Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 70

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 70
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 70
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 70

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).

DR. JAMES E. SMITH

Is a native of Campbell county, Kentucky, born De- cember 11th, 1838. His ancestors were originally from the east, and settled in Kentucky at an early day. George W. Smith, the grandfather, was born in the above named state, February 22d, 1812, and remained there until June, 1840, when he came to Illinois and 38

settled near Olney, in Richland county, and there died in 1868. He married Rhoda Jenner, who was born in the same county and state. She died in March, . 1865. By that union there were ten children, seven of whom have survived their parents. James E. is the eldest living. He worked on the farm, and attended the schools of his neighborhood. He was at home on the breaking out of the late war. He enlisted in the first call for troops and became a member of Co. A. of the 8th Regt. Ills. Vols. There being too many men he was one of those who were rejected. He then enlisted in the 11th Regt. Mo. Vols., but an accident befalling his father at that time, he was compelled to return home, where he remained until August 13th, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. B. of the 98th Ills. Regt., which was organized at Centralia, then proceeded to the front and joined Buell's forces at Louisville, Ky. In September of the same year he was taken sick and sent to the hospital at Frankfort, then to Bowling Green. After his recovery he was placed on duty and detailed as hospital steward, in which capacity he remained until the battle of Stone River. He there joined his command, and remained with it until June, 1863, when he was put on duty at the brigade hospital, and remained on that duty the greater part of the remainder of his term in service. He was mustered out and honorably discharged, July 5th, 1865, at Springfield, Illinois. He returned to Richland county and engaged in school teaching in the winter months and farding in the summer. In 1870, he commenced, reading medicine with Dr. D. Bates, of Calhoun. In 1873, he attended a course of lectures in the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and then commenced the practice in St. Francesville, Lawrence county, Ills. In October, 1875, he came to the town of Allendale, in Wabash county, and there he has continued the practice to the present. In the fall of 1877, he again entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, and graduated from that institution in the spring of 1878, with the degree of M. D. On the 7th of April, 1867, he married Miss Nancy, daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Axton) Howey, by which union there are five children living, whose names in the order of their birth are Zillah, Edwin Freeman, Elmer, Mattie, and Morris. Both Dr. Smith and wife are members of the M. E. church. Politically he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and in all subsequent elections has voted the Republican ticket.

BERKLEY ARMSTRONG (DECEASED.)

THE Armstrong family, living in the northern part of Wabash county, were originally of Irish ancestry. They settled in North Carolina, from there removed to Kentucky, then to Tennessee, and in 1815 John Arm- strong, the grandfather, came to Illinois and settled in the northern part of what is now Wabash county. Berkley Armstrong was the son of Thomas J. and Martha G. (Crane) Armstrong. He was born on the farm, April 18th, 1835, where he lived and died. He

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

departed this life April 19th, 1881. He married Rc- becca A., daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Wolf ) Price, March 11th, 1857. Mrs. Armstrong was born January 14th, 1840. There are five children living, the offspring of Berkley and Rebecca A. Armstrong. Their names in the order of their birth are Martha J., Sarah I., Clara B., Thomas J., and Bertie M. Mr. Armstrong, during life followed farming. At the time of his death he was one of the commissioners of the county. He was a kind and indulgent father, an affectionate husband, a good neighbor, and died respected by all who knew him.

VAN BUREN COMPTON.

LEVI COMPTON, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, `was the son of John and Elizabeth Compton, born February 1, 1766, in Fairfax county, Virginia He was the grandson of John Compton, born in Charles county, Maryland, and Mary, his wife, born in Eng- land. Levi Compton married Rosanna, daughter of Stephen and Nancy Therwesse, who was born in St. Mary's County, Maryland, February 15, 1770. Levi Compton was undoubtedly the first permanent settler of what is now known as Wabash county. He moved from Virginia to Kentucky in 1792, and remained there until 1801, when he came to the northwestern territory. He brought with him from Kentucky a slave, named Dennis Sales, who was probably the first slave brought to the territory. He was a large slave owner in Kentucky, but like a great many more men in his day who were of broad and liberal minds, disliked slavery. He set them free before leaving Kentucky,-all but old Dennis,- and gave him his freedom soon after coming to Illinois. Levi Compton settled on the Wabash, on a tract known as "Compton's Grant." In 1804 he moved to a point about sixty rods from the northern boundary of Allen- dale, in Wabash precinct, and there he and his neigh- bors built a fort, which was known as "Compton Fort." It was one fourth of a mile from Jourdan's block-house. Both were built as a protection against the Indians, who then roamed at will through Illinois. In 1816 he settled in what is still known as "Compton's prairie," in 1843. He was a conspicuous man in the pioneer days of Illinois. In 1818 he was a member of the con- stitutional convention that assembled in Kaskaskia and framed the state government. John Compton, the father of Van Buren, was the eldest son of Levi Comp ton ; he was born in Berkley county, Virginia, Feb- ruary 21, 1791 ; he died in Wabash county, Illinois, in 1851. He married Jane, daughter of William Barney ; she died in the spring of 1831. There were seven children by that union, none of whom are living. In 1836 he married Drusilla, daughter of Jeremiah and Nancy Sebby, born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1801; she died in 1876. There were four children by the latter marriage; Van Buren is the eldest. He was

