Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 54

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126

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ACHESON, William .- A certain degree of suc- cess usually rewards the efforts of those meu to whom have been given health, an energetic dispo- sition and habits of industry and determination. Such were the qualifications of William Acheson when he started out in the world, leaving his old home across the sea and coming to the new world with no other capital than these. When he ar- rived at Frederick. Schuyler County, III .. June 11. 1856, he had only 25.25 in his possession, but he was young, hopeful and ambitious, and the Jack of money proved no discouragement to his ardent mind. From that small beginning, by dint of labor and good management. he has recently been enabled to retire from his farm and removed to a comfortable cottage in Rushville, where he is surrounded by the comforts rendered possible by a well-spent life.

A native of County Tyrone. North of Ireland. William Acheson was born on Christmas Day of 1934. a son of Charles and Sarah Acheson. men- tion of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. in the sketch of Alexander AAche-on. The father died March 10, 1847. and thereafter the son was busily employed in caring for other members of the family and in making his own way in the world. The future, however. did not look en- couraging to him as he viewed prospects in his native land, and he finally determined to sock a home across the sea. During the spring of 1556 he came to America, where he made brief so- journs in New York and Philadelphia, but soon came from the East to join relatives In Illinois.

WILLIAM MCKEE

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

After his arrival in Selntyler County he hired out to a brother-in-law, John Hamilton, for sto per year, and remained in his employ until Mr. Ham- ilton died in August of 1860, atter which he took charge of the farm in the interest of his sister, Mrs. Hamilton.

The marriage of Mr. Acheson took place Sep- tember 26, 1864, uniting him with Miss Mary E. Ward, who was born August 27, 1845, in Bain- bridge Township, a daughter of Apollos and Jane Ward. Mention of the family appears in the sketch of James M. Ward, in another part of this work. Atter their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Acheson remained on the Hamilton farm until 1867, when he bought forty-six acres on Section 14, in Bainbridge Township, during the following year buying sixty acres more. Later he added more land from time to time until he acquired 172 aeres. During April, 1907, he retired from active cares and removed to Rushville, where he and his wife have a large circle of warin friends and are highly esteemed for their noble qualities of heart and mind. Politically, Mr. Acheson votes with the Democratie party, but has never consented to accept political office. For thirty years he acted as Steward of the Mount Carmel church in Bainbridge Township.

Seven children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Acheson, namely : Margaret, born October 8, 1865, married and has one son, Archie, who remains with his mother at the old homestead ; Annie, born April 16. 1870, married Robert H. Crozier, ' farmer of Rushville Township; Grace, born November 25, 1873, maried Frederick Pel- ton, a carpenter residing at Rushville, and they have three children, William. Bertha and Ada ; Marvin, born December 14, 1876, married Nola Blalock, a native of Tennessee and daughter of a minister, and they have four children-Mary, Harland, Mildred and Edna ; Rollin and Roy, the latter born May 11, 1583, and now has charge of the homestrad in Bainbridge Township. Two died in infancy. The home of Marvin's family is in Buena Vista Township, where Marvin culti- vates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres.

AGANS, Stephen H .- Of the life-long residents of Camden Township, who have added to its wealth of character and achievement, none have been more fortunately placed or more worthily rewarded than Stephen H. Agans. Mr. Agans has come to the front from a youth not ospecially favored, and containing advantages in no sense out of the ordinary. He was born on a farm in Caniden Township April 16, 1856, a son of Thomas and Annie ( Jones) Agans, the former of whom was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and canwe to America to satisfy a craving for larger things. From New York he journeyed with his scant assets to Cairo, Ill .. across prairies and by crude waterways, reaching there during the summer of 1833. For a time he lived in Rushville, Ill., where he was engaged in work as an assistant to Dr. Worthington, was there, July 6, 18H. mar- ried, and about two years later. in 1516, moved to the vicinity of Quincy, IN. in isis he pur-

