History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 117

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 117
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 117
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 117

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).

C. A. HOSMER, retired attorney and coun- selor at law, Villa Ridge, was born at Avon, N. Y., June 14, 1818, and is the only surviving son of Hon. George Hosmer, who at the time of his death was one of the oldest and most prominent members of the bar in Western New

York. He served for two terms in the New York State Legislature. Our subject is a lineal descendent of Revolutionary stock-one of his family and name, Rufus Hosmer, being among the first whose blood was shed at Concord. In Mr. Hosmer's parlor hangs the certificate of his grandfather, Hon. Timothy Hosmer, who was a surgeon in the Sixth Connecticut Regiment. He was a member of the society of the Cin- cinnati, a society formed at the close of the Revolution, by officers who had served during the war. George Hosmer, the father of our subject, was a Major in the war of 1812, and took part in the defense at the time Buffalo was burned. During the late unhappy rebellion, several of our subjeet's nearest kin shed their blood on the field of battle, in defense of the Union, and one brother was sacrificed, being made a prisoner at the time of Wilson's Cavalry Raid upon Richmond, in 1862. He died after months of suffering in Andersonville Prison. Mr. Hosmer studied law under his father, and was admitted to the practice in the courts of the State, and also of the United States. In 1855, he removed west and located at Lock- port, Will Co., Ill., but soon found that the elimate was too changeable and severe on him- self and wife, so removed to his present resi- dence in 1856. They soon found that the genial climate of Southern Illinois was bene- ficial, and they have - both entirely recovered from their catarrhal troubles, with which they had been afflicted for years. Mr. Hosmer re- sides on a farm one mile west of Villa Ridge, on the place formerly the residence of Dr. Daniel Arter, known and distinguished forty years ago as the house with the " glass windows." This place is situated on the Thebes and Caledonia road, the finest continuons high- way north of Cairo, running across the State from river to river, and is near enough to each river so that the whistle can often be heard from the boats. Mr. H. has long since retired from the arduous duties of his profession, and

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is trying to enjoy the latter days of an active life on a small fruit farm, where he can better rest from professional duties. He can now realize the words of the poet as applying to the pleasant clime he has chosen for his home :

" Look now abroad, the scene how changed! Where fifty fleeting years ago, Clad in their savage costumes, ranged The belted lords of shaft and bow.

"In praise of pomp let fawning art Carve rocks to triumph over years, The grateful incense of the heart We give our living pioneers.

" For our undaunted pioneers, Have conquest most enduring won, In scattering the night of years, And opening forests to the sun."

HALLECK JOHNSON, fruit-grower, P. O. Villa Ridge. Among the young men in this pre- cinet who have engaged in fruit-growing, and have made a success of it, we find the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He was born in Wayne County, Ill., October 28, 1861, to Dr. William M. and Mary A. (Gal- braith) Johnson. She was born in Illinois ; he in Tennessee, but when about five years old he left Tennessee and came to Jefferson County, Ill., where he resided till the fall of 1861, thence to Wayne County, and has made that his home since. He has been engaged in the practice of medicine for about twenty-eight years. They are the parents of nine children, eight of whom are now living. Our subject was educated in the graded schools of Johnson- ville, and remained at home till March, 1880, when he came to Villa Ridge, and stayed with his uncle, G. W. Endicott, the first year, learn- ing all he could of the fruit business. Al- though starting with nothing, he now has a nice farm in a good state of cultivation. He is member of the Villa Ridge Lodge, Patrons of Husbandry, also Meridian Lodge I. O. G. T. and of the A., F. & A. M., of Johnsonville. In polities, he is a Republican.

I. H. KELLY, physician, Villa Ridge, was born in Ohio in 1853, to H. S. and Gemima M. (Moore) Kelly. They were both natives of Ohio, she born in Portsmouth, he in Scioto County. He died in Pope County, Ill., in 1869 ; she, however, still survives. To them eight children were born, seven of whom are still living, our subject being the youngest of the family. He was reared on a farm, and re- ceived his common school education in Pope County, Ill., and at Duquoin. In 1873. he began the study of medicine, and completed the medical course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1880. In 1878, he began practicing his profession in Pope County, Ill., under Dr. Lewis, and after graduation continued in the practice in Pope County till November, 1882, when he came to Villa Ridge, where he has begun to build up a practice, and meets with encouraging success in his chosen school, that of the Regular. The Doctor resides about one mile east of the village, where he is also engaged in the fruit and vegetable business. Previ- ous to beginning the practice of medicine, the Doctor had been engaged in teaching and clerking. April, 1878, he was married in Sa- line, Ill., to Henrietta Lewis. She was born in Saline, daughter of Robert Lewis, farmer and school teacher. She has also engaged in teach- ing. Dr. Kelly is a member of the I. O. G. T He and wife are members of the Baptist Church. The fathers of each were ministers in the same church. He takes but little part in politics, but is Independent.

