History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 107

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 107
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 107
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 107

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).

MOSES GOODMAN. blacksmith, Elco. Grandfather Goodman lived in North Carolina, and there Paul Goodman, the father of our subject, was born in 1813 ; lived there until he reached manhood, and then married a Miss

Williams. The twain, soon after they were made one, came West and settled near Jones- boro, Union Co., Ill., where the father soon after his arrival began running a saw mill. Mrs. Goodman died soon after her arrival at that place, and the father was married the second time to Chrissie Earnhart, daughter of Phillip Earnhart. She was the mother of five children, and of that number subject was the second and was born January 25, 1855. When he was about eight years of age, his father moved to Cape Girardeau County, Mo. Here he received his first education in a German school at that point. After about a year's residence there, his father died, and our subject, accompanied by his mother, came back to Alexander County and settled near Mill Creek. He early com- menced to carry on affairs on the home place. but although having to take care of things generally, he managed to attend school some and obtained a fair education. He remained at home until his mother's death, which oc- eurred in 1874. After that he rented the farm and hired out himself the following summer. The next fall, having married, he took charge again of the home place and remained there about one year. He next moved to a farm on Sandy Creek and there he remained until the year 1879, when he also sold out that farm and came to his present location at Elco. On this place he first obtained a livelihood by working at the saw mill of Durham & Cauble, and also followed teaming. In 1880, he purchased his present shop from Warren Durham. At this place he now does blacksmith work, and also. does a general wagon repairing business. Mr. Goodman was married, December 18, 1874. to Rosana E. Dills. daughter of Wiley Dills, of Union County. She is the mother of five children - Henry C., Laura J., Dora E., Earnest L. and Lloyd E. Subjeet is a member of Elco Lodge, No. 643, I. O. O. F .. and of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Elco. In politics, he is a Democrat.

223

ELCO PRECINCT.

JOHN Z. J. N. HAIL, millwright and farmer, P. O. Mill Creek, Union County. Elias Hail, the father of our subject, was born in North Carolina in 1791; reached manhood and married Nancy Strand, daugh- ter of A. Strand. She was the mother of seven children. Of that number, our subject is the youngest, and was born July 3, 1851. The father, when subject was about four years of age, left North Carolina and came. to Newton County, Ga., where he died the next year. Our subject attended school but three months, and obtained most of his education in after life, by the light of the back-log. As soon as he was old enough. he learned the trade of a carpenter and millwright, under a man by the name of James Key, of Jonesboro, Ga. When he reached manhood, he married, August 20, 1856, Margaret Ann Hurdle, a native of North Caro- lina. She was the mother of four children, all of whom are dead. Our subject moved to Montgomery, Ala., in the fall of 1856, and there commenced operations by working at the trade of a journeyman carpenter for about a year and a half. In the fall of 1857, he again moved, this time to Marion County, in the same State, where, under the homestead law, . he entered a farm of 320 acres. At this point, he had hardly become settled, when the troubles of the war commenced to make things very unpleasant. Although born in the South, and at that time living in the heart of the Southern Confederacy, he did not believe that secession was right, and would not enlist on that side. He was compelled, finally, to fly for safety, and so one night he and his Union neighbors formed them- selves into a body and started north toward the Union lines. There were 108 men in the company when it left Marion County, but their journey was beset everywhere by difficulties. The exact position of the Union forces could not be ascertained, and guerrillas and rebels fought them on every hand, and when at last, on September 7. 1862, the company reached

the Union lines, at Tunnel Creek Bridge, on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, in Tennessee, where the Seventh Illinois Cavalry was sta- tioned, there were but eight men left. Among that number was our subject, and he immedi- ately enlisted in that regiment. and remained there until January, 1864, when he was honor- ably discharged on account of disability. When Mr. Hail went away from his Southern home, he left his wife on the old place to take care of the property, and one night, after the husband had been gone about nine months, she received news that a band of rebels were coming to burn down the property. She and her mother, gath- ering together a little clothing, fled the same night, to Tuscumbia, Ala., where a brother of Mr. Hail was engaged in running a bakery, and the next night the house and outbuildings were burned to the ground. At that town, Mrs. Hail remained until some time in June, 1863, when Gen. Dodge, at the head of a large body of Union cavalry, made a raid through that section, and routed the Southern forces in and around Tuscumbia. When the victorious force came North again, Mrs. Hail placed herself under the soldiers' care and came North, as far as Corinth with the soldiers, and from there she was sent to Jackson, Tenn., where Mr. Hail came to see her, he having obtained a seven days' leave of absence from LaGrange, Tenn., where the soldiers were then stationed. When the husband parted from his wife at the end of his furlongh, it was their last parting. Mrs. Hail, from that place came to Richview, Wash- ington Co., Ill., and there she died, July 7. 1863. When 'Mr. Hail came North the next January, he came to that town, but there only found the silent tomb as a remembrance of his wife. He had been discharged from a hospital, and he remained in that town until he had par- tially recovered his health, and then came to Ullin, Pulaski County, where he hired to a Mr. Bell, who was then repairing his flouring mill at that point. Here our subject remained till

