History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 116

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 116
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 116
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 116

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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Beaty. She was born in Pulaski County, Ill., May 24, 1846, daughter of David and Phoebe A. (Kennedy) Beaty, both of whom were born in Hamilton County, Ohio, he in 1812, she October 28, 1815. They were married July 15, 1841. He died of cholera, in Cairo, July 11, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Butler have two children -Cecil G., born November 15, 1873, and Myr- tle May, born March 29, 1876. In politics, he is Republican. Is a member of the I. O. of G. T .; also of the G. A. R.

S. A. COLWELL, fruit and vegetable grower, P. O. Mound City, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., November 28, 1842, to Archi- bald and Sarah (Seaman) Colwell. Both were born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and still reside there, and he still continues to follow his occu- pation of boot and shoe maker. They are the parents of five children, four of whom are still living, S. A. being the oldest child. Our sub- ject received his education in the State Normal school at Albany, N. Y., completing with the class of 1860. He began teaching during his course at school. After graduating, he was in the employ of the New York & Erie R. R. Com- pany for about one year. Then to Nashville, Tenn., where he was in a railroad office for about eighteen months in the employ of the Govern- ment. He still followed railroading, and the express business till coming West in 1866. In 1869, he settled in this county, and commenced teaching and fruit farming. August 1, 1869, he was married in Jackson County, Ill., to Nan- nie Norman. She was born in Franklin County, Ill., April 1, 1846, to John and Nancy (Hall) Norman. She was born in North Carolina, but moved to Franklin County when only about five years old, and is now about seventy-nine years of age. He died when Mrs. Colwell was only about four years of age. They were the parents of nine children, three now living. In politics, he is Republician. November, 1876, he was elected County Superintendent of Public Instruction, and served his term with credit to himself and county.

J. P. CONYERS, farmer, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Pulaski County, Ill., October 10, 1827. He is the son of John Conyers, who was born in Tennessee, 1792, but who was one of the earliest settlers in Pulaski County, com- ing when there were but about four families in what is now Alexander and Pulaski Counties. The Conyers family settled about four miles above the mouth of Cache River. John Con- yers was one of a family of five girls and three boys ; only one of the family now living, Bart- lett Conyers, who was born April 14, 1795, and lives now near Springfield, Ill. John Conyers was married in this county to Catherine Ath- erton. She was born near Green River, Ky., and her parents came to this State in 1816, settling one and a half miles west of Villa Ridge. Mr. Conyers died, 1844, in Missouri. She died about two years previous. They were the parents of eight children ; but by a previous marriage he had three children ; his first wife died in Tennessee, previous to his removal to Illinois. His occupation was that of farming and stock-raising. When our subject was about eighteen months old he moved to Mis- souri, and it was there he died. In his seven- teenthi year, our subject returned to this county. September 12, 1850, he was married to Diana L. Atherton. She was born in this county, 1825, to John and Eunice Atherton, both of whom are dead. Mrs. C. is the only one of a family of ten children who are now living. When first married they settled near Goose Is- land, Alexander County, but in 1863 came to his present farm, which contains 170 acres. He has besides this two other farms, containing respectively 80 and 160 acres. About 240 acres are in cultivation; general farming receives his attention. Mr. and Mrs. Conyers have five children dead ; and only one son, Francis Marion, living. In politics, he is Democratic.

C. C. DAVIDSON, fruit farmer and black- smith, Villa Ridge, was born in Wyoming County, N. Y., October 16, 1852, to James J. and Lucy (Comstock) Davidson, he a native of

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New Jersey, she of New England. He is still living and in Cairo, Ill. He is a carpenter. To them eight children were born, seven of whom are still living. Our subject was reared in New York and received his education there, and also learned the trade of blacksmith. Com- pleting his term as apprentice, he came to this county in 1870, and has been in Southern Illi- nois since, working at his trade in Cairo with J. Gamble for some time, also at Villa Ridge ; then again at Cairo, where he had a shop of his own for a short time. In 1873, he again returned to Villa Ridge Precinct, and worked at fruit raising. In 1880, he built a shop on his farm, and works at his trade part of his time, but is also engaged in fruit and vegetable growing, and has been quite successful in rais- ing strawberries. October 16, 1878, he was married to Maggie Scheirick, daughter of B. H. Scheirick, whose sketch appears elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have two children-Min- nie Laura and Annie Elizabeth. He is a mem- ber of Villa Ridge Patrons of Husbandry, also I. O. G. T. In politics, he is a Greenbacker.

