Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 170

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

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Mr. Joy is a prominent member of the Grand Army Post of Waverly, of which he has been Commander or Adjutant for many years. Fra- ternally he is identified with Waverly Lodge No. 93, I. O. O. F. In the M. E. Church he is a member of the official board. He has served two terms on the Waverly School Board, and two terms in the City Council. Politically, he has always been unwavering in his allegiance to the Republican party.

Mr. Joy's first wife died December 25, 1880. On February 22, 1883, he married Rachel Ann VanKirk, a native of Mercer County, N. J., who removed with her parents to Illinois in 1865. By his first marriage, Mr. Joy became the fa- ther of a daughter, lda, wife of W. M. Minnick, of Chicago.

It is a fact worthy of note that Mr. Joy was one of five brothers who fought in the defense of the Union during the Civil War, four of whom served in the same company. Beside himself, they were John W., William E. and Joseph O. John W. died of wounds received at the battle of Perryville, Ky., and at the same battle William E. received a wound in a similar manner in the thigh, but not fatal. Joseph O. was wounded in the hip at the battle of Mission Ridge. The youngest brother, Buena Vista Joy, entered the army at the age of six- teen years, as a member of Company I, Six- teenth Illinois Cavalry, was wounded in the wrist, was captured, taken to Richmond, and thence to Andersonville, where he died.

JOY, Lyman F., one of the most widely known agriculturists of Morgan County, and a repre-

sentative of one of its most prominent pioneer . families, residing on his farm about five miles southeast of Concord, and eight miles northwest of Jacksonville, was born in Pitts- field, N. H., February 3, 1833, the son of John P. and Judith (Bachelder) Joy. John P. Joy, who was born in Durham, N. H., March 17, 1806, was a son of James and Sarah (Picker- ing) Joy. The former, who was born March 4, 1778, in Durham, N. H., learned the trade of a blacksmith from his father, and afterward became a shipbuilder; but his business having been ruined by reason of the Embargo Act of 1808 and the War of 1812, he removed to an- other neighborhood in New Hampshire, where he purchased a farm and engaged in the manu- facture of scythes and other implements. He became the founder of the town of Pittsfield, in that State, and was a man of great influence in his community. He married Sarah Picker- ing December 19, 1802, and they had seven children, one of whom, John P., came with his father to Illinois in 1838, followed later by Charles and Sylvester.

The family located in Morgan County in that year, the elder Joy purchasing about 1,200 acres of fertile prairie land, which has since been known as "Joy Prairie." A month after his arrival in the county he returned to his old home, leaving his sons in possession of the newly acquired property, and spent the re- mainder of his life in New Hampshire. Two of the sons were married, and brought their wives with them; Sylvester married after he settled in Morgan County. With the exception of a log cabin, the new comers found the land upon which they located devoid of improvements for the accomodation of themselves and their fami- lies. The log house first occupied by John P. Joy contained but one room, with puncheon floor; but his wife, Judith Bachelder, a native of Loudon, N. H., was a helpmate in the truest sense of the word, and assisted her husband in every possible way to found a pleasant home in the wilderness. She bore the hardships of the times bravely, and carefully reared her only son, Lyman F. Joy, to the age of sixteen years, when, in 1849, she was called from earth. The elder Joy was again married in 1850 to Eliza- beth Parsons, a native of New Hampshire, who died two years later, leaving no children. In 1853 he was united with Jane Bigger, who bore him four children. Of these two survive, namely: James Allen, proprietor of the Joy

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Steamship Line, running to Atlantic ports from Boston; and Charles, who is located on the homestead. John P. Joy carried on extensive operations in general farming and stock-rais- ing, and was very successful. He was an influ- ential member of the Congregational Church, of which he was one of the founders. In poli- tics he was first a Whig, and afterward a Re- publican, and died at the age of seventy-four years.

