USA > Illinois > Warren County > Early days in Greenbush : with biographical sketches of the old settlers > Part 7
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
Mr. Claycomb engaged in farming. Ile finally moved on a farm west of the village of Greenbush, known as the Isaac Butler place. where they resided until 1880, when they moved west. He now resides about thirteen miles northeast of Maryville. in Noda- way county, Missouri.
To Alfred Claycomb and wife were born the following-named children :
Agnes Elizabeth. born February 26. 1855. She died March 14, 1857.
ITiram. born March 4, 1857; died March 21. 1857.
George Elias, born February 14, 1858; died March 14. 1858.
William Oscar, born Mareh 4, 1859: died November 27. 1865.
Lucy Jane, born February 26. 1862: married November 14. 1886. to James E. Simmons. He was born April 20. 1864, and was a son of John and Ruth (Jared) Simmons. They have one son, Dale C., born September 10, 1888.
James Otha, born January 27, 1864 : married to Florence Smith. March 26. 1884. To them were born the following-named children : Floyd. May 17. 1886: Goldie September 19, 1887: Lorenza A., September 21, 1889 : Naomi G., September 6. 1903: James O., March 4. 1905.
Frederic Marion, born January 22, 1866: married November 29. 1885. to Anna Levice. She was born June 4. 1868. They have
97
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
two children-Earl, born August 8, 1892; and Helen B., born November 12, 1903.
Henry, born December 1, 1868; died in March, 1869.
Annetta born August 17, 1870; died March 14, 1871.
Randall, born May 21, 1873; died April 11, 1874. Orlando, born July 25, 1875; died February 25, 1876. Harvie, born March 25, 1877 ; died November 9, 1879. Mary B., wife of Alfred Claycomb, died March 26, 1903.
98
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
JULIUS T. LATHROP.
J. T. Lathrop was born in Livingston county. New York, December 7, 1818. He was a son of Colby and Polly (Terry) Lathrop. natives respectively of New York and New Hampshire. Colby, the father of the subject of this sketch, came to Ashtabula county. Ohio, in 1823, where he resided up to the time of his death. which occurred March 12. 1857. Later, his wife went to Michigan, where she died in 1874.
Julius assisted his father on the farm, attended distriet school, and remained under the influence of his parents until he was twenty- five years old.
In 1846. after leaving home, he was engaged for a short time as carpenter in a shipyard in Ohio. This same year he emigrated to Greenbush. Warren county, Illinois, where he was engaged as carpenter and wagon-maker about two years. A portion of this time he worked at wagon-making in the shop with James Fife. Mr. Fife was a Mormon and left Greenbush about this time or shortly after- wards.
Mr. Lathrop went to Berwick, where he worked at his trade during one winter. In 1851, he removed to his farm in Roseville township. where he remained until 1871, when he built a house in Roseville. Illinois, and moved into it, where he now resides.
Ile was married to Miss Almira Light. February 22, 1843. She was born in Pomport. Chautauqua county, New York. March 25. 1818. She died October 19, 1874. To them were born the fol- lowing-named children :
Amos Edwin, born January 24, 1847 : died August 12. 1847.
Sarah Maria, born October 10, 1849; married Jesse Shepard, February 8. 1866.
Julius Edgar, born March 31, 1853: died September 1. 1853. Edwin Walto, born July 22, 1856 : died October 17, 1856.
Mr. Lathrop's second marriage was to Mrs. Vurlinder T. Byarly. She was born near Seymour, in Jackson county. Indiana, Angust 9, 1837, and was a daughter of JJoseph and Susana (Turn- bull ) Crane, both of whom died in Indiana, in 1844. Mrs. Lathrop is a member of the Missionary Baptist church.
In religion, Julius T. Lathrop is a member of the Christian church, and has been since his boyhood days. In polities. he was a whig up to 1856: since then a republican.
99
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
THOMAS HENDRICKS.
