Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 181

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County > Part 181

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John Garrett Rexroat received a compara- tively limited education in the subscription schools of his neighborhood, his attendance thereupon being confined chiefly to the winter months, as his father required his services upon the farm during the period from early spring until late fall. The work demanded of him was laborious, though his father was no more severe as a taskmaster than most men of that pioneer period were compelled to be; but the lessons of hard work and self-denial which he had learned upon the farm molded the strong character in- herited from his ancestors, and equipped him

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

most satisfactorily for the battle of life. Two days before reaching his majority, he com- menced an independent career; began farming at twenty-two and stock-raising at twenty- three years of age. He devoted the most active years of his life to agriculture, in which he was eminently successful. Stock-raising and trading were avocations to which he devoted considerable attention. About 1890 lie relin. quished his active labors upon the farm and re- moved to Jacksonville, where he has since re- sided in retirement, although for about ten years prior to his permanent removal to the city it had been his custom to reside in town during the winter months. He has identified himself with the financial institutions of Illi- nois to an extent seldom seen among those who have made farming their life work. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' National Bank, of Virginia, Ill. (of which he has been a Director about nineteen years), the Centennial National Bank of Virginia and the Jacksonville National Bank, and is a Director in the Centennial Bank; also a stockholder in the Illinois Tele- phone Company of Jacksonville. He is known as one of the most wealthy and representative agriculturists and stock-raisers in this section of the State, as well as one of the most exten- sive landholders in Morgan County, owning over 900 acres of fertile and tillable land in Morgan and Cass Counties. In addition to be- ing prominent in these interests, he deals in stocks and loans money.

October 11, 1860, Mr. Rexroat was united In marriage with Sarah Ann, daughter of George and Sarah (Pence) Roberts. They have been the parents of five children: George Washing. ton, a grocer in Virginia, Ill .; Zacharialı L., who resides on the old home place in Cass County; Mary Eliza, wife of Carl B. Frankenberg, of Jacksonville; John Craig, now a resident of Cass County, Ill., and Austin, who died at the age of two years. By those who have known Mr. Rexroat best during the long years of his residence in his native country, he Is highly esteemed for his integrity, his public spirit and those other traits usually pertaining to a man whose life has been of use to the community, as well as to himself and his linmediate family. He has always cheerfully cooperated with his fellow-men in the advancement of worthy causes, and his name will be indellbly associ- ated with the progress of Morgan County.

REYNOLDS, Ralph .- Vlewed from the stand. point of diversity of experience, capacity for contributing to the well-being of the commu- nity, allegiance to those qualities which con- stitute the fundamentals of good citizenship. and length of association with the stable liap- penings of Morgan County, the career of Ralph Reynolds must be regarded as a singularly in- teresting and fortunate one. Mr. Reynolds was born north of Liverpool, England, November 25, 1821, and is a son of Ralph Reynolds, also a native of England.

Ralph Reynolds, Sr., a scholar and man of wide information, was educated for a sea cap- tain, but refrained from yielding to his nautical inclination at the request of his mother. He married in England, and at the death of hls wife in 1834 three sons and a daughter were left to his care. Embarking in a sailing vessel bound for the United States, he finally arrived in St. Louis, not knowing he was in a slave State, and in 1839 came to Morgan County, | locating in the then small town of Jacksonville. By this time his son and namesake, Ralph, was fourteen years old, and of sufficient education and development to share in the labor of the older man. Together father and son worked on the Northern Cross Railroad (now the Wa- bash), which had been built by the State and equipped with wooden rails and mules for ino- tive power. They took up the wood and lald iron rails, living meanwhile In a cabin In the timber, and, this contract having been com- pleted, migrated to Canada to put In a bid for Government works, which, however, they falled to secure. In 1845 they went to Dubuque, lowa, leased land and engaged in lead mining for four years.