Lyman F. Joy attended the early subscription school located on Joy Prairie, and afterward took the full elective (now scientific) course in Illinois College. For five or six years after the completion of his college course he taught school. In 1855 he was united in marriage with Angelica Haseltine, a native of Passumpsic, Vt., and they at once began housekeeping on the place where Mr. Joy now lives. He now owns 420 acres in one body, and all under cultiva- tion, which is reputed to be one of the finest bodies of land for agricultural purposes in Mor- gan County. All the improvements upon the place are the result of his own labor. While he is now engaged in general farming, for many years he conducted extensive stock operations; and in all his undertakings he has been success- ful. Mr. Joy has been actively interested in the promotion of the best interests of the Re- publican party since its organization in 1856, and is now serving his tenth year as Justice of the Peace and his thirteenth year as Notary Public. Aside from purely local offices, such as good citizens are called upon to fill from time to time, he has never sought political honors. For more than forty years he has been a mem- ber of the Congregational Church, of which his wife, who died April 9, 1892, was also a mem- ber. They became the parents of seven chil- dren, of whom the following survive: Minnie, wife of Albert C. Rice, of Arnold, Ill .; Nettie J., wife of Thurlow H. Pratt, of Joy Prairie; Ruth J., wife of Arthur C. French, of Chapin; and Ed- ward F., who, with his father, manages the home place, his wife being formerly Frances Cowdin.

Mr. Joy is a representative of that type of citizenship which forms the bone and sinew of a community. Throughout his entire life he has shown a gratifying public spirit, taking a hearty and unselfish interest in the promotion of those well considered projects which have had for their end the advancement of the high- est interests of his fellow-men. No enterprise

of a worthy nature has ever been placed before him for consideration and failed to enlist his earnest cooperation and support; and in many instances he himself has taken the initiative. He is an honored representative of a type of strong men which is rapidly disappearing; a man whose integrity and whose motives have never been brought into question; one whom his fellow-men delight to honor. And as such he is entitled to a permanent and conspicuous place in the annals of Morgan County.

KENDRICK, Thomas J., a well known, popular and influential citizen of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., was born January 11, 1869, at Ferns, County Wexford, Ireland, the son of John and Kate (Redmond) Kendrick, both of whom were natives of that county-the former born in 1830, and the latter in 1837. The mother, who died in 1879, was a second-cousin of John Edward Redmond, the celebrated Irish leader. In the old country John Kendrick was a farmer by occupation. He came to this coun- try in 1888, and lived with some of his relatives in Detroit, Mich., until his death, August 8, 1902.

. Thomas J. Kendrick received a good mental training in the national schools of Ireland. Af- ter finishing his course in school he served an apprenticeship of five years with a dry-goods merchant. Having an ambition to improve his fortunes, he came to the United States in May, 1888, and proceeded direct to Jacksonville, where he worked for different persons until September 1, 1892. At that period he secured employment as a boiler maker and flue welder in the old Jacksonville Car Shops which were subsequently destroyed by fire. He was then engaged in the same occupation in the new shops of the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Rail- road, where he still remains. He is Correspond- ing Secretary of the Jacksonville Boiler Makers' Union, Trustee of the Trades Assembly, a Director of the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Mutual Benefit Society, and President of the Trades and Labor Assembly of Jacksonville, being elected to the position last named on July 13, 1905.

On November 22, 1892, Mr. Kendrick was united in marriage with Mary Anne Ward, of Murrayville, Ill., a daughter of Martin and Mary (Needham) Ward. Two children have been born of this union, namely: John Edward

Richard Standley

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Redmond, born August 28, 1893, and Maggie Mary, born September 27, 1896. In religion, Mr. Kendrick is a devout Catholic, and an active member of the church. Politically, he is an earnest and influential Democrat, and has al- ways taken a lively interest in public affairs. In 1901 he was elected a member of the City Councilof Jacksonville from the First Ward, and made a reputation as a valuable representative of the best interests of the city. In November, 1903, Mayor John R. Davis appointed him one of the first Board of Commissioners of the Mor- gan Lake Park System; and Mr. Kendrick made the original motion to change the name to Nich- ols Park, by which it is now known. In 1905 he was again elected Alderman, acquitting him- self' with equal ability and fidelity. Frater- nally, Mr. Kendrick is a member of the third degree of the Knights of Columbus. He is also affiliated with the Eagles and A. O. H., and had the distinction of representing the latter organi- zation in its Fortieth National Convention, held at Detroit, Mich., in 1896. In addition to these fraternal relations, he belongs to the M. P. L. Lodge No. 19, in which he has been a member of the Routt Club. He is a man of strict recti- tude of character, and is highly regarded by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

KENNEDY, David Elvin, a well known, highly respected and prosperous farmer and stock-rais- er in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Morgan Coun- ty, Ill., and who is also successfully engaged in the livery business in that city, was born on Section 5, Township 16, Range 10, Morgan County, in July, 1864, a son of Naoman and Emily E. (Johnson) Kennedy, who are also na- tives of Illinois. At an early period his paternal grandfather, who was a farmer, with his wife and family, migrated from Ohio to Morgan County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Naoman Kennedy, although a wagon-ma- ker by trade, devoted his attention mainly to farming. He and his wife are living two miles north of Arcadia, Ill., in the home where their son David was born. The father owns 320 acres of land in Morgan County, devoted to gen- eral farming purposes. The parents are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Naoman Kennedy has officiated as Steward and Trustee for many years. They are the parents of five children, namely: Wil- liam Z., of Mulvane, Kans .; Flora H. (Mrs. Dr.

