History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 102

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 102
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 102
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 102

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).

J. N. MEISENHEIMER, farmer, P. O. Springville, was born August 29, 1818. Jacob Meisenheimer (subject's father) was a native of North Carolina, a farmer by occu- pation. He emigrated from his native State to Indiana in 1817, and the following year came to Illinois and settled in Union Coun- .ty. He married Sarah Peck in North Car- olina, who bore him seven children, of whom three are now living. Our subject received such an education as the subscription schools of his day afforded, and when quite young learned the cooper's trade and worked at the same until about the time of the last war, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits, at which he has since been engaged. He is now the owner of 220 acres of land. He was married, February 3,1842, to Miss Elizabeth Penninger, who was born in Bowan County, N. C., December 26, 1820. She is a daugh - ter of Mathias and Margaret (Rendleman) Penninger. Mr. and Mrs. Meisenheimer have nine children, viz .: Giles M., Sarah U .. Margaret A., Jacob T., Laura J., Martha E., Mary M., Julia and Ellen C., who mar- ried Joseph C. Fulenwider, a native of Rowan County, N. C. He was born May 22, 1858, and was married in 1878. He is the owner of fifty-five acres of good land. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church, and she of the German Reformed. They have two children, viz., Bessie J. and Josie Ann. Mr. and Mrs Meisenheimer are members of the St. Johns Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

ALFRED MEISENHEIMER, Justice of the Peace, Jonesboro, was born October 20, 1820, in the township of Union County that

bears his name, and it may be said that it was named in honor of the Meisenheimer family, who were among the first settlers of that part of the county. He is a son of David Meisenheimer, who emigrated from Cabarrus County, N. C., in 1819. He was a native of the same county, born March 1, 1791, and died in 1871. He came to this county with his father (subject's grand- father). Peter Meisenheimer, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Rosana (Hollocher) Meisenheimer, the mother of our subject, was born in Cabarrus County, N. C., June 5, 1792, and died in 1868. She was the mother of six children, three boys and three girls, of whom the following are now living: Mary, wife of A. Brown; Lucinda, wife of John Brown, and Alfred, our subject, who was the oldest child. His education was limited to such as could be obtained from the subscription schools common in his day. His occupation has been principally that of a farmer; he does, however, work at the carpenter's and blacksmith's trade some. Fie has been twice married; his first wife was Anna E. Weaver, who was born in Un- ion County, November 22, 1822, and died August 3, 1859. She was a daughter of John and Sarah (Lyerle) Weaver, who were early settlers of Union County. She was the mother of three children, viz., Mary E., born January 15, 1845, now the wife of Caleb M. Lyerle and the mother of three children, viz., Martha J., Ann and Alfred M .; J. Monroe, born April 3, 1849, married Miss Mary J. Dillow, who is the mother of the following children: Alfred H., Etta and William C .; Henry J. L. was born January 2, 1857. Mr. Meisenheimer married a second time, Miss Lucinda Keller, who was born in Union County April 5, 1832. She is a daughter of Christopher W. and Nancy (Lence) Keller. This union has been blessed with one child,

188

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Joseph E. J., who was born December 15, 1864. Mr. Meisenheimer is a member of the order A., F. & A . M., Jonesboro Lodge, No. 111 He has held several offices, that of Con- stable, Township Treasurer for about four- teen years and Justice of the Peace, the most of the time since he was twenty-eight years of age; he is now holding that office. Dur- ing the life of our subject, he has been fort- unate in obtaining a sufficiency of the world's goods to enjoy a life of ease in his old age. He is now the owner of 623 acres of land, of which 360 belong to the homestead farm.

GILES M. MEISENHEIMER, farmer, P. O. Springville, was born January 27, 1848, in this county, and is a son of John N. and Elizabeth (Penninger) Meisenheimer. He was born in Indiana, where his father, Jacob Meisenheimer, had moved to from Rowan County, N. C. In 1818, they came to this county and settled five miles south west of Jonesboro. The parents of our subject raised a family of nine children, of whom he is the oldest. He was educated in the com- mon schools of the county, and September 9. 1869, was married in Anna, to Miss Ma- tilda Ann Dougherty. She was born No- vember 25, 1848; is a daughter of William Dougherty and a grand-daughter of Elijah Dougherty. Mr. and Mrs. Meisenheimer have four children, viz. Edna E., born May 23, 1872; Emily E., born April 15, 1874; Birdie A., born October 21, 1876; and Will- iam Pearl, October 4, 1879. He has a farm of 222 acres, well improved, including the old homestead, and is a prosperous farmer. Elijah Dougherty, the grandfather of Mrs. Meisenheimer, was born in Virginia, Decem- ber 20, 1777, and emigrated to Missouri in 1800 and died in 1855. He married Martha Hand, who was born July 2, 1784, and died in 1840. Mrs. Meisenheimer's father, Will- iam Dougherty, was born June 17, 1804,

and died April 21, 1873. His wife was born July 8, 1804, and died July 28, 1859, in Scott County, Mo.

