History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 101

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Illinois > Union County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 101
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 101
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 101

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).

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

Sarah Jane, wife of Thomas Douglas, of Mill Creek; Louisa E., wife of George Freeze, of Elco Precinct, Alexander County; Cynthia A., wife of William Harrison, of Union County; Hester, wife of Donald McKenzie, of Ullin; Melvina, wife of Pickney Rushin, of Union County; Ann Eliza, wife of Joseph Getlinger, of Dongola; and Katie. In poli- tics, our subject is a Republican.

WILLIAM PENROD, saloon, Dongola, was born October 26, 1844, in Union County, Ill., a son of James A. and Unity (Smith) Penrod. The father was a native of Ken- tucky. He died December 24, 1874, aged about sixty-five years. He was married four times. The mother died November 8, 1844, our subject being only a few days old. The parents were blessed with eight children, four of whom are living. The early education of our subject was very limited, being received in the common schools of Union County. He started in life as a farm hand, and was thus en- gaged up to the opening of the war. In Au- gust, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twentieth 'Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Hardy. and for several months lay in the hospital at Memphis, Tenn., and was finally discharged for disability in February, 1863. He re-enlisted in January of the following year in the Fifty-sixth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, Col. Green B. Raum. This regiment was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and was hotly engaged at Resaca and other points along the route. They were mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., August 27, 1865. Our subject was united in marriage, January 4, 1866, in Johnson County, Ill., to Sarah Morgan, born April 24, 1843, a daughter of John Morgan. Her mother, nee a Miss Wise, died when Sarah was small. Mr. and Mrs. Penrod are the parents of six chil- dren. four of whom are living-William Tell, born July 27, 1868; Lillie Belle, October 20,

1871; Stephen S., August 11, 1874, and Dora, October 22, 1877. Politically Mr. Penrod is a Republican.

FRIEDERICH SCHLÜTER, farmer, P. O. Dongola, was born in Prussia, Germany, March 29, 1824, the eldest son of Christian and Louisa (Gerlink) Schlüter, natives also of Germany. The father was a carpenter by trade, and was a soldier in the war from 1807 to 1815. He died when Frederick was eleven years old, which left the latter an or- phan, his mother having died when he was only seven. The parents had seven children, our subject being, so far as is known, the only one living. He received a common edu- cation in his native place and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for a few years, afterward turning his attention to farming. In 1854, he embarked for America, landing in New Orleans. He came up the river to Cairo, and from there went to St. Louis, where he remained a short time, after- ward coming to Dongola. In 1859, he pur- chased thirty acres of land, and has made several subsequent additions, having now 180 acres, after giving one son 120 and an- other 76 acres. In 1849, in Germany, he was married to Louisa Töte, born in 1830, a daughter of Christian and Caroline (Fondera) Töte. Mr. and Mrs. Schlüter are the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living -Frederick, born September 1, 1851; Mary, December 27, 1853; Henry, November 19, 1856; Caroline, May 19, 1864: Charlie, June 9, 1866; Alice, April 10, 1868, and Emma, March 19, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Schlüter are members of the Lutheran Church. In poli- tics, he is Republican.

ALBERT S. WILBER, farmer and stock- dealer, residence, Dongola, is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., born February 25, 1845, the eldest child of Simon and Melissa (Welsh) Wilber, both of whom were natives

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DONGOLA PRECINCT.

of Ireland, where they were married. They immigrated to America and settled in Onon- daga County, N. Y., where the father pur- chased 120 acres of land, and engaged in farming. He was a son of John Samson Wilber, who was a son of Milton Wilber, a native of England. The father enlisted in the New York Militia and served five years, and afterward eight years in the regular army. He was all through the Mexican war, in which he was Colonel of a regiment. He was shot seventeen times, and yet his life was prolonged for several years. He re-en- listed in the regular service, and was active- ly engaged in the civil war. His battle career finally ended, a few days after the en- gagement at New Berne, N. C., having suc- cumbed to a severe attack of inflammation of the brain. The mother of our subject is still living in Traverse City, Mich. The parents were blessed with four children, all of whom are living-Albert S., Olive D., William H. H. and Louisa A. Mr. Wilber received a fair education, his circumstances, fortunately, permitting several years' attendance in the common and select schools of his native county. About 1862, he anticipated Greeley's advice, and "went West." For nearly two years, he was engaged in herding, driving and other- wise roughing it in Wyoming Territory. He returned East, as far as Villa Ridge, Ill., where he took a contract with the I. C. R. R. Company for 50, 000 railroad ties. He was afterward engaged, for one year, in making charcoal for the Cairo market, since which he has given his attention to farming pur. suits. In 1870, he made a purchase of 120 acres in Pulaski County, and has since made several additional purchases, having at pres- ent 9724 acres, in Alexander, Union and Pu- laski Counties. Most of this land is operated by renters. He also owns 160 acres of tim- bered land in Stoddard County, Mo., off of

