Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 67

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough & Co.
Number of Pages: 458

USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 67
USA > Illinois > Moultrie County > Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery 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).

years old. Mr. Mitchell has been a resident of Marrowbone town- slip since November, 1832, and may be considered one of the pio- neer citizens of that part of the county.

E. S. ADAMS.

E. S. ADAMS, a view of whose farm in Marrowbone township appears on another page, is a Kentuckian by birth. He was born in Oldham county, Kentucky, on the 17th of February, 1834. His ancestors came from North Carolina, and were among the early set- tlers of Kentucky. His grandfather, Ephraim Adams, was born in North Carolina, was married in that state, and came to Kentucky soon after Boone made his first settlement. His wife was a Bryant, a sister to the wife of Daniel Boone. Joel Adams, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Kentucky in the year 1797, and was raised in that state near the frontier post which Boone and his companions had established. He married Susannah Taylor, daugh- ter of Benjamin Taylor, who was a Virginian, and had been a sol- dier of the Revolutionary war. She was born in Kentucky. Mr. Adams' mother died in Kentucky in 1840, and his father in 1848. Edward S. Adams was the seventli of a family of nine children. His birthplace was seventeen miles east of Louisville. He was raised in that neighborhood. The schools were all of the subscrip- tion order, and afforded inferior advantages, in contrast with those of the present time. Each family had to pay for the education of its own children. Mr. Adams went to school quite regularly, and secured a good education in the common branches. His father died when he was nearly fourteen, and after that event he was obliged to earn his own living. He found employment on a farm. He first came to Illinois in the year 1852, when nineteen years old, and re- mained for a time in Sullivan township, Moultrie county, but in the fall of 1853 returned to Kentucky. In the spring of 1855 he came back to this state. In 1856 he rented a farm three miles north-west of Sullivan, and was farming on rented land three years. He was married on the 23d of September, 1858, to Matilda Ann Roney, daughter of John Roney, one of the old settlers at Todd's Point. Mrs. Adams was born and raised at Todd's Point, in Marrow- bone township. Since 1859 Mr. Adams has been living on his present farm, which consists of 267 acres. He has five children, John, Alice, Jenettie, William and Edward. He has always been a democrat in politics, and has been an active and consistent member of that party since 1856, when he cast his first vote for president for James Buchanan. He is known as a man of liberal views and enterprising disposition, and his name deserves a place in this work as one of the representative farmers of Marrowbone township.

FARM RESIDENCE OF E. S. ADAMS, SEC. 9, T. 13, R.4, MARROWBONE.TP) MOULTRIE CO. ILL.

TODD'S POINT TOWNSHIP.

(SHELBY COUNTY.)

ODD'S POINT TOWNSHIP. (Shelby county) derived its name from William Todd, who set- tled at the point of timber on the Okaw in 1835. It is bounded on the north and east, by Moultrie county, on the south by Okaw township, on the west by Pickaway. It has an area of 20 square miles, or 12,800 acres, situated in Town. 13, Range 4. This is a fine agricultural township, aud possesses many superior advantages for farming purposes. Its soil is everywhere excellent, and, with but few exceptions, there is no waste land. It originally had its share of timber of fine quality. The fact that this was one of the first townships in the county to attract the attention of settlers, and the results after fifty-two years of sturdy toil expended ou its general improvements speak volumes for it. You will find over its surface neat farm-houses, with neatly cultivated farms, prominent among which is that of John Turner's, situated on section 18. Mr. Turner is one of the enterprising far- mers not only of this township, but also of the county ; and as a grower and breeder of fine stock few excel him.

Among the early settlers was William L. Ward, a native of Ken- tucky who emigrated to this state in the year 1828; he settled on the north-west quarter of section 32. He afterward moved out into the Robinson Creek settlement, where he lived until his death.

