USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Jacksonville > Historic Morgan and classic Jacksonville > Part 51
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Thus ends the life of Col. John J. Har- din. Ilis career was brilliant, and his star went down ere it had reached its ze- nith. He left three children-Ellen, now the widow of M. T. Walworth, of Sarato- ga; Gen. Martin D. Hardin, a lawyer of Chicago, who lost his arm in defense of his country in our late war, and Lemuel Smith Hardin, who lost an arm in the Southern army and lives in Kentucky.
Col. Hardin we have seen as a states- man and warrior. He was also a Chris- tian for years, and elected, just before
leaving for the Mexican war, an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He entertained sound religious principles and hoped for salvation only through the Atonement of Christ.
Col. IFardin's services for the commun- ity and country are referred to on pages 44, 45, 50, 53, 63, 70, 74, 78, 79, 80, 89, 100, 103, 110, 111, 117, 119, 120, 121, 127, 129, 162, 182, 239, 328.
HON. WM. BROWN, one of the older attorneys in practice and senior member of the firm of Brown & Kirby, was born in Booneville, Mo., September 20th, 1840, and is a graduate of Illinois College. Ile read law at Booneville, Mo., under the direction of Judge Wash. Adams, late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri, and was admitted to the bar in 1861. Mr. Brown was elected City Clerk and Attorney of Jacksonville in 1863, and re-elected to the same position in 1863. In 1864 he was elected State's Attorney of the counties of Morgan, Scott, Greene, Jersey and Calhoun, and in 1868 was re-elected as State's Attorney in same circuit. In 1872 he resigned, and was appointed County Attorney, by Judge Scott, for term ending December 1872. He was elected in Novem- ber, 1872, State Senator for the 30th dis- trict, composed of the counties of Morgan and Greene, and from 1872 to 1874, was chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. Mr. Brown is justly regarded as one of the most prominent members of the bar, with a large and lucrative practice. IIe has been identified with the politics of the State for many years, and often favor- ably spoken of by his party friends in con- nection with the highest offices of the State. As a practitioner he is justly re- garded as one of the ablest and most brilliant in the West, interests of the largest of railroad and other corporations being placed in his care.
Mr. Brown has been happily married twice, first to Miss Clara, daughter of David Robb, Esq., and secondly to Miss Eliza Mar- tin. Three promising chidren by the first marriage-Miss Kate and Masters William and Lloyd-survive their mother and there is also one child by the second union. See pages 179, 181, 248.
331
PORTRAIT OF JJOSHUA MOORE.
JOSHUA MOORE, OF JACKSONVILLE. For Biographical Sketch see pages 315-16.
332
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
DAVID B. AYERS .- Among the men who early became identified with the moral and intellectual welfare of Jackson- ville and Morgan county, no one has left a more desirable record than the subject of this biography. The great aim of his life, like that of His whom he humbly sought to imitate, was to do good. He was active and energetic among the few pioneers of the Sabbath School work of liis time. IFis history shows conclusively, that for nearly half a century of life, he fully comprehended its importance. He has left to the world a brilliant record of his faith, shown by his untiring zeal and energy in this work. As one of the orig- inal trustees of the Jacksonville Female Academy, which position lie occupied till his death, he exhibited his love and devo- tion to the cause of education.
One of the channels of his benevolence was furnishing finances, aid and encour- agement to young men who were striving to obtain an education. These private acts of his beneficence are still treasured up in grateful hearts living to-day.
David B. Ayers was born November 21, 1798, in Newark, New Jersey. He was the son of David and Abigail Ayers, and removed to Philadelphia, where he en- gaged in the sale of drugs and medicines. Ilere the subject of this sketch was edu- cated, and was married November 1, 1821, to Miss Eliza, daughter of Daniel and Mary Freytag. He continued his business in the sale of drugs until 1830, when with his family, he settled in the village of Jacksonville, where he established, on East State street, near the Public Square, the first drug store in Morgan county, which was doubtless the first in the state.
