History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 110

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 110
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 110
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 110

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).

dier of the Mexican war), and Elizabeth (Thompson) Wall, a native of New Jersey. She was the mother of four sons-William W. (now in Cairo with the Express Company), Charles (now a farmer in Dakota), John (working for the Commercial Electric Light Company of Cincinnati), and Harry (now as- sisting his father in the drug store). This lady died April 17, 1876, and he was married on February 14, 1880, to Miss Mary Hodges, a daughter of John Hodges, of Unity Precinct. He enlisted in the Thirty-seventh Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, in September, 1861, and was out six months. He is a member of Allens- ville Lodge, No. 81, A., F. & A. M., and a Democrat in politics.

CREDELLAS STEWART, merchant, Hodge's Park. One of the youngest merchants in Alexander County is the gentleman of whom this is a brief sketch. He was born in Choctaw County, Miss., March 2, 1857 ; he is a son of W. W. Stewart, who is a native of North Carolina. When our subject was about seven years of age, his father came with him to Illi- nois, where he settled in Thebes Precinct. Here he farmed for a number of years, and then came to Unity Precinct, where he is at present farming. Our subject attended school at Thebes until he was about eighteen, and then commenced clerking for B. F. Brown & Co. In 1880, he came to Hodge's Park, and opened a store with B. F. Brown, under the title of Brown & Stewart. They now carry a stock of about $2,500. Mr. Stewart was married, May 28, 1882, to Miss Nancy Ziegler. a daughter of Willard and Kate (Yount) Zieg- ler, natives of Pennsylvania. He is now serv- ing as Postmaster at Hodge's Park ; in politics, he is a Republican.

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CLEAR CREEK PRECINCT.

A. J. BUNCH, farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing. The grandparents of our subject were natives of Christian County. Ky., and there Cater Bunch, the father, was born. His father having died soon after he was born, his mother came with him and his brothers and sisters to this county, and settled close to where Elco now stands. There the father grew to manhood and married Maria Landers, of that precinet. There also our subject, the sixth of seven children, was born January 31, 1837. His parents died when he was young, and he was taken to Jonesboro Precinct, Union Coun- ty, where he was raised. At the age of seven- teen, he commenced learning the trade of a blacksmith. under Adam Cruse, of Jonesboro. He next worked for a man by the name of Matthew Stokes. In time, Mr. Stokes took our subject in as a partner, and they continued in business for some time. The latter, how- ever, finally purchased his partner's interest and continued by himself. After working for several years there, our subject came to Clear Creek and erected a blacksmith shop on the MeClure place. He remained there four years, and then embarked on the life of a farmer, and purchased a farm of sixty acres in Section 9, Town 14, Range 3 west. He also owns fifty aeres in Meisenheimer Precinct, Union County. Our subject was married, March 12, 1862, to Minerva I. Sams, a daughter of Nathan Sams. She is the mother of five children- Joseph, born December 24, 1863 ; Norma, born October 29, 1874; Ennice, born October 8, 1876; Herman, born January 25, 1879 ; Rodney, born December 30, 1880. In politics, he was a Democrat until the breaking-out of the war, but since that time he has been a Republican. He has served in numerous township offices,

and is a member of Jonesboro Lodge, No. 241, I. O. O. F.

MRS. SARAH J. CRAIG, farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing. The husband of this lady was John Craig. a native of Tennessee. He was born July 29, 1828, and was a son of Leon and Letitia Craig. From that State he came to this county when he was about seventeen. and commenced life as a farm hand for Wash- ington MeRaven. Our subject's maiden name was Sarah J. Palmer, and is a native of Bun- combe County, N. C. She was a daughter of John Palmer, and was born January 14, 1833. When young her parents brought her to Illi- nois and first settled in Alton. From there they came to this county and settled near Clear Creek. Mr. Craig, in 1854, on his twen- ty-fourth birthday, was united in marriage to our subjeet, and the next year after they came to the farm upon which Mrs. Craig now resides. The original purchase was forty acres in Sec- tion 16, Town 14, Range 3 west. This has sinee been increased to 360 acres, of which 185 acres are in enltivation. To the twain were born four children ; one only, W. S., is now living. He was born June 12. 1864. Mr. Craig died March 13, 1877, and our subjeet now carries on the farm, assisted by her son. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church North.

