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 74
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 74
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FARM RESIDENCE OF JOHN H. HALL, SEC.27, TOWER HILL TP. (II) R.2, SHELBY CO.ILL.
FARM & SUBURBAN RESIDENCE OF A.M.CRADDICK ESQ. TOWER HILL, SHELBY CO.ILL:
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HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
business men of Shelby county. For the last five or six years he has also been engaged in farming, and his residence is on his farm, adjoining Tower Hill, on the south. He has excellent business capacity, and for several years has been successfully engaged in trading in stock. He has had five children; the oldest, named Willey, died in infancy ; the others are, Vessey, Arnitz, Etta and Marshall Travis.
In his political sympathies, he has been attached to the demo- cratic party ever since he has been old enough to take part in politics. He has been a staunch supporter of the democracy, and on general elections, has never voted any other ticket. He has been actively identified with the interests of Tower Hill, and has done everything in his power to promote the growth of that thriving town. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is connected with Tower Hill Lodge No. 493. Though still a com- paratively young man, he has been successfully engaged in business for a number of years, and has made a record as an energetic, enterprising and reliable business man. He began life with no ad- vantages of education, nor opportunities for business beyond those which fall to the lot of all men in common, and he must be classed among those indomitable men who fight their way to success by dint of their own resolution. A view of his farm and residence in Tower Hill appears on another page.
D. O. MILLER.
LIKE many of the leading citizens of Shelby county, Mr. Miller is a Kentuckian by birth. He was born within seven miles of Jamestown, in Russell county, Kentucky, May 29th, 1844. On his father's side, his ancestors were from Virginia. His father, Adam Miller, was born in Virginia, and came, when a young man, to Ken- tucky in the early settlement of that state. His mother, whose maiden name was Jane Mason, was born and raised in Clinton county, Kentucky. His father, who was a farmer, died, when the subject of this sketch was ten years old. His mother subsequently married T. W. Vermillion, and moved to Shelby county, Illinois. David .O. Miller was the oldest of four children by his father's mar- riage with Jane Mason. At that time in Kentucky children had only ordinary advantages for obtaining an education, and most of his schooling was obtained after his removal to Illinois. In the fall of 1858, when Mr. Miller was fourteen, the family moved to Shelby county and settled in Rural township, five miles north of Tower Hill. At seventeen he left home and worked on a farm for himself August fifteenth, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 115th Illi- nois regiment, in which he served tlirec years, or till the close of the war. From Camp Butler, Springfield, the regiment went to Cincinnati, and from there to Kentucky. It served in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Vir- ginia. The regiment was in the army of the Cumberland, and took part in the various movements of that part of the army. He was in several battles, among which was that of Chickamauga or Mis- sionary Ridge; Nashville and Franklin, Tennessce; and Resaca, Georgia, beside a considerable number of lesser engagements. The regiment was at Cumberland Gap, when Lee surrendered. He was honorably discharged at Camp Harker, Tennessce, June 11th, 1865, and mustered out at Camp Butler, Springfield. He returned to Rural township, and went to farming. March 21st, 1867, he mar- ried Eliza A. Smitlı, born September 21st, 1850, in Tower Hill township, Shelby county, daughter of Samuel Smith, a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and one of the old settlers and leading citizens of Shelby county. Her mother's name was Margaret Weakley. She was the oldest of three children. In the spring of
1867, he moved on his present farm, where he has since resided, and is known as an enterprising and successful farmer. He owns 372 acres of land in sections 25 and 36 of Tower Hill township, and part in Rose township. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had six children. Cora, the oldest, was born April 27th, 1868, and died at the age of three years and two months. The others are Orra born June 27th, 1870; Olive, born February 4th, 1872; Samuel E., born October 18th, 1874; Mary Pearl, born December 26th, 1876 ; and David Wilsie, born July 5th, 1880. He has always been a democrat, voting first for president for McClellan in 1864, while in the army. In local elections he has felt himself free to support the best man for the office, but otherwise has always voted the democra- tic ticket. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. He is a man who stands well in the township. A view of his farm appears on another page.
SAMUEL SMITH.
