USA > Illinois > Stark County > Documents and biography pertaining to the settlement and progress of Stark County, Illinois : containing an authentic summary of records, documents, historical works and newspapers > Part 65
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Orson Grunt. of Lafayette died June 14. 1883. He was born here in 1847; married Miss D. C. Sherman in 1866. His father, Nelson Grant, settled here in 1855.
Ruth Graves, daughter of Joseph Graves, was accidentally shot by her cousin on August 11, 1869. She died within thirty minutes.
Thomas Gemmell was born in Avreshire, Scotland, in the year 1837. lle is a son of Thomas, Sr., and Elizabeth Gemmell, natives of Scotland, the former of whom died in his native land. Our subject was raised in the village of Maypole, where he received the rudiments of his education. In 1851. at the age of fourteen years, he emigrated to America, coming with John A. Regan, present editor of the Elmwood Observer, who was his guardian. Landing in this country he secured employment with a William Leightner, of Knox county. with whom he resided two years, after which he learned the wagon making trade with Bassett & Booth, of Knoxville, staying nine months. Disliking the trade he returned to his previous employer. In 1861 he enlisted, in Mercer county, Ill., in Company A, Thirtieth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry. Ile served during the war. Veteranized in
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fall of 1863 same company and regiment, and was in the engagements of Belmont. Ft. Henry. Ft. Donaldson, Corinth, Vicksburg. Jackson. Nashville, through the Atlanta campaign and was with Sherman in his memorable campaign to the sea, and the grand review at Washington. Private soldier ; upon his return home took up the avocation of farm- ing. In 1867 he sent for his mother and three half-brothers, who were residing in Scotland. who came directly to him and took up farming with our subject. Two reside in Penn township, viz .: Robert and Joseph Parker -the other deceased, viz .: John. His mother died in Peoria, April 18, 1886, aged seventy-three years. Our subject was married in 1871 to Miss Anna Shearer, having settled the year pre- vions in this county, purchasing land in Valley township, residing there till 1872, when he purchased in Toulon township, residing there till 1873, the time of his settlement on present place which contains 160 acres. Ile has another tract of forty acres in the township. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Toulon, with which they have been connected some time. To them have been born seven chil- dren, viz .: Elizabeth. Maggie, Sarah. Anna. Tommy, Gracie and David. Politically he formerly voted the Republican ticket, and at present is independent in politics.
William J Hamilton was a member of Company F. One-hundred- and-twelfth Regiment ; discharged at close of war.
Andrer Hamilton served in the Sixty-sixth Regiment through the war and was honorably discharged.
Isabel N. Harris and family settled in Fulton county in February. 1836, at Wethersfield, Henry county, in 1839; in 1841 settled on Indian creek of Spoon river, and in 1843 located on sections 9 and 10, Goshen, where, it is alleged. a division of Black Hawk's Indians camped in 1-32. This land was purchased in 1843, from one of the early settlers of Goshen, who joined the Mormons at Nauvoo.
Harry Hayes, born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1806: there married Ilarriet Wright, also a native of New York. They, with their daughter. Juha A .. came to Goshen township in 1837. Mr. Hayes en- tered half section on 4. which he improved, lived on thirty years, and ultimately removed to Knox county. During his residence here he took a very prominent part in public affairs, as shown in the history of the township. Mrs. Hayes died in 1575. aged sixty-seven years. Of her four children, Margaret is deceased : Julia. named above : Mary E .. wife of A. M. Snyder, and Eugene K. are living. The family claimed membership with the oll Baptist church of Lafayette.
John S. Harton, born near Hudson. N. Y .. in 1801; moved with parents to Bradford, Pa., in 1507; to Wisconsin in 1:55: settled in Stark county in 1856. and made his home at Lafayette in 1857; died September 13, 1881.
Mrs. Martha (. (Currie) Hill, born in 1800, died at Lafayette March 10, 1582. She married G. F. Hill in 1×24 : emigrated to Canada in 1831, and came here in 1857. Her husband chied in 1872.
Mrs. Sabrina (Chatfield) Hilliard. the first female school-teacher in Stark county, died at New Virginia, la., January 25, 1886, aged sixty- nine years. She married here in 1834, and resided near Lafayette
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
until 1873, when she moved to lowa. Mrs. Nelson Grant, of La- favette is her sister.
