Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 179

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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PETEFISH, Aaron Wesley, one of the most widely known and honored farmers of Morgan County, Ill., residing at Literberry, Is a descend- ant of one of the old pioneer families of the county. He was born on his father's farm near Literberry, now a part of the "three-mile strip" in Cass County, January 3, 1841. His fa- ther, George Petefish, was born in Rockingham County, Va., March 17, 1790, and was a son of a Hessian soldier who came to America with the British army during the early days of the Revo- lutionary War, but afterward left the Hesslan force and joined the Patriots. George Petefish served three months with the American army in the War of 1812, and upon the expiration of lls term continued for a simllar perlod as a substitute for his brother Jacob. During most of this time he was statloned at Norfolk, Va ..

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at which point it was expected that the British troops would endeavor to make a landing. In reward for his services he received from the Government a land warrant for 80 acres, on which one of his sons based a claim in Iowa. He was brought up to farming in Virginia, and for a time worked at the trade of a cabinet maker. About the close of the War of 1812 (probably in 1814) he removed to Ohio, locating for a time in Warren County. About 1823 he came to Illinois, purchasing an eighty-acre claim which was located on the so-called "three- mile strip," then in Morgan, but now a part of Cass County. In payment for this land he gave a team of oxen. He subsequently entered a Government claim of 40 acres of timber-land, and ultimately became the owner of 200 acres of fine, easily cultivable land. In early life a Whig, he became a Republican upon the organ- ization of that party, but never cared for pub- lic office. He was nevertheless a.man of high public spirit, and accomplished all in his power for the advancement of the welfare of the com- munity in which he lived. In the early days his home was a headquarters for the pioneer ministers in the Methodist Protestant Church, and services were frequently held there. He was one of the first members of the society of this denomination which worshiped in the Petefish log school-house, and was always deeply inter- ested in the work of that denomination, as well as in Christian charities generally.

George Petefish was married three times. His first wife was Polly, daughter of Harmon Aughe, who bore nim the following children, all in Ohio; Jesse (deceased), who was born in July, 1818; Harmon (deceased), born October 2, 1820; and Mary Jane (deceased), born December 30, 1823, and married John Fry. His second wife was Margaret, daughter of John Ream, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, and of German ancestry. She died in the summer of 1844. The children of this marriage were: John R. (deceased), born in Ohio, March 10, 1825; Eliza Ann, born in Morgan County November 24, 1826, married D. A. Gibson; David H. (deceased), born Sep- tember 7, 1828; Dianah (deceased), born August 16, 1830, married Jackson Henderson; Jabez, born October 10, 1832, now resides at Oronogo, Mo .; Emanuel (deceased), born November 2, 1834; George W., born May 19, 1836, lives in Douglas County, Kans .; James M. (deceased), born July 17, 1837; and Aaron W., whose sketch follows.

The entire life of Aaron W. Petefish has been spent either in Cass or Morgan County. He re- ceived his education in the subscription schools which were conducted in the log school-houses of that period, but at the age of twelve years abandoned his studies to assist his father in work upon the farm. On August 9, 1862, he was mustered into the service of the United States as Corporal in Company E, One Hundred and First Illinois Volunteer Infantry, served through the Atlanta campaign, and October 29, 1864, was discharged on account of disabling wounds received at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Ga., being then a Sergeant in the same company and regiment. After returning to the farm he was compelled to walk upon crutches for about a year. He first purchased a farm of 100 acres located in Cass County, which he traded for his present homestead near Liter- berry, and where he has resided since 1871. He now owns 410 acres of fine land, on which he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Petefish cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and since that time has faithfully maintained the cause of the Republican party. He has filled various local offices, and for many years has been a member of the School Board. In religion he is connected with the Christian Church at Literberry. On December 23, 1868, he married Martha L. M. Paul, a native of Mor- gan County and a daughter of Jacob Paul. Her death occurred July 28, 1882. The children of this marriage were: Alma O. (deceased), born November 4, 1869; Abraham Ellsworth, born February 7, 1871; Harrison Wallace, born May 9, 1873; Estella Clara, born November 4, 1875, married Melvin O. Smith; Gracie Margaret, born December 25, 1877, married Franklin L. Ogle; George Ellis, born November 28, 1878. On February 28, 1883, Mr. Petefish married Mrs. Lourena Wright, 'daughter of Jesse T. Liter. They are the parents of the following named children: Lora Dell, born January 29, 1885; Aaron Dudley, born March 21, 1887; Orville O., born December 17, 1889; Evalee, born November 30, 1892; Jesse Liter, born September 21, 1895; and Dewey Hobson, born June 12, 1898.

