History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 112

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 112
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 112
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 112

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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MOUND CITY PRECINCT.

(not human's) ; it was neatly corded up near the schoolhouse, and every morning the teacher brought and laid an arm full of it near where he sat. The bark was not dry, hence each strip, about three feet long and six inches wide, made a formidable weapon, and in the hands of an able-bodied man, did a wonderful amount of execution before it broke up in small peices over a boy's back. After this academic course, his father, in 1838, sent him to the Hillsboro Academy, at Hillsboro, Ill. In 1840, he attended the Mount Vernon Acad- emy, that had just been built ; while it was of no great proportions for that day and time, it was considered quite an institution. In 1842, his father sent him to the Ohio University, at Athens. Ohio, where McGuffy, the great school book author, was President. He remained there until 1845, when he returned to Mount Vernon, and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. John W. Grathrum, a gentleman of fine acquirements, both as a surgeon and phy- sician. He had come a few years before from Baltimore, Md., after one year's study, he at- tended, in 1846, a course of lectures at the Louisville Medical Institute. It was in the days of Gross, Professor of Surgery, Drake, of Practice, Colt, of Anatomy, Yondell, Chemistry, Charlie Colwell, etc. He continued his studies after his return from the lectures, and at the same time doing some practice under the supervision of his preceptor, until the summer of 1847, when he moved to Benton, Ill., and became a partner in the practice of medicine with Dr. Towns, of that place. Dr. Towns was an educated physician, some years before he had emigrated from Virginia to Franklin County, Ill .; his bearing and manners were that of the old-time Virginia gentleman. He had an extensive practice. Benton was the county seat of Franklin County. On the 4th of December, 1847, he married Miss Florida Rawlings, of Louisville, Ky., danghter of Gen. M. M. Rawlings, a young

lady of education and superior accomplish- ments. She had but recently graduated with honors at the Nazareth Academy, near Bards- town, Ky., a Catholic school then, and still maintaining a high reputation. He returned from Louisville to Benton with his bride, and continued the practice of medicine until 1848, when he moved back to Mount Vernon, Ill., his native place, and there continuing the practice. The winter of 1856-57 he attended his second course of lectures at the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis, receiving his diploma . The late Dr. McDowell at that time was the leading spirit of the institution. In June, 1857, he moved to Mound City, Ill., at the earnest request of his father-in-law, Gen. Rawlings, who had in 1854 laid out Mound City. In 1858, he was elected one of the City Councilmen. In 1859, he was elected Mayor of the city, and was elected Mayor annually until 1874, a period of fifteen years. At the end of which time, he de- clined to be a candidate again. In 1860, he was a delegate to the National Convention at Charles- ton, and was an ardent admirer and supporter of Stephen A. Douglas. When the U. S. G. Hospital was established in 1861, at Mound City, he volunteered his services for quite awhile, and aided in treating the sick and wounded. Afterward he was appointed assist- ant Surgeon ; and for a long time occupied that position in the hospital. In 1866, Union, Alexander and Pulaski Counties were entitled to one member in the State Legislature. There was an understanding that Pulaski should name the candidate, Union and Alexander Counties, having had the member for some years. N. R. Casey and the late Col. E. B. Watkins were the Democrat candidates for the nomination both of Pulaski County. The contest in Pulaski County, between Casey and Watkins, was an active one. An unpleasant state of affairs ex- isted in the county, resulting from the removal of the county seat from Caledonia to Mound City. Casey had taken an active part in favor

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of the removal, while Watkins had taken an active part against the removal. The result was two sets of delegates were sent to the Dis- trict Convention, which met in Jonesboro. After two days spent by the convention in try- ing to determine the claims of the contending delegates from Pulaski, they referred the matter back to the people of the district, and adjourned. New county conventions were held, new dele- gates appointed, but the same difficulty pre- sented itself in Pulaski County, there being a Casey, and a Watkin's delegation, but with con- vincing evidence, that Casey's delegation repre- sented a majority of the Democrats of the county The district convention met in Cairo, and after two more days spent without making a nomina- tion, the convention adjourned for one week. Union County had seven delegates, Alexander four, and Pulaski three delegates. Before the convention adjourned, Watkins withdrew from the contest. When Union County cast her seven votes for Judge Naill, of Union, Alexander and Pulaski, having seven votes between them, cast their votes for Casey, which made a tie. Upon re-assembling, after the expiration of the week, balloting commenced and continued until late in the day, seven votes being cast for Naill, and seven for Casey, when Casey requested his name withdrawn from the Convention, which was done, when Judge Naill's name was also withdrawn, and Union County placed N. R. Casey again in nomination, when he re- ceived the unanimous vote of the convention, and thus ended one of the hottest contested scrambles for the Legislature that ever occurred in the State. Casey was elected by some 1,500 majority, his Republican opponent being a young man by the name of Cleser. When the Legislature met the following winter, it con- tained only twenty-four Democratic members, but going upon that promise, " Where two or three are gathered together," etc., they met be- fore the organization of the house and nominat- ed N. R. Casey, of Pulaski County, as the

