Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 174

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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During all his mature life, Mr. Masters was an active member of the Presbyterian Church. In young manhood he became a communicant in the Presbyterian Church at Murrayville, and upon removing to Jacksonville, in 1881, united with the State Street Church, in which he served for several years as Chairman of the

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Board of Trustees. He was intensely interested in the work of the Sunday-school and the Young Men's Christian Association, and de- voted much time to the former work outside of Jacksonville. Largely through his instrumen- tality, eighty new Sunday-schools in Ilinois were organized; and the aid that he rendered in this direction cannot be overestimated. For several years he was President of the Morgan County Sunday School Association, and for about twelve years was a Director in the Jack- sonville Young Men's Christian Association, whose work he promoted in every way possible. Like his father he was a radical Republican in his political views, but he neither sought nor consented to occupy public office.

Mr. Masters was united in marriage Decem- ber 30, 1874, with Ella A. Lightfoot, daughter of Dr. P. F. and Sarah (Edwards) Lightfoot, of Murrayville. Dr. Lightfoot is now living there in retirement, after a long and useful career in medicine and surgery, being one of the oldest and most highly esteemed citizens and practi- tioners in that section of the State. (A more detailed record of his life will be found on other pages of this work.) To Mr. and Mrs. Masters the following named children were born: Leonard L., born December 8, 1875, graduated from Illinois College in the class of 1897, entered the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan (where he spent one year), and died suddenly of pneumonia May 5, 1900. at the age of twenty-five years, having married Rena French, daughter of Charles S. French, of Chapin, Ill .; Mary L., born November 6, 1887; Arthur Madison, born in Murrayville July 31, 1878, graduated from Whipple Academy and Jacksonville Business College, and on Septem- ber 1, 1898, married Lulu Gertrude, daughter of Carey Francis and Margaret Jane (Grimes) Strang, of Murrayville, and became the fa- ther of two children-Eleanor Strang and Florynce L.

The remarkable success which attended the operations of S. D. Masters undoubtedly was due more to his peculiar genius in estimating land and stock values than to any other indl- vidual agency. Inheriting from his father a keen business instinct, his foresight and sa- gacity developed rapidly as he began his inde- pendent operations. Though his transactions were frequently very large and important, he had the faculty of carrying on business so qui-

etly that few persons knew the extent of his dealings. He was invariably prompt and re- liable in business matters, discharging all obli- gations with scrupulous exactness. While very devoted to his family and always ready and anxious to do everything possible for their com- fort and pleasure, he also assisted others when he was convinced that their cause was worthy. He never paraded his generosity, but all his benefactions were bestowed unostentatiously. Hè admired honesty, ability and persistent ef- fort in the right direction quite as much as he admired success. In all his dealings with his fellow-men he was eminently fair and impar- tial, and his integrity both in business and in social life were never questioned. Such a rec- ord as this should prove not only a source of inspiration to the present generation, but of pride and gratification to his descendants.

MATHEWS, Cyrus W., who is the owner of a very fine farm in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., of which city he is a promi- nent resident, was born on his father's farm seven miles east and one mile north of Jackson- ville, on September 1, 1834. In boyhood he at- tended the district school of his neighborhood, and was subsequently a student in Illinois Col- lege. He remained on the home farm until Sep- tember 16, 1862, when he enlisted in Company G, First Regiment Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, being attached to Gen. Fremont's command. Later he served under Gen. Hunter and Gen. Curtis. The regiment was dispatched by boat to intercept Gen. Price at Jefferson City and Mr. Mathews participated in the battles of Springfield, Sugar Creek and Pea Ridge. In August, 1863, his regiment was engaged in the battle of Cold Harbor, where Mr. Mathews had a horse shot under him, and his right knee was injured. He was then promoted to be Orderly Sergeant, and on many occasions was in com- mand of his company. He was mustered out of the service at St. Louis in August, 1864. After the war, he returned home and had charge of the farm until February, 1866. His present place consists of 200 acres, on which he is en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising; and he also owns an interest in the paternal homestead.

On February 7, 1866, Mr. Mathews was united in marriage with Mary J. Welbourn, a native of Morgan County. Two children resulted from

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this union, namely: Alice F., who was a stu- dent in the Presbyterian Academy; and Edgar, who lives on the home farm. Soon after his marriage Mr. Mathews moved to his farm, which he cultivated until 1875.

