Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 164

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774

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were born to Mr. Wieties and his wife, of whom seven survive, namely : Uffic, of Springfield, works for the Illinois Watch Company ; Fred, cinployed by the same company ; William, of Granite City, Ill., is agent for the Illinois Trac- tion System; Ella married James Corsicau, a machinist In the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company; Clara, wife of William Love, in the employ of the Berry Piano Company, of Spring- field ; Minnie and Clarence, live at home. There are nine grandchildren In the family. Mr. Wic- ties is a man of intelligence and ablllty, social In disposition and popular with his friends.

WILCOX, Ellis .- The pioneers of Illinois were pre-eminently courageous and resourceful, cs- tablishing their straggling settlements on the frontier, In ail their efforts they displayed a wonderful readiness in adapting themselves to conditions and meeting emergencies. Their hardlhood and energy in upbuilding and main- taining a happy home life laid the foundation for the present civilization. Their love of home and family grew with the passage of time, and as they and thelrs emerged from the period of making homespun clothing and living entirely off the products of their land, they took pleasure In the victory that definitely crowned their work. which was one of independence achieved. The records of all the old families of the State show accounts of remarkable personai bravery, and nowhere more than in Sangamon County. which, twenty years after the State was admitted to the Union, was honored as the seat of the capital city.

Among those who have become well known in Sangamon Connty those bearing the name of Wilcox occupy enviable positions. The family was founded in Sangamon County in 1819 by John Wilcox. a frontiersman, and son of John Wilcox, a Captain In the Revolutionary War. Ilis son John was a Lieutenant in another regi- ment in the same struggle. The Wilcox family originated in Scotland, but the younger John Wilcox was born in Maryland. He married in Virginia, Lucinda Oglesby, born in that Statc, and a first cousin of the late Gov. Richard J. Oglesby. The death of John Wilcox occurred in Illinois and his remains are interred at Round Grove Cemetery. Mrs. Wilcox came of English ancestry, so that their son Ellis in- herited the traits of both Scotch and English forebears.

Eliis Wilcox was a man of strong character and was pre-eminently fitted to be a pioneer. He never received any schooling. hut was a splendid natural mathematician. He came to Sangamon County to Ilve with his father, ınak- ing the trip on horseback from Kentucky. Later he rode to Galena and back. At that time the famlly of Hugh McGarry lived in that region. There were still some Indians and wild game was plenty. About 1826 he married and moved hls household possessions in a pralrie schooner, lo- cating four mlles west of Berlin, where he en- gaged In farming. He put up a log cabin on

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the iand he secured, improved his farm and added to it, and at the time of his death owned about 1,500 acres. He died about fifteen years ago, when he was one hundred years old, hav- ing passed that birthday by four months and ten days. He was a good machinist, shoemaker and carpenter, but made a very little money working at these different trades for the various pioneer families were generaiiy poor. By birth he was a Virginian, but early moved to Kentucky, where his marriage occurred. His wife was Ann Lewis, a daughter of Neriah and Mary (Moss) Lewis, natives of South Carolina. Ann Lewis was fourteen years old when the family moved to Kentucky. Her parents iater moved to Macou- pin County, Ili., where they resided untii their deaths, engaged in farming. Members of the Lewis family served in the Revolutionary War. Ann Lewis Wilcox died at the age of seventy- two years, about thirty-five years ago. Eliis Wiicox and his wife had ten children, three of whom stili survive : Thomas M. of Beriiu, Ill .; Dr. J. L. Wiicox of Springfield, and J. F. Wil- cox of Phoenix, Ariz.

Mr. Wilcox was a Whig, but iater became a Democrat, and his ideai was Henry Clay. Never caring for office, he took but littie part in pub- lic iife. In religious views he was very liberal, and tried hard to do what he believed was his duty. For many years he was the oldest living resident of Sangamon County, and his memory was remarkable. During the iatter part of his life he was an authority upon matters relating to happenings in pioneer days, and he always enjoyed teliing of his experiences when the wilderness was still an unknown quaiity.

WILCOX, J. L., M. D., one of the oidest practic- ing physicians of Springfield, Ili., who has served many years as City Physician and is President of the Board of Pension Examiners, is a native of Sangamon County. born in Island Grove Township, November 26, 1832, son of El- iis Wilcox, whose biography aiso appears in this work.