W. B. EDSON, druggist. Villa Ridge, was born on Chautauqua Lake, New York, Novem- ber 16, 1820, to Obed and Sarah (Scott) Edson. She was born on the east of the Green Mount- ains, Vermont, and was one of a family of thir- teen children, all of whom reached maturity. He was a native of Madison County, N. Y., and was a descendant of one of three brothers who came to America previous to the Revolu- tionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Edson lived to cel- ebrate the sixtieth anniversary of their mar- riage. They were the parents of six sons and · four daughters-two sons and three daughters still survive. During his life he had been en- gaged in different occupations, and resided in several States. While in Pennsylvania he rep- resented his district in the State Legislature for some time. Was a member of the Board of County Commissioners in this (Pulaski) county. He died in his eighty-second year, and she in

her seventy-eighth. When our subject was seven years of age, he moved with his parents to Pennsylvania, settling on the Conewango River. When he was nineteen years of age, he began the study of medicine. He attended one course of lectures at Geneva, N. Y., but did not like the profession, so never completed the course, but has been engaged in different busi- ness occupations since. In 1843, he began farming in Chautauqua County, N. Y. In 1852, went to California to mine, but remained only for a short time, and in the spring of 1853 en- gaged in the drug business at MeHenry, Ill., also in general mercantile business, etc. March 10, 1863, he enlisted in the army for three years or during the war, and joined the Third Ill- inois Cavalry at Germantown, Tenn, as Hospital Steward. He remained only for about three months, when he was selected as First Lieuten- an't of a colored regiment, he being among the first to answer Gen. Thomas' call for men to officer a colored regiment. Mr. Edson was af- terward promoted to the captaincy of his com- pany, and all but twenty men in his company were killed at Fort Pillow. After coming from the service in 1865, he located in Pulaski County, and engaged in fruit-growing till 1870, when he again embarked in the drug trade, but still has a fruit farm on the west of the vil- lage. He was one of the charter members of the McHenry Lodge, I. O. O. F., one of the early lodges in the State, and is Lodge Deputy of I. O. of G. T. In politics, is Republican. and has held different offices in the county, be- ing County Commissioner, and when his pres- ent term of office shall have expired, he will have completed fifteen years as Justice of the Peace. In religion, he is a member of the M. E. Church. In 1843, in Chautauqua County, N. Y., he was married to Cordelia Curtis. She was born in that county, daughter of Ransom Curtis, a native of New York. Mrs. Edson died in Pulaski County, Ill., August, 1866, the result of this union being two children, viz. :

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Ransom Curtis (deceased), and Mary, now Mrs. Henry Weaver, of Chautauqua County, N. Y. September 11, 1867, Mr. Edson was married to his present wife, Mrs. Catherine (Hosmer) Stod- dard. She was born at Avon Springs, N. Y., daughter of George Hosmer. (See sketch of C. A. Hosmer.) By her first husband she has one son and one daughter, viz. : Edwin B. Stoddard, Villa Ridge; and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Charles Fosdick-" Harry Castleman," a writer of note.

GEORGE W. ENDICOTT, farmer and fruit grower, P. O. Villa Ridge, whose portrait ap- pears in this volume, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, July 25. 1839, and is a son of Charles and Lucinda (Snedeker) Endicott. She was born in Loudoun County, Va., August 15, 1819, and he in Berks County, Penn., August 16, 1813. The Endicott family are all descended from old Gov. Endicott, of Massachusetts, and his brother, Mark Endicott. Many of them were soldiers, and those who were not able to bear arms. attained considerable note as horticulturists. Mark Endicott planted the Endicott pears at Salem, Mass., which are still fruiting. after two hundred and fifty years. The grandfather of our subject, and all his brothers, served in the United States Navy, and he and two brothers were in our war with Tripoli, under Commodore Decatur. He after- ward settled in Pennsylvania, and devoted his attention to horticulture, but some years later moved to Ohio, and was one of the first men to plant out a grafted orchard, and to introduce the science of grafting fruit in that State. Charles Endicott followed in the footsteps of his father, and was a farmer and fruit-grower ; his health being delicate he was refused admis- sion into the army during our war with Mexico. He continued a resident of Ohio until 1864, when he came to Illinois, and died soon after (September 18, 1864), at the home of his son (our subject) in this county. His wife died May 29, 1864. They were the parents of four

