USA > Illinois > Warren County > Early days in Greenbush : with biographical sketches of the old settlers > Part 6
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Fielding M., born August 28, 1812; died in California.
Lorinda, born November 11, 1813: died in Kentucky.
John W. (better known as Jack Darneille), born June 15, 1815. Ile was the first postmaster at Walnut Grove, Illinois, where he died at the residence of David B. Keith about the year 1880.
Harvey, born August 24, 1816; married Emily Vaughn, November 7. 1839. She was a sister of P. A. Vaughn. Harvey entered the west half of the northeast quarter and the east half of the northwest quarter of section four, in Greenbush township, Warren county, Illinois. He received a patent for it dated June 1, 1848, signed by James K. Polk, president. His wife having died, he moved to Iowa, where he was married to Miss Emaline Murry. He spent his last years in Iowa.
Mary, born February 13, 1820; married Paton A. Vaughn, July 18, 1834. She died in December, 1898.
Thomas. born March 3, 1822; married Mrs. Lucinda Snapp, whose maiden name was Lucinda Willard. IIe died May 24. 1870. She died January 21, 1899.
HIenzie, the subject of this sketch, and the only surviving member of this family, is now living at Bushnell. Illinois. He came with his mother and family from Kentucky to Adams county, Illinois, in February, 1832. His mother purchased a farm in Adams county. about one and a half miles west of Columbus. Here he lived with his mother and worked on the farm. After
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the death of his mother, he still remained on the farm for some time with his brother Fielding, they doing their own cooking and housekeeping.
In 1841. he commenced to learn the blacksmith trade with James and John Mackey at Columbus, Illinois. Here he worked about one year, then went to Missouri, where he worked at his trade.
In 1843. he returned to Adams county, Illinois, and con- tinned to work at blacksmithing until 1844. when he went to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, and lived with his brother- in-law, Paton A. Vaughn, until he was married.
He was married to Jane Willard, January 7. 1847. She was born August 31, 1826, and was a daughter of Alexander and Luey (Lile) Willard. To them were born the following-named children :
Georgetta, born August 27, 1849; married James Matthews, February 17, 1870. He died October 24, 1901.
Fielding M .. born July 8, 1858; died January 24, 1904.
Mary Belle, born March 13, 1864: now resides with her father in Bushnell, Illinois.
Mr. Darneille has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. His wife was also a member of the same church. She died September 27. 1905. In politics Mr. Darneille is a republican.
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JOHN ALEXANDER FERDINAND COLL.
John A. F. Coll was born in Germany, October 28, 1820. He emigrated to America in the spring of 1844, but returned to Germany in the fall of the same year, where he was married to Emma Maria Bruckner, May 8, 1846.
Mr. Coll and wife came to America in 1847, landing at New York, where they resided about one year. From New York they moved to Chicago, from there to Jacksonville, Illinois.
In 1852, they came to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, and bought a farm of John P. Wood on section 19, where they resided up to the time of their death. One child was born to this union, which died in infancy.
Mr. Coll died December 15, 1875. His wife died May 24, 1880. In politics he was a republican.
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
COL. JOHN BUTLER.
Col. John Butler was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, July 26. 1802. He moved with his parents to Gallia county, Ohio, where on April 25. 1822, he was married to Mary Adney. She was born December 15, 1805, and was a daughter of John Adney. a native of Virginia.
Col. John Butler removed with his family to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, arriving October 18, 1839. Here he rented a schoolhouse and moved into it. This house stood a little southwest of the village and near the graveyard. In the spring of 1840. he removed to a house belonging to Thomas Rogers in the northwest part of the village, then called Greenfield.
He afterwards bought 80 acres of land east of the village on section four. Here he resided and was engaged in farming and raising stock up to 1870, when he removed to Avon, Illinois. He was elected colonel in the 84th Illinois militia, July 26, 1844.
To Col. John Butler and wife were born the following-named children :
Mary, born May 1, 1823; died in infancy.
Clara Marinda, born April 29, 1824; died in infancy.
Vincent Washington, born September 20, 1825; married Rachael Swain. November 22, 1849. She died June 18, 1860. His second marriage was to Harriet Williams. She died February 7, 1905. Vincent was assessor in Greenbush township for many years : was also commissioner of highways and justice of the peace, and a very prominent member of the Christian church. He died April 7, 1900.
John Adney, born January 6, 1827; married Maria Jane Snapp. November 22, 1849. She was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, October 9, 1833, and was a daughter of Franklin and Adeline (Morse) Snapp.