The early education of Dr. Wiicox was ac- quired in the old log subscription school near his home, and for a time he afterwards attended public school, after the establishment of a reg- ular public school system. Hc entered Shurtiiff College in 1853, spent one year there, then took a two years' course in ciassics at Illinois Coi- lege. After studying a year and a half with Drs. Wiison and Gibson, of Beriin, Iil., he en- tered Rush Medicai College, and about one year iater entered St. Louis Medical College, from which he graduated in 1859. After his gradua- tion Dr. Wilcox spent one year in California Gulch, carrying a pack on his back, and oc- cupied in mining and practicing medicine. He

then located in Manito, Iii., where for a year he practiced in partnership with Dr. J. B. Meigs. a very bright man in the profession. In 1862 Dr. Wiicox eniisted in the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, which was organized at Peoria. by Robert G. Ingersoll, and served until the end

of the war. Returning to Iilinois, he setticd at Loami, Sangamon County, and spent niueteen years in general practice there.

About 1882 Dr. Wiicox located in Springfield, , and since that time has there beeu engaged in active practice, with the exception of five years When he served as Revenue Collector. He has aiways taken a strong interest in local affairs and has supported every moveuient for the ad- vancement of the interests of the community. He has aiways advocated the principles of the Democratic party, but has not iu any way en- tercd politics for the purpose of holding public office. In 1874 he was elected to time State Legislature and became Chairman of the Public Buildings and Grounds Committee. During his service on this committee he succeeded in secur- ing a back appropriation of $800,000 to complete the State House. He was interested in securing the passage of a law compelling coal operators to have a safety escape in shafts, also served as Chairman pro tem. of the finance committee. During Dr. Wilcox's service in the Legislature he aiways strongly advocated economy, and the Assembly in which he served was said to be the most economicai ever held in Iiiinois.

During the second year of Dr. Wilcox's resi- dence in Springfield he was elected City Phy- sician, and has served at various times in this office, aggregating thirteen years. Under Presi- dent Cieveiand's adquinistration he served as Collector of Revenue of the Eighth District of Iilinois, and under Cleveland's first administra -. tion served as President of the Board of Pen- sion Examiners, being re-appointed on the Board in 1907 and now serving as President. While living in Loami Dr. Wiicox served as Chairman of the Democratic Centrai Committee. He is a member of the G. A. R., the A. F. & A. M., and of the Sangamon County Medicai Society. In religious belief he holds very liberal views.

Having lived so many years in Springfield and being possessed of ability and skiii, Dr. Wilcox has buiit up a fine practice and has been very successfui. He has established himseif in the pubiic confidence and stands high in his pro- fession. While serving in the army he was ap- pointed Assistant Surgeon, and the people of Springfield and Sangamon County have delighted many times to show him honor. Financially he ilas been successfui and has owned farm iand and other property. He has many friends and is considered a public-spirited, representative citizen.

Dr. Wilcox was married, in 1800, to Miss Alice V. Parker, of Island Grove Township, who iived but ten months after her marriage, leaving an infant son, Joe Allison, who married Anna Dunlap. Joe A. Wilcox died March 28, 1910, leaving a widow and four children-three daugh- ters and one son, now living in New Beriin, Ill. November 9, 1865, Dr. Wilcox married (second) Jean Frances Patteson, daughter of Dr. Aiex- ander Patteson, of Sangamon County, formerly of Lexington County, Ky. Three children were born of this union, namely : Dwight, unmarried,

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a traveling newspaper correspondent; A. P., Cashier of Garfield National Bank, at Enid, Okla., and Anna Lewis, married C. B. Wiison, of Smithfield, Ky., aud has three sons. Mr. Wilson is a cousin of Gen. Beli, of the United States Army. A. P. Wiicox is quite prominent in the city where he resides. He married (first) Leva Billings, by whom he had one daughter, Frances C., and after his first wife's death mar- ried (second) her sister, Iva Billings.

WILCOX, Thomas Moore .- No account of the pioneer history of Sangamon County would be complete without mentiou of Thomas Moore Wil- cox whose efforts towards the development of this locality are widely known and universaliy recognized. He has now retired from active work, residing in his beautiful nome on West Main street, New Berlin. His birth took place June 28, 1831, on a farm in what is now New Berlin Township, a son of Ellis A. and Ann (Lewis) Wilcox, the father being a native of Tennessee, to which place his father came from England. In 1820, he moved with his family to Kentucky, and in 1825, came to Sangamon County. Here he spent the summer cutting down trees in which the wild bees made their home, for the beeswax, which he-collected, taking it back with him to Kentucky in the fali. How- ever, he was so pleased with the new country, that he returned, locating in Berlin Township. He was later followed by bis fatber, who lo- cated iu Clear Lake Township.