J. H. KINKER, fruit grower, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Franklin County, Ind., Oct. 23, 1836, to J. H. and Mary Ann (Boehmer) Kinker. They were both born in the Kingdom of Hanover, came to America in 1832, and both died in Indiana. To them seven children were born, five of whom are still living. Our sub- ject was reared in a small village, where his father kept a family grocery store and was also

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engaged in farming. Our subject received most of his education in the public schools of his native village, then attended college for one year at Vincennes, Ind. In early life, he began school teaching, and followed that for three years, when he engaged in farming and contin- ued till 1868, when he sold his farm and re- moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was en- gaged in the family grocery business for six years. In 1874, he came to Illinois and en- gaged in farming and fruit growing. His farm contains 120 acres, in good state of cultivation. November 23, 1858, he was married in Indiana to Catherine Walker. She was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, but came to the United States of America when she was small. She is daughter of Anthony Walker. Mr. Kinker is a member of Patrons of Husbandry, also of Villa Ridge Lodge, A., F. & A. M. In politics, he is Independent.

N. N. KOONCE, farmer and fruit grower, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born at Harper's Ferry, Va., October 24, 1830, to Nicholas and Elizabeth (Shriver) Koonce. Both were born in Loudoun County. Va .. he in 1788, she, in 1792. He died in 1859, she, May 7, 1883, at the age of ninety years and six months. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living. The oldest son is conductor on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and has been for over forty years. In the fall of 1840, part of the family moved to Bond County, Ill., and the remainder in 1841. Our subject was educated in Bond County. Ifis occupation has most of his life been that of farming. September, 1864, he moved to Pulaski County, Ill., and settled on his present farm then in the woods. His farin contains eighty acres all in cultivation. He gives his attention to fruit and vegetable grow- ing. When first coming here, he engaged the lumber business, and continued in that for six years, doing considerable shipping. He was married November 20, 1854, to Margaret Phillips. She was born in Uniontown, Penn.,

to D. H. and Elizabeth Phillips, who moved to Bond County, Ill., in 1852, the mother died there soon afterwards. The father died in Vir- ginia, while on a visit there. Mr. and Mrs. Koonce have seven children, Eliza, L. H., Ida N., Dasie, Harry E., Allie E. and J. Eliner. Mr. Koonce is member of the Pations of Hus- bandry, and is greenback in politics.

JOSEPH LUFKIN, fruit grower, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in North Yarmouth, Cumber- land County, Me., 1805, to Jacob B. and Betsie (Ludden) Lufkin. They both died in Maine. They were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are still living, the youngest being sixty-four years of age. Our subject remembers many incidents of the war of 1812. He was reared on a farm, farming being his father's occu- pation. He remained at home till 1825, and during that year he was present at the laying of the corner stone of Bunker Hill monument, and saw Lafayette there. For three years then he worked at ship carpentering. In 1828. was married to Mary C. Merrill. She was born in Falmouth, Me. After marriage, he engaged in the mercantile business at Auburn, Me., and continued for about seventeen years. In 1860, he came to Union County, Ill., where he re- mained till November, 1863, when he came to Pulaski County, and for two years was station agent at Villa Ridge, he then moved on to his farm, and has been engaged in fruit and vege- table growing since. In politics, he is Repub- lican, but was Democratie till after moving to Union County. Mr. and Mrs. Lufkin have five children. viz. : John E., Joseph H., Mary, O. A. and G. H. The daughter now resides at La Grange, Mo., her husband W. H. Thomas, being proprietor of River View Fruit Farm. The sons are all engaged in business in this State, the oldest being in family grocery business at Anna, Ill., the second for eighteen years was connected with the I. C. R. R., but now fruit raising. The other sons are in Villa Ridge, en- gaged in mercantile business and carpentering.

