Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 169

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 169

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On October 23, 1901, Mr. Jameson was united in marriage with Hattie R. Sibert, daughter of Isaac Wood and Martha (Sample) Sibert. This union has been without issue.

Politically, Mr. Jameson is a Republican. In 1886, he was elected Sheriff of Morgan County by a majority of over 700, and filled the office most creditably for one term, being the first incumbent of that office to be elected on the Republican ticket in thirty-two years. In the matter of religion he does not subscribe to any creed. He is a remarkably energetic and per- severing man, and has been very successful in business, being one of the most popular citizens of Jacksonville and favorably known through- out Morgan County.

JENKINSON, William Arthur, wholesale gro- cer of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., was born in North Allerton, Yorkshire, England, November 30, 1854, the son of Thomas and Mary (Appleton) Jenkinson, both of whom were born in that town-the father, in January, 1821, and the mother, in 1820. There Thomas Jenkinson was engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business until the time of his death in 1888.

William A. Jenkinson received his mental training in the grammar schools of his native country. At the age of fourteen years he was employed in his father's grocery, where he re- ceived careful instruction after the thorough English custom. In May, 1880, he came to the United States, locating immediately at Jackson- ville. In the following month, together with his brother, Henry, hc established a retall gro- cery store, which continued until 1888. At that period the wholesale grocery firm of W. A. Jenkinson & Co. was formed, and has since transacted a prosperous business.

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In September, 1885, Mr. Jenkinson was united in marriage with Ellen H. Clayton, daughter of Joseph and Urania (Taft) Clayton, of Jack- sonville.

Mr. Jenkinson is an Independent in politics; in religion is a zealous Congregationalist, and all-in-all is one of the most capable, upright and successful merchants of Jacksonville.

JOHNSON, Henry Richard, retired farmer of Morgan County, Ill., residing in Jacksonville, was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 2, 1828, the son of Zacharia and Barbara (Richart) Johnson. When he was seven months old his parents brought him to Morgan County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. At the time of his mother's death, which occurred when she was ninety-five years old, she was the oldest resident of the county. His father died at the age of fifty-six years.

Richard Johnson, father of Zacharia John- son, was a native of New York State. Thence he migrated to Ohio and (in 1824) to Illinois. In New York he served in the War of 1812. He married Diana Wagner, of Pennsylvania. When he came to Morgan County, he bought a claim of 120 acres where the town of Arcadia now is, a portion of which, under the name of New Lexington, he platted and laid out in lots. By occupation he was a blacksmith. He also en- tered 80 acres under a patent signed by Presi- dent Andrew Jackson. This land is still owned by the family, being held in Mrs. Zacharia Johnson's name until her death, January 1, 1904. In the pioneer period Richard Johnson's house was used for many years for church pur- poses, services being held for three weeks con- tinuously.

Henry R. Johnson received his early mental training in the primitive subscription schools of Morgan County, and was reared to farm work, in which he engaged until the time of his retirement. He still supervises his farming interests, having 700 acres of fine farm land, de- voted to general farming and stock-raising. On it are fed and raised over 300 head of stock annually. As his possessions indicate, he has been diligent and intelligent in his farming methods, always successfully contriving to se- cure the best results. In 1869 he moved to Jacksonville, where he has since resided.

On March 11, 1852, Mr. Johnson was married to Martha Helen Reeve, a daughter of Isaac B.

Reeve, who, in 1819, started the first black- smith shop in Morgan County, first using a stump for an anvil block and working out of doors under the shade of a tree.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, namely: Mary E. (Mrs. Stephen O. Shuff); Anna Maria (Mrs. Charles B. Strawn) ; Hattie (Mrs. Charles Jeffers), Henry Jackson and James B. The mother of this family died in June, 1893. On November 14, 1894, Mr. John- son married as his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth Murray, a daughter of Tison and Catherine (Griffith) Bell. She was born in Pike County, Mo., and was first married to James Murray, April 13, 1852. He died July 24, 1882. They had seven children, namely: William E., Mary Elizabeth. (Mrs. Martin M. Crum), Catherine (Mrs. James McFillan), Sarah (Mrs. Albert Crum), Irwin E., and Flora May (Mrs. Theo- dore Martin), who is deceased.

For twenty-seven years Mr. Johnson was a Director of the Jacksonville National Bank, resigning this position in 1904. Politically he is a Democrat, and has served three terms as Alderman, and three years as Justice of the Peace. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Formerly he was affiliated with the Odd Fellows.

