Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 180

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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Ernest C. Ransdell was brought up on the farm and in his boyhood attended the local school. Later he was a pupil at Reed's Semi- nary, and completed his schooling in the High School at Jacksonville, where he remained for three years. Mr. Ransdell owns 200 acres of land, and conducts his farming operations in partnership with his brother Charles, who owns 232 acres adjoining. The former lives on the old homestead, while Charles, who is unmar- ried, resides with him. Mr. Ransdell was mar- ried December 19, 1900, to Lucy Henry, the accomplished daughter of Charles E. Henry, one of the largest cattle-breeders of Morgan County, and they have one son, Charles Donald. The family attend the Christian Church.

RAWLINGS, David, a prominent farmer living on Section 20, Township 14, Range 9, Morgan County, was born October 11, 1849, the son of Henry and Catherine (Dudhope) Rawlings, the former a native of Yorkshire, England, and the latter of Scotland. Henry Rawlings came to Il11- nois with his father, William Rawlings, and they were among the early settlers of Morgan

County. The parents of David were married in Morgan County, and had a family of eleven children, six of whom survive, viz .: David; Mary, wife of Jesse Jones; Isabel, wife of Thomas Vanstone; Sarah, wife of George Ox- ley; Catherine, wife of Marshall Rees, and James. Henry Rawlings was a successful farmer and had amassed a fine estate of be- tween 600 and 700 acres prior to his death, which occurred in 1873.

David Rawlings attended the country schools in his youth and assisted in the work of the farm. He was married February 11, 1874, to Eveline Scott, daughter of E. Scott, to whom four children were born, viz .: Henry E .; Grace, wife of S. H. McDevitt; Nellie, wife of R. Buck- ner; and Arthur.

On reaching maturity, he began farming as an independent venture, and his success is shown by the fact that he is now the owner of more than 200 acres of fine farming land, which is leased to tenants. His place is well improved and he himself is the author of its continuous development. Mr. Rawlings has served his district on the School Board for six years, votes the Republican ticket, and is a substantial citizen, as well as a prosperous farmer.

RAWLINGS, Greenbury B., farmer and stock- man residing on Section 21, Township 15, Range 9, Morgan County, 111., was born in Cass County, this State, January 28, 1843, the son of G. B. Rawlings, Sr., and Elizabeth (Dobler) Rawl- ings, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Lancaster, Pa. On the paternal side Mr. Rawlings is of Scotch-Irish descent, and on the maternal, Pennsylvania Dutch. The father of Mr. Rawlings settled in Cass County in the early '30s and was there engaged in farming and cattlebreeding. Here the son was trained to farm life, obtaining his education in the country schools. He was the youngest of seven children, and, after the death of his father, re- mained at home with his mother in charge of the farm. At the age of twenty-four he bought the old homestead and conducted farming on his own account. The farm, which consisted of 200 acres, located seven miles southwest of the town of Virginia, he conducted for about fifteen years and then sold it. He continued farming, however, in Cass County until 1898, when he removed to the place where he now lives.

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Mr. Rawlings was married January 27, 1875, to Margaret Pfeil, daughter of John C. and Amanda C. (Haymaker) Pfeil, and of this union were born four children, viz .: John Addison; Elsie Elizabeth, wife of Howard E. Thornley, a farmer of Cass County; and Mary Margaret and Amanda Cassandra, both living at home.

Mr. Rawlings is now engaged in farming on 160 acres of land, which is well cultivated and produces abundant crops. Mr. and Mrs. Rawl- ings have given their children a fair educa- tion, and the family are members of the Presby- terian Church at Pisgah, and have the respect and confidence of the entire community. John Addison Rawlings, the only son, was a student in the Illinois College at Jacksonville, and for three years thereafter pursued a course in the Indiana Law School, at Indianapolis, Ind., from which he graduated May 28, 1902. He spent a year in that city in the practice of his pro- fession, but, desiring to live near his family, re- moved to Morgan County, and in January, 1905, was appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk, which po- sition he still holds. He was married August 2, 1905, to Emma Scott Hoyt, one of Jackson- ville's accomplished young ladies. The Rawlings family are stanch Republicans.

RAWLINGS, James, a prominent and success- ful farmer of Morgan County, residing on his pleasant home farm in Section 32, Township 14, Range 9, was born near Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, August 12, 1822, the son of William and Mary ( Wilson) Rawlings, who moved from their native country to America in 1834. Wil- liam and Mary Rawlings had nine children, five sons and four daughters, part of whom came with their parents to America in 1834, the re- mainder following in 1840. William Rawlings bought land in the township where his descend- ants now reside, and, being a man of means, first secured 500 acres to which he later added some two or three hundred acres more. He lived about twenty years in his adopted country, and his wife survived him about ten years.

