History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 120

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 120
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 120
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 120

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).

309

GRAND CHAIN PRECINCT.

make his fortune. All of them died but an old black stud. He lost his wife and many or his children, and becoming disheartened, he went to Arkansas, where he lived on green meat for several months, and here he lost another child, and finally had to leave the country by order of the Indian Agents. Our subject's parents were married about October, 1814, and the mother died about 1826. They were blessed with six children, two of whom are living, John S. and Jane. Our subject went to school in this county. After his father's death, he lived with his uncle, Nicholas Smith, in Ken- tucky, until the latter died. He then lived with his grandfather two years, when he died. John had made him a good crop of corn, and at his death he instructed his administrator to allow John one-half of the crop, which he did, and it netted $55. With this amount of cash, our subject determined how much of an education he could receive. He went and boarded with a man by the name of Atherton, and by working Saturdays, he was enabled to attend school considerably. His school bill was $10 and board bill $50. He made some more crops, went to Arkansas to visit some " rich kin" that he had heard of, but shortly afterward returned and rented more ground and engaged in farming. In 1839, he came to the " Nation," built a good house, stable, etc., when some in- dividuals endeavored to enter him out. A man was hired to whip him out of the house, and John came near shooting him ; five years of court trouble ensued; John finally coming out victorious. In 1846, he went with an uncle, Isom Smith, to Texas, and to make the story short, nearly starved to death. He returned, bought and sold several tracts of land, and finally settled on his present place, which now contains sixty acres, which is given to general farming. He was first married, April 13, 1848, to Amanda Bartleson (see sketch of the Bartle- son family), who died April 29, 1849, the mother of one child, Amanda. He was

married a second time, March 9, 1851, to Rosanna (Mangold) Forker, who died August 5, 1879. His present wife, Polly (Karraker) Dry, he married April 18, 1880. Both are members of the Christian Church. In politics, he was a Democrat up to Lincoln's second election, since which he has been a Republican.

NATHANIEL P. TARR, farmer, P. O. New Grand Chain, was born June 24, 1824, in Adams County, Ohio. His parents, Joseph and Catharine (East) Tarr, were natives re- spectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The father was a carpenter by trade, and in late years was engaged in farming. He died near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1873, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife died about 1840, of what the physicians called the "unknown " fever. The father was married a second time, to a Widow Parsons, who had by her previous husband a son by the name of Charles F. Parsons, who is now in the livery business in Iowa. Our subject's parents were blessed with eleven children, six of whom sur- vive-Thomas W., Levi A., Nathaniel P., John S., Mary and Martha. Nathaniel P. received his early education in the common schools of Richland and Hamilton Counties, Ohio, and he afterward attended Oberlin Institute at Lorain. He afterward went to Bucyrus, Ohio, where he was engaged for some time in teaching school, and clerking in stores. He then came to Pu- laski County, and resided a year in Mound City, after which he moved up in the " nation ;" after two years there he removed to Duquoin, Ill., where he lived about twelve years. Here he ran a grocery and provision store. August 26, 1862, he enlisted in the Eighty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. J. Dollins. He was taken sick at Humboldt, Tenn. ; was taken to hospital, and finally discharged February 17, 1863. He was first married to Barbara Stew- art, who died about 1852, leaving two sons J. S. and C. W., who live in Cleveland, Ohio. He was married a second time, to Elizabeth Stew_

310

BIOGRAPHICAL:

art, a sister of first wife. She died in 1854. He afterward married Eliza S. Esque, born May 2, 1832, widow of Booker Esque, and daughter of John and Mary W. (Chapman) Bartleson. This union has been blessed with four children-Augustus W., Mary S., Flora B. and David W. Mr. Tarr is a member of the G. A. R., Grand Chain Lodge, No. 217. In politics, he is a Republican.

JOHN WEAVER, County Treasurer and Assessor, New Grand Chain. The public affairs of a single county, as well as those of a State or the country at large-though of less magnitude-require, nevertheless, nearly as much abilty and quite as much honesty in the successful management thereof. Ability and integrity are two pre-requisites which, when possessed by the same individual, assure the publie, who may favor him with positions of the highest trust, that the duties thereof will be ably and faithfully discharged. It is a fact greatly to be deplored that many of our public men do not possess both of these essential characteristics to any creditable extent. Their abilities on the one hand may be remarkable, while their integrity of purpose on the other may be justly questioned and vice versa. The people understand this, and so it is that they are loath to part with the services of one who possesses the necessary qualifications of which we speak, and this is plainly shown by the tenac- ity with which they cling to them. The sub- ject of these lines, Mr. John Weaver, a portrait of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume, though comparatively a young man, has been prominently and largely identified with the public interests of Pulaski County ; elected, in 1873, to the responsible position of County As- sessor and Treasurer, he has served continuously ever since, having been many times re-elected. The duties of impartially distributing the ex- penses of the county upon her citizens, and the duties pertaining to the proper handling of her funds, he has faithfully discharged for many