JONES, Benjamin F., Postmaster, Nortonville, Morgan County, Ill., was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, July 25, 1839, the son of Jesse J. and Susan (Covington) Jones, natives, respec- tively, of Pennsylvania and Ohio. In 1846 Jesse J. Jones, father of Benjamin F., migrated, with his family, to Morgan County, Ill., pur- chasing land and settling near Pisgah. He was the father of twelve children-eight sons and four daughters-Benjamin F. being second in order of birth. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Benjamin F. Jones, with his father and two brothers, enlisted in the Union Army, Ben- jamin joining Company G, First Missouri Cav- alry ("Duncan Rangers"), at Jacksonville, Ill. Perhaps the most important engagement in which he participated was the battle of Pea Ridge; he also took part in the battle of Sugar Creek, Ark. After serving three years he re- turned to Morgan County and the homestead, and there engaged in farming until 1901. His father died in 1887.

On January 30, 1868, Benjamin F. Jones was married to Miranda Sargent, and they became

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the parents of eleven children, nine of whom survive, viz .: Warren; William R .; Julia, wife of George Riblin; Hattie B., wife of J. M. Mc- Neely; George E., Elmer B., Jesse W., Rolfe E. and Nellie. Mr. Jones is the owner in Norton- ville of a house and two lots. In 1900 his son, Warren, was appointed Postmaster of Norton- ville, and Benjamin F. Joncs, his deputy. In 1902 the latter was appointed Postmaster, and is still serving in that position. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Grand Army of the Republic.

JONES, Ebenezer Paul, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Jacksonville, Mor- gan County, Ill., as well as one of the most worthy and highly respected, was born near Utica, Oneida County, N. Y., April 12, 1830, a son of Ebenezer and Martha (Hughes) Jones, natives of Wales. Ebenezer Jones was a farmer by occupation.

In his youth Mr. Jones attended the district schools in the neighborhood of his father's farm, and assisted the latter in his agricultural labors. When he reached the age of twenty years, he went to Hartford, Conn., where for four years he was engaged as farmer for the Hartford Retreat for the Insane. He was eco- nomical during this period, and invested a portion of his earnings in Wisconsin timber- land which he purchased at a low price, and sold in a short time at a profit of $35 per acre. in 1859, he moved to Morgan County, Ill., and secured the position of farmer at the Illinois Central Hospital for the Insane, at Jackson- ville. He continued in this connection for thir- teen years, In the meantime becoming the owner of four farms-of 160 acres, 130 acres, 40 acres and 20 acres, respectively. On the last named property he now resides, having subdivided it into valuable building lots. In 1873 he re- signed his position in the employ of the State, and has since devoted his attention to the su- pervision of his farms and other property in- terests.

John Jones, an uncle of Ebenezer P., was a soldier in the War of 1812, having enlisted from the vicinity of New York City, and Mr. Jones' mother, who was at that time but twelve years of age, retained during her lifetime a vivid recollection of the United States forces, as they marched past her home in Utica, on their way to Sackett's

Harbor, where an engagement with the British was expected.

On July 26, 1864, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Margaret Anna, a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Scott) McKelvey. Mrs. Jones is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, where she was born November 24, 1837. Six children have resulted from this union, as follows: Fletcher Lincoln, a resident of Kansas City, Mo .; Clara Anna, who died at the age of thir- teen years; Sidney Paul, who operates his fa- ther's dalry; and Emma Lois, Mary Margaret and Blanche Luella, who live with their parents.

Politically, Mr. Jones has always been iden- tified with the Republican party, but has never sought political preferment. Religiously, he is a member of the State Street Presbyterian Church, in Jacksonville, in which he and his family have worshiped for many years. Their comfortable and attractive residence is at No. 1457 South Main Street, Jacksonville.

JONES, Hiram Kinnaird, M. D., (deceased), was an able practitioner of Jacksonville, Ill., for many years especially well known in liter- ary circles, both East and West, and greatly admired for his public spirit and elevated per- sonal character. He was born in Culpeper County, Va., August 5, 1818, the son of Stephen and Mildred (Kinnaird) Jones, both parents being natives of the county named. His father was both a merchant and farmer, and was mar- ried September 22, 1814, by the Rev. William Mason. Dr. Jones' paternal grandparents were natives of Wales and Scotland, the grandfather settling in Culpeper County in time to do loyal service in the Revolutionary War under the di- rect command of Washington.