Democratic candidate for Speaker. He received twenty-four votes and Franklin Cronin, the Republican candidate, forty-eight, Casey voting for Cronin and Cronin for Casey. In the forma- tion of the committees, Casey was placed upon the most important ones. In 1868, he was nominated by the Democratic Convention, without opposition, his Republican opponent being Dr. Taggert, of Cairo, but he was elected by a large majority. When the Legislature met in the winter of 1868-69, the Democratic members again nominated him for Speaker of the House ; but he was again defeated by Franklin Cronin, the Republican candidate. The redistricting of the State and the new Constitution of 1870, giving each Representa- tive District three members, of which the mi- nority would be entitled to one, placed Pulaski County with Johnson, Massac, Pope and Har- din Counties. The district in 1873 was thought to be in some doubt as to its political character, and when the Democratic Convention met at Golconda, they nominated two candidates for the Lower House, N. R. Casey and Dr. Low, both from Pulaski County. Casey was elected and two Republicans. When the General As- sembly met, the Republicans nominated Shelby M. Cullum, of Sangamon, for Speaker of the House, since Governor and now United States Senator. The Democrats nominated N. R. Casey, of Pulaski, for Speaker. Each candi- date received the full vote of his party, Cul- lum's majority being twenty. N. R. Casey made an active and an influential member, and enjoyed the confidence and good will not only of the Democratic members but the Repub- licans. During each term of the Legislature of which he was a member, he served upon the most important committees of the House. He made but few speeches, was not addicted to much talking when his constituents were not interested. He introduced but few bills, but passed those he did introduce. Among them, during his last term in the Legislature, was the

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MOUND CITY PRECINCT.

one appropriating $25,000 to build a monu- ment at the national cemetery at Mound City. When introduced, the idea of passing it was scouted pretty generally among the members, but it became a law. The subject of this brief sketch has been frequently spoken of as a fit Democratic candidate for Governor. Pulaski and other southern counties have, upon several occasions, instructed their delegates to State Conventions, to vote for him. His name has often been used in connection with other Democrats as a proper candidate for Con- gress. While he is not a politician, still he keeps himself posted upon the politics of the country, and never swerves from the Demo- cratic teaching of the fathers. In August, 1878, his wife died, having been stricken with paralysis more than two years before. This was a great loss to him. Five years have elapsed since her death, and he still keenly feels her loss. He has three children. His oldest, Ida M., married, in 1870, Col. D. B. Dyer, of Baxter Springs, Kan .; Dyer is now United States Indian Agent at the Quapaw Agency, Indian Territory, and they reside at the Agency; Frank R., a young man, who has reached his majority, and is now City Clerk of Mound City ; and Maude H. Casey, who will finish her education in another year. For more than a quarter of a century that he has lived in Mound City, he has taken and occupied a prominent position in everything that had for its object the interest of the place. Since 1874, the Doctor has been in the active practice of his profession, ignoring offers of offices.

L. F. CRAIN, Sheriff, Mound City, was born May 18, 1839, in Clark County, Ohio, near Springfield. His father Joseph M. Crain, a native of the same county, was born September 2, 1807. He was a farmer, came to Pulaski County, Ill., in 1870, and died in 1876. He was a son of John Crain, a native of Ireland, born in 1774, and died in Ohio in 1848, where he had settled in an early day. He was a participant in the

war of 1812. The mother of our subject was Delcenia A. (Donovan) Crain, a native of Clark County, Ohio, born 1812, and died in 1853. She was a daughter of William Donovan, and the mother of seven children, of whom six are now living. Our subject spent his early life at home, assisting to till the soil of his father's farm, and receiving such an education as could be obtained in the common schools of his na- tive county ; arriving at his majority, he em- barked on his career in life as a farmer and fruit-grower, and continued the same uninter- ruptedly until May, 1861, when he enlisted in the late war, serving in Company I, of the Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was appointed recruiting officer after serving his term of enlistment. He was wounded in the arm, and from its cause was honorably dis- charged from the service, and returned to his home in Pulaski County, and again engaged in farming, continuing the same until 1880, when he was elected Sheriff of the county, which he is now filling. Mr. Crain has been twice mar- ried ; first in 1870, to Miss Annis Murphy. who died in 1875, leaving one child, viz. : Nel- lie, born April 6, 1872. He married a second time Miss Dora Kennedy, who was born in 1853, in Pulaski County, Ill. This union has been blessed with one child, viz. : Earnest, born September, 20, 1880. Mr. Crain has served the county in many of its offices ; among them may be mentioned County Assessor and Treasurer. He is an active member of the or- der A., F. & A. M., Villa Ridge Lodge, No. 562, and a Republican in politics.