years, with an eye single to the interests of the people as a whole. Upon the services of such a man, the public assume to have a claim, as is clearly indicated by the contents of the ballot- box year after year. Mr. Weaver is an Illi- noisan by birth, Johnson County, this State, be- ing his native county. He was born June 27, 1843, the youngest child born to Barnett and Nancy N. (Madden) Weaver, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Kentucky. The father was a carpenter by trade, but in later years engaged in farming pursuits. He died, as did his wife also, when John was only about six years old. Their union had been blessed with eight children, five of whom still survive. Charlotte T., wife of Dr. J. B. Ray, of Franklin County, this State ; Barnett ; Catharine, wife of Matthew Hood, of Union County, Ill. ; Jasper N. and John. The latter being left an orphan at a tender age, went to live with his brother- in-law in Johnson County, and there obtained what little education was afforded by the early schools. He continued his studies at Duquoin, Ill., and afterward attended a select school in Johnson County, which numbered about seventy- five scholars, all of whom, with the exception of a few, enlisted in the Union service when the war opened. August 22, 1861, our subject joined Company F, Thirty-first Illinois Volun- tary Infantry, Col. J. A. Logan. They did valuable service at Belmont, Fort Donel- son, Corinth, Vicksburg and Atlanta, near which latter place Mr. Weaver was discharged, his time of enlistment having expired. He came to Pulaski County and attended school a year, and was afterward for five years en- gaged in teaching in this county. In 1867, he wedded Esther H. Youngblood, a daughter of Absalom and Margaret (Daniel) Youngblood. Five children have blessed this union, four of whom are living-James H., Margaret M., Frank and Frederick twins. Besides his offi- cial duties, Mr. Weaver has farming interests to look after, having in the county about five

311

OHIO PRECINCT.

hundred acres of land, which he is putting into condition for stock-raising. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also K. of H. Politically, he is a Republican.

GEORGE W. YOAKUM, farmer, P. O. New Grand Chain, is a native of East Ten- nessee, born in October, 1833, a son of Peter and Sarah (Stinnette) Yoakum, natives of the same State. The parents had ten children, only two of whom survive-George W., and Eliza. Mr. Yoakum received his education in the schools of Pulaski County, his parents re- moving here when he was about a year old. In 1853, he married Juliette M. Cooper, a daughter of John L. and Sarah (Copeland) Cooper. Mr. and Mrs. Yoakum are the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living- William J., James F., Eliza I., George D., Sheridan J., Electa I. and Warren D. M. Mr.

Yoakum has a farm of 117 acres. He is a member of K. of H., Grand Chain Lodge, No. 2,085. He and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and in politics he is a Re- publican. James F. Yoakum was born Sep- tember 30, 1856. He obtained his early edu- cation in the schools of this county, and after- ward attended the high school at Arlington, Ky., and still later Lebanon College, Ill. He is a Republican in politics, is a member of the K. of G. R., Arlington Castle, No. 43, also of the A., F. & A. M., Grand Chain Lodge, No. 660, also of the G. T. Olmsted Lodge, No. 143. For several years he has studied for the min- istry, and is a local preacher in the Methodist Church. He has in late years been engaged in teaching school, both in Kentucky and in Pulaski County.

OHIO PRECINCT.

M. T. BAGBY, farmer, P. O. Olmsted. Of the men in this county who came here with- out means and who by their energy and shrewd- ness have gained a good farm, we count him whose name heads this sketch. He was born October 12, 1834, in Lewis County, Ky. His father, Willis Bagby, was born in 1800 in Ken- tucky, and died in 1849 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a farmer and riverman by occupation, running from Lewis County, Ky., to Cincinnati, Ohio. The grandfather of our subject, Robert Bagby, was a native of Virginia, and died in 1828 in Lewis County, Ky. He had eight children, who are all living, except one. The mother of our subject, Mary Thompson, was born in 1799 in Kentucky ; she died July 27, 1849, in Lewis County, Ky. She was the mother of nine children, of whom seven are now

living. Her parents were James and Nancy Thompson, of Kentucky. Our subject was edu- cated in Minerva, Mason Co., Ky., and Ash- land, Boyd Co., Ky. In 1857, he went to Augusta, Schuyler Co., Ill., where he taught school one-half year, and the next year taught in Pike County, Ill. Returning to Kentucky, he taught school one year, and then went to school one-half year in the Ashland College, Kentucky. After the war broke out, he farmed one year, and then came to Pulaski County, where he again taught school, after which he clerked three months for G. F. Meyer, and then kept a grocery store in Caledonia one year. In 1868, he bought a farm of 200 acres for $4,000, and has farmed ever since. In 1881, he bought 150 acres of land for $1,000, which cost the former owner almost $5,000. Our sub-

