Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 152

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County > Part 152

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

resided at Tucson, where he made an enviable record as a judge, lawyer and citizen. After retiring from the bench, he gave his chief atten- tion to mining litigation, and became the owner of valuable mining interests in the Territory. Judge Barnes died at his home in Tucson, Ariz., November 10, 1904, leaving as his widow, Belle J. Dailey, to whom he was married in 1874.

BARROWCLOUGH, Mary E., an estimable and highly esteemed widow, who makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Reeve, at No. 693 East State Street, Jacksonville, 111., has the distinc- tion of having enjoyed the longest continuous residence of any settler in Morgan County. She is a native of Indiana, born July 19, 1822, daugh- ter of Thomas and Mary (Haines) Broadhead, the former a native of England, the latter of Germany. Her father died in Morgan County. Her paternal grandparents, William and Anna Broadhead, were natives of England, where they spent their lives. Her maternal grand- mother was a native of Germany. In girlhood Mrs. Mary E. Barrowclough received her men- tal training in the subscription schools in the vicinity of her home. Her father, Thomas Broadhead, was one of the earliest settlers of Morgan County, whither he brought her when she was five years old. He entered 160 acres of Government land just north of Jacksonville, to which he subsequently made additions until he owned more than 300 acres.

Mrs. Barrowclough has been thrice married. She was first wedded in August, 1840, to Isham Taylor, a native of Virginia, who received his mental training in the early schools of that State. Mr. Taylor died in Cass County, Ill., September 3, 1878, aged sixty-four years. ‹ The second husband was Benjamin Hickman, who was born in Staffordshire, England, and died near Jacksonville in 1894, aged eighty years. Mr. Barrowclongh, the third husband, a native of Holonfirth, Yorkshire, England, was married to the subject of this sketch February 14, 1899, and died in the vicinity of Jacksonville on April 22, 1900. The first union resulted in eight children, as follows: Sarah Jane, Catherine, John and Susan (deceased), Margaret, Martha Ellen, Eli and Lucy. Mrs. Barrowclough is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which she is held in tender regard, and her spiritual interest is nurtured with pious solicitude. Her home surroundings are

766

HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

most felicitous, her declining years being con- stantly attended by the tender ministrations of her devoted children.

BARTON, (Rev.) Charles Barkus, (deceased), was born at Fitchburg, Mass., September 1,1810. His father removed from Massachusetts to Ten- nessee in 1817, and in 1827 in order to remove his family from the influence of slavery, he decided to come to Illinois. After crossing the Ohio River a rest in the journey of two days was taken. On the third morning the father rose at daybreak, apparently in his usual health, and spoke cheerfully of starting again on the journey, but in an instant fell speech- less, and life was soon extinct. He was buried on the banks of the Ohio, two miles from Ford's Ferry. The widow and children then renewed their mournful journey. Arriving at Jackson- ville they found a collection of twenty-five or thirty dwellings, chiefly log cabins. A rude log school house served as a sanctuary for all de- nominations of worshipers; where three and a half years later, April, 1830, Rev. John M. Ellis was installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church. On the first Monday of January, 1830, the pre- paratory department of Illinois College was opened under the instruction of Rev. Julian M. Sturtevant, D. D., Mr. Barton being one of the seven students in whose presence that renowned teacher and minister of the Gospel solemnly consecrated to God that grand institution of learning which has so long and so widely dif- fused its priceless influence and unmeasured benefits. Mr. Barton graduated with his class in 1836, the first class that received the honors of the college. Soon after graduation Mr. Bar- ton was married, and with his wife spent some years in teaching. In 1840 he was licensed to preach by the Illinois Presbytery, and later filled pastorates of various lengths at different points, including Newburg, Farmington, Manchester, Bunker Hill, Woodburn and Richview. Return- ing to Jacksonville in the spring of 1874, he preached some time to the Second Portuguese Presbyterian Church through an interpreter. Some of the churches served were Congrega- tional in faith and order.

Mr. Barton's long life was one of great beauty and usefulness. For many years he was a vener- ated citizen of Jacksonville, and his voice was always raised in protest against wrong and in championship of the right. His life and spirit

were gentle and kind, and his presence always seemed to diffuse a sweet peacefulness on all who came within its charmed circle. He was a man of fine culture and deep convictions on all matters. With all his kindliness of nature and manner, he had great forcefulness of character, and his tongue and pen were sharp and poign- ant when he waged war against any wrong. Death' came as the crowning of a well spent life, and when God's finger touched him he quietly and peacefully closed his eyes to open them again with truer and wider vision. He died in Jacksonville, December 19, 1903, being a little over ninety-three years old.

