Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 91

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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Dr. Scott obtained his primary education in the public schools of Schuyler County, and his classical training at Monmouth (ill.) College. In 1SS1 he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. G. P. Knapp, of Mount Vernon, Mo., and afterward attended lectures at the Missouri Medical College in St. Louis, from which he was graduated in March, 1884. During the next year he practiced medicine in Mount Vernon, Mo., and then moved to Rushville, which has since been his home. and where he has -built up a remunerative practice. He was appointed County Physician in 1902, and has held other positions of importance commensurate with his professional skill. He was member of the County Board of Supervisors for Rushville Township for two years, and is now President of the Board of United States Pension Examiners. Po- litically. he is tirm in his allegiance to Demo- cratie principles. Dr. Scott is a sympathetic. earnest man, striving to attain the best ideals of his profession, and applying his knowledge with rare discretion and excellent results.

SETTLES, Gilderoy .- An example of inspiring adaptation to the agricultural life, an expression of that resource. business insight. unremitting industry, wise investment, keen grasp of the po- litical, social and general situation, and shrewd knowledge of human nature which lifts a man to the highest country achievement and useful- ness. is found in the career of Gilderoy Settles, a retired resident of Rushville, who in youth knew but moderato advantages, and in later lifo is the owner of GSO acres of farm lands. besides several town lots and dwellings in Schuyler County. and 320 acres of prairie land in Clark County, Kan. The acquisition of these valuable holdings has been gradual and legitimate, and in his accomplishment the owner sends out from

his own to the lives of those around him the most wholesome airl beneficent encouragement. This ex-soldier of the Union and ohserving tray- eler has spent more than half a century of his lite in this county, and in Rushville Township has bought and sold more land than any other dweller within its borders. No one has con- iributed more substantially to the making of lo- cal history, or to the character, purpose and in- tegrity of this part of Illinois.

A native of Kurtin Township, Fulton County, 111., Mr. Settles was born November 11. 1537. a son of William Settles, who, born in Tennessee, journeyed overland to the wilderness of Greene County, Th,, about 1527. To his frontier cabin William Settles brought a wife, formerly Miss Moody, and here were bore two children, Charles and Jordan (,, both of whom survived their mother's death in Greene County. Mr. Settles changed his habitation to Fulton County, Ill., about 1533, and here was united in mirriage to Peggy Carlock, who became the mother of the following children: Polly Ann, who died in Schuyler County, and whose husband. Abram Wallle. died in Iowa : David J .. a soldier of the I'nioh during the Civil War. who died at Helena. Ark., and whose body was sent home for burial; Serena, deceased wife of Neth Griggs, of Clin- ton, Mo .: Penina, wife of John Strawsbaugh, a farmer of Table Grove Township. MeDonough County, Il .: fluent, deceased wite of John Flint : aud Josiah, who died at Sedalia. Mo .. December 25. 1905. The mother of these chil- dren died in Fulton County, and about 1850 Mr. Settlers located in Browning Township. Schuyler County, from whence he moved to Morgan County. Ill., where his death occurred about 1.SGS.

The environment of Gilderoy Settles in Fulton County was extremely ernde. and now that sue- cess has abundantly crowned his efforts. no memory is so dear to him as that of the crack- ling log in the fireplace. the dim light of the tallow dip, the school house on the bill. the river sparkling in the sunlight. and the mill wheezing away the days in its mission of food grinding. His undeveloped strength was sorely taxed with the hard and exacting duties of the home farm. yet in the open he developed a fine constitution and healthy ambitions. also a keen appreciation of the dignity and nobility of the calling of his sires. IT was about fourteen years old when he came with his father to Schuyler County in the early fifties and he continued to live at home until his marriage, in IST, to Penina Pracy. who was born in Fulton County. Ill .. May 14. 1835, a daughter of Lyman Tracy, a native of New York State, and one of the early settlers of Fulton County. With his wife Mr. Settles established a home on eighty acres of unim- proved land In Browning Township, for which he paid . dollar in here, the same skirting Stear Creek. a friend's lith roam that a Ided much to the value and prospects if his farm. His first homo was a log cabin of small dimensions, but comfortable withal for those days, and here was

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born his son, Leander, May 28, 1:59, and his daughter, Florentine, March 31, 1865. Leander, whose sketch appears in another section of this work, married Jessie Retomar, and they have four children : Harry, Anna, Hiliah, and Lura. Ile is now a retired farmer living in Rushville. The daughter Florentine, married Chmentine Milby, and they live on a farm in Rushville Township, with a family of three children : Ger- trude, Ruth and Edward.