born on the place where stood the old fort, March 23, 1837. His younger brother, John, was a soldier during the late war, a member of the 32d Regiment Ill. Vols., and was killed at the battle of Shiloh. There were four children of the first marriage of John Comp- ton that left families. Van Buren Compton married Miss Sarah, daughter of John and Mary Faha. She was born in county Galway, Ireland. They came to Illinois in 1856, and the marriage was in 1865. There are three children living by the latter union. The Comptons from the time when the memory of man runneth not to the contrary were Democrats, and they still hold allegiance to that political organization.

For a more full and elaborate history of the old pioneer, Levi Compton, see the Pioneer chapter of this work.

THOMAS N. ARMSTRONG.

THE Armstrong family is of Irish ancestry. John Armstrong, the grandfather, was of Irish parentage. His father was killed at the siege of Derry. The grand- father emigrated from North Carolina to Kentucky, and from thence removed to Smith's Fork, in Wil- son county, Tennessee, and in September, 1815, came to the territory of Illinois, and settled on section 13, township 1 N. range 12 W. of what is now Wabash county, then a part of Gallatin. He bought two hundred acres of land from Levi Compton. It was partially im- proved, and had on it a small cabin. He there lived until his death, which occurred April 30, 1836 He married Elizabeth Martin. She died at the same place, August 10, 1830, in the seventieth year of her age. There were eight children, the offspring of John and and Eliza- beth Armstrong, all of whom are dead; all had fami- lies. One of them was Lewis, the father of Thomas Newton Armstrong; he was born in Kentucky, August 15, 1799, and came with the family to Illinois on the date above mentioned. Here he grew to manhood, and married Martha Wood, daughter of John Wood. She died May 19, 1866, in the sixty-sixth year of her age. Her husband, Lewis Armstrong, died September 2, 1869. He followed the peaceful avocation of a farmer during his life. By that union there were uine children, seven of whom are still living. Among the latter is Thomas Newton Armstrong, the subject of this sketch. He was born on the place where he now lives, May 29, 1829, and was the fifth child in the family. He grew up on the farm, and early in life adopted the trade of wagon-maker, which he followed for twenty years, though he also farmed during that time. On the 10th of May, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Emily, daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca Clarke. She was born in Wa- bash county, and died September 5, 1869, leaving two children, whose names are Martha and Emily Jane. On the 27th of February, 1871, Mr. A. married his present wife, Mrs. Sarah Jane Richards, nee Smith.

OLD RESIDENCE.

FARM RESIDENCE OF E. B.KEEN, ONE MILE NORTH OF KEENSBURGH, WABASH CO. ILL.

SONO

FARM RESIDENCE OF THE LATE BERKLEY ARMSTRONG ONE MILE SOUTH EAST OF ALLENDALE, WABASH CO.IL.

LIBRARY OF THE L

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

She had one son by her former marriage, named Wil- liam H. Richards. She was born in Richland county, Illinois, October 22d, 1840. There have been two children by the latter marriage, one of whom is living, named Edgar Armstrong. James W. is dead. Mrs. Armstrong is a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Armstrong is an honored member of the order of Free' masonry, and holds membership with Allendale lodge No. 752. Politically, the family are of Democratic stock Mr. A. cast his first presidential vote for Frank- lin Pierce, in 1852, and from that time to the present has unifornily voted the ticket of his first choice.

As will be seen from the foregoing, the Armstrong family have been the pioneers of three states, viz. : Ken- tucky, Tennessee and Illinois. They came here three years before the territory was erected into a state. Abner Armstrong, the son of John, was the first sheriff of Edwards county ; John Armstrong was county judge of Wabash county, and Thomas J. was also asso- ciate judge for a term. Other members of the family held various offices at different times, and in every official position earned the character and reputation of being honest, efficient and capable public servants.