PFEIL, John C., (deceased), formerly a promi- nent and prosperous farmer and an inventor of some note, long a resident of Morgan County, Ill., was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, June 9, 1822. He had a fair business education there when a boy, and began working at the

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tallor's trade. In 1840, after the death of his mother, with his father, three brothers and three sisters, he came on a sailing vessel to America, the voyage consuming several weeks. The names of the other children were as follows: Margaret, who married Henry Smith; Cath- erine, wife of Conrad Dowd; Henry; Conrad; Maria, Mrs. John Long. The family finally reached Cincinnati, where the father died. After remaining a short time in that city, John C. Pfeil came to Beardstown, Ill., where he worked at his trade and clerked in a store. There he was taken sick with typhoid fever. About 1850 lie moved to the farm, which he cultivated until his death. At first he bought 40 acres, and from time to time added to this tract until he owned over 300 acres in the home farm. Besides this he was the owner of considerable land in Kansas.

In 1867 Mr. Pfeil patented the gang plow, which he manufactured on the farm. For this patent he was once offered $50,000, which he refused. He also invented the roller cutter, and a sulky plow, all of these implements being manufactured on his farm.

On December 22, 1847, Mr. Pfeil was married to Amanda Christiana Hamaker, a daughter of David and Sarah (Ream) Hamaker. Her fa- ther, who was born March 2, 1795, came to this section in 1830 with a team of horses and a few cows, and settled in North Prairie, Cass County. Mr. Hamaker bought a land claim with a one- room log cabin, and lived in that vicinity many years. He died at Augusta, Ill., August 29, 1863, his wife who was born December 28, 1810, having preceded him October 24, 1855. Mrs. Pfeil was the eldest child born to her parents, the others being as follows: John, who was born October 26, 1830, and died in Oklahoma; Daniel H., born March 14, 1863; Samuel, who was born January 25, 1835, and lives in the Indian Territory; George, who died in infancy; David H., born August 9, 1844, who was a sol- dier and died during the Civil War; and Cath- erine, who was born May 19, 1848, and married John Seckler, of Leavenworth, Kans.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Pfeil resulted in eleven children, eight of whom are living, viz .: Maggie, wife of G. B. Bowlings, of Morgan County; Herman C., who lives in Seattle, Wash .; Edward, of Arenzville, 111 .; John W., who is on the home farm; Catherine A., wife

of James Caldwell, who is with her mother; James C., who operates a part of the home farm; Amanda C., who lives at home; and Charles O., an architect of Memphis, Tenn. Those deceased are: Sarah E., who married Frank Hackman, and died in 1903; and Henry D. and Ross, both of whom died young. Mrs. Pfeil is a member of the Methodist Church. The father of this family was a man of strong mind, sound information and notable force of character, being religiously reared in the Luth- eran Church. His death occurred July 31, 1884, and his loss was greatly lamented throughout the region which he did so much to develop. His remains are interred in Arenzville Cemetery.

PHELPS, Charles C., a prominent business man. of Jacksonville, Ill., carrying on an ex- tensive dry-goods business in partnership with his brother-in-law, Samuel D. Osborne, under the firm name of Phelps & Osborne, was born at Greenfield, Franklin County, Mass., July 14, 1853, the son of Charles Benson and Louise (Cummings) Phelps, natives respectively of Greenfield, Mass., and New York City. Charles B. Phelps was, by profession, a dentist and, at different times, was engaged in the practice of his profession in Greenfield, Mass., Buffalo, N. Y., and St. Catharines, Canada West, and in each of these cities Charles C. attended school and acquired his education. At the age of fif- teen years, in 1868, he visited his aunt, the late Mrs. Martha B. Day, of Jacksonville. Here he secured employment with Messrs. Grassley & Moore, grocers, with whom he remained two years, then became a clerk for Jonathan Gill, a dry-goods merchant, continuing thus for seven or eight years, when, upon the death of his em- ployer, the business was closed. In 1880 he went to Kansas and was engaged in the drug busi- ness there for one year, returning to Jackson- ville in 1881. when he engaged in his present business in partnership with S. D. Osborne. They have been associated in business since and have established a large and prosperous busi- ness in dry-goods, cloaks, ladies' sults, and similar lines. In 1883 they moved into their present capacious premises on the northeast corner of the Public Square.

