History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 53

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 758

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 53
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 53

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).

years, Township Treasurer about ten years, and Treasurer of Greenville City for several terms. His politics, Democratic; his religion, Christian; is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. His grandfather, James Denny, came West with his family from North Carolina and located at McCord, now Cottonwood, where he was engaged in farm- ing

NATHANIEL DRESSOR, banker and farmer, P. O. Greenville, was born June 24, 1825, in the State of Maine; son of Rufus and Tamer Dressor, both natives of New England. His father emigrated to Bond County in October, 1837, and was there en- gaged in farming and milling. The subject was the fourth child of a family of five sons and two daughters; his education was re- ceived in the common schools; he was a very successful farmer and a shrewd financier, being President of the First National Bank of Greenville. He married Elizabeth S. Mc- Farlan, daughter of Robert McFarlan, a farmer. They had five children-Alenia, now Mrs. John W. McCord, of Milan, Ill. ; Char- lotte, deceased at the age of twenty-five, was an accomplished, thoroughly educated lady, being a graduate of McKendree College; Edwin, a farmer, near Greenville; Roxanna, deceased 1878; Julia, deceased 1880, was the wife of William A. Northcott, present State's Attorney of Bond County; and Win- nie, now in school. Is a member of the old Republican party, and always a strong Union man.

EDWIN W. DRESSOR, farmer, P. O. Greenville, is the only son of Nathaniel Dressor. He was born in Cottonwood Grove, on the homestead farm. December 12, 1854; he was raised to farming and trading pursuits, and remained under the parental roof until his marriage, March 7, 1877, when he cast his lot in a matrimonial way with Mary M. Kirk-

GREENVILLE CITY AND PRECINCT.

land, a native of Walshville Township, Mont- gomery County, this State: she was a daugh- ter of T. C. Kirkland, one of the prominent farmers and business men of Montomery County. Immediately after his marriage he located on the farm he now occupies, in this township, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-trading, being one of the largest dealers of his age in the county. He has had two children born him; but one living-Edith Mabel, born Ang. 11. 1880.

WILLIAM M. EVANS was born in Bath County, Ky., March 12, 1819; son of Thomas and Anna (Martin) Evans, he a native of Kentucky, born in Bath County May 27, 1799, and died August 19, 1870; she, a native of Virginia, was born March 6, 1798, and died September 15, 1847; they had eleven chil- dren, all of whom lived to maturity, William M. being the eldest. Our subject came to Illinois in 1845, from Indiana, settling in Bureau County, and, in 1855, came to Green- ville and commenced the cabinet business, in which he continued until the war broke out, when he sold his business, and, in 1864, en- tered the 100-day service in the Union army, remaining four months. In 1856, Mr. Evans was one of the prime movers in the organi- zation of the Republican party in Bond County; was a delegate to the Convention in 1858, that nominated Abraham Lincoln for Congress: in 1860, member of State Conven- tion at Decatur, Ill .. and went from there to Chicago to labor in the interest of Mr. Lincoln; was member of State Convention in 1862: in ISSO, was a delegate to State Con- vention at Springfield; in 1876, he was elect- ed to represent his (Forty-second) district in the Lower Branch of the General Assembly of the State. After leaving the army, he com- menced merchandising, in which he contin- ued until 1877. On August 11, 1840, Mr. Ev- ans married Miss Levica Young, born in Vir-

ginia October 12, 1819; daughter of Charles Young, who died in 1851, leaving two chil- dren. December 28, 1852, he married Mary C. Hubbard, born in Bond County, Ill., Jan- uary 12, 1822; daughter of Peter Hubbard, of Hennepin, Putnam Co., Ill. His oldest son, Daniel B., is clerk in First National Bank. and his other son, Woodford P., is a farmer in Iowa. The father of Mr. Evans moved to Iowa in 1854, where he died.