alorsed six'y acres of wild land in Section 26, Counden Townships and there managed in general farming until shortly before ! s death, which oc- oured July 6, Isso. his wife surviving him until February 15, 1991. They were the parents of ten children, four of whim are now living, two sous and two danskters, namely : (h) Stephen 1., the subject of this shitch: AHla Rosa, who married John H. Peter, and they have one child. Miry Cathesie, wie .; Whitney Ingles, residing in Camden Township: coll) Susan C., the wife of J. H. Race, of Canalen Township, who bis three children- ch Della, wife of Ed- ward Br .. . . we wont Bertha, w.C. of Hlward Yaelronda, of Camden Township, bav- ing ene daughter. woot (3) Ala. at home; (IV) Les, who married Ida Avery, resnies in Catuden Township, and has seven children. Of the other children of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas AAgans, three died in infithey. Sarah died at the age of sixteen years: William is the deceased husband of Mrs. Mulvania ( Rading Agans, a resident of Cam- den Towi -Bp: and Hester Anu, married. first, Huston Sandy Race, Who died in Meinthis, Tenn .. as a soldier in the One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and for her second husband married Greenbury Clayton, of Industry, 111.

The first happening out of the ordinary in the life of Stephen 11. Agans was his marriage, April 1, 1575, bor bottier Eifert. a native of New Or- lea a, who rather to Canmolen Township with her parents. John and Annie Eifert, when she was five years old. The Hiforts are along the early ani honored pioneers of Schuyler County, Mr. Agans purchased the home of his wife's parents. and also that of his father, and he now owns 260 acres in Campo'm Township, and one hundred and sixty actes in Brown County, At the pres- ont time he is making a specialty of stock-breed- ing, and is owner of a herd of fifty Aberdeen Angus cattle, eligible for registration. The ap- pointments of his farm are modern for the most part, and a large amount of money has been ex- pended for buildings, fences, drainage and imple- ments. The owner is a methodical and practical farmer, but at the same time has a keen appre- ciation of the things that make for comfort. and the trees, shrubbery, gardons od vistas that contribute to the pleasure of the mind and eye.

Supplementing his activity and success as a farmer. Mr. Agans has rendered conscientious and satisfactory politi al service, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. to most of the important local offices. He was for eight years Justice of the Peace. for six years Supervisor. Assessor for a like period, and Road Commis- sioner several terms. He also was a member of the Board of Review, and has bell other po-i- tions of local responsibility, Socially be is con- nested with the Mutual Protective League, and in religion is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Azins are the pa- routs of four children : Annie F., wife of B. B. Bowers, a farmer in Section 21. Camden Town- ship, who have five childen-Herald ( who died

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

at age of one year, Loren and Jerald; Mary Isabella, wife of J. Walter Hare, a farmer in Section 35, Camden Township, and father of Orville W., Eva and Morris Hare. Mr. Agans is a highly respected and very useful citizen, enter- ing into the life of the community with intelli- gence and rare good sense, and in his many-sided undertakings winning the approval and appre- ciation of the best element of the community.

AMBROSIUS, John C .- The wage-earning ca- reer of John C. AAmbrosius extended from about his sixth year until his retirement to Rushville in 1907. Few of the leisure class of the commu- nity have so unreintingly pursued the habit of industry, or so wisely utilized their opportunities, as has this erstwhile farmer and stock-raiser, the present worldly assets of whom consist of a com- fortable town home, and 200 acres of valable land in Section 16. Woodstock Township. Mr. Ambrosius was a year old when brought to Schuyler County by his parents from Clark County, Ind., where he was born December 22. 1846. llis father, Philip Ambrosius, was born in Germany, and according to the time-honored custom which secured early independence to the youth of the Fatherland, was apprenticed to a cooper at the age of fourteen years, thereafter following the cooper's trade until coming to the United States at the age of twenty-one. Locat- ing in Clark County, Ind., among people who spoke a strange tongue and who had few inter- ests in common with his own. he rapidly forged to the front as a cooper, and the next year mar- ried and established a home of his own. L'pon coming to Schuyler County in 187, he located near Frederick and there plied his trade, thence removing to Pleasantview, Schyler County, and from there to the State of Missouri, Returning the fall of the same year, he bought eighty acres of land in Rushville Township, north of the farm of Ak S. Strong, and here his death oc- curred at an advanced age, his wife thereafter making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Jor- dan, up to the time of her death in Angust. 1903. This couple were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are still living: Rosalie, wife of Thomas Baxter, of MeDonough County, 1l., Simon, a farmer of Harrison County, Mo. ; Eli- jah, occupying a farm near Camden, Schuyler County : Frances, wife of Jacob Swope, of As- toria, Il .: Elizina. wife of Henry T. Jordan, of Camden, Il .; and Philip. The parents were members of the Union Baptist Church. and the father was a Democrat in politics.