With that commendable zeal which has chard(- ferized all of his tite undertakings, Mr. Settles enlisted, March 15, 1865, in Company I, Third Illinois Cavalry, for one year, :nd was sent to Springheld. Ill., and to Eastport, Miss., romain- ing there until the surrender of Lee at Appom:it- tox. April 9, 1565, five days before the assassina- tion of President Lincoln. From there the soldiers were sent to St. Louis, Mo., and thence to St. Pimil, Minn., where they went into camp at Fort Snelling. One morning early they were ordered out after the Indians, whom they ian to Devil's Lake and out of the Territory. Tuy had many opportunities to fish and hunt. but finally were ordered back to Fort Spelling, dis- charged and sent to Springfield, Ill., where the" were mustered out of the service. Returning to bis cabin on Sugar Creek, Mr. Sattles learned of the birth of his daughter, Fiorentine, during his absence, and he again took up the burden of farming, wielding with renewed vigor bis im- plements of husbandry with peace and good fel- lowship.

In 1867 Mr. Settles changed his home to al farm of 180 acres in Browning Township, a rough timbered property that left mueh to be desired in the way of improvement. Here was born April 14, 1866, his son, Walter Logan, who married Nola Robeson, is now a farmer in Rush- ville Township, and has six children-Carl. Ralph, Melvin, Manford, Edith and Edna ; Dora, born August S. 1870. is wife of William Carty, and mother of Clyde B. and Charles Carty ; Charles R., born December 29, 1873, married Myrtle Simpson, and lives on a farm in Rush- ville Township; Orpha, born July 12, 1576, on the farm where Adam Rebman now lives, and who is the wire of William Phillips, and mother of four children, two of whom died in infancy. those living being Ibanda and Hildreth Eva. In 1875 Mr. Settles sold his farm and bought land now owned by Mr. Rehman. His wife died Octo- ber 16, 1502. She was a noble and lovable wo- man, possessed a host of friends, and was sadly missed by her immediate family and by many who had known the charm of her personal sym- pathy and hospitality. December 25, 1895, Mr. Settles married Clara Elizabeth Zeigler, who was born in York County, Pa., January 31, 1864, a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Zeigler. both of whom still live in the Quaker Stato. Mr. Zuigler is a machinist by occupation, and during the war was employed by the Government as a bridge bilder. and also assisted in the construe- tion of Fort Monroe. Calvin Zeigler, a brother

of Mes. Settles, is a prosperous farmer in Brown- ing Townslup.

llaving abandoned for all time the responsibil- ities of farming, AIr. Settles and his wife started upon an extended western journey in November, 150G, visiting Pike's Peak, Maniton, the Garden of the Gods, and other places of interest in Col orado, thereafter extending their trip to Los An- geles, San Francisco, and other points in Cali- fornia. Ilis many sided experiences and kech observations as a traveler were enjoyed by his many friends in Rushville and Schuyler County through the publication of letters written by hita and published in the Citizen and other home papers. Returning to the county that has known and appreciated him for so many years. Mr. Soitles took up his abode in his present de- lighttul residence on Jefferson Street, Rushville. which he had purchased in 1906, and in which on March 10, 1907, he began a jess arduous ife than ke hitherto had lived. This home is pre- sided over by a gracious and accomplished wife, who understands the art of rendering condorta- ble those around her, and who is highly - tecmed by all who are privileged to enjo, her acquaintance. Besides his home, Mr. Settles owns twelve other town lots and three dwellings in Rushville, three lots in Long Beach, Cal., and eleven lots in Beardstown, Il. in all he has bought and sold in Rushville Township, 1.200 acres of land, a record upapproached by any other of its anticultural upbanders. As before stated, he paid one dollar an aere in gold for his first farm, going in debt for a part of it, and for his last land lip paid $125 an acre, and now re- Inses 8150 for the same. No tiner or more pro- dnetive property is to be found in the Central West. due principally to the careful methods of rotation, fertilization and general cultivation oh- served by the owner.

