USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 33
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 33
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 33
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W. II. YOUNG, farmer and general agent for the Howe Sewing Machine, was born in Edgar County, Ill., January 7, 1829, is the son of Claybourn and Mary (Russell ) Young, and is of English-Irish
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extraction. His parents were born in Tennessee and emigrated from that State to Edgar County, III .. in 1827. where they resided for two years, then removed to Boone County. Ind .. and there lived until their death. the father dying in 1868. and mother in 1872. Mr. Young was married October 13. 1849. to Miss Margaret A. McCol- loch. Mrs. Young is a native of Tennessee. To them have been born four children. viz .: John A. M., Alice, Lillie M. and Claybourn H. In 1850 Mr. Young came to Hmois and settled in Edgar County, there remained three years, then removed to Cumberland County and settled in Neoga Township, three miles northeast of Neoga, where he has since resided and has a farm of 120 acres, and well improved. Since 1869 Mr. Young has been engaged in the sewing machine bus- iness. Ile has sold 2,000 machines. He is a Republican, and they are members of the Presbyterian Church. They have a daughter in the Indian Territory, teaching the Choctaw Indians. Mr. Young is a leading citizen. and one of the old settlers of Cumberland County. His office is in Mrs. A. E. Stone's millinery store, in Neoga.
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DENNIS BELL, farmer, was born March 30. 1821, in Randolph County, N. C., and is the son of William and Mary E. Bell. also born in North Carolina. Dennis was raised on his father's farm. and there remained till the age of twenty-four, when he married Rachel Mass, who was born in Clark County, Ill., in 1824, and died on this farm in 1854. They had four children, one living-Irena, wife of William E. Adams. His second marriage, in 1856, was to; Mary Tucker, who was born in 1834, in Indiana, and died in 1857. They have one son, John, now in Kansas. His third marriage. August. 1858, was to Barbara Boswell, of Ohio. They have four children, viz .: David O., Vernon, Andrew M., and Josephine. At about the age of eleven years, his parents came to Rush County, Ind .. where they lived four years. then removed to Coles, now Cumberland County, where his father died in 1856. at eighty years of age. This land was entered by Ambrose Carney. He now owns 154 acres, all improved, with one of the best houses in the township, built in 1875. at a cost of about $2,200. His barn was destroyed by fire in Octo- ber, 1882; cost about $500. His brother, William, was Lieutenant in the One Hundred and Twenty-Third Illinois Infantry. He served throughout the war.
SAMUEL A. BLACK, of the firm of Moore & Black, grist and saw-mill, Diona, was born JJuly 19. 1847, and is the son of Samuel and Mary Black, who were born in Virginia, and followed farming there. In 1835, he went to Missouri, where soon after he was mar- ried. His parents still live there, engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch left home at about the age of twenty-two, and carried on farming in Missouri till June, 1875, when he moved to Cumberland County, and carried on farming four years. In 1879, he bought Mr. Hackett's interest in this mill, and has since been a member of this firm. This mill was built in 1875; cost about $7.000. Its capacity is about 4,000 feet of lumber, about seventy-five bushels of corn, and one hundred bushels of wheat per day. Mr. Black was married Jan- uary 6. 1876, to Lizzie Gill, who was born in Missouri. One daugh- ter. Carrie, blesses this union.
NATHANIEL CARPENTER, farmer, was born December 10. 1831, in Delaware County, Ohio, and is the son of James and Maria Carpenter, who emigrated from New York when young. He was
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brought up on his father's farm. When about eighteen years of age, his parents came to this locality, where he has since lived. His father entered the land where his house now stands. He died June 3, 1876, aged seventy-six. His mother died in 1842, aged forty. The subject of this sketch commenced working at $8 a month. This money he used in paying for the first land he owned-first buying forty acres; he has added as his means would allow, and now owns 360 acres. This farm is improved, with a good brick house, built in 1874: cost about $1,600; the barn cost $800. He was married April 9, 1846, to Julia A. Mann. She was born in Indiana, September 10, 1822. They had nine children, six living, viz .: Sarah J., Hezekiah. William, Deloss, Christina, and Ann.
