USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 82
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 82
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 82
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
JOHN W. MATTOON, M. D. (deceased ), was a native of Ver- mont, born in 1801. His parents removed to Franklin County, Ohio, in 1806. His father being a physician, he studied medicine with him, and graduated from the Worthington Medical College, Ohio, on April 4, 1834. He then practiced in different places in Ohio, also in Crawford County. III., where he also examined appli- cants for teachers' certificates. In 1857 he came to the farm which the family now occupies. He first bought eighty acres, but they now own 158 acres, 120 of which are under cultivation. He died on October 3, 1879. In 1833 he was married to Charlotte Penney, who
821
BONPAS TOWNSHIP.
was born on October 5, 1807, in Worthington, Ohio. Nine children were born to them, seven of whom are living; Eugene and Charles Edwin now manage the old farm. Eugene has been Township Collector and School Director.
HENRY D. RIDGELY was born on May 8, 1813, in Virginia. When a child he came to Wabash County, III., with his parents, and was raised there on a farm, assisting his father till the age of twenty- one. He then took up the coopers' trade, which he followed for several years, after which he purchased 240 acres of land, selling it after- wards, and in 1838 coming to this section. On his arrival here he bought 160 acres of land, and during the war he owned over 1.600 acres. He has probably handled more land than any other man in the county. In '1839 he was married to Irena Harrison, who was born in Wabash County, in 1822. Ten children, eight of whom are living, have been born to them-two sons and six daughters-as fol- lows, to wit : Robert (now a merchant at Parkersburg, this county); John (an assistant on the farm); Sarah E., Mary (now Mrs. James Parker); Ellen (now Mrs. Talley); Hannah (now Mrs. Michaels); Nancy Ann (now Mrs. Smith); Elsie J. (now Mrs. Staninger). Mr. and Mrs. Ridgely are members of the Christian Church.
T. J. ROUSH was born in Richland County, Ohio, on August 29, 1841, and when a child came with his parents to Richland County, Ill. Here he received his training, and assisted his father on the farm. At the breaking out of the late war, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-First Illinois Infantry, and served about three years. He participated in the battles of Corinth, Stone River, Per- ryville, and others. At the battle of Stone River he was wounded by a minie ball in the thigh. Since his return from the army he has been engaged in farming. Heowns 180 acres of land, fifty acres of which are improved. In March, 1865, he married Elizabeth E. Key, of Fairview. Five children have been born to them, viz .: George, Mattie, Luella, Ada and Chester.
GILBERT R. SLOVER was born on January 13, 1815, in Gib- son County, Ind. When he was about eight years of age his parents removed to Warrick County, Ind., where they lived six years. In 1829 they came to Coles County, III., lived there one year then removed to Wayne County, where they lived three years, thence to Wabash County, where his father died, in the autumn of 1833, aged fifty-six years. His father served in the war of 1812, holding a Cap- tain's commission. During his later years he taught school, being unfit for active business in consequence of long-continued illness. After his father's death, Gilbert worked to support the family, and in 1839 came to his present locality, settling on this land, but hay- ing no means. He soon carned sufficient money to enter forty acres, and he added to it, from time to time, until he had accumu- lated 200 acres, 120 of which he has given to his children. Ho retains the homestead with eighty acres, sixty-five of which are under cultivation. For many years after they came here they lived on game and corn meal. The meal he received as compensation for
822
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES -RICHLAND COUNTY :
labor performed at the mill. On January 2. 1837, he was married to Sophia Brown, who was born in Wabash County, Ill., August 28, 1816. They have had six children born to them, four of whom are living. Mr. Slover and wife are both members of the Christian Church, he having been an elder in the church several years.
MRS. EUPHEMIA TOMBAUGH is the daughter of Reason Ruark (deceased), who was the first settler on Bonpas Creek. Com- ing here in 1824, he entered and bought considerable land. and engaged in farming, though his time was principally occupied in hunting, having killed as high as 160 deer in a year. His early asso- ciates in hunting are long since dead. In 1861 he sold his farm, and with Mrs. Ruark removed to the Tombaugh farm, where she died, in 1863, aged sixty-seven years. Ho resided here with his daughter about ten years. He then re-married, and returned to his old farm, being compelled to take it back on mortgage. He died there in 1874. Lewis Tombaugh, husband of Mrs. Euphemia Tombaugh. died on January 31, 1881. Mrs. Tombangh has three children by for- mer marriages, viz .: George Butler, a Methodist minister, now residing in Florida ; Elizabeth J. (now Mrs. Berry) ; H. A. Kimmel, a graduate of the Carbondale Normal School, in 1879, and now teaching school in Fairview. George Butler served three years in the late war. Mrs. Tombaugh's house was built in 1878, and cost $2,000. It is one of the finest structures in this locality. Her farm consists of 200 acres of well improved land.
