Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 74

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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John Kerr. to whom this personal record per- tains, attended the grammar schools of County Tyrone during his bovhood. and accompanied his brother to this country when he was about twen- tv-one years of age. ITis first location was at Newark. N. J., where he was employed for a few voors in the inilk business. Following this he obtained work in a woolen mill in the same city. remaining in thet connection until 1960, when he moved to Illinois, settling at Rushville. There he was engaged in general farming, with uniform snecess until his retirement from active pur- suits. He devoted considerable attention also to

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

the operation of coal mines on his land. with profitable results.

The marriage of Mr. Kerr took place in his native country in 10, being then wedded to Elanor Bell, a daughter of Robert and Anna ( Maybe) Bell, who spent their entire lives in Ireland, where they were born. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr became the parents of the following chil- dren, namely: Catherine B. : Joseph A .; Annie E .; Robert J .; James F .: William T .: Charles A .; and May L. In religious belief, Mr. Kerr is an earnest and consistent Methodist, and is a member of the official board of the local church to which he belongs. Politically he is a stead- fast supporter of the policies of the Republican party, is looked upon as one of the most sub- stantial members of the community and one of its most exemplary citizens.

KING, Arthur C .- During the entire half cen- tury of his life, Arthur C. King has lived on the farm in Section 4, Huntsville Township, where he was born Angust 12. 1857. As a boy. when general conditions were cruder and less pros- perous, he bent his strength to small and nuim- portant tasks, and as a man of wide experience and worthy ambitions, he is the sole owner of this fine property. with its stretch or 280 acres, and its adaptation to all the needs of the Con- tral Western farmer. His enviable reputation rests principally upon his success as a stock- raiser, for it is this branch of farming that he finds most congenial, and to which he brings to bear his greatest research and most untiring industry. Mr. King owns a large and comforta- De country residence, well constructed barns and ouimildings and well considered facilities for caring for stock. During a year he disposes of at least 200 head of Short-horn cattle for butch- ering, and many more for milking and breeding purposes, besides 150 head of hops and a large number of horses. His opinion regarding stock bears great weight in the community, and his advice and counsel are often sought by those of less experience along these lines.

Mr. King was reared to farming by his father. Lewis King. and his education was acquired in the public schools. He evidenced early business sagacity. and was keen at a trade long before he settled down to the serions responsibility of self-support. He has always made his work count, a fact which enabled him to buy out ten heirs to the old homestead in 198S, and in the future to pay his own taxes and direct his own farming enterprise. February 22. 1599, he was united in marriage to Lonise Stalman, at Car- thage, Ohio. the home of the bride's brother. Charles Stahman, Mrs. King having been born in Weisberg. Ind .. November 9. 1966. She is a daughter of Henry Stahman, and Dora ( Kecher) Stahman, natives of Gernemy, who died when she was a small child. the mother in 1875 and the father the following year. There were seven children in the Stahman family. of whom Caro- line. Henry and Minnie are deceased. as is also Laura, twin of Frederick, the latter of whom

survived until his sixteenth year, Mrs. King lived with a sister after the death of her par- ents, and when nineteen years old began to make her own living as a clerk in the general merchan- dice store of F. M. hing, of Augusta, brother of her husband, and it was there that she met the man who subsequently became her husband. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. King; an infant, deceased ; Harriet Dorothy, born July 15. 1002; and Theodore Henry, born September 27, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. King are active members of the Presbyterian Church. of Huntsville. Mr. King is a Republican in politics. but is not active except at the polls. lle is highly esteemed for his ability. public spirited- ness and integrity, and well deserves the success and influence which have gathered around his life.

KING, Louis F .-- The ancestry of the King family is traced to French-Canadian lineage and lecame identified with the development of New York. Lewis R. King, who was The son of Jonas King. a soldier of the War of 1812, was born and rentred in New State. Upon starting ont as a farmer he and a brother, C. D. King, bought land in Schuyler County near the village of Brooklyn. During 1839 he visited his old home in New York. but returned in a few months to his farm work in the West. In 1841 orcurrent his marriage to Harriet MeKce, who was born in Manchester, Conn., of English an- cestry, and about 1836 came to Illinois with an uncle. Etiske Olcott. who became a prominent pioneer nærehent of Hancock County. During the Mormon disturbances in Hancock County, Mr. King. acting as a citizen, joined a movement which had for its object the suppression of dis- order and the preservation of law, and while this engaged witnessed the arrest and imprison- ment of the two Sintihs (Joseph and Hyrum) which preceded their assassination by shooting. at the Ilaneuck County jail in Carthage. on Juue 27, 1814.