In politics, Mr. Mathews is an earnest and in- fluential Republican, and in 1875 was a candi- date for the office of County Commissioner, and in 1876 for that of Sheriff. He was appointed Postmaster of Jacksonville by President Harri- son, and served four years and two months. For ten years he held the office of Township Treas- urer; has been Chairman of his precinct, and, upon several occasions, Chairman of the Repub- lican County Committee, serving in the latter capacity during the Yates gubernatorial cam- paign. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M. and the G. A. R., of Jacksonville. Mr. Mathews has been a very successful farmer, and is now one of the most prominent citizens of the community in which he lives.

MATHEWS, Richard Thomas, retired farmer, Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill, was born on a farm in that county, March 2, 1843. He is a son of Samuel Taylor and Sarah Ann ( Adams) Mathews. The father was born January 21, 1799, in what was then Green County, Ky., near Bowling Green. Samuel T. Mathews was of Protestant Irish descent, being a son of Rich- ard Mathews, born during the Revolutionary period, and probably a descendant of one of the original immigrants of the early Colonial days.

Samuel Taylor Mathews came to Illinois in 1821, and entered a tract of Government land in Morgan County, on Section 4, Township 15, Range 9, of which his son, Richard T., still owns a part. Samuel T. Mathews was married in Kentucky February 22, 1821, and when he came to Morgan County with his wife brought with him $5, a portion of which was still in his pos- session at the end of the year, there being little in that new country for which he could spend money. He ground his own corn, having built one of the first grist and sawmills in the county, located on Mauvaisterre Creek, and the only establishment of the kind known there for many years. On February 22, 1821, he was mar- ried to Sarah Ann Adams, who was born Oc- tober 20, 1803, in what is now Marion County, Ky., a daughter of Elijah Adams, a native of Maryland. In 1822 grandfather Mathews came to Morgan County, and soon afterward grand-

father Adams followed. The Adams family in the county is now extinct. Nine children re- sulted from the union of Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Mathews, namely: Melinda J., deceased; Elijah A. and Richard W., who died in childhood; Margaret A., widow of Hezekiah Craig; Samuel T. and Cyrus W., both deceased; Sarah E., wife of J. W. Bab; John H., deceased; and Rich- ard T., of Jacksonville. The father of this family continued to take up land and buy claims until he had about 1,100 acres of land, in all, and he has always engaged in farming and raising stock on a large scale. In 1875 he was instantly killed by falling from a tree.

In politics, Samuel T. Mathews was at first a Whig, but became a Republican in 1860. He served as one of the early County Assessors of Morgan County and for two terms as Sheriff, first during the "big snow" and again in the 'for- ties. He was a member of the Legislature for two terms, knew Abraham Lincoln well, and visited that illustrious man's house in Spring- field, taking his son Richard T. with him.

Soon after Mr. Mathews' arrival in Morgan County, the Cumberland Presbyterians built a church on his farm, which is said by Hiram Reeve, who came here in 1820, to have been the first church edifice erected in the county. S. T. Mathews and his wife are both buried on the farm. The former was a Captain, raised a company in the Black Hawk War, and was made Colonel, commanding a regiment in that conflict.

Richard T. Mathews was reared on the home farm and attended the country school, the Jack- sonville public school, and Illinois College. He entered college in 1861, but left it the next year to join the army, enlisting August 15, 1862, in Company D, One Hundred and First Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being mustered out June 7, 1865. He participated in all the battles of his regiment until he was wounded at the battle of New Hope, Ga., May 25, 1864, two bul- lets entering his left breast and shoulder, break- ing the latter. One of these balls, which lodged under the ribs, he carried for nine years. In September, 1864, he rejoined his regiment at Atlanta, and participated in Sherman's March to the Sea and the Grand Review at Washing- ton. After the war, Mr. Mathews resumed farm- ing in connection with stock-raising and con- tinued thus engaged on land secured from his father until he removed to Jacksonville in 1896.

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

He now has 300 acres of the original farm, be- sides other lands within and outside the county, and lots in Jacksonville, where he lives in re- tirement exercising supervision over his farm- ing interests. He is a member of the Matt Starr Post, G. A. R., and of the Order of Elks.