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G. H. LUFKIN, fruit-grower and merchant, Villa Ridge, was born in Auburn, Me., June 5, 1851, son of Joseph Lufkin. (See sketch.) Our subject is the youngest of the family. He received his education in Auburn, Me., and in Villa Ridge, and then attended the Illinois State University at Champaign, taking the civil engineer course, but quit school when he lacked but two terms of graduation. He then taught school for one year, when he bought an interest in a saw mill in Missouri, which he kept for a year. In 1877, he engaged in the fruit culture at Villa Ridge, and has been very successful. His fruit farm is one mile west of the village. He has in vineyard 8,000 vines, this being one of the largest in the State. Also grows straw- berries quite extensively. In 1882, he engaged in the mercantile business in Villa Ridge, car- rying a general stock of about $6,000, with sales for the year reaching about $15,000. But Mr. Lufkin remains on his farm most of his time, giving it his personal attention. October 15, 1882, he was married to Miss Nettie V. Hooppaw, daughter of W. R. Hooppaw. (See sketch.) In politics, he is Republican.

J. P. MATHIS, lumber and farming, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Johnson County, Ill., April 5, 1851, to William and Cynthia (Scott) Mathis. They were from Trigg County, Ky. Moved to Johnson County, Ill., in 1849, and settled on the farm where our subject was born and reared. He died December, 1860, at the age of forty-five. She is still living on the old homestead. Our subject received his educa- tion in Johnson County, first in the common schools, then in select schools of Vienna. When starting out for himself he began by teaching, and continued for eleven terms. He has since been engaged in farming, saw-milling, etc. At present he is in partnership with his brother- in-law, John H. Atherton. They have a saw- mill near Vienna, which has a capacity of about 8,000 feet daily. They have a farm near Villa Ridge, of 240 acres, 120 of which are under

cultivation, and it is here our subject resides. They are also engaged in dealing in agricult- ural implements, their headquarters for imple- ments being at Vienna, where they carry all kinds of farm machinery. July 7, 1878, Mr. Mathis was married to Ellen E. Atherton. She was born at their present home, daughter of A. C. and Elizabeth J. Atherton. He was also born and reared on the same farm, but now resides at Hodge's Park, Alexander County, engaged in mercantile and saw-mill business. Mr. and Mrs. Mathis have two children-Alice Eliza- beth and Earnest Coleman. He is member of Vienna Lodge, No. 150, A., F. & A. M., and Vienna Chapter, No. 67. In politics, he is Re- publican.

W. P. MINNICH, farmer, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Ohio July 23, 1851. He is the son of George Minnich, who was born in Clark County, Ohio, 1825, and came to Pulaski, Ill., 1856, when the county was but little improved, the logging and milling business being the leading industry at the time. Mr. Minnich has since held prominent positions in the county, Sheriff, Surveyor, etc. Our subject was edu- cated in the common schools of the county, then attended one year at the State University at Champaign, Ill. When commencing for himself it was by clerking in the store of W. R. Hooppaw in Villa Ridge, then he was with E. M. Titus, having one-fourth interest in the store. In 1876, he came to the farm and has been engaged in horticulture and agriculture since, he and his brother having charge of the home farm. He owns a farm of eighty acres north of Villa Ridge, fifty of which are in cultivation. He is member of the Villa Ridge Lodge, A., F. & A. M. In politics, he is Re- publican. November, 1882, he was elected a member of the County Board of Commissioners. December 5, 1881, he was married to Miss Emma G. Brown. She was born in Kentucky, daughter of Judge A. M. Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Minnich have one child-Scott B. Judge A.

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M. Brown was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1818. By profession, he was an attorney. For some time he practiced his profession at Paris, Ky., and was editor of the Western Citizen, a Whig paper. For some time he had desired to move to a fruit-growing country ; so, in March, 1861, he came to this county, having bought land before. Here he resided till the time of his death, June 27, 1879. For years, he held the office of County Judge, and was one of the Trustees of the State University at Champaign, from its origin till the time of his death. He also had been President of the State Horticultural Society. He was a member of the orders, A., F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F., and in politics always was a strong Republican, and always took an active part in helping .to develop the county. In early life he had graduated at Hanover College, Hanover, Ind., and afterward read law with Judge Quarls, of Indianapolis, and for some time was in partner- ship with him. He was married, at Madison, Ind., 1841, to Mary A. Maxwell. She was born in Indiana, near Hanover. To them five children were born-Elizabeth (deceased), Ed- ward M., died at Jackson, Tenn., a member of Company I, Eighty-first Illinois Infantry ; Jennie T., A. B., and Emma G. Mrs. Brown still lives on the old homestead.