Thomas Hendricks was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, June 24, 1817, where he spent his younger days and where he was mar- ried to Mary Burk in 1840. She was born November 3. 1813, in Pulaski county, Kentucky. She was a member of the Methodist church in her younger days; afterwards joined the Christian church. She was noted for her rare Christian character and for her patience and kindness. She died Mareh 26, 1885.
Mr. Hendricks moved to HIendrieks eounty. Indiana, in 1841; and in 1849, they moved to Fulton county Illinois, and settled near Avon. About the year 1854. they moved to Greenbush township, in Warren county, where they remained until the fall of 1866, when they removed to Kansas; and returned to Greenbush, Illi- nois, in 1876. To Thomas Hendrieks and wife were born the fol- lowing-named children :
Margaret Jane, born in 1840; married William T. Boydston. Ile died in July, 1880.
Sarah E., born in May, 1842; married DeKalb Morris. They reside near Arcadia, in Crawford county, Kansas.
James M., born February 4, 1844; married Barbara Beam, in Mommouth, Illinois, August 29, 1865.
Ile was a soldier during the war for the Union in company D, 64th regiment. Illinois infantry ; was mustered in in October. 1861, and discharged in July, 1865. Ile was principal musician during the last two years he was in the service. He holds the office of jus- tice of the peace. having served in that capacity for several years. Ile is also notary public and school treasurer. In religion he is a prominent member of the Christian church. In polities he is a republican.
John T., born in August, 1847 ; married Austa Wheeler, in De- eember, 1867.
Mary A., born in 1849; died in 1865.
Thomas J. and William G. were twins, born July 7. 1851.
100
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
Thomas J. married Mary Cunningham. He died in Kansas, in February. 1874.
William G. married Eliza Mitchell.
Elois M., born in 1854; died in 1856.
Thomas Hendricks, the subject of this sketchi, was for many years a member of the Christian church. In politics he was a democrat up to the time of Lincoln's first nomination for president; afterwards a republican. He went to Kansas to visit his children, in 1886. where he died January 17, 1886. aud was buried at the Arcadia cemetery in Crawford county. Kansas.
101
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSII
WALTER JOHNSON.
Walter Johnson was born in 1805, in Hawkins county, Ten- nessee. He was a son of James and Polly Ann Johnson. James Johnson the father of Walter Johnson, at one time owned and worked a plantation consisting of 1,300 acres of land in Carter Val- ley, Tennessee. He died during the civil war.
Walter Johnson came to Warren county, Illinois, about the year 1831.
He was married November 25, 1836, to Susanna Bond. She was born in Overton county, Tennessee, August 10, 1819, and was a daughter of Major John C. and Polly (Grimsley ) Bond. She died at the residence of her daughter Arvie Cayton, in Youngstown, Illinois, December 26, 1902.
To Walter Johnson and wife the following-named children were born :
James Crossman, born in Wisconsin, June 30, 1839. He mar- ried Emily R. Pittman, May 16, 1861. She was born in Austin, Scott county. Indiana. September 24, 1844, and was a daughter of John B. and Susan (Cunningham) Pittman. Her father died Octo- ber 18. 1863; her mother died January 22, 1880.
James C. Johnson enlisted in the civil war, in 1862, and was second lieutenant in company II, 83rd regiment Illinois volunteer infantry. On account of failing health he resigned and returned home in April, 1863.
He moved to the village of Greenbush, January 15, 1864, where in October, 1866, he bought the interest of W. H. H. Butler in the stock of goods then owned by David Adams. W. H. H. Butler, and Riley Adams. He continued in the mercantile business with the Adams brothers about two years, when he purchased their interest and engaged in the business alone until January 1, 1891.
He was supervisor in Greenbush township for four years. He
102
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
moved to Avon, Ilinois, April 7, 1891, where he is now engaged in buying and shipping live stock.
Mary Ellen, born in 1840: died April 5, 1855.
Joseph Paine, born in 1842; married Phebe Buzan.