A. J. Ogram), of Jacksonville, Ill .; James H., who lives in Muskogee, I. T .; David E .; and John Edward, who is with his parents.

In his boyhood David E. Kennedy received his mental training in the district schools, and in 1881 entered the Jacksonville Business Col- lege, from which he was graduated February 13, 1883. He was reared as a tiller of the soil and a caretaker of the fine stock which his father raised, continuing in this occupation until he had the misfortune to lose his left arm in a shredding machine, November 29, 1901. After his recovery he went into the livery business in Jacksonville, in partnership with S. Thomas Erickson. The firm conducted a good business, but in a short time Mr. Kennedy purchased his partner's interest and is still its sole proprietor. He has a well equipped establishment of twenty-five horses, and caters to the light livery custom, being one of the best concerns of the kind in this section of the State.

Mr. Kennedy is the owner of 262 acres of fine farming and stock-raising land, divided into two farms, one of 140 and the other of 122 acres. One of these is rented, and the other devoted to the raising of fine road-horses. He has twenty-one colts, ranging to the age of three years, and of this number eighteen are as black as coal. They are "Nutwood' stock from the famous stallion "Oneida Nutwood," and represent one of the finest trotting breeds in the country. He also owns the noted saddle horse, "Dick Yates," famous for his numerous saddle progeny. In all, Mr. Kennedy has on his stock farm about thirty head of fine and blooded horses. He made the place his home until 1902, when he came to Jacksonville, where he has since resided. Be- sides his farms in Illinois, he is the owner of 160 acres of land in Gove County, Kans., which he devotes to grain-raising, and which, in 1903, yielded 3,174 bushels of wheat.

On August 11, 1887, Mr. Kennedy was mar- ried to Rosalind Heigold, a daughter of Charles Augustus and Harriet (James) Heigold. Their union has resulted in one child, Mamie Augusta, born February 7, 1899. In politics, Mr. Kennedy is an earnest and active Republican, and takes a lively interest in his party's success. In 1902 he was nominated for Assessor and Treasurer, but the Republican ticket was defeated. Reli- giously, he is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In fraternal circles, he is identi- fied with the M. W. A. and M. P. L. He is one

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of the prominent citizens of the county, and is everywhere regarded as an intelligent, honor- able and useful member of the community.

KENNEDY, Naoman L., for many years a suc- cessful farmer in the vicinity of Arcadia, Mor- gan County, Ill., and one of the most promi- nent citizens of this section, was born in Mer- cer County, Pa., May 1, 1831, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Stribbey) Kennedy, who moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, about the year 1837, the father being a cabinet maker by trade. N. L. Kennedy attended the public schools in Ohio, where he grew to manhood. When a boy, he began working by the day and month, and, upon reaching the age of nineteen years, entered upon an apprenticeship at the wagon-maker's trade, continuing for two years. The first year he received $36 and board, and the second year $48. Soon afterward he started a wagon shop at Jared, Ohio. When he came to Illinois, in 1853, traveling by canal and river, he brought with him three buggies and a two-horse wagon, which he had made in his Ohio shop. Upon his arrival in Morgan County he sold two of the buggies for $100 each. Shortly after locating here he was employed in a wagonshop in Arca- dia, being thus engaged for two years, when he moved to the farm on which he now lives, and of which he had been the owner since 1853. It consisted of 80 acres which he purchased at $6.50 per acre, with three years' time in which to pay for it. A hewed log house and barn then stood in the same yard of 20 acres in which is now his present residence, and the property was called the John Bramer Place. In this log cabin Mr. Kennedy lived for years. He built the fine home which he now occupies in 1867, and the present farm consists of 310 acres, in a com- pact body of land, on which he has been engaged in general farming and stock-raising, with marked success.