Mr. Mathews was married December 8, 1886, to Martha E. Welbourn, a native of Morgan County, and a daughter of Wisdom and Ra- chael Welborn, who migrated from North Caro- lina. He has led an industrious and successful life. Having served his country well in time of war, and faithfully performed his duty in all the relations of life, he is resting from his la- bors in the quiet contentment of well earned repose.

MATTINGLY, Shelton J., (deceased), one of the oldest and worthiest of the pioneer settlers of the vicinity of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., who had made his home on the same farm continuously for nearly fifty years, was born in Washington County, Ky., June 22, 1817, and died November 24, 1905, aged eighty-eight years, five months and two days. He was a son of William and Nancy Mattingly, also natives of Washington County, Ky. William Mattingly died when Shelton was an infant, leaving two children. His widow was married sometime afterward to Reuben Bird, and in the fall of 1824 the family moved to Morgan County, Ill., settling about nine miles north of Jacksonville on a tract of Government land. There Mr. Bird died in the fall of 1826, leaving his widow and four children in straitened circumstances.

Mrs. Bird at once set to work at her loom to save sufficient money, aside from that required in the support of her family, to pay the indebt- edness on the Government land on which she lived. Many of the old settlers can testify to her deftness and celerity in weaving, and in less than a year, she had $70 in cash stowed away in a teapot which was placed on a high shelf in the cabin. Nearly all the land in that vicinity was then entered, but Mrs. Bird was so highly respected that she was allowed to hold a squatter's claim. In the fall of 1827, however, prospectors desirous of securing lands, informed her that they had selected the tract on which she lived. After they refused to come to terms for the improvements made on the place, and resisted her many entreaties not to disturb her, she informed them that but $30

yet remained of the sum required to clear the tract, and they agreed to allow her one more day to secure that amount.

It was then late in the evening, and it was a difficult matter to borrow money on short no- tice. The case seemed almost hopeless, partic- ularly, as, even if successful in securing it so hurriedly, a quick trip must be made to Spring- field to perfect the transaction. Mrs. Bird, however, was not discouraged. She had an ar- duous journey before her and dark clouds cov- ered the sky, but she set about her preparations with characteristic determination. Telling Shelton, who was then ten years old, to bring "Old Black" she hurriedly made her prepara- tions for the trip. "Old Black," as many of the old settlers remember, was a noble animal, be- ing nearly eighteen hands high, and very mus- cular. After the darkness of night settled down, Mrs. Bird, on her faithful steed, started for the head of Indian Creek, a distance of twelve miles, to borrow the required $30. Although it rained continuously, she succeeded in reaching that point without mishap and ob- tained the money.

Early next morning, she started for Spring- field on the trusty animal. The roads were very heavy, but noon found her at Spring Creek, three miles west of Springfield. The storm of the previous night had swollen the stream and washed away the bridge, leaving but one stringer. Nothing daunted Mrs. Bird took the bridle rein, intending to walk over on the only remaining piece of timber and let "Old Black" swim across. Instead of swim- ming, however, the horse walked on the same timber, both performing the feat in safety. Soon afterward Mrs. Bird arrived at the Land Office, and on counting over the money, the Re- ceiver, Mr. Enos, found a counterfeit dollar. Mrs. Bird borrowed a dollar from him to make up the deficit, and after partaking of his hospi- tality-which was very limited, as the whole family cooked, worked and slept in the samc room-at three o'clock started for home, with her difficult task accomplished and her mind relieved of a great weight.

Mrs. Bird lived to see her children grown up and comfortably situated, and to do many acts of kindness and benevolence, not only for her own family, but her neighbors. She was a pioneer member of the Methodist Church, and always zealous in the Christian cause. She died

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in 1856, universally beloved and lamented, at the age of seventy-three years.