Charles C. Phelps was marrled October 14, 1880, to Almira Osborne, daughter of Robert N. Osborne, and they have two children-Charles

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Howard and Helen Rebecca. Mr. Phelps is a member of the Episcopal Church, while his wife is connected with the Christian Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics, a Republican.

The first member of the Phelps family to come to America was "William the Emigrant," who was one of the passengers of the "May- flower," and a citizen of Tewkesbury, Glouces- tershire, England. The paternal great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, Rufus Phelps, was born in Northampton, Mass., March 9, 1766, and married Sybil Benson June 30, 1789. His son, the paternal grandfather of Charles C. Phelps, Col. Ansel Phelps, was born in North- ampton, Mass., November 17, 1789, and married

Hannah Ames July 6, 1813. He settled in Greenfield, Mass., in 1812, and was Lieutenant- Colonel and Acting Adjutant of the Vermont Militia, and in 1835 a member of the Executive Council of Massachusetts. He was a printer, publisher and editor, and for many years, or until 1847, was associated with the leading newspapers of Greenfield.

Dr. Charles Benson Phelps, the father of Charles C., was born in Greenfield, Mass., Oc- tober 27, 1824, and on October 24, 1849, married Rebecca Louisa Cummings, who was the oldest child of Thomas S. and Jane ( Cook) Cummings, born in New York City, September 8, 1827, and died in Buffalo, N. Y., August 6, 1859. Dr. Phelps was a dentist, in 1854 resided in New York City, and later removed to Buffalo. He died in Deerfield, Mass., May 14, 1868.

PITNER, Thomas J., M. D., one of the most prominent and successful physicians of Jack- sonville, Morgan County, Ill., was born in .what is now Cass County, Ill., November 17, 1842, the son of William and Catherine ( Price) Pit- ner, the former a native of Eastern Tennessee, and a neighbor of General Jackson. The grand- father, Michael Pitner, was born in Rocking- ham County, Va., whence he removed to Ten- nessee. Michael's father, John, served with the Virginia troops in the Revolutionary War, as did also his brother, Adam. They came from Coblenz-on-the-Rhine, Germany, before the Rev- olution. Michael fought under General Jackson's command at New Orleans. He located in Cass County, Ill., in 1834, his brother, Montgomery, who had come to Illinois in 1820, having settled on Government land two miles east of Jackson-

ville. Michael Pitner, who was a farmer by oc- cupation, brought his family. William, his son, · had been engaged in teaching in Tennessee, but in Illinois applied himself to farming. He also served as Sheriff of Cass County, subse- quently held the office of Justice of the Peace, and died in 1875. His wife was Catherine Price, daughter of Henry Price, of Cass County, and afterward of Macon County, Ill. Mr. Price, who was a farmer, was born in Rockingham County, Va., whence he moved to Ohio, and thence, about the year 1830, to Cass County, Ill. Mrs. Catherine Pitner died in 1853, the mother of two children-one who died in infancy, and Thomas J.

The subject of this sketch received his early mental training in the country schools of Cass County and the city of Beardstown, in 1862, graduating from Illinois College, Jacksonville, with the degree of B. S. His post-graduate studies covered one year in Illinois College, aft- er which he was employed one year as a clerk in Jacksonville. In April, 1864, he enlisted in a company composed of students, for 100- days' service, was mustered into Company C, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and assigned to guard duty for five months, principally in Southwestern Missouri. In 1865 Dr. Pitner commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Hiram K. Jones, of Jacksonville, now deceased. He afterward pur- sued a one year's medical course in the Uni- versity of Michigan, and continued his pro- fessional course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, graduating from that college in 1869, with the degree of M. D. With the exception of a year and a half of study and travel in Europe, Dr. Pitner has continuously occupied the same office since his graduation, naving been always engaged in general practice. In 1875 he spent a year in the hospitals at Vienna, Austria, taking private courses. In length of practice, he is the oldest physician in Jacksonville. He is a member of the American Medical Association, and served one term (1899-1900) as President of the Illi- nois State Medical Society. He is also a mem- ber of the Morgan County Medical Society, and several district medical societies, being also a Trustee of the Illinois Woman's College and of Illinois College.

On May 28, 1889, Dr. Pitner was united in marriage with Eloise Griffith, a native of Louisi-

Thor Worthington.