Possessing so umistakably the faculty of accu- mulation. Mr. Settles naturally has gravitated towards banking, and is one of the stockhol lers of the Bank of Schuyler County. Politically he is a Republican, but no partisan, and no amount of persuasion has caused him to invade the ranks of office holders. He is a member of the Grand Aminy of the Republic. Colonel Horney Post. and prominent at reunions and general post undertakings. Personally, a genial. confidence inspiring and forceful man, Mr. Settles has won and kept friends all along his vigorous and pur- posetul lite, and everywhere that he is known, is regarded as an excellent neighbor, loyal friend, interesting companion and dependable country gentleman.

SETTLES, Leander, who may fitly be classed among the most prosperous and substantial farm- ern of Rushville Township, Schuyler County, Ill., and one of the leading citizens of his community, was born in Browning Township. Schuster County. II .. Mar 28, 1859, a son of G. R. and Penina Settles, natives of Illinois. In early youth Mr. Softles attended the Mt. Zion & hvol. and when his father moved to Frederick Town-

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

ship, continued his School attendance there. In 1,2, he accompanied his father's handy on their removal to Rushville, and has since made his home in Rushville Township. After his mar- riage, Mr. Settles bought a farm of eighty acres in Rushville Township, on which he remained until 1895, when he sold his land, buying eighty acres in Sections 23 and 27, in the same town- ship. There be made improvements by rear- ranging, putting out fruit and ornamental trees. shrubbery. etc. Having an ambition to spread out and farm on a larger scale, be rented out his little farm and in the spring of 194, moved to the 200-acre farm of his father, equipped himself with plenty of good teams and machin- ery, and by raising a good grade of stock, espe- cially hogs, made a success in the operation of this tract of land, and was recognized by the people of the community as one of the most en- terprising, progressive and successful farmers in the township. In the year 1905 he sold the part of his farm lying in Section 27 for $125 per acre, and bought a quarter-section iu Beadle County. S. Dak., for $21 per acre. This farm he kept one year, when he disposed of it at 820 per acre and invested in eighty acres of land lying in Section 26. Rushville Township, which makes 120 acres owned by him at the present time.

Mr. Settles was married, May 9. 1885, to Jessie R. Rebman, who was born in Browning Town- ship, Sebuyler County. March 11, 186;, & doneb- ter of Adam and Lavinia Rebman, The father of Mrs. Settles was one of the pioneers of Schuy- ler County. Four children were the issue of this union, as follows: Harvey R .. born Angust 9. 18SG: Annie L., born March 29. 1888: Hilab Penina, born June 20, 1801; and Lura Irone. born December 18. 1597. Harvey R., who is a farmer in Rushville Township, was married to Nora Garrison. June 19. 1904, and they have two children-Madeline C., born December 30, 1904, and Harold. born October 20, 1906. Annie L. is the wife of Ralph J. Ewing. also a farmer of Rushville Township, to whom she was mar- ried May 29, 1907. Ililah Penina was married to George Garrison. of Rushville, May 3, 1908, and Lura is with her parents.

In polities, Mr. Settles is a Republican, and has filled various township offices, and is now Township Trustee. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., the R. N. of A .. and the M. W. A. While not a church member. he has always been liberal in support of church work. Socially, Mrs. Settles, a most estimable woman, is connected with the Royal Neighbors. She is a consistent member of the Methdodist Episcopal Church, with which she united in girlhood. Both husband and wife stand high In the estimation of all who know them.

In the fall of 1907. Mr. Settles, having decided to retire from farming, bought property in the city of Rushville, locating there on October 20 of that year. Always entertaining a fondness for travel, for a man engaged in the occupation of farming, he has spent much time thus em-

played, having visited about half of the States of the I'nion, besides portions of Canada, the a; greg, te of his touring as shown by his diary, covering 25,000 miles.

SHEILY, D. Frankbn .- During his long and industrious lite, D. Franklin Shely has wielded the weapons of war as well as the implements of peace, but it is in the latter capacity that his name is enrolled up on the annais of Schuyler County, of which he has been a resident since the spring of 1870, and where he now is living in practical retirement upon his 500-acre farm in Section 9. Hickory Township. Ma. Skelly was bom in Augusta County, Va., February 11, IN5, and is one of the three surviv'nz of eight chil- dren of Daniel and Katharine ( Ha'ner) Shelly, who came from Virginia to Fulton County. Il., during the summer of 1856. The elder Shelly was a inin of quiet tastes and ambitions, but he succeeded at farming and won the good will and e-trem of his fellow men. At the time of his death in 1855 he had been a widower for ten years. Of his children, W. II. is a farmer of MeDonough County. and James A. lives in Wood- larl Township. Fulton County.

