in Vincennes, and commenced business in connection with his preceptor in Colorado, traveling over the south- western part of the state. He located for a while on Texas creek, and subsequently went to Texas, and in March, 1879, came to Mt. Carmel, Ills., and here located permanently. On the 15th of May, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Lotta, daughter of John P. and Elizabeth Young, of Knox county, Indiana. Two children were born to them, whose names are, Harry Young and Eleanor. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M., and also a member of the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. He is master workman in the beneficiary order of A. O. U. W., and treasurer of the Lodge of I. O. G T. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Harrison, by close attention to business and superior workmanship in the dental line, has built up a large and lucrative practice.
THOMAS L. JOY,
THE present editor and publisher of the Republican, Mt. Carmel, was born at Equality, Ill., Sept. 5th, 1850. He is the son of Ephraim and Ellen M. (Seed) Joy. His father is a native of Wabash county, and his mother is of Irish parentage, from the north of Ire- land. She was a resident of Lawrence county, Ills., at the time of her marriage. Mr. Joy entered the ministry of the M. E. church at an early age. By his marriage with Ellen M. Seed there were four children, two of whom are living-Thos. L., and Andrew F., at present connected with the Carmi Times, as editor and publisher- Thomas L. commenced the printer's trade at the age of fifteen, in the office of the New Era, Carbondale, Ills , and remained there six months. The next vacation he worked for four months in the office of the Alton Daily Telegraph. He next found employment on the Advo- cate, Belleville, Ills., where he served as an apprentice for one year, at the end of which time he entered the job office of Woodward & Tiernan, St. Louis, Mo., and served an apprenticeship of three years. From the latter place he went to Lebanon, St. Clair county, Ills., and for three months had charge of the mechanical de. partment of the Journal. He then went to Bridgeport, Lawrence county, in charge of the Courier. In 1872, in connection with his father and brother, under the firm name of E. Joy & Sons, he established the Carmi Times. Fifteen months later E. Joy retired, and the firm of Joy Bros. was formed, which continued until January, 1883. In August, 1880, Mr. Joy, on the part of the Joy Bros, went to Cairo, and there established the Daily and Weekly News. This paper was issued as a daily for five months, then for six months it was issued as a semi-weekly, when the office was closed and the paper discontinued.
On the 15th of January, 1883, he came to Mt. Car- mel and took charge of the Republican, and at present conducts it as editor and proprietor.
262
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ROBERT S. GORDON.
THE Gordon family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. John Gordon, the grandfather, was born in Wheeling, Va., in 1763. He married Mary McKinnon, of Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania. Soon after moved to Hamilton, Ohio, from there to Cincinnati, then to Evans- ville, Indiana, and in 1819 to Lawrence county, Illinois. There were six sons and two daughters in the family. Robert M., the father of Robert S., was the name of one of the sons. He was born in Washington county, Penn. He came west with his father in an early day, and to Wabash county, Illinois, in 1829, and settled in Mt Carmel. Here he followed merchandising and various other businesses, chief among which was hotel-keeping, brick-making, stock-trading, and subsequently studied law. Commenced the practice and drifted into politics, and became a local political leader. On several occasions he was a candidate for county office, and once for the legislature. In politics he was a Democrat of the Jackson school. He died Sept. 27, 1841. In 1823, at New Albany, Indiana, he married Elizabeth Collins, who was a native of Ohio; born March 11th, 1810. She died March 15, 1871. By the latter union there were two sons and four daughters. The eldest son died in in- fancy. Robert Squire Gordon, of whom we write, is the fifth in the family. He was born in Mt. Carmel, Wabash county, Illinois, August 26, 1838. His edu- cation in schools practically ended with his thirteenth year. He then became self-supporting. At the age of fifteen he commenced work on a farm. Soon after he went to his relatives in Charleston, Illinois, and there apprenticed himself to learn the carpenter trade. He served eighteen months when the war of the rebellion broke out. He then enlisted as a private, for the term of three years, in Co. B. 21st Regt. Ills. Vols. Infantry, Col. U. S. Grant, commanding. The date of his en- listment was May 9, 1861. He participated with his regiment in all the battles and skirmishes in which it was engaged up to Sept. 24, 1864, when he was detailed on secret service duty, and served in that capacity until the end of the war. He veteranized with his regiment, February 26, 1864. After the close of the war, Sept. 21st, 1865, he was detailed the second time by Major Gen. Stanley, and ordered on duty at Victoria, Texas, and finally mustered out and discharged Dec. 16, 1865, having been in active service four years and seven months. After Mr. Gordon's discharge from the service he re- mained in San Antonia, Texas, and engaged in mercan- tile pursuits. From the latter place he went to Plea- santon, in Atascosa county, and there engaged in the grocery trade. In May, 1868, he returned to Mt. Car- mel, and here soon after engaged in farming. In Sept. 1871, in connection with Henry Utter, engaged in the dry goods business in Mt. Carmel, in which they con- tinued until March, 1873. He remained out of business until Nov. 1875, then opened a drug store, and has continued in the drug trade until the present.
Politically he was originally a Douglas Democrat. He cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas, and was a great admirer of the " Little Giant " of the west, whom he knew personally. At the breaking out of the war, he was a loyal and staunch union man, and gave evi- dence of the faith that was in him by shouldering his musket and going to the front, and served with a regiment that became one of the historic organizations of the war. In 1868, he voted for U. S. Grant, his old colonel and commander, for president, and from that time to the present has voted the Republican ticket. In 1876, Mr. Gordon was elected Mayor of Mt. Carmel, and re-elected in 1877, and served until 1879. During 1877, when the city was visited by the terrible cyclone he, with the aid of the committee, distributed $14,000, which was donated to relieve the sufferers. In 1881, he was elected one of the county commissioners, and is credited with being one of the first Republicans elected to that position on a straight ticket. He was also, for three years, a member of the Board of Education.
In July, 1868, Mr. Gordon was happily united in marriage to Miss Mary L., eldest daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Penstone) Utter. She was born in Wabash county, Illinois, May 18, 1836. Her father was born in New Jersey, and came with his father Major Henry Utter, to Illinois in 1818. Her mother is a native of the same State, and came here in 1823. There have been six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, three of whom are living-two died in infancy and one in early childhood. The names of those living are Amy Ellen, Robert Abraham, and Walter Spafford. Mr. Gordon and wife are members of the Christian church. Mr. Gordon attached himself to that religious organiza- tion in 1865, when at home from the army on veteran furlough. He takes an active interest in the church government, and has filled the office of elder deacon, and has been one of its trustees for a number of years.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and be- longs to the Mt. Carmel Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 239, and was W. M. for three years of Mt. Carmel Chapter, R. A. M., No. 159, and was its H. P. for three years. He was created a Knight Templar, by Gorin Command- ery K. T., at Olney, Illinois. He was the first com- mander of T. S. Bowers Post G. A. R., No. 125, and at present is special mustering officer of the district.
JOHN T. BURKETT.
THE Burkett family is of German ancestry. The great-grandfather emigrated from Germany to America, bringing with him an only son named John. They set- tled in York county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until his death, which was occasioned by the explosion of a powder-mill, about the year 1814. John, the grand- father of the subject of this sketch, moved to Circleville, Ohio, and, a short time after, came down the river with his family, and located at New Harmony, Indiana. He there became a member of what was then known as the
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