SAMUEL SMITH, one of the old settlers of Shelby county, is a Kentuckian by birth. His ancestors, on his father's side, came from Maryland. His father, Nathan Smith, was born in Maryland, and when a young man emigrated to Kentucky, and in that state married Mary Killam. The subject of this sketch was the third of a family of six children ; he was born in Nicholas county, Kell- tucky, October 1st, 1823. In the year 1830, when he was seven years old, his father died. In the year 1831 the family removed from Kentucky to Illinois, accompanying Mr. Smith's grandfather, Peter Killam. His mother purchased a piece of land three miles west of Shelbyville, where the family lived seven or eight years, and then moved to the neighborhood of Prairie Bird, in Ridge township. His mother died in January, 1880, when past eighty years of age. Mr. Smith remembers Shelbyville, as he first saw it, when composed of a few log buildings, which stood on the corners sur- rounding the place where the old court-house was afterward built. The court-house was not then in existence, its construction being commenced a year or two after he came to the county. In those days the county was thinly settled, and possessed few of the advan- tages of civilization. A horse-mill was in operation on Robinson creek, but its capacity was limited. He made several trips to a mill at Springfield and to a steanı-mill which stood in the southern part of Christian county. The prairies were covered with tall grass, and these journeys to mill were made mostly at night, on account of the horse-flies, which were. very troublesome. The schools were subscription schools, held in log cabins. A teacher would be em- ployed to teach a short season in the winter. His mother sent him to school whenever opportunity offered, but still his advantages for school were limited. After schools became more plentiful, he was obliged to remain at home and assist in the work of the farm. The family had settled on the prairie south of Prairie Bird, and the im- provements on the farm were made by Mr. Smith and his brothers.
He lived at home till he was twenty-six, when his marriage oc- curred (on the 13th of December, 1849), to Margaret Weakley, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Benedict Weakley. After his marriage, he went to farming for himself, and moved to the farm which he still occupies in Tower Hill township. This farm was one of the first settled in that neighborhood, and was improved by James Abbott. The death of his first wife took place in Septem- ber, 1855. His second marriage was on the 16th of May, 1857, to Sarah A. Mccullough, daughter of Samuel Mccullough. She was born in Clark county, Kentucky. Her father settled in Shelby county, Illinois, in 1852. Mr. Smith has seven children living :- Eliza Ann, the wife of David O. Miller ; Ner Smith, who is farm-
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HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ing in Tower Hill township; Mary Frances, who married William J. Pagh ; John Thomis Smith ; Lura E, now Mrs. Norman Faught; Nathan Carroll Smith, and Elward Smith : the last four are by his second marriage. Three other children by his second marriage are deceased : William, Samuel and Frankie, who died in infancy ; and Belle, the youngest daughter, who died on the 25th of November, 1879, in her sixteenth year. In his politics Mr. Smith has always been a democrat. Throughout his life he has closely and consistently adhered to the principles of Democracy. His first vote for President was cast for James K. Polk, in 1842, and he has voted for every subsequent democratic candidate for president. For several years he has served as township trustee. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. With this denomination he has been connected about thirty years. Hc has been one of the members of the Christian Church at Prairie Bird since its organization. During his long residence in the coun- ty, he has commanded the respect of all classes of the community. He is a man of liberal disposition, of enterprising and progressive views, and is known as a public-spirited citizen. His residence on section eleven is one of the most substantial and attractive farm- buildings in Tower Hill township. He has lived in the county for nearly fifty years, and his name deserves a prominent reeord in these pages as an old resident and a representative citizen.
DR. JOHN MORGAN
HAS been a resident of Tower Hill since 1870; he was born in Breckonshire, Wales, on the 25th of April, 1836. His father was named William Morgan. In the year 1840, when he was four years of age, the family came to America, remaining in the State of New York one year; they then removed to Ohio, and settled in Licking county. In 1854 they became residents of Delaware county, Ohio, and Dr. Morgan's home was in that part of the State till 1863. After seeuring the elements of a good education in the common schools, at the age of seventeen he entered the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity, at Delaware, Ohio, in which he pursued a literary course, interrupted by intervals of teaching school,-the means by which he secured the funds to prosecute his studies. He had determined to enter the medical profession, and in 1859 began his preliminary studies under Dr. Bancroft, at Granville, Ohio. In the fall of 1861 he entered the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, and after attending two courses of lectures was graduated from that institu- tion in the spring of 1853. The war of the rebellion was then in progress, and he left the walls of the college to take part in active service on the tented field. Immediately after receiving his diploma he was commissioned as assistant-surgeon of the 32d Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He joined the regiment at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, and took part in the campaign which resulted in the capture of Vicksburg, in July, 1863. The succeeding winter was spent at Vicksburg. In May, 1864, he resigned his commis- sion in the 32d Ohio, and was commissioned as surgeon of the 172d Ohio. This was one of the hundred day regiments. During his connection with it he was stationed at Gallipolis, Ohio, and after four months' service was mustered out to become assistant-surgcon of the 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery, with which he served till the close of the war, principally in East Tennessee. He was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, in August, 1865.
