USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2 > Part 73
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In 1904. Mr. Hymer returned to Rushville, and since has lived in retirement. He has a pleas- ant home, and his days are brightened by asso- ciation with many of the pioneers who knew him in the old days. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and fraternally is con-
nected with the Independent Order of ... lows.
IRVIN, William G., known throughout $
County. It .. as the proprietor of the Brooklyn. JH., was born near Staufors. County, Ky., January 10, 1836, a son Washington and Beersheba ( Elmore) I" natives of that county and a grandson. ling Irvin. George W. Irvin aud Les moved from Kentucky to Sebnyler Cott .: early in the last century, traveling t- and settling at Rushville. The father d farm mar Rushville about the year five years after his death, his widow was to John Spoonamore, and continued to this vicinity. Both are long since The first marriage resulted in two sons daughters, and the second, in two sons daughter. all of whom are dead, with tion of Zachariah T. Spoonamore, who dent of Cooperstown. Brown County. liam G. Frvin attended school in Littlet ship, Schuyler County, remaining at 2. his mother and step-father until he was years old. when he hired out on a 1863. he secured employment in the Ilotel at Macomb. MeDonough County. he remained until 1870. Following worked two years as a clerk in a Little: store, and subsequently carried on farn equal period. then purchasing a gener Doddsville. MeDonough County, whie_ ducted until 1800, serving also as Post_ that town for twenty years. In the mentioned, he sold out his business i Doddsville, moving to Rushville, Schus! - 2 and taking charge of Peters' Hotel. kept a year. On relinquishing this. went into the mercantile business. 1 . Brooklyn. 11 .. and later, building the b he has since continued to operate. It : pacity of eleven rooms, and is the on !- publie entertainment ever conducted lyn.
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On March 10, 1865. Mr. Irvin was marriage with Frances M. Brown. wh T in the vicinity of Industry. MeDone :... IN .. May 23. 1851, and is a daughter of Mary (Rolph) Brown, natives of Da - Eight children resulted from this ur! low's: Estella, and Idella, twins, who December 26. 1840, and died Jis: 1570 : Tain May, born February 26. 15 born June 26. 1873, deceased Augu -- Vivian Randolph, born August 17, 1ST born May 13, 1850: William F., bor !. 2. 1558: and Mary Hulda, born In ... 1889. Lula M. married James Morris New London. Iowa : Vivian R. is ene wholesale grocery business at Ga's under the firm name of the Gales' : " Company : Jennie is the wife of Fact of Angusta. 11. : William F. is in the _. trade in Brooklyn, IN .. and holdls LA.
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
Postmaster of the town, residing with his par- ents ; and Mary II. is also at home.
Mr. Irvin joined the Baptist Church at Dodds- ville in IS 2, but is now a member of the Pres- byterian Church, of Brooklyn, there being no church of the former denomination in the vil- lage. In politics, he has long been a Republican. He and his wife, together with the other mem- bers of the family, are highly respected.
JARMAN, Lewis A .- For many years public opinion has accorded Lewis A. Jarman a fore- most place among the citizens and legal practi- tioners of Selmyler County, and so stable a fix- ture has he become in the affairs of Rushville that his election to his present position as Mayor, in April, 1905, would seem a natural and expected continuation of the many honors grow- ing out of his ability, integrity and large capacity for useful citizenship.
Of Southern ancestry on both sides of his fam- ily, Mr. Jarman was born in Greensboro. Md .. September 28, 1858. a son of Thomas H. and Mary E. (Lewis) Jarman, natives of Maryland and Delaware, respectively. Ilis grandparents, Thomas II. and Elizabeth Jarman, were born in Maryland. and his maternal grandparents, Thomas II. and Sabra Lewis, were natives of Delaware and Maryland, respectively. Com- pleting his preliminary education at the Western Maryland Coffege, at Westminster, he then en- tered the Maryland University, at Baltimore, and after graduating therefrom in the class of ISSI, spent a year acquiring the rudiments of law in a law office in Baltimore, and has been in the active practice of law in Rushville since 1882. building upon the foundation of splendid personal qualities, a reputation for reliable, con- servative and dependable professional service.
An abiding belief in the best tenets of the Re- publican party has hd Mr. Jarman to espouse its cause with vigor and enthusiasm, and through various local official channels he has labored to promote the best interests of the community. Mr. Jarman was a delegate from the Fifteenth Congressional District to the Republican Na- tional Convention in June. 1001, and in April. 1905. was elected chief executive of the city of Rushville. His marriage to Lizzie B. Ray. a native of Rushville and graduate of the North- western University, at Evanston, Ill .. occurred June 26. 1559. The distinguishing characteris- ties of Mr. Jarman are forre of character. in- domitable energy and executive ability, potent agencies for the advancement of men to import- ant stations in life.
