History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 56

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 56
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 56

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).

Hattie and Josie; Edwin, an only son, died in 1874, aged one year. Capt. Tabor was Deputy Sheriff of Bond County from 1868 to 1878, and has held the office of Constable for about thirteen years, and his present term will not expire until 1885. In 1861, he entered the service of his country as a private in the Third Illinois Cavalry; was promoted to a Second Lieutenancy in 1864, and to Cap- tain in 1865, giving four of the best years of his life in battling for the preservation of the Union-a record to look back upon with feel- ings of genuine pride. He was in thirty-two engagements, and being slightly wounded three times. Self and family are members of the Christian Church, and he is an I. O. (). F., A. O. U. W., a Good Templar and a Re- publican.

HON. WILLIAM S. WAIT, deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in Portland, Me., March 5, 1789, and was the second of a family of nine children, three of whom died in childhood, and six living an advanced age. Of his ancestors we have no extended record. His father, Thomas Baker Wait, born August 4, 1762, was of Welsh descent, an only child. and by occupation a printer, publisher and book-seller. He was a man of firm character, and delighted in literary pursuits. The mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Smith, was born October 25, 1760, and was loved and blessed by all who knew her, and died January 1, 1845. William S. received his rudimental schooling in the public schools of his native town, and when a youth entered the book publishing house of his father, con- tinuing with him, who was at times associated with others in the business, until over thirty years of age. Their business was at different times conducted in Portland, Me., and Boston. Mass., and extended over all parts of the Eastern, Middle and Southern States. When a mere boy, William S. and a brother two

BIOGRAPHICAL :

years older for a time did all of the labor, me- chanical, editorial, and otherwise necessary to publish a weekly newspaper. In June. 1817, he started on a journey to the west, through the States of New York, Pennsyl- vania, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. This he accomplished, arriv- ing at St. Louis, Mo., January 3, 1818. He returned into Illinois, reaching Old Ripley, Bond County, February 14, following. There he made his first land entry February 17. He started on his tedious return in the month of April, and reached Boston July 11, 1818, having traveled more than five thousand eight hundred miles, mostly in the saddle. With the keen foresight of an old time pioneer, Mr. Wait made note of the wonderful advan- tages that the Great West afforded the man of energy and nerve. June 27, 1819, he started out on a second prolonged business trip in the interests of his house, to Virginia. via New York City, Philadelphia and Wash- ington, making a canvass of the last-named State for some of their publications, riding about six thousand miles, and returning to Boston in April, 1820. In May, 1820, he married Sarah Newhall. of Salem. Mass. She was born January 31, 1797, and was the sixth child of a family of eight. Her parents, Thomas and Mehitable (Cheever) Newhall, were born 1754 and 1762, and died January 1, 1832 and January 12, 1830, respectively. They were both natives of Massachusetts, and have extensive family relations. Of their children none but Sarah ever married. Soon after their marriage they started on his second trip to Illinois. The journey was a tedious one, and attended with the perils of a long drive with horses and light wagon through a dense, unbroken wilderness. It was, how- ever, safely accomplished, and the bride and groom arrived at Old Ripley late in the sum- mer of 1820, and immediately began farming.

In 1821, he became interested in a mill. He lived at Ripley until the summer of 1824, when he returned East with his wife and child, on a visit to their parents. Mr. Wait's previous business relations had given him a thorough knowledge of the country and an extended acquaintance with its people, which in future years were of much avail to him in his business. The winter of 1824-25 was spent in traveling for a publishing house through the Middle States and Illinois, and early in April, 1825, he was for a third time at Old Ripley, his wife and two children join- ing him in the following November. They returned to Boston, Mass., in February, 1827, however, and until the spring of 1835, he was there actively engaged in publishing, when he again returned to Illinois, and made a permanent stay, settled near Greenville, en- gaged extensively in farming. A prominent feature of Mr. Wait's enterprise as a farmer was the planting of one of the largest apple orchards in Illinois. William S. Wait was always foremost in any local undertaking that was calculated to advance the interests of the community, and was ever ready with his pen or good words to assist in State or National enterprises. His readiness and abil- ity as a local statesman had won for him the personal acquaintance and esteem of all of the Illinois Governors from 1818 to 1865, and with many he was on intimate terms. He was known as a man who could not be bought and sold, was never backward to form and express plainly his views on any impor- tant subject. With political tricksters and wire-pullers, he was not a special favorite. He was not an office-seeker, and had no bar- gains to drive-allowed them to go their own way. October 14, 1845, he presided as Chair- man of the National Industrial Convention at New York, on which occasion he delivered an able address. June, 1848, the Industrial

GREENVILLE CITY AND PRECINCT.