Returning to Gallipolis, Ohio, he began the practice of medicine at that place. His marriage occurred there in December, 1865, to Miss Mary C. Clendennin, a native of that town. In 1870 he re- moved to Shelby county, settled at Tower Hill, and hassinee been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. Since 1876 he has also carried on the drug business. He has always been a
republican in politics, casting his first vote for president for Abra- ham Lincoln, in 1860; he has since voted for every candidate who has subsequently been elected to the chief magistracy of the nation. He is a member of the Presbyterian denomination, and is an elder in the church at Tower Hill. He has one child, Annie C. Morgan. He has been chosen to several positions in the village and township of Tower Hill. He is one of the most active members of the order of A. O. U. W., at Tower Hill. Since his residence in the county he has made a record which deserves honorable mention in these pages, both as an able and conscientious physician and a private citizen of the highest character.
S. L. DOVE.
S. L. DOVE was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, March 3, 1854. His grandfather, Henry Dove, was a Virginian, and came to Ohio when a young man and settled in Fairfield county.
Elijah Dove, father of the subject of this biography, was born and raised in Ohio, and married Mary Small, a native of the state of Pennsylvania. S. L. Dove was the youngest son of a large family of children. His mother is deceased, but his father is still living in Ohio. He was raised in Fairfield county. His home was eighteen miles south-east of Columbus, and ten from Lancaster, the county seat of Fairfield county. The neighborhood in which he lived had excellent schools, and he enjoyed good advantages for obtaining an education. For three months he was a student at the military academy at Columbus, Ohio, and also attended the Pleas- antville academy. He has taught one term of school in Ohio and two in this state. He was living at home employed at farm- ing till 1877, when he came to this state with the intention of remaining but a short time. He had three brothers living in Shelby county, one of whom, T. F. Dove, was engaged in the prac- tice of law at Shelbyville. In November, 1877, he took charge of a school which had been organized in a new district (No. 6), in Rural township, and taught five months. In the spring of 1878, he took charge of his brother's farm in section two, Tower Hill town- ship. In the winter of 1879-80 he taught another term of scho ›l of four months in the same district in Rural township, in which he had formerly taught. On the 13th of June, 1880, he was married to Emma C. Sittler, a native of Shelby county, Illinois, daughter of Jacob Sittler. He is now engaged in farming in Tower Hill town- ship. He is a sincere and earnest democrat in politics. His first vote for President was, cast for Samuel J. Tilden in 1876. He is one of the active and energetic young men of Shelby county, and since his residence in the county has made many friends.
C. W. WOLF,
ONE of the young and enterprising farmers of Tower Hill township, was born in Prussia, not far from Berlin, March 29th, 1840. His father was John Wolf. In 1859, when he was nine years old, the family emigrated to America, and settled in Fairfield county, Ohio, where he was raised, and obtained a good education ; he came to Rural township, Shelby county, Illinois, in 1870. November 10th, 1874, he married Mary D. Pugh, daughter of Robert Pugh, who settled in Shelby county in 1819, and still resides in Tower Hill township. He purchased the farm which he now owns, which he subsequently sold to improve a farm in section 9, on which he lived three years, and then moved back to his present farm, in section 5, which he bought baek again. He owns 210} acres of land. He has two children, James W. and Lena Inez Wolf. He has always been a democrat in politics. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has stood well in the com- munity as a good citizen and a successful farmer.
3.4.3
/ & STL.R.R.
SCENES ON THE STOCK FARM LOOKING NORTH SEC.25.
O &M.A.R
TowerHill, from Veranda
372 Acres
Shelbyville from Veranda
3 MILES S.E OF TOWER HILL 7 MILES S.W.OF SHELBYVILLE ILL.
SCENES ON THE STOCK FARM OF DAVID O . MILLER, SEC'S 36 &25, TOWER HILL TP. (9) SHELBY CO. ILL.