WILLIAM WALDEN was born in Jefferson Rounty, N. Y., on January 25, 1820. At the age of ten years he went with his parents to Chautauqua County, N. Y., and assisted his father on the farm. In 1843 they moved to the town of Homer, Licking Co., Ohio, and in 1853 to Richland County, Ill., where he has since resided, engaged in teaching school, he having taught ten years in Ohio, previous to coming to Illinois. He continued teaching here until 1880, since which year he has been engaged in farming. Be- fore he engaged in teaching, he attended different sessions of the Normal School. In 1845 he was married to Virginia O. Hurd, who was born in Orange County, Va., in 1825. Eight children have been born to them, viz. : Cephas L., Oliver L. (now in Kansas), Clarissa E. (now Mrs. Miller), Norton E., Lawrence E., a resident of Kansas; Myron T., Cordelia E., and John O. Mr. Walden is largely engaged in the manufacture of sorghum sugar and syrup. He has made as high as 3,000 gallons of syrup per year.
L. D. WHITAKER was born in Posey County, Ind., on April 8, 1829. He was there raised and educated, and taught school there five terms. On July 15, 1855, he was married to Martha J. Thomson, also of Posey County. After his marriage he came to Richland County, III., and purchased 160 acres of land, where he now resides. He came here with nothing, but he has now a very comfortable home, with about 110 acres of his land well improved. He has probably the finest private library of any in this part of the county. Mrs. Whitaker has borne her husband three children, viz .:
823
BONPAS TOWNSHH'.
Eda (now Mrs. Jackson); Mae (now teaching school ), and Page, at- tending school. Mr. Whitaker has taught four terms in the school where his daughter is now teaching. He was the first Township Collector, afterward Assessor and Collector, and for several years Township Trustee. He and his wife are both members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church.
824
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-RICHLAND COUNTY :
GERMAN TOWNSHIP.
ABRAM COTTERELL was born July 31, 1834, in Hart County, Ky., and when an infant his parents took him to now Rich- land County, and settled in German Township, where he was raised. He enlisted in July, 1861, in Company E, Eleventh Missouri In- fantry and served his enlistment of three years. He participated in all the battles in Mississippi, Tennessee, Red River-in all number- ing sixteen. Our subject was married in 1864 to Sophia Beckwith, of Crawford County. She died JJune 16, 1872, aged forty-one. They had four children-Asa, Aden, Etta and Ella. Mr. Cotterell was next married to Mrs. C. Bryan in the fall of 1872. She was born in 1833, in Canada. They have one son, Omer L., and Mrs. Cotterell has one daughter by her former marriage. On Mr. Cotterell's return from the army he lived on his father-in-law's farm two years, but he now owns a farm of 320 acres, which is improved with the best house in the township. The house cost about $2,000. Mr. Cotterell was Township Collector in 1860.
WILLIAM DISHON was born December 15, 1825, in Perry County, Ohio. In 1860 he came to Richland County and settled in German Township. He enlisted in 1861 in Company .1, Sixty-third Illinois Infantry and served three years and four months, participat- ing in the battles of Mission Ridge, siege of Vicksburg, and with Sherman on his .. March to the Sea," and others. Mr. Dishon owns one hundred acres land where he now resides. He was married July 6, 1864 to Mrs. Thomas Cotterell. She was born in Hardin County, Ky. They have four children, three daughters and one son. Mr. Dishon has six children by a former marriage, two sons and four daughters, and Mrs. Dishon has two children by a former mar- riage, one son and one daughter.
GEORGE HANES was born on March 12, 1836, in Portage County, Ohio, and was the son of Anthony Hanes, who was born in Pennsylvania and died in Ohio. The subject of this sketch was raised by his unele Daniel Hanes. They emigrated to Illinois in 1842, since which time he has resided in this locality. In 1854 he bought thirty acres of land and added by purchase other land as fast as his means would allow. Mr. Hanes now owns 100 acres which is improved with a comfortable brick house, built in 1877 and which cost about $1,500. His barn was built in 1873 and cost $600. He also has an orchard of about three acres, and other improvements. Our subject was married, January 1. 1857, to Sarah A. Garber. She was born in Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed with two daughters, (twins). Mr. Hanes has been Township Clerk six years and Collector four years, Supervisor four years and School Director sixteen years in succession.
HENRY LATHROP was born May 17, 1817, in Franklin
825
GERMAN TOWNSHIP.