The hard work of his life began when John C. Ambrosius shoukl have been care free, but such were the family fortunes, and so large the num- ber of children, that each was compelled to con- tribute to the general support as soon as their strength permitted. Practically all of the chil- dren acquired a knowledge of coopering, and little John C. was no exception to the rule. At six he had made his work of value, and from then until his retirement, he knew no such thing as help of a financial kind from any one. When his

strength permitted he broke prairie with an ox team, ent timber, made staves which he hauled to the market. and also made flour and other barrels which brought in a considerable revene. Such education as he received was acquired dur- ing a few winter months when he attended school irregularly, but he was keen and observing, and experience and observation have been his most beneficent teachers. In 1875 he joined his brother in the purchase of a farin of 125 acres in Browning Township, fifteen aeres of which they cleared, and May 18, 1876, Mr. Ambrosius mar- ried Nancy Serrot, a native of Sugar Grove, Woodstock Township, and daughter of a very early pioneer family. After his marriage Mr. Ambrosius bought his brother's share in the farm, improved the same until 1887, and that year sold out and bought 120 aeres in Section 16, Woodstock Township. To this he has added eighty acres, and now owns two hundred aeres of as fine and productive land as is to be found in the township. Through the exercise of the greatest economy while on the paternal farm ; be acquired a fortune of $600, a team and wagon, and some substantial wearing apparel; and from this imeleus has come a prosperity which he richly deserves and has worthily wow, lle was obliged to go in debt for a part of his land, pay- ing ten per cent. interest on the same, but this deficiency melted away in a short time, giving place to that supreme independence which a man feels who is the architect of his own success, and the absolute possessor of the domain he occu- pies.

To Mr. and Mrs. Ambrosins have been born seven children : Rhoda, wife of Thomas Gregory. who has one child; Lois. on the home farm; W. IT. Ambrosius, whose wife died April 23, 1906; Marion. connected with the Brown Shoe Factory, of St. Louis ; Lilly, wife of Clarence Rhinchart, also on the Woodstock Township farm, and the mother of two children, Jemima and Chester ; George, living at home: and Clarice, also at home. W. HI. Ambrosius is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Mod- ern Woodmen of the World at Ripley. The farm of Mr. Ambrosius is being conducted by his capa- ble sons, who have been carefully trained by him, and given every advantage possible under the circumstances, Hle is the possessor of a competence sufficient to tide over any emeregney that may arise during the latter part of his life. and what is of far greater value. of the kindly regard and confidence of the people among whom has been spent his well directed and moderate life.

AMRINE, Roscoe C., D. D. S .- 1 type of the able and resourceful dental practitioner is found in Dr. Roscoe C. Amrine, who arrived in Rush- ville, 111., in the summer of 1891 and opened an office over the "Little" store, a location which he still occupies in the new building which has replaced it.

The boyhood and early manhood of Dr. Amrine was spent on a farm near Vermont, Fulton

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

County, Ill., where he was born May 19, 18%. The stable traits of Dutch-English ancestors have come a long way without losing force, and when transferred to this side of the water, have digni- fied agriculture, merchandising and the profes- sions. The progenitor of the Amrine family in America, the great-grandfather of Dr. Amrine. came from Holland and married a Miss O'Neil. of the western portion of Virginia, where he settled on a farm and spent the remainder of his life. Fred Amrine, the paternal grandfather, was born on the Virginia farm, and married Nancy Shop- herd, also of the "Old Dominion." Milton Am- rine, son of Fred, and father of Dr. Amrine, was born at Wheeling. W. Va., and married Roxanna Litchfield, a native of Coschorton County, Ohio, and a daughter of Channey and Martha ( Yight ) Litchfield, natives of Connectiem and Attica, respectively. Leonard Litchfield, the maternal great-grandfather. who married a Miss Spauld- ing, was born in England. and settled in Con- necticut.