WILLIAM CLOSSON. farmer, born March 19, 1833, in Dela- ware County, Ohio, is the son of Daniel and Martha Closson, natives of Pennsylvania. His parents came to Cumberland County in 1851, and located in Union Township. His father died December 26, 1859, aged sixty-five years. The subject of this sketch was married February 12, 1860, to Luey MeMillan, who was born in Delaware County, Ohio. They had six children, three living, viz .: John D., Alma E., and Mary O .; three children died when young. After his father's death he secured the homestead by buying out the other heirs. He afterwards sold this property and bought where he now lives. He now owns three farms of one hundred acres each, all under cultivation. Mr. Closson became a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1864. Since this time, he has been ruling elder of this church.
LEWIS COLLINS, farmer, born May 7, 1831, in Fairfield County, Ohio, is the son of James'and Margaret (Driver) Collins. who emigrated at an early day from Maryland. His grandparents were natives of Pennsylvania. His father died in Ohio when Lewis was about thirteen years old. He continued to live with his mother till the age of eighteen, when he commenced to learn the blacksmith trade, following this business about twenty years. He then carried on farming about two years. In 1866, he came to Cumberland County, located on the Davison farm, and remained there one year; then moved to his present farm. He first bought sixty acres, and trom time to time added other land, now owning 260 acres. This farm is located on the direct road to Casey, consequently the most traveled of any others. He married, March 23, 1859, Mrs. Collins. who is also a native of Fairfield County, Ohio. They have six chil- dren, viz. : Amy F., wife of Andrew Vankey; Seth Benson, Carrie. Magdalena, wife of Arthur Jennings: Semantha M., and Rebecca E.
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S. W. CUTRIGHT. farmer, was born October 20, 1816. in Ross County, Ohio, and is the son of William and Hannah Cutright, who were natives of Virginia. They emigrated to Ohio in about 1790. His father served in the Revolutionary war. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until about the age of twenty-two. when he worked out by the month about two years. He was mar- ried, September 3, 1840, to Elizabeth Brown, who was born in Wheeling, W. Va., July 4, 1824. They have nine children, viz .: Aus- tin, Angeline, now Mrs. Begger; Robert, now keeping the National Hotel at Casey; Elmira, wife of Joseph Mercer: William, Emaline, wife of Samuel Sheeks; George, Harriet, wife of Frank Lacey, and Winfield. After his marriage he rented a farm and continued farming there about ten years. In 1849 he came to Cumberland County and leased a farm at Lost Point, where he remained five years on Section 18. He then moved to Section 9, and there remained five years. On January 1, 1860, he bought forty acres where his house now stands, and the following February moved to this land, where he has since resided. 'He now owns eighty acres. Soon after coming here he met with the misfortune of losing three horses, which he then could illy afford, but having energy, industry and perseverance he has succeeded in clearing and improving this farm, and has placed himself in comfortable circumstances.
LEVI DEVINNEY, retired farmer, was born June 24, 1818, in Berkeley County, W. Va., and is a son of David C. and Mary Devinney, who were natives of Orange County, Va. There he learned the tan- ners' trade, which he followed till the age of forty; then he moved to Licking County, Ohio, and engaged in farmimg; later removed to Miami County, where he died on February 23, 1878. The subject of this sketch lived with his father in Licking County till 1851, then came to Cumberland County and bought the Fox farm, consisting of 156 acres. Two years later he sold that farm and moved to this one, buying 1563 acres where their house now stands, and later other lands. They now own over 300 acres; and it is one of the best farms in the township. They are the only farmers in the township who deal exclusively in fine stock, their cattle being Shorthorns, their hogs Poland China, and their horses of the Norman and Clydes- dlale stock. This farm is improved with buildings which cost over $2,000; all well fenced. They also have a scale and scale-house which cost about $200. He was married in January, 1851, to Mar- tha J. Ryan, of Crawford County, Ill. She died JJanuary 22, 1879, aged forty-nine years. He has one son, David R., who was born
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March 24, 1853, in Cumberland County, and was married March 2, 1876, to Sarah L. Gill. She was born in Wayne County, Mo. They have two children-Harry .G. and Eunice P. David R. Devinney now owns and manages this farm. Mr. Devinney's two brothers, Martin L. and David W., served in the late war. David enlisted as First Sergeant, was afterwards promoted to Captain, and later com- missioned Lieutenant-Colonel. He was killed at the battle of Cedar Creek, in the Shenandoah Valley.