JAMES B. CRANDALL, attorney at law. Mound City, is a grandson of Ezekiel Crandall, a native of New York, who died in Ohio, aged almost one hundred and two years. He was of a long-lived race, and his eight children are yet living-Horace (aged one hundred and two years), Russell. James, Asief (the father of our subject), Saphrona, Lyman, Fannie and John. They have all been married, and have numer-

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ous descendants. Ezekiel Crandall cut his way with an ax from Cleveland, Ohio, to a place in Lorain County, a distance of twenty-four miles, through a dense forest. He settled on the land which was afterward occupied by Elyria, the county seat of Lorain County, where our sub- ject, James B. Crandall, was born April 10, 1837. His father, Asief Crandall, was born September 30, 1796, in New York. His wife, Eliza Ferris, was the mother of seven children -- Edwin, De- villow, Lucretia C., James B. our subject, Lu- sella C., Lorenzo and Frank, a merchant in Chicago. Our subject was educated in Ober- lin. Ohio. In early life, he taught school for many years in Ohio and Illinois. In 1856, he commenced the study of law with Clark. &

Burk, of Elyria, as his preceptors. After two years of study, he returned to Illinois, where he had previously taught school in 1855. July 3, 1858, he came to Pulaski County, where he taught in Grand Chain and Caledonia. In 1860, he was admitted to the bar at Mount Vernon, and commenced to practice in Caledonia. He came to Mound City in 1863 ; here he followed the mercantile business till 1865, when he once more took up his profession. The following year, he formed a partnership with D. W. Munn. now of Chicago. In 1871, he formed a part- nership with John Linegar, which continues to the present day. Mr. C. was married March 5, 1861. to Victoria Rigby, daughter of Capt. John W. Rigby of Caledonia. She died November 29, 1862, leaving two boys-Rolo A., born May 5, 1862, and Ernest A., born March 5, 1865 ; he

died. August 23, 1882, at Gray's Ridge, Mo., where he was a telegraph operator. Mr. Cran- dall was married a second time, March 5, 1869, in Delaware County, Penn., to Rebecca J. Craig, born July 29, 1840, in Pennsylvania, daughter of James Craig, and is the mother of Robert L., born July 29, 1870 ; Alpha B., born Novem- ber 23, 1872, and Bell P., born February 27, 1876. Mrs. Crandall is a member of the Metli- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Crandall is an A.,

F. & A. M., Cairo Lodge, No. 237. Has been County Treasurer of Pulaski County from 1865 to 1868 ; and for several years was a mem- ber of the City Council. Has also been City At- torney. In politics, he is a Democrat.

MRS. SARAH J. DEAHL, P. O. America, born July 17, 1823, at America, Pulaski County. She is a daughter of William and Catherine (French) Wilson. The former was born 1789 in Harrisburg, Penn., and died De- cember 29, 1856. The latter was a native of Pennsylvania, born March 9, 1777 ; she died March 7, 1877. They are mentioned in our general history. She was the mother of seven children, of whom four are living-Sarah J. (our subject), Elery P., William K. and Wash- ington B. ; the other three died in infancy. Our subject is the only one living. She went to the old subscription schools in this county. Here she was married, January 30, 1845, to Jacob Deahl, a native of Prussia, Germany, born February 20, 1809 ; he died in America June 2, 1876. He was a farmer and the father of seven children, viz. : Winifred (deceased), William R. (deceased), Washington L., Julia A. (deceased), Mary Jane (wife of John W. Boren, of Cairo), Catherine and Martha M. Mrs. Deall and two of her daughters are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, as was also her husband. Mr. Deahl was a man that stood high in the estimation of his fellow-men. Mrs. Deahl has a farm of 120 acres, provided by her exemplary husband.

