Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 67

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 67
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 67
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 67

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Adams' Corners, so named after Daniel Adams, is situated in the southeast corner of section 18. It con- tains two churches, a Christian and a United Brethren, a frame school-house, a store kept by Franklin Seiberts, and eight or nine dwellings.

Friendship precinct had the first "Free Soil " organi- zation in southern Illinois. It was established in 1848 with six members, Cyrus Danforth, William R. Wilkin- son, Charles W. McNair, James and David Ballard and John F. Youngken. These six cast six, and the only

votes in Wabash county for Martin Van Buren. The youngest soldier in the Union army of the late war, in Illinois, and with one exception, in the United States, was furnished by Friendsville precinct, in the person of George W. Shoaff, at the age of about eleven and a half years. It has supplied one member of the constitutional convention of 1818; two judges of the probate court ; one judge of the county court; two clerks of said court ; one county surveyor, and three members of the General Assembly.

BIOGRAPHIES.

THOMAS WILKINSON.

THE native country of the Wilkinson family is York- shire, England, town of Sedgeborough. The family have generally followed the peaceful avocation of farmers. The family farm was Hole House, Howgill. The record of the Wilkinson family in the old Episcopal church, to which they all belonged for many generations, is as follows: Robert Wilkinson, the grandfather, was born at Hole House. He spent most of his time fishing for trout and salmon, when not occupied by his duties on the farm. He married Miss Mary Wilson, who was of a Quaker family, and was a most modest and admir- able Christian woman, wife and mother whose memory was revered and cherished by her offspring. Robert Wilkinson's politics were "Free Trade," "Bread for All." Lord Brown, the standard-bearer for the West Riding of Yorkshire ; his three sons, Thomas, Anthony and William, were of the same political cast.

The second son, Anthony, became very rich in the East Indies. He left England in 1788, and remained abroad twenty-two years, and bought several estates. He mar- ried Miss Jane Sedgwick, daughter of an Episcopalian minister. They had ten sons and daughters. He died at Hole House in 1842, at the age of about seventy years. Their ancestors, being large peuple, combined with healthy climate and good constitutions, gave to those three brothers (Thomas, Anthony and William) more than ordinary size and stature. Thomas was five feet eleven inches high, and weighed 294 lbs. Anthony was six feet in height, and weighed 322 lbs. William was six feet two inches, and weighed 266 lbs. William, the youngest, entered the service of his country under Sir Arthur Wellesley, who was afterwards elevated to Viscount Wellington. After leaving the service of his country, he came to America, and entered a school at Baltimore, Md., preparatory to going to his brother Anthony, who resided at East End of Water Lane, Kingston, Jamaica, a British island. The latter's plan- tation was some sixty miles from Kingston. The labor

on the plantation was all accomplished by slaves. An- thony, finding himself failing in health, the result of a too energetic character and tropical climate, left the island for his home in England, and never returned except for a short time. William remained on the island until 1815, when he returned home and died at Sedgeborough in 1837, at the age of sixty-two years. In England he was a farmer. The main products of the farm were oats, grass, potatoes, barley and turnips,-sheep and cattle the principal stock. Thomas Wilkinson's father married Miss Mary Wilson, about the year 1790. They had one son, Robert, who went to Jamaica in 1820 and died there; and two girls, Aun and Mary. The latter married James Mattison, and had four children. Ann, the eldest daughter, died without issue. Thomas Wil- kinson, sr.'s second marriage was with Miss Ann Rah, a Scotchwoman. She was born in 1784,-was a woman of wonderful energy and perseverance, and possessed those marked characteristics of the hardy Scotch people. She was a member of the Episcopal church, a model woman and farmer's wife, with strong attachments for her chil- dren, and kind and benevolent to all, especially to those in distress. She would say: "Poor things, they are somebody's bairns " (children). She had by her mar- riage with Thomas Wilkinson fifteen children-all lived to maturity except the youngest, who died in infancy. The names of the children were : Anthony, Margaret, Betty, Nanny, Rose, Jane, Sophia, Hannah, William R., Isabella, Ellen, Sarah, Thomas and John F. An- thony emigrated in 1828, and Mr. Wilkinson, wife, and nine children came to America in 1830. They left home in May, and were eight weeks on sea. They reached Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where they first settled in July of the same year. Arriving at Mrs. Metcalf's, an old acquaintance in England who had preceded them here, the family remained there until money was saved sufficient to bring them west. They left Wyoming Valley, Penn., in May, 1837, going by canal to the Al- legheny mountains, over the inclined railway, and then

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

to Pittsburg by canal, and from there down the river to Shawneetown on steamboat. Teams hauled them to Edwards county. Mr. Wilkinson bought forty acres of land in White county, Ills., where he lived the balance of his life. Some of his children settled near him, and others in Edwards county-all buying land and making homes as fast as circumstances would admit. Most of the land still remains in the family. Subsequently, the family became separated; some went up north to . Friendsville, Wabash county, where the subject of this sketch and several others reside.