James Rawlings, who was the third child of this family, was educated in England and as- sisted on his father's farm until he had reached his twenty-fourth year, when he began farm- ing on his own account. On the 26th of Feb- ruary, 1848, he was married to Frances Hem- brough, a daughter of John and Hannah (Tur- vey) Hembrough, all natives of Yorkshire, Eng-

land. The Hembroughs came to America in 1839. They had a family of twelve children, of whom Frances was eighth in order of birth.

James Rawlings and wife became the parents of eight children, five of whom survive. Two children died in infancy, and a daughter, Han- nah T., died after her marriage. Mr. Rawlings has made farming and stock-raising his life occupation, but since 1888 has left the manage- ment of the estate to his children. He has been very successful as a business man, and before dividing much of his landed property among his children, he owned 1,200 acres. Mr. Rawlings and wife and their family belong to the Meth- odist Church. He served his district on the School Board.

RAWLINGS, James E., whose residence is on Section 19, Township 14, Range 9, is a leading farmer and stockman of Morgan County, and is the owner of 500 acres of excellent farming land. This home is surrounded by improve- ments of the highest character, his estate con- sisting of two farms, one of 253 acres and the other of 240 acres. Of the latter he leases 200 acres to tenants, and carries on farming on the home place himself. He was born in Morgan County March 13, 1861, the son of James and Frances (Hembrough) Rawlings. He has been identified with farming all his life, but 'lived nine years (1895-1904) in the city of Jack- sonville.

On October 4, 1887, Mr. Rawlings was married to Serilda L. Seymour, daughter of Robert Sey- mour, and they had two children, both of whom died in infancy. The wife and mother died December 28, 1903. Mr. Rawlings is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and of the Order of Elks, and in politics, is a Republican.

RAWLINGS, William E., farmer and stock- man residing on Section 8, Township 13, Range 9, was born near Scarborough, Yorkshire, Eng- land, August 12, 1845, the son of Edward and Elizabeth (Holt) Rawlings, his father being a primitive Methodist preacher by profession, and a tailor by trade. William E. obtained his schooling in the land of his birth, and in his youth became a gamekeeper on an old English estate. In 1864 he emigrated to Quebec, Can- ada, but thence came direct to Jacksonville, Morgan County, where his uncle, Stephen, was then living. He at once assumed the vocation

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

of farming, and later purchased the farm, which has been his continuous home, and upon which he now resides. In 1866 Mr. Rawlings' par- ents, with the remainder of the family, followed him to America, and the mother died in Morgan County in 1875. The father married again and made fourteen trips between the Old World and the New, finally dying in England.

On October 20, 1869, William E. Rawlings was married in Girard, Macoupin County, Ill., to Eliza E. Fanning, daughter of Joseph Wesley Fanning, and to himself and wife have been born five children, four of whom are now liv- ing, viz .: Annie Jane, wife of Thomas Oxley; Albert Edward, who married Lenora Timber- man; George William; and Minnie Belle, who is at home.

Mr. Rawlings has served his district on the School Board twelve years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been Steward for many years. In politics he is a Republican. His farm, consisting of more than 126 acres, is thoroughly cultivated, being also well improved with a comfortable resi- dence, good out-buildings, an orchard, and all that constitutes a pleasant country homestead. It is almost needless to say that the improve- ments are the result of Mr. Rawlings' enter- prise and industry.

REES, Elijah Milford, (deceased), who was a prominent farmer and stockman of Morgan County, was born in Clark County, Ky., the son of John and Georgiana (Ray) Rees, and reared in Madison County, that State. The Rees family was of Welsh stock, being numbered among the historic passengers of the "Mayflower." The father of Elijah M. moved to Illinois from Ken- tucky a few years prior to his death, which oc- curred in Morgan County, where he was buried. Elijah M. Rees was born February 22, 1817, and at the age of twenty-one moved to Illinois and remained in Morgan County for a short time, when he proceeded to Texas, where he became engaged in business for several years, being a resident of that State during the Mexican War. He later returned to Morgan County, and in 1849 accompanied a party overland from Jack- sonville to California, where he remained nine years, when he returned by way of the Isthmus and New York to Morgan County, bringing with him some capital. Before he started to Cali- fornia he bought 320 acres of land in Section

27, Township 14, Range 9, and on his return settled thereon and began its improvement. He planted a grove of different varieties of trees, which he tended with great care, and it is now, perhaps, the finest grove in the country. The fine homestead residence of to-day was built by him in 1874. He added to his estate which at the time of his death aggregated, as at present, 460 acres.