JASPER CULLEY, merchant, Clear Creek Landing. Among the stores scattered over Alexander County at the different cross roads and in the many country towns, none are pre- sided over by a more genial man, and none of better business qualities, than the one at Clear Creek, to which the gentleman whose name heads this sketch presides. His grandparents were natives of Massachusetts, and there the

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

father, M. M. Culley, was born in 1796. From that State he came to McCracken County, Ky., when a young man, and there married Huldah J. Moore. In that county our subject was born August 24, 1833, the seventh of eight children. His parents moved to Franklin County, Ill., when subject was about ten years old, and from there soon after to Thebes, this county. In this town Mr. Culley received his education, and commenced doing for himself at the car- penter's bench. He worked at that for about six years. and then, in 1859. he embarked in the grocery business at Thebes. There he re- mained eight years, and then came to Clear Creek Landing, where he now has a general store and carries a stock of about $5,000. He has associated with him C. 1. Marchildon, of Thebes. under the firm name of Jasper Culley & Co. He was married. May 1, 1863, to Eugenie Marchildon, a daughter of S. M. Marchildon, of Thebes. but a native of Canada. She is the mother of eight children, six of whom are living-Alice, Marian, Henry. Leon, Mat- tie and Benlah. In politics, he is a Repub- lican, and is now serving as Postmaster.

MRS. CAROLINE V. MCCLURE, farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing. Our subject was a daughter of A. H. and Susan Overbay, and was born in Mecklenburg County, Va., July 29. 1833. Her parents came to this county when she was about eight years of age, and settled at Cairo, where the father carried on a general store. Here she received the rudi- ments of her education, going until she was sixteen years of age. Thomas J. McClure was born in Boonville, Mo .. September 8, 1823. a son of James McClure, a farmer and stock- raiser of that county. In his youth, he attended school some, but left his father when about six- teen to start for himself, and went to New Or- leans, where he remained about two years, as wharf clerk. He then came to this county, and worked first for Matthew McClure, his un- cle. After working there for abont three years

he started for himself, and rented a farm of twenty acres, and there " bached it" for about two years. Improving his circumstances slightly, he wedded Miss Polly Phillips in the spring of 1847. This lady was the mother of two children, both of whom are dead ; the eld- est, Mary, was born October 24, 1851, and was the wife of Mr. C. L. Otrich, of Anna. She died March 11, 1880. Mr. McClure was mar- ried the second time, to our subject, February 24, 1853. The farm then contained about 300 acres, and the homestead was about seven miles from the present location, to which they re- moved in June, 1853. That farm originally contained 120 acres, which has since been in- creased to 1,700 acres, most of which lies in Sections 10, 14 and 15, Town 14, Range 3 west. There are at present about 1,100 acres under cultivation. Mrs. McClure is the mother six of children-Logan, born September 27, 1854, died November 19, 1854; Virginia, born February 23, 1856, wife of A. J. Findley, of Clear Creek ; Henry C., born April 28, 1858. and drowned in Clear Creek, August 30, 1879 ; Caroline, born October 18, 1861 ; James T., born November 8, 1864, and Claude, born Feb- ruary 5, 1871. In 1854, Mr. McClure went to Thebes, where he devoted his attention to the mercantile business in connection with Mr. A. H. Overbey. He remained there about twelve years, and then returned to his farm at Thebes. He was a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. He died Wednesday, August 23, 1882, and was buried in the cemetery near his home. Since her husband's death, Mrs. McClure has carried on the farm, assisted by her son, James T.

PILGRIM MCRAVEN, farmer. P. O. Clear Creek Landing. One of the leading farmers in Clear Creek Precinct is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Benjamin MeRaven, the father, was a native of North Carolina, and lived there until he reached manhood, and then came to Tennessee, where he married Millie

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CLEAR CREEK PRECINCT.

Vick. Soon after his marriage, he came to Il- linois and settled in Dongola Precinct, Union County, being one of the earliest settlers in that section. There subject was born October 15, 1830. His father came to Alexander Coun- ty when subject was about seven years old, first settling about four miles northeast of Clear Creek ; then, four years after, he came to the farm now occupied by subject, where he lived until his death in 1845. Subject received his education in the subscription schools of his county. After his father's death, he remained on the farm with his mother until 1849, when she died. . He then took charge of the place himself. It was first a farm of sixty-six acres in Section 9. This has been increased since by ninety-four acres in same section, 120 acres in Section 16, 320 acres in Section 15, 165 acres in Section 25, and forty acres in Section 26. Of this abont 350 are cleared. He also pays some attention to the raising of fine stock. Subject was married, in 1851, to Elizabeth N. Phillips, of Alexander County. She is the mother of eight living children-P. H., J. S., Thomas W., Nellie Jane, Luella, Benjamin, El- mer E. and Mary. In politics, Mr. McRaven is a Republican, voting that ticket first in 1865.