MOSES W. ELAM, farmer, P. O. Smith- boro, is the third child born and eldest son of Moses Elam, of Town 6, Range 2. Moses W. was born March 3, 1853, on the home- stead near Mulberry Grove. He was brought up on the farm. and made his father's house his home until maturity. He was married when twenty years of age. His nuptials were celebrated December, 1873: his wife was Cypha Morey, born in Knox County, Ohio, daughter of Lucius Morey and Ruth Ann Cumston. Lucius was born 1828, in Knox County; son of David Morey. a native of Ver- mont, who emigrated to Knox County, and there settled as a pioneer. Ruth Ann was born in Pennsylvania, daughter of Benjamin Cumston. Mrs. Elam came to Fayette County with her parents in 1865. Her mother died in 1868, leaving two children-Mrs. Elam, and Inez, who married Thomas, the brother of her husband. After Mr. Elam's marriage, he re- moved to Fayette County, living there five years, then returned to this county, where they have since lived, locating on their farm in the fall of 1880. Said farm consists of 160 acres, on the northeast quarter of Section 5. He has three children-Wilbur, Rose and Daisey; he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

JOEL ELAM, manufacturer, Greenville, was born in North Carolina, December 9, 1817; son of Edward and Letitia (Chaffen) Elam, he a native of Virginia and a black-

BIOGRAPHICAL:

smith by trade; they had a family of fifteen children, Joel being the youngest. Our sub- ject, after receiving an ordinary education, learned the blacksmith's trade, in Greenville, and at present is engaged in that business and saw-milling with his sons, Thomas and John, under the firm name of Elam & Sons. Mr. Elam has been married four times; first in 1843, to Nancy Clay, in Menard County, Ill. ; she died the first year of her marriage; sec- ond, Sarah E. Smith, in 1845, who died the same year, leaving one child-Charles Ed- ward, now deceased; third, Sarah McCormick, of Greenville, she had two sons -William and Thomas; fourth, Sarah White, of Greenville, who has three daughters and one son-Ellen, Sarah, Miriam and John. Mr. Elam is a Presbyterian and Republican.

GEORGE B. ENLOE, farmer, P. O. Green- ville; born Ang. 7, 1848, on the homestead situated in Town 6, Range 2, where his fa- ther. Ezekiel Enloe, settled and remained nn- til his death. The mother of George B. was Charlotte White, who was born in North Car- olina, daughter of Richard White. Eight children were born to Ezekiel Enloe and wife. The eldest was Marshall, then in order of birth eame Claybourne, Thomas, William Edward, Mary E., Benjamin and George B., who was the youngest one of the family. He married Susan E. Foster, a native of this State, daughter of William Foster. Four children, Johnnie, William, Della and Eze- kiel, are the issue of this marriage. In 1873, he located on his farm, where he now resides, having about 120 acres, selected on the south half of Section 31. He has one brother, Ed- ward. in this township, and William in Town 6. Range 3. Mary E. married D. H. Kings- bury, and resides in Greenville. Mr. E. had three brothers in the late war.

CHARLES W. FLOYD, farmer. P. O. Greenville, is a native of Kentucky, Todd

County. He was born in 1822, and was a resi- dent of his native State until 1833, when he came with his parents to Bond County. His father's name was John W., a Kentuckian by birth, and was a son of Charles Floyd, of Old Virginia. John W. Floyd married Betsy Johnson, a native of Indiana. To Mr. Floyd was born a family of ten children, viz., Ella married P. G. Vowter: Nancy became the wife of William Harlin; Polly, Mrs. W. Blackwell, George; Jane, Mrs. D. P. Hagee; Charles W .; William J .: Sarah, Mrs. W. D. Henry; John S .. and Thomas W , who was a physician. In February, IS44, he married Eliza Henry, daughter of John Henry, a Ken- tuckian. After his marriage, he located in the edge of Clinton County. In 1849, he entered land in this county, one mile east of Wise. town. Moving on the same, he began improv- ing it. In 1852, he moved south to Texas, and purchased land in Grayson County, and en- gaged in farming and stock-raising, remaining here until 1866, when he located on the farm he now owns, on Section 33, Town 6, Range 3, in Greenville Precinct. He has a fine location. one of the best in the precinct; he is a good fariner and has been successful in his busi- ness; his wife died June 22, 1877; he has four children-Jane. the eldest, and is the wife of E. D. Wallace; George A., Mary and Charles H. The father of our subject was for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; and served in the war of 1812, and died in 1846; and during his his life was affil- iated with the old Whig party.