sons and two daughters ; two of the sons and one daughter died in childhood. The other brother of our subject served in the late civil war, and returned home just in time to die from exposure while performing his duty as a soldier. He was one of the command sent to spike the enemy's cannon at Island No. 10, and took cold from which he never recovered. Our subject's only living sister Mrs. N. W. Galbraith, resides in Wayne County, Ill. Mr. Endicott (subject) had but few educational ad- vantages. At the age of seventeen years, he went on the river for the purpose of learning the duties of a pilot, and was engaged on a steamboat running between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh ; but disliking river life, he left it. and September 15, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany I, of the Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for two years and ten months, and then was discharged on ac- count of wounds received. He was at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinthi. Vicks- burg, Arkansas Post, Black River Bridge, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and with Sherman in his " march to the sea;" partici- pating in forty-six battles and skirmishies, and receiving twelve wounds ; he still carries rebel lead in his body. After returning from the army he settled down to farming in Wayne County, Ill., and continued there until Decem- ber 25, 1867, when he removed to this county. and began the improvement of his present farm, which was then all in the woods. He has since been engaged extensively in horticult. ure, and is one of the most successful fruit- growers in Pulaski County. His farm consists of 140 acres, in a good state of cultivation and with excellent farm buildings and improve- ments. He has fifty-five acres in fruits, as follows : Seven and a half acres in vineyard ; twenty-three acres in peaches ; thirteen in strawberries ; three in Bartlett pears ; four in apples, etc. He has been very successful in all his fruit-raising, except with apples, which

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have not paid in a commercial point of view. Mr. Endicott is a good writer and has con- tributed some excellent articles on horticult- ure, his best effort, perhaps, being the chapter in this work devoted to agriculture and horti- culture of Pulaski County. He was married April 29, 1863, to Miss Martha Galbraith, of Wayne County, Ill., born April 9, 1841, and a daughter of Wiley and Elizabeth Galbraith. Mr. and Mrs. Endicott have seven children, four boys and three girls, viz .: Ed C., Louis E., Charles W., Georgianna, Maud, Mary and Robert B. Mr. Endicott is a member of the Villa Ridge Grange, and in politics, is perfect- ly independent, supporting the men he deems best fitted for the offices they seek.

JOSEPH ESSEX, farmer, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Davidson County, N. C., March 23, 1817, to Joseph and Susan Essex, he born in Kentucky. His father (the grandfather of our subject) was one of the early explorers of Ken- tucky, but the Indians becoming so bad, had to leave the State, and on his return to North Caro- lina Joseph Essex, Sr., was born. The mother of our subject died in North Carolina, but his father came to Illinois, and died in Union County. They were the parents of five chil- dren who reached maturity, our subject and one brother and sister now living. September, 1839, he came to Illinois, and settled in We- taug Pulaski County, but in the spring of 1847 came to his present farm, which contains 105 acres, nearly all in cultivation ; on this he does general farming and fruit-growing. By trade, Mr. Essex is a tanner and shoe-maker, and while at Wetaug had a small tannery. At Wetaug, December 25, 1842, he was married to his first wife, Catherine Sowers, daughter of David and Margaret Sowers. They were from North Carolina, but came to this State at an early date, and died here. Mrs. Essex died January 18, 1866. By her, he had nine chil- dren, Alexander (deceased), Amanda Jane, James W., Mary E. (deceased), Charlotte L.,

Madora Ann, Emma Adelia, Joseph Warren and Thomas D. August, 1867, he was mar- ried to Jane Elizabeth Parker, widow of Will- iam Parker. She was born in this county to Joseph and Lucinda Lackey. Four children have been the result of this union-Ida Lucinda, George Harrison, Catherine T. and Noah H. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Essex are members of the Baptist Church.

H. C. FEARNSIDE, box-manufacturer, Villa Ridge, was born in Wood County, Ohio, No- vember 15, 1858, to William and Elizabeth (Crain) Fearnside ; he, born in New York ; she in Ohio. She died in this county in 1879. He is still living, and by trade is a carpenter. To them, two sons and one daughter were born. who are now living. When our subject was two years of age, his parents moved to New York, and lived at Albany and Catskill on the Hud- son till 1874, when they removed to Delaware, but in 1875 came to Villa Ridge. Our subject received his education in the High School of Albany, and grammar school of Catskill, N. Y. Since coming to Villa Ridge he has been en - gaged in the manufacturing of fruit boxes. Up till 1880 he worked with his uncle, L. F. Crain. He then bought out the establishment. He has capacity for the daily manufacture of about 1,000 24-quart crates, and during the busiest season employs about twenty-four hands. He buys the material ready sawed, then manufact- ures and sells, his sales for 1883 being about 550,000 quart boxes. 40,000 one-third bushel boxes, and 5,000 bushel boxes ; the sales being about $6,000. His building is two-stories, 24x60 feet. He also has cooling rooms ; main building, 24x45 feet; loading room, 10x45 feet ; capacity, twelve cars per day. He uses the condensed steam ice. Mr. Fearnside's father is also with him in the business, and they are engaged in fruit raising, especially of straw- berries. As soon as the fruit shipping season is over, they engage in buying apples, poultry, etc., through Southern Illinois, and ship to