He erected a building on the corner of West State street and the square, which he moved into in 1832 and occupied for many years. The site is now covered by the elegant banking house of M. P. Ayers & Co. He soon added books to his trade, which was the first stock of importance in that line in the county. As agent of Mr. John Grigg, of Philadelphia, assisted by others, he sold 125,000 acres of land, in various counties in Illinois. In the sale of these lands he was actively en- gaged, his two sons becoming his succes-
sors in his former mercantile interests. He finished his earthly record September 26, 1850. He was an earnest Christian, and a useful and highly respected citizen. Mr. Ayers and his family (as his parents before him) were active members of the Presbyterian church. His mother, after a residence of eighteen years in Morgan county, died at the advanced age of ninety- four years. His wife is still living in Jack- sonville. Mr. Ayers has not only bequeath- ed to posterity the example of a well spent life, but has left representatives who are among the business men of the county, interested largely in the financial and manufacturing interests, with which, for over forty years, they have been identified.
JAMES H. LURTON was born in Scott county, Kentucky, March 21, 1813. He was the fourth child of Dr. William Lur- ton, who had a family of nine children, six of whom are now living. Dr. Lurton was a prominent physician of Kentucky. He removed to Morgan county in 1833, where he resided till his death in 1839. James H., came to Morgan county in October, 1831, and located on what is known as Jersey Prairie. He was Deputy Sheriff for three years, under Alexander Dunlap. In 1833 he was appointed by the county court, Collector of Morgan county, which position he filled about four years. He was then elected Assessor and Collector, which office he filled for several consecutive terms. One fact worthy of record is, that Mr. Lurton was never de- feated for any office in the county; i. e. when he had the vote of the county for a county office. He resigned his office in 1850, and engaged in merchandising, in Jacksonville, which business he continued until 1862. He was elected in 1861, Col- lector and Treasurer of the county, which position he filled with ability till 1869. He was married at the age of 39 to Miss Mary Stribling, daughter of Rev. W. C. Stribling. By this union they have had a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living. His oldest daughter is the wife of Dr. G. B. Sarchette, a gentle- man of French origin, who is now residing at Terre Haute, Indiana. His oldest son,
333
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
William S., is married and resides near his father and is largely and actively en- gaged in the ice trade.
Mr. Lurton has given all his children the advantages of a good education. Hle became early in life identified with the Democratic party. Mr. Lurton, when he became a citizen of Morgan county, had but little capital, but by persevering en- ergy and strict adherence to business has amassed sufficient to make him comforta- ble. He is one of the early citizens of the county whom the people have thor- oughly tested and as an advocate of their interests, he has never been found wanting. He has done much, by his energy and cap- ital, to develop and improve the county, in which for over forty years he has been an active publie man, and a respected and useful citizen. The people have reposed in him the utmost confidence by conferring upon him many posts of honor and trust.
E. S. HINRICHSEN was born in the Grand Duchy of Meehlinberg, on the 29th of April, 1815, and was educated in the mercantile line of business. After attend- ing the usual common schools of the country, he was a clerk of the city of Laarge for three years. He next entered a large wholesale establishment in the city of Hamburg. Ile was also supereargo of a vessel for nearly three years, and made two trips to the Mediterranean, one to Sumatra, and one to South America. After the latter voyage he was shipwrecked on the Louisiana coast, and finally landed on the Unhappy Islands. He then went up the Mississippi river, then up the Ohio, and came to Pennsylvania. He then made two trips to New Orleans, on the river, and next engaged in railroading, under Thad. Stevens-afterwards the great commoner-on the Harrisburg & Gettys- burg railway. This road was called the "Thad. Stevens tape-worm," owing to its peculiar grade and curves.
When Mr. Hinrichsen first came to Pennsylvania, he discovered the oil which of late has made Oil Creek so famous. He had some analyzed by a chemist at Pitts. burg, who pronounced it excellent for wheel-grease. It was called at the time,
"American Rock Oil." He did not un- derstand the nature of the same, and thus let the golden opportunity of making a fortune slip through his hands, not know- ing that the oil could be obtained in large quantities by boring. At that time, any of the land could be purchased for eighteen and three-fourths cents per acre. Mr. II. was the first man in the country to have oil analyzed, and was the predecessor of those speculating parties, who almost coined gold out of the wild and inhospita- ble soil of the oil regions. There is much credit due Mr. H., for first introducing to the chemist this far-famed petroleum.
