USA > Illinois > Warren County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Warren County, Volume II > Part 61
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Rhykerd is a Republican in politics. He mar- ried, at Monmouth, Ill., in 1854, Anna Ostrom, who was born at Castile, Wyoming County, N. Y., December 3, 1833, a daughter of Andrew and Joanna (Holmes) Ostrom. Mrs. Rhyk- erd's father was born in Canada and came to Illinois in 1838, settling in Section 25, Cold Brook Township, where he farmed successful- ly until his death in 1863. His wife, who was born in Albany County, N. Y., died in Decem- ber, 1864. Charles Augustus and Anna (Os- trom) Rhykerd have had children as follows: Lillie J., who married Isaac Mecum, of Cold Brook Township; Ward J., who married Nel- lie C. Squires and lives near his father; Mark K. and Earl C., who died in infancy, and Clark A., who died July 7, 1900.
RHYKERD, WARD J .; farmer and stock- raiser; Cold Brook Township, (postoffice Sur- rey) ; is one of the rising young men of his vicinity and is achieving a success in life in every way creditable. He is a son of Charles A. Rhykerd, a biographical sketch of whom ap- pears in this work, and his mother was Ann Ostrom, daughter of Andrew and Joanna (Holmes) Ostrom. He was born in Warren County, Ill., May 9, 1860, and was educated in the public schools. As a small boy he began to gain knowledge of farming and stock-raising, and his father early and carefully trained him in the principles of the Republican party. He married April 3, 1883, in Warren County, Nel- lie C. Squire, who was born in Galesburg, 111- inois, October 7, 1864, a daughter of James C. and Mary Ann (Drake) Squire, the former a native of Herkimer County, N. Y., and the latter of Essex County, N. Y. They were mar- ried at Galesburg, October, 1856. Before locat- ing in Illinois, Mr. Squire went to California via Cape Horn, remaining there six months when he returned overland. He took up his residence at Galesburg in 1854 and was em- ployed as a carpenter and painter until 1878, when he purchased a farm which has since passed to the ownership of his son. When he gave up farming he returned to Galesburg, where he and his wife are now living. The latter was born April 25, 1831, and Mr. Squire, September 11, 1820, a son of John G. and Rhoba (Smith) Squire and a grandson of Stod- dard and Theodosia (French) Squire. John G. Squire was born May 5, 1785; Rhoba Smith, December 29, 1790; and Stoddard Squire, No-
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vember 8, 1758. Mr. and Mrs. Rhykerd have had children named as follows: Alton W., Mary J., Mabel G., Lela Gertrude, Nellie S. and James Augustus. Mr. Rhykerd assisted his father in the management of his business inter- ests until he was twenty-three years old, when his father gave him one hundred acres of land on which he is making a success as a farmer and stock-raiser. He wields a recognized in- fluence in local affairs, and has several times been elected to the office of school director.
RIDDELL, JOHN; farmer and liveryman; Cold Brook Township, (postoffice Cold Brook) ; is a man of exceptional business ability, who has made his way in the world in spite of much opposition and over many obstacles, to a substantial success. He was born in Brook- lyn, N. Y., May 10, 1849, a son of James and Mary (Mackantee) Riddell, natives respect- ively of Scotland and of England. His father, who was a merchant in Brooklyn, sold out his interest there after the untimely death of his wife and returned to Scotland, where he died soon after his arrival. At the age of eight years John Riddell came west as far as School- craft, Mich., where he remained until he was sixteen years of age. He lived in Elkhart, Ind., from that time until he was twenty, then, in 1869, located at Galesburg, Ill., where he married July 20, 1873, Mary Underwood, who was born in Cold Brook Township, July 15, 1851, a daughter of John and Cylena (Hallu- vell) Underwood, who came to Illinois from Ohio in 1850. Mr. Underwood bought 80 acres of land in Section 25, Cold Brook Township, at five dollars an acre and afterward bought ten acres of timber land. He lost his wife by death in 1860 and he died in 1882. After his marriage, Mr. Riddell went to Concordia, Kas., where he farmed nine years until he removed to Lowell, Kent County, Mich., where for four years he conducted a livery business. Then his father-in-law having died, he returned to Cold Brook Township and bought the Underwood homestead, on which he has since farmed suc- cessfully and has recently built a fine residence. He gives his attention to general crops and is a dealer and shipper of live stock of all kinds. He is identified with the Republican party and, while living in Kansas, was several times elect- ed Treasurer of his Township. John and Mary (Underwood) Riddell have had four chil- dren: Marion May, Clarence J., Sadie and Dora,
the first mentioned of whom died at the age of twenty-one years. Two of these children were born in Kansas and two in Illinois.