Dr. Jones laid the foundation of his thorough education in the common schools of Missouri, whither his parents had removed when he was quite young. Later he pursued the higher branches at the Illinois College, Jacksonville, graduating from both its classical and medical courses and being honored, from his alma mater, with the degrees of A. M., M. D., and LL. D. The Interim between his classical and medical courses was spent in teaching school, and after graduating In the latter he at once commenced practice at Troy, Mo. Illinois Col- lege also had a warm place In the Doctor's heart, and he evinced the feeling In such practl-

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cal ways as his bestowal of a gift of $20,000 to it, for the library building erected as a me- morial to his deceased wife, in 1897; the $10,000 donation of 1902, and contributions of smaller amounts of which no record exists.

In 1851 he was appointed Assistant Physician for the Illinois Hospital for the Insane, and located at Jacksonville. Later Dr. Jones suc- ceeded Dr. Higgins as Acting Superintendent of that institution in 1855, resigning the posi- tion to open an office for the practice of his profession at No. 505 West College Avenue. From that year until the date of his death, June 16, 1903, he gave to his work the conscientious de- votion and study characteristic of the true physician. In 1869 he formed a professional partnership with his brother, Dr. Comberland George Jones, which was only dissolved by the death of the latter in 1893.

Dr. Jones not only achieved prominence as a practitioner, but he was one of the most public spirited men in Jacksonville, being espe- cially active with tongue, pen and purse in the movements which aimed to elevate the commu- nity, morally and intellectually. He was lifelong Republican, an unflinching Abolition- ist in the early days, and a member of the Congregational Church, of the liberal type. His mental attitude and caliber are explained by the fact of his membership in the famous Concord School of Philosophy, before which for ten years he read his literary papers and received high praise from such men as Emer- son, Alcott and Thoreau. For a decade he also delivered philosophical addresses before the senior class of Illinois College, as well as lec- tures on anatomy and physiology in the Jack- sonville Business College. In 1860 Dr. Jones or- ganized the Plato Club and was prominently identified with it during the thirty-six years of its existence. He founded the Jacksonville His- torical Society, in 1884, and was its first Presi- dent; the Literary Union (still alive) in 1865, and the American Akademe, in 1883, of which he was also the first President. In the midst of his ceaseless activity, intellectual and pro- fessional, he found time to take extensive tours abroad, both for recreation and self- improvement. Twice he traveled to Europe, also visiting Egypt, Palestine and Syria. Upon his return home, by request of his fellow-citi- zens, he delivered most interesting talks on what he had seen and thought. It will thus be

seen that his life was remarkably fertile in useful and elevating work, and that his death left a void in the higher life of the community.

In 1844, Dr. Jones was united in marriage with Elizabeth Orr, daughter of Judge Philip and Lucy Orr. Mrs. Jones was born December 24, 1824, and died August 30, 1891, being a woman of fine literary tastes and culture, and so perfectly adapted to her talented husband that their married life was very happy. They had no children. The beautiful library build- ing of the Illinois College, already mentioned, stands as a touching memorial to his gifted wife.

One who was very close to the strong and warm life of the deceased gives the following epitome of his character: "Doctor Jones stands in a class by himself, being a man fifty years ahead of his time. There are those who seek eagerly for notoriety and those who shrink from it. The wise are not conscious of the wisdom of their utterances, but are as- tonished when they hear them praised. It is well that both these classes exist. They are essential to the work of the world; the one in- fluence in the doing of it properly. Doctor Jones was of this latter number. Though too diffident to cherish ambition for leadership, he was ever ready to further whatever would in- struct or benefit others. Not satisfied with scientific and professional attainments, though excelling in them, he pushed inquiry beyond, that he might learn of the reasons and causes of what he saw; and so, when he could have achieved fame as a scientist, he was content with the modest pursuits of the philosopher. He took his place as a worker in his profes- sion, as a neighbor and a citizen, everywhere doing faithfully everything that he undertook. He cared to be good, rather than great."

