Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical, Part 83

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 860

USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 83
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 83
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 83

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).

WILLIAM McWILLIAMS was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, December 30, 1819, and is the eldest in a family of eight children born to George and Jane (Hawkins) MeWilliams, the father a native of Saint Clair County, Ohio. In 1839 the family moved to Richland County, III., where they entered land and began to build a home. Mr. Me Williams died in the forty-fourth year of his age, and his wife in the sixty-fourth year of her age. They were both members of the Methodist Church. Our sub- ject at the age of twenty-two years began farming for himself on forty acres of land given him by his father. By hard labor and with the help of an industrious wife he has accumulated a farm of 305 acres. He was married, in 1841, to Matilda H., daughter of Richard and Sarah (Lawrence) Phillips, who are old and respected citizens of the county. Mrs. Phillips was born May 7, 1823, and came to this county with her parents in 1826. To this couple have

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been born nine children-Richard, who served in the late rebellion, George, Catherine (Mrs. Fleming), Hugh, Mary (Mrs. Zirkel, de- ceased), William, Martha (Mrs. Kyle), Lu ( Mrs. Mathews) and Matilda. Mr. and Mrs. Mc Williams have been industrious people. Her mother being an invalid, Mrs. Mc W. performed most of the house- hold duties. She also did the spinning when so small that she was obliged to stand upon a block of wood in order to do so. Mr. Mc- Williams split rails for $3 a thousand, and also had to take his wheat to market a distance of eighty-five miles, where he sold it at 50 cents per bushel in trade. They are both members of the Methodist Church, and highly respected. He is a Repub- lican.

T. G. PHILLIPS was born in White County, Tenn., Novem- ber 24, 1815, and is the son of Richard and Sarah (Lawrence) Phillips, the father a native of Virginia, and the mother of Ten- nessee. In 1826 they moved to Richland County, Ill., and settled on what is known as "Calhoun Prairie." Their children were- Thomas, James, Nancy (deceased), John (deceased), Matilda, William, Austin, David (deceased), Polly, Lucetta (deceased). Our subject at the age of twenty-one years began life for himself, working on land entered from the Government. After years of hardships and toil he has accumulated a fine farm consisting of 172 acres. On December 9, 1840, he married Margaret, daughter of George and Jane (Hawkins) Me Williams. She was a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, and was born on August 22, 1823. She was a devoted wife and mother, and a mem- ber of the Methodist Church until her death, which took place December 8, 1876. To them were born-Martin L., Lavina, Thomas T., James, Ettie J. and John R. Mr. Phillips joined the Methodist Church at the age of twenty years, and is still a member. He is a highly esteemed man and Republican.

A. R. PHILLIPS was born in Richland County, Ill., on Feb- ruary 22, 1827, and is the son of Richard and Sarah (Lawrence) Phillips. Mr. Phillips is a farmer by occupation. At the age of twenty-three he began farming for himself on eighty acres of land, for which he paid $500, and by industry and economy he has bought a farm near the old homestead, consisting of 228 acres, which is un- der a fine state of cultivation. January 3, 1850, he married Mary C., a daughter of Thomas L. and Annie (Cheek) West, who were among the first settlers of the county, having come here in 1826. Mr. West served in the war of 1812, and was shot by the Indians in the battle of Tippecanoe. The wound came near proving fatal, and by it he lost part of his tongue and his upper teeth, also receiving a wound in the shoulder. During the war he served under Gen. Har- rison. The latter part of Mr. West's life was passed as a Methodist exhorter, and he died December 5, 1849. Mrs. Phillips was born in Gibson County, Ind., May 4, 1823. To Mr. Phillips and wife have been born the following children-McKendree (deceased), Sarah E. (deceased), Albert M., Elizabeth A. (deceased), Ida J., Edwin

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A., Allison T. and Ina C. The parents are both members of the Methodist Church, Mr. Phillips having joined the church at the age of sixteen; they are highly esteemed in the community in which they live.

ADAM SHERER was born in Germany, on May 22, 1832, and is the son of John A. and Louisa (Ketring) Sherer, who emi- grated to Ohio in 1836, and settled in Stark County, where they lived four years, and in 1840 came to Richland County, and bought seventy acres of unimproved land, and by hard work and economy they owned at the father's death, in 1870, 500 acres of well improved land. Adam began life for himself in 1854, and he has a fine farm of 400 acres, with good buildings and farm well improved. He has been twice married. In 1854 he married Annie Von Allman, who was born in Switzerland, in 1833, and died in 1863. Two children were born to them, Elizabeth and John F. In 1864 Mr. Sherer married Elizabeth Deitrick, who was born in Switzerland, in 1843. Five children have been born to them-Annie, Henry, Thomas, John A. and Robert. Mr. Sherer and family are members of the Reformed Church, and Mr. Sherer is a Democrat.