JEREMIAH FOX.

THE Fox family, on the paternal side, is of German ancestry. Jacob Fox, the grandfather, was a native of Germany, emigrated to America, and settled in Reading, Pennsylvania. He raised a family of sons, one of whom was Jacob; he was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1792. He there grew to manhood and married. He came west with his family, and landed in Mt. Carmel, Wabash county, Illinois, May 13, 1837. After prospecting for a short time, he purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres of land in Wabash pre- cinct, improved it, and there remained until his death, which took place November 9, 1857. He married Jane Herrington, April 14, 1816, in Lebanon county, Pa. She died in Wabash county, Ill., May 23, 1865 ; she was born in Lebanon county, Pa., April 18, 1796, and was of Irish extraction. There were eight children by that union, two of whom are living, Jeremiah and Elmira, wife of John A. Greathouse. Four of them died, leaving fami- lies. Their names were Mary Ann, wife of David Adams; Hardin Fox, who was twice married, first to Susan Mar- tin, who died, leaving one child. His second wife was Jane McFarland, now Mrs. Dr. A. J. McIntosh ; and one child living, Susannah, wife of Jeremiah Compton ; she died March 12, 1860, leaving one child. Elijah mar- ried Frances E. Beedle, and left two sons and one daughter. Jeremiah Fox, the subject of this sketch, is the second son ; he was born in Lebanon county, Pa , January 14, 1819; he was in his nineteenth year when the family came west. He remained at home until 1848, when he married. In 1846 he bought one hundred and eighty acres of land, where he now lives. There was a small log house on it, and a portion of it was slightly improved. All the improvements, with a slight excep-

tion, have been made by him. His house was destroyed by fire April 12, 1875, and since that time he has erected the large and elegant building that now adorns the farm and gives shelter and comfort to his family and guests. On the 31st of August, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Sophronia Compton, daughter of John and grand-daughter of Levi Compton, the first settler of Wabash county. Mrs. Fox was born in Wa- bash county, and died March 16, 1855, in the thirtieth year of her age. There were two children born of that marriage, Emma Ann and William J. Fox. The latter is one of the substantial farmers of Wabash precinct. He married Miss Sarah Jane Jackman, and has three children, whose names are Nora, Pearl and Josiah.

On the 11th of March, 1858, Mr. Fox married Miss Caroline, daughter of John and Sarah (Bowers) Spidle, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana. There are five children living by the latter union. Their names in the order of their birth are : Sarah Jane, wife of Simon S. Couch ; Lenora, Mary Ida, Fanny E. and Jeremiah Clyde Fox Both Mr. and Mrs. Fox are members of the Lutheran church. Politically, he is a Democrat. He has held several offices of a local character, and served a term as one of the commissioners of the county. In addition to farming Mr. Fox has given considerable attention to the raising of fine cattle, sheep and swine, and in the latter business is well known throughout the county as a successful breeder.

HENRY KING (DECEASED).

THE subject of this sketch was among the reliable and substantial farmers of Wabash county. His father, Joseph King, was born in North Carolina, September 24, 1794. He remained in the South until 1837, when he came North and settled in Lawrence county, Illinois, and there remained until his death. He married Lucy Harrison, who was closely related to William Henry Harrison, President of the United States in 1840. By that union there were ten children, three of whom are living, viz : Nancy, wife of Robert Maguire ; John, and Mary Ann, wife of William Huffletell.

Henry King, the subject of this sketch, was the second son. He was born in Rockingham county, North Caro- lina, Aug. 27, 1817. He came to Illinois in 1835, two years before his father. He worked at the cooper and carpenter trades, and also in a mill. He was of an in- dustrious disposition, economical in his habits, and soon laid by some money which he invested in a farm of ninety-nine acres, located in Lawrence county, which he improved until January, 1870, when he moved to section 33, in township 2 north, range 12 west, where he bought and improved land, whereon he erected a fine commo- dious farm-house, a view of which can be seen on another page of this work. There he lived until his death, which took place April 2, 1882. He was a member of the Christian church, a good man, devoted husband, kind and indulgent father, and esteemed by all who knew him.

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Onithe 24th of June, 1841, he was united in marriage to Miss Susannah Ramsey, daughter of Aaron and Eli- zabeth Ramsey. She died April 1st, 1856, leaving five children, two of whom are yet living. Their names are Joel B., and Caroline, wife of Eli Fries.