The resourcefulness of the Reynolds became apparent during the winter of 1848-49, when they gathered provisions and supplles, and made arrangements to undertake the long jour- ney across the plains to the gold fields of Call- fornia. With ox-teams and wagons they started In the early spring of 'forty-nine, proceeding by way of the Mormon trall to Salt Lake City, and thence to the sink of the Humboldt, where a contentlon arose In the party as to the better of two routes-that by way of the Truckee or Car- son River. Ralph Reynolds, Sr., who at the start had been elected Captaln of the company, ordered the blg wagons and cattle on to the Carson route, but elght rebelled and went the

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Truckee way, to meet the bitter fate of many of the early argonauts. The more fortunate party was seven months on the way, and during that time toiled along dusty trails, crossed deserts, starved and thirsted through the long stretches of sage covered plains, guarded the camp at night from the approach of stealthy savages, forded rivers, avoided quicksands, climbed the ascent of the Rocky Mountains, and wandered among the precipices of the Sierra Nevadas. Arriving at their destination, they bought gold dust and had it coined, and for about one month engaged in mining, until the inhaling of quicksilver undermined the health of the younger man. Thereupon they sold their min- ing interests to Joseph M. Douglas, who, as a re- sult of the further development of the gold dust business, cleared up an even $1,750,000. On April 6, 1855, they embarked at San Francisco for Panama, and, upon arriving in New York, the son, still in a weakened condition, crossed the ocean to Europe, and for six years lived with his family at his old home near Liverpool.

In 1861 Mr. Reynolds returned to Jackson- ville, where he owned property and had numer- ous business interests, and where he unexpect- edly came into possession of one of the finest farms in Morgan County, and the State. He had loaned $10,000, and received no interest, and in self-defense bought this immensely fer- tile property. Four years later he sold the farm and since has made his home in Jackson- ville, living in the same house since the close of the Civil War. The last year of his life in the country is held in pleasant remembrance because of the sojourn there of Richard Cobden, the eminent British statesman and philan- thropist.

Since living in Jacksonville Mr. Reynolds has been much interested in real estate brokerage, and has consummated some of the largest deals in the county and State. The most important of these, however, was the sale of the Alex- ander estate, in partnership with M. P .. and A. E. Ayers, for $486,000. The commissions alone would have amounted to over $90,000. The brokers, however, waived a large share of their rights, receiving only $13,000 each.

Since assisting to organize the Prohibition party in Springfield about thirty years ago, Mr. Reynolds has not voted the Republican or Dem- ocratic ticket. In the meantime he has suffered

somewhat for his devotion to a high principle, and has been the defeated candidate for Mayor, and State Senator. He was President of the Board of Trustees when the city charter was adopted, and was largely instrumental in get- ting the same through the Legislature. The same winter W. S. Hook secured a charter for the Jacksonville Street Railroad, but Mr. Rey- nolds secured two amendments to the charter, one stipulating that the road should not 'run through the Public Square and the other that rolling stock should be operated within three years. In the face of great opposition Mr. Rey- nolds opened the Diamond Grove Cemetery about forty years ago, converting a 40-acre brush tract into a solemn and beautiful city of the dead, laying out the walks and drives him- self, and otherwise contributing to its appro- priateness and utility. So bitter was the feeling against an innovation, which since has proved of incalculable benefit to the town, that threats were made to burn his house over his head.

With his family Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Baptist Church. Two years ago he cele- brated the sixtieth anniversary of his mar- riage, which occurred October 26, 1844. Mrs. Reynolds, formerly Ellen Perry Routt, was born in London, England, in July, 1826, and comes of a fine old English family. Eight of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are living: Thomas C., born September 14, 1849; Sarah Jane, born December 6, 1853, the wife of Wil- liam Becraft, of Paris, Ky .; Frances Ann, born December 7, 1855, the wife of Walter Rice, of Jacksonville; Elizabeth Ellen, born March 15, 1858, the wife of William J. Stevenson, of Omaha, Neb .; Mary Emma, born May 19, 1860, living with her parents; Ralph Bright, born June 14, 1862, a resident of Jacksonville; Richard Cob- den, born February 5, 1864; and Charles Wal- ter, born June 1, 1866, a resident of Indianapo- lis, Ind. James C., the second of the children, who was born November 25, 1848, is deceased, as is also Humboldt C., the third child, who was born September 14, 1849. At the age of eighty-four years Mr. Reynolds retains much of the vigor, and all of the heart and interest of youth. His life has sped by with settings of increased prosperity, and he has borne well, as becomes a Christian gentleman and a high- minded man, those trying experiences and dis- couragements which visit even the most fortu- nate of men.