JONES, John, prominent farmer, was born on his father's homestead within one and a half miles of his present home, located on Sec- tion 17, Township 13 North, Range 8 West, Mor- gan County, Ill., the son of Robert Augustus and Letitia Ann (England) Jones. His great- grandfather, Robert A. C. Jones, was a native of England, whence he emigrated to America. Waitman Jones, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a resident of Morgan County, coming with his son, Robert Augustus, in the winter of 1827. Robert Augustus and wife

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

had a family of fourteen children, of whom twelve reached maturity, John Jones being the fifth in order of birth. The father died No- vember 5, 1901, and the mother, October 30, 1899. The father was a successful farmer who accumulated an estate of 700 acres of land.

John Jones was educated in the public schools and was reared to farming. On reaching ma- turity, he began farming on his own account, and has been very successful. He has sold con- siderable of his land of late years, as, in view of his inceasing years, there was more than he could properly superintend, especially as his rheumatic troubles seriously interfered with his activity; notwithstanding which he still retains 120 acres, surrounding his pleasant home. In August, 1861, Mr. Jones enlisted in Company K, Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and served three years, being actively engaged at Belmont, Mo .; Stone River, Tenn .; Chicka- mauga, Mission Ridge, and through the great campaign which culminated at Atlanta, Ga. He received his discharge at Camp Butler, Ill., his term having expired, and resumed farming in Morgan County.

Mr. Jones was married September 19, 1867, to Sarah Frances Ray, daughter of William E. Ray, who came to Morgan County in the '20s with his father, Elijah Ray. Mr. Jones and wife have one child, Ada Susan, now Mrs. Albert Miner, who has four children: John R., Mary, George R. and Sarah Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and by his connection with the Union Army during the Civil War he is identified with the Grand Army of the Re- public.

JONES, William Samuel, who is successfully engaged in the real estate business in Jackson- ville, Morgan County, Ill., was born on a farm south of Franklin, that county, January 21, 1863. He is a son of P. D. and Elizabeth (Mor- ris) Jones, natives of Tennessee and Virginia, respectively. His paternal grandfather was a very prominent citizen and an extensive slave owner living near Nashville, Tenn.

P. D. Jones was born near Nashville, Tenn., in 1835, and his wife, in Virginia, in 1832. The former was left an orphan at an early age, and came to Morgan County when eight years old. In 1870 he bought a farm in the southern part of the county, which he operated until 1889. In

that year he sold the property and moved to Paris, Mo., where he invested the proceeds in land. He remained there until 1897, again dis- posed of his farm, and returned to Franklin, Ill., where he invested in town property. He died in February, 1898, and his widow followed him in August, 1899.

William S. Jones received his early mental training in the district schools of Morgan County, and then assisted his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years old. At that period he went into the real estate and live stock business in Franklin, Ill. In 1891 he bought 200 acres of land in Hettick, Ma- coupin County, Ill., and a year later sold it. He then moved to Paris, Mo., where he re- mained until April, 1905, during that period transactingan extensive real estate business. At that time he located in Jacksonville, where he owns what is known as the Potts Farm, situ- ated at the western limits of the city. From the southeast corner of the Potts tract Mr. Jones has platted a new addition to the city of Jacksonville, and is also the owner of con- siderable other property.

On September 21, 1898, Mr. Jones was mar- ried in Paris, Mo., to Minnie Brissey, of Win- chester, Scott County, Ill., a daughter of Ewing and Lucy (Record) Brissey. Her maternal grandfather, John Record, was one of the pio- neer preachers of Illinois. One child resulted from this union, Paul A., born March 16, 1900.

Politically, Mr. Jones is a supporter of the Republican party. Fraternally, he joined Franklin Lodge, I. O. O. F., in 1889. He is also affiliated with Jacksonville Harmony Lodge and is a Knight Templar. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, being a member of Westminster Church of Jacksonville, Ill. As will be justly inferred from the above facts Mr. Jones is a man of high moral standing, thoroughly ca- pable in business and possessed of much energy and force of character.

JORDAN, William Harrison, for many years a prosperous and substantial farmer in Jackson- ville, Morgan County, Ill., but now leading a life of retirement, was born on a farm six miles northwest of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., May 20, 1840. He is the son of William Scott and Eliza (Hill) Jordan. The family history covers a century spent on Illinois soil, and chiefly in Morgan County. Sometime between

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

1784 and 1800, the grandfather of William H. Jordan came from Union, S. C., and settled on land now included in St. Clair County. Mr. Jordan's uncle served in the War of 1812. His father, William Scott Jordan, was born in what is now St. Clair County, May 10, 1803. After a short time spent in Pike County, Mo., he came to Jacksonville and located near where the old Berean College stood. In 1830 he mar- ried Eliza B. Hill, who was born in Penn- sylvania, January 17, 1807. In 1832, he was a soldier in the Black Hawk War. Throughout his long life in Morgan County, he was a very active member of the Ebenezer Church, in which he was Sunday-school Superintendent for forty years. He was widely known for his sterling Christian character and kindly gener- osity, his useful life coming to an end Novem- ber 17, 1878.