Immediately west of Brooklyn, on land now owned by Jonas King, was the first home of Lowis R. King after his marriage. but about ISID, he purchased 300 acres of wild land in Huntsville Township, where afterward he im- proved a valuable farm, erected substantial build'nes and placed the land in a good state of cultivation. On his farm there was a burying ground (now abandoned), and here may still be seen a marble slab that marks the last resting- pace of 1. W. Dorsey. the only teacher whom Abraham Lincoln ever had. On one occasion when that famous President was traveling through Western Illinois, he stopped at Ilunts- vile in order that he might visit the grand old man who had been the instructor of his early days. After his visit he proceeded to Macomb. where he held one of the memorable debates of 1558 with Douglas,

The family of Lewis R. King comprised ton children. all but one of whom are yet living. Milton is a farmer in Hancock County, Ill. ;

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Elizabeth and Frederick live in Augusta, llan- cock County, arross the line from Schuyler County ; Sophia married J. M. Reed, of Bir- mingham; Adelaide was for a few years a lead- ing merchant of Camp Point, Adams County ; Henry Il. died in 1906 hear Mountain Grove, Mo .; Arthur C. ocempies the old homestead in Huntsville Townslop: Mrs. Louise Stahl resides at Fowler, Ill .; Harriet makes her home in Augusta: and Louis P'. is the owner of Oak Mound farm on Section 16. Huntsville Township. The last-named was born at the old homestead near Huntsville May 2. 15%, and was about twelve years of age when he was bereaved by the death of his mother. April 26, 1850. The father survived for many years passing away January 14, 1901, deeply mourned by family and friends. In the Presbyterian Church of Hunts- ville his loss was felt, for be long was a leader in the work, an older of the church, and Super- intendent of the Sunday school. The Bilde was ever his favorite book, and many hours were spent each week in the study of its pages, Thus he acquired a thorough knowledge of its contents and became a ready and fluent speaker upon re- ligions subjects. It was always his endeavor to live up to the precepts of the Scriptures. His life was patterned after the great example giveu us in the life of the founder of Christianity. During the existence of the Whig party he voted that ticket, but upon the disintegration of the party he became identified with the Republicans. The holding of office was averse to his tastes and invariably be declined political honors.

Excellent educational advantages were given to Louis F. King. who attended the country schools in Huntsville Township. the high school in Augusta, and Knox College in Galesburz. where he was a student for four years during the presidency of Hon. Newton Bateman, enjoying the opportunity of study under the preceptorship of that cultured scholar. At the expiration of a four-years' course he was given the degree of Bachelor of Science. On his return to his home he took up agricultural work. November 17. 1903, he was united in marriage with Miss Mar- tha F. Whetstone, daughter of Marcus Whet- stone. a well-known pioneer farmer of Schusier County. After his marriage Mr. King brought his bride to a farm he had purchased in 1SUS. comprising 220 acres on Section 16. Ihuntsville Township, and here he has since engaged in gen- eral farming. He and his wife have a son. Paul Whetstone. born December 2. 1904. In religion they are identified with the Presbyterian Church at Huntsville, in which he officiates as an elder. Politically he is a staneb Republican.

Five hundred and twenty acres of land are un- der the control of Mr. King and his wife. A be- liever in scientific agriculture. Mr. King puts his theories into actual practice and ever has been a leader. not a follower. In his own county he has officiated as Vice-President of the Farmers' Institute. besides which he has been called frequently to other counties to participate in institute work, and many of his articles have

been published in agricultural papers, thus giv- ing to other farmers the benefit of his progres- sive ideas. One of his theories is that only first- class stock can profitably be kept on bigh-priced farm land, and on his own place a visitor sees none but the gest grades. As early as 1900 be began to experiment with alfalfa, at a time when most farmers believed it could not be grown as far east as this. llis success proved that its cultivation could be prosecuted with profit, and in the last season ( 2007) he secured three cut- tings from his 20 acres of alfalfa, besides which he could have eut a fourth crop. had he not con- sidered it advisable to allow it to be pastured by the stock. The fact that this kind of hay can be raised successfully is of decided benefit to the farmers of the county, many of whom have taken up the work, encouraged by the success of those who were pioneers in the movement.