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ana, Mo., and a daughter of the late Dr. B. M. Griffith, of Springfield, Ill., who, at the time of his death, was President of the State Board of Health. Before her marriage, Mrs. Pitner spent most of her life in Springfield.

In politics, Dr. Pitner is a supporter of the Republican party, and an earnest advocate of all beneficial public measures. Religiously, he is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Jacksonville, of which he is a Trustee. He has been an officer of the local Y. M. C. A., for thirty years, and was President of the Associa- tion when its present building was erected, in 1880. Dr. Pitner has an extensive and lucrative patronage, and his reputation as a physician of learning and exceptional skill extends far be- yond the limits of his practice.

PRATT, Julius Franklin, farmer, who resides near Chapin, Morgan County, was born in Bridport, Addison County, Vt., August 25, 1819, a son of Lyman and Asenath ( Williams) Pratt. His father, who was a farmer, was born at Bridport, a son of David Pratt, a native of South Adams, Mass., and a descendant of an ancient New England family, which partici- pated prominently in the affairs of the Massa- chusetts Bay Colony in the early period. The Williams family, of which Mr. Pratt's mother was a representative, is of old and distinguished New England ancestry, some of its members having occupied conspicuous positions in the commercial, educational and religious life of the Colony and the State.

Julius F. Pratt was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools of Vermont and the academies at Shoreham and Middle- bury, in that State. After completing his edu- cation he taught school during the winters and worked for wages as a farm hand during the summer months until his marriage, August 25, 1845, in Middlebury, Vt., to Loranie Snow. She was born January 18, 1816, also in Bridport, Vt., and was a daughter of Leummim and Alice (Bennett) Snow. Her father was a native of New York State and her mother of Counecticut. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Pratt started for the West with his wife and sister, Charlotte, who afterward married Sylvester Joy, of Morgan County. Arriving In Jacksonville, Mrs. Pratt soon afterward began to teach school, in which work she was engaged near Concord during the winter of 1845-46, her hus-

band being similarly employed near Elm Grove. When Mr. Pratt and his wife reached Morgan County it was in the expectation of purchasing land for farming operations, but as he had but $150 capital, he and his wife agreed that It would be best to increase their resources by teaching, as there was a strong demand for educated teachers in the new country. Having accumulated sufficient money to carry out their ambition, in the spring of 1846 Mr. Pratt rented of William C. Cleary 50 acres of land on Joy Prairie, and in the little log cabin located thereon he and his wife began housekeeping. The land had been broken by Mr. Cleary, but was otherwise unimproved. After spending a year in the development of this property, Mr. · Pratt rented of Mr. Chenery a farm located nearer Chapin, where he spent another year. He then returned to the original farm owned by Mr. Cleary, which he operated two or three years longer, in the meantime contracting for 80 acres of his present farm, for which he agreed to pay $7 per acre. This land he broke to the plow the year he was on the Chencry place. Soon afterward he purchased an addi- tional 80-acre tract adjoining his first purchase; and these two parcels of land comprise the farm which he now occupies. Upon this farm he removed with his wife in 1851, and has resided there continuously since. The house In which he resides was completed in 1856, and has been his home since August 25th, of that year. It is worthy of note that most of the land sur- rounding the property of Mr. Pratt was un- broken prairie when he settled in Morgan County, and deer and other game were very abundant.

In 1854 Mr. Pratt and his wife united with the Congregational Church at Concord, through the presentation of a letter from the church at Bridport, Vt., of which both had been members for some time. In the spring of 1858 he was elected a Deacon of this church, and still oc- cupies the office by coutinuous reelection every four years. This church was originally organ- ized as a Presbyterian society, but as most of its members were of the Congregational faith and favored Independent government, they after- ward voted to affillate with the Congregation- allsts.

A stanch Republican since the days of the founding of that party, prior to which he had been a Whig, Mr. Pratt has been actively In-

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terested in the success of the men and meas- ures of that organization. His disposition to bear his full share of the public burdens and responsibilities is illustrated by the fact that he has served for many years as Township Trustee, School Director and Township Trus- tee for School Funds, filling the latter office for a period of thirty-two years.

Mrs. Pratt, who was the daughter of Leum- mim and Alice (Bennett ) Snow, of Bridport, Vt., was a woman of rare graces of character, de- vout in her Christianity and beloved by all who were favored with her friendship. Her death occurred May 22, 1892. She was the mother of four children, all of whom are still living, as follows: Alice Asenath, wife of John B. Joy; Lyman Leummim; Ellen Eugenia, who re- sides with her father; and Thurlow Hayward. All the children are residents of Morgan County, and highly respected by their fellow- citizens.