224

BIOGRAPHICAL:

March, 1865 ; then moved to a farm near Don- gola, Union County. In 1872, he purchased his present location, a farm of 100 aeres in Section 5, Township 14 south, Range 1 west ; also owns a half interest in the Hail's point water mill, on Mill Creek. Our subjeet was married the second time, February 20, 1867, to Mrs. Isa- bella Anna Woodley, a daughter of Diewault and Sallie Miller. By this union there have been eight children, four of whom are living- Elmira, John, Calvin and Fleta May. In poli- tics, Mr. Hail is a Republican, and is a member of Elco Lodge, No. 643.

SALMON HAZLEWOOD, farmer, P. O. Eleo. Cliff Hazlewood, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of England. He came to Ameriea and first settled in Virginia, about 1758. Here he lived to manhood, and married Naney Axley, and to them was born in 1801 Joshua Hazlewood. The grandfather then re- moved to Kentucky, where he lived a number of years, and about 1812 he came to what is now Union County, Ill., then a vast wilderness, and located where Springville now stands. The father of our subject, Joshua, married Harriet Standard, a daughter of William and Sarah (Carter) Standard, shortly after his marriage he moved to Alexander County, lo- cating near what is now the site of Elco. The parents were blessed with four children, of whom the subject of these lines was the third, and was born April 8, 1833. He received his education mostly in the old subseription sehools, attending one that stood near the present location of his own house. He re- mained with his father until the latter died, at the age of fifty-three years, when our subjeet being about twenty years of age, took charge of the home place. He followed stoek-dealing for about five years, when, with his hard-earned savings, he purchased a farm of forty aeres lying in Seetion 24. He has made subsequent additions, having now 100 acres in cultivation, besides five acres of orchard. August 20,

1862, he enlisted in the Sixtieth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, Col. Toler, Company E, Capt. G. W. Evans. He took part in many hot en- gagements, and was mustered out of service June 5, 1865. In 1870, a post office was es- tablished in what was then called the Hazle- wood settlement, and was named Hazlewood Post Office, in honor of our subject's grand- father. Salmon Hazlewood was appointed the first Postmaster. He was united in marriage July 24, 1856, to Louisa Ann MeRaven, born September 16, 1837, a daughter of Louis and Nancy (White) McRaven. Mr. and Mrs. Hazlewood are the parents of twelve children -Francis J., born June 20, 1857 ; Louis P., November 22, 1858; Levi S., March 18, 1860 ; James A., August 11, 1866 ; Mahuldah, Febru- ary 18, 1868; Charles F., March 4, 1872 ; Minnie L., September 20, 1873 ; Samuel R., February 16, 1876; Rollie F., November 21, 1877, and Thomas, September 1, 1880. Mr. Hazlewood is a member of the M. E. Church of Elco.

A. J. LOLLESS, farmer, P. O. Elco. Ben- jamin Lolless, the grandfather of subject, was born in Virginia, and his son, Benjamin Lolless. Jr., the father of A. J. Lolless, was also born there, and went to Tennessee when a young man, where he married Betsey Ann Berndrum, daughter of Clayborn Berndrum, also a native of Virginia. She was the mother of sixteen children, and of that number, subjeet was the ninth, and was born March 30, 1833. When subject was seven years old, he moved with his father to Alabama, where he remained until he was sixteen years of age, when he left that State and went to Western Tennessee, having in the meantime attended school but slightly. Here he remained until about twenty, and then came with his father to this State, settling first in Williamson County, where the father died in 1875, at the advanced age of ninety-two. Our subject remained in Williamson County the first year he was in the State, and then came

225

ELCO PRECINCT.