Mr. II. started for the West in 1840, and arrived in Illinois in the latter part of March of the some year. After a close examination of the State, he settled in Franklin, Morgan county, about seven miles south of where Alexander is now situated. Here he established himself in the mercantile business. He remained in this line of trade until 1852. Ile laid out Franklin, now known as Orleans, in 1852, and established his brother in the general merchandise business, but the style of the firm was in the name of the subject of this sketch. In 1853 he sold his store at Franklin, and purchased a farm three miles north of that place. He was also station-agent at Orleans, and grain-buyer. In 1856 he purchased over 100,000 bushels of wheat. Not being able to obtain sufficient ground for building purposes at Orleans, in 1857 he laid out the present town of Alexander. This place ever since has been the home of Mr. Hinrichsen. He was the stock-agent of the Great Western (now W. St. L. & P.) railroad, in 1857. Ile held that position, to the satisfaction of all parties concerned, till 1867, when the consolidated Toledo, Wabash & Western railway appointed him general stock-agent for the road, with the
single exception of the city of St. Louis. The position was a great compliment to the business skill and management of the subject of this article. That he was worthy the confidence placed in him by the offi- eers of this great corporation, is evident from the long series of years in which he was in their employ.
As to the domestic relations of Mr. H.,
1
334
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
we would state that he was married in 1845, to Miss Anna Wyatt, daughter of William Wyatt, Esq., of Franklin pre- cinct. He was among the first pioneers of Morgan county, and is regarded as among its most prominent citizens. Six children are the result of his marriage,- three boys and three girls. The oldest son -- Wm. H .-- is now thirty-five years of age, and the popular editor and part owner of the Illinois Courier.
We have given a terse and brief sketch of the life of Mr. H., so full of striking and interesting events. What he is to- day is due to his remarkable business adaptability, his knowledge of men, and that instinctive love of order-a peculiar characteristic of great railroad men. With- al, he is a kind, affectionate neighbor, hos- pitable to strangers, and an advocate of the right. His generosity is only equalled by his urbanity. He is popular among all acquaintances, and is recognized as a first- class business man.
GEORGE W. SMITH, Attorney, was born in Danville, Boyle county, Kentucky, November 19th, 1837, and came with his parents to Jacksonville, March 8th, 1841. He was educated at private schools, and attended the school under the charge of President Newton Bateman, during the years 1856-'57, and also was a student in Illinois College in the years 1858-'59. In 1868 he was elected City Marshal, of the city of Jacksonville, for one term. He pursued his law studies in the law office of Judge Cyrus Epler in the years 1863-'64, and again read law in the winter of 1868-'69. He was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of this State. In April, 1877, Mr. Smith was elected a member of the City Board of Education from the First Ward, and re elected to the same position, and for the same length of term, in 1879, '81, '83 and '85. Mr. Smith has followed his profession closely since he began practice, and is quite active in politics, figuring prominently in all local Democratic caucuses and conventions.
Mr. Smith was a volunteer soldier in the Union army, serving as a private in Company A, 68th Regiment, Illinois vol-
-
unteer infantry. This was under a three months call in June, 1862, and in May, 1864, he re-enlisted for one hundred days service in the 133d Illinois volunteer in- fantry regiment, being Captain of Com- pany B, until mustered out September 24, 1864.
JUDGE SAMUEL WOOD was born in Madison county, Kentucky, October 16, 1813. lle is the oldest son of Richard Wood, who was a native of Amherst county, Virginia, and who emigrated to Madison county, Kentucky, in 1806. He was married to Miss Celia Gregory, sev. eral years before he left Virginia. He had, by this union, ten children, four of whom died in youth; the others, in after life, became citizens of Morgan county. They were, in the order of their birth : Nancy (deceased), former wife of Andrew Samples, now residing near Waverly; Jane (deceased), former wife of Robert Hardin, of California; Polly, present wife of Nathan Moore, of La Plata, Missouri ; Samuel the subject of this sketch, resid- ing on section 16, township 14, range 9; James, of Labette county, Kansas; Rebec- ca (deceased), former wife of James An- tyl, of Morgan county, Illinois. Mr. Wood's first wife died in Madison county Illinois, in November, 1819. He was again married in 1821, to Mrs. Hessie Conlee. He settled on section 9, township 14, range 9, in March, 1826. Mr. Wood was one of the pioneers of Morgan county who, by practical in- dustry and a moral life, was an ornament to the early community in which he lived, and a blessing to his family. Ilis wife died in September, 1861, and he June 20, 1865 They were both esteemed for their many virtues.
The subject of this sketch first settled on section 16, in the township where he now resides. He purchased, entirely on credit, forty acres, in 1837, which he has from time to time, increased until, at the present, he has nearly 3,000 acres of land, being the largest improved farm in the county.