Benjamin Cutler came to this township in the year 1828, and settled on section 26, and opened a grocery, the first in the neigh. borhood, and for a time it was quite a resort for the early settlers and backwoods hunters who congregated there upon Saturdays, spinning yarns and talking over the hairbreadth escapes from the Indians. He continued to dispose of his wares and merchandize for a number of years, and then sold out and moved to Texas. The house and fixtures he sold to W. S. Bland, a native of Ohio, who re- sided here for several years, then built on section 23, and resided there until his death, which occurred in 1867, leaving the old place to his son, E. Bland, where he now lives.

Eli Waller settled on section 35 iu August, 1828. He bought out two "squatters" who had become frightened at the demonstrations of the Indians who were making sugar on the Okaw at the mouth of the big branch. The men with their wives left in a hurry, one of the men riding on horseback, while the other with the women followed in an ox-wagon bound for Kantuck. He first moved into the cabin that stood on the edge of the timber not far from where William Ward afterwards built. The following winter he moved into a cabin that stood on the opposite side of what is now the main road near where Gollohu now lives. He resided here until his death November 13, 1856. He had accumulated quite a prop- erty, having about seven or eight hundred acres of land.

John Welborn, Sr., settled here in the year 1830 near the point.

Payton Moore, a native of Kentucky, came here aud settled upon section 35, as early as 1832, where he lived about seven years, then moved to Moultrie county near Todd's Point, where he now resides.

John Henderson, a uative of Maryland, came to this county in 1831, and settled on section 15, where Martin Roney now lives.

Skelton Birkett, a native of Cumberland county, England, set- tled on section 17 west of Todd's Point, in the prairie, in the year 1848, and has become one of the large farmers and stock-raisers. He was one of the first to venture away from the timber to open up a farm.

John and Joseph Foster, natives of Yorkshire, England, came the same year, 1848, and settled south-east of Birkett's.

John Atkinson, also a native of England, settled near the Point in the early days of its infancy. After residing here a few years he moved to the south-west corner of Moultrie county.

William Wright, a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, settled in the south-west part of the township, in the edge of the timber. He was one among the first permanent settlers, and a successful farmer, having accumulated a large property ; at his death, in 1871, he was the owner of about three thousand acres of land. He left a wife and family of eight children ; they all reside in and near the old homestead.

Kit Johnson was another of the early settlers, one much liked by all who knew him. In early times the Methodist circuit rider held meetings at his house, and for a number of years after the regular preaching was held at Kit Johnson's cabin. In the year 1851 came J. W. Scott from Licking county, Ohio, who settled upon section 31, and by thrift, patience, and industry, has accumulated quite a property, and is a successful farmer and stock-raiser, has a well- improved farm, of which a view may be seen on another page of this work.

First land-entries were made by the following named persons :- On the 9th day of September, 1829, Samuel Walker entered the E. half of the N. W. quarter, section 23, 80 acres. On the 10th day of September, 1829, Benj. Cutler entered the E. half of the S. E. quarter, section 23, 80 acres. October 15th, 1829, Samuel Walker entered the W. half, N. W. quarter, section 23, 80 acres. October 19th, 1829, L. Wright and A. H. Martin entered the W. half of the S. E. quarter, section 26, 80 acres.

First School was taught in a log cabin abandoned by squat- ters.

The Church, on section 18, erected in 1877, on Skelton Birkett's farm, is of the Christian denomination.

249

250

HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

VILLAGE OF TODD'S POINT.

It is located on section 16, and was named in honor of William Todd, who first settled here in 1835. In 1856, an Englishman, John Turner, who was a shoemaker, built the first cabin in what is now the town, and began working at his trade. In a few years after the citizens in the neighborhood succeeded in getting a post- office established here, and Mr. Turner was the first post-master, and held the position for a number of years. In 1866 John Noble, Wm. Roney, and Thomas Atkinson, built a brick building, and began merchandizing; the store is now kept by R. C. Noble, who is the present post-master. Thomas Atkinson built another build- ing, and is also engaged in the mercantile business at the point.

