USA > Illinois > McDonough County > Bardolph > History of Bardolph, Illinois > Part 10
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JOHN R. ("BOB") MAXWELL
Youngest of the Maxwell boys, was born May 7, 1890. After attending the Bardolph schools, he took a course in the Chicago Art School, and later a course in the Macomb Conservatory of Music. "Bob," as he is commonly called, is an artist of no little notice and one of our most popular young men.
WM. A. HARRIS
Son of W. W. Harris, one of our splendid young men, was born near Bardolph, June 9, 1888. He is a graduate of the Bardolph schools and spent some time in Hedding College, later taking up the study of tele- graphy, graduating from the John Hendrickson School. For about two years he worked as telegraph agent for the C. B. & Q. at different places, and also a few months for the D. & R. G. R. R. At the present time he is assistant treasurer of the Y. M. C. A. of Cincinnati, Ohio, and is making good in the position he holds.
CLAIRE SMICK
Was born on the 15th day of July, 1884, on the farm now owned by Ed. Solomon, north and east of Bardolph. When seven years old he, with his parents, moved to Nebraska, returning at the end of two years and locating in Macomb. Shortly afterwards they moved to Bushnell where he ob- tained most of his schooling. At 19 he began work at Moline as a wheel- wright, where he met his wife, then Miss Eva Eckert, to whom he was mar- ried Sept. the 20th, 1906. In 1909, he attended the Southern School of Photography under "Daddy Lively." After graduating he came to Bush- nell where he entered a studio of his own in the Ball building on East Main Street. His work is first class and at present he has a business so large that he has an assistant to help him. His parents, James and Lois (Fleming) Smick, are residents of Bardolph.
DANIEL W. JACKSON
Son of John H. and Anna M. Jackson, was born in Bardolph May 26, 1876. He attended the Bardolph schools and assisted with the farm work until he entered the butcher business in Annawan, Ill., which he ran for several years. At present time he is a farmer and stock raiser at Kuhn's Crossing, Colo. Fraternally he is a member of the M. W. A. and I .. O. O. F. lodges.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
COUNTRY RESIDENCES
OLD HOME OF J. M. WORK
O. M. McELVAIN'S
MRS. ALICE COLLINS
WM. KLINE'S
WILLIAM RICH'S
L. J. SPANGLER'S
D. S. HECK'S
WALLACE DAVIDSON'S
Photos by A. M. Beal
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
BIOGRAPHIES OF OLD PIONEERS AND MEN WHO HELPED TO MAKE BARDOLPH
JOHN ARCHER
Was born April 14, 1827, in Warren County, Ohio, his parents, John and Rachel (Hillman) Archer, being natives of New Jersey. Though the youngest in the family of six he did not neglect the limited advantages of the common schools of that period. Early in life he learned the plasterer's trade which he followed from 1847 to 1865. For some time after this he engaged in farming and finally in 1869 bought a farm in Macomb township which he lived upon until 1882, at which time he located in Macomb.
Mr. Archer was united in marriage May 2nd, 1852, with Mary E. Parshall, who was born in Wood County, Ohio. To this union were born the following chil- dren, Rachel Emily (Mrs. M. L. Harris), Florence Belle (Mrs. J. F. Boothe), Mary E. (Mrs. G. Smith), G. Franklin, John W. and Elizabeth G. (Mrs. Rollick). Politically Mr. Archer was a republican, serving as Supervisor and as member of the City Council after locating in Macomb, and fraternally is a Mason.
JOHN BARCLAY, SR.
It is needless to say, is of Scotch descent, for as far back as his grandparents on each side of the house, we find the blooded Scotchmen. John was born in Fal- kirk, Scotland, July 25, 1833. He lived here until 1861, when June 6th, he was married to Miss Nancy Kelley of Argleshire. This lady was also of a family of unswerving Scotts, thus allowing the children of the couple, Margaret E. (Mrs. Paschal, Cass Co., Ill.), Nannie C. (Mrs. W. Allison, McDonough Co.), James L., Charles W. and John A., to claim as pure a strain of Scotch blood as can be found anywhere in the state.
Mr. Barclay left his old home in 1850, coming to New York City and then via the great lakes to Chicago. Leaving here he located in what is now Scotland township, McDonough County, living with his parents until the year before his marriage, when he bought 80 acres as the nucleus of the old homestead. At this place he lived and prospered, adding to his possessions from time to time, until 1894, when he removed to Macomb city. He has held numerous offices during his county and town life, and has always shown himself an able and capable man.
