History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 106

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 106
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 106
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 106

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).

215

ANNA PRECINCT.

Cairo, and then located at Anna, Union County, where, in one year, he withdrew from said firm and entered the store of Winstead Davie as a clerk, continuing about one year. October 10, 1867, he was married to Nancy Davie, who has blessed him with six children, viz. : Warren T., William H., Nancy A., Mary A., Anna S. and Zury, deceased. He settled at marriage in Anna, where he has since remained. Soon after leaving Mr. Davie's store, Mr. Brown engaged in a grist mill in Anna, as sole proprietor, which he followed for two years with good suc- cess. He then farmed for some time. In 1876, he entered the general mercantile business in the room now occupied by Green & Brooks, grocers, of Anna, and continued the same for two years with his usual good luck. Since closing his merchandise business, he has given his attention to rural pursuits on his 2.120 acres of land in this and Alexander Counties. and like all who love their avocation, is suc- cessful. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., A., F. & A. M., and K. of H. fraternities of Anna. He was elected County Commissioner of Union County in 1866, and served the peo- ple of his adopted borough with credit for one term. He is now in his second term as Road Commissioner, and is an Alderman of this city. Was Vice President of the Jonesboro Fair Association for two years, and has held all other offices of the same, save that of Presi- dent. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

JOHN W. HESS, clerk, Anna. One of the most distinguished and successful young business men in this part of the county is the gentleman whose name heads this biography.

He descended from a long line of ancestors, all tillers of the soil, and is the son of John Hess, whose portrait appears in this volume. He was born December 28, 1857. His early days were spent on his father's farm. His parents being in affluent circumstances, he was allowed to attend the country schools at Anna, and Ewing College in Franklin County, this State. At an early period of his life, he planned his future as that of a pedagogue. From this time his ambition did not slumber, and his zeal for his anticipated profession did not abate, and, of course, prosperity crowned his efforts. At the early age of seventeen years. he was awarded a certificate, and at once he began teaching in the common schools, at $40 per month. His reputation soon became wide- spread, and every year increased the demand for his services, and added laurels to his pro- fessional career, and, consequently, his wages grew with his labors. In 1882, he withdrew from the duties he loved so well, and engaged as a clerk for Mr. William Rhodes, a hardware merchant of Anna, and has since remained, doing good service. He was married, April 27 1881, to Eliza Emory, a daughter of John and Mary F. (Landrith) Emory, natives of Union County. Her father enlisted in Company K, Eleventh Illinois Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Fort Donelson. The mother died three years later, mostly from grief for her unfortunate consort. Mrs. Hess was the only child ; was well educated, and is worthy the subject of her choice for a life-long com- panion in the person of Mr. Hess. He is an active member of the Democratic party.

216

BIOGRAPHICAL:

JONESBORO PRECINCT.

WINSTEAD DAVIE,* retired merchant, Jonesboro. As the subject of this biography is prominently mentioned in various parts of this volume, the writer will only present a brief outline of his useful life in the present writing. He was born January 3, 1797, in Preston County, N. C. His parents, John and Eliz- abeth (Winstead) Davie, were natives of North Carolina and removed to Tennessee, where the father died. The mother came to Jonesboro, Ill., on horseback, after she was over eighty years old, and subsequently died at the residence of her son, Winstead. She was the mother of four children, all of whom are dead save our subject-Ashborn, Winstead, James and John. The former was a teacher while in this county, the latter was married and has two children living-Napoleon, in Jackson County, this State, and Mrs. Elizabeth Hughes, of Jonesboro. Winstead Davie was unfortunate in being born badly deformed in the lower extremities, consequently could not attend school as much as even the meager chances for obtaining an education in those days afforded. However, at the age of sixteen years, he became qualified to teach school, and so applied himself in Tennessee until 1820, when he came on horseback to Jonesboro, this county, and soon entered upon the duty of a pedagogue. Later, he was employed as a clerk by the firm of Davidson & Outlaw, general merchants of that village. Here he progressed rapidly, and laid the foundation for his future prosperity. He afterward gathered together what means he could, and entered the general mercantile business, forming a partnership. His business included general dry goods, etc., tailor shop, shoe shop, tan-yard, saddler and