W. F. PARKER, farmer, P. O. Villa Ridge, born March 3, 1852, near Villa Ridge, Pulaski Co., Ill .; son of Thomas Parker, a native of Vir- ginia. He came to this county with his father when he was quite young, and here he followed farming till his death, which occurred in 1864. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth (Sheppard) Parker, yet living. She was the mother of ten children. Our subject received a common school education at the old Valley Forge school house near Villa Ridge. In early life he turned his attention to farming, and has made that his vocation through life. Our sub- ject was joined in matrimony October 4, 1874, in Alexander County, near Goose Island, to

Miss Martha M. Berry, born January 12, 1857, in Missouri, near Charleston. She is a dangh- ter of David B. Berry, a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Martha M Parker is the mother of three children now living, viz., Nellie E., born June 23, 1875 ; William O., born December 1. 1878, and Jenette May, born May 3, 1881. Mr. Parker has a fruit farm two miles east of Villa Ridge. He is a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars. In politics, he is in- dependent.

G. A. PAVEY, saw mill and fruit-grower, Villa Ridge, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., May 5, 1847. In 1849, his father went to California, and in 1852 his mother also went, but our sub- ject remained in New York till 1856, when he also was sent to California. His father was engaged in hotel business, supply store, ranch, and he ran a stage line from Placerville to Stockton via Dry Town, Jackson, etc. Our subject assisted his father in his business after he was old enough, and attended the public schools of El Dorado, then two years at Santa Clara College, Santa Clara, Cal. In 1868, his mother died and he returned to New York, where he remained for a short time and then came to this county, which has been his home most of the time since. His occupation has been quite general since coming here, teaching, clerking, saw-milling, fruit-growing, etc. For six years he clerked for W. R. Hooppaw, Sr., at Villa Ridge and Pulaski, also in the New York store of Patier & Wolf, of Cairo, leaving their employ in 1881, to go to California to attend to business after his father's death. He remained in California for one year, then re- turned to this county and has been in saw mill since, also fruit-raising on his farm of thirty- three acres. September 1st, 1872, he was mar- ried to Miss E. J. Hooppaw, eldest daughter of W. R. Hooppaw, Sr. Two sons and one daugh- ter are the result of this union, viz., Charles William Barton, George Paul and Anna Laura. Mr. Pavey is a member of Villa Ridge Lodge,

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No. 562, A. F. & A. M., and for years of the I. O. of G. T. He and wife are members of Methodist Episcopal Church, of Villa Ridge. In politics, he is Republican, and was Deputy Sheriff of this county under H. H. Spencer, for two years.

A. POLLOCK, farmer, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, near the city of Glasgow, on the 10th of March, 1831, to Rob- ert and Agnes (Campbell) Pollock, both of whom died in Scotland, their native State. Of

their children, Mr. Pollock, our subject, is the only one residing in America. He came to the United States in 1851, and in 1856 came to Pulaski County and engaged in farming and lumbering, making the latter a specialty. His first operation in the lumber business was at Villa Ridge, and afterward moved his mill as the scarcity of the timber demanded. He was for a time the partner of S. O. Lewis, but is now alone in business, running a mill at San- dusky, Alexander Co., Ill. In 1860, he married Miss Mary Ann Barnett, a native of the coun- ty. They have five children-Robert L., Mary Agnes, William, Jesse and Walter. 'Mr. P. is a good citizen, enjoying the confidence and es- teem of all who know him, is an active mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and a Republican, politically.

LEWIS REDDEN, fruit-grower, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Nova Scotia, to Patrick and Elizabeth (Schofille) Redden. They were both born in Nova Scotia. He was the son of James and - (Lawrence) Redden. James Redden was from Ireland, but the Lawrences were English. Patrick Redden is still living in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, and is over eighty years of age. His occupation has been that of farming. His wife died some years ago. To them six sons and three daughters were born, all of whom are living, except one. Our sub- ject was educated in his native country, and learned the carpenter's trade at home. For one summer he followed the ocean, coasting along

the United States coast. In 1860, he came to the United States, and worked at his trade in different places for some years, and in January, 1868, settled on his present fruit farm and be- gan its improvement. He gives his entire at- tention to fruit-growing, and his farm is in an excellent state of cultivation. He is also inter- ested in a sheep ranch in Butler County, Kan. Mr. Redden had never taken out his full nat- uralization papers till 1882. He does not hold to either political party. April 9, 1867. he was married in Pulaski County to Miss Margaret Castle. She was born in Ohio April 16, 1844, to John and Rhoda (Wynans) Castle. He was born in Maryland, she in Ohio. (See sketch of D. H. Winans.) Both parents now dead. she dying in Bond County, Ill., when Mrs. Redden was small ; he in this county in the spring of 1883. They had moved to Bond County when Mrs. R. was small, and it was there she was reared. Mr. Castle came to Ohio when small, and during life he followed school-teaching, carpentering and farming. Mr. and Mrs. R. have four children -- Otis, David, Martha and Minnie.