Mr. Rees was married November 18, 1858, to Julia Snow, daughter of Libbins and Mercy Snow, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of New York. The father of Mrs. Rees was a drummer boy in the War of 1812, at that time being about thirteen years of age. Mr. Rees and wife had no children of their own, but legally adopted a son, William Milford Rees, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. They also adopted a daughter, Susan Jane Wilson, who with her foster brother is one of the heirs to the estate. The foster son, Wil- liam M., manages 200 acres of the homestead, the remaining 260 acres, with the exception of some timber land, being rented to other tenants by the widow of Elijah M. Rees.

Mr. Rees was a progressive and ambitious man, and most successful in business affairs. In politics, he was a Democrat; was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a promi- nent Mason. He died August 9, 1892, and was buried in Franklin Cemetery with Masonic hon- ors. Mrs. Elijah M. Rees was born in Genesee County, N. Y., but reared near Wooster, Ohio, completing a four years' course in the Woman's College at Jacksonville, after which she was a teacher in that institution for two years. Mrs. Rees is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and resides in a pleasant home, erected by herself in Franklin.

REES, William M., farmer and stoekman, re- siding on Section 27, Township 14 North, Range 9 West, Morgan County, Ill., was born in this county Mareh 28, 1862, and in infancy became the legally adopted son of E. M. and Julia ( Snow) Rces. Mr. Rees was a native of Ken- tucky, who came to Morgan County in 1838, and later moved to Texas, returning to the Ilii- nois county in 1849, and there purchasing 320 acres of land. In the latter year be was seized with the gold fever, and went overland to Cali- fornia, there made some money and in 1858 re- turned after an absence of nine years, by way of

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Panama and New York. After his return to Mor- gan County he resumed work on the land which he had bought in 1849, built a good residence in 1874 and planted an excellent grove, which is a monument to his memory to-day. In fact, he thoroughly improved his valuable farm and continued an agriculturist until his death, which occurred August 9, 1892. He was mar- ried to Julia Snow November 18, 1858, and their union being childless, they legally adopted from infancy the son, William M., and became the foster parents of a daughter, Susan Jane (Rees) Wilson.

William M. Rees always resided on the home farm, while his mother, Mrs. Julia (Snow) Rees, lives retired in the village of Franklin. The homestead estate is managed by him, and will, in the natural course of events, become his property by inheritance. Mr. Rees has served his district as Road Commissioner and upon the School Board, and during 1897-99 held the office of County Commissioner. He also served as delegate to State and County Conventions, and at the present time is a member of the County Central Committee, President of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company for his township, and one of the Directors of the

Springfield Cyclone Insurance Company. He belongs to the Masonic Order, Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, the Elks, Modern Woodmen, Knights of the Maccabees and Protective League.

Mr. Rees was married to Harriet Dalton, of Nevada City, Mo., and the following named children have been born to them: Ruby, a grad- uate of the Franklin High School and the Jacksonville Business College; Nellie J., a grad- uate of Franklin High School; Birdie, a stu- dent in the Woman's College, Jacksonville; and William Milford, Jr.

REID, David W., M. D., a practicing physi- cian and surgeon, with office and residence at 235 West College Avenue, Jacksonville, Ill., was born at Yonkers, N. Y., October 13, 1855, the son of Robert and Margaret Reid. The parents and family came to Illinois in 1867, when David W. was a boy and settled in the timber on a farm of 80 acres in Greene County, near the southern border of Morgan County. They were close to the line, and their church and postoffice were in Morgan County. Robert Reid continued farming until his retire-

ment from active life, when he settled in Mur- rayville, his death occurring September 6, 1904. His wife still makes her home in that town. They were the parents of seven children, David W. Reid being the third member of the family. As a boy he was educated in the public schools of New York, later taking a course in the State Normal School at Normal, Ill., where he gradu- ated in 1883. He then taught school for four years and took a medical course in the Hahne- mann Homeopathic Medical College, Chicago, from which he graduated in 1889. He went West and commenced practice in Ogden, Utah, and after five years thus employed he returned to Murrayville, Morgan County. Five years later he decided to move to Jacksonville, which he did in 1898, and now has a large and grow- ing practice.