County, Vt., and was the son of Russell and Cynthia (Powell) Lathrop, natives of the same county, June 4, 1837. Henry emigrated to Decatur County, Ind., and after a residence there of two years, he bought a pony, saddle and bridle, for which he paid $55, giving his note for $30 in part payment. Having then $30 in cash he pro- ceeded to Illinois and located in Lawrence County, and not far from where he now resides. He then secured a position as teacher of a subscription school, and after following this five months he had saved $100, when he returned to Indiana, and after assisting his father to take care of his crop, they rigged up a covered wagon and drove to Lawrence County. His father entered eighty acres and soon after returned to Indiana. Henry bought eighteen rods, on which he built a carding mill. This he ran two years, and traded it for 120 acres, which is part of his present farm. On March 4, 1841, his father returned from Indiana, and built a house on the land he had entered, and there lived several years. Henry's next purchase was eighty-seven acres near Claremont, on which he in- tended erecting a carding mill, but failed to make the necessary arrangements. He continued purchasing from time to time, as his means would allow, and has owned at one time as high as 1,100 acres, and has paid the highest tax of any one in the township. He has given his five sons cach a good improved farm of 160 acres, and to his three married daughters cach $1,100 in cash, besides he now owns 240 acres with the homestead. His house was built in 1867, and cost about $2,000, and his barn cost about $800. He has been five years Township Supervisor. Mr. Lathrop was married Sep- tember 1, 1844, to Rachel Laws. She was born in Lawrence County, Ill., November 8, 1824. They had ten children, nine of whom are living-Samantha (wife of David M. Roney); Ann (wife of James K. Roney); Elvira (wife of John H. Fee); Albert, Charles, George, Henry, Jr., Gilbert and Martha. Mrs. Lathrop is the daughter of Wm. Laws, Sr., who was born in North Carolina, and emigrated to Lawrence County, Ill., in 1820.
JACOB LEWIS, JR., was born June 7, 1830, in Lawrence County, Ill., and is the son of Jacob L. Lewis, Sr., who was born in North Carolina on January 27, 1802, and was reared in Kentucky. At an early day he emigrated to Illinois and settled in Lawrence County, where he has since lived and where the subject of this sketch was born and brought up. In 1862 he was commissioned Lieutenant of Company C, Sixty-Third Illinois Infantry, but on account of physical disability resigned in 1864, when he returned to his farm in Lawrence County. In 1865 he sold that farm and removed to Richmond County, where he had bought and improved a farm of 160 acres on the prairie. This he afterwards sold and, in 1874, moved to his present farm of 200 acres, 160 acres of which is improved. Mr. Lewis was married, November 8, 1855, to Angeline Kyger. She was born in Lawrence County, IN., and died in October, 1857, aged twenty-one, leaving one daughter, Mary A., now wife of B. A. Mountz. His second marriage took place
50
826
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-RICHLAND COUNTY:
May 20, 1858, to Appia Laws. She was born May 10, 1837, in Law- rence County, Ill. Three children have blessed this union, two of whom are living, both sons.
WILLIAM F. MUSGROVE. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is one of the oldest settlers in Richland County. coming here with his parents in 1820. He was born July 13, 1816, in Jefferson County, Ky., aud when he was about two years old his parents brought him to Lawrence County, Ind., and two years later removed to Lawrence County, Ill., and settled on what is known as the Stringtown Prairie. Here William was reared, and when a boy, drove team from Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., for John C. Riley, of Lawrenceville, Ill., working for him in this way for about five years. He afterwards teamed for Steward about two years, and since that time he has been engaged in farming. In about 1838 he entered forty acres of land, adding from time to time by purchasing as he was able to do so, until he now owns 300 acres, 160 acres of which he has under improvement. Flies in the early time were so numerous, that on riding a horse across the prairie, he would drop instantly and roll; the rider would hurriedly dismount, and as the horse would rise, he would as quickly remount and pro- ceed a short distance, when the horse would again fall, continuing in this way to the end of the journey. Wheat was hauled to Evans- ville at 37g cents a bushel, and pork sold at $1.50 per 100 pounds. A good cow could be bought at that time for $6.00. Mr. Mus- grove has been Township Commissioner and School Treasurer. He also packed the mails from Mount Carmel to Lawrenceville, String- town, St. Marie, Newton, and to Greenup in Cumberland County. He was about two years engaged in this work. He was married in 1839 to Martha Bullard, of Illinois; Mrs. M. died in July, 1854, aged thirty-eight years. Six children blessed this union, five sons and one daughter. He was next married January 22, 1855, to Mrs. Sophia Burnell, daughter of Benjamin Sumner, in honor of whom the town of Sumner was named. She was born July 21, 1826. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. His son, John B., served in the late war.