Dr. Amrine was educated primarily in the publie schools of Vermont, and after graduating from the high school. entered the dental depart- ment of the Iowa State University, at lowa City, and upon his graduation settled for a time in Astoria, Ill., coming to Rushville in 1891. Not- withstanding his devotion to his profession, the Doctor finds time to participate in various phases of municipal life, and since its organisation. has served as President of the Rushville Building and Loan Association. Politically. he is identi- fied with the Republican party, and has been called upon to fill various offices of importance in the community. He first became a member of the City Council in 1897, was President of that body the following year, and when the town was incorporated under the present charter. was Mayor of the new municipality. To his artistic, scientific, and mechanical attainents, Dr. Am- rine adds a genial and optimistic nature, a public- spirited interest in all that tends to the growth of his city, and an earnest sympathy and good- will which win him a large circle of friends, and a liberal patronage.

ARMSTRONG, John. a substantial and prosper- ous farmer residing in Section 3. Bainbridge Township, Schuyler County. IL .. was born in this township, in the vicinity of Pleasantview. July 12. 1859, a son of Thomas and Catherine Arm- strong. A narrative of the career of Thomas Armstrong may be found in the following ser- tion of this work. John Armstrong received his education in the district schools of Bainbridge Township. and assisted in the work of the home farm until he reached the age of twenty- one years. On attaining his majority, he rented a tract of land in Section 2. same township. on which he remained but a short time. In the spring of 1881. he rented the Thomas Wilson farm. cultivating it until 1957. and afterwards .occupying the Riley Milly place one year. In 1469. he bought 120 acres of land in Section 3. Bainbridge Township, where he has since con-

tinned to live. When he took possession of the property it was in poor condition, but he has made many improvements and now has a fine farm consisting of ISS deres.

On September 20. ISSO. Mr. Armstrong was mited in marriage with Ennoma F. Miller, who was born ir Rushville Township, Selmyler County. September 25, 1559, a daughter of John Henry and Sarah Holland Miller, whose biogra- phy appears on another page in this work. The father of Mrs. Armstrong was one of the pioneer settlers of Bainbridge Township. Mr. and Mrs. Amstrong are the parents of two sons: Harvey, born October 11. 1ss1 : and Owen, born July 29, 146. Both received a good common school edu- vation. Harvey married May Thompson of Woodstock Township, and carries on farming in Bainbratze Township. They have one child. Francis. Owen married Vera Clemons, daughter of William Clemons, a farmer of Rushville Town- ship. and assists his father in the management of the home farm.

In polities, Mr. Armstrong is a supporter of the Democratic party, and for three years, ron- dered faithful publie service as Township Su- pervisor. He is a thorough and successful farmer, and a dutiful and useful citizen.

ARMSTRONG, Thomas, a prosperous farmer of many years' standing and a resident of Bain- Iride Tovish's, Schuhr County, for more. than half a century. is of that Scotch-Irish stock, to which this section is so much indebted for its agricultural advancement and general progress. Ile is now living in comfortable and well do- served retirement in the pretty village of Pleas- antview. his greatest bereavement. which has come upon him in his later years, being the death of his wife, who passed away December 9. 1903. after having borne him five children and been his good and faithful helpmate for more than forty- six years. Before passing away she had been per- mitted to see four of her children reach ages of usefni maturity, and the family as a whole reach a most substantial and honorable station in the community.

Mr. Armstrong was born in County Monaghan, Ireland. in the month of March, 1837. his father. Robert Armstrong, being a native of the same county, but unquestionably of Scotch origin. 1 farmer by occupation. he passed his life in his nativo land. where he was married to Jane Cro- zier. of County Tyrone. Ireland. a daughter of William Crozier. Mrs. Robert Armstrong emi- grated to America in 1552 and first located in New York, where she resided four years, and in 1s5\ became a resident of Illinois. She was the mother of sixteen children.

When a youth of sixteen years, Thomas Arm- strong sailed from Dundalk, Eastern Ireland. to Liverpool, England, and thence embarked on an American vessel for the port of New York, land- ing at the place last named after a voyage of five weeks and three days. There, without friends or money, he started life in the New Workt hy working at the cabinetmaker's trade, and after

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

following that occupation for about a year and a half. turned his attention to marle cutting. But times were hard, and finding that be could earn little money at mannat labor in the East, he de- termined to try hits fortunes in the western fron- tier. To that end he located in Rushville. Ill .. where for three years he worked by the day, month or job, and then fortunately entered the broad field of agriculture by farming for a time on rented land. Later he purchased forty acres in Bainbridge Township, a small house being on the place and seven aeres cleared ; this was the extent of the improvements. Atter living there for four years and greatly improving the home- stead, Mr. Armstrong sold the property at an ad- vance and bought seventy-five acres in the same township. From the latter farm he obtained a comfortable living for some years, continually adding improvements by the remodeling of old buildings and the erection of new ones, and when he had disposed of this place he was in position to buy the 106 acres in Bainbridge Township, which became the nucleus of his landed estate which afterward amounted to 285 acres. Ilis retirement from active farming and location at Pleasantview terminated a long and successful career in agricultural pursuits, and proved con- clusively the wisdom of his determination to abandon the unprofitable drudgery of the handi- crafts for the healthful science of agriculture, with its almost certain rewards of comfort and independence following in the wake of intelligent application and judicious management.