JAMES F. FILE, farmer, P. O. Green- ville, born in Bond County, III., March 5, 1850. He was the son of George and Mary (Lyttaker) File, he a farmer and distiller, died in 1858, and she in Bond County, Ill. Our subject received part of his education in New Douglas, Madison County, and part in Bond County, Ill., where, in 1870,

GREENVILLE CITY AND PRECINCT.

January 6, he married Ella E. Bolton, daughter of John and Sarah Bolton, natives of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. File were born five children

Charles H., Louella B., Edwin N. (deceased). George J. P. and Alberta J. Mr. File has always been a farmer. He was School Director for three years; his political views are with the Democrats; he is also a member of the Masonic order. He is a young man, thirty- two years of age; he has an excellent farm, which, by his energy and industry, he has rendered very valuable.

DR. JAMES GORDON, Greenville, for eighteen years a practicing physician of Bond County, is a native of Huntsville, Ala., and was born on the 17th of January, 1818. Is a son of Hugh Gordon and Mortha Jane, née Jagers, his wife. His father, a native of South Carolina, born in 17SS, settled in Ala- bama in 1816, and though a slaveholder, was a Whig in politics, and advocated emancipa- tion: he died December 3, 1851; his mother, also a native of South Carolina, was born in Chester District in 1798, died January 3, 1849. James received his early education in the common schools of his native place, and in boyhood imbibed those habits of industry that have characterzed his busy life. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at an early age, and spent three years study- ing, with a view to entering the ministry, but his mind gradually inclined to the study of the science of medicine and he abandoned his purpose and entered the Memphis Medical College. After completing his studies, he entered upon the practice of his profession in Mississippi, and continued it there and in Arkansas until 1864, when he became a resi- dent of Jamestown, Clinton Co .. III. Prac- ticing there till February, 1870, he removed to Greenville, where he has built up an exten- sive practice. In the spring of 1875, the Missouri Medical College conferred upon him

the ad eundem degree. In early life, he be- came a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has advanced to the Royal Arch degree. Dr. Gordon has been twice married, first at Huntsville, Ala., December 22, 1835, to Miss Mary Ann Sanderson, of Madison County, Ala .. born September 22, 1819, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Bell) Sanderson, the former born in 1789, died February 5, 1853, the latter born in Chester District, South Carolina, in 1793, died in 1862. She died in 1860, leaving twelve children-Mary E., Hugh D., James B., John H. William P., Jerry T., Sarah F .. Martha J., Robert W., Rufus B. and two others who died without names. He again married in the month of June, 1860, to Mary Jane Marshall, born in Johnson County, Ark .. August 26, 1837. daughter of Joseph N. and Annis R. (Neeley) Marshall, the former still living, born in Tennessee in 1800, the latter also born the same year, died January 6, 1858. By the second marriage he has had ten chil- dren. Of the twenty-two, ten are now living-Madison D., Margaret A., Ferdinand R., Katie L., Emma H., Hattie M., Thomas F., James M. and two others who died with- out names. Five of this number are married and are parents of his thirty grandchildren; two of his children have died after having married. Dr. Madison D. is the only one now of age not married. Of his family, seven sons have become practicing physicians, and four of those now living, including Madison D .. his present partner, are in active practice. Dr. Gordon is a Republican in politics, but does not take active part in political contests. He is independent in thought, social and genial in his manner and inflexible in purpose. He has attained success in his profession and life by close application and a strict adherence to principles of Justice.