Twenty-one years of age when he accompanied the rest of his family to Fulton County in 1-50, D. Franklin Shelly had acquired a fair educa- tion in the subscription and common schools of his native State, and had been thoroughly drilled in farming as pastived in the South. He adap- ted himself readily to Northern conditions, how- ever, and was in practical command of his fath- er's farm when the call to arms in August. 1862, drew him from peaceful and accustomed tasks to the turmoil and uncertainty of warfare, En- listing in Company II. Eighty-fifth Ilinois Vol- unteer Infantry, as Corporal. he participated in all of the marches and battles of the company until hi . discharge from the service in March. 1565, on account of a gun-shot wound received in the vicinity of Atlanta, Ga. While recuperat- ing from this wound he was in the United States Hospital at Camp Butler, Il .. and he still has in his possession the bullet extracted by the sur- geon, which had passed through his shoulder from front to back. He was as brave a soldier as represented the strength and valor of Illinois. and his martial experiences included many ovca- sions in which he figured as the good and gener- ous genius of the suffering and dying. Few are more consistent or accurate narrators of events connected with the Civil War, and in few were the benefits of peace more deeply ingrafted.

Continuing to farm in Fulton County after his return from the war. Mr. Shelly married, Feb- ruary 22, 1870. Mary E. Sackman, who was born in Mason County, Ill., In September, 1846, a daughter of John W. Saekman. an early but now deceased farmer of Schuyler County. The first investment of Mr. Shelly after his marriage was in a form of 120 aeres is Hickory Township, Schuyler County, which he later sold and then bought his present form of 200 a res in Section 9. On his farm Mr. Shelly has raised general

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

produce and stock, and has many fine improve- ments, having modern barus, well kept tences and a large and comfortable country home, Some time since he laid aside the cares of the farm and is enjoying the later years of his lite in restful quiet, a consummation merited by more than thirty years of continuous effort, and by practi- cal financial restits which remove him from the possibility of all monetary dissatisfaction. While in no sense a partisan, he votes the Re- publican ticket for national and State affairs. but locally supports the man best suited to the responsibilities of his office. While not a mont- ber of any church, his generosity in support of church and charitable organizations is well known, and he is a much appreciated member of the local lodge of Masons. Of the four chil- dren which have comprised his family one died in infancy ; Charles H. was born in 1972. married Miss Ella Binrows and has two children, Gwen- dolen and Lois; Charles operates a part of his father's farm; Lida M., born in February, 1876. is the wife of J. M. Tedd, of Astoria ; and Harry 1., born September 14, 1582, is living on the home place. Mr. Shelly bears well his seventy- three years, and his heart is as young and spirits as fine as if he were but half that old. Ile has known how both to make and to keep friends, and his standing in the community is based upon an upright, conscientious and industrious life.

SKILES, Francis M .- The frontiersmen whe settled in Schuyler County in the immediate wake of the Indian, reared large claims for them- selves and splendid hopes for their progeny. Al- though the majority of their characters and la- bors are mistily set in the framework of history, they yet live in those who bear their name. and who represent in many instances the acme of purpose, endeavor and vitality of the early part of another century. George Skiles, who arrived when the last century was a quarter old, was born in Pennsylvania, settled in his youth in Ker tucky, and, hearing the call of the prairies, un- dertook the arduous journey to Wayne County, Mo., then an unhindered wilderness. About 1825. accompanied by his wife, who formerly was Mary Justus, and several of their children, be came to Browning Township Schuyler County, taking up government land shortly after on what then was called Rushville Prairie. in what is now the township of that name, Hore he cucountered all of the crudities and deprivations of the frontier, and upon arising in the morning could see the smoke arising from the cabins of all the settlers for miles around. The buffalo trails still were clearly defined, and although the rough out- lines of the wigwam had disappeared, the former owners of these quaint habitations frequently returned to what, for centuries, had been the happy hunting ground of their sires. For the most part they were subdued and harmless red- men, but the settlers had many disagreeable ex- periences with those who could not forget their wrongs, and who bitterly resented the encroach- ments of the palefaced brethren. This early ar-

rival cleared considerable of his land and ad- vanced from dire poverty to comparative afltu- once, his useful lite coming to an end while bit- ter warfare raged between the North and South in 1865. The wife, who survived him until ISTt. was the mother of thirteen childrn, two of whom are still living: Mary, widow of Hiram Scott, who has kindly contributed the facts of this biography. and James Skiles, a resident of Alina. Neb. At the age of ninety-three years, Mrs. Scott, in the enjoyment of excellent health and retaining her faculties to an unusual degree, is now making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Robertson, wile of Alexander Robertson, son of William Robertson, the latter one of the first settlers of Browning Township.