J. P. WALKER, farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing. Probably the oldest native resident of this precinct is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. The grandparents of our subject were natives of Tennessee, and there William Walker, his son, was born, grew to manhood, and married Priscilla Hannah, also a native of Tennessee. The twain immediately after marriage came to Missouri, where they re- mained for some years. They came to this county some time before the year 1811, and lo- cated in the bottom land near Clear Creek. In the earthquake of that year, the land Mr. Walker was living on sunk, and he took his family to the hills near Rifle Creek, in the

northern part of the county. From there the family came to part of the farm now owned by subject. There subject was born February 22, 1818, and was the youngest of a large family of children. His father died in 1823, when he was but five years old. But he was permitted to attend the subscription schools of his county some. Being the only boy at home, he early commenced the life of a farmer and helped support his mother and sisters. As soon as he reached his majority, he took entire charge of the place, his mother having died in 1844. On this place he has since lived. The piece in- herited from his father, was a farm of sixty acres in Section 9. He has since purchased sixty acres more in same Section, and eighty acres in Section 16. He has about 140 acres under cultivation. Mr. Walker was married in 1840 to Miss Sabra Hall, daughter of Thomas Hall. She was the mother of eight children, three of whom are living-Samuel E., born January 29, 1849, now assisting his father on the home place ; Sallie Ann Priscilla, born March 7, 1853, the wife of Riley Price, of Duncan County, Mo .; and Sabra, born April 28, 1856, married to Edward Perry, of Cape Girardeau County. Mrs. Walker died August 16, 1857. He was married the second time to Mrs. Louisa Giles, who was the mother of three children, two of whom are living: Mary A., born January 1. 1859, and George W., born November 18, 1861. This wife died Novem- ber 1, 1864. The third time he was married, May 15, 1865, to Eliza Pucket, daughter of Asa Pucket ; one child of this union now lives, Asa, born February 23, 1870. This wife died in April, 1874. He was married the fourth time, June 3, 1878, to Mrs. Caroline E. Bracken, nee Kennel, who died May 17, 1883, without issue. He is a member, as was also his wife, of the Clear Creek Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. Walker is a Republican.

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

SANDUSKY PRECINCT.

CAPT. B. S. CRANE, steamboat pilot and far- mer, P. O. Sandusky, was born in Louisville, Ky., July 24, 1824, and is a son of William and Han- nah (Johnson) Crane, both natives of Virginia, from which State they emigrated to Kentucky about 1795 His school days were but few, but since manhood he has taught himself. At the age of twelve, he was apprenticed to a rope- maker. and remained with him four years. He then went on to the river, first as a knife- scourer. and has since become one of the fore- most pilots of the Mississippi. He commenced piloting about 1840, and ran first from Louis- ville to New Orleans. Over that route, he di- rected vessels until after the war, and has since ran over the same course, and also taken in St. Lonis. For several years past, lie has been acting as pilot on the Government boat "Will- iam Stone." While at home for a number of years. he stopped at Cairo, but in March, 1883, he purchased a farm in Sandusky Precinct, which his wife now directs. It is situated in Section 13, Town 15, Range 2 west. It is a farm of 120 acres, of which about thirty acres are in cultivation. In the war, he rendered good service as pilot on Admiral Porter's flag-ship, and was all through the siege and fall of Vicks- burg. Mr. Crane was married, April 8, 1871, to Mrs. Myra Josephine Kenyon, nee Nathans. This lady is the daughter of William and Re- becca (Boliet) Nathans. The father was one of the leading lawyers in Richmond, Va., and the mother was a native of Port Canton, in the Bay of Biscay, France. Mrs. Crane was born April 16, 1836, at Laporte, R. I., and is the mother of one child, Ralph M. Kenyon, now in business in Custer City. D. T. In politics, Mr. Crane is a Democrat.

D. D. C. HARGIS, farmer, P. O. Sandusky,

was born in Pike County, Tenn., July 29, 1829, and is a son of Dennis and Drucilla Ann (Shaw) Hargis. Our subject received his education in the old subscription schools, and when twenty, he and his father moved to Alexander County. where the father lived until his death. in 1858. The son settled down on a tract of land in Section 19. Town 15, Range 2 west. He now owns about 300 acres, of which ninety are in cultivation. Mr. Hargis was married on June 10, 1849, to Ann Eliza- beth Lancaster, a daughter of William Lancas- ter, who was a native of Virginia. She was the mother of four children. two of whom are now living-Loniel D. and Francis M. This lady died in 1857, and he was married the second time, in March, 1858. to Arzilla Nelson. a daughter of James and Susan Nelson. She is the mother of four children, two of whom are living-Sydney S. and Webster. Our subject enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninth Regi- ment, Company B, Capt. McClure, but was transferred to the Eleventh, where he remained until the close of the war. In politics, Mr. Hargis is a Democrat.