A. J. GULLICK, Sheriff of Bond County and insurance, Greenville, was born in Mad-

BIOGRAPHICAL:

ison County, Ill., October 27, 1827, son of Beniah and Elizabeth (Ginglis) Gullick, he a native of North Carolina, a wagon-maker by trade, now deceased; she of same State also de ceased. They had five children, only two of whom are now living, our subject being the eldest. He was educated in the common sehools of his native county, and for some years followed peddling, being so successful as to accumulate enough to purchase a farm. He came to Bond County in 1852, loeating at Mulberry Grove. Mr. Gullick was elected Sheriff of Bond County in 1872, and served three terms of two years each. In 1880, he was again elected to the shrievalty, and is now serving in that office, which he fills admirably, acceptably, and with a faithful- ness to duty and the rights of his fellow-cit- izens that will make his retirement from the position a matter of regret among all classes. September 20. 1857, he married Miss Eliza A. Dudley, daughter of Mr. Alfred Dudley, a pioneer and farmer of Bond County, and the following children have been born to them: Seward A., Mason E., Harris A., Ruda E., Nellie E., Walter A., Pearl D., and an infant son unnamed. Mr. Gullick is a Freema- son, an Odd Fellow, member of the A. O. U. W., and a Republican.

ULRICH GAFFNER, farmer, P. O. Green- ville. Of the representatives of this town- ship, none are more deserving than the above gentleman, who has made himself what he is to-day all by honest industry and rigid econ omy. He was born in Switzerland, August 22, 1835; son of Ulrich, who was born in Canton Berne in 1804; his wife was Mary Smocher, daughter of John Smocher, a native of Swit- zerland. The father of our subject was a farmer, which vocation our subjeet was early taught in life, in company with his brothers, who are yet at home in Switzerland, and en- gaged in farming on their own possessions,

except one of the brothers, Godfrey, who emi- grated to this State in 1857, and is now a prominent farmer in Christian County, this State. Ulrich, having heard very favorable accounts of America, and the advantages af- forded the laboring man here, which so far surpassed those at home, that he determined to emigrate to this country, which he did. ar- riving here in May. 1860. He began work- ing out by the month and saving his earn- ings, until he acquired sufficient means to enable him to make a purchase of land on his own account. His farm consists of 1333 acres; the greater portion he bought of J. H. Koonee, situated on Section 31. He was married in 1864, to Sarah Sahnert, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Wvandt) Sahnert. To Mr. Gaff- ner have been born five children -- Lizzie A., William, Mollie A., Lois and Edward, who have crowned this union. Mr. Gaffner is a man that has a high regard for right and jus- tice, and has no desire to do injury to any one, but to live an honest and upright life, and he is a good citizen in the community. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, as well as a staneh. worthy citizen of the com- munity.

ANDREW G. HENRY, Greenville, County Judge of Bond County, and son of John and Betsey Henry, was born February 25, 1824, near Paris, Bourbon Co., Ky. His parents removed to Illinois in 1827, and settled in the north part of Clinton County, where they resided a few years, and then removed to near Beaver Creek Post Office in Bond County, where they resided until Mr. Henry reached his majority. He secured as good an educa- tion as the limited school facilities of the county at that time afforded, the studies eon- sisting only of the common English branches. Securing such books as he could for study and general reading, he pursued his studies at

GREENVILLE CITY AND PRECINCT.