Wagon-maker, Joseph Pierce, sr.

Blacksıniths, John Nicholson and Joseph Pierce, jr.

Doctor D L. Davidson is the physician of the village.

The Independent Order of Good Templars, known as the Crystal

Fountain Lodge No. 120, was organized in 1871 with 22 charter meinbers. They built a nice hall in 1875,-regular meetings are hield every Saturday evening. (Present membership 40.)

Mail received every Wednesday and Saturday from Bethany, a station situate on the Decatur, Sullivan and Mattoon Railroad.

Drainage .- The principal stream is the West Okaw, entering in section 14, running south and east. Big Branch enters on section 15, flowing east to the Okaw and drains the north-eastern part of the township.

The following-named gentlemen have held the office of super- visor :-

Skelton Birkett, elected in 1874, and re-elected in 1875. D. R. Wright, elected in 1876. and by re-election served until 1879. Skelton Birkett was elected in the spring of 1879, re-elected in 1880, and is the present incumbent.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

SKELTON BIRKETT.

AMONG the substantial leading agriculturists and prominent men of Shelby county, stands the name which heads this sketch. He is a native of Cumberland county, England, and was born near Kiswick, August 13th, 1820. The family is of Scotch descent on the paternal side, and pure English on the maternal. His father, John Birkett, was a substantial farmer and stock raiser, and was in good financial circumstances. He lived and died on the place he was born. His death occurred in November, 1873. He mar- ried Mary Skelton, who died June 3d, 1840, in her forty-seventh year. By this union there were ten children-seven sons and three daughters. Five of the children are yet living. The subject of this sketch is the fourth in the family. He spent his boyhood days at work upon the farm and in attending school, and received in the latter a good English education. On Christmas day 1839, he left home, and started out in the world to seek his fortune. He went to Santa Cruz Island, in the West Indies, where he was employed as a planter on a sugar plantation. He remained there for eight years and five months, when his health failing him, he came north to America, and landed in New York, where he stopped for two weeks. He then went to Stark county, Ohio; then to Cleveland, and from there by steamboat to Covington, Indiana; then came to Illinois, and stopped one week in Vermilion county, then went back to Covington, and from there to Terre Haute, and took the stage for Shelbyville, Ills., arriving there August 31st, 1848. He went out to Todd's Point, where he found work on a farm for one year. The next year he entered a section of land in sec. 17, of Todd's Point township. It was raw open prairie, unimproved. The following winter he commenced breaking his land, and fenced one hundred and sixty acres. He purchased one hundred head of cattle, and seven hundred sheep, and began his prosperity by en- gaging in stock, sheep raising, and wool business. He also at the same time commenced permanent improvements, building a house,

and outhouses for shelter for his stock. There upon that section of land he has made his home from that time to the present. Hc has added to his original entry of land, until he now has eleven hundred acres in one body, and all of the best quality, and as productive as the best in the county. Mr. Birkett has been one of the large land-owners of the state. He had at one time thirty-two hundred acres in this state and in Kansas, and what is somewhat remarkable, in Illinois there never was a cent of mortgage on a foot of it. On the 13th of February, 1850, he was happily united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of Henry Bland. She was a na- tive of Ohio, but was a resident of this county at the time of her marriage. She died February 9th, 1865, much regretted by her friends, and mourned by a large circle of relatives. By this mar- riage there were seven children. Their names are: Henry, who at present is a resident of Springfield, Ills. ; John, who was a resident of Kansas, and was drowned while bathing in the river. He was at the time of his death in his twenty-second year. Skelton, a farmer and resident of Greenwood county, Kansas : Harriet died in her second year ; George, a farmer, also a resident of Greenwood county, Kas. ; Mary and Elizabetli are yet at home. On the 17th of January, 1867, he married his present wife. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Lenover, daughter of John Lenover, an old citizen of Shelby county. By this latter marriage there were two children ; one living, named Arthur Birkett, aged eight years. Mr. Birkett is a member of the Episcopal Church of England. His wife is a member of the M. E. church, as was also his deceased wife. Politically Mr. Birkett was originally an Old Line Whig; then joined the Republican party, and in 1876 became a member of the Democratic party. When he joined the latter organization he was convinced that a party long in power became corrupt, and that a change oc- casionally became necessary if the Republic and the perpetuity of free government was to be maintained. He has frequently been honored with offices of local trusts, and has represented liis town-