GEORGE McLEAN, farmer, P. O. San- dusky, was born in Wilkesbarre, Penn., March 19, 1839. He was a son of Alexander and Eliz- abeth (Swan) McLean. Our subject received a liberal education, and when old enough to work, assisted his father, who was a coal oper- ator. In the fall of 1859, he crossed the coun- try to Colorado. and worked for two years in the mines there. When the war broke out, he enlisted September 19, 1861, in what was known as the Nebraska Battalion of the Fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. During the service, he served as Orderly Sergeant. He was honora- bly discharged November 19, 1864. He was

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SANTA FE PRECINCT.

wounded in both arms, and also lost the hear- ing in his left ear by being dragged some dis- tance through some iron filings that had been thrown on the road bed. Immediately after the close of the war, he was tendered and ac- cepted the position of United States Land Of- fice Receiver and Disbursing Agent for Mon- tana, with headquarters at Helena. He remained at his post of duty until 1871, and then went to Nevada, where he engaged in ranching and mining for one year. His health failing, he came to Cairo, Ill. In 1877, desiring a West- ern trip again, he went to the Black Hills, where he again mined for a season. In 1878, he returned to his old home in Wilkesbarre, Luzerne Co., Penn. In 1880, he returned to Illinois, and purchased his present farm in Al- exander County. It is situated in Section 13, Town 15, Range 2 west, and contains 160 acres, of which about 110 are in cultivation, and about three and one-half acres in orchard. Mr. Mc- Lean was married on December 24, 1873, to Mrs. Clementine McGee, a daughter of Luther Sten- cil, of Cairo. She is the mother of one child, William Q. McGee. Our subject is a member of Morning Star Lodge, No 5, A., F. & A. M., of

Helena, M. T., and also of Eli Post, No. 97, G. A. R. In politics, he is an Independent.

WILLIAM POWLES, farmer, P. O. San- dusky, was born August 26, 1839, in Union County, Ill., and is a son of Peter and Amelia (Holtzhouser) Powles, natives of North Caro- lina. They both lived until a good old age, and died about eight years ago in Mill Creek Precinct, Union County. Our subject received his education in the schools of his native coun- ty, and at the age of twenty he came to his present location. He first purchased 120 acres in Section 5, Town 15, Range 2 west, and has since added to that eighty acres in same sec- tion. He has about seventy-five acres in cul- tivation, and abont two acres in orchard. Mr. Powles was married in 1859 to Eliza Jane Miller, a daughter of Charles Miller, of Union County. She is the mother of ten children, nine of whom are now living-David, Henry, Adeline, Amanda. Alice, Mattie Ann, Viola. Leola and Hollie. Our subject has served in many petty offices, and is now serving as Township Trustee. In politics, he is a Demo- crat, and is a member of the Methodist Church.

SANTA FE PRECINCT.

FRENCH JONES, farmer, P. O. Santa Fe, 35 and 36 south, Town 15. Range 3 west, and was born in Scott County, Mo., October 28, 1832, and is a son of Washington and Sophia (Overton) Jones. The father was a native of Illinois, the mother of Orange County, Va. 1

Our subject's education was received in the old subscription schools of his native county, and he then helped his father on the home farm until about twenty, when he commenced life as a farmer. In 1869, he came to his present farm in Sante Fe Precinct. It is a tract of 400 acres, situated mostly in Sections

now there are about 150 acres in cultivation. Mr. Jones was married in Scott County, Mo., on January 25, 1862, to Telitha J. Evans, a daughter of Rollie E. and Sarah G. (Barnes) Evans ; the former was born in Missouri, and the latter in Kentucky. She is the mother of eight children, six of whom are now living- Amos W., born January 9, 1863 ; Sarah S., March 17, 1866 ; Margaret A., January 3, 1871; Telitha Alice, April 11, 1874; Lindsy F., August 23, 1876; Earnest W., November

2448

BIOGRAPHICAL:

2. 1881. Of the two departed ones, Mary A. was born October 24, 1868, and died October 10, 1872 ; the other was born September 18, 1879. and died the same day. Our subject en- listed in the late rebellion in a Missouri regi- ment, commanded by Gen. Watkins. Went out in 1861, and only served six months. Has served his township as School Trustee and Director. In politics, he generally votes the Democratic ticket.