Mr. Jordan received his early mental train- ing in the public schools, and assisted his fa- ther in the management of the farm until the outbreak of the Civil War. He then enlisted in Company G, of the "Duncan Rangers," mus- tered in as the First Regiment Missouri Volun- teer Cavalry. He was injured in the charge at Sugar Creek, and, after serving through the battle of Pea Ridge, was discharged in 1862, at Batesville, Ark. He returned home, and, after recovering from his injuries, began farm- ing on rented land, subsequently spending sev- eral years in the cattle business. In 1899 he removed to Jacksonville, where he has since resided.

On October 8, 1867, Mr. Jordan was united in marriage to Mary Grund, of Beardstown, Ill., a daughter of Philip and Rosa (Riffer) Grund, early settlers of Cass County. The following children resulted from this union, namely: Henry Philip, who was born July 12, 1868, and died October 5, 1869; Horace Chamberlain, of Jacksonville, born in 1870; Clara E., who was born November 27, 1871, and is the wife of John A. Baschal, of Markham, Ill .; Arthur H., who was born July 10, 1874, and died March 13, 1899; and Ernest Grund, of . Jacksonville, born January 11, 1877.

Politically, Mr. Jordan has been a lifelong Republican of the most earnest type. In the noted campaign of 1882 he was a candidate for County Commissioner of Morgan County, and, although the county ordinarily gives a large Democratic majority, he was defeated by only

twelve votes. Fraternally, Mr. Jordan is iden- tified with Matt Star Post, G. A. R.

JOY, James Madison, Postmaster, Waverly, Ill., was born in West Virginia, April 16, 1840, a son of William F. and Minerva (Knight) Joy. His father was born at Harper's Ferry, Va., and his mother in North Carolina, his parents re- moving to Illinois, in 1857, and locating on a farm in Sangamon County, where they spent the remainder of their lives.

James M. Joy come to Illinois in 1856. ' Until the outbreak of the Civil War he attended . school and worked upon various farms in San- gamon County. On August 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Seventy-third Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war, being mustered out July 22, 1865. His command was attached to the Army of the Cumberland. Though he saw a comparatively small amount of active service in the field, he has a military record of which any man might well be proud. After partici- pating in the battles of Perryville, Ky., and Stone River, he engaged in the historic battle of Chickamauga, where he was captured by the Confederates. He was first taken with a large number of other prisoners to Richmond, Va., and detained in Libby Prison for five weeks. Thence he was taken to Danville, Va., where he remained in confinement for five months, and thence to Andersonville, where eleven months of indescribable suffering were endured, mak- ing his total term of imprisonment eighteen months. As the result of the great hardships he was compelled to endure throughout his pe- riod of imprisonment, he has undergone con- siderable suffering in the later years of his life. During the closing days of his imprisonment in Andersonville, the report of his death reached his home, and all arrangements for holding funeral services in his memory were made, only to be stopped, a few moments before the hour set for the services, by the belated in- telligence that he was still alive. From Ander- sonville Mr. Joy was taken to Vicksburg, Miss., and thence to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, where he received a furlough and returned to his home at Loami, Sangamon County. The following year he began teaching school in the country districts, a vocation he followed for two terms. After working as a clerk in a store at Loami for a short time, he was united in

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

marriage with Amanda Hall, and moved upon a farm in Sangamon County which he had pur- chased. There he remained, following agricul- ture until 1881, in the meantime taking an active interest in educational matters, and serv- ing for twelve years as a School Director. In 1881 he removed to Waverly, which has since been his home. At first engaging in work at the carpenter's trade, he continued independ- ently until August, 1882, when he formed a partnership with Frank Rantz, and engaged in the hardware, undertaking and furniture busi- ness for six years. In 1893 he embarked in the undertaking business alone. On August 12, 1898, President Mckinley commissioned him Postmaster at Waverly, and on February 23, 1903, he was reappointed to the office by Presi- dent Roosevelt.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 169

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