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

RICE, Albert Clark, a prominent and success- ful farmer and stock-raiser in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., was born in Scott County, Ill., January 3, 1853, the son of Elbert Gallatin and Mary Ann (Camp) Rice, his father being born August 6, 1823, in Colum- bia, Tenn. His grandfather, Ebenezer Rice, of Worcester County, Mass., migrated to North Carolina, where he married Katy Baldridge, and then removed to Tennessee, thence, in 1832, re- moving with his family to Illinois and settling in the southwestern part of Morgan (now in Scott) County. He located near Riggston, where he bought a land claim, and lived until his family were all matured, but finally moved to Cass County, where he died. He was a member of the Christian Church, and, on ac- count of his industry, uprightness and piety, was beloved by a large circle of friends.

The early life of the father was passed on the farm near Riggston, where he remained until his marriage in 1847. Afterward he lived near Princeton, Cass County, for sixteen years, and from 1868 to 1892, his home farm-which was purchased from Ralph Reynolds-was on "The Mound" west of Jacksonville, where W. S. Rice now lives. A few months before his death he moved to Jacksonville. Early in the 'fifties he began preaching in the Christian Church, min- Istering in Morgan, Scott, Cass and Menard Counties. He preached regularly in Exeter, Concord Church, near Woodson, Sweetwater (Menard County), at Antioch, Princeton and Philadelphia (Cass County), but continued to live on his farm. Beginning with little he left a large estate to his family, acquired by in- dustry, frugality, good judgment and honesty. His salary as a preacher was devoted entirely to mission work.

During the period of the Civil War, E. G. Rice was thoroughly loyal to the Union, and was anxious to volunteer for the service; but, as he had a family of ten children, his nelgh- bors persuaded him to remain at home and at- tend to his domestic interests. He had an ex- tensive acquaintance, was widely esteemed, preached many funeral sermons and performed many marriage ceremonies for miles around. In early life he was an active Republican, but later became a Prohibitionist, and was a candi- date for several offices on the ticket of that party.

The wife of E. G. Rice was formerly Mary Ann Camp, a member of a very prominent family in Scott County. She was the daughter of George and Nancy (Felton ) Camp, her father being a native of Massachusetts and her mother, of Vermont. The family journeyed from Ver- mont to Pittsburg in an ox-cart and thence to Shawneetown, Ill., on a flatboat, continuing the journey by the former conveyance to Riggs- ton. The father entered Government land, and about the year 1834 built the first large frame house in Scott County. He was a er and merchant, and conducted a card- ing mill operated by ox-tread power. He was a prominent Mason and very active In that order. The children of Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Rice were as follows: Sarah E., wife of James H. Campbell; Nannie C., wife of George W. Raw- lings; Albert C .; Walter S .; William P., of Har- risonville, Mo .; Mary J., wife of Charles O. Culver, of Fort Collins, Colo .; Laura F., who

died at the age of two years; Georgia A. (de- ceased), wife of Frederick H. Rankin, of Athens, Ill .; John C., of Caldwell, Idaho; Emma F., wife of George Vickery, of Jacksonville; and Eva M., wife of Marcus A. Hulett, of Mor. gan County. The father died February 12, 1892, and the mother passed away September S. 1902.

Albert C. Rice attended the public schools, and was graduated from Illlnols College In 1874. He then taught school, farming mean- while, for ten years, and has always been deeply interested in the public schools. In 1879 he located on his present farm, where he has since been engaged in general farming, and In ralsing and feeding stock. For many years he has been active in Farmers' Institute work. For three years he was President and also served as Sec- retary and Treasurer of the Morgan County Farmers' Institute: and his fine farm shows evidence of progressive Ideas In Its Improve- ments and management.

Mr. Rice was married October 23, 1879, to Mlnnle Joy, a daughter of Lyman F. Joy, of this county. Two children have resulted from this unlon, namely: Harry, who is a student at Eureka College, and Florence, studying In the IllInols Woman's College. Albert C. Rice Is a strong Republican, but Is public spirited and en- thuslastic to support whatever he thinks Is for the good of the community. He is a member of

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the Antioch Christian Church, and has been Su- perintendent of the Sunday-school for eighteen years. During this time he has also been actively engaged in the work of the Morgan County Sunday School Association.