J. M. MEISENHEIMER, farmer, P. O. Jonesboro, son of J. N. Meisenheimer, and a native of Union County, Ill., was born April 3, 1849. In Union County, December 18, 1873, he married Miss Mary J. Dillow, who was born in Union County August 26, 1856. She is a daughter of Henry and Sophia (Lin- gle) Dillow. She is the mother of three children, viz., Henry A., born September 12, 1874; Etta, born November 1, 1877, and William C., born June 16, 1880. Mr. Meis- enheimer is a member of the order A., F. & A. M., Jonesboro Lodge, No. 111. He is the owner of 140 acres of land. In politics, he is a Democrat. He is a wide-awake bus- iness man and capable of discharging the duties of any position in the township or county.

.J. H. POOLE, farmer, P. O. Mill Creek, is a son of John and Susanah (Mowery) Poole, who were immigrants to this county from North Carolina. They were the par- ents of nine children, of whom eight are now living. Our subject was born in Ken- tucky November 20, 1838. He spent his early life at home, receiving such an educa- tion as the common schools of Union County afforded, and assisting to till the soil of his father's farm. Arriving at his majority, he embarked on his life career as a farmer, an occupation he is at present engaged in. In the fall of 1862, he enlisted in the war, serving first in Company A, of the One Hun- dred and Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was afterward transferred to the Eleventh Illinois Regiment, in which he served to the close of the war. He has been married three times; first to Elizabeth Mowery, who died, leaving one child, J. P. Poole. He married for his second wife Mary L.

1 89

MEISENHEIMER PRECINCT.

Peeler, who bore him one child, Arelis. He was married a third time, to Martha L. Brown, daughter of Abraham Brown. She is the mother of the following chil- dren: Ella, Abbey L., Laura E., Albert, Willie, Lucy and Jennie. Mr. Poole and wife are religiously connected with the Ger- man Reform Church. He is a member of the orders A., F. & A. M. and K. of H. Ele is the owner of 375 acres of land. In poli- tics he is identified with the Democratic party. For several years he has served his neighbors in the capacity of School Director and Trustee.

G. W. POOLE, farmer, P. O. Mill Creek. This gentleman is a grandson of Jacob Poole, of North Carolina. He is a native of Union County, Ill., born January 26, 1843. He is a son of Jobn and Susana (Mowery) Poole, both natives of North Carolina. He was born Januury 7, 1815; she was born Febru- ary 14, 1817, and is now living with our subject; they are the parents of nine chil- dren. George W. Poole, our subject, was raised on the farm and educated in the com- mon schools of his native county. He is a farmer and owns a farm of 165 acres. In June, 1864, in Union County, he married Miss Margaret N. Meisenheimer, who was born February 8, 1846. She is a daughter of John N. Meisenheimer, and the mother of seven children, of whom the following are now living: Berdelia, born July 11, 1867; Oliver E., born May 25, 1869; Sidney C., born January 29, 1873; Cora A., born Jan-

uary 20, 1875; and Lilly I., born January 17, 1877. Mr. Poole is a member of the Reform Church and his wife of the Luther- an Church. He is a member of the order A., F. & A. M., at Jonesboro Lodge, No. 111. Politically he is a stanch Democrat. Al- though he is slow to make up his mind in regard to any new thing which will come un- der his observation, yet when it is once made up he will seldom swerve from it and will come up to his agreements.

THOMAS A. SAUERBRUNN, farmer, P. O. Anna, was born February 9, 1847, in Weingarten, Bavaria. He is a son of Jacob Sauerbrunn, born 1816, in Bavaria, where he married Anna M. Andres, who bore him four children, viz., Peter, Eva, Thomas A. and Frederick. Jacob Sauerbrunn came here in 1860, settling in Union County, Ill. Our subject, Thomas A. Sanerbrunn, attended school in Germany. He came to this conn- try with his father, and was married here April 26, 1875, to Louisa Worstman, born September 24, 1857, in Groszleppin, Prus- sia. She is a daughter of William and Maria (Coym) Worstman, who are living in this county. Mrs. Louisa Sauerbrunn is the mother of two children, viz., William, born June 28, 1876, and Emma H., born Septem- ber 19, 1877. Mr. Sauerbrunn is considered a good farmer and has a farm of 130 acres, which he keeps in a good state of cultivation. He is a Democrat in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Sauerbrunn are religiously connected with the German Evangelical Lutheran Church.

