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 82

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 82
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 82

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On the 31st of December, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas Reber, of Fairfield county, Ohio. She was born and raised in that county. By this marriage there have been nine children, eight of whom are still living-three sons and five daughters, all of whom are yet beneath the roof-tree. Their names, in the order of their birth, are as follows : Charles, Rachel, wife of O. D. Miller of Stewardson, Illinois; Reber, Jean- nie, Carrie, Hattie, Lucy, and Clay Homrighous.

Both he and his excellent wife are devout members of the M. E. church. In the matter of politics, Mr. Homrighous was formerly a democrat. He voted that ticket from 1856 until 1876, when he joined the National Greenback party. and voted for Peter Cooper. In 1880 he cast his vote for General Weaver, and remains a con- vert, and believes in the principles as enunciated in the platforms of that political organization. In the spring of 1868 he was elected to represent his township in the Board of Supervisors, and was rc- elected four times, and served until the spring of 1874. During his occupancy of the office, the bond in aid of the Chicago and Paducah Railroad was voted and issued in compliance with the demands of the people of the township. For thus obeying the will of the peo- ple, whose servant he was, he was subsequently censured. Alas ! how fickle is public opinion. Upon the subject of temperance he is an advocate of the cause, and is a positive and emphatic temperance man. In his home and abroad Mr. Homrighous is a hospitable and honorable gentleman, and is as widely respected as is the circle of his acquaintance.

J. D. WILSON.

AMONG the active business men of the town of Stewardson, is the subject of this biographical sketch. He was born in the city of New York, February 15, 1849. His parents, James B. and Delia Wilson, were born in King's county, Ireland ; they emigrated to America in 1847, and settled in New York city, and remained there until 1858, when they removed to Logan county, Ohio, and con- tinucd residents of that state until October, 1864, when they came

to Shelby county, Illinois, and located at Moawequa, and in the following year removed to Prairie township, and there remained until the death of Mr. Wilson, which took place December 16, 1878. The subject of this sketch is the next to the eldest in a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, all of whom survived the father. Hc passed his youth at work upon the farın, and in the winter months attending the public schools, and therein received a good English education. He remained beneath the parental roof until 1865, when he went to work on the farm of William Stewardson, a leading and prominent agriculturalist and stock-raiser of this county. He took charge of his stock, and re- mained in his employ until 1874, when he came to the town of Stewardson and erected a stable, and engaged in the livery trade, in which he continued for several years, and then went into the hardware and agricultural implement trade and grain business, in which he was engaged until the 1st of October, 1880, when he sold out and retired from business. On the 3d of September, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Belle Curry, a native of Shelby county, Ill. This union has been blessed by two children, both daughters, named Ethel and Bertie Wilson. He is a re- spected member of the order of A. F. & A. M., and belongs to Sigel Lodge No. 541. He comes from a democratic family, and has been a member of that political organization since attaining his majority. In 1877 he was appointed to represent his township in the board of supervisors and fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of Arch. Shelton, who resigned to accept the office of county treasurer. In 1878 lie was elected to the same position, and ill 1879 and 1880 was re-elected, and at present is serving his town- ship in that capacity. In the county board he is regarded as a worthy and efficient supervisor, looking carefully after the interests of his constituents and the interests of the entire county. In his manners and address he is a pleasant and affable gentleman, possessed of fine social qualities, and universally liked by all with whom he comes in contact. He is a good business man with methodical habits, and possesses the confidence of his friends and those who know him.

J. J. KNOX, M. D.

THE family of Knoxs on both the paternal and maternal sides is of Scotch ancestry. John S. Knox, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Allegheny county, Pa. He removed t , Ohio, and there followed the profession of surveying and teaching. He settled in Clinton county, and remained there until his death. He contracted disease while surveying in the miasmatic swamps, with which that county was infested at an early day. In many respects he was a remarkable man, possessed of a mind of unusual vigor and force. Although of a limited education, he was a fine mathematician and a most accomplished penman. He married Sophronia Knox, who was born in Rockbridge county, Va. By this marriage there were two children. J. W. Knox is the oldest. At the age of four years his father died, and some years after his mother married again. At the age of eleven years he left home, determined to make his way in the world. Possessed of a self- reliant spirit which is characteristic of the American youth, partic- ularly Western boys, he went to work earning his own livelihood, and as he grew in age saw the necessity of an education, and made arrangements to enter school and become better informed in the rudimentary principles. This he succeeded in doing. At the age of twenty-one years, he determined to become a physician, and with this idea in view commenced the study by reading the text-books upon medicine. He afterwards drifted to Iowa, and there

PENELOPE

FISK

HAT TI E;

VIEW OF STEWARDSON FROM VERANDA.\

1880.

