Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 191

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388

USA > Illinois > Knox County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 191
USA > Illinois > Lake County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 191
USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 191
USA > Illinois > Kane County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 191
USA > Illinois > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 191
USA > Illinois > Coles County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 191
USA > Illinois > Clark County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 191
USA > Illinois > McDonough County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 191
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 191

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

MAGINNIS, JOHN WESLEY; Postmaster at Abingdon; born at Morristown, Ohio, July 10, 1838, where he was educated in the district schools. He came to Bureau County, Illinois, in 1857. Prior to the War, he followed the car- penter trade, but when the news of the firing on Fort Sumpter reached him, at 9 o'clock in the morning, he left his bench, and was an en- rolled soldier before 3 o'clock the same day. He served with Company B, Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteers, until August 1, 1862, when he was discharged on account of illness. For twenty- five years he was in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company at Malden and Abingdon, Illionis, to which latter place he moved in 1866. He served four terms as Collector of Cedar Township, and for ten

930

KNOX COUNTY.

years was Constable in the same township and Bailiff in the Knox County Circuit Court. Mr. Maginnis' parents were Methodists, and he has adhered to that faith during his life. In poli- tics, he never wavered from republicanism in its purest form. He was appointed Postmaster of Abingdon by President Mckinley in recog- nition of his army service and fidelity to and active service in the republican party. On November 27, 1868, he was married in Abing- don to Maria Jane Richey. They are the par- ents of the following children: Albert Richey; Etha Mabel; Samuel Archie, deceased; Arta Velma; Anna Maria; John Scott; and William James. Albert is a member of Company D, Sixth Illinois Volunteers. Mr. Maginnis' father was Daniel Maginnis, a native of Loudon County, Virginia, who married Eva McClure, a native of Pennsylvania. His paternal grand- parents were natives of Ireland.

MAIN, WILLIAM B .; Retired Farmer and Merchant; Abingdon; born in Otsego County, New York, December 7, 1835; educated in the common schools of New York State. His par- ents, Thomas P. and Laura (Allen) Main, were both natives of Otsego County, New York. His paternal grandparents were Joseph and Jane (Blanchard) Main. Peter Main, who settled in Connecticut in 1680, was a native of Scotland. W. B. Main came to Knox County, Illinois, In 1857, and located at Altona. In 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Seventeenth Illinois Volunteers, and served until 1862, when he was discharged for disability, having been wounded at Fort Donelson. Later he settled at Galesburg, and was a conductor on the Chicago, Burling- ton and Quincy Railroad until 1879, when he removed to Abingdon, where he en- gaged in the hardware business, in which he was successful from the beginning, and soon controlled the largest business of its kind in this section of the State. He also bought sev- eral farms which he managed for some years. He retired from the hardware business in 1897. January 17, 1865, Mr. Main married Miss Har- riet M. Bill, in Bainbridge, New York; they have had two children: Carrie E. (now Mrs. Claude Byram), born June 20, 1870; and George W., born August 19, 1875. Mr. Main is a prom- inent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a trustee of Hedding College and treasurer of its endowment fund. In politics, Mr. Main is a republican. He was Mayor of Abingdon in 1882. He is looked up to as one of the most prominent men of the city.

McWILLIAMS, SEYMOUR; Merchant; Ab- ingdon; born March 14, 1861, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania; educated in the common schools. His father, John McWilliams, was a native of Pennsylvania, and his paternal grandfather was Robert C. McWilliams. Mr. McWilliams was married to Jennie Bell, April 8, 1885, in Law- rence County, Pennsylvania. Four of their five children are living: Jennie O., John R., Mark D. and Luke S. Mr. McWilliams came to Gales- burg, Knox County, in 1883, and in 1885, began a grocery business in Abingdon, which he con- tinued from 1885 to 1892. In religion, he is a

Methodist. In politics, he is a democrat, and in 1894, was appointed Postmaster for four years. He was elected Supervisor in 1890, 1892, and again in 1899. In 1899, he was Collector. Mr. McWilliams has always taken a keen inter- est in town affairs.