On the 5th of May, 1857, he married Miss Ann Jack- man, who was born in Franklin county, Indiana, Sept. 29, 1825. Her father, Allen R. Jackman, was born in Knox county, Indiana, and her mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Barber, was born in Virginia. By the marriage of Henry and Ann King there were six chil- dren. Sarah, the only daughter and child, died in her second year. There are five sons living. Their names in the order of their birth are : Allen J., born April 15, 1860; George A., born Nov. 11, 1862; Martin, born Aug. 2, 1864; Charles M., born Dec. 2, 1866 ; and James, born June 13th, 1868. Mrs. King is a member of the Christian Church. She lives on the place and has taken charge of it since the death of her husband.

F. S. GRAY, M. D.

WAS born in Brown county, Ohio, January 20th, 1855. He is the son of Martin P. and Eliza ( Waterfield ) Gray, old settlers of Ohio. He received his primary educa- tion in the common schools and his literary training in the Union Christian College at Merom, Sullivan county, Ind. He entered at fifteen years of age, and remained there five years, then engaged in teaching, and taught six years. He came to Illinois in 1878 and to Wabash county in the fall of 1879, and located in Allendale, where he engaged as Principal of the Public Schools, and taught two years. During that time he commenced reading medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. A. J. McIntosh, a prominent physician of Allen- dale. He read medicine two years, and then entered the Medical College at Cincinnati in the fall of 1881, and there took two full courses, and graduated from that institution on the 8th of March, 1883, with the degree of M. D. He commenced the practice in Allen- · dale in connection with his preceptor, and at present continues there. Dr. Gray is just entering the profes- sion, but he brings to it a mind trained to study in schools and in the profession of teaching, and we pre- dict for him success in the healing art.

On the 24th of March, 1883, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Belle, youngest daughter of Alexander and Rachael McFarland. Both the doctor and his wife are members of the Christian Church-he of the New Light branch of that Christian organization. In poli- tics he is a Republican.

DAVID ADAMS.

THE Adams family, living in the northern part of Wabash county, is of English descent. Samuel Adams, the grandfather of David, was a resident of Brook county, West Virginia, of the Pan-handle district, and ' there married a Preston, who was of an old and distin-

guished family of Virginia. Samuel Adams died in Virginia, and his wife in Morgan county, Ohio, on the Muskingum river. Among the offspring of that union was a son, also named Samuel, father of David. He was born in Brook county, West Virginia, in September, 1797. He moved to Morgan county, Ohio, in 1833, and there died in 1876. He married Nancy Irwin, born in West Virginia. She died in 1827, leaving four chil- dren. Mr. Adams subsequently married Eliza Green, and had seven children by that marriage. David Adams, the subject of this sketch, is the oldest son by the first marriage. He was born in Brook county, W. Va., August 14, 1818. At the age of eighteen years he engaged with a firm that was manufacturing and selling wheat fans. He afterwards superintended a shop for the manufacture of machines, for four or five years. In 1840 he came to Wabash county, Illinois, and put up a shop on the old Fox place, and there manufactured fan- ning mills. Prior to that time, however, he spent a year each in Clark and Edgar counties, Ills. ; then about the same length of time in Carlisle, Sullivan county, Ind., in the same business. In 1843 he purchased one hun- dred and twenty acres of land in sections 16 and 21, township I, range 12 W. He worked at the fanning mill business for two or three years longer, and then abandoned it and gave his attention to farming. When he purchased the land it was unimproved, and all the buildings which ornament and beautify the place have been erected by him. A view of the premises can be seen on another page. In 1857 he commenced planting and raising nursery stock, and in 1859 commenced the sale. He supplied much of the stock for many of the fine orchards now bearing fruit in southern Illinois. He continued the business to the present year, when he made arrangements to abandon it.

On the 21st of January, 1841, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Jacob and Jane (Herrington) Fox. She died in January, 1879. By that marriage there were ten children, six of whom are living, whose names are : Sarah Jane, wife of Absalom Nunaly ; Louisiana, wife of Henry E. Blood ; Laura F, wife of Lewis Wood ; Joan, Mary and Elisha Kent Adams.

