Historical and biographical record of Douglas County, Illinois, Part 17

Author: Gresham, John M
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Logansport, Ind. : Press of Wilson, Humphreys & Co.
Number of Pages: 318


USA > Illinois > Douglas County > Historical and biographical record of Douglas County, Illinois > Part 17


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mother was Jane Weddell, who was born near Bristol, Tennessee, and whose father, Thomas Weddell, was a lieutenant in command against the Indians in the battle of Horseshoe Bend. florida, where he was killed. The Colonel's grandfather. James Taggart, was a native of North Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who. while yet a boy, emigrated to Rockingham county. Virginia, where he married a Miss Petterson, and soon thereafter removed to In-


diana territory. He first located at Leesville. Lawrence county, thence to the vicinity of Nashville, where, in the year 1852, he died, aged ninety-two years. All his life he was en- gaged in farming, and was a member of the United Brethren church.


Col. Westford Taggart remained on the old Brown county homestead until he arrived at the age of seventeen years, when he went to Bloomington, in the same state, where he en- gaged in blacksmithing, and from there re- moved to Edinsburg, where he remained until 1860. He then removed to Charleston, Illinois, there continuing at his trade until the breaking


out of the Civil war, when he was among the first to volunteer his services, but was rejected from the First Ilinois Regiment on account of it being so quickly equipped with the required number of men. Hle at once commenced to raise a company himself, which he soon com- pieted, and was mustered into the service June 1, 1861, at St. Louis, in Gen. Seigel's division, under the command of Gen. Fremont. He campaigned through Missouri and Arkansas: was in the battle of Pea Ridge; transferred to the Army of the Mississippi, and was in the siege of Corinth. After the capture of Corinth he was transferred to the Army of the Cumber- land, and was in the march to Louisville, Ken- tucky. On his return he was in the attack on Bragg at Perryville, thence went to Nash- ville, Tennessee, and was in the fight against Bragg at Stone River; also in the attack at Tullahoma, where Bragg was driven across the Cumberland mountains, the Union forces still pursuing until the hard fought battle of Chicka- manga. September 19 and 20. At Stone River Col. Taggart was promoted to the command of his regiment, and after the battle of Chicka- mauga, for meritorions conduct, he was pro- moted to lieutenant-colonel of his regiment. He was also in command at Missionary Ridge. where the Confederate lines were broken and Bragg's army routed. Immediately after this he was in the forced march to Knoxville to re- heve Gen. Burnsides. He was also in the battle of Dandridge, Tennessee, where the rebels un- der Longstreet were routed; then he returned to Knoxville, where he remained some time, when he joined Sherman at Ringgoldl. Georgia, and participated in the capture of Atlanta. Im- mediately thereafter he came north and was ministered out of the service at Springfield, Illi-


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nois, September 5, 1864. lle returned to grandfather, William Murdock, left the north Charleston, and in January of the following year of Ireland and came to this country previous to the war of the Revolution, in which he took an active part. As far as is known, he was the first of the name in direct line who came to the new world. lle settled in Monmouth county, New Jersey. ( Charles Uhlera, nephew of Judge Murdock, has a complete genealogy of the Murdocks in America.) John Mur- dock's father was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, about the year 1775, and followed farming. as did his father. At the age of about twenty-one he emigrated to Butler coun- ty, Ohio. This was in the early part of the removed to Tuscola, where he has since re- sided. From 1865 to 1868 he was successfully engaged in the grocery business at this place, Lut in the latter year sold his stock of goods and engaged in the manufacture of buggies and light wagons, being engaged in this up to 1876, when he was elected sheriff of Douglas county on the Democratic ticket. The county was strongly Republican, but it did not prevent his re-election in 1878. In 1886 he was elected to the house of representatives from the district composed of Douglas, Coles and Cumberland counties. Hle served on the military, penal, elec- tions, sokliers and orphans' home committees. In 1881 Col. Taggart engaged in the furniture and undertaking business with A. L. Elkins, who has since died, his present partner being Silas R. Williams. Their house is the largest of the kind in the county.


On January 20. 1859, he was married to Miss Julia Skinner, of Hamilton, Ohio. To them have been born seven children, of whom three are living : Lizzie, wife of Andrew In- gram, of Tuscola : Susan, wife of 11. C. Mor- ris, of the same place, and Margaret, single and at home. Col. Taggart was a member of the city council several times and takes a deep interest in the welfare of the city, where he re- sides in one of the most pleasant homes in the county.