BAXTER, Hiram Bennett, one of the extensive landholders in Illinois, and a well known and respected citizen (now of Cass County, formerly of Morgan), was born near Madison, Jefferson County, Ind., September 22, 1840. He is of Scotch-Irish and Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry, his parents, William and Jane (Kerr) Baxter, being natives of Ohio, the former born in the city of Dayton. His grandfather, James Baxter, a native of County Tyrone. Ireland, came to the United States about the time of the Revolu- tionary War, settled near Pittsburg, Pa., and married a German lady, whose name was Re- becca Riddle. Mr. Baxter's maternal grand- father, Josiah Kerr, was a native of Scotland.

Hiram B. Baxter is the sixth of twelve chil- dren, comprising ten boys and two girls. The others of the family were: James Riddle, the eldest, an attorney, who died in Bloomfield, Ind .; Josiah Kerr, a retired physician, of Sharpsville, Ind .; Daniel Thomas, a carriage- maker, who died January 5, 1859; Oliver H. Perry, who was one of the first settlers of Pueblo, Colo., and who now resides there; William Al- exander, who died in Indianapolis, Ind., Sep- tember 15, 1877; George Washington, now a res- ident of Indianapolis, Ind .; Alonzo Hayden Hayes, a prospector and miner in Colorado; Edward Arthur Zener, an ex-Sheriff of his coun- ty, now a resident of Pawnee, Ill., and an ex- tensive breeder and raiser of Duroc Jersey hogs; Leonidas Napoleon, now a resident of In- dianapolis, Ind .; Havana Siloam, widow of Rob- ert Williams, of Madison, Ind .; and Emlona Hazeltine, who died young, January 2, 1856. The mother of the family died May 27, 1855, and the father married her sister, Margaret Kerr, by whom he had one son-Erastus Virgil,

JohnLeuch

767

HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

who died November 25, 1861. The father was a farmer, prospered in his calling, and died on his old farm in Indiana, August 25, 1861, at the age of fifty-seven years. His second wife died at the old homestead on November 24, 1892.

Mr. Baxter was reared on a farm, attended the district schools and at the age of eighteen years was himself teaching a district school in his county. On July 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-second Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the service at North Madison, Ind., by Col. (after- ward Gen.) Thomas Wood. He participated in the Missouri campaigns under Fremont, Hunter and Curtis, taking part in the engagement at Glasgow, in which Major Tanner, of his regi- ment, was killed; was in the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., and at the siege of Corinth, Miss. He then accompanied his regiment, in General Buell's army, to Louisville, Ky., a distance of nearly 400 miles, and participated in the battle of Perryville, Ky., where he received a severe rifle wound in the knee. Of the thirty-five men in his company, who were engaged in that bat- tle, but eight remained to answer roll-call next morning; ten were killed, thirteen wounded and four were captured. The wounded were all made prisoners for the night. Mr. Baxter re- joined his regiment at Murfreesboro, Tenn., after the battle of Stone River, February, 1863. He then received his commission of First Lieu- tenant of his company, being promoted from a sergeancy. In the absence of the Captain, who had been wounded at the battle of Stone River, Lieut. Baxter assumed command of the com- pany. The regiment remained at Murfreesboro until June 24, 1863, when it marched with Rosecrans' army on the Tullahoma campaign, following the enemy under Bragg to Chatta- nooga. His command was assigned to the work of guarding a pass in the mountains, near the battle-ground of Chickamaugua, and was not engaged in that battle. His regiment was then cooped up, with the balance of the Army of the Cumberland under Thomas, and subsisted on short rations for two months in Chattanooga, until re-enforcements arrived under Hooker from the East and Sherman from the West, with Grant to take command. Then the army burst forth from its lethargy and captured Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge in a grand charge all along the line, driving the

enemy from their vantage ground at every point. Lieut. Baxter was in command of Com- pany G of his regiment in the charge on Mis- sion Ridge, being in Sheridan's Division of the Fourth Corps, and ascended the ridge near where Bragg's headquarters were established. Immediately after the battle the next day, with his command, he started in pursuit of Long- street to relieve Burnside at Knoxville, Tenn., arriving there after a hard forced march to find Burnside's army safe and the enemy gone. The army remained there for six weeks, subsisting principally by foraging over the surrounding country.