RYNER, JOSIAH (deceased) ; farmer and stockraiser; Cold Brook Township, (postoffice address Cold Brook); was of German and Pennsylvania Dutch stock, which have pro- vided two strains of our national blood which have been potent for our material and intel- lectual progress. He was born in Montgomery County, Penn., November 19, 1820, a son of Jacob and Rachel (Spencer) Ryner, both na- tives of that county, where James and Elizabeth (Smith) Spencer, his mother's parents, were born. Nicholas Ryner, father of Jacob Ryner and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, lived out his days in Pennsylvania, and after his death Jacob farmed in Livingston County, New York, until 1828, when he removed to Ohio, where he prospered eleven years. July 28, 1839, he located eight miles northeast of Monmouth, where he died aged sixty-five years, his widow surviving him until she was eighty- six years old. Josiah Ryner was educated in the district schools near his father's home, and began farming for himself in 1845 on eighty acres of land in Section 35, Kelly Township, which he purchased and on which he lived un- til 1869, when he bought in addition 160 acres in Section 3, Cold Brook Township. From time to time he added to his landed estates until he finally owned twelve hundred acres. A Democrat in politics he was elected Highway Commissioner and Township Trustee. His wife, who is a member of the Adventist Church and whom he married in Kelly Town- ship, April 21, 1847, was Julia Ann Paddock, who was born in Harrison County, Ind., De- cember 3, 1824, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Gilliand) Paddock. Her father was born August 5, 1779; her mother, May 9, 1781, and they were married September 9, 1799. He died January 29, 1865; she June 10, 1847. Mr. Pad- dock served in the War of 1812 with the rank of Colonel and, in the 'thirties and 'forties, did considerable surveying in Illinois and Iowa. He was a son of Jonathan and Keziah (Smith) Paddock and a grandson of Reuben and Re- becca (Hand) Paddock. To Mr. and Mrs. Ryner were born ten children as follows: F. M., Re- becca, Emeline, Sherman, Marshall, Imogene, Albert, George and one who died in infancy. Imogene, Albert and George are also dead. Mr.
Calvin oR Sh ampsan
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Ryner had brothers and sisters named as fol- lows: Spencer, Daniel, Jonathan, Emeline, Henry, Eliza Ann and Jacob. Henry saw serv- ice in the Civil war. Mr. Ryner died, May 30, 1902.
CHAPTER XLI.
ELLISON TOWNSHIP.
(Township 9 North, Range 3 West. )
This township was given the name of New Lancaster by the committee first sclected to divide and name the townships, when town- ship organization was first voted on favorably in the county, but when it was found that the election was invalid and another election was duly held, the new committec gave the town- ship the name it now bears, Ellison. The town- ship is of a rich and productive soil, mostly prairie, though broken and timbercd in the southwestern part. The farms arc well culti. vated, and the farmers are generally in inde- pendent circumstances. It is well watered by Ellison creek, with its branches, and some of the tributaries of Nigger creek. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad crosses the nortli- west corner of the township.