S. A. POWELL was born on July 11, 1819, in Richford, Vt., and was the son of Horace Powell, also a native of Vermont. He fol- lowed the trade of carpenter, and also that of farming, and in 1840 the family removed to Hambden County, Mass. After a residence there of about ten years, they removed to Schoharie County, N. Y., and in 1854, the subject of this sketch came to Richland County, and settled on this farm. His first purchase was eighty acres, where he now lives, and he at once commenced improving this land, and as his means would allow, bought other lands in addition. He now owns 240 acres, largely improved. He was married April 13, 1849, to Susan Parsons. She was born April 16, 1825, in Sharon, N. Y. This union has been blessed with four children-Dewitt P., Clarissa M. and Charles J. Henry died in 1867, in his sixteenth year. Mr. Powell has been Overseer of the Poor two years. His son Dewitt P. has been, for the past two years, Postmaster at Amity.
827
GERMAN TOWNSHIP.
L. D. RONEY was born September 17, 1840, in Coshocton County, Ohio, and in 1856, the family emigrated to Illinois and set- tled in Richland County. His father died December 31, 1880, aged sixty-seven years. L. D. enlisted, in July, 1861, in Company E, Eleventh Missouri Infantry, and served to the end of the war. He participated in the battle of Island No. 10, siege of Corinth, battle of Iuka, second battle of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Spanish Fork and others. On his re-enlistment in December, 1864, he was com- missioned Lieutenant, and later was promoted to Captain, which commission he held till mustered out at the close of the war. He then returned to German Township, where he has since followed farming; he now occupies the farm formerly owned by his father, and which consists of 152 acres. He married in September, 1871, E. Hart. She was born in West Virginia. Two sons bless this union.
JAMES K. RONEY was born July 4, 1844, in Coshocton County, Ohio, and is the son of John Roney, who was born in Harrison County, Ohio. The family came to German Township, Richland County, in 1856, and James K. assisted on his father's farm till the breaking out of the war. He enlisted, in 1861, in Company A, Six- ty-Third Illinois Infantry, and served to the end of the war. He participated in the battles of Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Florence, S. C., with Sherman on his " March to the Sea," and others. He then returned home and has since been engaged in farming. Mr. Roney was married in 1867, to Ann Lathrop. She was born in Ger- man Township. They have two sons and two daughters.
D. S. STIFF was born December 22, 1822, in Sussex County, N. J., and at about the age of thirteen came with his parents to Perry County, Ohio, where his father died in 1848, aged sixty-two. In 1851, the subject of this sketch, came to Richland County. He lived on a rented farm two years, and in 1853, he bought forty acres of land, adding other lands by purchase as his means would allow. He now owns a farm of ninety acres, which is improved. He has a very comfortable house built in 1883, and which cost about $800, and his barn built in 1876, cost about $500. He has also an orchard of about two acres, and otherwise pleasant surroundings. Mr. Stift has held the office of Constable about seven years, and School Direc- tor about twelve years. He was married January 28, 1844, to Sarah Stoltz. She was born in Fairfield County, Ohio. They have seven children, three sons and four daughters. Lewis M. and William W. served in the late war.
SAMUEL STOLTZ was born April 10, 1835, in Richland County, and was the son of Samuel Stoltz, who was born in Penn- sylvania, and came to Lawrence County, in 1846, and removed to the Stringtown Road in 1826, where he died in 1852, aged sixty- three. Samuel, Jr. was brought up on his father's farm, and enlisted in 1862, in Company H, One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Infantry. He served to the end of the war, and participated in the battle of Fort Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River and siege of Vicksburg; there they fought forty-seven days and nights, and Mr. Stoltz was
Wabash Co His
828
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-RICHLAND COUNTY:
taken captive April 8, 1864, at the Sabine Cross Roads, and held a prisoner of war at Tyler, Texas, till the close of the struggle; he then returned and here engaged in farming ever since. In 1854, he bought forty acres of land, which he went in debt for, but he now owns 311 acres, which is improved; he built a house and barn, which cost about $1,300, and other improvements. Mr. Stoltz married, in 1854, Susan Gillaspie. She was born in Indiana. They have five chil- dren, four sons and one daughter.
.
829
PRESTON TOWNSHIP.
PRESTON TOWNSHIP.