ELIJAH EDWARDS, farmer, born January 31, 1829, in Dela- ware County, Ohio, is the son of Elijah and Ruth Edwards. His father was born in New York, his mother in New Jersey. In 1839 his parents emigrated to Coles ( now Cumberland) County, and settled on Section 3, and were among the earliest settlers of this locality. His father first entered eighty acres of land, but later bought eighty acres of John Cutright, Sr. His father died in 1861, aged seventy- eight years. The subject of this sketch was married July 1, 1849, to Jane Baumgartner. She was born in 1835, in Franklin County, Ohio. They have ten children, viz .: Henry, Angeline, wife of Charles Carlin; Sarah, wife of W. H. Decker; Andrew, Theodore, George, Jacob, Elijah, Jr., Harrison and Hannah J. He owns 160 acres, part of which is the land entered and bought by his father. He was the first Township Commissioner after the organization of the township; held the office three years.
P. W. EDWARDS, merchant, Union Center, was born August 8, 1852, in Union Township, and is the son of Eli and Elizabeth Edwards, who were born in Ohio. They were among the earliest settlers of Union Township. His father died December 4, 1879. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm, where he lived till the age of twenty-two, when he, with a capital of twenty dollars, started peddling and huckstering; continued at this business about eighteen months, and not meeting with any success he engaged in the show busi- ness and continued this about four months. Meeting with no better success he then, September, 1876, traded his team with a spring wagon and about ten acres corn, valued at $240, for this store, going in debt at the time $90. From this small beginning he has worked into a large and flourishing trade. He has sold as high as $230 per day. He now carries a stock of about $6,000, and to accommodate his increasing trade he is about erecting a commodious store, 24×80 feet. This store he expects to occupy in 1884. He was appointed Postmaster in 1881. He was married in September, 1879, to Miss Flora Chancellor, of Coles County. Two children bless this union-Harvey C. and Elizabeth E.
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T. and S. EMRICH are the sons of Phillip and Nancy ( Red- man) Emrich. They emigrated from Ross County, Ohio, to Cum- berland County, IN., in the fall of 1848, where they lived about eighteen months, when they moved to Jasper County, remaining there about two years; then returned to Cumberland County, and settled on their present farm, where their father died in March, 1875, aged fifty-nine years. This farm consisted of 300 acres; but since the death of their father it has been divided, and, with 'other lands added, the family now own 514 acres. Scott retains the homestead. Mrs. Emrich still resides at the homestead. They were married, April 2, 1840. She was born, December 24, 1815, in Ross County, Ohio. This union was blessed with six children, three of whom still survive, viz .: Taylor, Winfield Scott, and Benjamin F. John was drowned, June 17, 1858, aged seventeen years; Mary died in Feb- ruary, 1871, aged twenty-eight years; Sarah J. died in November, 1849, aged four years. Taylor is a member of the Universalist Church and one of the Trustees. Scott is engaged in the Agricult- ural business in Casey, as well as managing this farm.
C. C. FANCHER was born November 27, 1836, in Delaware County, Ohio, and is the son of David and Martha Fancher. In 1849, the family removed to Illinois and settled in this locality; they entered and bought various tracts of land. He has owned as high as 1,000 acres, a large part of which he has deeded to his children. They first settled on what was known as the old Smith farm, and resided there till 1853. In order to educate his children, they moved to Marshall, where they remained two years, then returned to their farm. For the purpose of further educating his children, his father, in 1857, removed to Paris, Ill. After remaining two years, he moved to Clark County, near Casey, where he bought a farm of 150 acres. There he resided till 1870. On account of ill-health he went to Denver, Col., there remained five years, and during this time was engaged in the real estate business. He then returned to his farm near Casey. He died August 22, 1876, aged sixty-eight years. The subject of this sketch at the age of twenty-one married Lydia Tute- wiler. She was born in Fairfield County, Ohio. Seven children have blessed this union, four of whom are living-Royal, Orla, Bertie, and Pearly. After marriage he settled on his present farm. He now owns 260 acres; this is one of the oldest improved farms in this local- ity. Mr. Fancher enlisted, in 1861, in 'Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-Third Illinois (Mounted) Infantry, " Wilder's Brigade," and served to the end of the war. Ile participated in the battles of
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Perryville and Chickamauga, and was with Sherman's command dur- ing their march to Atlanta and back to Nashville. He was also in the raid under General Thomas at the battle of Nashville, and the battle of Selma, Ala. This was one of the enemy's strongest forti- fications, and after several hours of hard fighting, the enemy finally gave way. He also participated in many others.