Azro Hilliard was born in Vermont, December 8, 1813. He is a son of Rev. John and Mary (Telly ) Hilliard, the former of New Hamp- shire, the latter of Vermont. He learned the carpenter's trade, obtained a practical education and learned the cabinet trade in Vermont, at the same time he was engaged in carpentering. He won the reputation of a skillful workman in the manufacturing of any- thing his ingenious mind devised. In 1843 he located at Chicago, landing with his chest of tools and seventy-five cents. He soon became in great demand in that enterprising village, where his services were largely sought in building houses and the construction of articles in skilled mechanism. He prospered and accumulated a good property, residing in the city of his adoption till 1866, the time of his removal to Lafayette, where he now lives in retirement. He owns considerable real estate. consisting of town property and over one hundred acres of good farming land in Knox county, Illinois. He has served on the village board two terms. Ile was married in Chicago to Mrs. Thersa J. Sherman, daughter of F. A. Howe, a pioneer of Chicago and an early lawyer, in the year 1852, who has borne him two children, viz .: John A. and Fred. L., both on farms in Knox county, Ill. Mrs. II. settled in Chicago with her parents in abont 1833. She informs the writer of this sketch that she, in her girlhood, picked hazel nuts at what is now Lake street, and that she, too, distinctly remembers the issning of goods to the Indians. Before their removal sheds were im- provised for houses and the population was very small.
Charles Himes (deceased), was born in Rutland, Vt., in the year 1810, on April 25, and is a son of Amos Himes and Anna Adams, his wife. Our subject was taken with his parents to Pennsylvania (Brad- ford county), where he grew to manhood. In 1837 he came to Farm- ington, this state, and resided a year. then returned to Pennsylvania. where he resided till 1846. when he removed with his wife and children, live in number, to Stark county, settling in what is now Goshen town- ship, purchasing at that time 160 acres of prairie land. Here he settled, broke up, and got in cultivation his land and improved it, living there- on during his life and prospered. He was an energetic, public-spirited man, devoted to the cause of education and a supporter of the public school system, and for years stood at the head of school work in his district as a director. He also served his townsmen in the capacity of road commissioner. He was a member of the Disciple church, with which he connected himself in Pennsylvania. and it was through his personal efforts that the Disciple church was organized at Lafayette. In about 1855 he connected himself with the Baptist church, of which he was a member at his death. He was married in Vermont to Laura Greno, who bore him nine children, viz .: Franklin, deceased ; Moses A., deceased ; Inman P., Arkansas ; Austin C., Anna L., Clarisa L., Emma L., Jennie, Homer II. Mr. H. died November 21, 1576. Mrs. 11. died January 10, 1869, born in 1809. In her early life she was a member of the Disciple church, and later in life joined the Baptist church. Mr. H. was a Whig up to the formation of the Republican
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party, when he joined it and was a warm supporter of its principles. All of his children, save Jennie, reside in Stark county, she in Kansas. Austin C. was born in Bradford county, Pa., in 1840. Ile was six years old when his parents settled on the prairies of Illinois, was reared on the farm land : in the district schools obtained a practical education. He was married to Miss Louisa M., daughter of A. M. Starr. in 1872. who has borne him seven children, five living, viz .: Charles A .. Mary E., Ralph J., Ruby. and one deceased, unnamed. He and wife and family are members of the Baptist church. Politically, he votes the Republican ticket. He enlisted in 1862 in Company F. One-hundred-and-twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until the war was over. Was in the battles of the regiment up to the time of the Atlanta campaign : private. discharged in 1865. Inman P. was a member of Company B. Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in 1861 ; went out as corporal, rose to the first-lieutenant, and was breveted captain ; was discharged in 1866.
Homer Il. Ilimes, the youngest son of Charles Himes, whose history is given here, was born in 1853. Mr. llimes was educated in the schools of Goshen. and here on November 25, 1880. married Miss Kate. a daughter of John Williams of Lafayette. To them two children were born - Mabel E. and Rena M. The family reside on the old Ilimes homestead. to which a traet has been added, making a fully improved farm of 220 acres. In politics he is a republican. Since 1867 he has been a member of the Baptist church at Galva, and for seven or eight years past. one of its trustees. Mrs. Himes is also a member of this church.
Cubralader Howell, a soldier of the War of 1812, died in Goshen. April 20, 1877, aged 86 years.
Daniel J. Ilurd. born in New Jersey in 1820; came with his brother to Lafayette in 1842, and clerked for him two years, when he succeeded to the business which his brother established here in 1840. He mar- ried Miss P. M. Smith, daughter of one of the soldiers of the Revolu- tion, in 1848.
James Ingels, formerly of Lafayette, was accidentally killed in Florida in January, 1883.