W. L. DEAHL, farmer, P. O. America, was born February 9, 1850, in Pulaski County. He is a son of Jacob Deabl, born February 20, 1809, in Germany, a farmer by occupation. He came to the United States when a young man. He worked a few years in North Caro- lina, and then settled in this county, following farming. Here he married and was identified with the county more or less until his death, which occurred June 2, 1876. The mother of our subject was Sarah J. (Wilson) Deahl, born

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MOUND CITY PRECINCT.

July 17, 1823, in this county. She was a daughter of William and Catharine (French) Wilson, who may be classed among our old pioneers. They are mentioned in our general history. Our subject was educated in the common schools of this county. He has made farming his vo- cation. He was joined in matrimony here, June 28, 1877, to Miss Anna Dunn, born June 28, 1848, in this county, daughter of Benjamin F. and Jane (Bowman) Dunn. Mrs. Anna Deahl is the mother of one child now living, Lafayette Deahl, born September 10, 1881. Mr. Deahl has been Constable in this precinct for four years, and is one of our wide- awake young farmers.

JOHN DISHINGER, mechanie, Mound City, was born May 5, 1830, in Strasbourg, France. His grandfather, John Dishinger, was a native of Baden, Germany, born in 1798. He was reared and educated in his native place, and there learned the wagon-maker's trade and worked at the same until 1843, when he emigrated to America, and settled in Jas- per, Dubois Co., Ind., and there died in 1858. His wife, our subject's mother, was a native of France. She was burned to death in a house, at the age of ninety-five years, in Indiana. John Dishinger, our subject, was educated in Baden-Baden, Germany, and Louisville, Ky., and at the latter place learned the wagon-mak- er's and blacksmith's trades, and worked there until 1853, when he removed to Jasper, Ind., and there remained three years. In 1857, he came to Mound City, Ill., where he has since condueted a carpenter, wagon and blacksmithı shop. In Jasper, Ind., in 1853, he married Miss Frederika Bachtel, a native of Wurtem- berg, Germany, born in 1830. They have five children-Joseph, Lizzie, John, Mary and Charley. Mr. and Mrs. Dishinger are members of the Catholic Church.

A. J. DOUGHERTY, manufacturer, Mound City, is a native of Trinity, Ill., born Septem- ber 4, 1843, and a son of James Dougherty, a

native of the East. Our subjeet was reared and educated in Mound City, and after com- pleting his education engaged in merehandis- ing business from 1860 until 1869, the first four years as clerk and afterward on his own account. In 1869, in partnership with his unele, William Dougherty, he engaged in the saw mill business, and in 1870 began the manu- facture of staves, in which he has since continued. Mr. Dougherty has been twice married ; in 1867, to Miss Albertine Hurd, who died the following year, leaving one son, William A., who was born June 8, 1868. In 1873, he mar- ried Miss Fannie Cheek, born January 12, 1852, in Aurora, Ind., a daughter of George and Alta (Bailey) Cheek. She is the mother of the following children : Andrew J., born April 28, 1874; Fannie M., born March 10, 1879; and Ethel. born September 9, 1881. Mr. Dougherty and wife are exemplary mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the orders A., F. & A. M., K. of H. and Good Templars. In polities, he is Democratic. He is an enterprising, industri- ous man, who is honored and respected by all, and who is never laggard in promoting good caus- es and general enterprises. In 1870, he employed about ten men. Since then he has developed the business to such an extent that at present, under the head of the Mound City Stave Fac- tory, he employs about 100 men in the woods and factory, adding machinery from time to time till at present it is one of the largest fac- tories of its kind in Southern Illinois. Mr. Dougherty was one of the first to introduce the building of gravel roads, and for the last three years has been instrumental in building them by subscription. He is a strong Prohibitionist, and an active worker in the public and Sunday Schools, of which latter he is a faithful Superin- tendent.