Shelton J. Mattingly, her son, lived on the old farm to the last, and was one of the few among the pioneers of that region who had occupied the same place for a period so ex- tended. He was a sincere Christian, one of the best of neighbors, and highly respected and cordially esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

MAWSON, John Robert, formerly one of the most enterprising and successful farmers of Morgan County, Ill., but now living at leisure two miles southwest of Jacksonville, was born in Scott County, Ill., February 16, 1843, the son of Robert and Ann (Killam) Mawson, natives of England. Robert Mawson moved with his family to Morgan County about 1838. By occu- pation he was a farmer, and also had large in- terests in coal lands in Scott County. On lo- cating in Morgan County, he purchased a small farm of 70 acres, on which he spent the remain- der of his life, dying in June, 1879, at the age of seventy years, his wife passing away in Oc- tober, 1865, when fifty-six years old. They were the parents of ten children, namely: Mary Ann (Mrs. Robert Dobson); Elizabeth (Mrs. Robert Hembrough) ; Martha J. (Mrs. Jonathan Richardson); John Robert; Harriet (Mrs. Samuel Angelo) ; George, who lives in Canada; William, who resides in Missouri; Abel; Fanny (Mrs. P. Ranson), who died at the age of forty- two years; and Phillis (Mrs. Joseph Allen), of California.

In his youth Mr. Mawson received his mental training in the district schools near his home, and assisted his father on the farm. There he was reared to manhood and has been a farmer throughout his life. He is now the owner of 400 acres of as fine land as Morgan County con- tains, which he has devoted to general farming and stock-raising. On September 2, 1861, Mr. Mawson enlisted in Company K, Twenty-seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three years. He participated in the battles of Belmont, Island No. 10, Iuka, Mur- freesboro, Knoxville, Chickamauga, Dallas, Rac- coon Mountain, Resaca and Atlanta, taking part also in many minor engagements and sharp skirmishes. He was honorably discharged and mustered out of the service at Springfield, Ill., on September 20, 1864. On returning home he

applied himself to farming and continued thus until 1903, when he abandoned that occupation and moved to Jacksonville. There he first re- sided in virtual retirement, in his modern resi- dence on South Main Street, but later removed two miles northwest of the city.

On April 13, 1869, Mr. Mawson was united in marriage with Clara, a daughter of Logan and Lucy (Carlton) Tankersley. This union has resulted in five children, as follows: Frank L., Lucy Ann (Mrs. Charles T. Mackness), of Jack- sonville; R. D. Mawson; George L., who died at the age of nineteen years, and LeRoy, who lives at home.

Politically, Mr. Mawson is a stanch Repub- lican. He served as Trustee of Township No. 10, for six years, and held the office of School Director for a period of twenty years. Religiously, he is a member of the Christian Church, in which he was a Deacon for ten years, and has also been Trustee. Fraternally, he is a member of Jacksonville Post, G. A. R .; is also affiliated with the A. F. & A. M. and the U. W. A. orders. He has lived an upright and useful life, and enjoys the unreserved confi- dence and unfeigned regard of all who know him.

MAYFIELD, Milton, was born in Montgomery County, Ala., June 6, 1823, and came with his parents, Ennis and Mary (Myers) Mayfield, to Illinois when he was six years old. His grandfather, his father, and his father's brother were pioneer settlers in Morgan County, and in view of their prominent part in the affairs of the county, its early history would be incom- plete without reference to the family. Milton's father died when the son was yet in his minor- ity and his mother, only a few years later, leav- ing the son practically the head of the family. His uncles, Stephen and Manning Mayfield, and Dr. George and Dr. Monroe Mayfield, were men of more than ordinary education among the early settlers of that time, and did much to en- courage education among the people. Man- ning Mayfield was educated for a lawyer, and taught night and grammar schools, to which his nephews came, and to which other ambitious youths walked miles to attend. The chief com- pensation that he received was the knowledge of the fact that his effort was needed and appre- ciated. In his early manhood Mr. Milton May- field taught the winter school, as it was then

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called, in his neighborhood. He always took a great interest in education, and held some school office from the time he became of age until his removal to Jacksonville. His brothers attended McKendree College, at Lebanon, Ill., and his sister. the Illinois Woman's College of Jacksonville.

Mr. Mayfield married Miss Elizabeth Caudle, of Scottville, Ill., who, after fifty-nine years of married life, still survives. There were six chil- dren born to them: Cæsar, who died a few years ago from an accident received in the Chicago Union Stock Yards; Wellington and Goudy, who live in Chicago; Dr. Brock May- field, and the Misses Mary and Sarah Mayfield, of Jacksonville.

Mr. Mayfield was a lifelong Democrat, and always took great interest in politics, never missing an opportunity to vote with his party. He was elected Sheriff of Morgan County, and removed to Jacksonville, where his children were educated, and where he resided until his death, at the age of eighty-two years.