RANSOM THOMPSON, hotel landlord, Santa Fe. One of the oldest settlers in Alex- ander County is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born January 16, 1815, in Cape Girardeau County, Mo., and was a son of Isaac and Mary (Patterson) Thomp- son. The former was a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Georgia. Our subject attended the Cape Girardeau schools until fourteen, and then came with his uncle to this county in 1829, where the latter settled in what is now Clear Creek Precinct. At the age of eighteen, our subject went on the Mississippi River, as clerk on a store boat, but still considered his uncle's house his home until that gentleman died in 1835. Subject remained on the Mississippi until twenty-four, and then settled down as a farmer, on land about a mile south of what is now East Cape Girardeau. On that farm he only remained three years, and then removed to Thebes Precinct. where he settled on a farm of sixty-five acres. In that precinct he lived un- til September, 1882, when he came to Santa Fe. he having become too old to farm. There he purchased property, and runs the hotel of the place. He also spends quite a good deal of time on bee culture. Mr. Thompson was married the first time, in 1841, to Sarah Witt. This lady was the mother of three children ; one only, Martha, wife of James Bracken, is now living. She died in the fall of 1847. In the spring of 1848, our subject wedded Rachel Austin as his second wife. This lady was the (laughter of Joseph and Serena (Baldwing)

Austin, and was the mother of five children, three of whom are now living-Thomas, J., now in Scott County, Mo .; Rachel, wife of James Johnson, of Duncan County, Mo .; and Benja- min R., now in business in Hickman, Ky. This lady died in 1860, and he was united in marriage to his present wife in February, 1861. She was a Mrs. Sarah Kelly, nee Moody, and a native of Tennessee. To her were born two children, both of whom are now dead. Our subject has been Justice of the Peace almost continuously since 1856, and is now serving in that capacity. He is a member of the Thebes Baptist Church, and generally votes the Re- publican ticket.

W. E. WOODS, farming and milling. P. O. Santa Fe, was born in Sabine County, Texas, May 24, 1835, and is a son of John and Pauline (De Wild) Woods. When our subject was ten years old, his father came to Cape Girar- deau County, Mo., where the former attended school at the St. Vincent College. Finishing his education, he began helping his father around the saw mill, and at the age of seven- teen was taken in as a partner. They ran a mill for a number of years in Misssouri, and then came to Thebes Precinct, this county. where they put up a saw and shingle mill, and also ran a store for the accommodation of the people in that vicinity ; next ran one on what is known as Rock Island, in the Mississippi. In 1875, the firm of Woods & Son, purchased about 700 acres of a special claim in Santa Fe Precinct, lying in Town 16, Range 3 west, and established a saw mill. This mill was in oper- ation until 1879, when the mill was removed and the partnership dissolved. Our subject retained 320 acres, and has since put over 100 into cultivation. His next venture was in Scott County, Mo .. where he ran a saw mill. In May, 1883, he sold out that mill and re- turned to Santa Fe Precinct, where he has since given his attention. Before January, 1884, however, he expects to have another

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BEECH RIDGE PRECINCT.

mill in operation near where the one owned by himself and his father stood. Mr. Woods was married, May 21, 1866, to Lina H. Johnson, a daughter of G. M. and Harriet (Glower) John- son. This lady is the mother of eight children, six of whom are now living-Drucilla H., Gus-

sie, Will E., Jr., Olive, Beatrice and Carl. He enlisted in 1861, in the Marble City Guards of Cape Girardeau, Mo., but was only out about one year. In his regiment he served mostly in the Quartermaster's Department. In poli- tics. he is a Democrat.

BEECH RIDGE PRECINCT.

H. M. McKEMIE, farmer, P. O. Beech Ridge, is a native of Perry County, Tenn., and was born May 17, 1840. His father's name was Ryal McKemie, and he was born in 1814. The mother was Mary Skaggs, and was born in 1815. The father moved to Alexander County, and settled in Section 28, Town 16, Range 2, when our subject was only eleven years old, and there the father resided until his death in 1861. The mother lived until a ripe old age, and died at the residence of her son in Febru- ary, 1882. Our subject received his education partially in the schools of this county, and par- tially in Tennessee. He remained at home with his father until his death, and then went into the army, enlisting in the One Hundred and Thir- tieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Niles, Com - any C, Capt. John H. Robinson ; remained out three years, and was then honorably discharged as First Sergeant. In the service he contracted the erysipelas, which eventually cost him his

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 110

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