From 1843 to 1857 Mr. Adams worked at carpenter- ing, millwrighting, cabinet making and in wood work generally. He also carried on the farm at the same time. After the latter date his time was busily em- ployed looking after his nursery. Politically, Mr. Adams was originally an Old Line Whig, and from that organization naturally drifted into the Republican ranks. In matters pertaining to religion, he does not subscribe to any formulated creed, but is partial to the teachings of Alexander Campbell, whom he knew inti- mately in his younger days, and for whose purity of character, correct life, broad and enlightened views, he always entertained the highest respect and regard. The village known as " Adams' Corner" was started by and named in honor of Mr. Adams, who gave the ground and encouraged the town in various ways.

FARM RESIDENCE OF THE LATE HENRY KING SEC 33, TZ. R.12 WABASH PRECINCT WABASH CO.ILL.

RESIDENCE & FARM OF DAVID ADAMS, SEC.21. T.I.R.12, WABASH PRECINCT , WABASH CO . ILL.

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

their families in 1831. The former settled on the south- east quarter of the south west quarter of section 9, town- ship 2, range 13, and the latter on the southwest quar- ter of the southeast quarter of section 15, same location. Alexauder Turner, Elijah Gaddy, John McGuire, William Ridgeley, Joel Lukin, and Thomas Beasley settled in the township at a comparatively early day. Lukin's name is perpetuated in that of the prairie and the township in which he lived. In 1819 Mrs. Clark taught a school in her own house, in the southeast quar- ter of section 24, township 2, range 13. In the spring of this year Agnes Corrie began a day-school in a log- cabin that stood in the d or yard of her father's house, in the southwest quarter of section 30, township 2, range 12 About this time Rev. Mr. Stone, an itinerant Methodist minister, preached at the house of William Schrader.

The first land entries are as follows : September 26, 1816, Shadrach Ruark entered the south half of section

24; November 7, 1817, Jacob Schrader, the northeast quarter of section 25, and at the same time Jonathan Warner the east half of the south west quarter of section 12; May 19, 1818, Thomas Buffington, the east half of the northeast quarter of section 12, and in township 2, range 13. The following have been members of the board of supervisors: W. M. Edmondson, 1957, 1858 ; J. L. Flanders, 1856 to 1865, chairman from 1862; George Gould, 1866; J. L. Flanders, chairman 1867 ; George Gould, 1867; M. O. Donnell, 1879 to 1872; J. L. Flanders, 1872; Julius Storckman, 1873; Preston Passmore, 1874; Julius Storckman, 1875, 1876 ; J. L. Flanders, 1877, 1878; Elijah George, 1879 to 1881; W. H. Corrie, 1882, 1883.

Lukin township has some excellent land and well improved farms. It lies about equidistant from the Ohio, Mississippi and the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railroads, over which its shipments are effected.

BIOGRAPHY.

AUGUST BRAUSE,

A NATIVE of the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, where he was born September 29th, 1824, was one of the lead- ing citizens of Lukin township. He was the oldest son of Frederick and Wilhelmina Brause. Frederick was an industrious, honest carpenter. During the revolu- tionary troubles which awaked all Germany, in 1848-9, August, in common with many others, sought refuge from a soldier's lot by coming to America. He came by the vessel "Kepler," and after a voyage of two months, less ten days, landed in New Orleans. From there he came up the Mississippi, then the Ohio, to Evansville, thence to Mt. Carmel, which point he reached in 1849. For three years he labored as a farm hand where economy characterized his labors and en- abled him soon to purchase laud and engage in farming in his own behalf. On the same vessel with him, when on his way to this country, were Frederick Holsen and family, with the exception of two sons, who rather than serve the king of Germany had found homes in Wabash County, with their grandfather, two years before. A member of this family, Sophia Holsen, became the wife of August Brause November 14th, 1852. By this union

there were born twelve children, eight of whom are now living. Five of the children are married, but all live in the immediate vicinity of the old homestead. Mrs. Brause was a native of the same place with her hus- band, where she was born May 21st, 1835. August Brause died April 21st, 1880. He was a man who, by his straightforward dealing and well-known integrity of character, had won hosts of friends. For a number of years he was a Justice of the Peace, a position for which his excellent judgment and unyielding firmness well fitted him. At the time of his death he was one of the High- way Commissioners. In the accumulation of property he had been eminently successful. From a poor boy, earning his monthly hire as a farm-hand, he beame one of the largest land-owners in Lukin township. His life furnishes an excellent example of what may be accom- plished by industry, economy and stout-heartedness. Success having crowned his efforts in life his family bless the day that he decided to make his home in free America. Politically Mr. Brause was a consistent and earnest Democrat. The family are members of the Al- bright church. In its faith they trust, and in its behalf they are most zealous.

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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 70

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