KINSEY, William Harrison .- The lite record of William Harrison Kinsey has been one of ob- stacles overcome, opportunities turned to good account, and obligations discharged with credit and discretion. In the past this prosperous farmer boy of Woodstock Township was known as a struggling farmer boy with few opportuni- ties to promote bis rising interests, or encourage him when thrown much earlier than the aver- age upon his own responsibilities. He has suc- cessfu'ly weathered many storms of adversity, and has demonstrated the ability of strong natures to see beyond their immediate horizon, and to endure and hope when others fall by the wayside. Born in Woodland Township, Fulton County. Ill .. April 13, 1861, he is a son of John and Frances ( Boyd) Kinsey, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Ohio. The pa- termal grandparents of William Harrison came to Pleasant Township. Fulton County, Ill., about 1$29, finding few there to greet them, or share with them the hardships of a frontier existence. Their farm in the vicinity of Ipava largely was covered with timber and underbrush, but this eventually was cleared, and the family assumed a proud and commanding position in the com- munity. Being among the very earliest settlers, they kept pare with the advance of community, and were respected both for their financial abli- ity and their many fine personal qualities. No exception to the character and ability of this family was found in John R. Kinsey, father of William Harrison, who in youth learned the blacksmith trade, and followed the same after moving to Sheldon's Grove in 1861. When the war called his attention from accustomed labor. he enlisted in Company F. Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served three years as a Union sol- dier, or until his honorable discharge at the end of the war. Returning to his home, he again worked at blacksmithing. and later accepted a position as watchman on one of the boats plying between Peoria and St. Louis, on the Missis- sippi River. It is supposed that he was drowned while on one of these trips, as he never since has been heard from. The wife who survived

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him married Henry Swan, and died in Beards- town in February, 1575. There were two chil- dren born of her first marriage, William Ilarri- son and George H., the latter of whom died at the age of twenty years. By her second marriage there was a son, David, now deceased.

At Sheldon's Grove, William Harrison Kinsey worked at farming, and practically began his wage-earning career at the age of thirteen years. llis first school teacher was Quin Harrison. and to the kindly interest and good judgment of this early master does he attribute much of the sueress which has come his way. When very young Mr. Kinsey went to work for his uncle, Warren Spiller, receiving for the first two years fifty dollars a year, and for the last three years thiteen dollars a month. Leaving his uncle in 1SS2, he went to Cass County, Ill., and worked there for a Mr. Strubble, and in December of the same year returned to Schuyler County, where on September 11, Iss4, he was united in marriage to Della MI, Miller, Mrs. Kinsey was born in Rushville Township, Schuyler County, May 22, 1866. a daughter of John Henry and Sarah F. (lolland) Miller, natives of Germany and Tennessee, respectively, Mr. and Mrs. Mil- ler were married in Frederick. 111., and soon after settled in Rushville Township, where they became prominent and wealthy general farmers. Mr. Miller died February 13, 1902, and his wife died February 28. 1905. Both were devont Chris- tians, and both were active in their respective churches, Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal.

After his marriage Mr. Kinsey settled in Rush- ville Township, and there lived until moving to Woodstock Township, and to the farm he now owns in 1SS8. He has been successful beyond his most sanguine expectations. now being the owner of 346 acres of valuable land. 153 acres in Woodstock, and 163 aeres in Buena Vista Towy- ship. This property is highly cultivated and de- voted to general farming. Mr. Kinsey has spared no pains to surround himself and family with the best possible influences, and few country homes furnish evidence of more regard for re- finement and the better things of life.

Formerly Mr. Kinsey was a Democrat, but he now is a stanch supporter of the Prohibition canse. le is a devoutly religions man, a mem- ber of long standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a great worker in the Sunday school. He is a member of the Mutual Patriarch League. Mr. and Mrs. Kinsey are the parents of seven children : Winnie F., born Angust -1. 1SS5: George IL., born September 26. 1SST. a graduate of the Rushville Normal Commercial School, class of 1906-07: Uriah L .. born January 29. 1SSS, died in infancy : Frederick J .. born April 18, 1SS9: John. born January 29. 1591; Margaret. born July 27, 1894; and Elizabeth. horn October 3, 1906.

KIRKHAM, George H., well known in connce- tion with "Sunny View Stock Farm," in Sec- tions 35 and 36. Littleton Township, Schuyler County, Ill., and long a man of prominence and

influence in his locality, was born in Schuyler County April 22, 1911, a son of Henry and Eliza- beth ellenkle, Kirkham, and a grandson of Henry Kirkham, whose birth occurred in Vir- ginia, September 2, 1769, and great-grandson of Michael Kirkham, a native of Ireland. Henry Kirkham, father of George 11., was born in But- Jor County, Ohio, and was married in that State to Mizabeth leukle, coming with his wife to Schuyler County, Ill., in the early 'thirties, He first bought 100 acres of land in Woodstock Township. which be cleared of timber and im- proved, living there until ISal. In that year he sold this farm, and purchased eighty-two acres of prairie land in Buena Vista Township, on which he followed farming until the time of his death. in September, 1838. His wife passed away in 1847.