After comiug here, Ellis A. Wilcox secured land from the government, his deed being signed by President Jackson. To this be added more property, becoming one of the extensive land- owners of Sangamon County. This excellent man lived to the extreme old age of 102 years, being born in 1793, and dying in 1895. During the early days in Kentucky, he was a Whig, but after coming to Iiiinois, espoused the principles of Democracy, although bitterly opposed to slav- ery. While not a member of any church, he gave freely of his ample means towards the fur- therance of religious work, and his wife was a devout Baptist, She was born in 1800, in South Carolina, and died in 1876, and she and her hus- band rest in the Moore Cemetery of Berlin Township. To them were born children as fol- lows : Josiah L., a physician of Springfield, for many years regimental surgeon of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, and is now City Physician ; John of Arizona ; Charles W., deceased ; Samuel, also deceased; Lucinda, married Thomas Rhea, and both are now deceased.

Thomas Moore Wilcox grew up amid strictly pioneer conditions, attending the first school erected in the neighborhood. This building was a neighborhood affair, the farmers going after the log with ox teams. They split them for punchcon floors, and slab seats, when the building was completed, and all were prond of the little cabin. It had one window, while a huge stove provided means for heating during the long, cold winters. The books were as primitive as the

surroundings, but the children did learn, laying a firm foundation for whatever after educatiou they might receive. Mr. Wilcox had tbe ad- vantage of several terms at the free schoois, be- fore he turned ali of his attentiou to farm work, although from the time he could reach the plow handies, he assisted his father. He also became an expert in the use of the cradie, but now he realizes that times bave changed, as he observes modern methods.

Remaining at home until he was twenty-four years old, Mr. Wilcox tben married, on March 27, 1856, Mrs. Catherine (Rubbie) Fox, born in Morgan County, daughter of Jesse Rubble, who for years was a prosperous farmer of Morgan County. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wiicox rented land from his father, which was located on Lick Creek, and began housekeeping in one of the primitive log cabins of the neighborhood. By hard work and thrifty saving, Mr. Wilcox was soon able to buy land in Morgan County, to the extent of 300 acres, to which they moved, and built upon the property a comfortable resi- dence. Later on, Mr. Wilcox bought a portion of the family homestead, continuing to hold his Morgan County farm. For years he was an ex- teusive breeder of horses for road use, and was so successful that in 1898, he felt he could af- ford to retire, so ieaving his home in charge of his sous, he came to New Berlin, where he now resides. He and his wife became the parents of children as follows : Charles L., died at the age of forty years; Albert on the farm in Morgan County ; Carrie; Benjamin, deceased; Wallace of Lawrence, Kas .; Frank died at the age of twenty years; Thomas, an undertaker of De- catur, Ill .; Mary at home ; Ruth deceased; Cath- erine, wife of Ottis King, a farmer of Curran Township. Mr. Wiicox has always been inter- ested in educational matters, and believes in good schools. Formerly a Whig, he became a Republican, foliowing Abraham Lincoln. The family have all been brought up in the faith of the Methodist Church, to which they belong. and Mr. Wilcox is one of the Trustees of his de- nomination in New Beriin. He is a straight- forward man, uuassuming, but capable of holding his own. He has won the confidence and respect of all who know him, and is a typical exampie of pioneer days when a man had to prove his true worth before he was accepted by his neigh- bors. In the development of the educational, re- ligious and agricultural interests of the county, Mr. Wilcox has always taken a deep interest, and too high praise cannot be accorded him for what he has accomplished.

WILEY, Lewis D., M. D .- Prominent among the professionai men of Sangamon County, may be mentioned Dr. Lewis D. Wiley, wbose reputa- tion as a physician and surgeon has extended far beyond the confines of his chosen field of practice, the town of New Berlin. Dr. Wiley was born in Owen County, Ky., December 19. 1852, and is a son of Salem and Sarab A. (Mar- shall) Wiley.