The organization of the township took place April 4, 1854. E. Mitchell was chairman of the meeting, and A. S. Smith was clerk. The of- ficers elected were: Supervisor, E. Mitchell; town clerk, William Coleman; assessor, J. P. Rutherford; collector, N. B. Cramer; over- secr of the poor, H. S. Sexton; highway com- missioners, D. Leacock, N. Eldridg: justices of the peace, H. F. Sexton, S. D. Perkins; con- stables, W. H. Gilmore, George W. Scott. The present officers of the township are: Super- visor, C. C. Birdsall; town clerk, James St. Ledger; assessor, C. E. Mason; collector. Fill- more Painter; highway commissioners, N. E. Penney, A. J. Brent, Thomas Galbreath; jus- tices of the peace, J. B. Lozier, B. F. Corzatt; constables, George Dalton, William Norville. Those who have served the township as super- visors up to the present time are: Eliphalet
Mitchell, 1854-55; George W. Palmer, 1856; N. A. Eldridg, 1857-64; William A. Albright, 1865; N. A. Eldridg, 1866-67; Thomas Paul, 1868; W. R. Rayburn, 1869-70; J. A. Pierson, 1871; S. B. Crane, 1872; E. Mitchell, 1873; S. B. Crane, 1874; E. Mitchell, 1875-77; A. K. Morris, 1878; E. Mitchell, 1879; A. K. Morris, 1880; E. Mitchell, 1881-82; M. V. Jamison, 1883-85; A. K. Morris, 1886; E. Mitchell, 1887-88; William R. Rayburn, 1889; A. K. Morris, 1890-91; Charles Graham, 1892-97; James Milligan, 1898- 99; C. C. Birdsall, 1900-1902.
The first settler in this township was Field Jarvis, who came in 1829, and located on the southeast quarter of Section 15 and the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 22, near the center of the township. Here he lived for a number of years, and his name appears frequently in the early records as prominent in county doings. He was a large, powerfully built man, and very successful as a bee hunter. For a while the early settlers depended on him to furnish their supply of honey. Cleveland Hagler and Dr. Gilmore came soon afterward, settling in the same neighborhood. All the earlier residents of the township took up their homes along the timber on Ellison creek, the prairie farms not being considered desirable then. During the next few years came Benja- min Tompkins, Jr., Morgan Dewey, John Brake- man, Jesse Coleman, George S. Pierce, James Hanan, Robert Moore, William Galbraith, John M. and Lambert Hopper, Matthew Cox and David Robison who built a saw-mill on the southwest quarter of Section 20 in 1839, and Rodney Crozier who still lives in Roseville. In 1835 Isaac Watson and William P. Thomp- son came into the township, and the next year Kenner Brent and family came from Virginia and located on Section 18. Mr. Brent was a veteran of the War of 1812. Seneca S. Salis- bury and family came from Ohio in 1836, and settled on Section 4. He was the first post- master in the township. Decatur Lofftus came from Kentucky in 1837. His marriage to Mary Barnett is said to have been the first in the township. John Birdsall and family came from Canada in 1838; Andrew Meacham from Sangamon county, Ill., 1840; and Horace Sexton and wife from Ashtabula county, Ohio, the same year.
The reports furnished the County Superin tendent of Schools in 1901 show that there were then in the township nine school districts, with
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
nine frame school buildings. Five male teach- ers were paid monthly wages ranging from $35 to $47, and eight female teachers were paid from $25 to $42. There were 181 males of school age, of whom 151 were enrolled in the schools, and 171 females of school age, of whom 143 were in the schools. There were three school libraries with a total of 25 volumes. The tax levy for schools was $4,325, the value of school property was $6,750, the value of appa- ratus $421, and the bonded debt for schools was $400.
The assessment roll for 1901 shows that there were then in the township 836 horses valued at $43,020; 3,060 cattle, valued at $93,910; 87 mules, valued at $6,190; 277 sheep, valued at $1,110; and 4,824 hogs, valued at $32,820. The total valuation of personal property in the township was $379,430, and the assessed valua- tion $73,881. The assessed valuation of lands was $244,905, and of lots $5,000.
Ellison township had a population of 999 in 1900, against 996 reported in 1890.
CHURCHES.