JAMES GILL, retired farmer, was born February 26, 1798, in Montgomery County, Ky. In 1814, he crossed the territory, came to Illinois, and located near Palestine, on the Wabash, making tem- porary quarters in the Fort. After a short stay he returned to Ken- tucky. and assisted his father to move. They at once came to Fort La Motte, afterward Palestine. His father bought half a Section of land, being then the first public sale, the land office being located there. The family removed to this land and lived there about twenty years. He was engaged in flat-boating from Vincennes to New Orleans, making one trip a season. This he continued seven seasons, he making the second trip that ever was made on a flat-boat. He came to where he now lives in 1830. He first entered a quarter Section, afterward bought and entered other lands, and has owned as high as 1,800 acres at one time. He is one of the most enterpris- ing men of this county. He built his present house in about 1850, setting an example to his neighbors by building the best one then in this neighborhood. Ho hauled the lumber from York, a distance of forty miles. Mr. Gill has held many important offices, viz .: Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner of Coles County, and was the first County Commissioner of Cumberland County. His father served in the Revolutionary war, enlisting as a private, and for mer- itorious conduct was promoted to Captain, which Commission he held until his death, he drawing a Captain's pension. He was born August 27, 1757, in New Jersey, and died near Palestine in 1837. Our subject was married, December 27, 1829, to Diadama Neal, of Kentucky, who died September 16, 1850. They had six children living, viz .: Emily, wife of Samuel P. Reed; Angeline, now Mrs. Conrad; Lucinda, now Mrs. Fulkerson; Nancy, now Mrs. Brooks; Martha, now Mrs. McMorris; John N., now managing this farm. Hannah died May 11, 1856. Martin C. served in the Confederate army and died April 13. 1865. George W. died September 27, 1847. James T. served in the Union army, and died July 3, 1864.
JAMES GOSSETT, farmer, was born May 5, 1833, in Tuscar- awas County, Ohio, and was the son of Luke and Jane Gossett,
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who were born in Pennsylvania. In 1837 the family came to Coles County, and there engaged in farming. In 1857, he moved to Cum- berland County, and settled on Section 30, Union Township, and there remained till 1863, when he removed to his present farm. He now owns 180 acres, mostly improved. He has a very comfortable house, which he built in 1868; cost about $2,000; also other build- ings, which cost over $3,000. He was married in 1857, to Ann E. Roberts, of Delaware County, Ohio. She was born, June 23, 1839; died in 1876. They had eight children, five living, viz .: Clinton M., Luke Lincoln, James C., Augusta J., and Sarah M. They lost one child in infancy. Julia A. died August 20, 1883, aged twenty- two; John died in 1876, aged eight months. Mr. G. is a member of the United Brethren Church in Christ.
NICHOLAS HAUGHN, farmer, was born February 7, 1845, on his present farm. Ilis father, Nicholas Haughn, was a native of Vir- ginia; his mother of Maryland. His parents were among the earliest settlers of Union Township. His father entered this land soon after coming here, it consisting of 140 acres, mostly improved. He died at the advanced age of 104 years. His mother still lives here and enjoys good health, being now in her seventy-eighth year. Nicholas was married, in 1866, to Margaret Conner, of Pennsylvania. They have six children, viz .: Mary C., Calvin V., Adaline, Daisy, Maude, and Arthur.
G. S. HENDERSON, farmer, born May 4, 1820, in Perry County, Ohio; reared on his father's farm until the age of twenty-one. Up to this time, he had received but nineteen and one-half days' schooling, and eleven nights at school ciphering. He then married Rebecca Yanaway, of Fairfield County, Ohio. She died in 1879, aged sixty-one years. They had four children; three living-Mary J., wife of George Winekoop; James and Andrew. They are all living in Kansas. His second marriage was to Mrs. Elizabeth Mathena, a native of England, August 1, 1879. When he first mar- ried, he rented a farm for eight years, and followed teaming several years. In 1855, he came to Union Township, and settled on this farm, at that time eighty-six acres, and has owned as high as 787 acres. He now owns 445 acres, over 300 of which are under culti- vation. On November 13, 1882, G. S. Henderson and family started on a tour to relatives in East Albany, N.Y. They arrived on Wednes- day morning, the 15th, much worn out after so long a journey, it being some 850 miles. On Thursday, the day following, Mr. -. his brother-in-law, started out to visit Albany. Mr. Henderson, in
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his published account of the trip, continues the narrative, as follows: We first visited Archaeological Hall. Here may be seen everything imaginable that is generally found in a museum. The greatest sight which came under our special observation was, first a link of the chain that was stretched across the Hudson River, during the Revo- lution in 1775, to prevent the British from sailing up the river, their intention being to blow up West Point. Second, we saw a skeleton of one of the largest elephants known. This was found in Cohoes, a small town in the State, during the excavation for the famous Harmony Knitting Mills, fifty feet below the surface. Third, was a piece of stone about the size of a large cocoanut, which has been dripping oil for the past twenty years.