harness shop, and a travelers' hotel. In a re- cent period, he transferred his business of mer- chandising to Anna, and there had his usual success. He and son Daniel were for awhile engaged in operating a grist mill in Anna. Mr. Davie put up some of the best buildings of Anna, among which we mention the Otrich Hotel, and the brick in which Brooks & Green are engaged. In 1878, or about that time, he withdrew entirely from all business and con- signed to his children and relatives about $200,000. Since then, he has been cared for and sustained by J. K. Walton and D. W. Brown and families, and through the generosi- ty of the above two families, was his portrait inserted in this work, the other son-in-law. a merchant of Anna, being too ungrateful to assist. Mr. Davie is the father of ten children, by his union with Anna Willard, born Novem- ber 28, 1809, in Windsor, Vt. Mrs. Davie's mother, Nancy (Atkins) Willard, was born March, 1777, in Boston County, Mass., and died January 12, 1874. We clip the follow- ing from an obituary notice, published in the Jonesboro Gazette : "Died, Anna Davie, wife of Winstead Davie, at her residence in Jones- boro, Ill., December 5, 1880. Her parents, Jonathan W. and Nancy Willard, removed from Vermont, West, when she was a mere girl, and lived for awhile in Cape Girardeau, Mo., where her father died. Her mother being left alone with her four children, moved to Jonesboro, then a village of not more than a half dozen houses, where she resided till her death. Mrs. Davie, her only daughter was married to Win- stead Davie in 1824. She was the mother of ten children-Daniel F., born October 5, 1827 ; Emily, born March 6, 1830 ; Serena,. born June 24, 1833 ; William, born June 12, 1836;

*This sketch is inserted by J. K. Walton and D. W. Brown.

217

JONESBORO PRECINCT.

Mary A., born October 18, 1838 ; Nancy A., born April 18, 1844; Thomas, born April, 1841 ; Amanda and Elizabeth twins, born An- gust 14, 1846; John, born September, 1847. She professed hope in Christ some thirty years ago, but for reasons best known to herself never united with any church, though in sen- timent was a Baptist, her mother having be- longed to that church for more than half a century. As a lady, she was absolutely with- out fault, as a mother, kind and indulgent, yet possessing those rare qualities that enabled her to command from her children obedience, rev- erence, confidence and love. As a wife, she was a helpmate indeed ; standing by her com- panion in adversity as well as in prosperity, ever filling the family circle with light, joy and hope. To know her was to love her, and no citizen of Jonesboro ever had a larger circle of friends." The subject of these notes is now living in Jonesboro. He has served the people faithfully as County Clerk, and Probate Jus- tice ; was for a long time a Notary Public and a Justice of the Peace. The one prominent ele- ment in the character of the subject of this sketch that is above the rest, where there are many prominent ones, is his kindness and goodness in caring for and rendering assistance to the suf- fering. No trouble too irksome, no undertak- ing too severe, where the suffering of a fellow- mortal was to be alleviated or in anyway ben- efited. He always had time for these duties, and duties he regarded them, and with him duty was law. In his intercourse with his fel- low-man, he has always been dignified and cour-

teous, never turning his back on a friend or avoiding an enemy. He would always help those in need if they were willing when in health to help themselves. On one occasion, a certain man called on Mr. D. for assistance, saying his family was in need, and suffering for the bread of life. With a childlike attentive- ness, he listened to the man's story, and then said to one of the boys, " Go to the meat house, and get this man a ham." It was quickly brought. The begger remarked : "Now Mr.

Davie, I am as bad off as ever, for I don't know how to get this home." Mr. D. looked at the fine physical features of the man, and then said to the son : "Take that ham and hang it again in our meat house." The begger went home without any meat. Mr. Davie realized the mis- fortune of being born a cripple, yet rejoiced in the fact that the deficiency in the lower extrem- ities was fully made up in mental powers. As an illustration of his own self-confidence,.we mention that, on a time a fine foppish looking gentleman called on him, with the view of pub- lishing a little notice of this wonderful man among men. The said gentleman in his con- versation remarked: " It is very sad, Mr. Davic, that you were so unfortunately constituted." Mr. D. was not at all favorably impressed with the fellow, and in a quick, emphatic tone, said : " Why, sir, you are greater deformed than I." "How," interrogated the stranger. Says Mr. D., " I am crippled in the legs, while you are serious- ly deformed in the head." No report was pub- lished of the interview. Mr. D. is identified with the Democratic party.

218

BIOGRAPHICAL:

ALEXANDER COUNTY.

ELCO PRECINCT.