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DENVER TOWNSHIP.

SILAS CLOUD, farmer and school teacher, was born in Clin- ton County, Ohio, on January 7, 1833, is the son of Henry and Anna (Laymon) Cloud, is next to the youngest of seven children, and is of English-German lineage. Silas' parents were born in the Buckeye State, and lived and died in Clinton County, in that State. Henry Cloud died when our subject was about two years of age, and his wife was left in meagre circumstances, with her large family; but Silas remained at home and helped support the family until he had attained his majority. His education was very limited in youth. After he had reached his twenty-first year he attended school about three years, two of which he spent at the South- Western Ohio State Normal School, and after finishing here, he began teaching. Mr. Cloud's first school was taught near Fayette- ville, Ohio. In all he has spent twenty-eight years in school-teach- ing. His marriage took place in 1861, to Mary E. Montgomery, a native of Ohio. To this union there have been born six children- Ida, J. L., William H., Albert, Thomas W. and Wylie L. Of these children four are deceased. In 1864 Mr. Cloud came to Richland County, Ill., and settled in Denver Township, and in 1875 he came to the place where he now resides. He is a radical Republican, cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. and Mrs. Cloud are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. He advocates all public interests, and has been one of the most successful school teachers of his time.

REV. HENRY COEN was born in Franklin County, Ind., April 22, 1835, is the son of Thomas and Katherine (Lawrence) Coen, is the second of the five children, and comes of Irish-German extraction. His father was born in Ohio, and his mother was born on the wide Atlantic. Thomas Coen now resides in Missouri, and his wife died in Indiana, in 1842. Our subject remained at home and assisted his father on the farm until his twenty-fourth year. when he married, March 24, 1859, Lettie Jones. To this union was given one child. Mrs. Coen died in August, 1860. Rev. Mr. Coen was next time united in marriage to Ruth C. V. Osburn. To them have been born six children. The life of Rev. Coen in Indiana was that of a farmer and cooper, and in the fall of 1870 he emigrated to the northeast part of Denver Township, Richland Co., Ill., and set- tled on the open prairie, about one-half mile north of the site of his present residence. He erected a log cabin in which the family lived until the fall of 1873, when they moved to their present residence. Mr. Coen now owns 400 acres of good land, and is one of the lead- ing farmers in the township. He is a Republican, cast his first Presidential vote for Fremont, and is at present Commissioner of Roads for Denver Township. Our subject is a minister in the

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Methodist Church, and received his license to preach in that body in the fall of 1872, being ordained the next year, and given Pleas- ant View Circuit. He has preached at the following places: Oak Forest, Pleasant View, Blair and Wakefield. He is a self-made man, possesses a vast fund of knowledge, and has much influence over the flock of which he is pastor. While he has retired from the itineracy, he does a good deal of preaching, and spends much of his time in assisting other ministers.

W. H. DAVIS, M. D., is a native of Mitchell, Lawrence Co., Ind., was born November 3, 1850, and is son of Rev. A. and Frances (Tolliver) Davis, of English-German lineage. His parents were also natives of Lawrence County, Ind. They emigrated to Denver Township, Richland Co., Ill., in the spring of 1851, and settled south- west of Wakefield, and in 1876 they removed to southwest Missouri, where they now reside. The earliest education of Dr. Davis was acquired at the common district schools of Denver Township, and in the winter of 1870-71, he taught school. In September follow- ing, he entered Shurtleff College, at Alton, Ill., and attended that institution two years, and the fall of 1873, he began reading medi- cine in the office of Dr. J. L. Fuson, in the old town of Wakefield. In the spring of 1876 Dr. Davis went to Wright County, Mo., and began practicing his profession, and in 1878-79 attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, and on Feb- ruary 25, 1879, graduated from that institution. Immediately after his graduation he came to Wakefield and began the regular practice. As a physician he has been very successful. He was married, January 26, 1881, to S. E. Clark, a native of Wayne County, Ill. Dr. Davis has one of the best residences in the village of Wakefield, and is a man of much enterprise. He is a Repub- lican and a prominent young man.