James Jackson, son of Jonathan and Mary (Pellington) .Jackson, was born in Orange county, N. Y., July 21, 1812. The family moved to Clermont Co., O .. in 1819, and ultimately to Stark county, Ill., where his parents died. James resided in Ohio until 1838, when he traveled westward and selected the neighborhood of Lafayette for his home. working here at various employments, sometimes farming and again assisting in his brother's store. In 1841 he moved to Knox county. where he resided until 1869. In that year he purchased lands near Lafayette at $100 per acre. Ile now owns 230 acres in Knox county and 26 acres surrounding his present residence. He married Miss Amelia, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Coleman) Fraker, well- known pioneers of Knox county, who settled among the Indians, and were twice driven from their homes during the Indian troubles. This Michael Fraker was the father of twenty-four children by three wives. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are the parents of Andrew (still living), and
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
Mary E., who is gone with the majority. Mr. Jackson cast his first vote For "Old Hickory." and has been an advanced Democrat down to our own times. He has never been a member of seeret or religious societies, and revels in the ideas of free citizenship. His wife is an exemplary Christian lady of the Methodist faith, and his son is a mem- ber of the Masonic society of Lafayette.
Barnabas M. Jackson (deceased), born at Goshen. Orange county, N. Y., in 1807, was a son of Jonathan and Mary (Pellington) Jackson, whose parents were natives of Ireland and England respectively. The family moved to Goshen, Ohio, when Mr. B. M. Jackson was 11 years old. In that town he entered a store as clerk, where he labored for twenty years. In 1833 he married Miss Jane Meek, and m 1838 they moved with their two children -Casimer and Edward-to Lafay- ette in this townsh p. The trip was made by river to Peoria, thence by wagon road to Lafayette, where he opened a general store, being one of the first merchants here, and for sixteen years one of the leading residents of the county. In 1854 he purchased 200 acres of land adjoining the village, where he resided during the remainder of his hfe. In 1844 he was elected to the Legislature on the Democratic tieket. and served therein with profit and credit to his constituency. He was the second recorder of this county. serving one term. Though not a mem- ber of any orthodox church, he was kindly disposed toward all. and gave to each liberally of his means. A man of remarkable executive ability, he made all his dealings profitable solely by correct and methodical work, and at his death, March 14, 1877, a profound sorrow was manifested by the great number of his acquaintances in this and other states. Mrs. Jackson died December 24, 1880, aged 67 years. after a most useful life bere of 42 years. She was an exemplary mem- ber of the Methodist church through all those years. Of their eleven children, nine are living, namely: Casimer, Edward, Albert, Barney. Eneins (in this county), Charles (in Nebraska), Luna (in Knox county ), Fred (in lowa), and Phineas (in Nebraska). Margaret died in Ohio when two years old, and Myra died in this state. Barney, one of the sons, enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Ilinois Volunteer Infantry in 1865, and served until the close of his term. A. II. Jack- son, the oldest son, born here in 1840, now resides on the old home- stead, which comprises 164 acres, all well improved. The members of this family have taken a full part in the progress of this township, and a few of them now are re-enacting pioneer times beyond the Mississippi.
Capt. C. P. Jackson the eldest son of Barnabas Jackson, was born at Goshen. O., in 1833, was educated in the common schools, enlisted in 1861 in Company B. One Hundred and Thirty-seventh linois Volunteer Infantry as a private, was transferred to the front Septem- ber 15, '61. was elected First Lieutenant, but on account of disability, cansed by sickness, resigned his commission July 9, 1862-recovering his health. re-enlisted in 1864 in Company 1. One Hundred and Fifty-first Ilinois Volunteer Infantry. was elected Captain on the organi- zation of the company and served as such until the war was over. when he was honorably discharged. I'pon his return to civil life he engaged as a clerk in the mercantile buisness which since has been
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principally his avocation. Married Miss E. H. Todd in 1557. Decem- ber 24, who bore him one child, viz .: E HI. Mrs. Jackson died June 2, 1859. aged about eighteen years. His second marriage was celebrated March 15, 1864, with Mary Laey, who has borne him one child. viz. : Eddis L. Mrs. Jackson died January 1. 1865. Captain Jackson votes the democratic ticket upon all questions at issue.