Dr. Reid was married December 25, 1883, to Caroline A. Humphrey, daughter of Col. Thomas W. Humphrey, of the Ninety-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and has one son, Robert. The Doctor is a member, and for the past three years has been Secre- tary of the Morgan County Medical Society; is also a member of the Illinois State Medical Society and of the American Medical Associa- tion. He is connected with the Presbyterian Church and in politics, is a Republican.

REID, George W., living retired from active farming life at 402 North Church Street, Jack- sonville, Ill., was born on the farm of his late father, three miles north of that city October 21, 1853, the son of Stephen Holland and Mar- tha (Garratt) Reid, his father being a native of Lexington, Ky., and his mother, of Cheshire, England. The latter came to America with her mother and the other children of the family, after the death of her father, in 1845, and was married to Stephen H. Reid, Jr., February 19, 1846. The father of George W. was born in Lexington, Ky., April 23, 1815, and in 1826 accompanied his father, Stephen H. Reid, Sr., to Morgan County, where the latter entered and bought land and commenced farming opera- tions. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch died in 1827, and his father passed away November 16, 1889. Stephen H. Reid, Jr., was a successful farmer and left an estate of 260 acres, now owned by George W. and four other members of the family. The deceased was an active member of the "Underground Railway."

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Originally a Republican, before his death he became a radical Prohibitionist. He chose for his first wife Martha Capps, their marriage oc- curring January 26, 1837. She died after be- coming the mother of three children, none of whom survive. His second marriage was to Martha Garratt, by whom he had seven chil- dren, six of whom are living, viz .: John G., M. D., of Oklahoma; Lydia C .; Richard W., lawyer and Justice of the Peace; Sarah E., de- ceased; George W .; Enoch S. and Elijah J. The estate left by the father is yet undivided.

In his youth George W. Reid attended the district schools and worked on the home farm, and in 1875, accompanied by his father, mother, his sister (Lydia Capps Reid) and his brother, moved to Jacksonville. The mother died March 3, 1876, but George W. and his sister still make their home together. Mr. Reid has served as Chairman of the Central Committee of the Pro- hibition party, and is a member of Grace M. E. Church, Jacksonville, his father having been identified with that denomination as a local preacher. He was well educated, obtaining his higher mental discipline in the College at Leb- anon, this State. During his management of the family homestead the elder Mr. Reid devoted much attention to the breeding of high-grade stock, and under his supervision were conducted many improvements.

REINBACH, N. Z., editor and Postmaster, Franklin, Ill., was born in that place October 1, 1858, the son of Harry and Sophia (Dessau) Reinbach, natives of Hamburg, Germany. As early as 1842 Mr. Reinbach had emigrated to America and engaged in mercantile pursuits in Morgan County, III. Seven years later he re- turned to his native land, married Miss Dessau, and returned to his adopted country, where he became the father of twelve children, six of whom survive until the present time. Mr. Reinbach died on February 6, 1878, his wife surviving him until May 9, 1904.

N. Z. Reinbach attended the schools in Frank- lin, and as a youth assisted his father in the store with which the latter was connected. In 1895 he purchased the "Franklin Times," an in- dependent newspaper with a large circulation throughout the county, and which under the · new management has become a power in local affairs.

On January 1, 1882, Mr. Reinbach was united in marriage to Ida M., daughter of John Cox, a prominent farmer and early settler of Morgan County, and of this union five children have been born, viz .: Claire, wife of Albert Luke- man; Eulalie, wife of J. Lloyd Miller; Wanda; Gloria and Vivenne. -

In the midsummer of 1898 MIr. Reinbach re- ceived the appointment of Postmaster of Frank- lin, and so satisfactorily has he filled this po- sition that he is still the incumbent of the of- fice. For twelve years he was Justice of the Peace, having filled that position from 1893 until 1905, being elected three times, although the precincts were Democratic by 200 majority. In political matters he is an active Republican, who is proud to say he assisted in the nomina- tion of ex-Governor Richard Yates, and who has frequently been a delegate to State and County conventions. For twenty-four years he has be- longed to the I. O. O. F., aiso being connected with Ridgely Encampment, at Jacksonville, and Rebecca Lodge, No. 103. He has been a Mason for ten years, also being identified with the Star Chapter, of which he is a charter member; is one of the charter members of the M. W. A .; and belongs to the Maccabees, Loyal Americans and the Mutual Protective League. In religious matters Mr. Reinbach is a member of the Christ- ian Church at Franklin.