Ellison Methodist Episcopal church is the oldest in the township. Field Jarvis, who came to the township in 1829, was a Methodist, and through his efforts largely the denomination got its start in the neighborhood. The first preaching was by Rev. Mr. Cordier in 1832 at the house of George S. Pierce in Ellison tim- ber. In 1833 Rev. Barton Randall organized classes, but no records are now to be found. and it is probable all were lost in the disastrous storm in 1858. Services were held for a while in a log school house on the line between Sec- tions 21 and 27, where the Sugar Grove United Brethren church now stands, and the first church building was built in 1843 or 1844. About that time the circuit included Berwick, Roseville, Swan Creek, and to the Mississippi river, 24 preaching stations in all, and it took a circuit rider a month to make the circuit. The church building was destroyed in the storm of 1858, and a new one was built in 1860-61 and dedicated in the summer of 1863 by Dr. Eddy, of Chicago. The present church was erected in 1893-94. Rev. James G. Getty is pastor and the membership is 42.
Smithshire Methodist church belongs with the Ellison charge. It was originally the class at Meridian and was transferred to Smithshire
in the summer of 1888, at which time there were 15 members. The first meetings in the village were held at the old school house, then in the Christian church. Their own church building was erected in 1895. The membership is 29 and Rev. Jas. G. Getty is in charge.
Smithshire Christian church was originally the Olive Christian church. It was organized before 1867, and the church was built in 1878 at a place about 2 1-2 miles east of Smithshire. In 1894 the building was moved into the vil- lage and remodeled at a cost of some $3,000, and dedicated June 9, 1895, by Rev. W. A. Meloan, of Monmouth. The church has now 11 members. It is without a pastor, and has no preaching service, but Sunday school is kept up regularly.
Sugar Grove United Brethren church is on the north side of Section 27, and Asbury Methodist Episcopal church on Section 34. Tlie latter belongs to the Roseville charge.
ELLISON.
The town of Ellison was laid out on the north side of the southwest quarter of Sec- tion 17, May 10, 1836, the land being owned by Joseph DeHague. County Surveyor Butler made the survey, and eighteen blocks consti- tuted the town. Plum, Cherry and Apple streets run north and south, and the streets running east and west are First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth. Mr. Meacham built the first house in the town. Joseph DeHague was licensed to keep a grocery there May 10, 1836.
A postoffice was established at Ellison at an carly date, but the records were lost in the storm of 1858. The office was discontinued August 31, 1900, and the neighborhood is now supplied by a rural route from Smithshire. Little is now left of the village.
On May 30, 1858, just before sunset, oc- curred one of the most terrific storms ever known to this part of the country. It was of the nature of a tornado, and came from Iowa, though it did little damage until it passed the bluffs along the river. Almost without warn- ing, with lightning-like speed, the storm came upon the little village of Ellison, and in a few moments death and destruction reigned. The path of the storm was forty rods wide and six miles long ,in its destructive course. As the result of its fearful work fifteen persons were
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
found dead or fatally injured, many disabled for life, and the whole town demolished. Those who were instantly killed or who died from injuries received were: The Misses Mary and Harriet Williams, Mrs. W. E. Thompson and child, Mrs. Jacob Brazelton and child, Martin Wentworth, Miss Lovina Lacy, Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. McCartney and child, Mr. Johnson and child, Mr. Hurd, and Mr. Thompson. Only two men in the whole village were unhurt, W. L. Ed- wards and J. M. Kelly. The town was re- built in a measure, but never regained its lost enterprise.
SMITHSHIRE.
Smithshire was platted by C. A. Sias, June 23, 1888, on the southwest quarter of section 6. E. B. Purcell was the owner. The town had twenty blocks, with Madison, State, Gale, and May streets running north and south; and Division, Birdsall, and Chicago streets run- ning east and west.
The postoffice at Smithshire was established in March, 1888, with William J. Deator as postmaster. Charles R. Barnett succeeded him in October, 1899; Henry Brown took the of- fice in September, 1893, and the present in- cumbent, James I. Sawvel, has been serving since October, 1897. One rural route runs from this office with Mr. Yeomans as carrier.