MARSHALL AUGUSTINE, general store- keeper, P. O. Elco. John Augustine, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Ohio and there followed the occupation of drover and farmer. In that State, also, George Augustine, the father of Marshall, was born in 1811. When about twenty years of age, the father went to Missouri and from there he soon after came to Illinois and settled in this county, where he married Rachel Cauble daughter of Jacob Cauble. Soon after his marriage, he moved to Dongola, Union County, and there our subject was born December 11, 1840, and was the second of four children. The father, who was a physician, soon after subject was born, came to Wetaug, Pulaski County, and again soon after moved to a farm near Ullin, in the same county where he both farmed and followed his profession. Our subject attended the schools of Pulaski County until about twenty years old and then attended McKendree College in St. Clair County. After he had returned home, he spent the next four or five years partly at home, and in teaching schools, following the latter for about five terms. In 1866, he commenced life for himself on a rented farm near Ullin, where he re- mained for only two years. He next com- menced working at the saw mill of Morris, Rood & Company, acting as lumber clerk. There he remained for about twelve years. In 1881, he came to Elco and, purchasing the stoek of dry goods and groceries then owned by a Dr. Gibbs, at this place, he now keeps a

general store. Subject was married, May 6, 1866, to Susan Norman, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Short) Norman. She is the mother of four children, two of whom are liv- ing-Alice and Lena. In politics, he is a Re- publican and is at present serving as Town- ship Treasurer. Subject is also a member of the Elco Lodge, No. 643, I. O. O. F.

SAMUEL BRILEY, insurance agent. Elco. Dempsey Briley, the grandfather of Samuel, came from France about 1810, and settled in the State of Mississippi, near Jack- son, on the Pearl River. Here John Briley, the father of subject, was born in 1811, and soon after came with his father to West Ten- nessee. When the war of 1812 broke out, the grandfather enlisted in the army, and was one of the soldiers wounded in the battle of New Orleans, being shot through the lungs. From the effects of that wound, he died a few years later. The father was raised in Tennessee, and after his father's death he was taken by the noted David Crocket, who was living there then, with whom he remained until a young man. When about twenty, he came to Ken- tueky, and there married Lavina Anderson, daughter of James M. and Mary (Carter) An- derson. There were four children born to bless that home, and of that number our subject was the oldest, and was born September 21, 1831, at Mayfield, Ky. His father came to Illinois in 1833, settling in Massac County, and there the education of our subject was received, most- ly at the old subscription schools of the day.

219

ELCO PRECINCT.

In his seventeenth year, he commenced learning the trade of a house carpenter. He came to Jonesboro in 1852, and in that and other towns he followed his trade until the breaking-out of the war. In 1864, he returned to this county, and settled near Dongola, where he worked at his trade for a short time, and then opened a general store, and remained there until 1872, when he came to the new town of Elco, which was then being founded. He built the first store in the place, and there carried on a general store. From that time, he engaged in several enterprises of public utility, building a large number of different buildings, and carried on the grocery, dry goods, drugs and cabinet busi- ness in turn. At present he is acting as agent for the Racine School Furniture Company and the Burlington (Iowa) Life Insurance Company. He was married, April 13, 1851, to Charlotte Allen, daughter of James M. and Minerva Al- len of Johnson County, Ill. She is the mother of five children, two of whom are living-Ele- nora (wife of William H. Ralls of Thebes) and Laura (wife of F. M. Carter). He enlisted in the Eighty-first Illinois Infantry, Col. Dollans, Company F, Capt. Campbell, in August, 1862. Remained out seventeen months ; was wounded at the battle of Champion Hills, Miss., and was honorably discharged in December, 1863. In politics, he is a Republican, and has served three terms as Postmaster. He was elected Justice of the Peace in the fall of 1872, and has served in that capacity since, with the ex- ception of one term. He was elected County Commissioner in 1878, and served there one term. Subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, but is connected now with the church at Elco.

HENRY BUTTS, farmer, P. O. Elco, is a native of Gallatin County, Ill. His grandfather, John H. Butts, was a native of Georgia, and there, also, James Butts, the father of our sub- ject. was born, and came with his parents when quite small to Gallatin County, Ill. In

that county the father lived until manhood, and married a Miss Julia Ann Webb. By this union there were eleven children, and of this number our subject was the third, and was born April 8, 1837. His father died when he was about thirteen years of age, and he had to assume the cares of the farm, he being the eldest son ; but during the falls and winters he was permitted to go to school some, and ob- tained a fair education. He remained at home with his mother until 1864, when, having mar- ried, he started out in life for himself, first renting a farm of forty acres. He next pur- chased a farm of 130 acres in that same county. He came to this county in 1879, and settled first near Goose Island. In October, 1882. he purchased his present location, a farm of eighty acres, of which forty acres are cleared. Mr. Butts was married in Gallatin County, October 4, 1864, to Mary Catherine Holt, who was born January 8, 1844, and is the daughter of Thomas and Artemesia (Goldsmith) Holt. She is the mother of seven children, four of whom are living-Margaret Ann, born December 23, 1866; William Edgar, born February 20, 1874; Walter Henry, born April 14, 1876 ; Charles Pickney, born June 27, 1878. Our subject en- listed in the Twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Ferril, Capt. Stone, in August, 1862, and remained out until April 21, 1863, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. Both Mr. and Mrs. Butts are members of the M. E. Church at Elco. Iu politics, subject is a Democrat.