ELIZABETH COMBS is the widow of Abner R. Combs. He was born April 2, 1810, in Clermont County, Ohio, and learned the boot and shoe trade. This he followed winters, carrying on the brick-making business during summers, which he continued to do till his marriage, which occurred August 8, 1841, to Elizabeth Smyzer, of Clermont County, Ohio. She was born August 12, 1817. They had ten chil- dren, four of whom are living, four of these children died in infancy. John W. died April 15, 1867, in his twenty-second year; Malissa A. died February 23, 1879, aged thirty-one years, and their surviving chil- dren are Mary J., Alex. Jackson, Percival P. and Elma. Mr. Combs still continued this business till 1865, when he came to Preston Township, bought two farms of about 400 acres, and made extensive improvements, consisting in part of a very comfortable two-story house, which cost $2,000; a barn, costing $1,000, and a granary, cost- ing $400, making this one of the finest farms in this locality. He died October 26, 1882, in his seventy-third year, and respected by all.
FREDERICK GRUNEISEN was born in Switzerland, May 10, 1844. His father, Jacob Gruneisen, was born in Switzerland, February 14, 1804, and in 1848 emigrated to America and settled in Richland County, Ill., and began farming on a rented farm, but soon saved enough to buy 100 acres, and at his death owned a fine farm of 200 acres, where our subject now lives. His death occurred Sep- tember 15, 1880. The mother of our subject died in Switzerland, in 1846. Mr. Gruneisen has been twice married; on June 18, 1864, to Louisa Faitz, a native of Switzerland. She was born in 1848, and died March 12, 1869. They had one child, Louisa. He was next married, in 1871, to Susanna Burgner, who was born September 28, 1854. Five children have been born to them-Mattie, Jacob, Ma- tilda. Caroline and Rosinia. Mr. and Mrs. Gruneisen are members of the Reformed Church, and Mr. Gruneisen is a Democrat.
W. W. KERMICLE, Dundas, Postmaster and merchant, was born in Harding County, Ky., March 7, 1828, and is the son of Sam- nel and Mary J. (Trainer ) Kermiele, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Virginia. Mr. Kermicle, our subject, was raised on a farm in Kentucky until a man grown, receiving a limited com- mon school education. In 1849, he married Sarah McDowell, a na- tive of Hart County, Ky., and in 1853, they moved to Richland County, and settled on a farm near the town of Dundas. He improved the land, and in 1877, removed to Dundas, where he embarked in the mercantile business, with a Mr. Sumner. This firm continued standing till 1880, when it became Kermicle & Mc Williams. Mrs. Kermicle died in 1875, the mother of seven children, of whom only two are living-Peter and Maggie. Mr. Kermiele's present wife, Mary A. Crow, is a native of Bullitt County, Ky. He is a Republican.
830
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-RICHLAND COUNTY:
GEORGE W. LEAF was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1829, and is the son of Henry and Mary (Turner) Leaf. George W. was reared on a farm, receiving a common school education. He began life for himself at twenty-one years of age; his vocation being that of a farmer. In 1854, Mr. Leaf removed to Richland County, and settled on land he had bought in that year. He now owns one of the finest farms in Preston Township, consisting of 450 acres, with good buildings and the land well improved, and under a high state of cultivation. January 18, 1852, he married Nancy, the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Smith) Moore. She was born in Clermont County, Ohio, January 24, 1832. Seven children have been born to them, four daughters and three sons, viz .: Albina (McWilliams), Sarah E.(Phillips), Eva L. (Tippit ), Jennie( Roland), James H., Isaac and Henry. Mr. Leaf's daughters have all married well-to-do and highly respected gentlemen of Richland County; and for himself, he is respected by all who know him, and is one of the substantial farmers of the county.
THOMAS LEAF, farmer, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Oc- tober 25, 1834, and is the son of Henry and Mary (Turner ) Leaf. The father was born in 1800, and married when he was twenty-one, his wife being seventeen years of age, and a native of Clermont County, Ohio. She died June 3, 1850, and her husband about the year 1871. Mr. Leaf, our subject, came to Richland County in 1855, where he began life for himself as a farmer, and by industry and economy has accumulated a fine farm of 405 acres. On September 9, 1858, he mar- ried Mary E., daughter of Peter and Abigail (Farris) Colvin. She was born in Highland County, Ohio, April 5, 1839, and died March 10, 1869. To them were born five children: Henry, Peter, Will- iam, John (deceased), and Albert. Our subject married again Sep- ember 30, 1869, choosing Nancy A., daughter of William and Eliza (Bates) Shepherd. She was born in Clarke County, Ohio, on April 1, 1840. To them were born five children-Charles, Robert, Laura, Clements and Hugh. Mr. Leaf is a most substantial farmer, a good citizen and liberal in politics.
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.