which he has cut 120,000 feet of black wal- nut logs, which was recently purchased by an Indianapolis firm. He also takes an in- terest in the raising of fast stock. The official records indicate that he carried the first blue ribbon out of the Anna Fair Asso- ciation, and also the last one (1882). He raised the " Belle of St. Louis, record 2:38; also Ponchartrain, pacer, 2:22; also the cele- brated pacing stallion "Glencoe Chief," time 2:20. He is the present owner of " Flitter Foot Frank." Mr. Wilber is also versed in veterinary surgery, and is often called upon to perform operations in this line. Our subject was united in marriage, April 18, 1874, in Anna, Ill., to Louisa M. Meisenheimer. widow of Lewis Meisenhei- mer, by whom she had two children-Allen H., born June 18, 1870, and Louie E., De- cember 6, 1873. She is a daughter of Jacob and Nancy Peeler. She was born August 31, 1840, in Wetaug, Ill., and died April :26, 1882, in Dongola. By her our subject had two children-Albert A., born June 10, 1876, and Oliver A., born March 26, 1880, and died July 15, 1881. Politically, Mr. Wilber is a Democrat.

ALBERT G. WILLIAMS, physician and surgeon, Dongola, is a native of Henry County, Tenn., born July 21, 1831, the eldest child of Henry L. and Elizabeth A. (Holmes) Williams. The father was born in Rowan County, N. C., April 22, 1805, a son of Joseph Williams, of Welsh descent. He was a carpenter by trade and moved, in 1826, to Tennessee, where he died September 9, 1869, from the effects of injuries received by being thrown from a mule. The mother of our subject was born January 10, 1808, in Sumner County, Tenn., a daughter of Albert and Jane Holmes. The parents were married January 3, 1830, and were blessed with seven children, two of whom are living-Frances

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

I. and our subject. The latter received a common school education in his native State, and started in life as a trader in general merchandise on the Mississippi River, in which occupation he was eagaged up to the time of his marriage, which occurred March 21, 1850, in his native county. He wedded Susan R. Lowry, born September 30, 1833, in the same county, a daughter of William and Jane (Wyott) Lowry. In 1854, our sub- ject commenced the study of medicine, under the instruction of Dr. Joseph H. Travis, of Paris. Tenn., with whom he continued his studies until the opening of the war of the rebellion. In the meantime, he was the owner of a little farm in Henry County, and from its soil he himself wrought the money necessary to defray the expenses of these years of study. In 1863, he removed to Illinois, and located at Lincoln Green P. O., Johnson County, where he remained until June, 1865, engaged in the practice of his profession. At the latter date, he removed near the I. C. R. R. at Wetaug, and shortly afterward to Dongola, where he has since re- mained, the people having recognized and appreciated his skill as a physician and sur-

geon. In 1870, he entered the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which institution he graduated the following year, having enjoyed the benefits of a term of medical lectures. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of nine children, five of whom are living-Georgiana C., born June 19, 1852, the wife of Prof. A. B. Garrett, of Murphysboro, Ill .; Aquilla J., born June 4, 1855, wife of Henry E. Eddleman, of Don- gola; Alice, born July 22, 1858, wife of Frank Brevard, of Knoxville, Tenn .; Albert H., born January 20, 1865, and Mollie, born October 30, 1868. Our subject has, since 1867, been a member of the I. O. O. F., Dongola Lodge, No. 343, and is also a mem- ber of the Anna Encampment. He belongs to the Knights of Honor, and is the Medical Examiner of that body, which he has repre- sented, as well as the I. O. O. F., in the Grand Lodge. He is the local surgeon for the I. C. R. R., and was also one of the thir- teen institutors of the Southern Illinois Medical Association, and has held offices of distinction in that body. In politics, he has been a Republican since the organization of that party.

MEISENHEIMER PRECINCT.

CHARLES BROWN, farmer, P. O. Jones- boro, is a native of Rowan County, N. C. born December 15, 1814. He is a son of Abraham Brown, who came from North Car- olina in 1816 and settled in the southern part of what is now Union County, Ill., and here raised a large family of boys and girls. He was married in North Carolina to Catherine Hess, whose father came to Union County with his family with Mr. Brown in 1816.