Thomas Wilkinson, sr., was born Nov. 30, 1768, and died Aug. 15, 1840, and, at his own request, was buried on his land. His wife then removed to Friendsville, and there died in 1852. After the death of his mother, Thomas Wilkinson, the subject of this sketch, went to school at what was known as the Ridge school-house, which was erected in 1841 or 1842, on section 14, twp. 3, 5, in Edwards county. The house was erected by the neighbors, who contributed their work. Mr. John Spencer and Mr. Wilkinson built the chimney, which was of stone. It was, in fact, a pioneer school house, with split logs for benches, plank floors, and everything cheap to suit the circumstances. That house was also used as a place of divine worship for a number of years. From that school-house Mr. Wilkinson graduated under Mr. John Correy, a Scotchman, who took a great interest in him, and towards whom Mr. Wilkinson has always en- tertained the greatest respect and esteem.

The forty acres lying south of the school-house was entered by Robert Willis, and donated for church and cemetery purposes, and named Bethsaida. In 1844, Mr. Wilkinson was united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza Chap- man, daughter of Rev. John Scott. She had one son by her former marriage, whose name was Thomas S. Chap- man. Her parents were natives of Leeds, England, and came to America in 1841, and settled and bought land in Edwards county, where Mr. Scott died October 9th, 1845. His wife, Sarah, died November 29th, 1851, and their daughter Elizabeth died December 10th, 1847. After Mr. Wilkinson's marriage, both he and his wife set industriously to work to make a home, determining not to fall behind others who were starting about the same time. They plodded along, making and adding to their store, little by little. Money was scarce and hard to get. The country was new, and had not recovered from the effects of the financial troubles of a few years before. Two children were born to Mr. Wilkinson,- John and Sarah. Both died young. His wife died Dec. 20th, 1851, and was buried in the Bethsaida burying ground. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Scott family residence in the new world was brief-all died except one grand-daughter, Sarah Ann, wife of Thomas St. Leger.

Thomas S. Chapman enlisted in the late war in Co. A of the 11th Mo. Infantry, and died in the service. His remains lie by the side of his mother. In the winter of 1847 Mr. Wilkinson went to Pinhook, in Edwards coun-

ty, and packed pork for Messrs. Parkinson and Wilkin- son. In the summer of 1848 he assisted in erecting & carding machine and building, and learned to card wool under the instructions of Major David Ingraham, the oldest carder in Edwards county. During the win- ter he, in connection with his brother William, bought and packed pork, and also corn, oats and produce. In 1850 Mr. Wilkinson and his brother entered regularly into partnership. They sold goods, bought produce, built boats, loaded them, run them out on the Bonpas to the Wabash and Mississippi rivers. They established a branch store at Timberville, on the Wabash, which proved unsuccessful to Mr. Wilkinson. He moved to and settled in Friendsville, Dec. 15, 1857. In 1862 he formed a partnership with James Foster, which was dis- astrous. During that time Mr. Wilkinson was postmas- ter of Friendsville. On the 21st of November, 1852, he married Rebecca, widow of H. B. Roney, and daughter of Ira and Eleanor Keen. She was born one mile east of Friendsville, Wabash county, Ills. There have been nine children, the result of that marriage. Their names in the order of their birth are : Mary Ellen, born Oct. 17, 1853 ; died Oct. 24, '54. Sarah Jane, born Dec. 10, '55; Alice, born Feb. 12, '58, died Oct. 4,'59; Ira A., born Mar. 15, '60 ; died July 11, '61. Sam'l B Elsworth, born Oct. 5, 1862; died July 13, 1876. Thomas Lincoln, born Feb. 9, 1865. William Finley, born Dec. 20; died Sept. 26, 1867. Jordan Keen, born Feb. 13, 1876. Elizabeth, the oldest living daughter, married Captain James E. Kelsey, March 26th, 1868, and gave birth to four sons, whose names are : William Thomas, Harry Albert, George and James Garfield. They live in Lawrence county. Sarah Isabella is the wife of George S. Taylor ; married April 29, 1880; have one child (Carrie), born May 3, 1881. Mr. Ira Keen and wife, parents of Mrs. W., came to Wabash county,-father in 1816, and the mother in 1803. Mrs. Keen's maiden name is Jourdan, related by blood to the Comptons, who were originally from Virginia, thence to Kentucky, and finally to Wa- bash county, Illinois, in 1801. They are credited with being the first settlers in this section of the country.