MERRICKS, WILLIAM A .; Merchant and Farmer; Abingdon; born December 7, 1828, in Cabell County, West Virginia; educated in the common schools of Knox County, Illinois. Mr. Merricks came to Knox County in 1839, and after living with different farmers spent some years as a clerk. In 1880, he went into the grocery and farming business which he con- ducted until 1885. He now keeps a dairy, but has retired from active business life. April 15, 1852, Mr. Merricks was married in Abingdon to Hannah E. (Chesney). They have four chil- dren: Clayton O., Jesse J., Blanch E. and Fan- nie E. Mrs. Merricks is a daughter of Kent M. Chesney, who came to Knox County in 1836, and died in Topeka, Kansas. After his marriage Mr. Merricks settled in Abingdon and from there managed his farm for many years. He was the first City Marshal of Abingdon, and is now serving his tenth term as Alderman of the Fourth Ward, his election having met with very little opposition. He was Collector for some years. Mr. Merricks is a Christian in religion. In politics, he is a republican.

MOSSER, CORLISS GLENN; Merchant and Banker; Abingdon; born in Abingdon February 24, 1870; educated in Hedding College. Mr. Mosser's parents are John Mosser, a prominent merchant and banker of Abingdon, and Sarah J. (Carroll), daughter of William and Sarah Carroll. January 14, 1896, at Grand Ridge, La Salle County, Illinois, Mr. Mosser married Eliz- abeth Snedaker. Mr. Mosser was for two years, 1896 and 1897, Mayor of Abingdon, and is now President of the Library Board.

MOSSER, JOHN; Merchant and Banker; Abingdon; born January 1, 1832, in Preston County, West Virginia. His father, also Jobn Mosser, was born in Maryland, and his mother, Susan (Frankhauser), was a native of Vir- ginia; both parents were of German descent. The paternal grandparents settled in Maryland, where they died. Mr. Mosser's first wife was Mary, daughter of William and Sarah Carroll, who was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The marriage took place in McDonough County, Illinois, in 1860; they had two children: Sam- uel T .; and Ida L., wife of J. W. Reed, a drug- gist in Quincy, Illinois. Mrs. Mosser died Octo- ber 21, 1866. Mr. Mosser was married to Sarah J. Carroll, sister of his first wife, November 24, 1867; three children were born to them: Corliss G., Stacy C. and Lloyd L. The Carrolls were an old aud prominent family in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Stacy C. Mosser is a graduate of the University of Chicago, class of '97, and is now a reporter for the Chicago Times- Herald. John Mosser was reared to manhood in the old Virginia homestead, the only one of six sons who remained with the parents until reaching majority, and he left home without a dollar, hut with the conviction that he had

931

KNOX COUNTY.

done his filial duty. He found employment at $13.00 per month, the largest wages paid in that locality, the fact causing considerable talk in the neighborhood. In 1855, he came to Illi- nois and settled in McDonough County, where he followed the blacksmith trade with his brother Jacob. After a partnership of nine years, they started a general store in Abing- don, February, 1864, which John Mosser and a third partner, John Reed, conducted eleven years, Jacob Mosser remaining a partner only five years. The business is now devoted ex- clusively to dry goods, and boots and shoes, under the firm name of John Mosser and Son; they also conduct a private bank. Mr. Mosser owns a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in Cedar Township, and a quarter section of land in Coffee County, Kansas. He owns the Post Office building in Abingdon, and the build- ings where his dry goods and banking business is conducted. He is a member of the I. O. of O. F. and of the A. O. U. W. In politics, he was formerly a democrat, but is now a prohi- bitionist. He was Mayor of the city of Abing- don four terms, and Supervisor two terms. Mr. Mosser is the oldest merchant in Abingdon, and one of the most respected citizens.