Congress, held at Philadelphia, representing the various National Reform Associations of the United States, nominated Gerrit Smith as their candidate for President of the United States, and William S. Wait for Vice Presi- dent, which candicacy Mr. Wait respectfully declined. To make mention of the numerous conventions and meetings, political, agricult- ural. railroad, etc., in which MIr. Wait took a prominent part, would necessitate the addi- tion of an extra chapter. We will further state, however, that he took a deep interest in the formation of the laws of Illinois, wrote many letters and newspaper articles regard- ing them. Many articles or parts of the Constitution of 1878 were from his pen, as also the first drafts of many of the acts of the Illinois State Legislature. He took promi- nent parts in County and State Agricultural Societies; was the prime mover in the projec- tion of the Mississippi & Atlantic (now Van- dalia line) Railroad and in its interest spent a great part of his time from 1846 to 1865. (See history of Vandalia Line and general history of the county in this volume.) He was also one of the incorporators of the St. Louis & Illinois Bridge Company. Mr. Wait al- ways kept well-informed on all matters of improvement, whether pertaining to county, State or Nation. He was an investigator of all new subjects, a close student, and a clear and voluminous writer on political, educa- tional, agricultural and reformatory subjects, a constant correspondent with many of the best minds of the age, and a frequent con- tributor to the press. He died July 17, 1865, and she who had been his faithful helpmeet and loving wife for more than forty-five years, departed the following 14th day of September. Of their eight children, two died in infancy; one when just budding into womanhood. One is a resident of Tulare County, Cal .. and four are residents of Bond.

T. B. WOOD, harness and saddlery. Green- ville, for several years a thriving citizen and business man of Greenville, was born in High- land County, Ohio, August 9, 183S. His father, Thomas J. Wood, also a native of the Buckeye State, was a hatter by trade, which he followed until after middle life, and then entered the retail grocery business. He took for his wife one Evelyn Hardy, a native of Massachusetts. Our subject received in youth only the advantages of a common school edu- cation in the rural districts of Highland County, Ohio, and at about fifteen years of age learned the harness-maker's trade at Mt. Sterling, Ohio. After remaining in Mt. Ster- ling two years, he went to Washington, Fayette Co., Ohio, for about the same length of time, and came to Greenville, Bond Coun- ty. In the spring of 1861, he entered the Twenty-second Illinois Infantry, taking up arms in defense of the Union. After six months' service, he was discharged on account of disability. Returning to Greenville, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, after a respite of about six months. He remained in the service until the close of the war, having served about three years. He was at the battle of Vicksburg, also in the heat of the battle of Mansfield, where he received a severe wound, and was captured by the enemy. After confinement in a hospital for about three months, he was paroled, and later exchanged, and closed his term of serv- ice on the Gulf of Mexico. In 1865, he re- turned to Greenville, entered his present bus- inss, in which he has been successful. He manufactures everything in the harness line. and carries in his stock a complete stock of saddles, etc. His store is located on the east side of the public square, where he can al- ways be found ready to meet his customers. EDWIN B. WISE, merchant, Greenville, was born in Hebron, N. H., December 22,

BIOGRAPHICAL:

1836. He was one of twelve children born to David and Elizabeth (Hoyt) Wise; he, a native of New Hampshire, a farmer by occu- pation; came to Illinois in October, 1854, with his family. He died May 30, 1864. His wife was the daughter of Abram Hoyt, a na- tive of New Hampshire, and a pioneer of this State. Our subject received a common school education in New Hampshire, and at Greenville. Mr. Wise was twice married; first, on February 7, 1862, to Lestina D. Cor- bin, daughter of Ephraim Corbin, who was a native of England, and by occupation a him- ber merchant of Hannibal, Mo. She died April 20, 1871, leaving three children - Alonzo D., John L. and Katie, the latter hav- ing died: second, August 24, 1871, he mar- ried Kate M. Miller, daughter of George Mil- ler, of Clinton County, Ill., a carpenter by occupation, and a native of Perry County, Penn. She is the mother of two children -- Ernest and an infant now deceased. Mr. Wise was in the mercantile business at Wise- town, Beaver Creek Precinct, Bond County, a thriving little trading post, which he estab- lished himself, remaining there until Febru- ary 1, 1882, when he purchased one-half in- terest in the stock and business of the well- known New York clothing house of Lewis Kaufman, and the connection of Mr. Wise with this establishment is a sufficient guaran- tee to the buying public that the New York clothing house has become a safe and profit- able place to exchange money for merchan- dise. Mr. Wise enlisted in Company C. Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry as Sergeant August 19, 1861, and was at the siege of Corinth, Miss., in 1862, and in the battle at Farmington. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and afterward discharged on ac- count of disability. In politics, he is a Re- publican; is a member of the A., F. & A. M.