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northern markets. In politics, they are Repub- licans.

JOSEPH GAMBLE, station agent, Villa Ridge, was born in Perry County, Ill., March 28, 1844, to William and Rebecca ( Hood) Gam- hle. They were both born in the north of Ire- land, and came to, America in early life, she when about fourteen years of age, and he sev- enteen. He died in Perry County, Ill., August 19, 1879. She is still living, and in Tamaroa, Ill. His occupation was that of farmer. Of their family of three sons and one danghter, only Joseph and Robert now survive. Robert is living at Tamaroa. September 3, 1867, our subject began learning telegraphy in the I. C. R. R. office at Tamaroa, under Mr. Holt. He re- mained there till October 2,1872, when he became agent at Chester, Ill., for the St. Louis Coal Road. At Chester, he remained for two years. April 5, 1875, he took his present position at Villa Ridge. He is now station and express agent and operator at Tamaroa. October 24, 1870, he was married to Alice Price. She was born in Wilmington, Del., daughter of Edwin and Sarah A. Price. They came to Perry, Ill., when she was quite small. His occupation was that of druggist. He died at Tamaroa, April 7, 1873 ; she, April, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Gamble have one son-James C., living ; one son and one daughter dead. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. In poli- tics, he is Republican.

W. H. GOE, fruit and vegetable grower, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Greene County, Ohio, November, 1840, to John and Catherine (Crawford) Goe. He was born in Virginia, she in Kentucky, but both had come to Illinois in early life. She died in Greene County, Ohio ; he in this county, in 1873. His occupation was that of a farmer. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are now living. Our subject has devoted his time to farming and fruit-growing. August. 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer

Infantry, as non-commissioned officer. He served for nearly three years, being mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, June, 1865. He was at Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Stone River, etc., and with Sherman on the march to the sea. September 7, 1870, he was married in Cairo, Ill., to Lucinda Brigham. She was born in Pennsylvania, to George and Amy Brigham. He is dead, but she is now living, and about seveny-three years of age. When sixty-five years of age, she was married to her present husband, who then was seventy-five. Mrs. Goe came to Illinois, when about sixteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Goe have three children, viz. : Nina, Reader and Julia. He is Republican in politics, and a member of the order Patrons of Husbandry. In 1872, Mr- Goe came to Pulaski County, and settled on his present farm, which, at the time was but partially improved. Now he has the farm in a high state of cultivation.

GEORGE GOULD, fruit grower, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Ireland July 8, 1837, to Richard and Ann (Adams) Gould. They were both natives of Ireland, but moved to Canada, when our subject was about seven years of age. She died in Canada, at the age of eighty-four years ; he in Mississippi, at about the same age His trade was that of miller. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom still survive. Our subject received his education in the free schools of Canada. When seventeen years of age, he began learning the carpenter trade, and followed that occupation till 1868, when he came to his present farm, which was then all in the woods, but now is in a high state of cultivation. He gives most of his attention to the growing of peaches, grapes and strawberries, and in this he has been very successful, but his success has been attained through his own energy and application to the business in hand. In 1860, Mr. Gould left Canada and came to Cairo, Ill., and made that his home till coming to the farm. November

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7. 1863. he was married in Canada, to Anna L. Clitherow. She was born in Canada, August 18. 1846, to Robert and Anna Clitherow. He died when Mrs. Gould was small, but she is still living in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Gould have four children living-William E., Lillie M .. George W. and Bertha M. Mr. G. is a member of the Villa Ridge Lodge, A., F. & A. M. In politics, he is Democratic.