JUDGE J. D. MURDOCK.


Judge John D. Murdock, of Murdock, is a descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestry. 10


last century, and he was among the earliest settlers of that section. Here he married Re- becca Little, who was also descended from an old New Jersey family. She was the mother of John D. Murdock, of Murdock, who was born on June 15, 1816. Three years after his birth she was drowned. The sad incident oc- His curred in fording a small stream swollen by


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recent rains, while returning in a wagon to dred and thirtyacres of land at eleven dollars an her home from Cincinnati.


John D. Murdock received his education in a subscription school, the first taught by a Dr. Johnson, in the little town of Washington, Wayne county, Indiana. It was here by close attention to his studies he laid the foundation for the education which afterward served as a means of raising him to a position of influ- ence in the community. After a residence of about six years in Wayne county he, with his father, in 1827, removed to Tippecanoe coun- ty. then a wild and unsettled region. He was eleven years old at this time and grew to man- hood in this county. The life of the family was that of pioneers. Here he developed those qualities of self-reliance which subsequently entered into his success in life. In March suc- ceeding his twenty-first birthday. he wedded Miss Martha Morgan, whose ancestors were of the early settlers of Tennessee. Her father, Venzant Morgan, removed from Tennessee to Ohio, and from Ohio to Tippecanoe county. Mr. Murdock after his marriage removed to a rented farm, his cash capital at this time consisting of $12, he owning one horse and buying his farming implements on time. . 1. good crop crowned his labors of the first year and he was put on a better footing for the second year. In four years he had accumu lated money enough to purchase eighty acres of land, which he did in Fountain county, In- diana, where he removed with his wife. He gained a prominent position in the county and was chosen county commissioner.


In January, 1854, he visited Illinois in search of land. He first came to Georgetown. Vermilion county, thence by the way of Hick- ory Grove to Camargo. He bought three hun-


acre, and removed his family from Indiana the following April. A split-log house, too small for the accommodation of his family, stood on the tract at the time of the purchase. so he prepared a frame house in Indiana, hauled it to Douglas county and put it upon the premises ready for the reception of his family. He has owned over one thousand five hundred acres of land since his residence in Douglas county. Among his neighbors in the Murdock settle- ment were James Brewer. Denis Daniels. Ephraim Drago. Anderson Campbell, and Isaac and Robert Carmack, John Jordon, and Uncle Billy Timbrook, who came later. On the organization of Douglas county Judge Murdock took an active interest in the project, devoting both time and money. He was asso- ciate judge of the county for six years, and has held various township offices. He is at present trustee and steward of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1837 he married Mar- tha Morgan, of Indiana. She died February 8. 1891. Their children living are: Watson. a farmer and grain buyer: Nancy Jane. the widow of Sinclair Helm: Wilbur, residing on a farm adjoining Murdock; Mrs. Martha Helm, of Tuscola, and Mrs. Lida Dewees, of Terre Haute. In 1892 he married for his sec- ond wife Mrs. Sarah M. Bentley, ncc Campbell. the former wife of Dr. Morgan A. Bentley. who died in Kankakee, May 3, 1800. He was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. Mrs. Murdock has two chi !- dren, now living. by her first husband : Nel- lie, wife of Mr. Van Morgan, and Rev. L. C. Bentley, who was born in 1864. and was grad- nated from the De Pauw University, at Green- castle, Indiana, in 1894, and from the Theo-


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logical Seminary of Boston, in 1895, and is now pastor of the First M. E. church in Bra- zil, Indiana.


JOHN H. CHADWICK.


John H. Chadwick, state's attorney of Douglas county, is a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm seven miles south of Washington, the county seat. Ile attended the country schools


until about fourteen years of age, and then attended school at Washington for a short time. He also attended college at Waynes- burg, and the State Normal school at Edin- boro, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the latter institution in the class of '80 and came west in the summer of 1887. Mr. Chadwick taught school for ten years, was one year prin- cipal at Miles Grove, two years at Dempsey-


town, one year at Spartansburg, all in Penn- sylvania, and one year at Camargo, Illinois. After coming west he read law with the law firm of Eckhart & Moore at Tuscola, Illinois, afterward entering the law department of the Wesleyan University, located at Blooming- ton, Illinois, and was graduated in the class of '91. He returned to Tuscola in 1892, and was elected to the office of state's attorney, which position he has held ever since. The first law suit he ever tried was as attorney for the state.