The careers of the members of the Rice fam- ily, as shown in this review, are so conspicu- ously worthy as to need no words of praise. The lives herein protrayed speak for themselves.

RICHARDSON, John V., formerly a prominent and prosperous farmer, now living retired in his fine residence near Jacksonville, Ill., was born in the vicinity of Franklin, Morgan County, Ill., on Feruary 14, 1840, the son of Vincent S. and Lydia (Rawlings) Richardson, natives of England, the former being born in Yorkshire. In 1830 Vincent Richardson came on a sailing vessel to the United States, the voyage consuming fourteen weeks. He landed in New York, and thence came by boat to Illi- nois, where he entered several hundred acres of Government land, including the spot where his son, John V., was born. In 1831 he returned to England, where he was married to Lydia Rawlings, and, during the same year, located permanently in Morgan County, bringing his wife's family with him.

Vincent S. Richardson was the father of seven children, namely: Mary A., wife of Rob- ert Riley, of Morgan County; John V .; William, who lives near Jacksonville, Ill .; Lizzie, who died in 1884, the wife of Charles Lazenby; George, who lives in the vicinity of John V .; Vincent, a farmer in Stafford County, Kans., and James, who is a farmer in Champaign County, Ill. The father of this family died in 1896, when nearly ninety years old, having always enjoyed good health, and being known as a lib- eral contributor to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was successful in all his undertak- ings, and was influential in local politics, hold- ing several township offices.

John V. Richardson remained on the farm near Franklin until he was ten years old, when his father removed to the place where the for- mer now lives. Here he grew to manhood, at- tending school in a hewed log-house containing one room, with a fire-place, slab seats and plank floor. Mr. Richardson remained at home until he was twenty-two years old, when he located on his present farm, there keeping "bachelor's hall" until the time of his marriage

in 1866. On this place he has since continu- ously resided, with the exception of three months of 1879 which he passed in England. The farm consists of 236 acres located on the State Road six miles west of Jacksonville. On it Mr. Richardson has made all the improve- ments, and until his retirement conducted gen- eral farming.

On November 28, 1866, Mr. Richardson was . united in marriage to Mary Coumbes, a daugh- ter of Richard W. Coumbes, and four children were born to them, namely: Minnie, who died at the age of eighteen years; John W., who car- ries on the home farm; Walter, who died when four years of age from accidentally drinking carbolic acid; and Annie, wife of William Coultas, who occupies the old homestead near Lynnville, Ill. The mother of this family died in 1887, and on October 25, 1903, Mr. Richard- son was married to Alice M. Wilson, a native of Yorkshire, England.

In politics, Mr. Richardson is a supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He has held the office of School Director, and served six years as Supervisor. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a Trustee. While in the full vigor of his prime, Mr. Richardson was regarded as one of the leading agriculturists of Morgan County, and the exceptionally fine farming property owned by him attests the intelligence, diligence, integrity and enterprise, through which it was acquired and developed.

RIFE, Jacob, a prosperous carpenter and com- tractor of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., was born in Cumberland County, Pa., October 26, 1826, a son of Jacob and Susan (Wharton) Rife, natives of Pennsylvania. The father died in 1865, and the mother, in 1863. Mr. Rife's ancestors on the paternal side were of German origin, while his maternal ancestry was of Irish derivation. In early youth Jacob Rife at- tended the district schools in the vicinity of his home in Pennsylvania, and afterward learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in that State until 1849. In October of that year he came to Illinois, and a year later settled in Winchester, whence he subsequently moved to Jacksonville. There, in 1856, he was married to Ann Eliza Towning, who was born and schooled in England. Two children, Samuel and Mary Elizabeth, resulted from this union. Mary grad-

CHARLES B. GRAFF

JOHN W. CLARY

WILLIAM M. MORRISEY

JOHN R. LOAR

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uated from the High School, and Samuel also pursued his studies there. Both are employed in Russell & Lyon's jewelry store-Samuel as a jeweler, and Mary as bookkeeper.