JONES, Edward J .-- Although a resident in other sections of the country for brief periods. Mr. Jones has always been anxious to return to Schuyler County, and here practically all of his active life has been passed. At this writing he resides on North Maple Avenue. Rushville, where he owns two residence properties, and in adıli- tion is the owner of an improved farm of 100 acres in Oakland Township. The latter town-
ship is the place of his birth, April 12, 1812, be- ing the date thereof. His father, James Thomp- son Jones, was one of the honored pioneers of Selmyter County, whose memory long will re- main green in the hearts of those hound to him by ties of kinship or friendship. In physique he was very tall and fly proportioned, and his weight led to his selection as color-bearer in the days when military feeling ran high and when preparations for war were being made on every hand. The son of a Whig. be himself was an ardent Demoerat and never tailed to give his allegiance to the principles and candidates of that party.
A native of Havre de Grace. Md .. James Thompson Jones was born June 19. 1812, and in boyhood went to Pennsylvania with his father. Edward J., (also a native of Maryland). The family settled in Washington County, where his father died and was buried in the Bethel Church Cemetery. Upon starting out to make his own way in the world he came to Illinois and took up land in Oakland Township. Schuyler County, where he began the clearing of his land. After the death of his first wife he returned to Penn- sylvania and there married Mary Perine, born in 1816. While they were living in Penasyl- vania, a son. Stephen P., was born in Angust of 1×10. Lator they came to Hiinois and the sec- ond son. Edward J .. was born in Oakland Town- ship, which also was the birthplace of the third son, Daval, who died at the age of twenty-one. The wife and mother died on the home farm February 6, 18H. Later the father went back to Pennsylvania and in 1816 married Dorcas Gorsuch, who was born in Virginia, and arcom- panied her father. Nicholas Gorsuch. a Virginian by birth and ancestry. to Pennsylvania. Dur- ing 1552, James T. Jones again came to Selmy- ler County and took up farming pursuits in Oak- land Township, where four children were born of his union with Miss Gorsuch, namely: Eliza- beth, now the widow of Abram Bly and a resi- dent of Oakland Township: Mary, wife of New- ton Edmonston, a farmer of Oakland Township; George W .. who is represented elsewhere in this work: and John Jones, a carpenter living in Rushville. The father died September 7. 1971. and was buried in a cemetery near Vermont. 111. For years he had served as Justice of the Peare. besides which he had been Road Commis- sioner and a member of the County Board of Supervisors. A natural mechanic. his skill with tools led him to do considerable carpentering and he also was engaged at the trade of brick-mason to some extent.
l'pon leaving the old home farm at the age of twenty-tivo years, Edward J. Jones went to Mis- souri and there worked for eighteen months. Ilowever, he was not satistied to remain in that country and returned to his early home. No- vember 25. 1-04, he married Ella Tutt, who was born in Rushville Township January 21. 1867. being a daughter of James and Marietta Tutr. nalives of Kentucky but pioneers of Schuyler County. Here Mr. Tutt died in October. 1993.
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
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and here his widow still makes her home in Rushville Towi ship. Atter remaining on the home farm for some years, in 1899 Mr. and Mrs. Jones removed to Rushville. their present home. They have two children, namely: Lolla Edna, born February S, 150G; and Herman, born De- cember 3, 1001. The family attend the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Jones is an active member. Three times Mr. Jones was elected Supervisor from Oakland Township, and in addition he filled the office of Road Commis- sioner during his residence in that township.
JONES, George W .-- It is significant of the en- ergy and judgment of Mr. Jones that he has risen to a position of independence without the prestige of capital or influence to aid him in starting. When he became a land-holder in Schuyler County, he acquired the title to eighty aeres on Section 31. Oakland Township, but he lacked $200 of having sufficient money to pay for the land at the time of its purchase. A part of the tract was not cleared and he at once be- gan to remove the heavy timber, thus placing the land in condition for cultivation. The first in- debtedness was soon paid. Then he purchased additional land. and from time to time he ae- quired other tracts until now he owns 190 acres in one body in Oakland Township, this repre- senting the energy and wise management of his active years,
The record of the Jones family, which appears in the sketch of Edward J. Jones on another page, shows that they came from Maryland, the grandfather, Edward J. and the father. James T., having both been natives of that State, but subsequently residents of Washington County, Pa., from which the latter migrated to Illinois in an early day and settled in Schuyler County. Among the children born of his marriage to Miss Gorsuch was George W .. whose birth of- curred August 16, 1853, on the farm in Rush- ville Township now owned by F. P. Richey. During boyhood he accompanied the family to Oakland Township, where he attended school and learned the rudiments of agriculture, to which his life has been devoted. After the death of his father in 1872, he left the home roof and began working for others, receiving $18 per month, which was at that time the very highest wages paid to farm hands.