312

BIOGRAPHICAL:

ject was married August 1, 1863, in this county, to Mrs. Anna C. Ayers, born January 21, 1839, in this county. She was a daughter of James M. Timmons, a fine old man, and a native of South Carolina. Her mother, Nancy (Echols) Timmons, was a native of Union County, Ill., and is yet living in Olmsted. Mrs. Bagby is religiously connected with the Methodist Epis- copal Church. She is the mother of five chil- dren now living-Mathew H., born January 18, 1867 ; Susie and Nancy are twins, they were born February 28, 1870 ; Burton, born Novem- ber 4, 1872, and James, born July 7, 1875 ; Emmet R. and Agnes are deceased. Mr. Bagby has been Justice of the Peace for four years. He came to this county with $1.50, but is to- day classed among our wide-awake, well-to-do men.

R. T. CALVIN, farmer, P. O. Olmsted. In writing the annals of history, it has always been necessary to try to perpetuate the lives of self-made, energetic men who have benefited the country by their honesty and industry, who have tried to promote the public welfare as well as their own, and we know of no man who deserves more credit than he whose name heads this sketch. Our subject was born April 23, 1823, in Sussex County, N. J. He is a son of Nathaniel Calvin, a native of New Jersey, where he died, and a miller by occupation. He participated in the war of 1812, and was one of the prominent men of his county. The mother of our subject was Sarah (Kitchen) Cal- vin, born in New Jersey, where she died, leav- ing five children, of whom our subject is the only one now living. He was educated in the common schools of New Jersey, working night and morning for his board. Afterward, he learned the carpenter trade. At the age of eighteen, he went to Harrison, Ohio, where he was engaged as contractor on the White Water Canal. After four years of successful toil, he came to Mound City, in 1857, whither he was drawn by the "Emporium " boom. There he

was a contractor for grading and building the levee, landing and marine ways. In March of the following year, he moved his family on to a farm of 170 acres, which he mostly improved. He has now a good farm of 370 acres, with ex- tensive buildings. Mr. Calvin was joined in matrimony in September, 1853, in Harrison, Ohio, to Miss Angie Rifner, born December 3, 1828, in Harrison, Ohio, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Rockafellar) Rifner, Peter Rifner, a soldier in the Indian war of 1811, being com- missioned by Gen. Harrison as the commander of a company. Mrs. Calvin is the mother of five children now living-Hiram, born May 31, 1854, married Gussie Boren, and is now a mer- chant in St. Francis, Ark .; Lizzie, born Janu- ary 18, 1856, wife of James Barber ; Martha, born July 10, 1859 ; Line, born January 22, 1861, and Sallie, born December 22, 1865. Mrs. Calvin is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Calvin is an I. O. O. F. and A., F. & A. M. In politics, he has -been identified with the Democratic party.

R. M. CARNS, merchant, Olmsted. Of the young business men who have identified them- selves with Pulaski County, we recognize him whose name appears above. He was born April 1, 1846, in this county. His father, John Carns, was a native of Tennessee. He is well remembered by our older citizens, and died in this county. His wife, Eliza J. Smith, is yet living. She is a native of South Carolina and is the mother of nine children-Dorcas Caster, John W. (deceased, a soldier in our late war), Julia A. (deceased), Daniel S., William H., Elizabeth (deceased), Robert M. (our subject), Kate F. Steele and Thomas A. (deceased). Our subject was educated in this county, where he assisted in tilling its bountiful soil till Septem- ber, 1864, at the age of seventeen, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Regiment, serving till the close of the war, when he clerked for Judge Smith till his election as Constable and his ap-

313

OHIO PRECINCT.

pointment as Deputy Sheriff, in which capaci- ties he served two years. He was also elected County Coroner. In May, 1870, he was mar- ried here to Miss Nannie Pearson, born May 19, 1853, in America, Pulaski Co., Ill. She was a daughter of Joseph A. and Nancy (Fields) Pearson, the former a native of Vir- ginia, and the latter of Kentucky. Mrs. Nan- nie Carns is the mother of four children, viz .: Erdine, born October 2, 1871; Maud, born February 12, 1873; Allen J., born March 9, 1875, and Claude, born October 4, 1879. Mr. R. M. Carns was a farmer for about ten years after his marriage. In 1882, he came to Olm- sted, where he is now engaged in the mercan- tile business. In 1882, he was elected Justice of the Peace, but resigned the same year. In politics, he has identified himself with the Democratic party.