home, working on the farm and at the car- penter's trade. In 1851, he was married to his present wife, Mary A. Hull, daughter of the late Benjamin Hull, of Bond County. In 1853, he began the study of law, and in 1854 he removed to Greenville, the county seat of Bond County, and was admitted to the prac- tice of the law at the bar, and has practiced in Bond and adjoining counties ever since, confining himself largely to that department of law belonging to real estate. Upon the organization of the Republican party he warmly espoused its cause, and attended its first State convention, which met at Decatur, Ill., in 1860 He was a warm supporter of Abraham Lincoln for President, and after his inauguration as President, was an earnest supporter of all the war measures of the ad- ministration, and from that time has indorsed all the leading measures and the general policy of his party, taking an active part in all of its campaigns. In 1872, he was elected to the Lower House of the Legislature, and re- turned again in 1874, serving with marked ability and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In 1877, he was elected County Judge of Bond County, which office he now holds. Mr. Henry was one of the origina- tors of what is now the Vandalia Line Rail- road, being a large subscriber to the stock of the first company, and through the efforts of himself and a few other prominent citizens of Greenville, Bond County is indebted for her first railroad. Mr. Henry has held a place as Director in the company ever since its organization. Mr. Henry's family con- sists of himself, wife and two daughters, one of whom is the wife of George F. Berry, of Greenville; the other is still at home. Mr. Henry is always benevolent, aiding every worthy cause, and is kind and courteous to all. Being a man of strong convictions of right, and earnest in maintaining them, he is a

man with strong personal friends and follow- ers, and as would necessarily follow. Occa- sionally he makes an enemy; but at home among his neighbors, and wherever he is known, no man stands higher than does the Hon. A. G. Henry, the subject of this sketch.

CHARLES DOUGLAS HOILES, banker. Greenville, was born in Greenville, De- cember 1. 1844, son of Charles and Eliza- beth S. (Morse) Hoiles, he a native of New Jer- sey, born in 1819, and for many years a prom- inent and successful business man of Bond County; she a native of Lowell, Mass .; they had two children-Charles D., our subject, and Stephen M. Mr. Hoiles received his early education in Greenville, later at Mount Union, and still later at Shurtleff College. Upper Alton, Ill., but mostly at select school in Greenville, under Prof. S. W. Marston. He commenced his business life in the mercantile business with his father, which lasted tive years, when they entered the banking business under the firm name of Hoiles & Son. S. M. Hoiles, the brother of our subject, was admit- ted to the firm in 1872, which changed to Hoiles & Sons. The father retired from the business in 1881. Mr. C. D. Hoiles was a member of the Twenty-eighth Official General Assembly of the State of Illinois in 1872 : delegate to the National Democratic Conven- tion at Baltimore, which nominated Horace Greeley ; twice a member of the Democratic Central Committee ; once a member for the State at large ; candidate for nomination be- fore the Democratic Congressional Conven- tion, to represent the Sixteenth Congressional District in the National Legislature. The convention held sessions for three days and adjourned without making a choice. He is now serving his second term as Mayor of the city of Greenville. He was first married to Miss Sarah F. Weir. daughter of Dr. John F. Weir, of Edwardsville, Ill .; she died June 30,

BIOGRAPHICAL:

1874, leaving one son, Charles W .. and one daughter, Ione. He again married in June, 1876, Miss Juliette P. White, daughter of Prof. John B. White, long connected with the educational interests of Bond County. From this last marriage, have been born a son, Guy B., and a daughter, Anna L.

STEPHEN M. HOILES, banker, is a brother of the gentleman whose sketch appears above, and was also born in Greenville, on the Sth of April, 1853. He is a member (as stated above) of the banking house of Hoiles & Sons, and, like his brother, is one of the best business men of the county. December 20, 1871, he married Miss Welma C. Stoughtenberry, daughter of Jacob S. Stoughtenberry, de- ceased, who was a resident and capitalist of Madison County, Ill. They have three chil- dren-Stephen D., Clarence E. and Sarah Bell. Stephen M., like his brother, is a Democrat.