The marriage of George W. Jones and Phoebe Jane Rose was solemized March 6. 1878. Mrs. Jones was born in Chelsea, Washtenaw County. Michigan. October 22, 1551. being a daughter of Warren P. and Mary ( DrPenw) Rose. Tho family came to Illinois about 1557 and settled in Schuyler Couny, where Mr. Rose cleared a tract of land in Rushville Township and improved a good farm. After the death of his wife in 1592. he removed to lowa, dying there in 1596. All of bis seven children survive him, namely : Hardin C .. of Ray, I. : Houry B .. a farmer in Littleton Township: Mrs. Dnes: Richard. of Beardstown. III .: Edna, wife of Charles E. Chipman. of Davenport, Thayer County. Neb. : Mira, wife of
Gilbert MeMillen; and Annie E., Mrs. Samue E. Simpson, of Oakland Township. The ch! dren of Mr. and Mrs. Jones are as follows: Mars I., who was born December 1, 187s, and diea March 1, 1907: David P., born August 15, 1850; Edna V., who was born November 20. 1882, and is now Mrs. U. Sowers, of Oakland Township; Annie E .. who was born March 26, 1885. And married Lewis Heaton, of Vermont, Il. ; Mate E., born May 29, 18SS; George E. and Jaties :. (twins) horn March 24, 1891; Carrie, JJnue 10. 1 93: and f'ra Glenn, October 26, 1596. In working to improve his farm Mr. Jones had the assistance of his children until they, one by one. started out to earn their own way in the wori l. but the younger still remain to bless the home with their cheerful presence and brighten the lives of their parents with their sympathy alal ready aid. Politically Mr. Jones has always been a stanch Democrat and on that ticket, has been elected to various local offices; the Chess- tian Church, of which he is an earnest member. has had the benefit of his generous contributi »,, as well as the co-operation and aid of his family.
JUSTUS, Moses L. (deceasedi, for many years connected with the milling business ht Schuyler County, Ill., but who spent his .. ~ 1 years in retirement at Browning, same con ... was born in Hancock County, Ill .. December 12. 1831, a son of George W. and Susan (B; ) Justus. The birth of Moses L. Justus or .:. red while his parents were traveling by wages. to the west. George W. Justus was born in MSale Temessee about the your 1795. and in 1829 2. married to Susan Bates, a daughter of Mr. it Mrs. William Bates, of Kentucky. wing man he followed the occupation '1 teacher. but in later years devoted his atte .. In agricultural pursuits. They settled at G. : d Island. Browning Township. Schuyler Co. A but later. for some time lived at Summum. : 0 ton County. George W. Justus became the o. of considerable tracts of land. He died home of his son, F. M. Justus, at the age of - six years, his wife having passed away one previous to the decease of her husband.
The early life of Moses L. Justus was ? in Schuyler County, where he received his cation in the common schools. took place in 1857, when he was united Martha A. Steppe. a daughter of John L. S and wife, natives of Tennessee. In politi - Justus was a supporter of the Democratic Ilo was a habitual abstainer from all int ing liquors, and a strong advocate of temy .. principles. His decease occurred Januar 1908.
JUSTUS, Dr. William F., a well-known. ent and popular physician of Littleton, S . County. 11., was born in Browning. S County, May 29. 1872 a son of Moses I. Martha A. (Steppe) Justus. (A sketch father. with other facts of meestral hister. pears in a preceding section of this biogr
W.W. thompson
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
portion of the work.) William F. Justus re- ceived his education in the public schools of Browning Township, and in the Illinois State Normal University, at Normal. At the age of nineteen years, he entered the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, lowa, from which he was graduated in 1892. Hle then began the practice of medicine at Industry, MeDonough County, Ill., where he continued in practice un- til 1897. In the spring of 1898, in company with a party of six residents of Rushville. 111., he made a trip to Alaska. Returning after a so- journ of four months in that region, he located in Littleton, Ill., there resuming the practice of his profession on January 1. 1599, Since then. through skillful methods and close attention to duty, Dr. Justus has succeeded in acquiring a substantial patronage in Littleton and the sur- rounding country. and has gained an enviable reputation as a practitioner of solid attainments in medical science and as a strict adherent of the highest ethics of the healing art.