He was united in marriage to Miss Ella Russell, of Chrisman, Illinois, in July, 1894. They have two children, Perry Moreland and John Russell.


Mr. Chadwick is entirely self educated, having carned the money to obtain his educa- tion by working on a farm, selling books and maps and teaching school. He has been a hard student all his life, and has obtained success by hard work and devotion to duty. As a public prosecutor he has been very successful. In addition to his official duities he has a good civil practice.


ISRAEL A. DRAKE.


Israel A. Drake, one of Tuscola's retired farmers, was born in Butler county. Ohio, January 23, 1834, and is a son of Nathan Drake, also a native of the same county. His mother was Sarah Gardner, a native of New Jersey. Nathan Drake emigrated from Ohio to Vigo county, Indiana, in about 1831, and in 1849 located in Coles ( now Douglas ) county. in Garrett township, where he took up about


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three hundred acres of land at a dollar and Nancy Garrett, sister of Caleb and daughter twenty-five cents an acre. He resided here for about twenty years, becoming wealthy, prominent and highly respected. He only re- cently returned to Vigo county, and died in Terre Haute, March 20, 1899. in the eighty- seventh year of his life. He was a member of the Baptist church, and the first Baptist meet- ing held in the county was held at his house. After the death of his first wife, by whom he had five children, he was married to Rhoda La Forgee.


Israel A. Drake remained on his father's Butler county farm until the age of sixteen, since which time he has resided in what is now known as Tuscola, with the exception of twenty years in Decatur, Douglas county. While in Decatur he ran the Drake Hotel, which he owned. . At present he owns one hun- dred and fifty acres of highly improved land in Garrett township and a beautiful home in Tuscola.


In 1854 he was united in marriage to Miss


of Isom Garrett. The latter was among the very first white settlers in the township which bears his name and he it was for whom it was named. A full and complete sketch and portrait of him will be found elsewhere. To Mr. and Mrs. Drake have been born three children : Jasper, who resides in Lincoln, and is a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities; William, who lives at Milwaukee, and Mrs. Minnie Drake Tyler, who is one of Tuscola's leading milliners. Mrs. Drake is a member of the Tuscola Presby- terian church. Mr. Drake is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his son William is one of the highest and brightest Masons in the state of Wisconsin, and is also a Knight of Pythias.


WILLIAM ILES.


Wiliam lles, a member of an old and early settled family of Kentucky, and at present one of the most successful farmers in Douglas county, was born at lles Mills, Bath county, Kentucky, December 31, 1844. Ile is the son of William lles, a native of the same county, who was a son of Thomas lles, born in Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania. His grandfather Hles was a member of the old Kentucky militia and fought in many battles against the Indians in the vicinity of Bryant's Fort. The lles have been tillers of the soil back to William Iles' great-grandfather, who was a native of Eng- land. llis wife was Mary les. Mr. Iles' mother was Miss Jane 11., a daughter of Will-


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iam F. George, of Montgomery (now Bath) county, and was a native of Greenbrier county, Virginia.


William Iles was reared in Bath county, and at his father's death, February 22, 1846,


he was left an orphan at the early age of a little over one year. On account of the war, his educational advantages were limited and all the property belonging to the family was swept away. llis mother died in 1884. In 1865 he came to Camargo township and bought a tract of land and resided in a log cabin on the farm on which he now lives. At the present time he owns three hundred and sixty-three acres in one tract and three hundred and forty in another.


In 1892 he was married to Miss May Hammett, a daughter of the late James R. 'Hammett, whose sketch is found on another page of this work. William lles is a worthy example of a self-made man. Commencing with nothing except his own indomitable en- ergy and courage, he has succeeded in the


business world far above the average man. He is one of the most extensive stock raisers in the county, as well as one of the most public-spirit- ed of its citizens. For the past thirteen years he has been president of the Douglas County Fair Association, filling this place with rare executive ability, and has been connected with ii in one way or another ever since its organi- zation. He has held the office of supervisor of Camargo township several terms and was re- cently defeated for the same office by manipula- tions unworthy of the opposition. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, that kind of Democ- racy which Jefferson taught and which is being revived to-day by William J. Bryan.