MILES CAUBLE, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Elco, is a grandson of Jacob Cauble, who was a native of North Carolina, as was also his son, Peter Cauble, the father of subject. The grandfather came to Union County when the father was about twenty-one, but remained there only a short time and then moved to Al- exander County, where he settled near Mill Creek. Peter married a Miss Catherine Cau- ble, a cousin of his. She was the mother of

220

BIOGRAPHICAL:

nine children, and of that number subject was the oldest, and was born October 4, 1842. He attended the subscription schools of his county until he was about seventeen, and then bought a farm of forty acres about one-half a mile from Elco, near his present location. This piece has now been increased to a farm of 367 acres, located in Sections 12, 13 and 18 ; also 107 acres in Section 1. Has abon+ 300 acres in cultivation, and about, fifteen acres in or- chard. Also follows the raising of cattle and hogs, for market, quite extensively. Subject was married, December 4, 1859, to Frances Hazlewood, born October 12, 1843. She is the daughter of Joshua and Harriet Hazlewood, and is the mother of nine children, seven of whom are living-Ezekial, born December 8, 1860 ; Evelena, April 3, 1863 ; Robert, Sep- tember 8, 1868 ; Benjamin, December 25, 1870 ; Fredoline, December 6, 1873 ; Hattie, March 16, 1878 ; Dellie, June 25, 1882. Mr. Cauble enlisted in the Sixtieth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, Col. Owens, Company E, Capt. Foggarty, in August, 1862, remaining out three years, and was honorably discharged in July, 1865. Is a member of the Elco Methodist Church. Also of Elco Lodge, No. 643, I. O. O. F. In politics, he is a Republican.

JAMES CRUSE, farmer, P. O. Mill Creek, Union County. Grandfather Cruse came from Ireland and located in Georgia, where Moses Cruse, the father of subject, was born. The lat- ter remained there until a young man, and then came to what was then Johnson County, now Union County. There he married a Miss Rebecca Miller, a native of North Carolina, some of whose ancestors came from Germany. She was the mother of seven children, four of whom are living, and of that number subject was the third, and was born February 7, 1846. When subject was about five years old, his father moved to a farm about a mile and a half east of Mill Creek, in Union County, where he re- sided until his death. Our subject attended

the subscription schools but little, and received but a slight education. When he was about eighteen years of age, he went to Jonesboro and apprenticed himself to learn the blacksmith trade. He worked for about a year and a half. when, finding that the trade did not agree with him, he came back to the home farm and helped his father there until he was about twenty-five years of age. At that age, he purchased his first farm, a tract of forty acres situated about a mile from Mill Creek, in Section 5, Township 14 south, Range 1 west, Alexander County. This place has since been increased to a farm of 116 acres, which he devotes chiefly to farm- ing. Our subject was married in 1826 to Mary Freeze, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Freeze, both natives of North Carolina. She was the mother of one child, Peter, born Feb- ruary 12, 1859. This lady died in 1861, and Mr. Cruse was married the second time, to Lydia O. Freeze, a sister of his first wife. This lady is the mother of five children-Josephine. James J., Norwood, Melissa and Mattie. In politics, Mr. Cruse is a Democrat.

JAMES DEXTER, farmer, P. O. Ullin, Pulaski County. Silas Dexter, the father of James Dexter, was born in Pulaski County and resided there until manhood and then married Miss Sallie Rhodes. The twain then settled in Alexander County, about three miles from Sandusky, and there our subject, the youngest of ten children, was born, February 6, 1852. His father died when he was about six years of age, and his mother there married a Mr. Holmes, but she only lived about a year after her second marriage. Mr. Jefferson Holmes then took our subject and raised him and young Dexter remained with Mr. Holmes until the latter died in the army, and during that time was probably permitted to go to school about three months. Subject next went to live with a brother of his former foster father. and remained there about three years. Dur- ing the next eight or nine years, he worked for

221

ELCO PRECINCT.