Here Lieutenant Baxter re-enlisted as a vet- eran with his company, all retracing their steps to Chattanooga, where they re-mustered for three years, or during the war, and returned to Indiana on a veteran furlough of thirty days. At the expiration of the furlough he returned by rail, with his command, to Nashville, Tenn .; then marched on foot to Chattanooga, where the company was assigned to Dan McCook's Bri- gade, in the organization of Sherman's Army for the Atlanta campaign and the "March to the Sea." He was at Tunnel Hill, Rockyface Ridge, Resaca and Rome, Ga., where, in com- mand of his company, he was again wounded in the same leg as before. He remained in the hospital and on furlough until the 29th day of August, following, when he was honorably dis- charged by the Secretary of War for "disability from gunshot wounds." He then returned to his home in Indiana, for a time attending com- mercial school in Indianapolis. Recovering from his disability in a marked degree, during the fall and winter, he again entered the service in February following, as First Lieutenant of Company B, One Hundred and Forty-eighth In- diana Volunteers, and upon the organization of the regiment he was made Captain of the com- pany and served as such until the end of the war, being mustered out at Indianapolis, Ind., September 6, 1865.

Six of Mr. Baxter's brothers served in the Federal Army during the Civil War, no two of them being in the same regiment, all survived the conflict, and the seven are living at this date (Dec. 25, 1905).

After returning home at the end of the war, Mr. Baxter for a time was clerk in a railroad office at Indianapolis, but becoming dissatisfied with that business, turned his attention west-

768

HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

ward. On December 15, 1866, with $700 in his pocket, he arrived at Jacksonville, Ill., near which place he taught school for two years, and was similarly employed for the same length of time near Literberry. At the latter place, for nine years, he was afterward engaged in sell- ing goods, also filling the positions of Post- master, railroad agent, Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. On January 21, 1881, he moved to the farm upon which he now resides, in Cass County, Ill., about eight miles from Literberry. He and his wife are now the own- ers of 1,400 acres of land, 1,100 acres of which are included in his homestead, in Cass County, and 300 hundred acres in Morgan County. He devotes his time to the feeding of stock and the management of his farming interests.

On October 4, 1876, Mr. Baxter was united in marriage with Lydia Ellen Crum, the only daughter of Abram A. Crum, a sketch of whose life may be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter are the parents of two sons, namely: Albert Crum, who is a student in the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor; and William Abram, who is a pupil in the Whipple Academy, Jack- sonville.

In politics Mr. Baxter is a stanch Republican. Fraternally he is a member of the John L. Douglass Post, G. A. R., of Ashland, Ill., and was its first Commander. Aside from being a well-informed citizen and the owner of a large tract of fine farming land, Mr. Baxter's military record, as detailed in this sketch, bestows upon him a priceless heritage of honor for trans- mission to his posterity.

BEESLEY, Benjamin F., (deceased), formerly one of the most prominent and highly esteemed citizens of Jacksonville, Ill., was born in what is now Cass (then a part of Morgan) County, in 1838. He was a son of Benjamin and Su- sannah Beesley, natives of Philadelphia, Pa., and Quakers in religious faith. In early youth he attended school for a time in Jacksonville, under the instruction of Newton Bateman, be- coming well versed in the sciences. After his primary mental training was completed, Mr. Beesley received a good business education in St. Louis, and was considered so proficient in mercantile knowledge that, at the age of eigh- teen years, he was sent to New York City to purchase a stock of goods for a large store, which his father and his elder brother, John,

were then starting at Bath, Ill. In 1863 he lo- cated in Jacksonville, and until 1870 was as- sociated with John Carter in the hardware and drug business. In the latter year he became a bookkeeper in the Jacksonville National Bank, and was soon promoted to be Assistant Cashier. In 1875 he was made Cashier, and for twenty years served in that capacity, enjoying the ut- most confidence of the management of the bank and the high esteem of the general public. He officiated as Secretary and Treasurer of the Illinois Central Hospital for the Insane for twenty years, and during that extended period served in a fiduciary relation in connection with many estates, and the business enterprises of numerous friends, to whom he thus rendered invaluable aid. For twenty years he was a member of the Board of Directors of the bank, and seldom missed one of its meetings. He was public spirited to an intense degree, and was always ready to devote his time and energy to the promotion of worthy measures for the public good, even at the sacrifice of his health and personal interests.