The Smithshire bank was organized in March, 1894, and began business June 18 of that year. It is a private institution and owns the neat little brick building which it occupies. Dr. L. L. Tinsman is president; John Birdsall, vice president; and James Milligan, cashier. The bank has capital and surplus amounting to $14,100, and deposits of $100,000.
The Smithshire band was organized May 30, 1900. It has 15 players, and Prof. A. S. Fair is leader and A. A. Firkins manager.
Smithshire has two secret insurance lodges, the Fraternal Army and the Modern Woodmen. Lawton Post No. 101, Fraternal Army, was or- ganized March 7, 1900, with 11 members. C. J. Passage was captain; Jennie Downs, lieuten- ant; and B. F. Cozatt, adjutant. There are now 14 members, and James Crawford is cap- tain, Mrs. Etta Passage, lieutenant; and Grace Dalton, adjutant. Camp No. 1168, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized October 1, 1889, with about 14 members. A. H. Silsbee was venerable consul; G. N. Brazelton, worthy
adviser; W. D. Lofftus, banker; and L. T. Bird- sall, clerk. The present membership is 54, and J. F. Downs is venerable consul; W. F. Crook- ham, worthy adviser; C. J. Passage, banker; and F. Painter, clerk.
The Women's Christian Temperance Union was organized by Miss Mary Mahon July 15, 1891. Mrs. W. L. Edwards is president; Mrs. John Hodgson, vice president; Mrs. Charles Holmes, treasurer; Mrs. A. Edwards, secre- tary.
NEW LANCASTER.
New Lancaster was laid out May 31, 1836, by County Surveyor Butler, on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 22. John M. Hopper was the owner. The town com- prised eight blocks, with Pearl street running north and south; and Warren, Merchant, and Green streets running east and west. A post- office was established at this place early in 1850, but on the building of the railroad through Roseville township, and the establish- ment of the town at Roseville, the New Lan- caster office was consolidated with the Roseville office. New Lancaster at one time aspired to be the county seat, but success did not attend its efforts in that direction. Today the site is part of Richard Wilcox and James Johnson's farms. The first house built in the town still remains, and is used as a dwelling. A few other ruins stand, and are used for corn cribs and other sheds.
A Methodist church was built in New Lancas- ter about 1838 or 1839, but afterwards was moved to Ellison and converted into a resi- dence.
.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CHARLES J. ANDERSON, whose honorable and successful career in this country is a good illustration of the worth of pluck, energy, character and integrity in a strange land, was born in Sweden April 19, 1849, the son of An- drew J. and Hannah (Camp) Anderson, both of whom were natives of the Scandinavian Peninsula. His maternal grandfather was a soldier in the Swedish army, and the entire family among the better people of the home land.
Charles J. Anderson came to the United States, by way of Quebec, where he landed
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
May 9, 1869. For a short time he worked in Iowa, and then came to Ellison Township, Warren County, September of the same year, where he has since resided. He was employed by the month at farming, and also was em- ployed at different times as a carpenter until May 9, 1878, when he married Miss Rella Green- lee, adopted daughter of Calvin Thompson, who presented her with eighty acres of land which became the foundation of a substantial for- tune. Mr. Anderson and his wife now own a fine farm of 435 acres, on which he has built a house with all the modern improvements, in- cluding steam heat, and a basement cellar un- der the entire structure, involving an expense of over $7,000, being one of the four finest residences in the county. Mr. Anderson feeds and raises stock on a very extensive scale, has been Road Commissioner and School Director. He is a Democrat and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Anderson was married in Ellison Town- ship, May 9, 1878, to Rella Greenlee, born in Henderson County, Ill., September 13, 1858, the daughter of Robert J. and Martha (Downes) Greenlee. She was reared in tlie home of Calvin Thompson. To this union have come the following children: Emil C., born January 23, 1879; Robert H., born May 23, 1880; George C., born May 18, 1882; James G., born January 31, 1884; Arthur C., born January 22, 1886; Maggie May, born October 6. 1888; Wilbur R., born February 26, 1891; Frank A., born April 23, 1893; Walter H., born March 27, 1896, and Thompson P., born July 7, 1900.