LEONARD J. WYETH.


Leonard J. Wyeth was one of the pioneers of Douglas county, and a man of varied busi- ness interests, amassing a fortune of about .


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three hundred thousand dollars while a resident of Douglas county. He was of Welsh ances- try, and was born in Wendell. Franklin county, Massachusetts, January 13. 1827, and died at his home at Tuscola, January 24. 1898. He was a son of Nathan and Hannah (Kellog) Wyeth, natives of Massachusetts, and his grandfather was Gad Wyeth. In 1839 Mr. Wyeth's parents moved to Licking county, Ohio, and eight years later our subject was united in marriage to Miss Melinda North- way, a native of the town of Sherman, Chau- tauqua county, New York, and a daughter of Samuel lliram and Charlotte (Seagers) Northway, natives of Connecticut and Mas- sachusetts, respectively. Seven children were the result of this marriage, three of whom at- tained the age of maturity : Mrs. George Cal- laway: Mary, and Clarence L., whose death preceded his father's only a few months.


The prosperity and growth of the west attracted Mr. Wyeth, and in 1851 he came to Illinois and settled in Coles county. Here he resided until 1858 and then moved to Douglas county, where he afterward resided. Buikling a small store room on Houghton street, just opposite the court house, he engaged in mer- chandising with Merrill and Oliver Hackett. That was the beginning of Mr. Wyeth's busi- ness career, a career which has scarcely a counterpart in the history of the county. The partnership with Merrill and Oliver Hackett was dissolved in 1859. and a new firm was formed with Thomas D. Craddock, of Charles- ton, which was continued until 1864. In 1859 the firm erected a business room on the site now occupied by Field's pharmacy. This building was sold, and another and more com- modious structure was built on the site now oc-


cupied by the Conover building. In 1865 Mr. Wyeth disposed of his dry-goods store to W. 11. Lamb and J. M. Maris. He then formed a partnership in the banking business with Jos. G. and William P. Cannon under the firm name of Wyeth. Canon & Co. This firm remained in business until 1870, when the First Na- tional Bank was organized, Mr. Wyeth being one of the promoters of the institution. He was a director from the organization of the bank until within a few weeks of his death. In October, 1872, when W. P. Cannon retired from the presidency of the First National, Mr. Wyeth was elected to fill the vacancy, which he did until January. 1873. when H. T. Cara- way was elected. In 1875 Mr. Wyeth bought the Garrett farm of eight hundred acres in Garrett township. Ile moved on that farm in 1875. but returned to the city in the fall of 1878, taking up his residence in the house on East Scott street which was afterward his home. At one time he lived in a house that was erected on the site of the Wamsley gro- cery store. Later he built a residence just east of the M. E. church, which he sold to the late Thomas E. Macoughtry. Mr. Wyeth also built the house now occupied by Farmer Cox.


Mr. Wyeth was the largest property holder in Douglas county. He amassed a fortime of $300,000, represented by three thousand acres of land located in this county. $50,000 in bank stock. $7.000 to $8 000 in government bonds. besides personal property. In 1893, during a severe attack of illness. Mr. Wyeth made a division of his wealth, disposing of the greater part of his property. The will that was exe- cuted at that time was revoked. The latter part of December. 1897. Mr. Wyeth made a


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new division of his property. The division was about equal between his daughter, Mrs. George Callaway, and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Lizzie Wyeth. He executed deeds to theni conveying what property he had allotted to cach one. 'To Dr. Callaway he transferred his one hundred and ninety shares of stock in the First National Bank. This will which was ex- ecuted at this time bequeaths only the prop- erty which his wife was to have, consisting of the homestead, seven or eight thousand dol- lars in government bonds, and his bank account and other personal property. All this property was given to her absolutely without any re- striction whatever. Mr. Wyeth has four brothers and one sister living, Samuel, Albert and Thomas, of Coles county, Joseph S., of Garrett, and Mrs. Cofer, of Arcola. This town at that time welcomed every newcomer. Mr. Wyeth, at the very start of his business life, was as bold in his purpose as in form were the hills on his father's farm in the state of Massachusetts. Success in honorable business was the end he sought, and that end was at- tained by wise foresight, just means, untlag- ging endeavor and unimpeachable character. Out of respect to Mr. Wyeth, all of the business houses were closed during the hour of his funeral.


JAMES MORROW.