Rhoda. born January 6, 1830; married Ebenezer Wilford Woods. January 6. 1853.
COL. JOHN BUTLER.
.
AKTOR, LENOL AND
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Tacy, born February 12, 1832; married Moses Burges Threl- keld. He died June 17, 1872. She was afterwards married to Andrew Goforth, who died in Iowa. Tacy died near Chariton, Iowa, in August, 1904.
William, born January 21, 1844; died in 1847.
Thomas A., born November 9, 1846; married Julia Harman. He died in Oklahoma, March 4, 1899.
Mary Helen, born August 9, 1850; married William Steele. She died May 23, 1898.
Col. John Butler was run over by a team and wagon and so badly injured that he died about three days afterwards, the date of his death being May 18, 1881. His wife Mary died November 12, 1875.
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DAVID YOUNG.
David Young was born in Virginia, near the Tennessee line, m 1798. He came to Greenbush. Illinois, in 1834. lle was mar- ried to Sarah Simmons. April 19, 1835. She was a daughter of William Simmons, who was a brother of Rowland and James Simmons, who came to Greenbush in an early day. To David Young and wife were born the following-named children :
George W., born June 30. 1836; married Mary Massengale.
Abigail. born August 25. 1837: married Samuel Walker. She died in 1885.
William, born March 1, 1839; married Esther Simmons.
Cosby, born February 18. 1841: married Andrew Wigert, December 14. 1862. He was born June 24, 1833.
Easter, born January 20, 1843; married Wm. Clark Griffin. She died in Kansas, July 21, 1892.
James K. P., born January 30. 1845; married Mrs. Cynthia A. Purcell, in November. 1876.
David Young was a farmer by occupation; did some team- ing; was constable at one time; also kept hotel in the village. Politically he was a democrat. In religion he was a member of the Christian church. He died July 4. 1868. His wife was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died in 1885.
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JOHN SIMMONS.
John Simmons was born near Bowling Green, Kentucky, May 24, 1814. He was a son of George and Frances (Herring- ton) Simmons. He eame with his parents to Morgan county, Illinois, in 1833. About two years later he came to Greenbush, in Warren county.
He was married October 25. 1838, to Miss Ruth Jared. She was born April 16, 1817; and died March 23, 1902.
To John Simmons and wife the following-named children were born :
Eliza, born July 27, 1839; married James Pittman, Deeem- ber 25, 1855.
Andrew, born July 26, 1841; married Susan Bond. His seeond marriage was to Belle Traverse. He died September 11, 1900.
Louisa, born June 6, 1843; married Thomas Carr. She died November 22, 1899. Thomas Carr was born August 22, 1837, and died August 18, 1904.
Caroline, born August 24, 1846; married John F. Young. She died April 8, 1876.
Mary A., born July 30, 1848; married Franeis M. Jennings, in September, 1865.
Catherine, born August 23, 1850; married W. II. Carr, December 24. 1868. He was born February 25. 1845. They reside at Roseville, Illinois.
John F., born July 21, 1853; married Sarah Simmons. His second marriage was to Alice Peterson.
Harriet, born February 6, 1855; married Riley Simmons. He was a son of James II. and Lueinda (Moulton) Simmons. They reside at Balco, Missouri.
William Riley, born May 9, 1857: married Mary Jane Day. James Ed., born April 20, 1864; married Lucy Claveomb.
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John Simmons was a hardy pioneer. Settling here in an early day, he found plenty of wild game. His greatest enjoyment was in a deer chase. He generally kept a pack of trained hounds, and with his old long rifle he rarely returned home from a hunt without one or two deer. During the spring and summer he engaged in farming; during the fall and winter he ran a horse- power threshing machine and probably did more threshing than any other man in the earlier days.
In polities he was a democrat. During his last days he be- came a believer in the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ and died in the faith, at the home of his daughter. Mrs. F. M. Jen- nings. June 28, 1904.
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LEVI LINCOLN.
Levi Lincoln was born in Virgil. Cortland county, New York, November 4, 1825. In 1851, he left his native state and went to Iowa, where he remained for one year. In 1852, he came to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, where he worked at the carpenter trade for five years.
Ile was united in marriage with Susan Alabama Nance, December 3. 1857. She was born April 3, 1839, and was a daughter of John W. and Nancy (Simmons) Nance. For two years after their marriage they resided near Roseville, Illinois. In the spring of 1859, they removed to their farm in Berwiek town- ship, where they resided until 1885. The next eight years were spent in the suburbs of Avon, Illinois.