On July 19, 1861, Mr. Beesley was united in marriage with Sallie Gordon, a daughter of William and Nancy Gordon, natives of this State. Five children resulted from this union, the second of whom, William Benjamin, died at the age of four years. Of the others, Alice May, after spending three years in Dresden, Germany, in the study of vocal music, under eminent preceptors, became a proficient singer, appearing in concert and oratorio both in Ger- many and the United States. For a number of years she was a member of the noted quartette choir of the Third Presbyterian Church, at Pittsburg, Pa. In 1892 she was married to Alexander F. Adam, of that city, and has one child, Dorothy B., now seven years of age. John Harold Beesley, the second son, is a busi- ness man of Bloomington, Ill .; Dr. James Gor- don Beesley, another son, is a successful dentist, also of Bloomington, and Helen Louise, the re- maining child, lives at home with her mother.

In politics, Mr. Beesley was a supporter of the Republican party. Fraternally, he was iden- tified with the Knights Templar, and his reli- gious connections were with the Presbyterian Church. In all the relations of life, Mr. Beesley was a model man and an exemplary citizen of the community, and his death was widely and sincerely lamented. His useful career was terminated by death July 14, 1892.

769

HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

BEGGS, (Capt.) Charles, soldier and pioneer, born in Rockingham County, Va., in 1775. He was of Scotch-Irish lineage, and inherited in large measure the best qualities of that noble stock. In the early settlement of the Old Do- minion the religious affiliation of the people of the eastern portion being so largely Episco- palian, the emigrants of Presbyterian predi- lections sought homes in the interior and west- ern portions of the Colony. Captain Beggs was married in 1797. Subsequently the family removed to Kentucky by way of the Cumber- land Pass, and in 1799 he removed to Indiana. In 1829 he came to Morgan County, Ill., and settled in Jersey Prairie, near the village of Princeton, about ten miles northeast of Jack- sonville, where he resided till his death in 1869, at ninety-four years of age. He obtained his military title by virtue of his position as Captain of Volunteer Cavalry under Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, under whom, with his con- mand, participated in the battle of Tippecanoe, November 6, 1811. He was a splendid type and representative of a gentleman of the olden time, tall, erect and of fine military bearing and manners. A large number of his descend- ants bearing his name, also the Eplers and Hopkinses of Morgan and Cass Counties, are worthy citizens of their localities.

BIGGERS, Thomas R., well known farmer and stock-raiser of Chapin, Morgan County, Ill., was born near Maysville, Ky., March 3, 1860, a son of Richard and Nannie (Adams) Big- gers. Both of his parents were born in Marion County, Ky., in 1832, his father's birthday being January 6th, of that year. By occupation Rich- ard Biggers was a blacksmith. In 1865, he lo- cated at Winchester, Ill., where the family re- mained eight years, and where the mother died. The father then moved to Chapin, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying Novem- ber 17, 1893. In early youth Thomas R. Biggers received a good common-school education at Winchester, and at the age of seventeen years became a teacher. continuing in this occupation for nine years in Morgan County. He was Principal of the Chapin public schools three years, and of the Liberty (Ill.) school, two years, throughout this period being promi- nent in the literary societies of that vicinity. He was for several years engaged in the grain business in Chapin, first, in connection with F.

Eintsman & Co., and afterward with H. & C. Oaks, of whose extensive transactions he was the local manager. For two years he was con- nected with the store and postoffice conducted by H. D. Cooper, and for a number of years superintended the Chapin Mercantile & Imple- ment Company. At present he is the manager of the Billings farm of 800 acres, and has filled this position with marked ability and fidelity for a considerable period of time, having paid more than $30,000 in rentals to the owner of this property. In connection with his farmi work he has established quite a reputation as an auctioneer, making stock and farm sales a specialty.

On March 16, 1881, Mr. Biggers was united in marriage with Mollie L. Bridgeman, a daugh- ter of Columbus and Emma (Gledhill) Bridge- man, of Morgan County, pioneer settlers of the county, the father having served in the Civil War. Four children resulted from this union, namely: Amy Joyce and Chester (twins) ; Vena Vita, who was born May 4, 1889; and Ruth. who was born April 19, 1894. Amy J. and Ches- ter were born January 18, 1883. The former died September 13, 1883, and the latter, Novem- ber Sth, of the same year.