Rev. William Skiles, son of George Skiles, was born in Wayne County, Mo., and was a small boy when the family came to Illinois. Ile had few opportunities on Rushville Prairie, but he had ambitions and great religions zeal, early in life becoming converted to the Union Baptist faith. in which he prepared for the ministry. He had a quarter-section of land offered him on the prairie, but he preferred to settle in the timber along the stream, and with the cultivation of this land as one of his life objects, he became a circuit-rider with his brother John. the latter having prepared for the ministry 'iu the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. These two self-sacrificing brothers rode together over Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska, enduring all of the hardships known to the circuit-riders of the frontier and aecom- plishing a world of good among the isolated set- tlors. Really lofty and grand traits of character are attributed to William Skiles, traits which grew in strength up to the time of his death. April 12, 1007, at the age of eighty-six years, Of his nine children three died in infancy and six are still living, Franeis M. Skiles, whose name heads this sketch. being the oldest. Elizabeth is the wife of Frank Heathers, of Seattle, Wash. ; George lives in Republic City, Neb. ; Sarah is the wife of A. Russell, of Alma, Neb. ; William P. lives near Republic City, Neb .; and Nettie is the wife of Jackson Gildersleeve, of Huntley, Neh. The mother of these children formerly was Sarah Luttrell, more extended mention of whom may be found in the sketch of William C. Skiles.

Born in Browning Township, Schuyler County. Ill .. December 2, 1843. Francis M. Skiles was reared to the life of the farm, and always has made this the setting of his life occupation. Ilis education was acquired in the distrlet schoo's often under great difficulties, and the foundation thus supplied has been strengthened and en- larged by almost continuous later research, llis early financial status became apparent at the time of his marriage to Malinda Geer, a native of Browning Township, and daughter of Drer Geer. one of the early settlers of this part of the State, Mr. Skiles hind to borrow the money of his father for his marriage certificate, and so poor were both of the parties to the alliance. their they cominued to live with their respective pa-

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rents until better times dawned. Finally the bridegroom succeeded in saving thirty dollars, with which be bought a simple housekeeping out- fit, and rented a log cabin from Roswell Brines, the bridal gifts including a colt from the elder Skiles and a heifer from the bride's father. The farm was bottom land, damp and illy drained, and as Mr. Skiles was soon taken with ebills and teve", it became necessary to standon his first field of independent endeavor. With an old plug team which had been added to his pos- sessions, he move to MeDonough County about 1864, and here succeeded beyond all expectation in general farming and stock raising. His wife's father dying in 1879, the couple returned to the old Geer farm in Schuyler County where Mrs. Skiles was born, and to the entire possession of which Mr. Skiles succeeded by right of purchase soon after. This remained his home until 1905, and in its cultivation few men in the county have achieved more satisfactory general results. To- day he is the owner of 380 acres of as fine land as the county contains, having the best of mod- ern improvements, and lying admirably adapted to all purposes of Central Western farming.

In political affiliation Mr. Skiles is a Democrat and, in addition to several other township of- fices, he has for many years been a member of the Board of Education. With his family he is a member and active worker in the Union Bap- tist Church. To him and his wife have been born six children, of whom Laura and Bertie died in infancy ; Julius died at the age of twenty- one years and four days; Maggie is the wife of William Alembaugh, of Browning Township, and mother of Bert, Nellie and Beulah Alembaugh ; Effie is the wife of Henry Trone, a farmer af Browning Township, and mother of nine chil- dren; Ellen is the wife of Miles Schlisler, and mother of Hattie Schlisler, and lives on one of her father's farms. Mr. Skiles may well regard his life as a success> both financially and per- sonally, for in addition to substantial wealth he is one of the most honored and highly respected men in the community. No man is more emphat- ically the architect of his own fortunes, for all his possessions have come from his first pay, an old rifle, which then was the pride and hope of his life.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 91

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