Eva, born March 13, 1843; married George Howard Hoisington, September 23, 1868. He was born February 28, 1840. They have two sons :
Robert Lee. born December 29, 1870; married Casey Tipton.
Walter J., born October 19. 1873; married Helen Martin.
Susanna, born June 9, 1846; married James Thomas Vaughn. She died February 9. 1886.
C'aridan, born April 4, 1848; married Ella Wingate.
Sarah L., born April 1, 1853; married Charles Thomas, March 20. 1873. He was born May 8, 1848. She died April 28, 1878.
Kate, born April 15, 1854; married John C. Bond. Jr., Decem- ber 25, 1872. He was born January 10, 1853.
Charlie, born in 1856; died November 4, 1866.
Arvie, born March 9, 1858; married Clarence Cayton. Novem- ber 3, 1882. He was born January 14, 1859; and died October 30, 1898.
Ruby B., born February 20. 1865; married Harry B. Hoover, November 3, 1886. He was born September 16, 1860; and died October 1. 1890. Her second marriage was to John Brothers, No- vember 22, 1891.
Walter Johnson, the subject of this sketch, was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, in 1832; having gone to the state of Wisconsin, he enlisted there. Later he returned to Greenbush, Illinois.
In 1852, he went to California in company with a party driving ox-teams. Shortly after his arrival in the golden state. he met a man to whom he became strongly attached, whose name is not now known. as Mr. Johnson always spoke of him as "Old Dad." They entered into a partnership and engaged in buying groceries and provisions in Sacramento and conveying them over the mountains
103
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
with pack mules or burros. The sale of these goods to the miners proved a profitable business.
At one time when their stock of provisions and groceries had grown low. Old Dad took the pack animals and cash on hand and started to Sacramento to replenish stock. Johnson waited long for his return and finally started to hunt him. After going a short dis- tance, he found where Old Dad had sold a part of the animals and afterwards he found that all the animals had been sold. Johnson had hopes of his return for several weeks; but as time went on, he gave it up. Old Dad had skipped the country.
Mr. Johnson returned home in 1853. Ile had a great love and strong attachment for good horses. He in company with F. G. Snapp owned the noted horse Ilumbolt in his last days.
Mr. Johnson took the world easy, had great faith in humanity, and was a man who had many friends. He died December 13, 1876.
-8
104
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
ROWLAND SIMMONS.
Rowland Simmons was born in Virginia, in 1794. He removed with his parents in early life to Warren county, Kentucky. After living there several years, he moved to Morgan county, Illinois. In 1830, he moved to what is now known as Greenbush, Warren county. Illinois, and settled on section five.
lle was the first settler in Greenbush township. His brother James followed him in 1833, and after living in the township a short time, settled on lands now adjoining the village of Greenbush ,on the east, where he died. in 1873.
William Simmons, another brother, came later and located in the northeast part of the township. He afterwards moved to Galena, where he was engaged in hauling mineral ore ; and later he moved to lowa where he died.
This William Simmons was the father of James Sinnons, who died at the residence of his son JJames Edmond Simmons, on section two, September 25, 1900. William was also the father of Sarah, who married David Young.
Charles Simmons, who was also a brother of Rowland, resided in Stoddard county, Missouri, in 1845. During that year James and Rowland made him a visit and indueed him to move to Illinois. His family, household goods and one sorrel mare were placed on board a boat at Cape Girardeau, and they all started for Copperas Creek, Illinois.
Some place on the route the boat landed and James took the mare and rode home across the country. When he arrived. he sent some of his and Rowland's boys to Copperas Creek after the party. So they came across the country in wagons, arriving at Greenbush, April 27, 1845.
John W. Nance and family were members of this party, he having married Naney, a daughter of Charles Simmons.
Charles Simmons was married two or three times. his last wife being Miss Leviey Boydston. He was the father of the following- named children :
105
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
James D., (sometimes called "Pumpkin-Hook Jim") who mar- ried Clarrissa Morris. After his death. she married Robert M. Snapp.