J. M. Jones, son of Asbury and Hannah Jones, natives of New Jersey, was born in Guernsey county, O., in 1836. There his parents settled at an early date, and there both died. The boyhood days of Mr. Jones were passed on the farm. About 1850 he was apprenticed to a harness-maker at NNow Philadelphia, O. In 1851-2 he traveled some in the east, worked principally in Pennsylvania until 1857, when he lirst came to Lafayette. In 1859 he located permanently here and established his harness and saddlery house, which has since been suc- cessfully conducted by him. As a workman and straight dealer he is unequaled, as those long years of business testify. He was a charter member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, of Lafayette, from which he was demitted. For years he has been prominent in Odd Fellow circles as told in the history of Lafayette Lodge, and is also a member of the Galva Encampment. Upto 1984 he affiliated with the Republi can party : but in that year cast his fortunes with the prohibitionists, he being an earnest advocate for temperance. A reference to the polit- ical chapter of the general history, as well as to the sketch of Lafay- ette, will portray the part taken by Mr. Jones here since 1857. lie was married February 14, 1860. to Miss Kathern S. Atherton. They are the parents of two children, Miss Nellie M. one of the successful school teachers of the county, and Francis Asbury. station agent of the California Southern R. R. at Temecula, Cal.
Sheridan Jones (deceased), born in Scotland, is a son of Jacob lones, a native of Scotland, who settled first in Muskingum Co., O., where the family lived seven years: moved to Indiana and in 1539 located at Lafayette, and in the following year located on land now owned by Samuel Jones. They purchased i60 acres of land owned by Sheridan at Congress prices. On this land JJacob Jones lived and died. He was a Methodist in religious belief. He was aged when he came and lived only two years after settling here. Sheridan JJones was married to Ann Meek in Ohio. They came overland with team and wagon with their family. On the land he settled he lived during his life-time and prospered. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and exemplary Christian people. To them were born six children, namely : S. M. and F. A., living in this county ; John Z .. deceased ; Moses S .. deceased ; Rufus S., Atkinson, Neb .; Margaret .I. wife of Thomas Jones, Indianola, Iowa. Moses was a member of Company B. Thirty-seventh Ilinois Volunteer Infantry; enlisted in 1881 ; served his time of three years ; was veteranized and served till close of war as corporal; died at home, as stated. John L. was a mem- bor of the Eighteenth Missouri Regiment and served through the war as private; chied from being struck by lightning. Mr. Jones died in 1561. llis wife is also numbered with the dead. Mr. J. was an uncom- promising Republican and a stauneb supporter of its doctrines. S. M.
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
Jones was born in Clermont county, Ohio, in 1829; was ten years old when his parents settled in Stark county, where he received a limited education in the common schools. He was married to Martha II. Red- field, who was born in West Jersey. He has resided in the township continuously since 1839, and carries on a farm of 355 acres of well- improved land To them have been born a family of four children, namely: Della A., wife of John A. White; Frank S., Ennna A., wife of B. F. Jackson, in Iowa, and Ida May. Mr. Jones votes the Repub- lican tieket. Frank S. married Miss Emma Manley.
Capt. F. A. Jones. second son of Sheridan Jones (deceased), was born in Clermont county. Ohio. August 13. 1531. He was in his ninth vear when the family settled in the wilds of Stark county. Here he obtained the education which the distriet schools offered. and the more practical one which labor on the farm gave. About 1:52 he entered life for himself and was engaged in agriculture until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, when he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was elected Second-Lieutenant on the organization of the company. He was ordered to Camp Webb, Chi- cago, and thence to Missouri, where for two years his command was engaged in active service at Pea Ridge and other places. In 1863 the regiment was ordered to take part in the Vicksburg campaign, and later dispatched to New Orleans; thenee to Brownsville, Texas, where it veteranized. Prior to this he was promoted First-Lieutenant ; returned home on furlough : again at the front served in Florida and Alabama : was commissioned Captain of Company B, but was never mustered in under that rank ; returned on sick-leave, and while here the war be- tween the North and South was closed, let us hope forever. Capt. Jones received his honorable discharge through the war department. On returning to civit life he resumed farming, in which he is still en- gaged, owning 120 acres of fine land. On February 26, 1857, he mar- ried Miss Maria Locy, daughter of Aretus Locy of New York, then residing in this county. Their children are Eddie F .. of Washington Territory. and Charlie E., deceased. Mrs. Jones died March 20. 1878. Ilis marriage with Miss Martha J., daughter of Thomas W. Ross, took place April 17, 1879. They are the parents of five children, namely : Lena B., Fred R., Wilna M., Ella M. and Hattie E. Mr. JJones is a Republican in politics, and. like other members of that family, a most useful citizen.