I would like to give a more detailed account of this hall, but time would not permit. From here we crossed over to the new Cap- ital, and I must not forget to note here that it far exceeded our expectations; from the ground floor we were carried up by a mag- nificent elevator to the Governor's room, which is magnificent. Next we visited the Assembly Chamber. Words are impossible to tell how beautiful it is. We examined the different corridors, and in one of them may be seen the flags of all nations and those that were prized during the Revolution; in fact, I could not begin to give a description of this famous building. A person, to comprehend such a building, and what it is like, has only to see it for himself. From here we walked about two miles to the Albany Penitentiary, which is considered the hardest prison in the State. There we were told to register our names, and after the payment of twenty-five cents each, we were accompanied by a guide, who showed us all over the institution; the principal manufactory being shoes, of which they turn out about 3,000 pairs daily. We never saw, during our travels, such regularity as we found here. Much courtesy was shown us by the guide and guards. There are confined at the present time 830 pris- oners. It being near evening, we made our way home, much pleased with our day's sport.
Sunday evening, 19th, we took the boat of the Citizens' Line, called " City of Troy," for our journey to New York City, which left Albany at seven o'clock. But before going further, I must not forget to mention that the boats of this line are classed as some of the best afloat. They are fitted up for the comfort of passengers, and also for the transportation of freight. We reached New York the next morning at six o'clock, and, after partaking of breakfast. proceeded to visit all the places of interest, our first place of note
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being Mr. Vanderbilt's stables, which are situated on Fifth Avenue, directly in the neighborhood of his elegant mansion. The horses which we saw were Early Rose, Bay Dick, Small Hope, Light Handy Boy, Leander Boy and Early Puck, which were some of the finest horses we ever saw. The stables seemed a paradise beyond deserip- tion. From here we started for Central Park. We took a stroll through the museum, then to the wild animals, camels, ostriches. sea lions, bears, buffaloes, eagles and monkeys; then saw the monu- ments of Scott. Burns, Shakespeare, Fitz Green Halleck and Moore, and then the Egyptian obelisk, which is eighty-two feet high, 100,000 tons in weight, and its age is some fifty years before Christ. which to our astonishment exceeded what we expected. The lake in this park is beautiful, and, from our personal observation, it is the largest, prettiest and best laid out park in the country. From here we made our way through the upper part of the city, saw the Grand Central Depot of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroads, Grand Central Hotel, Wallack's, Niblo's, Germania, Bowery and Globe theatres; one of the greatest attractions being the Metropoli- tan Elevated Railroad, which runs in every direction of the city over head. We rode on one section of the road, and I will not say it is a very comfortable way of traveling.
We then went aboard an ocean steamship of the Inman Line. and examined it all over, and were much pleased with the elegant and costly way in which the vessel was fitted up. From here we strolled across town to the bowery, our object being to visit the Atlantic Garden. From here we went still further down town until we reached Printing House Square, where the buildings of the New York Tribune, Times, Sun, and a large monument of Benjamin Franklin attracted our attention. Looking to our right, we saw City Hall Park and City Hall, which is, as the rest of the buildings. a very interesting sight. We there saw the famous Astor Library. and the massive building of the New York Post-office. From here. we made our way toward Jersey City, which is reached by way of boat across the North River. Having visited friends-it being Wednes- day-we again resumed our travels in New York. We crossed by way of ferry-boat to the city of Brooklyn, our object being to get a good view of the new suspension bridge which spans the East River, a sight which we would not have missed for anything. On our return. we started for the Earth Gardens and the Battery. This is where all emigrants have to go through upon arriving in this country. There were a great many lying around, principally Dutch.
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