NEEDHAM

JOHN,

LAFAYETTE

EDEN HOME

HARRIET

Nº / ROSE ARCH, 2 & 3 SUMMER HOUSES, 4 FOUNTAIN,

5 FORCE PUMP & HOSE .6CARRIAGE HOUSE ,7 COW HOUSE ; Nº 8 SMOKE HOUSE, 9 POULTRY YARD & HOUSE, 10 STOCK & GRAIN BARN II FRUIT HOUSE, 12 STRAWBERRIES, 13 GRAPES & ARBOR, 14 APPLE ORCHARD IS QUINCE ORCHARD. FRUIT & DAIRY FARM OF MR. & MRS. LAFAYETTE FISK, SEC.4, PRAIRIETP (9) R 5 SHELBY CO. ILL. ONE MILE S. W. OF STEWARDSON.

-V.

STOCK FARM OF SAMUEL BAILEY SEC.6. PRAIRIE TP. (9) R.5, SHELBY CO. ILL.

E.BENSLEY LIVERY STABLE

FARM VIEW.

TOWN RESIDENCE.

FARM AND TOWN RESIDENCE, THE PROPERTY OF MRS. E.BENDSLEY MOAWEQUA, SHELBY CO. ILL.

HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

313

continued his studies under the direction and in the office of Dr. J. C. Shrader, of Linn county. He remained under his tuition for three years, when he commenced the practice in connection with his preceptor, and continued with him until he (Shrader) entered the service in the late rebellion. He then removed to Laurence county, Ill., and remained there for several years, then went to Richland county and stayed for two years. His health failing he went west to Barton county, Mo., and remained there one year, and then came to Shelby county, Ill., landing here in the fall of 1874. He stopped in the county until he could erect a building in the new town of Stewardson, which was then being surveyed and laid out. After the erection of the building, he engaged in the drug trade and resumed the practice of his profession, in which he has been busily engaged to the present. In the fall of 1873-4 he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated therefrom in the spring of 1874, with the degree of M.D. In the year 1864 he was united in marriage to Miss Victoria Thrap. She was born in Olney, Ill. Two children have been born to them, both girls, named Carrie and Maud Knox.

Mrs. Knox is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Knox is a respected member of the I. O. O. F. Politically he has since casting his first vote been a republican, and may be classed as a stalwart. When he first came to Stewardson he was appointed post-master, and has retained the office until the present.

Dr. Knox has been identified with the material interests of the town since it started, and has contributed much to its progress and prosperity. He belongs to the progressive school of medicine, and is not bound by old forms, but keeps pace with the new remedies and latest discoveries in materia medica. In his habits he is tem- perate, in his manners an agreeable and pleasant companion, and in his locality is regarded as an honorable man, and much respected as a citizen.

JOEL J. ELAM.

THE family of Elams are of English descent. Matthew Elam, the father of Joel, was born in Prince Edwards county, Va., in 1790. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Tennessee, and while a resident of that state, served five campaigns in the Indian wars, under General Jackson. He remained in Tennessee until 1834, when he moved his family to Shelbyville, Illinois, and re- mained there some years, and then moved to what is now known as Cold Spring township, and died there in 1863. He married Nancy O. Jackson, who was remotely connected with the family of Gen. Jackson. She was born in Virginia, in 1799, and died July 24, 1879, in the eightieth year of her age. By this marriage there were seven children that grew to maturity, four of whom are living. Joel J. is the eldest of the family. He was born in Williamson county, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1819. He came with his father to Illinois, and has been a resident of this county since October 10, 1834. He is one of the few remaining pioneers that braved the hardships and privations of this western country, that we of the present generation might here live surrounded by all the comforts that a populous and peaceful country gives. During his life he helped to cut down the weeds and dig up the stumps of trees in the public square of Shelbyville. Many years have elapsed since that time. On the 23d of December, 1841, he married Minerva Austin, a native of East Tennessee. She died March 21, 1855. There were four children by this marriage; two of whom died ; one in infancy, and Robert J. in his twenty-seventh year. He left one child named Dora Alice. William A. is still at home, and Matthew H. is now a resident of this county, is married and has five children. On the 25th of November, 1860, Mr. Elam married Miss C. P. Porter. She was born in Athens county, Ohio, in 1816, and came to Illinois in 1855, and was living in Neoga, Cumberland county, at the time of her marriage. Politically he was for many years a Democrat but is now an Independent.