SAMUEL T. CHITTICK, carpenter, Olm- sted, was born August 11, 1833, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Samuel Chittick, a native of the County Enniskillen, in the North of Ire- land. He was an apothecary by occupation ; he is now a farmer in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The mother of our subject was Charlotte Pryor, a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she died. She was the mother of eleven children now living-Samuel T. (our subject), Isabella McLean, William L., Charlotte White, John, Martha Chapman, David, Mary Ann, Joseph, Francis J., and Benjamin. Our subject was educated in private schools in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he learned the carpenter's trade, being apprenticed to David Calder, a Scotch- man. After he had learned his trade, he trav- eled extensively through the United States. During the war, he was a contractor and builder in Lancaster, Dallas Co., Tex. He served fif- teen months in the Confederate army, and after being taken prisoner at the last Corinth fight, he took the oath of allegiance at Cairo, Ill. He then worked at his trade in Cairo and Mound City, in which latter place he was married to

Mrs. Emily E. Bagby, a native of Kentucky. She was a daughter of Hiram Horsley, a farmer and a native of Virginia. She was the mother of six children now living-Alice Bagby, pres- ent wife of Henry Hileman, a native of Union County, Ill .; Charlotte, Samuel T., William L., Hiram and Edith. Mr. Chittick is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South ; also a Master Mason, Lancaster Lodge, Texas. He has filled school offices. Has a farm of eighty acres, and in politics is a Demo- crat. Mrs. Chittick is also religiously con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

JAMES Y. CLEMSON, merchant, Olmsted. Among the enterprising men of Pulaski County, who, by their own exertions, have carved out their way in the world, accumulating wealth and at the same time benefiting their country and their fellow-men, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, aud whose portrait ap- pears in this volume. He was born in Edwards- ville, Ill., March 20, 1821, and is a son of Eli B. Clemson, a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. The latter was mainly self- educated, and entered the United States Army at an early age, in which he received the posi- tion of Second Lieutenant. He was afterward, for bravery and ability, promoted to First Lieutenant in the First Regiment of Infantry, his commission bearing the signature of Thomas Jefferson, then President of the United States. He was afterward promoted to Lieu- tenant Colonel in the Sixteenth Regiment of Infantry, his commission in this case being signed by President James Monroe. He participated actively in our second war with Great Britain, and afterward was stationed at St. Louis and at Fort Osage. He arose from Second Lieutenant successively to First Lieu- tenant, Major, Lieutenant Colonel and to Colonel. When the war-clouds were all dispelled from our country's horizon, he laid aside the sword and took up the implements of peace,

314

BIOGRAPHICAL:

but afterward bore an honorable part in the Black Hawk war. He located in Lebanon, St. Clair Co., Ill., and for a time operated a line of stage and mail coaches between Vin- cennes and St. Louis. He then went Carlyle, when he embarked in merchandising, and in 1832 moved to Carrolton, Ill., and again en- gaged staging, running a line of mail and pas- senger coaches between Springfield and St. Louis. His wife, Ann Maria Oliver, of En- glish descent, and a native of Nova Scotia, died in June, 1833 of epidemic cholera, leaving four children. He then went East to New Jer- sey, where he left his children (except subject) to be educated. They were Henry A., James Y. (subject), Frederick W. and Mary C., the lat- ter and our subject being the only two now living. The eldest son, Henry, was an officer in the United States Navy, and was lost during the siege of Vera Cruz (in Mex- ican war), when the United States brig " Somers " capsized in a squall, and to the lost of the ill-fated vessel the Government after- ward erected a monument in the navy-yard at Annapolis, Md. Col. Clemson, after his return from the East, in 1836, located in Pulaski County, and again married. His second wife was Mrs. Esther Riddle, the widow of Capt. James Riddle, the founder of the towns of America, Ill., and of Covington, Ky. By his second marriage he had two children, Aaron B. and Theodosia B. Col. Clemson now engaged in farming ; he also kept the post office and acted as County Clerk. He was one of the projectors of the town of Napoleon, in this county, not a vestige of which now remains to show where it stood. He was also agent of the Winnebago Land Company, and was long identified with Col. Henry L. Webb and Col. Justus Post. He died in 1842 in this county ; he was one of the leading men of his day, and esteemed by all who knew him. Our subject, Mr. J. Y. Clemson, spent his youth in Caledonia (this county), and at the age of