BIRDSALL, CHARLES C., who has found a broad and renumerative field in agriculture and stock-raising by his native energy and am- bition, was born in Ellison Township, Warren County, August 19, 1863, a son of John and Abigail (Wentworth) Birdsall. His paternal grandparents were John and Mary (Fowler) Birdsall, both natives of Westchester County, N. Y. John Birdsall was among the very early settlers of Warren County, locating here as early as 1838. After his marriage he purchased land in Section 6, Ellison Township, and became one of the successful farmers of his section of the State. He owns 240 acres of rich and well-cultivated land, and is now living retired in Smithshire, where he has a good home with all modern improve-
ments. Mr. Birdsall was married near Biggs- ville, Henderson County, March 12, 1885, to Miss Eliza A. Boyd, by whom he has three children: Herbert O., Lawrence D. and James R. Mrs. Birdsall was born in York County, Penn., De- cember 7, 1863, a daughter of John and Mary (Johnson) Boyd. Her parents were born in Scotland, and came to this country when chil- dren. They settled in Henderson County, Ill., in 1864. Her father, who was a farmer, died in 1880. Her mother is still living. Mr. Bird- sall, who is a Democrat, was elected Supervisor in 1900 and again in 1902. He belongs to the A. F. & A. M., at Kirkwood, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
BIRDSALL, JOHN, retired farmer of Smitli- shire, Warren County, is one who well deserves an interval of rest between the activities of ma- ture life, in which he has displayed manly qualities of a high order.
Mr. Birdsall was born in Oxford, Oxford County, Canada West, March 28, 1832, and se- cured his education in the district school. He is a son of John and Letitia (Fowler) Birdsall, both natives of Westchester County, New York, and early settlers of Oxford County, Canada West. They remained in that country some eighteen years, accumulating considerable prop- erty, and coming to Illinois in 1838. The elder Birdsall bought a half section of land in Hen- derson County, where he died in 1862. His wife was taken ill with typhoid fever while on the way west, and died in Joliet. The jour. ney from Canada was made with wagons and took four months for its completion. John Birdsall began for himself very early in life, working at first for twenty-five cents a day, and then receiving eight dollars a month. He was industrious and economical, and presently be- came somewhat fore-handed. His first mar- riage occurred March 6, 1856, prior to which he had already bought a farm and erected a house. He worked steadily and intelligently at farming and stock-raising for many years, until his retirement to Smithshire in 1892. He owns at the present time about 350 acres of land, and is Vice-President of the Smithshire Bank, of which he was one of the organizers in 1895. The first Mrs. Birdsall died November 28, 1892, being the mother of six children: Alfred C., Catherine C., Charles C., Frank, Dudley and Jennie. Charles is Supervisor of the town of Ellison; Dudley has been Deputy
G.I Anderson
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
County Clerk of Warren County since 1894; James lives in Victor, Colo. Mrs. Birdsall was Abigail N., the daughter of John H. and Leti- tia (Fowler) Wentworth. Her father, who was born in Vermont, was one of the first settlers of Knox County. Late in life he removed to Bates County, Mo., where he died. He was a cousin of John Wentworth, long a prominent citizen and at one time Mayor of Chicago, and a grand- son of Governor Wentworth, of Vermont. Mr. Birdsall was married October 1, 1896, to Mrs. Mary A. (Johnston) Boyd, who was born in York County, Penn., a daughter of Joseph and Annis (Watt) Johnston. Her parents were born in Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1850. They always lived in Pennsyl- vania. Mrs. Birdsall's first husband, John R. Boyd died August 29, 1881. Frank Birdsall is a farmer on the homestead where John Birdsall settled in 1853.
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