190

BIOGRAPHICAL:

. STOKES PRECINCT.

JOHN H. BOSWELL, farmer, P. O. Mount Pleasant, was born November 4, 1839, in Union County, Ill .; is a son of Thomas and Percy (Cox) Boswell, natives of North Carolina, and early residents of this county. The father is living, and seven of his eight children survive -Mary (the wife of George W. Cook), Zilpha, Carrie C. (the wife of F. McGinnis), Jane, John H., William T. and Thomas. The father was married a second time, to Mrs. Mary Stroller, and a third time, to Mary McGinnis. Further mention of the original Boswell family is made in another part of this work. John H. attended the country schools and nine months at the Shurtleff College. He afterward taught two terms, at $35 per month. He fulfilled a contract to carry mail from Vienna to Golcon- da, Rendlesburg, Metropolis City, and return from 1866 to 1870. In 1878, he bought his present farm of 160 acres, where he has since remained. He owns 320 acres of fine land, the result of his own efforts. He is making some specialty of raising cattle, having at present a fine-blooded Durham bull. Was married in 1861 to Lizzie A. Major, a daughter of James M. Major, of Missouri, and has by her four children-Edgar, Charles L., Thomas (deceased) and Laura J. (deceased). He served for a few months in defense of his country. He has been Justice of the Peace, and is serv- ing his second term as Township Treasurer. He and wife are members of the Christian Church of Vienna. He is a Democrat. His farm is so arranged that stock can get water from each field.

G. W. CLINE, farmer, P. O. Anna, was born August 7, 1835, in Cabarrus County, N. C .; is a son of James and Matilda (Barnhart) Cline, natives of North Carolina, and the parents of

six children-Mary, Maggie, G. W., Adam- Sarah and Thomas. The father survives in North Carolina among the wealthy merchants. Our subject attended the country schools of his native county, and was brought up on a farm. In 1858, he came to Illinois and rented land of Davidson, near Jonesboro. At the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and was transferred to the One Hun- dred and Eleventh, in which he remained for about three years, and was with the regiment at each engagement ; was struck with a spent ball, making a slight wound on the neck. In 1865, he bought forty acres, where he now lives, to which he has added until he owns over 200 acres, the result of his own efforts. The farm is one of the best in the precinct. He is a thorough agriculturist, having informed himself by perusing agricultural journals. He clovers the land and keeps every portion of it tillable and productive. From elevated por- tions, one can see Cobden and other places for many miles around. He was married, 1861, to Elizabeth C. Lyerle, the result being Jane, Catharine, M. Mary, Amanda, Maggie, James. J., 'John, Minnie and Ida. He is now serving as Township Trustee. He devotes considerable time in the interest of the education of his children and furnishes them with several news- papers. He gives his personal attention to his farm, which is the secret of his success. He votes the Democratie ticket.

W. H. CORBIT, farmer, P. O. Lick Creek. was born November 13, 1827, in Johnson County, Ill. Is the son of Philip and Margaret (Keen) Corbit, natives of North Carolina, and residents of Illinois since about the year 1820. In 1830, the family came to Union County and

191

STOKES PRECINCT.

rented a farm for some time. Four of Philip's and Martha's children survive the other three. Those living are W. H., Civil, Calvin and James. The mother died in 1839, and the father subsequently married Susannah, the widow of Massack Stokes. The father died in 1862. The mother was an early and always an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. W. H. had but little school advan- tages; such as he did get, were at the log-cabin many of which are elaborately described in this volume. After the death of his mother, he lived with Caleb Musgraves, then a resident on the present site of Mt. Pleasant. He tilled the soil where Morgan Stokes' residence now stands. At the age of twenty-two, he was found.work- ing by the month at $10. In 1849, he took the gold fever, and drove a four-horse team to California, where he mined successfully for nearly three years, and afterward returned by water. He started from the shores of Cali- fornia March 30, 1851, and after a long, tire- some voyage of thirty five days, he landed from the Pacific waters on the Isthmus of Panama, which neck of land he walked across during the night following his landing. He was com- pelled to wait ten days for a boat, and was finally transported across the Caribbean Sea to the Island of Cuba, thence to New Orleans and from there to Willard's Landing, in this county, on the Mississippi River. When arriving at the above landing, the river was on a terrible spree and he had to find his way to the shore by means of a canoe, a distance of six miles. He was in company with John McIntosh and Dan Craver. On arriving home, he bought eighty acres where he now lives, of Thomas Boswell, and here he has resided most of his time since. He is the artificer of his own fortune of 160 acres of as fine land as there is in Stokes Pre- cinet. He is making some specialty of stock- raising. Was married, 1854, to Catharine. a daughter of James and Clarissa Bishop. They have no children of their own. He had the