Politically, Mr. Rife is an independent Demo- crat. Religiously, he is connected with the Lu- theran Church, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church. Fraternally, Mr. Rife is af- fillated with the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. He is one of the oldest residents of Jacksonville, and many of its residences and inercantile buildings attest his skill as a builder. He has been a busy and important factor in the growth of the city, and is regarded everywhere as a most worthy and upright man.

ROBERTSON, John, (deceased), one of the most successful farmers and business men of Morgan County, Ill., was born on his father's farm at the head of Mauvaisterre Creek, east of Jacksonville, in that county, February 2, 1823, the son of Alexander and Elizabeth Robertson. The father, one of the earliest pioneers of Mor- gan County, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, August 13, 1775, and was a representative of one of the strong and ancient Scottish clans. To him and his wife were born the following named children: Daniel, born June 12, 1804; Alexander, born February 19, 1806; Margaret, born February 29, 1808; Charles, born June 26, 1810; Elizabeth, born October 22, 1812; Cath- arine, born April 29, 1815; Emily, born May 24, 1817; Christina, born March 9, 1819; and John, born February 2, 1823. Alexander Robertson died November 14, 1856, and his wife, who was born August 20, 1780, passed away February 15, 1862.

In the spring of 1819 Alexander Robertson left his native land for the United States, and soon after arriving in New York City came as far west at Johnsburg, N. Y., where he re- mained until the following winter. Proceeding westward as far as Alton, Ill., which was then, after St. Louis, the principal center of popula- tion in the Mississippi Valley, he soon after- ward joined the party which started In pursuit of the Indians who were responsible for the Schrone massacre, and accompanied this punl- tive expedition to Monticello. Upon his re- turn he passed through the eastern part of Morgan County, and was so impressed with the fertility of the soil at the head of the Mau- vaisterre that he returned to that point shortly

afterward, entered a tract of land, erected a primitive log cabin, and began the work of de- veloping a farm from the raw prairie. The remainder of his life was spent on this tract. A man of strong convictions, his personality made a marked impress upon the community during the pioneer period. He was widely known as a man of integrity; was straightfor- ward and honest in all his dealings, and ex- tremely conscientious. A stanch Presby- terian, he served as Elder in the church for many years. In politics he allied himself with the Whig party; but he never sought pub. lic office.

John Robertson received a common school education. The early years of his life were spent upon his father's farm. As soon as his means permitted he purchased a tract of fine farming land adjoining his father's farm, lo- cated about four miles north of the site of the village of Orleans, to which he added from time to time until he had become the owner of about 2,500 acres, all of which was ex- ceptionally fertile prairie land. In his farm- ing and stock operations he exercised rare business sagacity, and became a recognized power in important financial operations in Morgan County. He was one of the founders of the Jacksonville National Bank, In which he served as Vice-President from its date of or- ganization until two years before his death, when failing health led to his retirement. He also held the controlling interest in the Farmers' National Bank of Virginia, Ill. He was one of the organizers of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, to the support of which he was a most llberal con- tributor, and in which he served as a Trustee ' for more than thirty years.

A devoted adherent to Republican principles, and a strong Union man durlug the Civil War, he contributed generously of his means toward the support of the soldiers in the field. His intense patriotism Is well Illustrated by the manner in which he came to the ald of the Federal Government during the darkest days of the Rebellion. On Black Friday, which Is regarded by many historians as having been the most critical day In the history of the Govern- ment, Mr. Robertson requested the Treasury Department to deliver to him $50,000 worth of United States bonds, for which he pald In cash at a high premium. This act, which was

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practically a loan to the United States when its credit was at the lowest ebb, and when in- vestors generally were expressing the gravest fears as to the financial stability of the Union, was performed in a spirit of patriotism and confidence in the ultimate success of the Government. It redounded to the credit of Mr. Robertson and in itself is sufficient to entitle his name to be perpetuated as one of the most noble, high-minded and patriotic citizens of the commonwealth. It is also re- lated of him that during the days when Richard Yates, the famous War Governor of Illinois, was campaigning in behalf of the Union party, Mr. Robertson on more than one occasion held tallow candles near the speaker. Though a man who shrank from attracting public attention to himself, his nature and spirit were such that he was never able to resist an impulse to participate actively in those public matters and functions which had for their end the strengthening of the hand of the Republican party and the cause of the Union.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 181

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