George II. Kirkham remained with his father until he was twenty years old, attending the dis- triet schools up to that period. On August 15. 1501, be culisted in Company G, Twenty-eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. B. C. Gillam, the regiment being assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, The first batthe in which he took part was that of Shiloh, and he afterwards participated in the Singe of Corinth; the engagement at Hatchie Bridge, Miss .; the Siege of Vicksburg; the engagement at Jackson, Miss .; and the capture of Fort Blakely near Mobile. At the Siege of Vicksburg, he was struck on the shoulder by a spent bullet. On the termination of hostilities in that quarter, his regiment was sent to Texas, where he served from April, 1865, until April 6, 1866. when he was mustered out as a non-commissioned officer, to which grade he had been appointed in 1863. After arriving at home he worked for his father one season, and subsequently followed farming on rented land in Woodstock and Buena Vista Townships. Ile continued thus for four years after his marriage, and then obtained from his father-in-law. 200 acres of land lying in Sections 25 and 36, Littleton Township. Of this, 140 acres are cleared and under improvement, and the rest is in timber and pasture. He has greatly improved the property. For the first sea- son, be and his family oceupied a log cabin, and then he bought a small dwelling a mile distant and moved it on to his place. The residence in which the family now lives was built by him in 1SS2. Ile is engaged in general farming, and besides growing small grains, devotes considera- ble attention to raising horses, cattle and hogs.

The marriage of Mr. Kirkham took place No- vember 6, 1869, at which time he was wedded to Annie E. Garrison, who was born in Littleton Township, Schuyler County, Ill., and is a daugh- tor of George and Sarah (Vail) Garrison, both naives of Ohio. Eight children have been the issue of this union, as follows: Charles Lewis. born January 6, 1872, and is engaged in the pre- tive of osteopathy. at Newcastle, Pa. : Elizabeth Lorena, born March 27. 1873, and became the wife of William Blodgett, of Rushville. Ill .; Iva Frances, born November 16, 1874, and living at

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home; William Ray. of Buena Vista Township, Schuyler County, born December 14. 1876; Myrtle Grace, born August 11, 1878. and married W. C. Crawford: George Henry, Forn May 16. 1882, who is employed in a wagon manufactory at Quines, I !!. : Anna Bessie Maude, born Sep- tember 4, INN4, who married L. Doan Dixsou, of Columbus, Mont. : and James Orrin, born Jan uary 4, 1995.

In politics, Mr. Kirkham has been long identi- fied with the Republican party, and served one year as Township Collector. He and his wife are communicants of the Christian Church, in which he has officiated as deacon since 1ss2. Fraternally, he is adiliated with the A. F. & A. M., having joined the Littleton (Ill.) lodge of that order, in 1500. He is a member of the Grand Army of The Republic, Post No. 131, of Rushville. No man in Littleton Township is more sincerely respected than George H. Kirk- ham. and he and his wife enjoy the cordial es- teem of a wide acquaintance.

LAMBERT, William, in duration of residence, one of the oldest citizens of Schuyler County, Ill., and formerly one of the most substantial and prosperous farmers of Littleton Township. is now spending the evening of his life in com- fortable retirement in the village of Littleton. Sehyler County. Mr. Lambert was born in Mer- cer County, Ky .. January 1. 1832, a son of Wil- liam and Catherine (Dennis) Lambert, natives of that State. His maternal grandfather, Rich- ard Dennis, was a Virginian by birth. William and Catherine (Demisi Lambert moved with their family from Kentucky to Rushville, Ill., in the fall of 1836, and the father kept a hotel there until the time of his death in April, 1844. After his decease, his widow sold the hotel. con- timting to reside in Rushville until she passed away in 1852. He had been perviously married. and had three sons by his first wife, namely : Samuel, who was a soldier in the Mexican War. holding the rank of Lieutenant: Henry, also a soldier in the Mexican War under Capt. Dimlap of Rushville, and Jolin. all of whom are deceased. William Lambert was the eldest of the offspring of the second marriage. the others being. Robert. who died in Littleton Township. in 1:01: and Mary Jane, wife of M. O. Snyder. Postmaster of Littleton. Schuyler County.

William Lan bert received his education in the schools of Rushville. Ill .. to which place he was brought by his parents when four years old. At the age of fifteen years he began working for himself. and continued thus, on different farms. until he reached the age of twenty years. Shortly after this period. having married, he acquired. together with his brother Robert. a quarter ser- tion of wild prairie land, which they improved. In 1654. Mr. Lambert sold his interest in this property to his brother, and bought from his father-in-law eighty acres in Section 22. Little- lon Township, After the death of the latter. the other eighty acres of his farm, which was improved land, became the inberitance of Mrs.