JOHN A. BETHEL
A native of Belmont County, Ohio, was born on the 28th day of May, 1825. Here he lived during his boyhood days, working on the farm and during the winter months attending a subscription school. While here, it was that he made his start in the Christian life, joining the Baptist Church at an early age. When 30 years of age he removed to Ipava, Fulton County, Ill., where he met, and in 1856 was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Hager, who was also a native of Ohio, having come here in '54. In 1857, leaving town, they settled in the country near Ipava and
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began farming. After living here several years they removed, in December, 1864, to their old home place south of Bardolph, where they lived until his death, April 18th, 1901. By energetic strife and continuous hard work, he was able to leave ample provision for wife, and for daughters remaining at home. He was stern and conscientious, a splendid sample of our old pioneers.
DAVID BEAL
Was a native of Beaver County, Penn., and was born on the 7th day of November, 1828. His parents, Benj. and Hannah (Wy- koff) Beal, (the latter of German descent), moved from Beaver County on the death of the former's father, to Virginia, where David, the subject of our sketch, was united in marriage with Elizabeth A. Allison on the 11th day of May, 1847, in Hancock County. Here they remained for 10 years, when the western fever touched them and they removed to Illinois, locating in Mound Township, McDonough County, on what is now the Thompson place. In 1860 leaving here, they located on their old home place which their son Edward now owns and DAVID BEAL farms. In 1868 the wife died, and in 1878 he was again united in marriage with Mrs. Layander C. McHenry, who departed from this life Sept. 6, 1903.
David was noted for strict integrity, good morals and as being a worthy cit- izen. By industry he gathered land about himself which he very materially im- proved.
While he was no church member yet he endeavored to act up to the Christian standard of conduct in regard to his fellow-men. He died July 7, 1904. Thus one of our old, respected, and honored citizens was removed.
HARDESTY BIRCH
The second son of Zephaniah and Ruth McHenry Birch was born in Marshall County, West Virginia, near Wheeling, on the 9th of July, 1832. Here he lived with his parents on the farm, breathing in the bracing mountain air and winning for himself that rugged constitution which remained with him for life. At the age of 23, with his two brothers, he came to Iowa, where he worked on the farm till his marriage to Miss Maria Sweet, of Peoria, Ill., whose father was a brick- maker and had gone to Iowa in hopes of gaining more work. After this he set up farming for himself for a number of years, when moving from that place he came to Illinois, locating in McDonough County on the old Andy Bryant place. Then after a year or so on the old Andy Orr place, he came to Bardolph, where he lived the remainder of his days enjoying the respect and esteem of his fellow- men, for Daddy Birch, as he was familiarly called, was loved by all who inti- mately knew him.
Politically he was a republican and one only had to know him a short time to become perfectly familiar with his sentiments, for he was plain spoken and never hesitated in speaking out his convictions on any subject whether it was politics or religion. Whatever he believed to be right he believed with all his heart and was
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conscientious in doing that thing. Though he never affiliated especially with any one church, yet the winter before his death he gave his heart to Christ, trusting in him as his Savior.
WILLIAM BUTLER
Was born in Scottsburg County, Missouri, November, 1845. When but six weeks old his family moved to Schuyler County, Illinois, and ten years later he came to McDonough County, where he has since resided. At the breaking out of the Civil War he was attending school, taking the higher classes. All the boys of his class left school for the war. Mr. Butler enlisted Nov. 1st, 1861, in Company D, 64th Illinois. He served through the entire war until mustered out July 18th, 1865. He was married Dec. 28, 1866, to Rhoda Parvin. She was born in Cripply County, Indiana, in May, 1847. Her mother died when she was six and her father when she was eight years old. After her father's death her brothers and sisters scat- tered and were never all together again for fifty years. Mrs. Butler came to Illi- nois in 1861. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Nannie Mason, Mrs. Millie Early and Fred Butler, all of this vicinity.
Mr. Butler has one sister, Mrs. Josephine O'Neal, and Mrs. Butler has two sisters and two brothers: Mrs. Hannah Khonle, of Berton, Kan .; Mrs. Milly Thomas, Plymouth, Ill .; Thomas Parvin, Berton, Kan .; Will Parvin, Billinsville, Indiana.