JOHN N. DELZELL, farmer and school teacher, was born in Blount County, Tenn., December 29, 1818, is the son of Robert and Dorcas (Davis) Delzell, and of Irish descent. The parents of Mr. Delzell were Southerners, and about 1850 emigrated to Richland County, Ill., settled, lived and died in this township. Robert was a soldier in the war of 1812, was a prominent man in the country, and was universally known and respected for his honesty. When our subject was about fifteen years of age, he entered the Theological Seminary at Maryville, Tenn., and in 1836 taught his first school. In 1839 he removed from Blount County to MeMinn County, and there taught school in winter and farmed in the summer for a number of years. Mr. Delzell's marriage took place on August 31, 1841, to Nancy Jane Lawrey, a native of Tennessee. To this union has been bequeathed eleven children. In 1861 Mr. Delzell and family came to Richland County, Ill., and settled in Denver Township, where they still reside. Mr. Delzell spent six months of each year for thirty years in teaching school, and was one of the most successful in the profession. He was formerly a Whig, but is now a Democrat, but generally supports the best men. Hc

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DENVER TOWNSHIP.

is a Mason, and has been a member of the Presbyterian Church more than fifty years. Mrs. Delzell is also a member of that church.

A. B. FARQUHAR, farmer, was born in Fayette County, Penn., January 5, 1841, is the son of William and Sarah ( Moss ) Farquhar, is the youngest of six children, and of Scotch descent. Our subject's parents were also born in the old Penn Common- wealth. His father died in that State in 1856. At sixteen years of age A. B. determined to become the architect of his own fortune, left his native State and came to Knox County, Ill., where he remained about one year, then returned to Pennsylvania and began the study of dentistry under the instruction of Dr. James Cope, at Fayette City. Here Mr. Farquhar practiced his profession until 1862, when he went to California and there for two years con- tinued the practice, and then returned again to the State of his birth. Hle enlisted in Company H, First Battalion, Eighteenth United States Infantry, and was discharged in March, 1867, at Fort Phillip Kearney, Dakota Territory. In February, 1870, he came to Denver Township, Richland County, and settled where he now resides. His married lite dates from January, 1870, when he was united by the marriage vows to Maria Eckard. To them have been born four children, viz. : an infant that died unnamed, Frankie, Eunice and Dessie B. Mr. Farquhar is one of the leading Republicans of Den- ver Township, and one of its representative men. Since 1874 he has been school treasurer of the township, and is a member, of the I. O. O. F., Olney Lodge, No. 180. No man in Denver Township possesses a greater degree of enterprise than Mr. Farquhar, nor has the place a more worthy citizen.

SETHI W. GARD, pioneer of Denver Township, was born in Wabash County, III., August 6, 1829, is the son of Justus and Anna (Oman ) Gard, eldest of fourteen children and is of Irish-German extraction. His father was born in Ohio, and his mother in the Empire State. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Gard were born in Ger- many, and came to America previous to the Revolution. Justus Gard came with his parents to the territory that now composes the State of Illinois, when seven years of age. They were among the first settlers of Illinois, having settled there in 1814. The father, died in Wabash County in 1870, and the mother in 185.4. In June, 1852, the subject came to Richland County, Ill., and entered 160 acres of land, upon a part of which his present residence now stands. He came to Denver Township with only 85 cents in money, and now owns 380 acres of good land, 220 acres of which are improved. He is one of the best farmers and stock growers in the county. Mr. Gard's marriage took place February 6, 1853, to Sarah J. Ulm, of Clay County. To this household were born seven chil- dren. Mrs. Gard died April 1, 1870. Our subject was re-married the same year, choosing Eliza J. ( Helpman ) Conklin. Mr. Gard was formerly a Whig, but now is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Scott. He has been a Mason since 1859. Mr.

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and Mrs. Gard are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Gard served as Assessor of Denver Township for the years 1860 and 1861, and in 1872 was elected Justice of the Peace, and four years later was re-elected. He is one of the leading farmers of the township, and the last ten years has marketed about $500 worth of pork.

ORLANDO W. GRAY, pioneer farmer of Richland County, was born near the town of Weston, Vt., August 27, 1833, is the son of Abel and Betsey (Pettingill) Gray, is next to the youngest of twelve children, and is of English descent. The parents were natives of New Hampshire. When Orlando W. was three years of age he emigrated with his parents from Vermont to Richland County, Ill., and after a journey of eight weeks, settled, one mile east of the present site of Olney. Our subject's grandfather was born in Eng- land, and came to America about a century and a half ago. When Orlando W. was eighteen years of age, he was compelled to begin the world for himself. He first worked at constructing a line of tel- egraph extending from Louisville to Saint Louis, and in 1854 came to where he now lives, first entering forty, then eighty acres, then forty again, and now owns 480 acres of good land, 320 acres of which are improved. His first house was a frame, and was one of the first of the kind in that section. Mr. Gray was married January 18, 1855, to Emaline Ulm, a native of Wabash County, Ill. To this union have been born twelve children. He is a thorough Republican and a member of the Masonic Fraternity since 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject has long been one of the leading farmers of Richland County, and is one of its first settlers and prominent men. He is in all particulars a self-made man and his wife is also one of the pioneer women of the State. Mr. Gray was appointed postmaster of Boot Post-office in 1857.