Although Judge Wood had but a small financial capital, with which to begin life, yet he possessed that which was more valuable, viz., an enduring basis of moral
335
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
principles, with an energy untiring and persistent, which, combined, have not only made him a good farmer, but a useful cit- izen. He is strictly a self-made man. Ilis education is practical, and he possesses those business qualifications which insure success. Ilis citizenship outranks the State, as he became a citizen of Illinois one year before it was admitted into the Union. Ile has devoted an active and industrious life, thus far, to develop- ing a county and State which take pride in claiming him as one of their prominent and useful citizens.
He was married January 5, 1831, to Mrs. Martha Smith, relict of Harvey Smith, by which union he had eight children, in the following order of birth, viz .: James, born March 16, 1833, residing two miles east of his father ; Elizabeth, born Septem- ber 24, 1835, who died July 27, 1844; David, born April 4, 1838, residing three miles east of his father; Milton, born September 4, 1839, residing five miles west of Springfield; Iven, born February 24, 1841, residing near his father ; George, born December 9, 1842, also residing near his father; Julia A., born June 17, 1847, wife of James B. Beekman; and Richard S., born October 20, 1851.
Judge Wood and his wife are still living, in the enjoyment of mental and physical strength almost unimpaired by age, and they may still remain for years, a blessing to their family, and to the community of which, for so many years, they have been active and useful members.
Mr. Wood was elected Commissioner of the County Court, in November 1869, which position he filled with ability, and satisfactorily to his fellow citizens. He, like his father before him, has made farm- ing and stock-growing a specialty, yet his activity and zeal as a Democrat and worth as a citizen caused him to receive nomina- tion and election as a member of the House of Representatives. in 1874, where he served his constituents in a most creditable man- ner. At the close of his legislative term he returned to his farm home, and has since been content to remain in quiet ru- ral employment
See pages 54 and 203.
NEWTON BATEMAN was born July 27, 1822. His father, Bergen Bateman moved to Illinois in 1833, taking with him, among his children, one of the brightest natives of that New Jersey town of Fair- field. This youth, in his seventeenth year, was permitted to prepare himself for col- lege. He had no teacher, and there was no room in his father's house in which he could study; but near the house stood an old elm tree, eleven feet in diameter. He tried it, found it hollow, with an ax cut a door in the side of it, removed some of the dead wood, put down a carpet, made a rough table and stool, built a fire in front of the door, and commenced the study of the Latin Grammar. He made the prepar- ation for college in four months, and en- tered the Freshman class of Illinois College, in September, 1840, and was grad- nated in the class of 1843. From 1868 to 1876, he served as one of the Board of Trustees of the college.
In 1850 he was Principal of the West District (now Second Ward) School, of Jacksonville. During the years of 1856-58 he was County Commissioner of Schools for Morgan county, and for part of the time in charge of the public schools of the city. Ile was re-elected County Commis- sioner without opposition. After devot- ing seven years to this work, he resigned, and became Principal of the Jacksonville Female Academy, in 1858; but he was elected, before the close of the year, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In the meantime he had taken a foremost and toilsome part for three years, in the successful effort to establish the Normal University. Five times he was elected State Superintendent, for two years each ; and every time, except one, by a larger majority than any other man on the suc- cessful Republican ticket with him. He published, near the end of each term, a masterly volume in the form of a report, and the volumes of the series have placed him in the front rank of educational writers. It is believed that the reports of no other State Superintendent except Horace Mann, have ever received so wide. spread and profound attention and study in this country.
During the years 1862-64 he had charge
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
of the correspondence of the Provost Mar- shal General of the state, and kept thirty- five clerks busy in this work. He then resumed the State Superintendency of Public Instruction. He was appointed, by the National Association of Superin- tendents, to be one of the committee of three to ask Congress to establish the Bu- reau of Education; and the committee were charged to prepare a bill for the purpose. He went to Washington on this business in 1867, and the law now in force is essentially the committee's draft. He sometimes las made an hundred public addresses a year, and he rarely repeats one more than five times. He makes good use of his native language and of a persuasive eloquence. In 1847 he was elected President of Knox College, and has since successfully filled that office, showing himself well worthy of his de- gree of Doctor of Laws.
See pages 108, 127, 130, 153, 185, 242, 265, 266, 267.
In closing this series of biographical sketches the compiler begs the indulgence of space sufficient to copy the following from Jeriah Bonham's "Fifty Years' Recollections," Peoria.