Mr. Pratt is highly esteemed by the people of Morgan County, who, during the long years of his residence among them, have learned to appreciate the strength of his character, his integrity and straightforwardness, and his abun- dant public spirit. He is a man of generous impulses, kind to those who are troubled or afflicted, and a friend to all worthy enterprises. As a representative of the best citizenship of Morgan County, the record of his life is en- titled to a permanent place in the annals of the county.

PRIEST, James O., a well known and success- ful attorney-at-law, of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., was born in Bloomfield, Scott County, Ill., March 9, 1863, the son of Henry and Sarah (Ward) Priest, whose ancestors were of German origin, and emigrated to this coun- try before the Revolutionary War. His par- ents were born near MeConnellsville, Morgan County, Ohio, in 1854, locating in Bloomfield, where they lived together until the father's death in 1901. His widow is still living on the home estate.

In early youth James O. Priest received his primary mental training in the public schools, and afterward spent three years in the North- ern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso, Ind. While there he attended law lectures and after their completion read law with Hon. J. M. Riggs, of Winchester, Ill. After serving three

terms as City Attorney of Winchester, he lo- cated in Jacksonville June 19, 1893, and opened his present office, where he has since practiced law with notable success. Mr. Priest is gen- erally recognized as one of the ablest lawyers at the Jacksonville bar, and enjoys the unre- served confidence and respect of his clientele.

On December 30, 1890, Mr. Priest was united in marriage with Annie Hurd, of Winchester, Ill., and three children have been born of this union, namely: Winnie, born July 3, 1894; Henry Hurd, who was born March 30, and died July 10, 1896; and Martha, born February 26, 1901.

RANNELLS, Charles S., prominent stockman and farmer, Pisgah, Morgan County, Ill., was born where he now resides, on the paternal homestead, December 5, 1857, the son of Samuel

1 M. and Mary R. (Springer) Rannells, the lat- ter, a sister of the late Reuben Springer, the well known philanthrophist, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Rannells' father, Samuel M. Rannells, was a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and in 1832 came with his father, William Rannells, to Morgan County, Ill. The latter entered land from the Government and was engaged in farm- ing throughout his life. Samuel, the father of Charles S., was also a successful farmer and an extensive cattle feeder. He died in 1881, his wife having preceded him in 1873.

Charles S. Rannells has made farming and cattle-feeding his life occupation. In his boy- hood he attended the local schools, and later (1879) became a graduate of Illinois College, Jacksonville. When his father died he inher- ited an estate of 400 acres of land, with other property. His landed property now consists of 1,500 acres, and he sends annually to the Chi- cago market 800 to 1,000 head of cattle and in- numerable pigs.

Mr. Rannells was married May 19, 1880, to Cornelia May Stevenson, daughter of Septimus C. Stevenson, residing in the vicinity of Or- leans, Morgan County. In 1897 he was ap- pointed by Governor Tanner a member of the Illinois Railroad and Warehouse Commission, holding that position for four years. He also served his party one term as Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, being a member of that organization for three terms. He is a member of the Jacksonville Lodge of Elks, and in religious faith and association, a

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Presbyterian. His residence and grounds are commodious and handsomely improved, making a most attractive homestead.

RANSDELL, Ernest C., farmer and stockman, of Morgan County, residing on Section 28, Township 14, Range 9, was born where he now lives March 28, 1877, the son of William L. and Sarah J. (Davis) Ransdell, the father born near Lexington, Ky., and the mother in Illi- nois. Mrs. Ransdell is a daughter of Daniel Davis, a farmer of Morgan County. The fa- ther, William L. Ransdell, moved to Illinois from Kentucky with his father, Presley. The latter entered land in Section 32 of the above named township, and rearcd a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters. He became a successful farmer, and at his death left a large estate to be divided among his children. William L. Ransdell, who was the fifth child in order of birth in his father's family, became a very successful and exten- sive landowner, and dealt largely in cattle. His estate consisted of 1,014 acres. He was the father of seven children, four of whom survive: Mamie A., William L., Charles D. and E. C. The father, William L., Sr., was a member of the Christian Church, and a Republican in po- litical belief. He died in March, 1897.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 179

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