In politics, Mr. Biggers is an unswerving Democrat, and has taken an active and influ- ential part in local campaigns. He has served repeatedly as Precinct Committeeman, and is a member of the City Council of Chapin, an office which he has held for several terms. For a long period he was Clerk of the Village Board, and is now serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. In April, 1902, he was the nomi- nee of his party for Representative in the State Legislature from his district, comprising the counties of Morgan and Sangamon, and made a vigorous but unsuccessful race, carrying his home county by a good majority, but failing in Sangamon.

Religiously, Mr. Biggers is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, with which he united in early life. When but twenty-five years old he was made an Elder and has served in that capacity ever since. He has been a teacher in the Sunday-school, and for a number of years its Superintendent. In church work he is very active and usetul and has manifested his zeal in the Christian cause by earnest efforts as an evangelist. Besides his devotion to the Christian faith, Mr. Biggers has always been a

770

HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

man of pure habits, never having indulged in alcoholic beverages or tobacco, and never having used profanity. As a business man he is thor- oughly capable, diligent, careful and systematic. Socially he is genial and courteous; his intelli- gence is of a superior order and his informa- tion is broad and varied. Fraternally, Mr. Biggers is prominently identified with the M. W. A. and I. O. O. F. In the first named order he has held all the offices in the local lodge, and is now officiating as Excellent Banker. He has also held all the chairs in the subordinate lodge, including that of Noble Grand, and has taken the Grand Lodge degree at Spring- field, Ill.

BLACK, Greene Vardeman, A. M., M. D., D. D. S., Sc. D., LL. D., an old and prominent resident of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., was born in Scott County, Ill., August 3, 1836, the son of William and Mary S. (Vaughn) Black, grandson of Thomas Gillespie Black, and a great-grandson of Capt. William Black. The last named ancestor was a Captain of the Militia in North Carolina just before the Meck- lenburg Rebellion, and one of the first officers who refused to take the oath of allegiance to the British Crown. Capt. William Black, who married a Miss Beard, lived in Rockingham County, N. C., and died at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. His son, T. G. Black, who married Polly Callahan, was born in the same county in January, 1772, and died at Milledge- ville, Ga., November 20, 1823. He served as Captain under General Jackson in the Semi- nole War. His son, William, was born in Mil- ledgeville, January 13, 1796. In 1825 he went to Tennessee and there married Mary S. Vaughn, whence they moved to Scott County, Ill., about 1834. He was a cabinet-maker by trade and also followed farming. He moved from Scott County to what is now Cass County, Ill., about 1844, settling on a farm seven miles southeast of Virginia, where four of his sons resided. He and his wife are buried in the family burying ground in Cass County.

Dr. G. V. Black was reared on the farm, and had a very limited schooling. He was, however, an apt student and tireless reader, and devel- oped his own mind largely in the school of Na- ture. At the age of seventeen he made his home at Clayton, Ill., with his brother, Dr. T. G. Black, who was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the

Civil War and twice a member of the Illinois Legislature. With him G. V. Black read medi- cine, and during that time for a while acted as Postmaster. At the age of twenty-one he began the study of dentistry at Mt. Sterling, Ill., and afterward established a dental office at Winchester, Scott County, where he re- mained until 1862, studying constantly in the meantime.

In 1860, Dr. Black was married to Jane L. Coughennower, of Clayton, a daughter of Henry Coughennower, a miller, and Agnes (Likely) Coughennower. Agnes Likely was a daughter of William and Agnes ( Taylor) Likely, the lat- ter belonging to the same family as President Zachary Taylor. The Taylors were direct de- scendants of Rollin Taylor, who was burned at the stake in England for heresy. Mrs. Black was born in Griggsville, Ill., March 31, 1838, and died in Cass County, Ill., August 26, 1863.

During the Civil War Dr. Black served as a Sergeant, but was engaged most of his time on special scouting duty. He was injured in the knee-joint and spent six months in the hos- pital in Louisville, Ky. Returning home he came to Jacksonville, where in 1865 he married Eliza- beth Akers Davenport, a daughter of Ira and Minerva (Reid) Davenport, and a niece of Peter Akers, widely known Methodist preacher and circuitrider. Of the first union two children were born: Horace Vaughn, who died in infancy, and Carl E. (A. M., M. D.), a sketch of whom is elsewhere published. To the second union were born: Clara, of Chicago; Arthur D., (B. S., D. D. S., M. D.), of Chicago, Assist- ant Professor of Operative Dentistry and As- sistant in Oral Surgery in the dental depart- ment of the Northwestern University; and Mar- garet Olive, wife of Mark Baldwin, of Duluth, Minn.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 152

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286