In 1893, Mr. Lineol purchased a home on Main street in Avon, where he resided until his death, which oeeurred March 30, 1901.
To Levi Lineoln and wife were born the following-named children :
Dora E., born January 31, 1859; married J. E. Byram, October 13, 1881.
Alva, born February 25. 1861; died April 27, 1861.
Edwin, born July 19, 1862; married Nannie A. Fulton, January 1, 1885.
Nela, born February 25, 1865; married L. Grace Johnson, Sep- tember 26, 1889.
Orpha, born May 24, 1868; died February 16, 1869.
Myrtle, born December 22, 1869.
Emma. born May 23, 1872.
Mr. Lincoln. was a man of correct habits. As a carpenter, he was a good workman ; as a farmer, he kept everything in order. He was supervisor from Greenbush in 1855, and was assessor in Ber- wick. In religion, he was a member of the Universalist ehureh.
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DANIEL ARMSWORTHY.
Daniel Armsworthy was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. April 9. 1804, where he grew to manhood. He learned the hatter's trade and engaged in the manufacture of wool and fur hats, and traveled over the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia with a line of samples and sold the products of his shop. Ile was married April 15, 1827. to Elizabeth Crumpton.
In 1840, he moved from North Carolina to Tennessee; in 1844. he moved from Tennessee to Stoddard county, Missouri. In 1846, he moved to Greenbush, Warren county. Illinois, and settled in the village, where he resided until 1859, when he moved on a farm ten miles west of Greenbush.
On the twelfth day of September. 1866. he moved to Kansas and bought claims with some improvements on what was then known as the Neutral Lands. Ile afterwards bought the land from the railroad company. Ilis wife died October 5, 1868.
Mr. Armsworthy continued to live on the farm up to the time of his death, which occurred September 22, 1880. In politics he was a whig up to 1856: afterwards a democrat.
To Mr. and Mrs. Armsworthy were born the following-named children :
Levi, who went to Oregon in the early '50's, where he was married and still resides.
Martha L., who married Morgan Franks, in 1855; now re- sides with her daughter in Kansas.
Sarah Anna; never married, and is now living with her brother Levi in Oregon, where she went shortly after the death of her father.
Miles: died in Greenbush at the age of fifteen years.
William W. born December 9. 1841. near Memphis, Ten- nessee: resided with his parents until their death. He received
DANIEL ARMSWORTHY.
سعيد
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his education in Greenbush; taught school during the winter and farmed during the summer.
He has held several responsible offices in Illinois and Kansas. He was married July 2, 1876, to Mary J. Brown. At that time he was living in Girard, Kansas, and was engaged in the mercan- tile business. In 1877 he moved back to the farm near Arcadia, Kansas.
December 1, 1879, he took charge of a general store at Coal- vale for the Keith and Henry Coal Company, afterwards changed to the Keith and Perry Coal Company and later to the Central Coal and Coke Company, which now has a capital of $7,500,000. They sold out their business at Coalvale, in September, 1880, and went to Rich Hill, Missouri, and opened coal works and store.
William W. Armsworthy went to Rich Hill, November 1, 1880, and took charge of the business for the coal company as manager, in which capacity he continued until August 1, 1897. His health failing him, he gave up the position, but remained living in Rich Hill until June 4, 1902, when he moved back to the farm, two and one-half miles west of Arcadia, Crawford county, Kansas, where he now resides. They have four children :
Frank, who was born July 25, 1877, is married and has two children; he now resides in St. Louis, Missouri.
Marcalina, born February 25, 1879.
Myrtle, born August 9, 1881.
Mary J., born June 4, 1890. These girls are living at home with their parents.
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JOHN WOODS.
John Woods was born in Sullivan, Madison county. New York. March 11, 1824. He was a son of Asa and Mary ( Wilford ) Woods. Asa was born in New York, January 2. 1792; and died Angust 4, 1855. His wife Mary was born in Connectient, May 1. 1793; and died March 27, 1868. Samuel Woods, the father of Asa and grand- father of John Woods, came from Scotland after having married an English wife.
Asa Woods, his wife and seven children-five boys and two girls-came to Illinois by wagon. in 1836, being six weeks on the way, and were the second family to locate in the vicinity in which they settled. John Woods at that time was only twelve years of age. He drove one of the teams a good portion of the way.