Mr. Wilkinson, politically, was an old line Whig. His first vote was cast for W. H. Harrison in 1840. He remained a Whig until 1856, when he voted for John C. Fremont, and for all subsequent Republican candidates.

A. Wilkinson married Ruth Edgerton, who had five sons and three daughters, and fourteen grandchildren. Wm. R. married Sarah Williams and had two sons and four daughters. Thomas Wilkinson married Eliza Chapman, had one son, two daughters and four grandsons. Subse- quently Mr. W. married Rebecca Roney ; had six sons, three daughters and two grand-daughters. John F. W. married Mary E. Albetz; had two sons, three daughters and five grandchildren. John F. subsequently married Maria Albetz, and had one son.

HON. WILLIAM R. WILKINSON WAS born Jan. 19th, 1816, in the county of York, Eng-

OF JOHN EWALD

STOCK FARM & RESIDENCE OF GEORGE C. EWALD, I MILE EAST OF BELLMONT, WABASH CO.ILL.

STOCK FARM 274 ACRES OF THOS. GAWTHORPE, SEC.34, T.I, R.I, SHELBY PRECINCT, EDWARDS CO.ILL. 1

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

land. He is the son of Thomas and Nancy Rah) Wil- kinson, and the ninth in a family of fourteen children. His father had been twice married, and was the father of nineteen children. The family emigrated to America in 1830, and settled in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1837 he came west to Illinois, and settled five miles west of Grayville, in White county, where he bought forty acres of land, and there lived until his death in 1840. His wife then came to Friendsville, and made her home with the subject of this sketch until 1858, when she died. After the family came to Amer- ica, William R. worked for William Wood of Wilkes- barre, and received in pay four dollars per month. He remained with him four years. Then his father rented a piece of land, and William returned and assisted hin for several years. In April, 1837, he engaged with Judge Geo. W. Woodward, of Wilkesbarre, and went to school, doing the chores of the house in pay for his board. The following fall he came west to White county, where his father had moved. He remained with him, and helped to clear up ten acres of ground, and fenced it in. In June, 1838, he came to Mt. Carmel, and worked at the tanning business. In Feb., 1839, at the solicitation of William Wood, he went to Friendsville and clerked for him in the store, and in 1841 formed a partnership with Mr. Wood. This part- nership continued for seven years, after which he con- tinued the business, and is still at the old stand. In 1855 he and his brother Thomas engaged in mercantile business in Pinhook, in Edwards county, Illinois, and at old Timberville on the Wabash river.

In 1850 he put up a warehouse, and shipped a large amount of produce down the river. In 1859 he built the flouring mill in Friendsville. In 1841 he was ap- pointed postmaster of Friendsville, and still holds that position. He is without doubt the oldest post-master in the State. Mr. Wilkinson was for many years the lead- ing merchant of his town and a prominent man in the county. On the 6th of September, 1849, he was com-

missioned by Gov. French a justice of the peace. Aug. 18, 1856, he was commissioned by Joel A. Mattison notary public ; and on the 30th of November 1857, was commissioned county judge of Wabash county. In 1876 he was elected to represent his senatorial district in the General Assembly of the State. He was appointed on the commission to examine the overflowed lands along the rivers, where the State had built dams or locks. Originally, Judge Wilkinson was a Whig. In 1848 he was one of six who formed the Free Soil party in Wa- bash county. He joined the Young Republican party 1856, and voted for John C. Fremont, and in all subse- quent elections has uniformly voted that ticket.

On the 9th of December, 1841, he married Sarah Williams, who was born in Ireland. Her father came to America when she was but a year old. She was reared in New Brunswick. There have been eight chil- dren, the offspring of that union, five of whom are liv- ing. Their names are : Alice A., who is the wife of W. H. Besley ; Mary, wife of John H. Allison ; Robert T. ; Sarah, wife of Thomas H. Penn, and George.

Robert T. Wilkinson, the eldest son, was born in Friendsville, Feb. 23, 1850. He received his education in the public schools and in the seminary of his native town. He read law in the office of Green & Bell, and was admitted to the bar at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, at the July term of the Supreme Court, 1879. The same fall he removed to Mt. Carmel, and engaged in mercantile business in connection with W. H. Besley, which con- tinued for two and a-half years, when he formed a part- nership with J. Fred. Stein, which still continues. On the 6th of February, 1882, he was appointed postmaster of Mt. Carmel, and re-appointed April 3d, 1873.