MOSSER, SAMUEL THEODORE; Merchant and Manufacturer; Abingdon; born November 2, 1861, in Industry, Illinois; educated in the public schools of Abingdon and in Hedding Col- lege, graduating in 1884. His father, John Mos- ser, is a prominent merchant and banker of Abingdon, and his mother was Mary (Carroll) Mosser, who died October 21, 1866. Samuel T. Mosser had, during the time of his education, assisted his father in the dry goods business, and in 1885, he became a partner and its suc- cessful general manager, materially increasing the business during a period of seven years. In August, 1889, in company with J. W. Cox and J. W. McCown, he organized the Globe Manu- facturing Company, for the manufacture of workingmen's clothing, the first manufactur- ing industry in the city, which proved a boon to Abingdon. They rented an old building and started ten machines, and engaged a first-class cutter. Their business was successful from the start, and increased rapidly, and the following year, 1890, a two-story building was erected, one hundred feet long by forty feet wide, which was occupied in July. Later, an addition, fifty feet by forty, was added, and in this large building one hundred machines are operated, employing one hundred and twenty-five people throughout the year. In this establishment, good wages are paid, better than in most simi- lar concerns in the State. January 1, 1892, J. W. Mccown retired from the business. Of this business, unique in the county, if not in the State, Mr. Mosser is the practical man- ager, while Mr. Cox travels on the road as one of salesmen. January 26, 1887, Mr. Mosser mar- ried Kate E. Newell, daughter of Thomas New- ell, president of the First National Bank of Abingdon; one daughter was born to them: Leigh Marie Mosser, born February 14, 1893, died January 27, 1899. Mr. Mosser was Secre-

tary and Treasurer of the Building Committee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, whose house of worship would be a credit to a much larger city than Abingdon. It was he who induced the people to adopt stone as a material, and the present magnificent proportions of the edi- fice are largely due to his energy. He raised a subscription of $2,000.00 for the organ, and he has led the choir for fifteen years. Mr. Mosser has proved a useful citizen in many ways, and is held in high esteem in the community.

RICHEY, JAMES; Mayor of Abingdon; born January 22, 1842, in Ireland; educated in Abing- don. His parents were William and Jane (Scott) Richey of Ireland. The family on both sides are of Scotch descent. Mr. Richey was married to Sarelda Haney, in Abingdon, in 1871. Their children are, K. M. Buttler, and Haney. Mr. Richey came with his parents from Colum- biana County, Ohio, in 1853, and settled in Abingdon, where his father died July 6, 1876, at the age of sixty-five. His father was a dem- ocrat; he was successful in business and well known in the county; his wife died September 28, 1899; eight of their children reached ma- turity. James Richey is a republican. He was City Marshal in Abingdon for nine years, and then went to Galesburg, where he was Deputy Sheriff for eight years; he was Sheriff of the county four years and Chief of Police in Gales- burg for one year. He returned to Abingdon, and served three years as City Marshal, and is now Mayor of the city, having been elected in April, 1899. He is also Deputy Sheriff of Knox County. He has a good farm of one hundred and eighty-nine acres. Mr. Richey is a mem- ber of I. O. O. F. He has always been faithful and cheerful in the discharge of duty. He is a Methodist.