REXROAT, James Morrison, a prosperous farmer who conducts operations on an exten- sive scale in the vicinity of Concord, Morgan County, Ill., was born on a farm north of Jack- sonville, March 26, 1840, the son of Zachariah and Sarah (Bristow) Rexroat, the former belng a native of Kentucky. Zachariah Rexroat was born in 1807, and died at the age of elghty-one years. In 1830 he located in Morgan County, with seventy-five cents as his working capital, and settled about three miles north of Arcadia. Later he entered two tracts of heavily timbered Government land, aggregating 117 aeres, and, during his life, became owner of about 1,900 acres in Morgan. Cass and McDonough Countles. He here built a one-room log cabin, covered with clapboards, and welghted down by logs, and later assisted in the erection of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Arcadia.

Mr. Rexroat was married to Sarah Bristow, and their union resulted In the following named

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

children: Sarah Ann, wife of Hezekiah Ken- ney, of Arcadia; John G., of Jacksonville; James M., of Concord, Ill .; Lewis L., who lives just east of the last named place; Mary Ellen (Mrs. Johnson), of Jacksonville; Henry H., who resides a mile west of Arcadia; Margaret E. (deceased), wife of Oliver Thompson; Wil- liam Bailey, of Jacksonville; Alice M., wife of Lawson Rexroat, of McDonough County, Ill .; and James M.

In boyhood Mr. Rexroat attended the sub- scription schools in the vicinity of his home, and then became a student in what was then known as Brush College, at North Prairie, Ill. Until he reached the age of twenty-five years, he remained with his father, and then settled on a farm given him by the latter, three miles northwest of Concord. There he carried on farming successfully for twenty-seven years, At first he had 120 acres; his landed posses- sions now comprise 880 acres, composed mostly of timber land. He is engaged in general farm- ing, and raises many hogs and cattle. He is also a stockholder in the Chapin Bank.

On July 3, 1867, Mr. Rexroat was married to Sarah Elizabeth Morrison, a daughter of John and Sarah (Coultas) Morrison, who was born one her father's farm, three miles northwest of Concord. Four children resulted from this union, namely: Charles E., who is engaged in business in Concord; Cora M. (Mrs. Yeck) ; Alice G., widow of Dr. A. H. Johnson, of Holden, Mo .; and John O., who lives at home.

In politics, Mr. Rexroat is a strong Repub- lican, but is disinclined to hold office. He has, however, served as School Director for nine years. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having served as Trustee, and also as Steward. He has been closely identified with that religious de- nomination-for six years at Arcadia, for twen- ty-seven years at Hopewell and for thirteen years at Concord. Mr. Rexroat is a man of very high character and reputation-one of the foremost among the representative farmers of Morgan County.

REXROAT, John Garrett, retired farmer, re- siding at Jacksonville, Ill., is a descendant of one of the old and honored families of Morgan County. He is a son of Zachariah and Sarah (Bristow) Rexroat, and was born on his fa- ther's farm near Arcadia, Morgan County, Feb-

ruary 6, 1838. His father, a native of Ken- tucky, migrated from Adair County, that State, to Morgan County during the spring of 1831, following the winter of the deep snow. He en- tered Government land northwest of the site of the present village of Arcadia, to which he added by purchase from time to time until he became one of the most extensive landholders and successful farmers in this section of the State. His property at its maximum aggregated about 1,900 acres, most of which was very fer- tile and easily cultivable, and he was acknowl- edged to be one of the most expert judges of land values in Southern Illinois. He was a man of sagacity and forethought, shrewd in his estimate of human character, and always alive to the worthiness of any project connected with agriculture in its various branches. The older residents of the county remember him as a use- ful, high-minded citizen who, though leading an active and very busy life, never refused to lend a helping hand toward the advancement of the welfare of the community. His death occurred on his farm in 1887. His wife Sarah Bristow, who came to Illinois about 1825 and died in 1893, was a daughter of Thomas Bris- tow, of Irish ancestry, whose parents emigrated to America in childhood. Thomas Bristow be- came an honored pioneer of Morgan County, mi- grating from North Carolina about 1825, lo- , cating near Jacksonville, Ill., and afterward purchasing a farm east of Arcadia. This he sold upon his removal to Texas, where he died. 'Squire Bristow, as he was always known, was the first citizen of Morgan County to be elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, his election having occurred when he was still a very young man. He was a resident of the county when Illinois decided against slavery, to which he personally was strongly opposed.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 180

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