DAVID CHIDESTER
Was born July 10, 1823; near Trenton, New Jersey. He was a son of Elijah and Rhoda Chidester. His father was a fisherman and died when David was eight years old, and being the youngest of the family had to do for himself from then on. He worked on a farm till old enough to go to blacksmithing as an apprentice. He worked at this trade while in New Jersey and for a time after he had moved to Pennsylvania. He entered the mercantile business, his duty being to take loads of goods across the mountains and sell them at small towns. Selling out in 1868 he came to Bushnell, Ill., and entered blacksmithing. Two years later he moved on a farm west of Bushnell, living there nine years. Later, after several more moves, he located on the old home place north of Bardolph, where his son How- ard now lives.
He was married twice, his first wife being a Miss Sarah Fagley, by whom he had four children. After her death while still in Pennsylvania, he married Miss Mary Ann Weeks, by whom he had seven children, four boys and three girls. He joined the M. E. Church when but eight years of age. He was a member of the Odd Fellows and the Masons.
THOMAS JEFFERSON CREEL
Was a son of Durham and Mary Creel, and was born in Adair County, Kentucky, on Dec. 22, 1829, being the youngest of a family of 12 children. The family moved to Illinois in 1833, locating in Bardolph, on the spot where Glenn Walker's home now stands. At that time the only other dwellings in the vicinity were: one on the farm, one known as the Singer place, but where Howard Smith now lives; one on what used to be the Nesbit farm now owned by James Smick; and one on the old Smith farm. He lived here working on the farm until 1854, at which time he was united in marriage to Belle B. Hoagland in the month of December. They began their home life in the building in which he died and which is only a short distance from the old home place, thus making him a resident of the same old place for nearly seventy years.
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"T. J" was held in high esteem by his fellow citizens and at different times was honored by offices of trust. He held the offices of supervisor and collector of the township in which he resided and was post-master at Bardolph during the Civil War and later filled the same position from 1890 to 1894. For 39 years he was a member and officer of the Presbyterian Church of this place, and was con- nected with the work of the Sunday School.
On Feb. 2, 1902, after an illness of long duration, he passed away. Thus was removed one of the early pioneers of the town of Bardolph.
CHARLES W. DALLAM
Was born at Belair. Hartford County, Maryland, in 1817, on the 16th of February. His father was a cabinet-maker by trade and thus young Charles was brought up in town. On reaching young manhood he left his old home and located in Ohio, where he married Rachel Swain in 1840. The next year he removed to Macomb, Ill., and some three years later he engaged in partnrship with John Willey in manufacturing threshing machines called the "Old Chaff Pilers," on the spot where Dallam's store now stands. In 1850 he was saddened by the death of his wife by whom he had six children, five boys and one girl.
He remained in Macomb some years after this, engaging in the milling bus- iness and helping to build the "Old North Mill" which stood where "Holmes' Park" is now located, Nat Tinsley being his partner in this venture.
Jan. 25th, 1855, he was united in marriage to Mary Potts, who was living in Macomb. The marriage took place in the "Old Mosey Foster" place south of Bardolph, where William McCandless, the uncle of the bride was living at the time.
He left town in 1859, moving to the farm where he resided till his death in 1885. This place was south of Bardolph on the 160, the east eighty of which M. L. Kelso now resides upon and the west eighty which is farmed by Fred Mullen. On this beautiful farm he devoted much time to stock.
He has filled the office of town clerk. He was a Master Mason, and stood high in the fraternity. Mr. Dallam was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and in politics always a republican.
ADAM DOUGLAS
Son of John and Jenerit Main Douglas, both natives of Scotland, was the youngest of eleven children, and during his boyhood days attended the public schools at Roxburghshire, Scotland, where he was born Dec. 31st, 1833. After some time spent here in school and on the farm, he located in the United States in 1852, in Eldorado Township, McDonough County, Illinois.
Here he began farming and later rented a farm in New Colem Township, the same county, which he cultivated for five years. He then bought 240 acres in Macomb Township on which he made some fine improvements. His life and work has not only shown him to be industrious, energetic and thrifty, but abso- lutely reliable in character.
On March 1st, 1864, Mr. Douglas was united in marriage with Katherine Kelley, a native of Scotland. To this union were born five children, John F., James K., Bessie (Mrs. H. N. Jackson), of Bardolph, Ill., George C. and Charles A.