to this county, where he worked for numer- ous farmers in Clear Creek Precinct. After his marriage, he commenced life on his own account on a rented farm near Clear Creek. He rented one or two other farms in succession, and in 1876 he purchased his present location of 160 acres, in Section 20, Town 14, Range 1 west, of which about seventy are now in cultivation. Mr. Lolless was married the first time to Fan- nie Walker, daughter of John Walker, of Clear Creek Precinct. This lady died one year after her marriage, leaving a little one, who, too. soon followed her to the other shore. The second time, he was married to Amanda Lang- ley, daughter of Mrs. Mary A. Phillips, nee Langley. She is the mother of ten children, all living-Mary Alice, Franklin, Virginia, Craig, Edward, William, Ulysses, Florence, Thomas and Luella. Was a soldier in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and in politics is a Democrat.

JAMES E. McCRITE, farmer, P. O. Elco. James McCrite, the grandfather of our subject, came from Ireland, and located in South Caro- lina, where he married Margaret Anderson, also a native of Ireland, coming to this country when a little girl. There John McCrite, the father of James E., was born June 17, 1778. This gentleman lived in that State some years, and then removed with his parents to Georgia, where he married a Miss Jane Callahon, a daugh- ter of Edward and Polly Callahon ; the father was a native of Ireland, coming to this country when a young man, and the mother was a na- tive of New Jersey. By this union, there were seven children, four of whom are now living, and of this number our subject was the eldest, and was born March 22, 1813, in Jackson County, Ga. In 1814, his father moved to Murray County, Tenn., where he remained until October, 1829, when he came to Union County, settling near what is now Mt. Pleas- ant ; at that place, he only remained a year, and came to Alexander County, where he set-

tled on Sandy Creek, about seven miles from what is now Elco Station. Our subject was now about seventeen years old, and had, until this time, probably attended school at the old sub- scription schools, altogether, about five months. After his arrival in this county, he attended school exactly eleven days. This was the ex- tent of his learning in the schoolhouse, and he is truly what can be called a self-made man. Most of his learning was obtained after he had reached manhood, by the light of the fire- place, after night. He remained most of the time at the home place until 1836. working at odd jobs for the neighbors at wood-chopping, rail-splitting, etc. In the fall of 1837, he lo- cated on his first farm. It was a forty-acre tract of Government land, and was entirely in timber. This has been increased, by patient toil and industry, to a farm of 480 acres, of which eighty acres are improved. Mr. McCrite was married, September 29, 1836, to Miss Edna Baughn, daughter of Reuben and Nancy Baughın, both natives of Tennessee. She was born September 15, 1815, and was the mother of eleven children, eight of whom are now liv- ing-Reuben V., Joseph L., Robert W., Nancy J. (wife of John A. Morris), Polly I. (wife of R. B. Wilson), Margaret A. (wife of George W. Vick) and Martha J. (wife of Jesse G. Wil- son). This lady died April 15, 1872, and sub- ject was married, April 8, 1874, to Mrs. Mary E. Miles, who was born May 12, 1829, and is a daughter of John and Nancy Jones, both na- tives of North Carolina, but raised in Ken- tucky. In politics, our subject is a Democrat, and he has served his county faithfully in nu- merous capacities. In his time, he has been Justice of the Peace, being elected to this of- fice first in 1841 and serving continually until November, 1881. He was appointed Township Treasurer in 1846, and served in that office for a number of years. He was elected Asso- ciate Justice of the Peace in 1852, first to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Silas

226

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Dexter ; was elected the next term, and served for sixteen consecutive years, retiring in 1873, and he has also served his district as School Commissioner for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. McCrite are both members of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church that holds its services on Sandy Creek. Mr. McCrite is a member of the Jonesboro Lodge.

RICHARD PALMER, farmer, P. O. Elco. William Palmer, the grand-father of our subject, was probably born and raised in North Carolina, and there John Palmer, his son, the father of Richard, was born. The former came to Tennessee when the latter was a young man. There John married, in Smith County, Miss Piety Vick, daughter of Joshua Vick. She was the mother of nine children, and of this number our subject was the third, and was born October 8, 1817. When our subject was about twelve years of age, his parents came to this county and settled about three miles northwest of Elco, where they resided until their demise, the father dying August 7, 1850, and the mother July 2, 1852. In this county subject received his education, attending mostly the old Hazlewood subscrip- tion school. After his schooling, he helped his father on the old home place until he was twenty-four, when he started out in life for himself, first settling about five miles south- west of Elco, on a tract of eighty acres. Here he remained about twelve years, and then moved to his present location in Section 16, Town 14, Range 2 west. His first purchase was a farm of 120 acres, of which about twelve acres were in cultivation. This has since been increased to a farm of 240 acres, of which about 100 acres is in cultivation. Subject was mar- ried August 19, 1841, to Irena Vaughn, daughter of Reuben and Nancy Vaughn of this county. She was born December 27, 1821, in Perry County, Tenn., and the mother of nine children, six of whom are living-Louis, born February 16, 1844 ; Piety, born July 2, 1849 ;