Skelton Birkett 50

MRS. MARY BIRKETT (DEC'D)

MRS. ELIZABETH BIRKETT .

"PROSPERITY FARM" THE PROPERTY OF SKELTON BIRKETT, SR. SEC.17, TI3, R,4, TODOS PT. TP. SHELBY CO. ILL.

251

HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

ship for four terms in the Board of Supervisors. He at present is a member of that body, and also a member of the Building Commit- tee that have in charge the erection of the magnificent court-house at the county seat. As one of the committee, he has watched with jealous care, every detail of the work, and when the building is completed, the public may be assured that they will have a house suitable to their wants, and built in a most substantial and endur- ing manner, and that, too, at a cost far less than public buildings are usually built for.

Mr. Birkett has been the architect of his own fortune. When he left his home in England his father gave him twenty-five pounds English money. That amount he returned to him the next year. He early learned habits of self-reliance, a trait characteristic of the English people. Being endowed with a strong, healthy constitution and an abundance of energy, backed by a large share of good com- mon sense, he soon made a foundation upon which he has made for himself a comfortable competency. In all of his transactions he has been guided by strict integrity. When his word is pledged, it is as good as his bond. What is true of him in his private life is equally true of him in a public capacity. In the latter he looks carefully after the interests of his constituents, and applies the same rule as in his private transactions or business.

In his home he is a pleasant, hospitable English gentleman, making those who come beneath his roof feel that they are at home and welcome to the best his house affords. The writer of this article can testify to the genuine hospitality and kindness shown him by both Mr. Birkett and his amiable wife on an occasion when he was made the recipient of their generous bounty. and kind-hearted welcome.

Mr. Birkett may be regarded as one of the old settlers of Shelby county. Thirty-two years have fled since first he made his home within her borders. When he came here the country was sparsely settled, and the great State of Illinois had not yet commenced her giant strides that has since placed her third in the union of states. To this prosperity he has contributed his mite and added to her material wealth. Few men in the county have done more in that direction than he has.

DAVID L. DAVIDSON, M.D.

THE ancestry of the Davidson family, on the paternal side, is of Irish descent; and, on the maternal, a mixture of English and Ger- man. Samuel Davidson, the paternal grandfather, was a native of South Carolina; he emigrated to Illinois about the year 1800, eighteen years before the state was admitted into the Union, and settled in what is now known as Wayne county, where he remained until about the year 1833, when he removed to Macon county, and died there in 1840. He married a Miss Maze, who was born and raised in South Carolina. There were nine children born to them : Baxter W., the father of the subject of this sketch, is the youngest of the family ; he was born in Wayne county, Illinois, in 1817. He was in his sixteenth year when his father removed to Macon county. The fanily settled in Mt. Zion township, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is still a resident of the above named township. He married Elizabeth Harbaugh, a native of Ken- tucky. She died March 1st, 1867. By this union there are seven children, all of whom have reached maturity. Mr. B. W. David- son, after the death of his first wife, married Lovina Lash. Dr. D. L. Davidson is the eldest in the family ; he was born in Mt. Zion township, Macon county, Illinois, January 6th, 1843. Like all boys raised upon the farm, his time in his youth was employed dur- ing the summer months in work; and in the winter attending the