Our subject was raised in this county, and has since made it his home. He commenced life a poor man, and by his honesty, industry and economy has succeeded in accumulating a good property, and is now the owner of a good farm. He married Miss Elizabeth Grear, a daughter of George Grear. They have been blessed with eight children, viz .: Alson, Wilson, Martha J., Emeline, Laura I., Augusta, John W. and Andrew J. Mr.

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MEISENHEIMER PRECINCT.

Brown is a man of good standing in the com- . munity in which he lives, and a Democrat in politics.

PETER DILLOW, farmer, P. O. Spring- ville. was born April 11, 1831, in this coun- ty. He is a son of Peter Dillow, Sr., who was born May 1, 1797, in North Carolina. He came to this county with his parents in 1818. and here he endured with others the privations of early pioneer life. Here he was also married to Polly Lence, who is yet liv- ing, and who bore him fourteen children, of whom three girls and five boys are now liv- ing. They have numerous descendants in this and adjoining counties. Peter Dillow, Sr., lived to the ripe old age of eighty-three years, dying July 1, 1880. He was a man of the old pioneer type and liked by all who knew him, making few or no enemies and making and keeping many friends. When our subject, Peter Dillow, Jr., was a boy, and even when he was a young man, the chances for an education were very limited. A few subscription schools existed, in which were taught the common branches. Most of his time was spent on the farm, helping his father. He was joined in matrimony, De- cember 17, 1856, in this county to Miss Mary Poole, born February 23, 1840, in this coun- ty. She is a daughter of John and Susan (Mowery) Poole, who are also North Caro- linians. Mrs. Dillow is the mother of six chil- dren, viz .: George W., born March 16, 1858; Eli A., born October 4, 1859; Flu- anna, deceased; Caleb E., born October 12, 1864; Luvina, born September 21, 1866; and Eliza A., born June 15, 1873. George W. and Eli A. are married. The former married Isidora Davis and the latter married Emily I. Brown, who is the mother of Essie Dillow. Mr. and Mrs. Dillow and their chil- ren are members of the German Reformed Church. He has a good farm of 160 acres,

which he keeps in a high state of cultivation. and is considered one of the best farmers in his neighborhood. Mr. Dillow is identified with the Democratic party, as were also his ancestors.

LEVI A. DILLOW, farmer and mechauic, P.O.Springville. His father, Charles Dillow, was born in Union County in 1820. During his life, he engaged in farming. He died August 30, 1876. His father was Peter Dillow, a native of North Carolina. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Light, who was born in 1818, and is still living. She is a daughter of John Light, a native of North Carolina, but of German descent. The par- ents of our subject had two children, viz., Melvina, wife of Daniel Hurst, who is the mother of three children, viz., Hattie, Ida and Mary. Levi A. was born in Union County Ill., October 11, 1843. He was raised on the farm and educated in the com- mon schools. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company A of the One Hundred and Ninth Illinois Volunteers, and served to the close of the war. He was in the following en- gagements: Siege of Vicksburg, Fort Blake- lv, Ala., and many others. After the close of the war, he returned home and worked with his father in the wagon shop, where he remained for several years. He afterward worked at carpentering and subse- quently engaged in farming, at which he still continues. He was married, March 23, 1867, to Miss Lavina Poole, who was born December 3, 1849. She is a daughter of John and Susan (Mowery) Poole. She is the mother of the following children: Dora, born October 19, 1868; Emma, born Novem- ber 20, 1869; Minnie, born September 11, 1873; Elizabeth, born November 11, 1876; Coby, born September 23, 1880; and Clara, born November 10, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Dillow are members of the Reformed Church.

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Jonesboro Lodge, No. 111. £ He has served the township as Trustee for a number of years. and is now Township Treasurer. He is the owner of 330 acres of land.

PAUL DILLOW, farmer, P. O. Spring- ville. This gentleman is a son of one of our old pioneers who deserve so much credit for what they endured in those early days pre- paring the way for others. He was born July 17, 1845, in Union County, Ill. His father, Peter Dillow, Sr., was born May 1, 1797, in Rowan County, N. C .; he died June 29, 1880, in Union County, to which he had removed from North Carolina, October 23, 1818, with a number of other families who had to travel together for mutual aid and protection. He was married here to Mary Lence, who was born March 15, 1802. She is yet living with her son, our subject, and is the mother of fourteen children, of whom eight are now living, mostly in this county. Paul was principally educated in this coun. ty. He tilled the soil in early life, and was joined in matrimony in Cape Girardeau County, Mo., December 16, 1866, to Mary Z. Sheppard. born March 19, 1842, in Cape Girardeau County. She is a daughter of Elisha and Melinda Sheppard. She died October 22, 1882, in Union County. Two children, Anna Lee, born May 31, 1868, and John E., born September 2, 1870, mourned her death. They yet by their deportment and kindness to each other show that de- parted mother's guiding hand. Mr. Dillow, as was also his wife, is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at St. John's. He served his neighbors in the capacity of School Director, and was once elected Justice of the Peace, but did not qualify on account of an elderly gentleman having been elected to the other office of Justice. He has a good farm of 130 acres of land with good im-