James R., born September 2, 1851 ; Elizabeth, born November 21, 1855, wife of Jacob Mitchell ; Enda, born June 27, 1858, wife of James Harrell ; John, born July 22. 1863. The three dead children are Nathaniel, born November 16. 1842, died April 22, 1844 ; Nancy, born October 8, 1845, died September 20, 1846 ; Reuben, born September 10, 1847, died October 6, 1848. This lady died October 30, 1881. Subject is a Democrat and is a mem- ber of the Southern Methodist Church.

HIRAM F. PUTNAM, merchant, Elco. The grandfather of Mr. Putnam emigrated from England and located in Vermont, where to him was born a son, whom he named Hiram, who married Sallie Black, the result being our subject. The parents of Hiram settled in Otsego County, N. Y., where their son was born May 12, 1825. He attended the country schools as much as was convenient, and be- came qualified to teach, at which he applied himself for a few terms. He went to Cattar- augus County, N. Y., where he carpentered for three years. After having spent some time at different places, he, in 1854, came to Illinois and clerked in a store in the town of Warren. In two years, he went to Howard County, Iowa, and at once entered upon a traveling tour which lasted six years, and finally decided to locate at Memphis, Tenn., but, on account of the breaking-out of the war. he only remained six months. He then came to Anna, this county, and in one year he went to Charleston, Mo., following all the time the trade of a car- penter. In 1862, he made his final settlement in Alexander County, at the present site of Elco. Here he farmed for awhile on some rented patches, after which he clerked and kept books for A. A. Soule & Co., of Pulaski County. In 1866, he returned to Alexander County, where he purchased a farm of forty acres, where he remained about six years. When the town of Elco was laid out he clerked for Leavenworth & Duncan, subsequently for

227

ELCO PRECINCT.

Durham & Cauble, the successors to the above firm. In February, 1878, he was appointed agent for the St. Louis & Cairo Railroad at Elco, which position he held for five years. In 1880, he formed a partnership under the firm name of Putnam & Standard, general druggists and grocers. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1869 ; re-elected in 1877, serving in all two terms. Was married, April 6, 1865, to Elizabeth Stacey, the result being five children, two of whom survive-Flora A. and Mary F. She died February, 1875, and he subsequently married Mrs. Ellen Barnett, a daughter of Dr. Victor, of Ullin, Pulaski County. She died in November, 1877, and he was married the third time, to Mrs. B. J. Standard, May 27, 1880. Her maiden name was Henderson. He is a Methodist, and an Elder of that organization at Elco.

JOHN J. REAMS, farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing, is a grandson of Edward Reams, who was born in Virginia and settled in North Carolina, where Jesse Reams, the father of our subject was born. The father remained there until a young man, and then went to Tennessee, settling in Stewart County, where he married Anna McGee, daughter of Thomas and Betsey (Whiteside) McGee. This lady was the mother of nine children, and of that number subject was the third and was born August 15, 1833. His parents came to Illinois when he was about ten years old, set- tling in Pope County, where they remained until their death. Subject received his educa- tion entirely in the subscription schools, and went to them but little. He remained at home until he was about twenty-one, and then bought a farm in that county. There he re- mained until 1870, when he came to this county and first rented a farm of Washing- ton McRavens. He is now living on a farmi belonging to Pilgrim MeRavens, about five miles east of Clear Creek. He was married December 10, 1854, to Mary Jane Jaco, daugh-

ter of John and Polly Jaco, of Pope County. This lady was born in Tennessee in 1836. and was the mother of four children, two of whom are living-Polly Ann (wife of James Wood- ward, of Clear Creek), and Washington Reams. She died in July, 1861, and December 12, 1863, Mr. Reams married the second time, Matilda Caroline Castleman, daughter of Will- iam and Maria (Bush) Castleman. She is the mother of five children, three of whom are living-Mary Jane (wife of James Hill), Char- ity and William J. Subject is a member of the Baptist Church, which meets at Clear Creek. In politics, he is a Democrat.