district schools. At the age of sixteen he entered the Mt. Zion Academy, and remained there until the breaking out of the late war, when he put aside his books, and with patriotic ardor re- sponded to the call for more troops. Hc enlisted as a private in Co. "C," One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment Illinois Volun- teers ; he was then in his twentieth year. He participated with his regiment in all the battles and skirmishes in which it was en- gaged, until the 22d of July, 1863, when he and forty others were captured and made prisoners of war, while guarding a foraging- train that was in quest of provender for horses in Battery " A." They were sent to Libby Prison and Belle Island, where they were kept in custody until the 22d of September following, when they -were exchanged. He then returned home, where he remained some time. Hc rejoined his regiment at Kenesaw Mountains, Georgia, June 20th, 1864. At the battle before Atlanta on the 22d of July, 1864, he was again captured, together with nineteen hundred others. In the charge upon the works, the command was repulsed, and fell back; but private Davidson was up to the breastworks, and was seized by three rebels and pulled over the works. He was taken to Andersonville prison-pen ; while there he was known as Sergeant Lowry ; he had charge of one hundred men-afterwards of five hundred-and, before he was exchanged, had charge of three thousand. On the 21st of September he was taken to Jones- boro for exchange, but, owing to the armistice being broken up the day before his arrival, he was detained and taken to Millen, then to Savannah, from there to Blackshire, then to Thomasville, Al- bany, and from there back to Andersonville, where he arrived for the second time. He entered there on the 25th of December, 1864, and was kept there until the 5th of April, 1865, when he was taken to Tallahassee, Florida, and there liberated, and marched through to Jacksonville, Fla., to the Union lines. He was then sent by ocean steamer to Annapolis, Md., and from there ordered to St. Louis and Springfield, where he was paid off, and he returned home.

His sufferings while in prison, particularly at Andersonville, were severe. In that prison he became blind, and remained so for three months ; the cause was a lack of proper nourishing food. In 1865, after his return home, he commenced the study of medicine, under the tuition and in the office of Dr. Blalock, of Mt. Zion. In the winter of 1866-7, he entered Rush Medical College at Chi- cago, remained there two terms, and graduated from that insti- tution in February, 1868, with the degree of M D. He commenced the practice of his profession in Blue Mound, Macon county ; he continued there for six months, and then removed to Todd's Point, in Shelby county, where he has continued the practice with great success until the present. On the 28th of March, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Virginia McDowell, a native of Scot- land county, Missouri, but a resident of Macon county at the time of her marriage. Three children have been born to them, two of whom are living-their names are : Thomas Willburn, and Eliza- beth Grace Davidson. Georgia May died in her third year.

Dr. Davidson is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. He is an earnest advocate of the cause of temperance, and has been particularly active in the organization of Good Templars' Lodge at Todd's Point, and has filled all the offices in that order. Politically, he has been a life-long democrat. In the practice of medicine, Dr. Davidson belongs to the regular school. He is progressive, and keeps pace and is well posted in the new remedies and discoveries that are constantly being made in the healing art.

In his manners he is a plain, unassuming gentleman, and his character as a man and a citizen is above reproach.

252

HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

MIX

Joseph Faster

Mary

Foster

THE subject of this sketch was born in Yorkshire, England, Sep- tember 24th, 1823. John Foster, his father, was born in the same place in 1790. He married Ellen Atkinson. By this marriage there were six children, four sons and two daughters. In 1844, the family came to America, and settled in Stark county, Ohio. He remained there until 1849, when he came to Illinois and settled on sec. 20, in Todd's Point township, where he, in connection with his son Joseph, had entered a quarter section of land. There he remained until February 19th, 1868, when he died. His wife died September 12th, 1866.