At present he is living with his daughter, Mrs. Jackson, having left the farm, and is enjoying good health in his declining years.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
HENRY DUNCAN
Was born in Indiana Dec. 11, 1848. His parents were Isaac and Mary Duncan, and they came to Indiana from Pennsylvania a few years before his birth. Their occupation was farming. They removed from Indiana to Illinois when he was 3 years old and settled northwest of Bardolph on the place now occupied by Wm. Switzer. A few years later they removed to the place adjoining the Bardolph cemetery now owned by Ben Ely. They are both buried in the Bardolph ceme- tery. Henry Duncan was married August 21, 1873, at Macomb, Ill., to Miss Nancy A. Morgan, who was born in Bethel Township, McDonough County, on August 25, 1853. Six children were born to them, four boys and two girls, the girls both dying very young. He belongs to Wolf Grove Camp No. 126, Modern Woodmen of America, Bardolph, Il1.
NICHOLAS EASTIN
Was the youngest of a family of seven children and was born near Frankfort, Ky., on Feb. 28, 1818. He was married to Sarah Todd near Richmond, Ky., on Sept. 21, 1838, after which they removed to Indiana, where they remained two years and then came to Vermont, Ill. This journey they made in a wagon, as railroad facilities were not available at that time. About the year of 1855 they removed to the country and engaged in farming in different localities until 1866, when they located in Bardolph, where he followed the occupation of carpenter as long as he was able. It was here that he died May 24th, 1907. He was a member of the M. E. Church and a thorough Christian. "Uncle Nick," as he was famil- iarly called, was a man without an enemy, quiet and unobstrusive, yet firm in his conviction of the right. Twelve children were born to this family most of whom are living.
WILLIAM HARRIS EDMUNSON
Was born in Fulton County, Illinois, on the 29th day of March, 1836. His boy- hood days were spent on the farm and while doing the work of a farmer lad in those early times, he was also privileged to attend the country school in the win- ter. His parents, John S. and Feribie Edmunson, were both from the Carolinas, the former of N. C., and the latter of S. C. William lived at the old home place until he was 25 years old, when at the first of the Civil War he enlisted in Co. C, 17th Ill. Inf. He served faithfully under Fremont, Pope and McClernard, respect- ively, until May the 18th, 1862, when on account of disability, he received without petition his discharge. After having regained his health, he came to McDonough County, locating on the farm. Excepting two years in Iowa, he has lived in this county ever since, living on the farm till a few years ago when he located in Bar- dolph, where he now lives.
In 1866, Sept. 26th, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary M. Harris. Religiously he is a Presbyterian, having united with that church in August, 1865.
LAFAYETTE EMPEY
Was a native of Camden, Oneida County, New York, and was ushered into ex- istence Aug. 15, 1840. He made this his home till 1862, when at the age of 22 he enlisted in the 146th N. Y. Inf. and served steadily in the Civil War, doing loyal and praiseworthy service, throughout. He served almost entirely in the Army of the Potomac, being with Grant at the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsly- vania. At Cold Harbor, the next battle in this campaign, he was taken prisoner,
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and suffered the tortures of starvation experienced at both Libby and Anderson- ville prisons, until exchanged some time later.
He at once rejoined the army and remained in service until the close of the war. At the time of his capture a letter from headquarters was awaiting him, promoting him from private to lieutenant. This, of course, he failed to receive until his return. In 1867 he was united in marriage with Rachel Ann Holley, of Elmira, N. Y., and later in the same year moved to Stephenson County, Illinois, where his wife died in the spring of 1880. During this time he had been teaching school. He now visited old friends in New York, returning to Shannon, Carrol County, Illinois, the next year and went into business with a Mr. LaShell. It was here he made his second matrimonial venture, marrying a Miss Morrison. In 1882 they came to Bardolph, where his wife died. Later he married a Mrs. Uhl- man, and after living three or four years in Iowa and his wife dying, he returned to his old home in New York to spend the remainder of his days. It was here that he married Mrs. Cox, of New York State, and is now living a hale and hearty man for his age.
RICHARD ISAAC EMPEY
A well-known dealer in groceries and meats in Macomb, Ill., and a former resident of Bardolph, was born in Stephenson
County, Illinois, March 4, 1868. He is son of Lafayette and Rachel A Holly a Empey.
Richard was the oldest of the four chil- dren. At the age of 14 years he came to Bardolph, McDonough County, and two years later was employed in his father's grocery. In 1888 he made a trip to Kansas City, Mo., where he worked a year in the grocery business after which he returned home and worked four years in J. W. Wyne & Bros. dry goods store. After another year spent working in Bardolph he again went to Macomb and was employed in E. L. Allison's Shoe store about eleven years. Nov. 1, 1904, he and his brother-in-law, Ed- gar Pelley, went into the grocery and meat business on the corner of Randolph and Carroll Streets. Later he purchased the entire stock and since has run the business which has been a success from the start.