William Marks, son of Daniel and Margaret (Wike) Marks, was born in Berks county, l'a., in 1815. His father was a native of Ger- many. his mother of America ; both old settlers of Berks, where they died. William Marks was educated there and worked on the farm until 1839, when he moved to Ashland county, O., where he labored on a farm for sto per month. In December. Ists. he married Miss Re- becca. daughter of George and Catherine (line) Butler. In 1952 they came by wagon road to Goshen township, and purchased eighty acres of land together with the timber tract, where he resided until 1873. when they, retiring from active life. settled at Lafayette. Their chil- dren are Elva F .. wife of Barton Redheld, of Knox county, Ill .; Mary (., died, aged twenty-two years; and John W., in infancy. Mrs.
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OF GOSHEN TOWNSHIP.
Marks joined the Presbyterian church in Ohio long years ago, and has since been a consistent member. Mr. Marks was a Whig up to 1855. when he joined the Republican party. of which he continues to be a staunch supporter.
James Martin, son of William and Jane Martin, was born in Eng- land October 22, 1533. About 1837 his parents migrated to Canada and settled near Paris, where James resided until 1554, when he came to Lafayette. Ile learned the carpenter's trade from his brother-in- law. E. G. Hill: subsequently attended the Northern Illinois Institute at Henry, and returning to Lafayette has followed his trade down to the present time. being counted among the skilled mechanies of the county. In 1861 he married Miss Mary, daughter of Zeba Nicholls, of Sussex county, New Jersey, and sister of Dr. Nicholls, of Laľav- ette. They are the parents of four children: Attie B., William, Ed- ward G. and Robert J. Elfie M. died May 30, 1886, aged twenty-two vears. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are members of the Methodist church. Tle is an official of that church : has served as trustee of the village several terms, and also as constable and collector. For years he voted with the Republican party, but since the organization of the Prohibi- tion party has proven one of its warmest supporters.
William Mason, born in Fayette county, Pa., 1806, moved with his parents to Ohio in 1814 and to Illinois in 1537. where his father died in 1839. Ile settled two and one-half miles south of Lafayette, until he moved south of Toulon in later years. His wife, Mattie Me Will- iams, died August 10, 1854.
John . Marfield. (Vide general and township history.)
Oren Marfield, born in New Hampshire, moved with parents to Maine in infancy, and there in later years bought the southeast quarter of sec- tion 30, Stark county, where he settled in 1839. ( Vide general history.) Henry Mellenaban, son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Camp) McClena- han, natives of Pennsylvania, was born in Pendleton county, Ky .. in 1798. ITis parents moved to Kentucky at an early day, thence to Ohio. In 1531 settled in Tazewell county. Il., and a year or so later moved into the Spoon River neighborhood, settling in what is now Essex township. Both were early members of the Church of Christ. here. Elijah died in Essex, m 1851, following his wife to the grave. who died there in 1847. Of their children- John, Henry, Sarah, Anna. Elizabeth, Jane, Jemima, Maria. Elsie, James. Robert and Elijah, were favorably known in this county. All deceased with the exception of Anna, of Henry, Ill., and Elizabeth, of Salt Lake. U. T. Elijah served in the War of 1512, against the British, doing gallant service. After- wards, in all his settlements in the West, his neighbors were the Indi- ans whom he aided in subjagating. Henry MeClenahan was married in Kentucky to Miss Sally Shawhan. In 1826 they with their two children moved to Rush county, Ind., and in 1834 came to what is now Goshen township. Here he entered 240 acres, on which he resided until his death, June 16, 1857. His wife died here May 19, 1880, aged seventy-seven. Of their children Mary is in Iowa: Elizabeth and Elijah .J. reside here: George is a citizen of Iowa, and Daniel S. is deceased.
Elijah J. MeChauhan was born in Rush county. Ind., in 1827.
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came to Illinois with his parents, and has a distinct recollection of the pioneer days of Goshen. He received a practical education on the farm and in the district schools, and resided on the old homestead until 1874, when he located on his present farm of 416 acres of fine land. This tract extends into Knox county. He is also the owner of large prop- erties in Iowa and Minnesota. In 1873 he married Miss Margaret, daughter of W. M. Thomas, of Knox county. They are the parents of five children : Edna D., Daniel H., Carl D., Frank C. and Burt C. Mr. McClenahan is a member of Lodge 501, Lafayette, and in political affairs entirely independent, voting for men rather than for party. Though not seven years old when he settled in Goshen township he must be considered the only living pioneer of what is generally called " The MeClenahan Neighborhood." ( Vide general history.)
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