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

(SHELBY COUNTY.)

O named in consequence of the richness and fer- tility of its soil, is one of the finest portions of land in the county. It contains thirty-six sec- tions ; the whole of town 11, range 5 east. It is bounded on the north by Windsor ; west by Shelbyville; south by Prairie; and on the east by Ash Grove township. Two railroads pass through the township-the I. and St. L., and the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific. Its terri- ory is well drained by Richiland and Poe creeks. This is one of the early settled localities of the county, and well did the hardy pioneer make choice of a home. The only impediment here in early times was milk-sickness. The most of the township is prairie land,

slightly timbered along the margin of the streams, with a beautiful grove here and there, dotting the landscape on the prairie.

David Elliott was the first to settle here ; he came in 1825, from Clay county, in this state, and in the spring of the same year he . built his cabin on the west side of Richiland creek, cleared out a little patch in the timber, and raised a crop of corn the fol- lowing summer. In the fall of the same year, 1835, his brother Jacob, who now lives in Holland township, came in and started an improvement, where he lived until 1837, when he moved to where he now resides. David Elliott in early days had a horse mill and still-house, and at that time this place was quite a rendezvous for the settlers. The early Nimrod would often of a morning shoulder his trusty rifle and tell his confiding wife that he must kill a deer,

314

HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

and as soon as the door was closed he would strike a bee line for the above place, where he would spend the day, and in the evening wend his way homeward and tell his wife the deer were getting scarce. About twenty years ago David Elliott went down into Clay county to buy stock, where he was taken sick and died.

E. Harper, from Indiana, settled near where the town hall now is, in the fall of 1825. He afterward moved to Shelbyville, where he operated a horse mill for a number of years.

Wm. Weger, in the spring of 1826, located in the Richland creek settlement ; his oldest son, John, who was a married man, also settled here at the same time. Julia Ann and Jane Weger twins, were born to John and Ann Weger in Richland township, July 4th, 1826. The neighboring Indians made for thein a double papoose cradle, which is yet retained in the family. The Weger families only lived in this township about two years, and then moved into the Sand creek settlement, in Okaw. John and James Renshaw, natives of Tennessee, came from Kentucky into the Richland creek settlement in 1826. They brought with them a drove of hogs from White county, Illinois. They started with 150 hogs. The wolves were very troublesome on the route, and caught all the smaller ones, and when they arrived in Richland they had only about 75 The Renshaw brothers walked and drove the hogs into this settlement, and received a warm welcome by the few resi- dents. James Renshaw immediately returned to White county for his family, and John, who was then a single man, remained at the camp they had located, and cut logs for a cabin. He drew the logs together with a single ox that he borrowed of E. Harper. Renshaw soon became tired of the ill provided camp he was stopping at, and took board with Mr. Harper at one dollar per week. Renshaw sold Harper dressed hog meat at $2.00 per hundred. Renshaw says it was high board at $1.00 per week, for all they had to eat was boiled corn and pork ; and before his arrival, Harper lived wholly upon boiled corn, as he was no hunter, and devoted his entire time to clearing out his place. When James Renshaw returned he brought a team of horses and wagon. They built their cabin on section 22, a short distance east of where the Union church now stands. This cabin was erected in April, 1826. They lived together about two years, when John improved the place where he now resides. James afterwards moved to Shelbyville, and subsequently to Decatur.

John Richardson settled on Section 20, west side of the creek, in 1826 or 1827.

John Cox, Bolen Reems and Obadiah Wade settled on the west side before 1827.

Joseph Robinson improved a place and built a cabin on the east side of the creek about 1827. Kinsey Robinson, his brother, came in 1833.

In 1827, James Rather and his widowed sister, Mrs. Wheat, came into the Richland Creek settlement. Rather only remained about two years, when he returned to Kentucky. Mrs. Wheat afterwards married here and lived in the settlement until her death.

Benjamin Walden and his son Hugh located in the north-west part of the township in 1827. They both raised families and were prominent farmers in the county.

William Childers and David Fortenberry settled in the Richland .

Creek neighborhood as early as 1828.