RICHARD HALL, farmer, was born in Jefferson County, Ind., August 4, 1827, is the son of John and Elizabeth (House) Hall, is the twelfth of thirteen children, and of Irish-German extraction. The father of Mr. Hall was one of the pioneers of Jefferson County, Ind., and entered land where the town of Madison now stands. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a Republican; he and ten sons having at one time voted the Whig ticket, at the same precinct. He died on the morning of Lee's surrender at the close of the late war. Richard faced the cares of life alone at twenty-one years of age, and was married February 24, 1850, to Elizabeth Hankins, who has borne him ten children. They came to Illinois in 1853, settled in Jasper County, and there remained till seven years ago, then removed to Denver Township, Richland County, and reside there now, near Wakefield. Mr. Hall is a Republican, and in 1860, was elected Jus- tice of the Peace, and held that office twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hall's grandfather was a soldier in the Continental army, a comrade of Daniel Boone, and lived to be one hundred and eight years of age. For many

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years our subject was one of the most extensive land traders in south- ern Illinois.

J. A. McKNIGHT, general merchant and produce dealer, was born in Orange County, Ind., on August 7, 1829, is the son of Joseph L. and Elizabeth (McColloch) McKnight, and is of German-Irish descent. His father was a native of the Empire State, and his mother of Maryland. In 1862, J. A. McKnight came to Illinois, settled in Clay County, and there engaged in the milling business, in which he is still engaged; the work being carried on by two of his sons. In 1880, our subject came to Wakefield and engaged in general mer- chandising, and keeps on hand a complete line of dry goods, boots, shoes, groceries, etc. He has been successful in business. Mr. Me- Knight married on November 8, 1851, Susan Lewis, a native of Ken- tucky. To this union has been born nine children. He is a Demo- crat and deposited his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. Our subject received a fair common school education, and by practice has acquired a good business knowledge. He had two brothers in the late war, one of whom died at Nashville, Tenn. Mr. McKnight is a prominent and successful citizen of Denver Township, and a man of extended enterprise and energy.

R. C. LOUGH, pioneer and farmer, is a native of West Vir- ginia, was born November 21, 1820, is the son of Rev. Peter and Prudence (Gibson ) Lough, and is the eldest of fifteen children, seven sons and eight daughters; parents of German-Irish lineage, and natives of West Virginia. In 1839, they, with fourteen children, emi- grated to Edwards County, Ill., and there remained five years, when they removed to Clay County, and there the father died in 1860, and the mother in Richland County, in September, 1883. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Lough, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his father was a prominent man and one of the pioneers of Clay County, Ill. The marriage of Mr. Lough, our subject, occurred on September 28, 1841, to Mary Ann Courtrecht, a native of Wabash County, Ill. To this union were born four children, viz .: Benjamin P., Samantha C. (deceased), Martha L. (deceased) and Norman A. Benjamin P. died near Vicksburg, Miss., during the late war. He was a member of Company A, Fifth Illinois Cavalry, enlisted at Olney in 1863, and died in 1864, a brave and true soldier. Mrs. Lough died in June, 1869, and Mr. Lough was married again in the following November. He chose Jennie Bradshaw, a native of Wayne County, Ill. In 1845, they settled where they now reside, and have been here for thirty-nine years. He built the first house about fifteen rods from the site of his present residence, a cabin sixteen feet square, constructed of poles, after the fashion of the early pioneer dwellings. At the time of the marriage of Mr. Lough, he only possessed anax and a gun, and borrowed money to get his marriage license. He now owns 364 acres of good land, 264 acres of which are improved. His residence is one of the best in Denver Township. It was erected in 1861, and cost $2,000. Mr. L. is a thorough Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay. He has been Township Asses-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-RICHLAND COUNTY:

sor, and served as Justice of the Peace four years. He has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity since 1855, and of the Method- ist Episcopal Church for forty-eight years. Mrs. Lough is also a member of that church. Our subject is one of the enterprising men of Richland County and is a thorough Christian gentleman. He is now the oldest living settler in Denver Township.