James Morrow, one of the well-known cit- izens of Newman, and who has led an active and successful business life, was born in Brown county, Ohio, November 3, 1832, and is de- scended from English and Irish progenitors.


He is a son of James and Levina ( Drake) Morrow, who were natives of Brown county, Ohio. Ilis grandfather and grandmother on his father's side were born in Ireland, and mar- ried in Brown county, Ohio. His maternal grandfather and grandmother ( the latter Miss Weatherspoon ) were respectively born in Eng- land and America. James Morrow remained on a farm in Brown county until he had arrived at the age of twenty years, during which time he attended schools three months free and three


months paid for. In 1852 he migrated to Montgomery county, Indiana, and here for some time worked as a common day laborer. In 1854 he came to Illinois, locating in Cham- paign county, where he bought and located on eighty acres of land two miles south of Urbana, where he remained for about four years. He then removed to Edgar county, and bought and located on a farm four miles east of Newman, where he resided up to 1862. In that year he enlisted in Company E. Twelfth Illinois Infantry, and lacked but a few days


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of being in active service three years. He served as a private and first belonged to the left wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps until after the Atlanta campaign, when he was transferred to the Fifteenth Army Corps under Gen. Logan. Mr. Morrow was never wounded or sick in all of his active service during the war. After the final surrender he returned to the farm and in 1875 came to Newman, since which time he has been numbered among her best citizens. In 18041 he rented out his farms and since that time has been practically retired from business cares. Mr. Marrow owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Edgar county and six acres within the corporation of Newman. Mrs. Marrow, his wife, owns four hundred and ninety six acres of land in Illinois, one hundred and twenty-six acres one and a half miles east of Newman, fifty acres near the corporation line of Newman, and one half-section in Edgar county.


Mr. Marrow has been twice married, the first time to Miss Lawhead. in 1860. After her death he married his present wife. Rachel Fisher, who was born in Indiana. a daughter of Daniel Fisher, who followed farming, and died in Champaign county. To his first mar- riage he has three children living, and by his second wife he has one child, George, who re- sides in Burlington, Vermont, and is superin- tendent of the anti-liquor league of Vermont. The other children are: 11. 1 ... W. B. and Edgar D. Mr. and Mrs. Marrow are con- sistent members of the Cumberland Presby- terian church. He is a public-spirited citizen, is plain and unassuming, yet dignified in ap- pearance, and has won a competency and an honorable position by honesty, correct business methods, and a due reard for his fellowmen.


WILLIAM F. MURPHY.


William F. Murphy, one of the wealthy retired citizens of Tuscola, was born in Ohio, January 9, 1821. Ilis great great grandfather came from Ireland and settled in Maryland, in which state his father. Wilson Murphy, was born in 1787 : he served as a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1815, with his wife, who was Nancy Slaughter, he removed to Ross county. Ohio.


William F. Murphy was reared on the farm and attended school about two months in


f


the year, remaining on his father's farm until he had arrived at age, when he worked on the farm at six dollars and twenty-five cents to fifteen dollars per month, and in 1839 came to Illinois, subsequently visiting in Douglas county, then a part of Coles. He was favor- ably impressed with the country and deter- mined to settle here. Therefore he returned in 18417 and began life here with two hundred dollars in money, a wagon and three horses.


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He seized the first favorable opportunity to get possession of land and in July, 1850, bought one hundred and sixty acres of school land and about eighty acres of timber in Sargent township, paying for -it six hundred and forty dollars. Since that time he has been dealing extensively in real estate and is at present one of the wealthiest men in this county. For many years he was engaged in banking at Newman, succeeding Z. S. Pratt. He now owns about one thousand four hundred acres of valuable land in the county, and three hun- dred and thirty-five acres in Jasper county, Indiana.


He has been three times married: First 10 Miss Adel'a H. Smith, a native of Ken- tucky, this marriage occurring January 15. 1845. His second wife was Miss Rebecca J. Maddox, of Ohio. After her death he mar- ried Miss Julia Page, of New York, who is a


lady of fine literary accomplishments and prom- inent in church work. In 1891 be removed to Tuscola, where he and his wife reside in one of the city's most beautiful residences, sur- rounded by all the comforts of life. The only offices Mr. Murphy has ever hell were town ship supervisor, and trustee appointed by the governor to build the asylum for the insane at Kankakee.




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