Lambert. A few years later, Mr. Lambert bought 160 acres of unimproved land, lying in Sections If and 12 of the same township. He now owns 320 acres in Schuyler County besides city property in Littleton. Forty acres of this second purchase he fenced and improved. putting it under cultivation and leaving the remainder for pasture. Here he was successfully engaged in farming until 1904, when he abandoned active labors, moving to the village of Littleton, where he purchased a commodious residence now oc- enpied by himself and wife, together with a young lady, Florence Snyder, whom they reared trom childhood.

Mr. Lambert has been twice married, his first wife having been Josephine Rose. to whom he was wedded April 8, 1852. She was born in Lit- tleton Township, Schuyler County, in June, 1831, a daughter of Randolph and Sarah (Tullis) Rose, natives of Kentucky. Six children were the issue of this union, as follows: Mabel, who is the widow of George Little, and resides in Lit- tleton, 111 .; William, a resident of Galesburg. Ill. ; Ella ( Mrs. Richard Leach), of Plano. Ill .; Josephine ( Mrs. Henry Jackson) whose home is in Wisconsin ; Edward, who operates the home- stead farm ; and Fannie (Mrs. John P. Walker ). who resides in Chicago. Josephine ( Rose) Lam- bert passed away in April, 1895. On November 30, 1597. Mr. Lambert was united in marriage with Auna Little, who was born in Adams County, Pa .. April 13, 1858, a daughter of Robert and Eliza ( Cunningham) Little. natives of Ire- land, where the father was born in County Ty- rone, and the mother in Belfast. The parents of Mrs. Lambert came to Rushville, Ill., in 1850. settling in the vicinity of the town. Her pater- nal grandfather was James Little, and the grand- father ou the maternal side was Henry Cun- ningham.

In politics. Mr. Lambert has always been an adherent of the Democratic party, but never an aspirant for public offire. He attends religious worship at the Christion Church. In fraternal circles, he is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M. lle and his wife are the objects of high regard throughout the community.

LANCASTER, William .-- It has been the for- tune of the Lancaster family to be identified with the agricultural development of Schuyler County for a period of eighty years. The founder of the name in this part of Illinois was Thomas T. Lancaster, a native of Kentucky, who in 1825 left the home of his boyhood and came to Schiy- ler County. entering a claim on Seetion 12 of Browning Township. At that time he and Wi !- liam Robertson were the only two white men in all that region. Roving bands of Indians were wont to traverse the country on their annual hunting trips and frequently he met them in the woods. On one occasion. after his clothing had been warsted in an encounter with a wolf dos. the Indians offered him a pup to pay for d: In- ages done. In 1929 he was joined by a sister and three brothers. William. Henry and Hart-

Della MI. Thompson.

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

zell. all of whom settled in Browning Township. After four years on Section 12 he moved tu Net- tion 10, where he remained for seventy-four years. until his death.

When the "Deep Snow" of 18:0 came. Thomas T. Lancaster had been in Illinois for two years and had his rude cabin well stocked with pro- visions for the winter, but, like other pioneers, he suffered severe hardships before the storm abated. The show began to fall on the 24th of December and the ground was covered to a depth of four feet on the level. lad it not been for an abundance of wild game, many of the settlers would have starved before spring. The pioneers depended upon game for a large share of their support and the necessities of the times made him a skilled hunter. By constant toil he trans- formed a wilderness into an improved farm. and the place nyon which his youthful energy was spent afforded him a home for his declining years. When he was still a few months less than twenty-one years of age, he east his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson during the latter's first candidacy for the office. From that time he never wavered in support of the Dem- ocratie party, whose candidates he supported from Jackson to Bryan. For sixty-seven years he was a member of the Church of Christ. in which he was baptized by Rev. Beverly Curry. Possessing strong religious faith, be took pleas- ure in doing lus duty as a church-member and for many years served as an elder in his congrega- tion. A thoughtful student of the Bible, as long as bis eyesight permitted he loved to read the precious promises of the Book, and he died in the full assurance of a happy home beyond the grave. lle was born January 28, 1807. and had he been spared four days longer, he would have been ninety-nine years of age. Seventy-eight years of that period had been passed in Schuyler County, where he was one of the oldest resi- dents at the time of his death. His last days were passed amid peace and plenty, surrounded by loyal children and affectionate grandchildren.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 74

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