On March 8, 1855, Mr. Kennedy was married to Emily E. Johnson, a sketch of whose family appears elsewhere in this volume. Five chil- dren resulted from this union, namely: Wil- liam Z., who is a carpenter, and lives in Kan- sas; Flora H., wife of Dr. A. J. Ogram, of Jack- sonville; James, who lives on the farm with his father; David E., who conducts a livery stable in Jacksonville; and John E., who oper- ates a portion of the home farm. The parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary

March 8, 1905. On political issues, Mr. Ken- nedy has always been an unswerving Republi- can. Religiously, he and his wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than fifty years. As a farmer, he has met with deserved success, is a man of the highest character, and, wherever he is known, is regarded with great respect and cordial es- teem.

KEPLINGER .- The Keplingers seem to have come to this country from Bavaria before the Revolutionary War, since one Peter Keplinger served in a Pennsylvania regiment during that war. The Keplingers have been regarded as among the worthiest citizens of Morgan County, both in pioneer and later times.

John Keplinger and wife, Elizabeth Ruble, and ten children, came to Morgan County from Ten- nessee in 1828 in covered wagons; one wagon drawn by five horses, another by four, and with a one-horse gig. Mr. Keplinger's family con- sisted of eight sons, Jacob, Samuel, Isaac, Peter, John E., George, Michael Shunk, and Richard (the last two by a second wife) and four daugh- ters-Mrs. T. J. Harris, Waverly, Ill .; Mrs. James York, of Macoupin County, Ill .; Mrs. B. B. Harris; and Mrs. Wilburn Rohrer, Waverly, Ill. All lived to maturity, most of them living to a good old age.

Samuel Keplinger married Permelia Green in 1833. After his marriage he followed the black- smith trade in Jacksonville four years, when he entered and bought land near Franklin, and, erecting a shop on his farm, followed his trade, in that way earning the money to pay for his land, which amounted to 400 acres. That place continued to be his home until his death, which occurred in 1886, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife died in 1883, aged seventy-two years. Eight of their children lived to adult age: Mrs. Gen. John Irving Rinaker, Carlin- ville, Ill .; Hardin Green, Franklin, Ill .; Lewis W., Kansas City, Kans .; M. Luther, Carlinville, Ill .; Mrs. M. A. Smith, of California; Mrs. John W. Smith, of DeGraff, Kans .; and Mrs. Alex. Van Winkle, who died in Wisconsin in 1870.

Peter Keplinger lived and died in Macoupin County, Ill.

John E. Keplinger died at Waverly, Ill., in 1890. The Keplingers, on their mother's side (Ruble), are related to the Borings and Pit- ners, who also were among the early and valu-

Mrs. Richard Standley

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

able pioneer immigrants to Morgan County. The chief motive that led the original family to come to Illinois was the desire to remove from the presence and influence of slavery. The pa- triotic record of the family is truly noble. One, Peter Keplinger, served in a Pennsylvania regi- ment in the Revolutionary War. Two sons of John Keplinger, John E. and Michael Shunk, served in the War of the Rebellion. Two sons of Samuel Keplinger, Hardin G., and Lewis W., and two sons-in-law-Gen. John I. Rinaker and Alex. VanWinkle, all that were of military age -and two sons of Peter Keplinger, served in the Civil War.

KEPLINGER, Hardin G .- The first settlers in a new country or city, independently of any intrinsic qualities which they possess, are ob- jects of peculiar interest to succeeding genera- tions; and to have the honor of pioneer parent- age is to suggest in a man the possession of qualities of understanding and will, of enter- prise and perseverance, of foresight and sa- gacity, characteristic of the region and race from which he sprang. Hardin G. Keplinger was thus blest by a pioneer ancestry, his birthplace being on his father's farm, located a mile northwest of Franklin, and his birthday November 25, 1839. His parents were Samuel and Permelia (Green) Keplinger, both of whom were descended from early settlers of Illinois, John Green coming to Morgan County in 1822, and Samuel Kep- linger following him in 1829. Samuel Keplinger was born in Washington County, Tenn., June 2, 1809. Although reared in the South, Samuel Keplinger soon accustomed himself to Northern methods of agriculture, accumulated a large estate, became known for his successes along that line of labor, and died June 20, 1886. He was the father of twelve children, of whom Hardin G. was the fourth born. The surviving members of this large family are: Clarissa, wife of General J. I. Rinaker of Carlinville, Ill .; Hardin G .; Lewis W .; M. L .; Alice, widow of William Smith; and Ella, wife of J. W. Smith.