provements. In politics, he is identified with the Democratic party.

JOHN A. DILLOW, farmer, P. O. Mill Creek, was born in Union County, Ill., Jan- uary 15, 1845, and is a son of Paul and Catherine (Mowery) Dillow, both natives of North Carolina. John A. Dillow was edu- cated in the common schools of his native county, and early learned the art of farming, an occupation he has been engaged in prin- cipally during his life. He commenced life a poor man, and by his honesty, industry and economy has succeeded in gaining a good property and a name and reputation which are beyond reproach. His farm is located in Meisenheimer Precinct and contains 200 acres of good land. In Union County, on the 5th of February, 1869, he married Miss Eveline S. Brown, who was born July 9, 1850 She is a daughter of Abraham Brown. They are the parents of six children, viz., Olive J., born December 3, 1869; James A., born December 17, 1871; Robert O., born August 17, 1874; Effie F .. born August 20, 1876; Octavia L., born March 30, 1878, and Franklin B., born January 16, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Dillow are religiously connected with the Reformed Church. He is a Demo. crat in politics, and in his quiet ways and good habits is an example to his fellow-men.

JOHN M. HILEMAN, farmer, P. O. Springville. The grandfather of this gen- tleman was Jacob Hileman, one of the early settlers of Union County; he was an emi- grant from North Carolinan. His son, Peter Hileman (subject's father), was born in North Carolina, and in Union County mar- ried Susannah Miller, who bore him twelve children, of whom nine are now living. Eight of them are residents of Union Coun- ty. John M. Hileman was born in Union County, September 5, 1824. He has experi- enced the many hardships and deprivations

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MEISENHEIMER PRECINCT.

common to the pioneer, and in consequence of the same was deprived of the advantages of receiving an education. He had three brothers who served in the late war, viz., Samuel, Edward H. and Peter F., who died after he reached home, though he was al- ready speechless. These brothers were in many hard-fought battles, yet not one of them was wounded. John M. Hileman was married to Miss Caroline E. Cruse, who was born March 26, 1831. She is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Leopard) Cruse, who were old settlers in the county. Mrs. Hile man is the mother of eleven children, of whom six are now living, viz. : Alfred F., born October 23, 1855; Scott J., born April 1, 1861; Martha A., born November 29, 1862; Nancy C., born 21, 1865; Henry W., born December 21, 1868; and Charley W., born March 9. 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Hileman are members of the St. John's Lutheran Church. He is the owner of 520 acres of good land; besides, his son, Alfred F., has a farm of his own. He was the first Director of the first free school in Union County. Ill., and served about eighteen years. It was a log school- house in Section 23 of Meisenheimer Town- ship.

ALFRED F. HILEMAN, farmer, P. O. Springville. This gentleman is a son of one of our old and most respectable citizens, who although no scholar himself, has yet done a great deal for the common schools in his township; we speak of John M. Hileman. Our subject was born October 23, 1855, in this county, where he was also educated and afterward taught school, and is now Town- ship Trustee. He has eighty acres of land besides having an interest in some of his father's land. He was joined in matrimony September 11, 1879, to Miss Rosa Meisen- heimer, who was born September 13, 1862. in this county. She is a daughter of Eli A.

and Susan (Poole) Meisenheimer, and is the mother of two children, viz., Oliver E., born July 8, 1880, and Jennie E., born October 12, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Hileman are mem- bers of the German Reformed Church. He is a wide-awake business man and a Demo- crat.

CHRISTOPHER W. KELLER, farmer, P. O. Jonesboro, was born March 5, 1810, in Rowan County, N. C. He, like many people who were raised where the schools of the country were conducted on the old-fashioned subscription plan, never enjoyed the privi- lege of a good education. A great part of his youth was spent in supporting his aged mother. When quite young, he came to this country, where he was married to Nancy Lence, who bore him six children, of whom Lucinda Meisenheimer, Tempa Meisenhei- mer, Matilda Knupp, Jackson Keller and Eli Keller are now living. The two last children are both married and living on their father's farm of 160 acres. Our subject's oldest boy, named Willis, was killed by the accidental discharge of his gun, while sitting on a fence. Our subject's first wife died, and he was married a second time, to Mrs. Sophia Laws, daughter of Moses M. Meisen- heimer. After her death, he married Mrs. Mary Kaster, whose maiden name was Lence.