On the 22d of Oct., 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Julia E., daughter of Dr. James and Ellen (La- vellette) Harvey. By that union there are three chil- dren, whose names are Mabel, Robert Clyde, and James W. Wilkinson. The family are members of the Pres- byterian Church.

DENNISON.

LAWRENCE COUNTY.

HIS TOWNSHIP is bounded on the north by Lawrence, on the east by Allison and the Wabash river, on the south by the county of Wabash, and ou the west by Lukin and Bridgeport townships. The surface was originally almost wholly covered with timber and is, in places, somewhat broken. West of the central part is an area called " Wolf-

prairie." The soil is best adapted to the growth of wheat. Drainage is derived principally from the Embarras river and Little Raccoon creek. The Wabash, St Louis, and Pacific railroad extends through the township, north and south, and supplies good facilities for the shipment of produce.

The earliest settlements were made by the French, at

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

St. Francisville. Joseph Tugaw, properly spelled Tou- gas, originally came from Vincennes, and settled on the site of the village in 1804 or 1805. His brothers, Au- gust aud William, and John Langlois were also there about that time, but moved to Rochester, in Wabash county, He was a married man and had two children, Joseph, jr. and Alexander. Soon after he settled he established and operated a ferry on the Wabash. In 1812 he built a picket fort, as a protection for himself and his neighbors against the Indians. In 1815, his was the only residence in Edwards county assessed as a " mansion house." It was rated at $300. He was, moreover, one of the only two who owned slaves in that year. He was a giant in stature, and possessed those characteristics of courage and daring which were the birthright of the Tougas family. He met his death at the hands of Tecumseh and three or four of his band, at Logansport, by accepting, at their hands, a poisoned morsel, as an alternative to death by violence. He ,was set at liberty, and put spurs to his horse and succeeded in reaching a cabin, but before medical aid could be had, the morsel had done its work. Joseph aud Amab Pot- vine, commonly called Arpas, came likewise from Vin- cennes, about the same time. The former had two children, Peter and Jane, and settled on the E. half of section 17, making there his permanent home. He was a man of enterprise, and built a horse-mill at an early day. His daughter Jane, about 1827 or '28, married Mason Jones, who settled on the old place. Amab, who was a bachelor, made his home on the same half-section. Philip Deschaut came from Montreal, Canada, and married in Vincennes. In 1806, with a family of three children, Peter, Clara and Julia, he moved to Dennison township, and settled in section 17. Andrew and Charles Lacoste, from Vincennes, settled on the S. W. quarter of section 8, about the year 1807. Near this time came L. Bonaut, with two children, Charles and Lambert, and located on the S. W. quarter of section 28, where he lived about ten years. He then moved to Cahokia, and there died.

In 1809 or '10, Francis Tougas, brother of Joseph, above referred to, and like him, a living Apollo, moved from Vincennes and settled north of St. Francisville, on the S. W. quarter of section 17. He had three children, Francis, Susan and Nellie. He died many years ago. Francis, jr., who now resides in section 8, was born in Vincennes, in 1803. Louis Lacoste moved to the town- ship from Vincennes, and settled on the N. W. quarter of section 8, about 1810. At the same time and in the near vicinity, Michael Dubois and one Boutia settled, lived and died. The Gremore family moved from Kas- kaskia to Vincennes. In 1810, Peter Gremore and bis brother Charles, the former with five children, viz; Peter, jr., Jane, Joseph, Francis and Modiste, came to the vicinity of St. Francisville and settled on the S. W. quarter of section 21, where the former resided per- manently and died at the age of one hundred and two years. He reared twenty-three children by one mother,