FLAT BRANCH TOWNSHIP.
(SHELBY COUNTY.)
HIS is one of the north-eastern townships o Shelby county. It derived its name from the stream which drains the greater portion of its surface. It comprises the Congressional town- ship 13, range two east; and has an area of thirty-six square miles, or 23,040 acres.
Boundary Roads, Topography, ete -Flat Branch is bounded on the north by Moawequa, east by Penn and Pickaway, south by Rural township, and west by Christian county. It is well supplied with good roads and bridges. Illinois Central railroad crosses a portion of the north- west corner of sections six aud seven. The surface is mostly a level prairie, except in the region adjacent to Flat Branch, where the surface is gently undulating. Originally there was considerable timber along the water courses.
Drainage. Timber, Soil, Productions, etc .- This township is ad- mirably drained by the Flat Branch and its numerous tributaries; the Flat Branch meanders through the central portion of the township, furnishing abundant water for stock purposes. Near Flat Branch there is some gently sloping and very fertile land, with a growth mostly of red and American elm, black walnut, shell bark, and pignut hickory, mulberry, bur oak, cornus, hazel, buck- eye, red oak, prickly aslı, and grape vines. There are occasional spots with a luxuriant growth of Impatiens fulva and I. pallida, including a rich moist soil. The soil is a dark rich loan. The staple productions are corn, hay, wheat, oats, potatoes, and all kinds of garden vegetables grow luxuriantly. Grazing ard stock- raising is also carried on here quite extensively.
Early Settlers .- The pioneer settler was Robert. Tolly. He camc here in the spring of 1828, and improved a small tract of land and built a cabin on section 12, where he resided until his death, which occurred in the year 1844. Mr. Tolly was a native of Ken- tucky. On arriving at the age of manhood, he reinoved to Madi- son county, Illinois, where he spent several years prior to becoming a citizen of Shelby county. He was a man of considerable intelli- gence, and was a useful and honored citizen. In 1830 William Smith, Moses Smith, Joseph Brinhall, and Michael Thornton, with their families, came to and settled near where Mr. Tolly resided. They purchased no land, but "squatted." However, they erected cabins, and gained their subsistence largely by hunting and trap- ping, and tilling small patches of land. These families all came from the southern part of the state. They remained here only about five or six years, and then migrated to Arkansas. William Smith was a Baptist preacher. Isaac Romine, a son-in-law of Smith, settled here about the same time. Jonathan Denton, now one of the oldest residents of the township, came here in 1832. IIc
36
lived for two years in the family of Robert Tolly, and then married Miss Catherine Armstrong, and built a cabin ou section fourteen, in the year 1834 ; liere he improved a farm. He still resides within a short distance of where he settled. Mr. Denton is a native of Barren county, Kentucky. His father, Jonathan Denton, Sr., was one of the early settlers of Montgomery county, Illinois, and lived near the village of Zanesville; it was there that Jonathan, Jr.'s boyhood was principally spent. In the fall of 1832, Solomon Scribner, then a single man, settled on section 12, near the Tolly settlement ; erected a cabin, and made an improvement. In the early part of the year 1833, Mr. Scribner married Lucinda Smith. This was the first marriage which occurred in this township. After residing here a few years, Mr. Scribner and family moved to Arkansas. The second marriage was that of Jonathan Denton to Catherine Arınstrong, in 1834.
The first death was that of Joseph Eldridge in 1828. He came into the Tolly neighborhood to settle, and was attacked with milk sickness and died in Robert Tolly's house.
Elias Armstrong became a resident here in about 1832. For four years previously he had lived in what is now Pickaway town- ship. He bought the improvements in Flat Branch of Daniel Agles, who made a settlement just north of where the Baptist church now stands, in 1829 or 1830. Agles was a German, and after disposing of his place he returned to the settlement on Beck's Creek, in this county, where lie had formerly resided.
.William Armstrong settled on'the Gordon Branch, near Denton's, in 1834 or '35. He was a young married man, and only lived about two years after his marriage.