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The grandfather of Dr. Wiley was a native of Virginia, who in young manhood left that State and went to Scott County, Ky., where he was married to Polly Robinson aud settled ou a farm. His first work after settling there, was the conducting of a mill for sawing lumber, and later he engaged in farming, beiug one of the prominent and well-to-do men of his section. Hls later days ' were spent In Owen County, where he died at the age of eighty-six years, in June, 1825, Salein Wiley, father of the Doctor, was born in Scott County, Ky., and he was (first) married there to a widow, Ellen Hunley, who bore him one son, who was accidentally killed durlug his twenty-first year. Mr. Wiley's first wife died, and he was married (second) to Sarah A. Marshall, after which he settled down to farming In Owen County, and at the outbreak of the Civil War had become one of the leading agriculturists of his section. His farm, however, like many others in that section of the country was ruined aud devastated by the Confederate foraging parties, everything being coufiscated and nothing left but the team of oxen. In fact, the family was made so destitute by the In- roads of the soldiers of the Confederacy that it was necessary for a hrother, B. F. Wiley, to make trips to the grist-mill, riding on au ox to get something for the family to eat. Many of the necessities of life were denied these peo- ple at this time, hut after the close of the war, Mr. Wiley made a new start, and a few years later found him well on the road to prosperity. Originally a Whig, he was one of the first to join the movement that brought about the forming of the Republicau party, and his loyalty to the principles of Lincoln and his hatred of slavery, earned him the title of Black Abolition- ist, and as such, threats were made against his life. Never backward in standing up for for what he thought was right, Mr. Wiley was withal a just man, and wielded a power for good in his community. He was a devout mem- ber of the Baptist Church, and In that faith, he died iu 1SSS, when sixty-three years of age. His wife survived him until 1891, and both are buried in the old family burial ground in Owen County, Ky. Their children were as follows: Benjamin F., a prosperous farmer of Oklahoma, married Sophrona R. Terry and has two chil- dren, Denver and Mrs. Carrie Redford; Melvina., the wife of J. J. Moreland, residing near the old home in Kentucky; Lewis D .; Georgia Ann, deceased, was the wife of J. J. Traylor, and had seven children,-Effie Lee, Allie B., Verna D., Emma, Melvina, Gordon and Tressie; Polly- Susan, wife of George Tackett, a resident oť Bardwell, has eight children; Rosey W., the widow of J. R. Tackett, has seven children ; and John S., engaged in the real estate and insur- ance husiness at Lexington, Ky., was married (first) to the daughter of Dr. G. R. Lee by whom he had slx children, three of whom are living, Sarah, Leslie and Wava, and married (second) Mattie Meeks, hy whom he has had two chll- dren, Pauline and Martha Eillne. 1

Lewis D. Wiley spent his hoyhood days on his father's farm, attending the district schools of his neighborhood and working for his father un- til twenty-one years old. At this time he rented land and put out a crop of tobacco, the most valuable crop for the Kentucky farmer at that time, and during the same year, August 17, 1873, he was married to Nancy E. Wiley, daughter of Greenville Wiley, also a native of Owen County, Ky. After their marriage the couple went to the home he had provided and he settled down to farming, his land yielding large crops under his capable handling. Taking the proceeds from hls first crop, Mr. Wiley made a payment on a small tract of land, upon which was an old Ken- tucky hewn-log cabin, and in 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Wiley removed to the new home, and there they lahored together. until the little home was paid for. Death visited the happy homestead March 26, 1878, claiming the young wife, and she was buried firm in the faith of the Baptist Church. To the Doctor and his first wife were born these children : Noel, horn June 5, 1874, now a pros- perous farmer of Morgan County, Ill., marrled Florence Kindred and has one child,-Minnle; Luther, horn December 27, 1876, also farming in Morgau County, III., married Ellzabeth Maple and had two children,-one which died at the age of eight years and Lewls H .; and Minnie, who died in infancy, meeting an accidental death. On March 4, 1880, Dr. Wiley was mar- ried (second) to Sarah C. Hughes, and to this union there were born four children, of whom Harry died at the age of sixteen years; Henry, who received a fine education, came to Illinois with his parents in 1893, took the Civil Service examination and at the age of twenty years re- ceived an appointment to the United States Mall Service, and now resides at Buffalo, Ill .. and runs from Chicago to Quincy. He married Pearl Lester, and has two children,-Harry Lester and a daughter born October 14. 1910; Sarah E., the wife of John Bass, a merchant of Billings. Mont., and had three children, of whom one died In infancy ; and Minnle, the wife of Ollver Wynne, of Norfolk, Va., a commercial salesman, has one child,-Winston Wlley.