Mr. Keller is a Democrat. His son, Jack- son, married Tena Knupp, who is the mother of six children, viz. : Fannie, Phoena. Ida, Bell, Joseph and John F. His other son, named Eli, was joined in mat- rimony to Ellen Brown, who is the mother of three children, viz., Eva, Henry W. and Thomas J.

SAMUEL KNUPP, cooper and farmer, P. O. Springville, was born in Union County, Ill. , January 19, 1840. His father, John Knupp, was born in North Carolina in 1788, and emi- grated to Union County, Ill., in 1820 and soon

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

after married Miss Susan Smith, daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Halterman) Smith. She was the mother of nine children, of whom eight are now living. She was born in North Carolina in 1801, and died Novem- ber 23, 1882. Her husband, John Knupp, died August 12, 1861. Our subject received such an education as the common schools of his native county afforded, and when quite young learned the cooper's trade of his father. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany A, One Hundred and Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, of the late civil war, and was thus engaged for three years, after which he returned to Union County and engaged in farming, at which he has since continued. He is the owner of 180 acres of land. In Union County, April 26, 1867, he married Miss Matilda Keller, who was born July 27, 1838. She is a daughter of Christopher, and Nancy (Lence) Keller. She has borne him the following children, viz. : Laura, Walter, Washington W., Mary S., Martha E., Rosa L., Charles H., John A. and James A. Mr. and Mrs. Keller are members of the German Reformed Church.

JOSEPH KOLLEHNER, farmer, P. O. Jonesboro, a leader among the German ele- ment in 'Union County, was born December 18, 1823, in Wels, Upper Austria. He is a grand- son of Johan Kollehner, a farmer and nursery- man, whose son. Johan Kollehner, Jr., was also born in Austria, where he died. The mother of our subject was Katharina Gattermeier, a native of Austria, where she died, who was the mother of three children now living, viz .: Johan and Peter, yet living in the old country, and Joseph, our subject, who was educated in the old country, where he was also married in 1848, to Theresa Haberfellner, born in 1830, daughter of Philipp and Josepha (Starzinger) Haberfellner, and the mother of four children now living, viz .: Johan. Joseph, Josepha T.

and Earnest, who do credit and honor to their parents. Our subject came to the United States in June, 1853, settling in Kornthal, Union Co., Ill., where he bought 160 acres of land at $5 per acre ; by way of improvement it had one block-house, a cooper shanty and fif- teen acres in cultivation. He now owns 225 acres of good land with splendid improvements. Mr. Kollehner takes quite an interest in every- thing that pertains to the development and in- terest of the community in which he lives, and which shows him the respect due a man of his standing. In 1848, while yet in the old country, he took quite an active part in the Revolution, favoring the liberal party. He is now identified with the Democratic party.

ALFRED LINGLE, farmer, P. O. Mill Creek, was born in Union County June 25, 1832. His grandfather, Jacob Lingle, was a native of North Carolina, and one of the ' pioneers of Union County, Ill. His son (subject's father) was Peter Lingle, also a native of North Carolina. He married Miss Elizabeth Cruse, a native of the same State. She was a daughter of Peter Cruse, and the mother of a large family of children, of whom Alfred, our subject, is now living. His early life was spent at home receiving the benefit of the subscription schools of the period, and assisting to till the soil of his father's farm. Arriving at his majority, he embarked on his career in life as a farmer, an occupation he still follows. He was joined in matrimony, June 25, 1857, to Eliza Poole, daughter of John and Susan (Mow- ery) Poole. She was born May 6, 1841, and is the mother of sixteen children, of whom fourteen are now living, viz .: John C., who married Ellen Brown, Henry M., Isabella, Sarah J., William J., Adam J., Alfred W., Dora L., Ellen S., Bertha. Mary A., George W., Charley E. and Lily I .; the two deceased are Alice and Olla. Mr. and

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MEISENHEIMER PRECINCT.

Mrs. Lingle with their four oldest children united with the German Reformed Church at St. Johns. He is the owner of a farm of 165 acres. He has served the people of his neighborhood in the capacity of School Director and Trustee.

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 101

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 948

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 948