Mary Josette De Lisle, three of whom are yet living. Charles Gremore married and settled on a part of his brother's place. Charles Moyes first came to the town- ship prior to 1812. He moved back to Vincennes, returned after the Indian difficulties were over and settled on the S E. quarter of section 12. He received the pseudonym of Coy, from a circumstance which may be found related in detail in the pioneer chapter. His children were Charles, Peter, Joseph, Francis and Mar- tha. Except Peter, they all married and settled in the county. John Shirkey, with three children, John, Mary and Theresa, came to the county about 1815. He settled on the N. W. quarter of section 13. Charles Donaute and Frank Potvine settled in the same neigh- borhood. Some account of the Harriman family, and of the cruel fate that overtook them, will be found in those pages of this book devoted to the early pioneers. James Johnson came from Indiana in 1815 or '16, and settled on the S. W. quarter of section 21, where he made his permanent home and died. He was a mechanic and as early as 1825 had in operation a cotton-gin. His two sons, Abner and George, and two daughters were a part of the immigrant family. William Ramsey, a New Light minister, came from Franklin county, Ohio, in 1818. He brought a family of five children, Louis, John, Joseph, Russell, and Hannah, and settled on the N. E. quarter of section 33, T. 3, R. 12. William Dennison, whose name is perpetuated in that of the township within whose borders he settled, immigrated from Fayette county, Kentucky, in 1818, with a family of eight children, viz: Daniel, John, Madison, Alexan- der, William, Elizabeth, Catharine and Mary, and made his home on the S. W. quarter of section 33, T. 3, R. 12. He had served in the Kentucky militia, under Gen. St. Clair. He was one of the early justices of the peace, and died on his farm, about forty-five years ago. His newly married son Robert, came at the same time, and settled on the S. } quarter of section 33, T. 3, R. 12. Alexander, William and Madison married in the county where they are represented by a number of descendants. In this year, 1818, also came John Mieure, Thomas Lawson, John Powers and Charles Lacoste, jr. The first came from Kentucky and married Mary Ann Gillespie, and began life as a merchant, in Lawrenceville. He subsequently moved to section 19, T. 3, R. 11, and began farming, which was afterwards his only occupatiou. Lawson was also from Kentucky and had three children John, Sarah and Napoleon. He made his permanent home in the N. W. quarter of section 36. Powers was likewise a Kentuckian and settled on the N. E. quarter of this section. His children, whom he brought with him, were Lemuel and Haman, some of whose descend- ants live iu the township. Charles Lacoste, jr., from Vincennes, settled on the N. W. quarter of section 17. Benjamin Gibbs, with two children, Mary and Rhoda- now Mrs. Louis Ramsey-came in 1819, and settled on the S. W. quarter of section 23, T. 3, R. 12. His son Daniel was born in 1820, on the old homestead, where

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

he now resides. His brother-in-law, John Clark, who came from the state of New York, was a Baptist minister, with a family. He sold his property to William Ramsey and moved to the Illinois river. In 1819, four brothers, Thomas, Walter, Victor and James Buchanan, came to- gether in a keelboat from Kentucky. The first, who had two children, Eliza and Robert A., settled on the S. W. quarter of section 1, T. 2, R. 12, where he resided permanently, and died. Walter became a mathematician and surveyor of note. The family are one of the most numerous and best-to-do in the southern part of the county. James Ryan came from Virginia in 1820, and aettled on the N E. quarter of section 23, T. 3, R. 12, where he resided permanently. He had a family of seven children, by name, Thomas, Rachel E. Z., Betsey, Alexander, Martin, Sarah and Joel. The land upon which Mr. Ryan settled, had been improved by a man named Parr. Jeremiah Fleming, an Irish school- teacher, about 1819, settled on the N. W. quarter of section 26, T. 3, R. 12 This place was afterward en- tered by William Buchanan, who came from Obio, about 1827 or '28, with three children, John, William, jr. and Cynthia, the first of whom now occupies the old place. Fleming's father-in-law, Stufflebeam, lived near him. Josiah Selby, son-in-law of James Johnson, came from Kentucky about 1820, with three children, Johnson, Thomas and Leonard, and settled where John Price now lives.

Hugh Seed, some time prior to 1828, settled on the S. E. } of section 24, township 3, range 12, where he reared a considerable family of children. Samuel Seed improved the A. B. Ryan place-the N. E. } of section 23. Dr. Thomas Collins, originally from Maryland, some time before 1828, settled on the N. W. + of section 24, where he lived permanently and died. John Rich- ardson, with a family of five children, John, Nancy, William, Jefferson, and Eliza, came from Virginia, in 1828, and lived at various points in the county till his death. His son, William, who resides in section 29, township 3, range 11, is among the prosperous farmers of the county. Richard Jackman, came to what is now Wabash county, in 1,819. In 1824, he moved to the township, and settled on the N. W. { of section 26, township 2, range 12. After a residence here of two years, he bought land in the S. W. { of section 23, same town and range, and there lived till his death, in 1849, at seventy-four years of age. He arrived in the town- ship with a family of six children, Edward, Elizabeth, William, Basil, John, and Richard. Mr. Jackman was, by trade, a wheelwright. His son, John, is among the prominent citizens of the township. Gen. John H. Morris moved with his family from Kentucky, in 1822. Three sons and eight daughters were the members of his family. Soon after the opening of the war of 1812, he organized, and helped to equip, a company, of which he became captain. He continued in the service till the close of the war, and rose to the rank of general. He was born in Herkimer county, Virginia, in 1780, and

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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 67

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