John R., who married Nancy Strain; and after her death, was married to the widow of James Taylor.
Madison, who died while in service in the Union army during the civil war.
Sarah, who married Benjamin Gray.
Mary, who married Philip Davis Hedges.
Jane, who was never married.
Joanna, who married David Edie.
Harriet, who married a Mr. Kidoo of Iowa.
Rowland Simmons, the subject of this sketch, was married to Miss Julia A. Jones. To them were born the following-named children :
William, born April 16, 1826, married Margaret Morris, in October, 1849. She died June 15, 1873, at the age of 46 years.
Francis Marion, (better known as Tim), married a daughter of James D. Smith. They moved to Oregon.
James H., married Lueinda Moulton. She died April 17, 1874, at the age of 43 years.
Jasper, born in 1842, was thrown from a wagon and killed November 3. 1851.
Mary, married Thomas Joiner Willard. Both died in Kansas.
Harriet, married Joshua Rhodes.
Emily, married Alexander Willard.
John W., an infant, died in 1832, and was buried in the Green- bush graveyard, it being the first grave in this yard.
Some time during the early '30', Rowland Simmons planted some apple seed with the intention of grafting the trees after they had grown to sufficient size. One of the trees, when it came to
106
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
bearing, produced a large yellow apple of the fall variety. This tree sprouted and the sprouts, when dug up and set ont. produced the same kind of apple. James Simmons was among the first to procure sprouts from this tree, having quite an orchard of them at one time. They are known as the "Simmons Pippin." and are generally considered the best fall apple in this country.
During the last days of Rowland Simmons, he suffered with a cancer on his face from which he died May 23, 1858. His wife Julia Ann died January 8, 1845.
Sarah Simmons, mother of Rowland Simmons, died at the resi- dence of Rowland, December 31, 1842. She was about 90 years old.
107
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
CLINTON LINCOLN.
Clinton Lincoln was born in Cortland county, New York. Sep- tember 24, 1824. He was a son of William and Ruth (Saxton) Lin- coln. William Lincoln was a native of New York; Ruth Saxton, his wife, was born in Virginia.
Clinton Lincoln spent the first twenty-four years of his life in the state of New York. He then came to Lafayette, Stark county, Illinois. In the fall of 1853, he came to Greenbush, Illinois, and commenced work as earpenter with his brother Levi, who was then engaged in building the Greenbush academy.
Mr. Lineoln was married July 22, 1854, to Helen Eliza Stoaks. She was born in Ohio; and died at Avon, Illinois, January 29, 1897 To them were born the following-named children :
Dewitte, born July 1, 1855; married Ida Meachum.
Bion, born February 10, 1857 : married Julia Simmons, Janu- ary 2, 1880.
Evie, born February 1. 1859; died July 22, 1860.
Devillo, born January 22, 1861; died July 28, 1863.
Artie, born August 2, 1864;married Dolly Woods, August 26, 1885.
' Ada, born August 7. 1869; died October 9, 1890.
Clinton Lincoln was by occupation a shoemaker for five years, in the state of New York; afterwards a carpenter and farmer. After spending a few years in Greenbush, he moved to his farm north of Greenbush in Berwick township; and in 1890. he moved to Avon, Illinois, where he spent his last years.
He was with his sons Bion and Artie the last few weeks of his life, and died at the residence of his son Artie, in Berwick township, Warren county, Illinois, August 9, 1905.
Ile was a member of the Universalist church. In politics he was a republican.
108
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSHI
HENRY BEAM.
Henry Beam was born in Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania, March 22, 1813. Hle was a son of Henry and Rachael (Chune) Beam. In 1830. he came with his parents to Champaign county, Ohio, where he was married to Nancy Spencer, March 21. 1838. She was born in Ohio. April 10. 1814. and was a daughter of Eli and Sarah (Monihon ) Spencer.