After leaving the public schools Hardin G. Keplinger entered Illinois College at Jackson- ville, and had reached his senior year when the Civil War broke out. Not pausing long enough to procure the desired diploma (which was af- terward granted), in April, 1861, the youth enlisted in the "Hardin Light Guards," which was later attached to the Tenth Illinois In-

fantry as Company B. He served in this com- pany for ninety days and subsequently was assigned successively to the Thirty-second Regiment Illinois Infantry and the One Hun- dred and Twenty-second Regiment, serving as Adjutant of the latter until the close of the war. He had the honor to participate in such glorious engagements as the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Nashville, Mobile and Fort Blakeley, and the misfortune to be wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and during the siege of Corinth. At the close of the war he settled on a farm of his own near the old homestead and for a time engaged in agricul- ture. Although other interests havesince claimed his attention, he still retains 380 acres of land.

On October 3, 1867, Mr. Keplinger was mar- ried to Mattie, daughter of Jeremiah Bell, a prominent citizen and early settler of Jersey County, Ill., and of this union three children were reared to maturity: Maurice Bell; Lulu, wife of William T. Dodsworth, a farmer living near Franklin; and Ada, wife of J. M. Shep- herd, a merchant at San Francisco, Cal.

Seeking some avenue through which to enter a business career, in 1886 Mr. Keplinger decided to organize and establish a bank, which, in as- sociation with Mr. W. H. Wright, he proceeded to do; but the death of his partner, in 1891, caused him to purchase Mr. Wright's interest and take into the business his own son, Maurice ' B. The institution has a paid-up capital of $20,000, and is well patronized. In his political connections Mr. Keplinger is a stanch Repub- lican, and at the present time is a member of the Town Board. He belongs to the Masonic order, and before its disbandment on account of depleted ranks by death and removals, was Commander of the G. A. R. Post.

KETNER, Joseph Francis, whose residence is on South Main Street, just beyond the limits of the city of Jacksonville, was born in Morgan County, Ill., six miles north of Jacksonville, September 9, 1838, the son of Henry and Mahala (Crouse) Ketner, who came from their native State of North Carolina, in 1836, bringing with them their baby girl, Elizabeth. They made the journey by road in a wagon drawn by one horse. The father of Joseph F. located as a farmer in the timber-land six miles north of Jacksonville and, after spending years of labor in clearing it, removed to the prairie three miles

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

southeast of the city. There he accumulated a large estate, his farming land aggregating about 500 acres, which he thoroughly improved, and upon which he made a specialty of breeding choice Black Berkshire hogs.

Henry Ketner and his wife were the parents of six children, viz .: Elizabeth, born in North Carolina; J. F .; Andrew J .; Mary M .; William H., and Edward N. Mr. Ketner died August 18, 1890, and his wife, March 7, 1893, both being buried in Diamond Grove Cemetery.

Joseph F. Ketner was raised on his father's farm and attended the district schools near his home, which was a log cabin with puncheon floor and slabs for seats. He was married Sep- tember 5, 1861, to Eliza J. Harney, daughter of John R. and Eliza A. (Wilson) Harney, who were both natives of Lexington, Ky., and came to Morgan County in 1832. For eight years after their marriage the young couple lived in the Ketner homestead, but in 1860 the hus- band had purchased 80 acres of land near Wood- son, Morgan County. He has since added to this tract and now owns 200 acres, besides a half interest in his deceased father's estate. Mr. Kit- ner retired from active business in 1890, and his present home, nicely situated, is surrounded by five acres of ground.

To Mr. and Mrs. Ketner four children have been born, viz .: Melissa M., wife of William Crow; Nettie V., wife of Amos Megginson; Anne M., wife of C. C. Self; and Ida C., wife of William Crawley. The last named are living on the old homestead of the Ketners, and C. C. Self and Amos Megginson reside on the farm of Mr. Ketner near Woodson. Mr. Ketner is a School Director, having served for ten years in his present district and twenty years at Wood- son. He is a Democrat, a member of the Ma- sonic order, and one of the most substantial and respected residents of Morgan County.

KILIAN, Joseph, who, together with his son, George D., is engaged in the manufacture of fine carriages and buggies, in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., under the firm style of J. Kilian & Son, is a native of Germany, where he was born March 1, 1850. He is a son of Adam and Cath- erine (Gasner) Kilian, also of German nativity, being brought by his parents to the United States when he was seven months old. The family remained about ten months at Salem, N. J., removing thence to Jacksonville, where they

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 170

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