On April 7, 1894, Dr. Justus was united in marriage with Anna M. Garrison, who was born in Littleton Township, February 28. 1874. Mrs. Justus is a daughter of Henry W. and Anna M. (Justns) Garrison. Her father is a native of Ohio, while the birthplace of her mother was Brooklyn Township. Schuyler County. One child is the issue of this union. Ansel Howard, born May 26, 1895.
Politically. Dr. Justus is a supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and has served one term in the office of Supervisor of Lit- tleton Township. In fraternal circles, he is iden- tified with the M. W. and the M. W. A., of Little- ton, the I. O. O. F., of Rushville, 11. : and the B. P. O. E., of Macomb, MeDonough County. Dr. Justus has won the confidence of those who have availed themselves of his professional services. and of the publie in general. and socially he and his estimable wife maintain a deservedly high standing.
KELLY, James M .- The present high social and financial standing of James M. Kelly among his acquaintances in Schuyler County is a trib- ute to his indomitalde energy and to the perse- verance with which, unaided. he has fought the battle of life ever since he was a lad of tender years. As a soldier in the Civil War he took part in many sanguinary engagements and faced many business interests: is a stockholder and tles he has also had many struggles, but in both he has been victorious. Through mich of his ar- tive life he followed agrienltural pursuits, but of recent years he has retired to some extent from the manual labor connected with the devel- opment of a farm. However. he still retains many business interests, is a stockholder and director in the People's State Bank of Astoria. and is President of the Deep Water Commission of Brown and Schuyler Counties. Kelly lake and brauch were named in his honor. and in many ways he has left the impress of his force-
ful personality upon the locality where for years he has been a leading citizen.
In Vermont Township. Fulton County, III., James M. Kelly was born September 7, 1414. the third child of Franklin B. and Elizabeth (Hol- in_> worth Kelly. The former was born in Fleming Comity, Ky,, December 25, 1812, a son of Francis F. Kelly. Ahont 1536 he migrated to Fulton County, Il., and secured a claim near the village of Vermont, where he died about IS53, when James M. was nine years of age. The members of the family were as follows: Francis M., who was a member of the Fifty- first Illinois Infantry during the Civil War and died in Fulton County abont 1875; Caroline, who married Timus Andrews, of Hollenberg, Washing- ton County, Kan. ; James M .; Emily, wife of Joli Swink. of Washington. Kan. : Cynthia A .. Mrs. Evert Bingham; Sarah. Mrs. Harlow Pal- mer: and Margaret, who died in girlhood.
Had the life of Franklin B. Kelly been spared to oll : ge. undoubtedly he would have attained flattering success, as at his death in middle age he owned a farm of 100 aeres, the fruits of his unaided efforts. This he left to his sons, Fran- vis M. and James M., they to operate the land and support the other members of the family. The mother remained at the old homestead until her death. and the sisters also grew to woman- houd there, leaving the old rooftree for homes of their own. The younger son, James M., not being old enough at his father's death to assist greatly in the development of the farm, started out in the world to earn his own way. At the age of eleven years he went to Macomb, where he worked for his board. His employer was a drover and the boy thus had an opportunity of working with horses, an occupation of which he was fond. In 1556 he returned to the old home. Two years later, in the fall of 1858, he came to Schuyler County and began to work by the month for his mother's father, with whom he lived until his enlistment in the army.
When the call came for soldiers to aid in the preservation of the I'nion. the patriotie spirit of James M. Kelly was aroused, and on October 20. 1561. he enlisted at Peoria, Ill., as a private in Company G. Eleventh linois Cavalry, com- manded by Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll. The regiment rode on horseback to Benton Barracks. In the spring of 1862 they went from St. Louis to Pittsburg Landing. The Eleventh bore an ae- tive part in many sanguinary engagements. Their record was one of which their friends felt proud, and which even to this day brings its members many flattering testimonials. Their barnism of fire came at Shiloh, where at sunrise they saw the enemy's colors waving in the dis- tance as they approached for action. About eleven o'clock General Prentiss was captured. All day the battle raged fiercely and the brave Eleventh fought desperately to defend the Infan- try. On the second day relief came and about twelve o'clock on the 7th of April. the enemy was driven back and the field was left to the dead and the dying. Again at Corinth the
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
Eleventh defended the Infantry amid great peril. Other and Jater battles brought them added laurels of fame. The arduous campaign with Sherman to the sea lound them over at their post of duty. After the surrender of the Confederacy. Company & proceeded to Washington and took part in the grand review as escort to General Frank 1. Blair, being honored with that posi- tion in recognition of meritorious conduct at the battle of llatchie's Run. Through mich of the active service Mr. Kelly acted as Orderly and carried messages long distances from one tien- eral to another, or from the officers to his com- rades.