McCLERNAND, John Alexander, was, for a time, one of the distinguished citizens of Mor- gan County, having resided in Jacksonville from 1851 to 1856. He married a daughter of Col. James Dunlap, of Jacksonville. An account of the varied civil and military services of General McClernand is fully given in the pre- ceding "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois," on pages 359-360.

McCONNEL, Edward, attorney and editorial writer, Jacksonville, Ill., was born in that city July 19, 1840, the son of Murray and Mary (Mapes) McConnel, natives of New York and New Jersey respectively. He received his pri- mary mental training under private tuition, and subsequently became a pupil in the West District School of his native town, which, under the principalship of Dr. Newton Bateman, was probably the first effort made in the State toward the establishment of the graded-school system of instruction. After finishing his studies in this school, Mr. McConnel pursued a classical course of four years at Illinois Col- lege, graduating from that institution in June, 1859. On leaving college, he read law for a time, but relinquished his legal studies in 1861, and enlisted as a private in Company B, Tenth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, one of the three-months' regiments which served their

terms of enlistment at Cairo, Ill. On August 31, 1861, Mr. McConnel was appointed First Lieutenant in the Sixteenth Regiment United States Infantry, which formed a part of the Fourteenth Army Corps. With this regiment he served until March, 1866, when he resigned, holding commissions -as Captain and Brevet- Major. Returning to Jacksonville, he some- time afterward resumed the study of the law, and was admitted to the bar in 1879. Since then, besides his legal practice, he has done considerable newspaper work of an editorial character. On December 7, 1874, Mr. Mc- Connel was united in marriage with Mrs. Julia Walton Garetson at St. Louis, Mo.

In politics, Mr. McConnel is an earnest and influential Democrat. In 1894 he was elected to the Lower House of the Illinois General As- sembly. In 1896 he was promoted to the Senate, and in 1900, was returned to the House of Representatives. Since the expiration of his last term of legislative service, he has devoted his attention to the practice of his pro- fession and to his newspaper duties in con- nection with the "Jacksonville Courier."

He is recognized by all as possessing a high order of ability, and superior literary and legal attainments, and maintains an enviable social and civic standing in the community.

McDONNELL, Henry, a well known citizen of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., who is en- gaged in the undertaking business, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, November 27, 1840, the son of Henry and Margarct (O'Maley) Mc- Donnell, natives of Ireland. Henry McDon- nell, Sr., was a blacksmith by trade, and was thus employed by Henry Ennis for many years. He came to Morgan County in 1849, after work- ing for some time in St. Louis, Mo., and Spring- field, Ill. The family originally came from the East, by way of the lakes to Chicago, then down the river to Naples, and on to Jacksonville by railroad. They were members of the Cathollc Church, and the father was one of the first men in this region to organize those of his faith into a religious body. It was largely through his efforts that the first Catholic church in Morgan County was built. He died in 1890.

Henry McDonnell was about eight years old when he came with his mother, sister and two brothers to Jacksonville, where he received his mental training in the public schools. He was

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then bound out as an apprentice to learn the house painter's trade, which he followed until 1891. He executed large many contracts, among others those in connection with the schools for the Deaf and Blind, Illinois College, Illinois Woman's College, Grace M. E. Church, Centenary Church, the Catholic Church and Parochial School, Presbyterian Church, County Court House and many other public and pri- vate buildings. In addition to earning promi- nence in this line Mr. McDonnell also conducts one of the largest wall-paper and paint stores in Central Illinois, carrying with his other stock a choice line of pictures and frames. In 1891 he invented a kind of decoration for walls, spending about three years in New York in the work of introducing it. While thus engaged, he was obliged to return home, on account of sick- ness. He then engaged in the undertaking busi- ness, in which he has since continued, oppo- site the court house in Jacksonville. For four years he has also served as Coroner of Morgan County.

In 1866 Mr. McDonnell was united in mar- riage with Margaret McInerney. Of the five chil- dren born of this union, three are living, namely: John, an attorney of Jacksonville, who served in the Spanish-American War as Lieutenant of Company I, Fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry; Mary (Mrs. William H. Murphy), of Brooklyn, N. Y .; and Agnes, a saleslady with Marshall Field & Company, Chicago. Marga- ret died when five years old, and James, at the age of six months.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 174

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