"Charles M. Eames was born at Jack- sonville, November 6th, 1845, son of T. Dwight and A. M. Eames, of that city. He early entered the schools, but from the fact of having delicate health never com- pleted his education fully. He entered the freshman class of Illinois College in September, 1863, and did his first journal- istic work as a county fair reporter in October, 1866, and was the Jacksonville
reporter for the Chicago Republican and Springfield Journal in 1868, and later, in the same year, was city editor of the Quincy Whig for six months. After practicing the journalistic profession he, for a while, gave it up and engaged in the wholesale and retail book and stationery business in Jacksonville for eight years.
In 1876 he bought Horace Chapin's half interest in the Daily and Weekly JJournal, and in 1878 bought the other half interest of M. F. Simmons, and filled successively the positions of city editor, news editor, political editor and business manager. At present he is sole proprietor and managing editor, devoting most of his time to the business. He was married November 14, 1876, to Carrie M. Hall, of Wallingford, Conn., and four children has been the re- sult of this marriage-Hattie, Beverly, Charlie and Susie.
Mr. Eames is active in sustaining the benevolent efforts of the following orders : He became an Odd Fellow in 1868, a Good Templar in 1866, a Mason in 1871, a Knight Templar in 1881, and a Royal Templar of Temperance in 1880. He gave his first presidential vote for Grant in 1868, and voted for every republican candidate since. In 1880 he was a member of the republi- can city, county, state and national conven- tions, and in the latter voted with the "306." Mr. Eames is very active in all the religious and benevolent works of the churches; has been a delegate to the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, with which denomination he has been connected since 1863. He has been Ruling Elder since 1879, and Sunday School Superintendent since 1871; was State Sunday School Statistical Secretary from 1880-'82, and District Sunday School President for four years.
For a man that does not enjoy first class health Mr. Eames performs an immense amount of labor, so many duties requiring his attention that he is obliged to econo- mize his time very closely to fill all the responsibilities he has assumed."
THE END.
GENERAL INDEX.
A.
PAGE.
Adventures with Fugitive Slaves
145
Advantages in Jacksonville .. 256
Agricultural Society . 195
A. F. & A. M.
93, 117, 132, 179, 180, 229
American Bible Society.
245
American Education Society
244
Annual County Expense.
207
"Anti-Negro Stealing Society"
143
A. O. C. W
205, 229
Art Association.
.227, 228
Asiatic Cholera in 1833
83, 92
Ashland named
17
Athenæum
155, 199, 213
Anti-Slavery Sentiment 12,13,14,99,133,136 to 149 240 Anti-Horse Stealing Society. 230
Ayers' Block.
252
Authorities Consulted.
262
Alumni of "Old Illinois"
265, 266, 267
Agricultural and Mechanical Association ..
268
Affairs in 1827- 30
275
B.
Banking in 1850-'52 124
Banks.
128, 184, 221
Baptist Church, First .. 18, 61, 108, 112, 171, 173, 221, 242, 269
Beardstown Located
24
Berean College 129
Bee Ilunters .30,32, 33
Blue Ribbons
260
Bird's Eye View of Jacksonville.
2, 283
Blind Teaching Blind.
123
Books and Book-lovers
219
253
Business in 1832 79
Burning Witches 53
Buena Vista
15, 118, 158
132
Business Items in 1855.
66 Men " 1858 '65 151
College .186, 195, 199, 200
Bench and Bar
Black Hawk War.
86, 239, 271
Purchase 285
Blind Asylum. . . . 111, 123, 126, 128, 177, 192, 223, 265 Brooklyn M. E. Church 175, 229, 231 Belles Lettres Society. 211 Benett Building Association. 230 Bethel A. M. E. Church 173, 197, 198, 215 Blacksmith Shop, The First. 11, 28, 61, 236, 211 Bridge, (1-21) The First. .18, 35 County Court in 1828
Brick Building, The First
45, 57, 63, 211
Babies, The First
15, 32, 53, 211
Bank, First, (1851)
1份
Breaking of Soil, First
11, 11, 21, 241
"Broad Lands"
PAGE.
Business College, Jacksonville
.187, 195
Boys of "Old Illinois"
267
Buchunan Banner
268
Biographical Sketches (Illustrated).
80 to 312
C.
Carson's Log Cabin, Hotel and Jail.
43
Camp-meeting, First.
.12, 79
Career of Hon. Richard Yates
.. 182
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