When they entered the land, it was new and unim- proved. All of the improvements have been made since they settled there. Before leaving Ohio, and on the 11th of November, 1847, Joseph Foster married Mary Dobson, a native of Westmore-

land county, England. She was born June 24th, 1829. Her pa- rents emigrated to America, and settled in Stark county, Ohio, in 1835. By this marriage there have been thirteen children, nine of whom are living. Their names are Mary Jane, wife of Sherman Dodge, John, died in his ninth year, Ellen, wife of Sylvester Car- mer. She died in 1874. Alice, wife of Edward Boon, Sarah Fran- ces, Joseph W., Maggie, wife of Joseph Deadman, Ida B., Amelia A., Edwin G., Clara, died in infancy, Effie M., Emma R., who died in her second year. Both Mr. and Mrs. Foster are members of the M. E. Church. He is a Republican in politics, and an advocate of temperance. He is among the successful farmers of Shelby county. He started in life, poor, but by hard work and economy has suc- ceeded in gaining a competency. He is much respected in his neighborhood.

They

g . W. Scott

STOCK FARM & RES. OF J.W. SCOTT ESQ. SEC.31, TODDS POINT TP.(13) R.4, SHELBY CO. ILL.

TENANT

253

HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

JAMES W. SCOTT.

THE subject of this sketch was born in Licking county, Ohio, March 11, 1825. Peter B. Scott, his father, was a native of New Jersey. Joseph Scott, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Ireland. On the maternal side, the family is of Dutch ancestry, and old settlers of this country. Peter B. Scott emigrated from New Jersey to Ohio about 1820, and settled in Licking county, where he followed the trade of blacksmith, and remained there until Octo ber, 1828, wlien he removed to Illinois, and settled near Washing- ton, in Tazewell county, where he lived until his death in 1873. After a few years' residence in Illinois, he abandoned blacksmith- ing, and engaged in farming. He married Catharine Murphy, a native of New York city. She is still living-a resident of Gales- burg, Ill. By this marriage there were eleven children, six boys and five girls. Seven of the children are still living. Peter P., one of the sons, was a soldier of the Mexican war, and was a member of Col. Baker's regiment. The father, Peter P., Sr., was a soldier of the Black Hawk war. James W. is the third in the family ; he was about three years of age when the family came to Illinois; he re- mained at home until October, 1845, when he went to the cooper's trade, and worked at it for three years. In the spring of 1850, in company with others, he started for California by the overland route. He left Pekin April 14th, and landed in Cali- fornia July 28th of the same year. He went to work in the mines, and continued until the spring of 1851, when he returned home with the intention of removing his family, but afterwards aball- doned that project. He remained in Tazewell county until the spring of 1852, when he came to Shelby county ou a prospecting tour, looking up government land. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of prairie and eighty acres of timber land in this county the same year, and here he has made his residence until the pre- sent. The land he purchased was raw and unimproved, and all the improvements have been made by him. At the breaking out of the war lie was a strong, uncompromising Union man, and gave evidence of the faith that was in him by enlisting as a private for three years in company G of the 115th Regt. Ill. Vol infty. He en- listed August 13, 1862, and was sworn into the service in September following. In November of the same year he was injured by being run over by a wagon in Lexington, Ky. He continued with his regiment until the 1st of June, when he was sent to the convalescent camp at Nashville, Tenn., and afterwards transferred to the 2d Bat- talion of the Invalid Corps. He was afterwards transferred into the Veteran Invalid Reserve Corps and sent to Indianapolis, to Camp Morton, to guard prisoners. On the night before the elec- tion, 1864 five hundred of the Veteran Reserve Corps were ordered to Chicago and put on duty, and kept on, without relief, for forty- eight hours. The object was to prevent the escape of the rebel prisoners confined there, who had made every arrangement to break prison and escape. Their plans were, however, frustrated by the extrra vigilance of the guards. Ten days later the command removed to Indianapolis, where Mr. Scott was taken sick and went into hospi- tal, and remained there until discharged, February 4, 1865. He returned home and re-engaged in farming and stock-raising, in which business he has continued to the present. On the 17th of Junc, 1874, he was united in marriage to to Miss Eliza daughter of Truman Tucker. She was born in Mead county, Ky. Her parents removed to Tazewell county in 1835.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 67

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough & Co. Number of Pages: 458

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough & Co.
Number of Pages: 458