fourteen years entered McKendree College, at Lebanon, Ill., where he remained for four years and then returned home. He after- ward went to Texas, remaining some two years engaged in merchandising, and then went to New Orleans and followed boating for about six years. He then returned home and again entered the mercantile business, and after four years took command of the snag-boat A. H. Sevier, in the employ of the Government. After about three years, he re- tired from the river and again engaged in merchandising and in the manufacture of furniture at Mound City, until 1861, when he entered the service of the United States as second master on the gunboat St. Louis in participating in the battles Forts Henry and Donelson, and in the battle of Columbus In 1862, he resigned on account of ill health, and returned home, where he has since re- mained engaged in mercantile pursuits. He is a large land owner, having about 800 acres, and one of the most beautiful homesteads in the county. He was married November 25, 1849, in Caledonia, to Miss Henrietta Mc- Donald, born August 7, 1832, in Circleville, Ohio. She is a daughter of Richard and Mary J. McDonald, the former a native of Canada and of Scotch descent, the latter of Ohio and of German descent. She is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Clem- son is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of Cairo Commandery of Knights Tem- plar, also of the Episcopal Church. In pol- itics, he is a Democrat.

JUDGE J. M. DAVIDGE, lawyer and farm- er, Olmsted, a native of Hopkinsville, Ky., born August 31, 1816. His father, Rezin Da- vidge, was a native of Maryland, where he was reared and educated and subsequently admit- ted to the bar, and engaged in the practice of his profession. He was a prominent man of his county, and was Circuit Judge and Judge of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky. He was

315

OHIO PRECINCT.

at one time possessed of a considerable wealth, and at all times had the esteem and confidence of his fellow-men. He died in 1861 at Hop- kinsville, Ky. His father was a native of En- gland. The mother of our subject. Elizabeth (Bell) Davidge, was a native of Virginia. She died at Princeton, Ky., in 1827. She was the mother of the following living children : Mrs. Mary O. Fry, of Louisville, Ky .; Reason, of Princeton, Ky., and James M., our subject. He was reared and educated at Hopkinsville, Ky .. and with his father and his partner, T. C. Lander, studied law, and in 1838 was admitted to the bar. In the fall of 1839, he came to Illinois and located at Golconda, and afterward removed to Vienna, where he re- mained four years. In October, 1843, he came to Pulaski County and was appointed Clerk of the Circuit Court, and served until 1860. From 1848 to 1861, he held the office of County Clerk. In 1861, he was elected Judge of the County Court. He was Postmas- ter of Caledonia for over fifteen years. He is still engaged in the practice of his profession, and in connection is engaged in farming. He was married in Johnson County, Ill., in 1840, to Miss Nancy Ladd, a native of the same county. She was born February 29, 1824, and died September 21, 1877, in Pulaski County. She was a daughter of Rev. Milton Ladd, a prominent man who represented Johnson County in the Senate. She was the mother of the following children : Mary, James, Charles, Cornelia and Nanzy. He was married a sec- ond time, to Mrs. Minerva Riddle, widow of Dr. H. D. Riddle, a son of James Riddle, the founder of Covington, Ky., and America, Ill.

MRS. MINERVA DAVIDGE, Olmsted, was born September 10, 1833, in Harrison County, Ind. She is a daughter of Jacob Musselman, a native of Indiana. He was a millwright in early life, but the last part of his life he has been mostly merchandising, keeping a drug store the last eight years that he was in active

business. He is yet living in Metropolis, Ill., where he was engaged in business. The mother of our subject was Sarah (Anderson) Musselman, a native of Knox County, Ind. She died September 25, 1875, in Metropolis. She was the mother of nine children, of whom six are now living-Daniel, Charles M., Elvira Durff, Jennie Deavers, Sarah Cheek and Mi- nerva, our subject, who was educated in Indi- ana. She married Dr. Henry D. Riddle, a na- tive of Covington, Ky., and a son of Capt. James Riddle. The Doctor was a man of good abilities and extraordinary energy. He lived a useful life and died October 15, 1871. He was the father of eight children, of whom five are now living-Mary, wife of B. F. Echols ; Henry, Sallie, Minnie M. and Jennie D. Our subject was married a second time to Judge James M. Davidge. Mrs. Davidge is religious- ly connected with the Presbyterian Church.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 120

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