John Woods was married to Lucy A. Chatterton. August 6, 1848. She was born in Virgil, Cortland county. New York, March 5, 1819. and was a daughter of Cornelius and Lucy ( Ball) Chatterton, both natives of Virgil, Cortland county, New York. Mrs. Woods came with her parents to Illinois, in 1836.
To John Woods and wife were born the following-named chil- dren :
Addie. born October 10. 1849 ; now resides in Avon. Illinois.
Lewis Seldon, born February 2, 1851; married Elizabeth Yeo- man. October 13, 1880. Ile died May 13, 1881.
Mary Lunette, born September 21. 1856: married Joseph Ross. September 15, 1880. She died June 1, 1894.
Frank C., born March 8. 1858; married Hattie A. Holden. October 10, 1889.
John Woods, the subject of this sketch, settled in Greenbush township. in 1851. Ile was a blacksmith, having commeneed to learn the trade when he was 14 years old. He was also a farmer and stoekraiser, in which business he was engaged for about thirty-eight years on his farm in Greenbush township, after which he removed to Avon, Illinois, where he was engaged as president of the Milling and Manufacturing company until the time of his death. August 4. 1894, resulting from cholera morbus. His wife. Lucy A., died March 29, 1898.
All of the Woods family have been Universalists. John Woods gave the land on which the Universalist church in Avon was built. In polities Mr. Woods was a republican.
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JOHN MATTHEWS.
John Matthews was born in Indiana county. Pennsylvania, January 11, 1801. IIe was a son of James and Elizabeth (Coleman) Matthews. When he was ten years old he went with his parents to Miami county, Ohio; after living there two or three years, they re- moved to Jefferson county, Indiana.
He was married to Mary A. Craven at Bethlehem. Indiana, November 11, 1829. Here he was engaged in farming. On October 17, 1854, they started for Illinois, moving by wagon; and after a journey of thirty days, they arrived in Fulton county, Illinois, and located on a farm known as the Dunley farm. Here they resided until the spring of 1860, when they moved to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, and for a time occupied a house near Pumpkin Hollow.
Mr. Matthews purchased the west half of the southeast quarter of section 34. Here he built his house and made some other improve- ments during the summer and fall of 1860, and moved on the premi- ses in the fall of that year, where he engaged in farming up to the time of his death, which occurred August 19, 1869. His wife died April 25. 1898, at the age of eighty-eight years.
To John Matthews and wife were born the following-named children :
Jane, born October 11, 1830; married A. W. Higbee, February 25. 1851. She died March 30, 1904.
Samuel, born August 7, 1832; died July 20, 1834.
James, born July 6, 1834; married Georgetta Darneille, February 17. 1870. He died October 24, 1901.
John C., born February 19, 1836; married Melissa Rhodes, March 28, 1867.
Mary Elizabeth, born June 27, 1838.
Martha A., born September 1, 1840; married John Willard, August 31, 1864.
Robert E., born January 31, 1844; married Sarah Bond, March
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15, 1868. She died November 17. 1873. His second marriage was to Louisa F. Libby, October 6, 1878.
Minerva E., born December 23. 1847; married J. II. Snook, January 18, 1884. She died December 17, 1899.
Margaret C., born September 28. 1849: married William Alex- ander, February 10, 1876.
In religion Mr. Matthews and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. In polities he was a democrat.
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JAMES F. HARTFORD.
James F. Hartford was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1824. His father, James Hartford, was a descendant of Scotch-Irish parentage who had settled in the state of Pennsylvania in the early years of colonial occupation. His mother, Ann Niehol- son, was of Irish descent, her parents also coming from their native land to try the fortunes of the new world and settling in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in early times. IIere they were united in marriage; and of a family of ten children, James F. Hartford was the eldest.
· From his father, who was a contractor and builder, he learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked for many years in the pioneer days when the labor of hewing the rough timbers of the forest into building material was accomplished by the hand of man, and the rude log-house was the home alike of the prosperous and those in less-favored circumstances.
With the advancement of settlement, the times demanded laborers more skilled in the architectural art; and he studied his trade to meet the demand. until his work which yet stands in Green- bush and Swan townships of Warren county, Illinois, testify to his ability as a builder of worth in the years which he spent at this work.
As a child James F. Hartford was of a studious disposition ; and although often compelled by ill-health to abandon his studies under a teacher, he availed himself of every possible opportunity to become educated, and at the age of sixteen years he was chosen as teacher for the winter term in a school not far distant from his home. From that time until the spring of 1851, he taught school during the winter months, working with his father through the vacation times.