SAMPSON, EDWARD M .; Indian Point Township; Justice of the Peace; born February 10, 1855, in Scott County, Indiana; educated at Alpha, Indiana. His father, Isaac Sampson, was born in Montgomery, Kentucky; his mother, Catherine (Young), was born in Hamilton County, Ohio. His paternal grandparents, Ben- jamin and Sarah (Charles) Sampson, were na- tives of Virginia; his paternal great-grand- father, John Sampson, was a native of New York, and his paternal great-grandmother, Betsy (Epperson), was born in Wales. His ma- ternal grandfather, Abner Young, was born in New York, and his maternal grandmother, Jane (Wallsmith), in Ohio; his maternal great- grandparents, Jacob and Julia (Long) Young, were natives of Germany. January 25, 1875, Mr. Sampson was married to Mary C. Day in Mon- mouth, Illinois. They have two children, Cora E., who married J. W. Onan, and John. Mr. and Mrs. Onan have one daughter, Gladys, Mr. Sampson is a democrat, and has been School Trustee and Director in Indian Point Township. In April, 1893, he was elected Jus- tice of the Peace and served two terms. He is chairman of the Township Democratic Com- mittee. Mr. Sampson has studied law and med- icine. In religion, he is a Christian.

932

KNOX COUNTY.

SHUMAKER, JOHN B .; Retired Farmer; In- dian Point Township; born July 5, 1814, in Franklin County, Ohio; educated in the com- mon schools. His parents were Abraham and Elizabeth (Swisher) Shumaker. September 21, 1847, he married Sophia Rager in Franklin County, Ohio; four children were born to them: Sarah E., Jeremiah, Mahala Jane, and Sophia. Mr. Shumaker came from Ohio in 1843 and set- tled near Maquon. In 1844, he bought land in Indian Point Township, and was a farmer there until his wife died in 1878, since which time he has lived with his daughter, Mahala Jane, who married Robert L., son of John Shumaker. Mrs. Shumaker has two sons: Emory O. and Ray C. The latter is a farmer. Jeremiah is a miller in Abingdon; Sarah married James Bellwood, and has one son, Edward. Mr. Shumaker is a republican. He was Highway Commissioner about three years, and was for several years School Director. He has always been a promi- nent man. In religion, he is a Methodist.

SWARTS, ABRAHAM D .; was born at Abing- don, Harford County, Maryland, April 20, 1783. He married Ann B. Carroll, of Bal- timore, the name of whose family is indissolubly connected with the State's history. Soon after their marriage, the newly wedded palr turned their faces toward the West, their objective point being the fertile, sun-kissed prairies of Illinois. He was among the early pioneers of Knox County, on whose history he has left the ineffable impress of his own un- tiring efforts and indomitable energy. He had a deep and abiding faith in the almost illimita- ble possibilities of the young State, and be- lieved that it extended the brightest hope to the agriculturalist. His nature was kindly and generous, and his instincts philanthropic. He genuinely appreciated the value of higher edu- cation, although his own early schooling had been of a rather meager sort. (See City of Abingdon.) His original plan was to found a college near the site of his home, and his wishes were carried out by his heirs. From the institution founded through their efforts and liberal aid, hundreds of young people, of both sexes, have gone forth, valiantly to fight life's battle and to conquer success. (For Mr. Swarts' connection with the platting, founding and growth of Abingdon the reader is referred to that caption.) He died March 20, 1854, at the age of seventy-one years. He had lived to see the fruits of his earthly toil garnered into an abundant harvest, and he entered rest as "One who wraps the drapery of his couch around him,

And lays him down to pleasant dreams."

WARD, ROSCOE E .; Farmer; Indian Point Township; born in Marietta, Ohio, March 12, 1855; educated in the common schools and in Illinois University. He is a son of Dr. George A. Ward, and a grandson of Walter Ward of Philipston, Massachusetts. Mr. R. E. Ward came to Illinois in 1863, and settled in Hender- son County, where he was interested in, school affairs, having been a teacher in the public schools. In 1895, he came to Abingdon, to be

nearer good schools, and bought a fine farm. He is one of the leading farmers of Indian Point Township. In 1898, he was made Trustee of Hedding College. In 1878, Mr. Ward was married in Lawrence County, Ohio, to Jessie F. Miller; they have four children: Alice N., George M., Elbert W., Roscoe S. In religion, Mr. Ward is a Methodist. He is a republican.

INDIAN POINT TOWNSHIP.

By M. B. Hardin.