In 1851. Mr. Beam moved with his family to Greenbush. Illi- nois. After residing in the township a short time. he purchased of Chap Swift lots 8 and 9 on section 16. and moved on the premises January 2. 1852. where he lived up to the time of his death. which occurred July 8. 1885. His wife died November 21. 1893. To them were born the following-named children :
Orlando John, born in Ohio. December 31. 1838 : married Emma Loftus, in 1869. He died at the residence of his sister Rachael Cunningham, in Monette, Missouri. December 15, 1899.
Rachel. born July 9. 1840: married Henry Cunningham. in December. 1858. He died October 14. 1893. Rachel died July 17. 1900.
Mary, born March 11. 1842: married Peter Landaker. May 6, 1860. She died June 4, 1895.
Joseph, born July 30, 1844 ; married Bertha Damitz. in Septem- ber. 1869.
Barbara, born April 25, 1847: married James M. Hendricks, August 29. 1865.
Jane, born February 16, 1849 ; married William Bryte, in May, 1869.
Nancy Adarana, born August 5, 1858: died October 12. 1865.
Henry Beam and wife united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1843. When the Olive Christian church was organized in Greenbush township. Mrs. Beam became a member and retained her membership up to the time of her death.
Henry Beam acquired a considerable education in his younger days. Ile taught school fourteen winters when he resided in Ohio. Ile was by occupation a farmer the most of his life. In polities he voted with the republicans.
109
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
ABNER WALKER.
Abner Walker was born in Lexington, Kentucky, August 10, 1796. He married Jane Damron at Columbia, Kentucky, October 20, 1829. He moved to MeDonough county, Illinois, in 1830, where he resided until he moved to Greenbush, Illinois, in October, 1849. The parents of Abner Walker and wife were natives of Virginia and were of Scotch descent.
To Abner Walker and wife the following-named children were born :
George Alexander, born March 25. 1831: married Sarah Hedges, December 24, 1850. He died October 4, 1872.
Mary Elizabeth, born September 25, 1834; married Squire J. Buzan, Angust 4, 1854.
Joseph Gilmer, born August 6, 1842; died in the army during the civil war, in 1862.
John Kelsey, born January 24, 1845; married Ann Jewell. in 1868.
Mildred, born March 10, 1847; married Richard Fouke, December 24, 1870.
Lawson, born August 24, 1836; died of cholera, June 15, 1851.
Abigail, born December 16, 1839: died of cholera, June 24, 1851.
Abner Walker was by occupation a contractor; he also manu- factured some large wooden pumps, and was engaged in keeping a hotel on the north side of the square, in the village of Greenbush, up to the time of his death, which occurred June 24, 1851, he being one of the victims of cholera that visited Greenbush that year.
His wife continued to run the hotel up to the time of her death, which occurred January 24, 1855.
In religion Mr. Walker was a Presbyterian. In polities he was a whig.
110
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
ERNEST DAMITZ, SENIOR.
Ernest Damitz, senior, was born in Prussia. Germany. January 6. 1805. Ile emigrated with his family from his native country and landed in New York. in September, 1847.
From New York he went to Chicago where he stopped one week on account of the sickness of his son William. He met with two men in Chicago who resided near Greenbush and Berwick. Illi- nois. They were farmers who had gone to Chicago market with grain in their wagons. Mr. Damitz hired them to haul his family to Greenbush, Illinois, paying them sixty dollars for the job. Upon his arrival in Greenbush, he rented a house for one month. In a short time after this he bought a farm of John Sargent. consisting of eighty acres of farm land and twenty acres of timber land. This land was located on section 17. He paid seven hundred dollars for it. Ile afterwards bought eighty acres adjoining it on the north. This 180 acres he sold to a Mr. Collins. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 15, where he spent his last years.
He was married in Germany to Pauline Wetzel. She was born in 1809, and died November 29. 1866. He died February 7. 1883. To them were born the following-named children :
Sprephene, who died in Germany at the age of three years.
John, died in Germany at the age of eight years.
Ewald, died on board the ship when crossing the ocean to America and was buried in the sea. He was about two years old.