misfortune in 1862 to get a thumb torn off by a threshing machine. He is raising a boy by the name of Charles Walker, who was found when quite small, at the State Fair, at Duquoin. Mr. Corbit and consort had retired from farm labor for awhile to that city, and as an act of charity took the boy, who said his name was Charles Walker, and who had been set off from a train. He has never been identified by any parents or relatives. He is a very sprightly boy, smart and intelligent, and will always cherish a bright memory of those exemplary persons who have so kindly cared for him. Mr. C. has served as Trustee for five years, and from 1863 to 1865 as Constable. He is an active advocate of the principles of the Repub- lican party. .

J. C. EMERSON, farmer, P. O. Anna, was born December 25, 1834, in North Carolina ; is a son of Silas and Sarah (Cartner) Emerson, natives of North Carolina, and the parents of six children, viz .: G. W., J. C., Mary C., Sam- uel B., Bichard J., Ruth E. The father died in his native State and the mother came with our subject to this county in 1855, where she died in 1867. The parents were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian organization, Mr. E. settled where he now resides as soon as entering the county. He possesses 160 acres of well improved land, the result of his own efforts and frugal management. He was mar- ried, 1855, to Mary E. Stroud of North Caro- lina, the result being Sarah and Richard T. He was married a second time to Rebecca J. Da- vis ; no children. His third and last union was with Elizabeth C. Dill, the result of which is six children, viz .: George M., Melinda E., Silas M., Melissa A., Eli T. and one deceased. He has served the precinct with credit for three years as Trustee ; enlisted in Company E, Thirty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served eight months ; is a member of the County Fair Association. Himself and wife are Presbyterians. He is an active and ear-

192

BIOGRAPHICAL:

nest laborer in the interests of the Republican party.

J. L. HALTAMAN, farmer, P. O. Anna, was born March 17, 1839, in North Carolina, is a son of Abram and Anna (Stavolt) Haltaman, natives of North Carolina, and the parents of the following children, viz .: Easter, Monroe, Mary, Noah, Irene, Lena, Marquis, J. L., Michael, Jacob. Thomas and John. The parents came here in 1849. They were Lu- therans. J. L. received such school advan- tages as the country afforded during his younger days. His parents having died, he engaged for himself at the age of eighteen years ; was married, 1861, to Miss T. A. Toler, a daughter of William Toler, and has by her nine, of eleven children, living-Easter E. Jacob A., Miles, Andrew J., Sarah E., Martha A .. George E., Ora A., Giles. He settled at marriage where he now lives. having then eighty acres, to which he has added until he possesses 260 acres, of finely improved qual- iiies. He served three years in the defense of his country. He has been willing to serve his share of the small offices where it is all labor and no pay. Votes the Democratic ticket.

F. M. HENARD, farmer, P. O. Mt. Pleas- ant. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born June 7, 1835, in Hawkins County, Tenn. He is a son of Jones and Ro- sannah (Cooper) Henard, both natives of Vir- ginia, and parents of nine children, six of whom are living-William, F. M., Nancy, Polly, Stephen and Elizabeth J. Subject attended school about two months a year at the old sub- scription schools. He resided on the home farm until 1854, when he came to Illinois, first settling in Johnson County, and for the first six months worked out at $8 per month, and out of this paid about 75 cents for washing. He worked out for about five years, and finally had his wages increased to $14 per month. Upon his marriage, he received 300 acres as his wife's dowry; this has since been increased

to a farm of 800 acres, most of which is now improved. He has also erected a saw mill on his farm, and there does custom sawing, and has lately finished the erection of a store room on his farm, where he keeps a general stock of goods. He was married, December 8, 1859, to Miss Lucretia A. Bridges, a native of John- son County. The result of this union was thirteen children, nine of whom are living : John W., Mary A., Ellen, James, George, Carrie, Abbie J., Luly and Everett C. He has been School Trustee several years, Over- seer of the Poor. Road Supervisor and School Director. He and wife are both members of the Baptist Church, he has been connected with that denomination for many years. Has helped to erect several churches, one at Cairo, another at Vienna, and others at many other places. In politics, he is a Democrat.