different farmers, and when he was twenty-four years of age made his first purchase of land, a farm of eighty acres in Section 15, Township 14. Range 1 west. Of the original place, about forty acres were cleared ; his farm has since been increased to one of 130 acres, seventy of which are cultivated. Subject was married, August 9, 1874, to Malinda J. Mowry, daugh- ter of David and Betsey (Dillow) Mowry. She is the mother of five children, four of whom are living-Silas Edward. born March 2, 1877 ; Sarah Jane, born March 2, 1879 ; Cora Levina, born January 22, 1881, and a baby boy No- vember 26, 1882. Mr. Dexter is a member of the German Reformed Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

ELI DOUGLAS. farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing, is a son of Alexander Doug- las, who was born in North Carolina, in 1811, and came to Union County when quite young, and with a family by the name of Yost. He attended the subscription schools of his county in his youth, and married Margaret Hinkle, of Dongola Township. She was the daughter of Henry Hinkle, also a native of North Carolina and the mother of eleven children. Of that number, subject was the fourth, and was born April 21, 1831. His father was then living in Jonesboro Precinct. and there our subject remained until he was seventeen, attending the schools of his township. He then left home. when he came to Jonesboro, where lie learned the blacksmith trade under a Mr. Wingate. and then after an apprenticeship of two years and eleven months he opened a shop of his own on the home place. In January, 1855, he went to California, where he carried on his trade in one of the mining districts there. In 1859, he returned to Union County and again followed blacksmithing at Jonesboro. In 1871. he retired to the life of a farmer, and came to his present location in Alexander County, in Section 19, Township 14, Range 3 west. He first purchased 360 acres, of which

about 100 were cultivated. He has since pur- chased eighty acres more, and now has about 125 acres improved. Mr. Douglas was married January 31. 1863, to Mary De Witt, born Octo- ber 24, 1844. She is the daughter of John, and Margaret (Cruse) DeWitt, and is the mother of two children-Fred, born February 10, 1865, and Stanley, born December 8, 1866. Subject was a soldier in the One Hundred and Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry and in politics is a Democrat.

J. WARREN DURHAM, farmer, P. O. Elco, Alexander County. The ancestors of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch were among the early settlers of this county. The grandfather, William Durham, who was a native of North Carolina, came to this county in 1830, and resided there until his death in 1847. Thomas Durham, the father of subject, was born in North Carolina in 1800, remained there until manhood, and then went to Todd County, Ky., where he married Mary Brizen- dine, daughter of William Brizendine. Came from there to Union County in 1831, settling near Mill Creek, where subject was born December 24, 1838, the fourth of seven chil- dren. Warren received his education in the subscription schools of his county, attending there until about eighteen years of age, and then worked on the home place. In November, 1865, he purchased a farm of eighty acres, where he now resides, in Section 12, Town 14, Range 2 west. Twenty acres of the farm were cultivated when he bought it, and he now owns a farm of 120 acres, of which about sixty acres are cultivated. Subject was married, January 22, 1860, to Sarah Bass, born in November, 1842, and daughter of Matthew and Zeolody . (Hutson) Bass. Mr. Durham enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninth Regiment Illinois Infantry August 15, 1862, but was transferred to the Eleventh, and was discharged at Baton Rouge, La., August 15, 1865. Is a member of

222

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Elco Lodge, No. 643, I. O. O. F., and in poli- tics is a Democrat.

PETER N. GOLDEN. farmer, P. O. Elco. Thomas Golden, the grandfather of subject, was a native of France. and came to this coun- try when his son Stephen Golden was about twelve years old. He settled in Virginia, and there the father of our subject. Stephen, re- mained until he was eighteen, then came to Indiana and settled in Leavenworth. Here he studied for a physician. and at the age of twenty-four married Ann Newton, daughter of Peter and Hannah Newton. She was the mother of nine children, Peter N. being the fifth, and was born November 11. 1848. When he was about two years old, his father moved to St. Louis, and there subject received his educa- tion, and in his eleventh year he started out for himself, and went first to Georgetown, Ky., where he worked in a distillery. At the age of fifteen. he went to Perry County, Ind., and there learned the cooper's trade, and followed it for a number of years. At the age of twenty-two, he commenced farming, and located first in Hamilton County. After residing on several different farms in this and Union County, he came to his present location in Elco, where he now owns a farm of fifty-three acres, twenty of which are cultivated. He was married, in 1869, to Sarah P. Gohlson, daugh- ter of Edward and Elizabeth Gholson, of Padu- cah. Ky. She is the mother of three children, all living-Halla, born November 9, 1871; William, born January 4. 1874 ; Belle, born June 8. 1879. Mr. Golden was elected Justice of the Peace for Elco Precinct April 17, 1873, and is now serving his first term. He is a member of the Elco Lodge, No. 643. I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Democrat.

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 106

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