After having been honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, in July of 1865, James MI. Kelly returned via Springfield to Fulton County. 11., and from there again came to Schuyler County. Going back to Pulton County m isos. he rented a farm and in March, 1409, married Miss Emily, daughter of Joseph Kelly and a hat- tive of Illinois. Though bearing the same fam- ily name, the two were not blood relations. Subsequent to his marriage Mr. Kelly rented a farm in Browning Township, Schuyler County. In 1879, he bought 128 aeres on Section 17, Hick- ory Township, where he and his wife lived in a log cabin until they accumulated the means nec- essary for erecting a better house. From time to time he added to bis possessions and now owns 378 acres, all in one body.
The eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly is Laura, born March 18. 1871 ; she married Charles Harmon, of Canton, 11 .. and has two children. Clarence W. and Emily Ethel. The second child in the Kelly family is Abbie, born September 2S. 1875, who married James D. Woolley. and has two children, Fay, horn July 19, 1895, and Mae. born May 3, 1897: they reside on the old home- stead. The third child, Helen, born June 11. 1877, married Fred A. Schultz of Peoria. Ill .. and has one child, born February 12, 1597. The fourth child of Mr. Kelly is James Francis, born Angust 29, 18SO, and now managing the old home farm on Seetion 17. Hickory Township. The youngest child, Bertha, was born Angust 26. 1882, and is now the wife of Edward Sack- man of Peoria, For twenty-five years Mr. Kelly served as School Director and meanwhile accom- plished much for the upbuilding of the schools of his district. Politically he is a stanch Republi- can. Though living in a Democratie township. he has been three times elected on the Republican ticket as a member of the County Board of Su- pervisors, and the fact that he overcame the usual large majority of the opposite party speaks much for his personal popularity. As a member of the board he proved useful and efficient ind assisted in promoting the interests of his town- ship as well as the general welfare of his county.
KENNEDY, Maxwell (deceased), was born in Logan County. Ky. near the Tennosser line. July 4. 1847. TTis parents removed to Canton. 11 !.. In the year 1549, where they resided six months. going from there to MeDonough County and lo-
cating on a farm near Vermont. Here Mr. Kon- nedy grew to manhood. receiving his early ednei- tion in the country district schools, and later attended The Vermont school. When sixteen years of age he began his career as a teacher, his first school being at Foster's Point. He later attended Listan's Business College at Chi- ratgo, where he laid the broad foundation for his future stircessful work along similar lines, After returning from school he decided to take np
mercantile work, and secured a position as bookkeeper for a Mr. Ravenscroft. at Ver- sailles, but he soon gave this up to resume teaching. his next position being at Quincy. where he taught several years. From Quincy he went to Industry and later to Macomb. It- moving to Rushville in 1885, where he resided until a few days before his death.
lle was twice married. His first wife was Miss Jennie Greenup of Industry, and they were married in March, 1874. She accompanied himn to Rushville, and died in this city. January 10, 19, 9, leaving one son, Charles, now a resident of San Francisco. Cal. Prof. Kennedy was married to Miss Elizabeth Ellison of Vermont. December 30, 1590, and she survives with one son, Lloyd. to mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father.
He was a member of the M. E. church, and in his private and public life ho met the full responsibilities that devolve upon the true teach- er, who has in his charge the moral as well as the mental training of the young mind.
Prof. Maxwell Kennedy, former President of the Rushville Normal and Business College, at Rushville, and also proprietor of a similar school in Macomb, Ill., died suddenly at Vermont. Ill .. July 9, 190S.
KERR, John .- An instructive example of what may be accomplished by fixed purpose. tenacity of will. diligent exertion and strict honesty, may be found in the life of the worthy retired farmer of Rushville, Schuyler County, TIL .. whose name appears above, and who. although beginning his active career with no extraneous ald. started out as a vonny lad in the struggle for self-support. and won success by untiring perseverance and thrifty economy. Mr. Kerr was born in County Tyrone. Ireland. in 1840. His father. John Kerr. was a native of the same county in Ire- land, and the birthplace of his mother. Rebecca (Voir) Kerr. was in Scotland. Neither of them ever came to the United States.
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