In 1882, having accumulated a fair compe- tency, Dr. Wiley decided to enter the field of medicine as a practitioner, having done much reading and studying along these lines during his spare time. and subsequently In 1885, he entered the University of Louisville, Ky., from which he was graduated in 1887, with high honors. He at once located in Scott County, Ky., where he commenced the practice of his pro- fession and there' continued with much success until 1893. when he located in Nortonville, Mor- gan County, III., and continued to enjoy a large practice. In order to get better schoollng fa- cilities for his children, Dr. Wiley removed to Alexander. Ill., later went to Franklin, and fin- ally, In 1901, he located in New Berlin, where he has built up a fine practice and formed stanch friendships. Dr. Wiley has always been a close and thorough student and keeps constantly in

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

touch with all that is going on in the world of medicine by perusal of the leading perlodicals of his profession. He has a well-filled library and a large laboratory where he prepares his own prescriptions. He has always been known as a skillful and steady-handed surgeou and hls success in this liue has given him more than lo- cal reputation. Always public-spirited and hon- est, it Is his plainly expressed opiniou that those whom the people honor with election to places of public trust should give a fair account of themselves, aud as a City Councilman he has always takeu the best of care of his consti- tueuts and made a record that will not be for- gotten by the tax-payers. Socially he is con- nected with the A. F. & A. M., Frankliu Lodge, No. 616, New Berlin Lodge, No. 831, I. O. O. F., the Modern Woodmen of America aud the Court of Honor. With his wife, he is affiliated with the Baptist Church, Mrs. Wiley also belouging to the Ladies' Ald and Missionary Societies. Dr. Wiley's politics are those of the Republican party.

On August 17, 1903, Dr. Wiley was married to Mrs. Mary ( Bachmanu) Long, and to tlils uniou has been born one son : Cecll Bachmann Wiley, December 23, 1904.

WILKINSON, Reuben (deceased), a haif- brother. of Mrs. James L. McKee, of Cotton HIll Township, and for many years one of the prom- Inent representatives of the oid ploneers of Sangamon County, was born in Kentucky, De- cember 11, 1821, and died In Taylorville, Ili., Saturday, November 12, 1910, aged nearly elghty-nine years. During hls long and neces- sarily eventful life, Mr. Wilkinson witnessed many changes, participating in many of them. For eighty years, Illinois was his home State, for he was but little over seven years old when his parents made thelr exodus from the Blue Grass State to this. Settlement was first made in Christian County, but In 1843, Mr. Wilkin- son settled in Sangamon County, never to leave untii he went to his last home.

Coming to Taylorville at a time when it needed the wise action of a born financler, Mr. Wilkinson was an important factor In building up the place, being Identified with ali of its leading enterprises, giving a whole-souled and public-spirited support to improvements and ad- vanced ideas with regard to civlc affairs. Among other enterprises, he established a fiour- Ing-mill, extending this industry until he was one of the leaders in his ilne up to the time of hls demise. He dld much to deveiop the coal interests of Taylorville; built houses sultable for laboring men, selling them on monthiy pay- , ments sulted to the means of the purchaser, and never taking undue advantage of anyone who transacted business with him. One of hls policles was to retain hls oid employes in pref- erence to younger ones, even If they were not so active as the iatter.

One of the most devout Christians, Mr. Wil- kinson was not content until the Presbyterlan

deuominatlon, of which he was a member, had secured a fine brick structure in which to wor- ship. He was also liberai in hls donatlons to other churches and to ali charitable institutions and movements, and probably his private benev- olences were much larger than any of which the public had knowledge. A Republican in politics, Mr. Wilkluson was aiso an enthuslastle advo- cate of Prohibition, aud exerted a powerful In- flueuce for good In this as well as other direc- tions.

In June, 1846, Mr. Wilkinson enlisted In Company A, Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Mexican War, under Col. E. D. Baker, and participated in the battles of Cerro Gordo and Vera Cruz. In addition to the seven dollars per month pald him while In service, Mr. Wilkinson recelved a iand war- raut for 160 acres of land which he patented in Sangamon County.

The marriage of Mr. Wilkinson took piace at Terre Haute, Ind., September 26, 1848, to Miss Ilester Pratt, born in England, who survived him.

Pre-eminently a leader of meu, and a builder up of destinies, Mr. Wilkinson possessed the ability to judge accurately of character, and was seldom mistaken in his estimates. Having once bestowed hls friendship upon a man he seldom found it necessary to withdraw It, and attached many to him because of his mauy kindly deeds and real abillty as a business man.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 164

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774