James Tolly, a brother of Robert, located here in 1833, on sec- tion 13. He was also a native of Kentucky, and was principally raised in Madison county, Illinois, five miles south of Edwardsville. He built the first frame house in this township, and lived here un- til 1870, when he moved to Okaw Township; however, before com- ing to Shelby county he had lived with his parents, Cornelius Tolly and wife, in the counties of St. Clair, Madison, and Montgomery. Other old setlers were Stewart Fisher and Samuel Watkins aud their families. They located lands in the south-eastern part of the township. Cornelius Tolly lives near the Baptist church. He is a son of Robert Tolly, and has lived in Flat Branch upwards of half a century.
The Gordon family settled about half a mile above the mouth of Gordon Creck, on the north side, in 1833. This creek received its name from that family. They lived here only a few years when they moved to another part. They buried a child near their cabin in a lonely grave on the bank of the creek. That was the second person buried in the township.
281
282
HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
W. P. Sellers is one of the old residents, and lives on section 16, south side of the Flat Branch, and his wife is said to be the oldest resident of the township. The oldest inan in the township is W. R. Clark. He lives on section 21, and is also one of the old settlers.
William Chadwick was one of the early settlers in the south-east part of the township. He lived on section 26. He subsequently moved a few miles north, and improved a large farm in sections 13, 14, 23, and 24, where he lived until his death in 1876. Mr. Chad- wick was an enterprising and public-spirited mnan, and was ever ready to lend a helping hand to every laudable object that was calculated to benefit the locality in which he resided. He held the office of justice of the peace for several years, and other township offices. He was a native of the State of New York.
Willis and John Virden, two brothers, are also among the early settlers. Willis lives on section 15. He was born in the south part of Shelby county in 1825. His father, James Virden, was one of the first settlers of that section of the county. He was a native of Georgia. In 1842 he moved to Flat Branch, and located on section 10. He died in the year 1859. In 1840,a Scotchman, by the name of John McKenzie, made an improvement on section 2, now better known as the widow Howse's place. After selling this place to Mr. Howse, he began another improvement on section 10, and subsequently moved to Texas. Prior to 1840 Levi Casey improved a farm on section 10. The place is now owned by R. H. Groom. Mr. Casey was a son of Levi Casey, sen., who settled on Robinson's Creck, in another portion of the county, in 1824
.
Thomas Scribner settled on Locust Branch, near the residence of William Miller, in the year 1843, and continued to reside there until his death. Wesley Scribner settled in 1847 on section 8, where William Snyder now lives. Mr. Scribner was among the first to settle on the west side of the Flat Branch. For the last seven years he has made his home in Maury county, Tennessee. Wesley, Thomas, and Solomon Scribner are brothers, and all natives of Tennessee.
Jonathan Howse settled in what is now Ridge township, Shelby county, in 1832, near the line between Ridge and Rose. He resided there until his death. He was a native of Maryland, and raised a family of six children. Two of his sons, James and Edward, settled in Flat Branch. James came here in 1844, and Edward in 1850. They both improved farms. James Howse died in 1876. Edward is still a citizen of Flat Branch, and resides on section 11.
Reuben Denton was one of the first settlers on the west side of the Branch. 'He first located on section 16, where F. Ney now 'lives. He began this improvement about 1847.
William Howse improved the place now owned by J. F. Scribner,
on the west side of the Branch, in section 22, in 1847. He was a brother of James and Edward Howse.
John Sims, another old resident of Flat Branch, lives on section 27, where he is engaged in farming.
First Land Entries were made by the following persons :- April 3d, 1832, John Armstrong, w. 2, s. E. 4, 1, 80; February 9th, 1833, Elias Armstrong, s. E. }, S. E. }, 11, 40; February 9th, 1833, Eliza Armstrong, N. w. }, s. w. }, 12, 40.
The first improvement made on what is now the Duncan place, on section four, was made by Jeremiah Campbell about the year 1840. He came here from Sangamon county, Illinois, where he had previously lived. He is a brother of Hon. A. C. Campbell, of Moawequa. Denton's was the second house erected west of Gor- don's creek. Michael Thornton built the first house about half a mile south of where the Baptist church now stands.
First School-house and early Teachers .- The first school-house in Flat Branch was erected in 1833. It was a small structure, built of rough, unhewn, round logs, and stood in the centre of section 12. Daniel Simon was the first teacher, and a Mr. Rodman was the second. This school-house was soon after burned down, and then a hewed log one was put up in its place. It was, also, burned after doing service for several years.
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