George Parks settled the W. R. Sargent place about 1830; he was front Tennessee ; he afterwards moved to Texas.

James Poe, a native of Tennessee, settled on the east side of Section 14; he built a cabin a short distance from the present home of C. Carmain, in about 1830. James Poe, Jr., settled in the south-east corner of Section 1, where J. L. B. Turner lived about the same time. Abner Poe married and three years later located

on Section 13, where his son John A. Poe now lives. In 1838, James Pee, senr., moved to Texas, accompanied by two other sons not mentioned above.

A man by the name of Schatteen made an improvement west of Look-out Point, as early as 1830. His wife only lived a short time after coming here; and this was perhaps the first death in the town- ship. Look-out Point is a high elevation of land, and gives a view of fifteen or twenty miles southward over the prairie.

A Mr. Greer settled on the east side of Section 8, and on the west side of Richland Creek, in 1832. He only lived a short time after coming here ; his son, James Greer, afterwards moved to Shelby- ville township, and subsequently moved to Moultrie county.

LAND ENTRIES.

April 14, 1826, John Richardson, E. 2, S. W. }, Section 20, 80 acres ; April 24, 1828, Benj. Walden, N. }, N. W. }, Section 5, 82 64.100 acres ; March 4, 1829, Benj. Walden, N. }, N. E. }, Section 6, 85 21.100 acres ; May 29, 1829, David Elliott, E. 3. N. W. }, Section 17, 80 acres.

The late George A. Bandy, though not an early settler of this township was, however, one of the leading farmers in Shelby county. He was a native of Breckinridge county, Kentucky, and died sud- denly in the latter part of the year 1880. A fine view of his late residence is shown on another page of this work.

H. C. Shallenberger, now a justice of the peace in Strasburg, is one of the old settlers in Shelby county ; his father, Henry Shallen- berger, settled near Shelbyville in 1836, when H. C. was in his nineteenth year,-he has lived in Strasburg four years.

Samuel Whitlach, a native of Ohio, located on section 29 in 1838. Five of his sons are now farmers in this township.

Tobias Renner, George Rouse, and Abraham Shay, came to the township together, from Ohio, in about 1838.

John Webb, a native of Tennessee, settled on section 13, in 1840. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in the battle of New Orleans, where he had two fingers shot off; he was three times mar- ried,-his third wife is yet living, and receiving a pension from the government. Mr. Webb often preached in this vicinity. He died at the old place, in 1869, near the age of seventy-eight. His son, B. T. Webb, lives near where his father first settled.

M C. Richardson, a native of Virginia, came to Shelby county in 1839; he remained only a short time and returned to Ohio, where he was principally raised, and in 1849 he returned and bought land in the south-west part of this township, where he settled permanently, and has since resided. He is generous and hospitable, and whoever talks to him is immediately made to feel at home.

Rev. Robert Rutherford settled where John Kiercher now lives as early as 1840; he sold goods there, operated a carding machine and horse-mill, was also a practicing physician, and frequently preached to his neighbors on Sunday.

William Stewardson, sr., a native of Westmoreland, England, emigrated to America in 1841, and settled in Ohio; he lived in that State and Indiana four years and then came to Shelby county ; he lived in Shelbyville township one year when he bought the farm and settled where his son William Stewardson, jr., now lives, on section 19; he raised a family of seven children. He died at his home, in this township, in 1864.

Other early settlers who deserve mention, are James Duncan, J. L. B. Turner, Isaac Stull, Joseph Sinart, and William Robinson.

The south-east part of Richland is principally scttled by Ger- mans. The first Germans to locate here were: B. Harves, George Stereng, F. Kull, Charles Ostermier, John Kiercher and P. Kueller.

ATTTE

MARY.

OLD HOMESTEAD

ES. LOOKIN WE

ORLANDO.D

FORESTHO

GEORGE

ANNIE.

ANDREW

RES.LOOKING EAST.

WEST

SEX JEFFERSONS

JOHN. A

HOME

OM ELIZABETH

315

HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

The first school-house erected in this townsnip was a round hick- ory log building with greased paper windows, and stood near where * the town hall now is. It was put up about 1832, and William Robin- son and James Rouse were among the first teachers.

The first preaching was at the house of Joseph Robinson.

The first church was built by the Baptist denomination at Look- out Point. It was a hewed log building, and afterwards used for a school-house.

The Town Hall was erected in the fall of 1872, and is used for township business. It stands in the center of the township. The first meeting held in it was April, 1873.