T. S. HUBBARD, farmer, P. O. Greenville, was born March 9, 1815, in Madison County, this State, eldest son of Peter Hubbard, a na- tive of South Carolina, born February 23, 1782, and emigrated to Randolph County, this State, in 1809, remaining but a short time. when he removed to Madison County prior to the war of 1812, in which he participated. In March, 1817, he located in what is now Bond County, on Section 1, Town 5. Range 3, where he re- mained until his death, which occurred Novem- ber 25, 1868, his wife preceded him to the grave in 1854. They raised a family of eight children-T. S., being the eldest that grew up, George W., Lewellyn B., Mary A., William C., Isom G., John T. and Margaret J. were the others in order of birth. The Hubbard family are of Welsh ancestry, both the father, grand and great-grandfather of our subject bore the old Biblical name of Peter. The mother of T. S. was Martha, daughter of Thomas Gillham. Thomas S. was reared to

farm lahor, and was educated at the common schools of his neighborhood. He was but two years of age when he came to this county. In early manhood, he was appointed to teach his district school of this township, now No. 2, in the year 1848. by subscription, being the first teacher who taught there. He liked mathematics, and learned surveying. which he put into practice for some time as Deputy Surveyor of the county. In this county. Feb- ruary 3, 1843, he married Anna E., daughter of Asa L. and Ann E. (Wright) Saunders. In 1841, he purchased land where he now re- sides, then raw and unimproved. After his marriage, located on the same, has since continued a constant resident, and is one of the stanch and substantial citizens of the conuty. Since 1843, he has been a consistent member of the Congregational Church. serv- ing as Deacon and Trustee of the same much of the time. In business, he has been success- ful. having (before he divided out among his children) about 700 acres of land. In educa- tional matters, he has taken an active part in his neighborhood. His children are Lewis S., Julian S., Harriet L., Henry A., George C., Alfred C. and Mary J. Julian S., in Kansas; George C., in Iowa; others are set- tled in this county.

HENRY HILL, farmer, P. O. Greenville, born May 29, 1814, in Seneca County, N. Y .. the eldest son and third child born to Henry Hill. his father, who was born November 26, 1790, in one of the Eastern States. November 16, 1809, he married Abigail Shutz, who was born April 5, 1791. To them were born the following children, the old family Bible tells the fol- lowing tale: Nancy M., born October 30, 1510: Sally, May 30, 1812 ; Henry, May 29, 1814 : Theodosia, March 15, 1816 ; Rosana. April 29, 1818; Polly, August 1, 1820; Ruama, August 7, 1822; William, April 19, 1825: Melinda, November 2, 1827 ; Jonathan, July

GREENVILLE CITY AND PRECINCT.

10, 1830 : Clarissa, November, 1832. The father died January 16, 1852, his wife April 17, 1844. When five years of age, our sub- ject removed with his parents to Montgom- ery County, Ohio, remaining there until 1842, when they came to this State, locating in Madison County. In 1868, he came to Bond County, locating on the northwest quarter of Section 31; here he has since lived. He has 272 acres of land. He began poor, had nothing but his lands and a willing mind to battle with the times in which he was surrounded, vet by diligence and rigid economy, he has acquired a home and com- petence by hard labor and patient industry. March 11, 1849, he married Mrs. Nancy Glenn, born in this county, daughter of Daniel Moore, who was born February 6, 1792, in Rutherford County, N. C., son of Philip Moore, from Virginia ; he (Philip) married Phebe Elam, of North Carolina. Daniel Moore married Jane Stewart, who was born in North Carolina, April 13, 1804, daughter of Robert Stewart and Jane Turntine. Robert was a son of Alexander Stewart, an Irishman by birth. Daniel Moore and family came to Bond County in 1818, making first settlement on Section 19, Town 5, Range 2. Mr. Hill has had eleven children born to him, five living-Daniel. George, James, Lemuel and Samuel -- Belle died September IS, 1881, aged twenty-two years. She married Smith Long; by him had two children-Charlie and Marion,

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 53

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin Number of Pages: 758

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 758