W. R. HOOPPAW. Sr., retired, Villa Ridge, was born in Pulaski County June 13, 1830. He is the son of M. R. Hooppaw, who came from South Carolina to this county about 1820. He was a man who delighted in hunting, but did not give his whole time to the sport. He opened up a farm, and was Sheriff of Alexander County for eight years. (That was before Pu- laski was cut off.) While Sheriff of the county, he sold the land on which Cairo now stands. He was, in later life, County Judge of Pulaski County. Up to the time of his settlement in this county, he had followed steamboating. Was married in Pulaski County to Malinda Kennedy. She was born in Ohio, sister of T. C. Kennedy, an old resident of the county. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom are still living-W. R., Thomas and David. Our subject has resided in the imme- diate vicinity of Villa Ridge all his life, and for thirty two years has been in the mercantile business in different towns in Southern Illinois - Pulaski, Hodge's Park, Cairo, but most of the time at Villa Ridge. In the fall of 1882, he sold out his store to Mr. G. H. Lufkin, and so is out of the mercantile business for the pres- ent. He has a farm of eighty acres near town, but resides in Vil.a Ridge. September 19, 1850, he was married in this county to Miss E. J. Lewis. She was born in Mississippi, daugh- ter of A. E. Lewis, deceased. (See sketch of A. W. Lewis, Pulaski Precinct.) Mr. and Mrs. Hooppaw have had twelve children, nine of whom are living-M. L. (deceased), Almira G., Lenora A., Maranett V., W. R., Warren C., Ida

Belle, George W., Walter T., Laura M. (de- ceased), Oscar, Bartie C. (deceased). He is a member of Villa Ridge Lodge, A., F. & A. M. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is Repub- lican.

W. R. HOOPPAW, Jr., lumberman, Villa Ridge. Among the energetic business men of this precinct, we find the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He was born in Pulaski County January 7, 1860, and is the son of W. R. Hooppaw, Sr., whose sketch appears in this work. Our subject was reared and educated in this county. Most of his early life was spent in his father's store. In 1881 and 1882, he was engaged in the man- ufacture of fruit boxes in Villa Ridge. Late in the summer of 1882, his factory and material were all burned. In the spring of 1883, he en- gaged in his present business of saw milling with Mr. G. A. Pavey. Their mill is located about one mile north of Villa Ridge, and was erected in 1882 for the purpose of sawing gum timber. The mill has a capacity of about 5,000 feet daily, and Messrs. Pavey & Hooppaw have a contract for furnishing 1,000,000 feet of gum lumber to the Singer Sewing Machine Company of Cairo, at $12 per 1,000 feet, at the yard in Villa Ridge. August 28, 1882, he was married to Miss Lucy Codle. Mr. Hooppaw is a member of no society, and takes but little part in politics.

T. S. HOSLER, horticultarist, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., April 12, 1840, to Israel and Sarah (Everet) Hosler. Both died in Pickaway County, Ohio. where they moved when our subject was small. In 1861, Mr. Hosler enlisted in Company K, Fifty-fifth Ohio Infantry, Col. Lee. He went out as a private, but was promoted successively to First Lieutenantcy. He veteranized and served for four years and three months. He was in some of the hardest fights that occurred during the war. At the battles of Bull Run and at

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Chancellorsville, Va., and was there captured and taken to Libby Prison, but after thirty days got out on an exchange. He was in Gen. Hooker's Corps that charged the summit of Lookout Mountain in the fog, and was with Sherman on the march to the sea, and at the grand review in Washington at the close of the war. During a transfer from Louisville to Nashville, he was severely injured by falling under the cars, and the injury resulted in the loss of sight in the left eye. His occupa- tion since being mustered out of the serv- ice has been quite changeable, for four years in the grocery and feed business at Up- per Sandusky, Ohio, then as builder and con- tractor at Ft. Wayne, Ohio, such being his trade ; afterward doing carpenter work in the car shops at Terre Haute, Ind. and Mattoon, Ill. He then went to Chicago, where he again engaged in contracting and building. After the last big fire in Chicago, he came to this county and bought his present farm, and has been engaged in fruit and vegetable growing since, and has been very successful. He has twice been married, first in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, in 1861, to Martha Midlam. She was born in Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg. Two sons were the result of this union, viz., Har- land and Pliny. In Chicago, he was married to his second wife, Mrs. F. W. Savage. Mr. Savage was a son of F. W. Savage, commis- sion merchant of Chicago. By her first hus- band, she had one daughter, Lottie Belle. Mr. and Mrs. Hosler have four children-Daisy May, Ernest Hayes, Nellie and Gracie. He and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In politics, he is Republican, casting his first vote for A. Lincoln.

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 116

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