F. A. FAIR, Mound City, contractor and builder, was born June 13, 1823, on Ches- apeake Bay, Maryland, son of Charles

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Fair. born 1787, in Taneytown, Md. When quite young, he removed to Pennsylvania, where he stayed with his parents, who were natives of Germany, till he was sixteen years old. He then went to Baltimore, where he learned the carpenter's trade, following it ten years. Since then he has been engaged mostly in farming and stock-raising in Maryland and Ohio. He died in 1838. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth (Marr) Fair, born 1790 in Baltimore. She died 1854 in Dayton, Ohio. She was a daughter of Walter Marr, 'grandson of the Earl of Marr, of Scotland. John Marr, father of Walter Marr, was captured while crossing the ocean, and was put to death, to- gether with the crew. The heirs of the Marr family for the last forty years have made researches for the old Earl's will and testament- al papers. Mrs. Elizabeth Marr was the mother of thirteen children, of whom six are now liv- ing. Our subject only enjoyed one winter term of school. At the age of fifteen, he began to learn the mason trade in Dayton, Ohio, which he has followed most of his life. He has worked at his trade in New Orleans, Madison, Indiana and Missouri. In 1856, he settled in Mound City, where he followed his occupation most of his time. He was also owner and keeper of wharf and steamboats, and during the war sur- veyor of the port. His last wharf boat burned in 1875. He kept hotel for two years, and since then has followed his trade. Mr. Fair was mar- ried, January 4, 1853, in New Albany. Ind., to Miss Sophia Kopp, born December 4, 1832, in Steubenville, Ohio, daughter of George and Bar- bara (Genther) Kopp. The result of this union was five children, now living, viz. : Anna E., wife of Loren D. Stophlet ; Dora F., wife of Will- iam Biggerstaff ; Katie, wife L. J. Mall ; Frank A. and Eddie. Mr. Fair has been a Democrat since Horace Greeley ran for President.

W. T. FREEZE, lawyer, Mound City, is one of the most prominent of his profession in Pulaski County. He is of German descent, a

native of Tennessee, born December 1, 1844. His father, John L. Freeze, is a native of same State, born in January, 1824, he came to Illinois in 1848, and settled in Union County, and was engaged as contractor for the stone work of the Illinois Central Railroad Company for five years. In 1870, he removed to Howell County, Mo., where he now resides. His wife, and mother of our subject, Mary E. (Campbell) Freeze, was also a native of Tennessee. she was born February 27, 1824 ; she was a daughter of William and Mary (Stone) Campbell, and was the mother of nine children, of whom five are now living. She died January 10, 1865. Our subject was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools of Union County ; when a young man learned the carpenter trade of his father. August 19, 1862, at seventeen years of age, he enlisted in the late war, serv- ing in Company H, of the Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out of the service at Little Rock, Ark., July 10, 1865, at the time was Hospital Steward, a position he had held for thirteen months. He was in the following battles : Parker's Cross Roads, where he was wounded in the leg, and still carries the bullet, was also in the battles of Mount Elbe and siege of Vicksburg. After the war. he attended for a short time the University of Michigan, and then engaged in farming in Union County on the old home farm. In 1870, he gave up farming, and began teaching schools during the winter seasons, and working at his trade in the summer. In 1866, he began the study of law, and in August, 1881, passed his examination before the Appellate Court of Mount Vernon, Ill., and was admitted to the bar. He had previously been Police Magis- trate of Dongola, Ill., but resigned the office on being admitted to the bar. In September, 1881, he came to Mound City, and entered upon the practice of his profession, which he has followed in connection with duties as Deputy County Clerk. In 1867, on the 22d

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of October, he married Emma Hoffner, a native of Pulaski County, born July 26, 1845 ; she is a daughter of Judge Caleb and Melia (Knupp) Hoffner. He is a member of the Christian Church, and she of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; he is an active member of Masons, Villa Ridge Lodge, No. 250, and in politics is a Republican.

F. G. FRICKE, druggist, Mound City, born April 6, 1846, in Brunswick, Germany, son of August F. G. Fricke, born 1812, in Hanover. He is yet living in Brunswick, where he was a custom house officer ; he is now retired from active service and receives a pension. The mother of our subject was Caroline Buchring ; she was born February 23, 1820, in Germany, where she yet resides, being the mother of ten children, of whom six are now living, viz .: Louis, George, Albert, Dora, Newkirch, Her- mine and Frederick G., our subject, who is the oldest. He was educated in Germany, where he also learned the drug business. In Janu- ary, 1866, he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York. From there he went to Richmond, Va., where he clerked in a drug store, until the fall of 1867, when he left for St. Louis, where he clerked till April, 1869. He then came to Mound City, where he bought Frank Tourelle's drug store. In 1880, he built a two-story brick building, in which he keeps the only drug store in town. He was joined in matrimony, in Williamsport, Penn., September 3, 1871, to Miss Emma Niemeyer, born February 22, 1849, in Gr. Schwuelper, Hanover, Germany. She is a daughter of Charles Niemeyer, a former pastor of a Lu- theran Church, but now retired, living in Brunswick. Her mother was Sophia Gade, who died in April, 1883. Mrs. Emma Fricke is the mother of four children, viz .: Dora, born October 2, 1872 ; Carl, born October 2, 1875 ; Albert, born November 12, 1878, and Fred- erick, born June 20, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Fricke are religiously connected with the Lu-

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 112

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