E. H. HILEMAN, farmer, P. O. Anna, was born May 21, 1838, in Union County, Ill .; is a son of Peter and Susannah (Miller) Hileman, natives of North Carolina, and residents of this county in 1819, where Mrs. M. Goodman now resides, in Dongola Precinct. Jacob, the father of Peter. had a large family-Jacob, John, Peter, Adam, Henry, Christian, George, Christina and Elizabeth, all of whom came to this county save Jacob. The father of our sub- ject had twelve children- Catharine, Elizabeth, John, Samuel, Adam, Christina, Sarah, Jacob, William, E. H., Caleb and M. Franklin. The parents were members of the St. John's Church. Our subject attended school in a log cabin, lo- cated near where the Cope roads now cross. His specialty in life has been that of a ruralist. He was married, September 8, 1867, to Mar- tha, a daughter of George and Eliza (Smith) Kimbel, the result being eight children- Charles E., Ira J .. Loueva J., Edward H., Nora E., Flora E., Cyrus C. and Fannie B. At mar- riage. he settled his present farm of 287 acres, where he has since remained, improving the same and making it one of the best farms in

193

STOKES PRECINCT.

the precinct. He also owns 175 acres in the neighborhood, all of which is the result of his own labors. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as Cor- poral, and served nearly three years. Was in the siege of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, and others. On his farm are the remains of some ancient mounds, and it is probable the Indians had their camping grounds here. He votes the Democratic ticket. Is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, while his wife is a member of the Bap- tist organization.

ARCHIBALD MILES, farmer, P. O. Mount Pleasant, was born December 16, 1833, in Union County, Ill. Is a son of James and Elizabeth (Brazel) Miles, natives of Caro- lina. The parents came here when single. They were blessed with eleven children by their union, ten of whom grew up, namely, Nancy, John, Mary, Archibald, Kimon, James, Clark, Elizabeth, Samuel, William and Talton. Our subject attended the log-cabin schools during his young days, in all about three months. He has experienced the scenes that make up the life of the early settlers of this county, such as going to mill on horseback, plowing with the wooden mold-board plow with ox teams, etc. He was married, 1852, to Bernetty Cochran, and has three children living, viz. : George M., James A. and W. D., and five deceased, viz. : Nancy J., John C., Emeline, infant, Frances E. Mr. Miles settled on his present farm in 1853, buying at that time forty acres, with but little improvement. By industry and frugal dealing, he has added until he possesses 336 acres, the result of his own labors. The only means he could call his own at the beginning of his matrimonial career, was one yearling calf, the gift of her mother, and one yearling colt, the gift of his father, and one bedstead, the entire amount worth about $100. He is a member of Evergreen Lodge, I. O. O. F. ; votes

the Democratic ticket ; ranks among the best farmers in the county, and is strictly honest.

ISAAC M. NEWTON, farmer, P. O. Liek Creek, was born November 1, 1841, in William- son County, Ill. ; is a son of James and Mary Newton. The mother, Mary Diarman Newton, was born November 28, 1803, in Rockcastle County, Ky. She is a daughter of William and Esther (Trapp) Diarman, the father, a na- tive of North Carolina, and of Irish deseent, and the mother a native of Virginia, and of English descent. Her parents came to Pike County, Ill., 1820, and there died, the father in 1822, and the mother in 1832. They had five children, two of whom survive, viz., Jona- than and Mary. The mother of our subject was married in 1820 to Leonard Buckner, who died in 1835, being the father of seven children by his union with her, viz., David M. and Martha C. The remaining five are deceased. She again married in 1837, James Newton, of Pope County, Ill., by whom she was blessed with six children, viz. : Sarah J., Isaac M., James D., William W., John T., and infant, deceased. Her last husband, Mr. N., died April 17, 1866. She came with him to this county in 1852, set- tling on the farm now owned by Isaac M. and William W. Newton. James Newton was mar- ried to Susan Damron, prior to that with Mary, the result being no children. Mrs. Mary New- ton is surviving with her children, in Stokes Precinet ; has been for sixty-five years a mem- ber of the Protestant M. E. Church, to which her last consort belonged. She has labored hard with her family, experiencing all the scenes of the pioneer life. The grandfather Newton was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; laid a land war- rant in Florida, but accidentally lost his title papers. Isaac, our subject, attended the cabin schools. He enlisted in Company E. One Hun- dred and Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was transferred to Company C, Elev- enth Illinois Volunteer' Infantry, serving with the company in all engagements for

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.

History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 102

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