Mr. Empey married Rosa Pelley, who was born and schooled in McDonough R. I. EMPEY County, on the 19th day of September, 1891. Politically he is a democrat, and fraternally belongs to various branches of the Masonic Order and the M. W. A. He has been especially active in religious work, being a member of the Macomb Presby- terian Church of which he has been a deacon since October, 1904.
While at Bardolph, he was an elder and served for two years as Sunday School Superintendent. Mr. Empey is a man of high character and is held in high esteem by all who know him.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
ANDREW FLEMING
Was born February 29, 1831, in Fauquier County, Virginia, and was of Scotch- Irish descent. When but one year old he removed with his parents from Vir- ginia to Madison County, Ohio. There he with five brothers and one sister grew to manhood and womanhood. In 1851 he came westward by the Ohio and Illinois Rivers, settling first at Liverpool, Fulton County, then in Fairview. From this place he moved to Mound Township in this county, where he remained the rest of his life. In 1852 he was united in marriage to Katherine Melvin, who had made the journey in twelve days from Madison County, Ohio, to this county. Two years later Mr. Fleming purchased the farm which still belongs to the family, and hauled lumber for his house from Burlington, Iowa, with an ox team. At this time theirs was the only house in this part of the prairie, there being only one' between their farm and Table Grove. After the railroad was constructed Mr. Fleming delivered all his grain to Avon.
Mrs. Fleming informs us that prairie fires were not uncommon in those days, the largest sweeping past them in the year 1853. At that time the houses were built some distance off the ground, and the fire swept both over and under the house and left it unharmed. But their crop of flax, which was in the stack, was destroyed by the flames .. His children, Lois Cornelia, Conwell, Frances, and Lorenia, still honor the father whom they so loved as only children can.
Mr. Fleming taught school one year after coming to Illinois, and has been engaged actively in farming the remainder of the time until his death, Aug. 27, 1910, even directing the management of his property to the last day. He was an active member of the M. E. Church and contributed freely to its support. In town affairs he was reckoned an authority, having held several offices and posi- tions of trust.
JOHN GIBBS
Was a native of Fredrick, Maryland, being born on the 19th day of March, 1823. At six years of age, he moved to Columbus, Ohio, with his parents, where he grew to manhood. In 1845 coming to Illinois, he located in McDonough County, a few miles north of Bardolph, where he lived for several years. In 1849 he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Snap. who was born June the 17th, 1829. About the same time he bought the old home place east and north of town, where he immediately located. Eighteen months later the wife died, this being July 10, 1850. One child was born to this union, but it died shortly afterwards. Deer was found plentiful at this time and Mr. Gibbs often told of how he could count as JOHN GIBBS many as 75 deer from his kitchen door, crossing Joe Melvin's old farm one-fourth of a mile away. These were hard times, too, for the old settlers, for debts had to be paid and work was scarce. At one time Mr. Gibbs had to work at 25 cents a day to get money to pay a $50 doctor bill. On the 26th day of November, 1860, he was married again, this time to Miss Mary Gibbs. To this union eight children, four boys and four girls, were born. They lived on the old place practically all the time until his death, which occurred on the 25th day of April, 1905. John Gibbs, the grandfather of the subject of our
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sketch, was born in England and came to this country some years previous to the revolution. He was so pleased with the country that in 1776 or thereabouts, he returned to England to settle up his estate, and left his children in Baltimore to await his return. From this trip he never returned, as the ship was lost at sea and the children were left to themselves and his property unclaimed.
JOSEPH GARDNER
Was born October 19, 1831, in the State of Ohio. At an early date, he, accom- panied by one John Silver, crossed into Illinois prairie on horseback and engaged in herding in what is now Mound Township. Many were the exciting times at that early date and plenty the deer and other wild animals.
After a few years Gardners, Flemings, Meloines and others came to this country as a company in covered wagons. Mr. Gardner purchased two quarter sections of land on his arrival, the farms now owned by Ross Aten, James Logan, and John Coleman. About this time he was married to Cornelia Melvin and to this union were born the following children: Theodore (deceased), Wallace, now a doctor, Mary (deceased), Gerldia, at home, Lewis, who now lives on the Gard- ner farm east of town, William, and Orville, who reside in Bardolph, Leon, who is now in the west, Samuel and Jessie, deceased.
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