In 1859 Thomas Armstrong married Miss Catherine Ryan, of Buena Vista Township, Schuy- ler County. born February 1. 1840, to Charles and Margaret ( Strong) Ryan. The father moved from his native State of Ohio to Frederick. Schuyler County, where he married. and settled in Buena Vista Township in 1\33. There he died January 9. 1891. his wife having preceded him December 16. 1579. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Arm- strong have become the parents of the following named children : John, whose biography appears in another part of this history : Mary, Charles. Robert. Samuel and Frank ( deceased). As stated, Mrs. Armstrong was called from her busy and useful life in 1905, comforted to the last by her affectionate husband and children and by her unwavering religions faith. The deceased was a member of the Methodist Church, as is her hus- band.

ARTHUR. Abraham, (deceased). a former citi- zen of Selmyler County. III .. but later a resident of McDonough County, spending the last years of his life in the city of Bushnell. was born in Huntingdon County. Pa .. November 22. 1824. the son of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Zimmerman ) Ar- thur. both natives of the Keystone State. After receiving his primary education in the public schools of his native State. in INI4. at the age of twenty years, he left the paremal roof. and joining the tide of emigration towards the West. located at Rushville. IN., where he remained until 1845, when he removed to Beardstown.

After several changes, in 1856 he located on a farm in Walnut Grove Township, MeDonough County, which continued to be his home for many years. Mr. Arthur was united in marriage to Margaret Ann laseman, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 26, 1829, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hageman. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur, namely : Joseph, who died May 18. 1865; Jesse, who mar- ried Harriet Atkinson and resides in Whiting, Kan .: Franklin, married in November, 1877, Lucinda Vertrei, and died August 4, 1879, his wife having died May 4, previous ; Mary J., mar- ried Jacob Angle, and resides at Whiting. Kan .; Catherine Frances, married Fillmore Mummert, and resides in Bushnell, MeDonongh County, and Margaret Jeanette, who married William J. Thompson and now resides near Rushville, III.

In the early part of 1865, Mr. Arthur enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-first Il- linois Volunteer Infantry, which was mustered into service at Qniney, Ill, on February 23d of that year, and which was employed chiefly in guard duty, but taking part in several guerrilla skirmishes in Georgia and other Southern States. received its discharge at Springfield, III .. Feb- ruary 8. 1566. Mr. Arthur served as First Cor- poral of his company. holding this position at the time of his muster-out.

While a resident of Walnut Grove Township, Mt. Arthur was the owner of J91 acres of land, of which 140 acres were under cultivation. IIe also held the office of School Director and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Anti-Horse Thief Association. Several years before his passing away he removed from the farm to Bushnell, Ill., where he continued to reside mitil his death, which occurred October 15, jos, at the age of seventy-four years, being then survived by his wife and four children. The funeral services, conducted two days later, under charge of the Grand Army Post, with Rev. J. A. MeGauchey, of the Presbyterian Church, officiat- ing, were attended by a large number of sor- rowing friends, who still hold his private life and patriotic service to his country in honored and grateful remembrance. Mrs. Arthur died in Bushnell May 2, 1905.

AVERY, James .- The Avery family, whose first and second generation is welded together in the common interest of stock-raising continuously pro- mored since 1859. needs no introduction to the people of Sehuyler County, among whom it was established in Camden Township in 1851. The name stands for the best possible of accomplish- ment in this department of agriculture, and not only the question of quality. but of the large numbers of stock, has contributed to its substan- tial and influential standing in the State. The resourceful founder, Philander Avery, who died May 9. 1907. was a man whose remarkable re- sourcefulness is dwelt upon in detail in another part of this work. He was the boon companion and business associate of his son James, and

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 54

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1126

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126