Probably the first white man to visit Indian Point Township with a view to making his home within its boundaries was Azel Dossey, who entered it from Cedar in 1829, but re- mained only a few years. The first permanent settlement was made five years later, by John C. Latimer, who, in 1834, emigrated from Tennessee with his family. About the same time John H. Lomax came from Kentucky and settled in Section 7, and Stephen Howard, of the same State, who, with his family, settled on Section 6, putting up the first log cabin on that section. The next arrivals were in the following year (1835), when John Howard, Isaac and Alexander Latimer and John Craw- ford pre-empted claims on Section 16. Mr. Crawford was a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Two years later Alex- ander Latimer sold his claim to Daniel Meek, and removed to Cedar. With Mr. Meek came John Killiam, who settled on Sections 15 and 22. Henry D. Russell emigrated from Vir- ginia at about the same time, and entered a claim in Section 24, where he lived for more than a quarter of a century, erecting the first brick house in the township in 1844. He was a thorough farmer, and his farm was one of the finest in the county. Early in the sixties he sold it to James R. Johnston, removing to Abingdon, and later to Kansas. Others fol- lowed, and the population of the new settle- ment began to grow apace. Merriweather Brown made his clearing in Section 7, and Bartlett Boydstrom on Section 17. Mr. Brown became a prominent citizen, and was at one time County Commissioner; and Mr. Boyd- strom's son, William A., is superintendent of the building and bridge department of the Chi- cago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Com- pany, at Galesburg. In 1837, John Howard dis- posed of his claim to John Davidge, who had moved into the township from Woodford County.

Among those who at this period-and for many years afterward-were reckoned leading

933

KNOX COUNTY.

men, may be mentioned Daniel Meek, to whom reference has been already made. He was an extensive breeder of fine live stock, and took a lively interest in public affairs. At different times he held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and County Commissioner.

It is of interest to recall the names of these early pioneers and to bring to mind the mem- ory of their stalwart virtues and their power of hardy endurance, but the imperative neces- sity for the curtailment of space forbids more than a passing mention of many whose names are as a household word in the township. John Shumaker, Sr., settled on Section 12, in 1837. He was the father of a large family, of whom one son, James, lives in the same locality at the present time. Charles Fielder settled in the southern part of the township in 1838; and John Vertrees and William Stewart in 1839. That same year, arrived Timothy and Julius Shay, who moved from Section 6 to Section 28 in 1844. George Hunt came in 1840; John Crowell in 1841; George Bowden, who settled in Section 14, in 1843; William Crawford, in 1844; and Charles Smith, who settled in Section 24, in 1846. Among others who came in the late forties and early fifties were Seth Bell- wood, John Christopher, Silas Roe, Jacob Mil- ler, Hugh Lowrey and George Cox. John Brown came in 1853. He has three sons, who, like himself, became prosperous farmers, and a daughter, who is the wife of J. Warren Daw- ley.

The early settlers encountered no Indians, although traces of aboriginal occupation were plainly discernible on every side. They found remains of the wigwams of the red men, to- gether with innumerable flints, arrow and spear heads, axes and other implements of domestic or warlike use among savage tribes. It was the abundance of these relics that gave the locality its name "Indian Point". Compara- tively little timber was found by the pioneers, and this grew chiefly in Sections 31 and 36, along the borders of Indian and Cedar creeks and of the small streams which were their trib- utaries. They did, however, find well watered, rolling prairies, with rich, arable soil, of dark color, which held out promises which both the past and present have richly fulfilled. Today Indian Point is one of the most fertile and highly cultivated townships in the county. Its fertility may be ascribed to Nature and to Na- ture's God; its cultivation is due to the patient toil and resolute perseverance of its citizens.