A. B. ROBERSON, fruit-grower, P. O. Villa Ridge, is a native of Wilkes County, N. C., born April 24, 1835. His father, James Roberson, was born in Wilkes County, N. C., February 19, 1808, where he was reared, educated and mar- ried. In 1842, with his family, he emigrated to Pulaski County, Ill. He died May 10, 1852. His wife (subject's mother) Mary (Wal- lis) Roberson, was born in Iredell County, N. C., November 14, 1812, and is now living. Of the six children born to them, three are now living, A. B. Roberson being the oldest child. He was reared on the farm, and the death of his father, together with the poor school facili- ties, deprived him of the opportunity of receiv- ing anything but a limited education. After his father's death, he became the main support of the family, and remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age, when he married

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Georgiana Timmons, a native of the county, and a daughter of George and Lucinda (Conor) Walters. She died May 11, 1868, leaving two children, viz .: George C. and Mary L. He married a second time Mrs. Susan S. Pierce, by whom he had one child, Susan Bertha. On the 7th of February, 1875, he married his present wife, Miss Amanda J. Essex. Mr. Roberson has always been engaged in farming and fruit- growing, and is now the owner of 140 acres of well-improved land. He has filled many of the offices of the county, is an enterprising and self-made man, bearing a good reputation. In connection with his farm, he is engaged in the mercantile business.

MICHAEL ROCHE, farmer, P. O. Villa Ridge, was born in Ireland in 1822, to Richard and Margaret (Jones) Roche, both born in Ire- land. When our subject was sixteen years of age. they came to the United States, and came to Pulaski County, October, 1839. On the 29th of October of the same year they both died, and are buried in the Shiloh burying grounds. Our subject did not come to this county with his parents, but remained in New York for some years, and while there served an apprentice- ship in learning the molder's business. In 1848 he came to Illinois, and taught school the first winter at the old Shiloh log church. The next summer, he farmed, but in the winter went to St. Louis and worked at his trade, then came back to this county and finished two miles for I. C. R. R. Since that, he has been engaged in farming. and has been very successful. IIe now owns 160 acres of land, about 100 being in cultivation. He was married in Albany, N. Y., July 26, 1847, to Ellen Murphy. They have three children living-Margaret, now Mrs. Joe Miller ; James, at home, and Anna, at- tending school at Notre Dame. Our subject is a member of the Catholic Church, and got Father MeCabe, the first priest, to come to Southern Illinois.

B. A. ROYALL, M. D., Villa Ridge. Among the practitioners of materia medica in

Pulaski County, none are more deserving of an honorable mention in this work than Dr. B. A. Royall, the subject of this sketch. He is the second child of a family of nine children born to Joseph and Mary (Arnold) Royall, both natives of Vermont, who were removed to Tennessee when quite young, by their parents, and where they were married. The mother died when our subject was quite young ; and the father died in Pulaski County, III., August 9, 1882. B. A. Royall was born in Carroll County, Tenn., on the 27th of September, 1849; here he spent his early life, assisting to till the soil of his father's farm, and receiving such an education as could be obtained in the common schools. In 1868, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Goshorn, of Dyersburg, Tenn., and continued with him until he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, attending the courses of 1870-1871. At the close of the course of lectures in the latter year, he came to Villa Ridge, and engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. The Doctor has built up a large and lucrative practice, and as a physician and gentleman stands high in the esteem of his fellow-men. In Pulaski County, Ill., November 26, 1871, he married Miss Sarah J., daughter of George W. and Sarah J. (Ken- nedy) Bankson, who were early settlers of the county, emigrants from Tennessee. Mrs. Roy- all was born in Pulaski County, Ill., and is the mother of two children-Lilly and Stella. In connection with his practice of medicine, the Doctor finds time to oversee his beautiful fruit farm, which contains 140 acres of good land. He is an active member of the A., F. & A. M. and Knights of Honor. Politically, he is identified with the principles of the Demo- cratic party.

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 117

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