Carl, born March 15, 1832; married Emily Spencer, in Feb- ruary, 1865.
Ernest, born January 31, 1834 : married Rebecca M. Spencer.
Francis, born August 4, 1835: married Almarine Holeman, April 2, 1866. She was born JJuly 20, 1845: and died February 11. 1896.
Panline, born April 4, 1837: married Andrew Sailer. January 9. 1859. She died June 22. 1895.
William Fredric, born December 1. 1841 ; married Mary Jane Palmer. Ile died in Hickory county. Missouri.
111
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
Fredric William, born December 1, 1841; married Harriet Acton. in 1872.
Peter, born April 8, 1840; married Sarah Pyle, in September. 1876. She was born in Cass county, Missouri, May 6, 1852: and died April 5, 1878. His second marriage was to Mary Cooper. Feb- ruary 15. 1880. She was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, August 29, 1844.
Sarah F .. married Elias D. Acton. She died October 1. 1882, at the age of 38 years.
Mary. married Daniel Davidson Powers; both died in Anderson county, Kansas.
Laura, married Gotleib Smith. She afterwards married Labo- ria Weigand. She died near Wheatland, Mo., August 2, 1892.
Bertha, born May 16, 1847: married Joseph O. Beam. He was born July 30, 1844.
Oscar, born October 5, 1850; married Pauline MeKown. August 9. 1874. She was born March 25, 1854.
All of the Damitz family were born in Germany except Oscar, who was born in Greenbush, Warren county. Illinois. Fredric and William were twins. At their baptism in Germany, Fredric Wil- helm, the Third, King of Prussia. became godfather. IIe named one of the boys Fredric William, and the other William Fredric; he also made a present of one hundred thalers to each of them.
Ernest Damitz, the subject of this sketch. belonged to the nobility when he resided in Germany. His grandfather was one of the richest men in the kingdom of Prussia, owning ninety-nine farms, the largest number any man was allowed to own under the law.
When the Seven-Years' war broke out between Fredric the Great. King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Austria. Mr. Damitz's grandfather, although only fourteen years old, joined the great Fredric's army and soon became an officer. When they won in battle, this Damitz soldier boy would treat a whole army corps with the best and costliest wines and good things to eat, for which he often went in debt. he having almost unlimited credit. When
112
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
the war was over, he disposed of the most of his lands to pay his debts.
During the Seven-Years' war this soldier boy smoked a large silver-mounted meerschaum pipe, which has descended all along from father to the oldest son, provided he smoked. Ernest Damitz, senior, offered this pipe to his son Carl if he would smoke, but Carl's first smoking made him siek, and he would not claim it : then the pipe was given to Ernest Damitz. junior. William Damitz afterwards became the owner of the pipe.
Mr. Damitz's last years were spent in tending a small vine- yard on the hillside north of his residence, and painting water- color pictures, which it pleased him to give to his neighbors and friends. He rarely left home but was always glad to have his neighbors and friends visit him. In politics he was a republican. In religion he was a Lutheran.
113
EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
ANDREW SAILER.
Andrew Sailer was born in Weisenberg, Germany, November 30, 1833. He was a son of Thomas and Johannes (Heimesser) Sailer.
He left Germany in 1854, and after a voyage of forty-nine days reached New York; from there he went to Michigan, where he remained about one year and a half, working on a farm at six dollars a month. He then went to St. Augustine, Illinois, and worked on a farm near by for James Martin.
In 1856, he came to Greenbush township, and went to work for William Jared, near Prairie City. He afterwards worked eleven months for Israel Spurgeon.
Andrew Sailer was married to Pauline Damitz, January 9, 1859. She was born in Prussia, Germany, April 14, 1837; and died at her home in Greenbush township, June 22, 1895. To them the following-named children were born :
Hannah, born January 3. 1860: married William T. Smith, in 1878. She died August 23, 1903.
Matilda, born January 27, 1862; married Charles Gayman, June 8, 1883.
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.