JAMES L. SACKETT, farmer, P. O. Elco. Isaac Sacket, the grandfather of our subject, was born in England and came to this country some time before the Revolutionary war. Ile settled in Connecticut, and was a soldier in that war. In the same State, Isaac Sacket, Jr., the father of James L., was born in 1808, lived there until he reached manhood, and then mar- ried, in 1827, Sophronia Richards, daughter of Charles Richards, whose forefathers were also of English descent. She was the mother of ten children, and of that number subject was the youngest, and was born December 20, 1831. When he was about nine years of age, his par- ents moved with him to Illinois and settled in Marine, Madison County. Subject received his education partially in the schools of Con- necticut, and also in the schools of Illinois. When about fifteen years old, he commenced working at the carpenter's trade, and followed that vocation until about nineteen. At that age, he undertook business for himself, and commenced contracting for jobs. This voca- tion he followed for about six years, working at it in St. Louis, also in Monroe and St. Clair Counties. In 1860, he came to Alexander County, and first settled on Sandy Creek, but only remained there about three years, and then came to his present location in 1863. He first purchased a farm of fifty acres, and now

228

BIOGRAPHICAL:

owns about 118 acres in Sections 18 and 19, Township 14, Range 1 west. He was married, March 24, 1858, in Belleville, Ill., to Eliza An- son, daughter of Fred and Lucinda Anson. She is the mother of ten children, seven of whom are now living-Rosala, Montie, George R., Minnie, Clara, Mattie and Louis. He en- listed in the One Hundred and Fifty-third Illi- nois Infantry, Col. Bronson, Company F, Capt. Johnson, February 12, 1865, and was dis- charged May 29, 1865, on account of disability. In politics, Mr. Sacket is a Republican.

WILLIAM SKILES, farmer, P. O. Elco, is a grandson of William Skiles, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, having come to this country some time before that conflict, and settled in Maryland. Soon after the war ended, he went to what is now Green County, Tenn., and there Henry Skiles, the father of our sub- ject, was born. He remained there until man- hood and then married Margaret Bunch, a daughter of Jonas Bunch, who was also a soldier in the Revolution, having come from England and settled in Virginia, and there the gentle-

man whose name heads this, was born October 20, 1835, being the third of eight children. He received his education in the schools of his county, then worked on the home place until 1858, when he went to Western Missouri. settling near Springfield. In that State, he farmed until April, 1865, when he came to Union County, where he settled about six miles east of Jonesboro. In 1870, he pur- chased forty acres in Section 8, Town 14, Range 2 west, in Alexander County. He now owns a farm of eighty acres, of which about half is improved. Subject was married, April 7, 1858, to Mary Ann Gann, daughter of Allan and Sarah (Myers) Gann. . The result of this union was thirteen children, seven of whom are liv- ing-William, born February 28, 1859; Amanda J., born March 18, 1862; James, born Janu- ary 4, 1864 ; Henry, born January 22, 1867 ; Mary Ann, born August 20, 1871 ; Thomas J., born February 20, 1872; Benjamin F., born February 28, 1874. Mr. Skiles is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church south, and in politics is a Democrat.

THEBES PRECINCT.

DR. H. C. BARKHAUSEN, physician, Thebes. Prominently identified among the old physicians of this county is Dr. H. C. Bark- hausen, born April 1, 1819, in Prussia, and ed- ucated in his native country. In 1835, he came with his parents to this country, where the fa- ther, H. A., engaged in farming in Pulaski County. This was a new business for the elder B., as he had always been an architect. In one year the family removed to Jonesboro precinct, Union County, where they continued rural pur- suits until 1845, when they went to Thebes Precinct, Alexander County. Soon after, the father took a contract to construct the Alexan- der County Court House at Thebes, then the

county seat of said County. This structure he completed in 1848. The subject, at the age of twenty-six years, began the study of medi- cine with Dr. Fisher, of Thebes, with whom he remained two years, and began practice in Stoddard County, Mo., and in two years he re- turned to Thebes, where he enjoyed a lucrative practice until 1875, when he retired to his country residence about one-half mile from town, where he resides. He was married June 18, 1844, to Catherine Hunsaker, daughter of John and Annie (Shaw) Hunsaker, the result of which union being three children-Adeline. wife of Henry A. Phanert, of New Mexico ; Louise, wife of Dr. J. A. M. Gibbs. She is Su-

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 107

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