In 1872 Charles Ostermeir put up a store building on section thirty-five, and opened a general stock of goods. Two years later the Chicago & Paducah railroad, now the W., St. L & P. Railroad, was finished through the township, and Ostermeir laid out the town of Strasburg, January, 1874. The first building put up after the town was laid out was Allen's Hotel. Frank Beck was the first post-master. It is a good business point, and is represented in busi- ness by the following gentlemen :

Druggist and Postmaster .- J. H. Wiandt.

General Merchandize .- Hamm & Storm, Henry Foster. Blacksmith Shop .- Wm. D. Fink, George Bath.

Wagon Shop .- Richard Raebiger. Saw Mill .- W. L. Bowen. Hotel .- R. H. & A. F. Allen.

Grain Dealers .- J. T. Endicott, M. Montgomery. Physician .- Amos York.

Shoemaker .- William Winkler.

Saloons .- M. J. Laughlin, A. F. Van Rheeden.

Supervisors .- Richland has been ably represented in the Board of Supervisors by the following gentlemen :

Joseph M. Brown, elected in 1860, and by re-election served until the spring of 1866. M. C. Richardson, elected in 1866, re-elected in 1867-8; H. C. Shallenberger, elected in 1869, re-elect- ed in 1870-71; N. C. Turner elected in 1872; J. F. Poe, elected in 1873, re-elected in 1874; J. L. B. Turner, elected in 1875 ; S. Caskey, elected in 1876, re-elected in 1877; M. Kercher, elected in 1878 ; C. Carman, elected in 1879 ; J. J. Wilson, elected in 1880. and is the present incumbent.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

REZIN WHITLATCH

Is a native ef Shelby county, Ills. Robert Whitlatch, his paternal grandfather, removed from Ohio to Fountain county, Ind. Samuel, his son, and father of Rezin, was born in Ohio in 1813. He came with his father to Indiana, and in the spring of 1838, removed to Shelby county, Ills., and settled in Richland township, and farmed here until 1847, when he moved back to Fountain county, and died there in 1852. He married Margaret Dunkin, daughter of Joshua Dunkin. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1813, and moved to Ohio, afterward to Indiana, where she married. In 1852, after her hus- band's death, she came back to Shelby county, and is yet a resident of Richland township. There were six sons. Rezin is the third in the family. He was born on section 29, Richland township, Shelby county, Illinois, January 9th, 1842. He received in his youth a fair education in the common schools of Shelby county, Ills., and

Fountain county, Ind. He remained at home until he married, which was on the 30th of December, 1866. He married Miss Mary Gilfilan. She was born in Fountain county, Indiana, February 4, 1844. Her parents, John and Mary Gilfilan, were both natives of Ohio. There have been born to Rezin and Mary Whitlatch six children, four of whom are living. The names of those living, in the order of their birth, are as follows : Robert Manford, Jesse Wil- ber, William Henry and Rezin Walter Whitlatch. Both Mr. and Mrs. Whitlatch are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Politically he is a democrat, and an advocate of temperance. After Mr. W.'s marriage, he went to farming on land that he purchased in 1865. He remained on it for seven years and improved it, and then sold and bought where he now lives. He has been reasonably successful, and has the reputation of being a good man and most ex- cellent neighbor.

316

HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

leo N. Handy

THIS estimable gentleman was born in Breckenridge county, Kentucky, October 10th, 1823. In the year 1831, he came with his father's family to Illinois and settled in Edgar county. At that date, that portion of our great state was comparatively a wil- derness, and our subject, as he grew to manliood, battled with the pri- vations and hardships experienced by the hardy pioneers. He ob- tained a liberal education at the rude log cabin schools, and like most of the vigorous and energetic youths of that day, became an intelligent and useful man. He married in that county, Miss E. J. Shrader, who was " to the manor born." Mr. Bandy continued

to reside in Edgar county, until March, 1878, when he moved to Shelby and located in Richland township, on a large and finely im- proved tract of land, a view of which may be seen on another page. Here he soon became prominent among the leading stock growers and agriculturalists of the county, and was only beginning to en- joy the fruits of his labors when, in the prime of manhood, he was overtaken by that cruel messenger,-death. This occurred in De- cember, 1880. In life, he was a kind and affectionate father, and a devoted husband. He was much respected for his worth as a man and citizen, and his death was widely regretted.

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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 82

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