In the schoolroom, he labored during the first years of his work as a teacher for the sum of $10 per month, boarding with the patrons of the school. His wages were afterwards raised to $15 per month, and finally he was paid the sum of $18 per month, that being the highest wages ever paid to a teacher in that vicinity at that time.
He was especially strong in the studies of arithmetic and grammar, and so completely had he mastered the principles of those
·
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branches that his services were sought as assistant to teachers in schools for miles around his home and he had charge of these classes in several schools long before he had undertaken the respon- sibility of the schoolroom.
In the spring of 1851 he left his home and with four associates he traveled by water from Pittsburgh, Pa .. to Vicksburg. Miss. The journey was one of hardships; and the climatic conditions, being so vastly different from that which they were accustomed to. brought on an epidemie of malarial fever from which all suffered and one of their number died. After working four months in the lumber camps near Vicksburg. they started for the north. locating at Fair- view. Ill., where Mr. Hartford was engaged to teach the school.
At the close of the term, he again began working at the trade which he had mastered in his father's workshop and for several years he followed the carpenter trade during the season of the year in which he could work at it, teaching school in the winter months.
In the year of 1853, he came to Swan Creek, Ill .. and several landmarks of his labors are still to be seen throughout that section. among which are a house in Swan Creek owned at present by Mr. Wm. Clark. a house owned by Mr. Ratekin, and a barn on the Austin Cornell farm south of Swan Creek. During the winter months he again engaged in teaching, in what was known as the Union school- house west of the MeMahill corner.
June 13, 1856. he was united in marriage with Ann Eliza Hand. daughter of Moses T. and Elizabeth Hand, who were among the earliest settlers of Greenbush township.
Moses T. Iland and family were moving that fall to Prairie City. Ill., there to engage in the mercantile business, and Mr. Hart- ford and his wife were left on the farm, residing there until the spring of 1858, when they moved to Prairie City, Il .. and until the following spring Mr. Hartford clerked in the store owned by M. T. Hand.
In the spring of '58, he began buying grain from the old ele- vator in Prairie City. For ten years he followed that business in Prairie City, his family residing just aeress the county line in Greenbush township. Then a field for greater business activities being opened for him in Macomb. Hl .. in the fall of 1868. he moved
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with his family to that city and for three years he continued buying grain from the elevator in that place.
In 1871. he accepted a position in the telegraph office and baggage-room at the C., B. & Q. depot at Macomb, and soon after being given the office at Eubanks, Ill., his family removed to the old home in Greenbush township, Warren county, and Mr. Hartford took up his work at Eubanks, where he labored but for a few months when ill health caused him to abandon his work and return home.
After his recovery, he was again engaged in the grain office at Prairie City for several years, but poor health again caused him to give up his position, and the remaining years of his life were given up to the quiet pursuits of home life, gardening and fruit raising being the occupations which claimed most of his attention.
To James and Eliza Hartford nine children were born, three of whom died in infancy; those remaining are residents of Green- bush township, Warren county, Illinois.
In politics Mr. Hartford was a life-long republican, advocating earnestly and firmly teaching the principles of the party which he believed to be in the right. For eight years he held the office of justice of the peace in Greenbush township, was once the assessor; and in the years of 1880, and ten years later (in 1890), he was eensus officer of the township. As school director in District No. 7, he for many years faithfully performed the duties of that office, being always interested in the education of the youth and recognizing the great advancement that was being made in the public-school system since the time in which he labored in the schoolroom.
His early religious training was that of a Presbyterian home. but with the erection of the Methodist church in Prairie City, Illi- nois. he became a member of that denomination.
As a reader and student of all questions of interest and re- search, he became more active as age began to tell upon his physical powers. Endowed with a mind capable of retaining much that he read. he enjoyed the quiet persual of the topics of the day. or the deeper study of subjects upon which public interest centered. and was well-posted on all the happenings of the time.
After a serious illness of but a few short days, James F. Hart- ford died February 27, 1902, at his home in Greenbush township, Warren county. Illinois, and March first, he was lovingly laid to rest, near the old home, in the cemetery in Prairie City, Illinois.
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ALFRED CLAYCOMB.
Alfred Clayeomb was born in Knox county Indiana November 16, 1832. He came to Warren county, Illinois, in 1847. and worked for Robert MeKindley on the farm in Swan township, for about five years. He afterwards lived with William Thomas until he was uni- ted in marriage with Miss Mary Bruce Taylor, May 31, 1854. She was born near Berwiek in Warren county, Illinois, June 5. 1837.
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