The highest point of elevation is on Mount Hope farm, owned by R. E. Ward, from which may be obtained a view extending twelve mlles to the east and commanding most of Indian Point, part of Cedar and Orange and all of Chestnut Hill townships. A noteworthy fea- ture of the agricultural interests at the pres- ent time is that nearly, if not quite, one-third of the farms are leased to tenants, the owners having either retired from active pursuits or taken up a residence where better educational advantages are obtainable for their children.

Most of the farmers are engaged in the rais- ing of cereals and the propagation and market- ing of live stock. Among those who stand fore- most in these lines may be named W. W. By- ram, Robert Byram, J. W. Dawley, J. Warren Dawley, Robert Smith, James Bowton, George and Thomas Brown, William Cable, Frank Hall, T. H. Roe and Mr. Johnson. A fine breed of short-horn cattle is extensively raised and sold by J. W. Dawley and Son, on whose stock farm is also raised a large number of colts of Norman blood. W. W. and Robert Byram also deal largely in choice colts of this breed, raised by themselves. The breeding of fine Poland-China hogs is a feature on the farms of Indian Point. This is made a specialty by J. W. Lomax, J. L. Cashman and Charles and Robert Shu- maker.

The first birth in the township was a girl- baby, born to Jobn H. and Nancy Lomax, in 1835; the second was also a daughter, sent to John C. and Nancy Latimer, the birthdays of the two children being not far apart. The first marriage was that of William Ogden to Damantha Roberts, which was solemnized Oc- toher 19, 1837, by Justice John Terry, of Chest- nut Township. The first death to occur was that of Mr. Hubbard, who bad settled in Sec- tion 16 in 1838. He died there, and his was the first interment in Indian Point cemetery.

The first public Protestant religious services held in the township, of which any record has been preserved, were conducted by Rev. John Crawford, a Cumberland Presbyterian clergy- man, who has been already named as one of the earliest settlers. They were held at the house of John Howard. In 1848 the first church organization (and the only one ever formed out- side of Abingdon and St. Augustine) was effect- ed, under the guidance of Rev. Mr. Williams, of the Methodist Protestant denomination, at the "Valley School House". The body disband- ed in 1858. Subsequently the Methodist Epis-

934

KNOX COUNTY.

copal church organized a "class," but it did not long continue in existence. A Roman Catholic mission was established at the present site of St. Augustine at a comparatively early date. It was visited by Father St. Cyrid in 1837. A building was erected, and dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Kendrick, of St. Louis, in 1843. Twenty years later a new structure was built. The present value of the church's holdings of real estate is ten thousand dollars, the property be- ing free of debt.

The first school was opened in the Winter of 1837-8, its teacher being Dennis Clark, who, to- gether with Jonathan Latimer, broke the first ground on the prairie in Section 6, in 1835. Mr. Clark was afterwards elevated to the bench, and is still living in the township. At that time the school district embraced all of Indian Point, together with a part of Warren County, and the original school house was constructed, after a solid fashion, of logs, and located in Section 16. The first winter's roll contained the names of thirty pupils.

Township organization was effected on April 5, 1853, at a meeting at which Samuel H. Ritchey was Moderator and Thomas A. Bald- win Clerk. The first officers elected were: Daniel Meek, Supervisor; Dennis Clark, Clerk; S. H. Ritchey, Assessor; Jefferson M. Dawley, Collector; and Henry Ground and Charles Wil- liams, Justices of the Peace.

At present (1899) the township is crossed by two railroads,-the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and the Central Iowa, affording easy access for crops and stocks to all the great markets of the Northwest and Southwest. In earlier days, Copperas Creek and Peoria, or the Illinois, Oquawka, on the Mississippi, and Chicago divided the trade. An illustration of commercial methods before the advent of rail- ways may he of interest. William Stewart and Daniel Meek hauled the first load of wheat to Chicago. They sold it for twenty-five cents a bushel; bought salt with the proceeds; carted the salt back to Indian Point, and disposed of it at a profit which they considered amply sat- isfactory.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 191

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1388

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388