HAYS B. MILLER, farmer and stock dealer, was born at Rising Sun, Ohio Co., Ind., July 1, 1850, is the son of John C. and Mary (Turner) Miller, is the youngest of three children, and is of German-Irish lineage. The parents of Hays B. were natives of the old " Penn State," but in early life emigrated to Ohio County, Ind., and there his father now resides, and there his mother died in 1851. John Miller is one of the prominent men of that county, and has been County Treasurer for a number of years. In the fall of 1868 our subject left his native home, went to Bureau County, Ill., and there remained eighteen months. He then returned to his native county, in Indiana, and remained one year, next coming to Denver Township, this county. The first year he farmed with S. C. Wilson, then rented a farm for three years, and in 1877 moved to that place where he now lives. Mr. Miller was married in the centennial year, to Alice O., a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Gray, and a native of Keokuk, Iowa. To this marriage has been born three children, viz .: Albert M. (deceased), an infant (deceased, unnamed) and Mary E. Mr. Miller is a radical Republican, cast his first Presidential vote for Hayes, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Baptist Church. He is one of the successful young men of Denver Township, a prominent citizen and a thorough gentleman. He has a good common-school education. For a number of years Mr. Miller has been engaged in raising fine stock, his cattle having several times taken first premiums at the Richland County Fair.

JOHN MONTGOMERY, farmer, was born in Gloucester County, N. J., November 19, 1829, is the son of William and Mary A. (Extel) Montgomery, is the eldest living of ten children, and is of English- Irish descent. The father was born in the old " Penn State," and his mother in New Jersey. When the subject was nine years of age, he emigrated with his parents to Clinton County, Ohio, and there his father died in 1869; and when he was twenty-two years of age he began the struggle of life alone. He married on December 25, 1858, Belinda Simmons, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and was born May 14, 1838. To this union has been born eleven children. In March, 1863, Mr. Montgomery came to Richland County, Ill., set- tled in Denver Township, and in 1866 settled where he now resides. Hle is a stanch Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which body he has belonged since 1848. In 1876 he was elected Assessor of Denver Township, has served in that office three terms, and two terms as Township Collector.

GEORGE R. OSBURN, farmer, was born in Franklin County,

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DENVER TOWNSHIP.

Ind., September 26, 1828, is the son of James T. and Ruth ( Nelson) Osburn, is the fifth of eleven children, and is of English-Welsh descent: The parents came to the territory that now composes Indiana as early as 1801, being among the first settlers of Indiana. The father died in Franklin County, in 1858, and the mother two years previously. The paternal grandfather of our subject was one of the first men in Kentucky, and was accidentally drowned in the Ohio River near the mouth of Big Sandy, about 1796. George R. remained at home and superintended his father's farm until 1867, when he came to Denver Township, Richland County, in this State, and settled where he now lives, and where he now owns 300 acres of good land, which he redeemed from the wild prairie. Mr. Osburn's marriage occurred in 1866, to Martha F. Sutfin, a native. of Franklin County, Ind. They had nine children, all deceased, save one. Mr. Osburn enlisted on January 1, 1862, in Company B, Fifty-Second Indiana Infantry, and was discharged on September 10, 1865, at Montgomery, Ala. He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Nashville, Mobile and others. He now votes as he shot, in the Republican field. Mr. and Mrs. Osburn are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

MORTIMER PHILLIPS, pioneer of Denver Township, was born'in West Virginia, July 30, 1830, is the son of William and Mehetable (Gould) Phillips, is the fourth of twelve children, and is of Scotch extraction. His parents were born in Massachusetts, but when young, emigrated with their parents to West Virginia, where the paternal grandfather of Mortimer Phillips died at about one hundred years of age. His father died there in 1860, and mother about ten years later. Our subject remained at home until his twenty-first year, and worked for his father, having the privilege of attending school a few days during each winter. Mortimer was married in 1853 to Lydia (Lough) Douthit. They had seven children. Mrs. Phillips died in 1875, and our subject

was married in the same year to Ellen Clark. They have six children. In 1852 Mr. Phillips came to Richland County, and settled where he now lives, entering at the time eighty acres of land. Mr. Phillips enlisted on November 1, 1861, in Company H, Twenty-Sixth Illinois Infantry, took part in many battles, and was discharged on July 20, 1865. He and wife belong to the Method- ist Episcopal Church, with which he has been identified for thirty years. He is a Republican, and has been Clerk of this township for eight years.

SOUNDBY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.373832C C001 COUNTIES OF CUMBERLAND, JASPER AND RICHL

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Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical, Part 83

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 860

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 860