and A. O. U. W. Mr. Wise is a very snc- cessful merchant, and is highly esteemed.

WILLIAM H. WATSON, grocer, Green- ville, was born in Newport, Bond County, July 31, 1849; son of Andrew W. and Cynthia A. (Diamond) Watson, he born in Cleveland County, N. C., in 1812, and died June 6, 1881. He was a farmer and merchant, and came to Bond County in 1820, locating in Zion Precinct. He merchandized for twenty years in the town of Newport. His wife was a native of Tennessee, and died in 1956, leaving four children. In 1858, he married Cornelia J. Daniels, and by her had seven children, five of whom are living. Andrew W. Watson served one year in the Black Hawk war. Our subject attended the schools in Newport, and was raised on his father's farm, and worked in his father's store. May 1, 1880, he married, in Greenville, Louisa A. Jett, daughter of Mr. Gabriel Jett, a pioneer of Bond, who died in 1860. Mr. Watson is of the firm of Watson & Jett, grocers, who commenced business together in 1880. They carry a fine stock of goods, and do an exten- sive trade; also, a general produce and ex- change business. Mr. Watson is an Odd Fellow and a Republican.

THOMAS WAFER, miller, Greenville, was born about twleve miles northwest of Greenville, in Cottonwood Grove Precinct, and is a son of the late James and Sarah (El- der) Wafer, he born on Bullock Creek, within seven or eight miles of King's Mountain, Dis- triet of York, in the State of South Carolina, on the 28th day of September, 1785, and died on the Sth day of February, 1873, at his home in Bond County, where he had re- sided for fifty-three years; she, born in Liv- ingstou (now Crittenden) County, Ky., May 22. 1795, died July 11, 1847. The subject's grandfather, named Francis, was born in

GREENVILLE CITY AND PRECINCT.

South Carolina about 1750, and died in Kentucky in the year 1823, and his great- grandfather, also named Francis Wafer, was born in Ireland about the year 1706. The parents of the subject had eight children, and he began life as a farmer, and married at the residence of the bride's parents Mary Agnes Davidson MeLain, daughter of John A. McLain, who was born in Bedford County, Tenn .. June 17, 1826. The subject is a mem- ber of the well-known firm of Plant & Wafer, millers. He has one son, Charles Louis, and one daughter, Orrey E., who married Robert, Thaeker. In religion, Mr. Wafer is a Pres- byterian, and in politics a Republican. He is one of the earliest pioneers of Bond County, and one of its most substantial citizens.

JOHN B. WHITE, deceased, was a farmer and one of the early settlers of Bond County. He was born in Rutherford County, N. C., Janu- ary 20, 1790; son of Thomas White, a school teacher, who is said to have taught the first sehool in Bond County, near Greenville. He was of North Carolina birth, and his wife, a Miss Torrence, was also of the same State. They had two daughters and five sons, John B., our subjeet, being the oldest, who died June 28, 1873; his wife preceded him Feb- ruary 18, 1848.

ELEAZER H. WHITE, son of the above, was born in Bond County October 6, 1835; is a farmer by occupation. February 22, 1863, he married Miss Harriet A. Goodsen, by whom he has four children-Ida E., John B., Hat- tie A. and George W. Is a Presbyterian and a Republican.

S. E. WHITE is anothor son of John B. White, and was also born in Bond County: is, and has always been. a farmer. In April, 1857, he married Miss Martha Goodsen. and has three children-William T., Maggie E. and Fannie M. He is a Republican.

SPRAGUE WHITE, Justiee of the Peace,

Greenville, was born February 19, 1813, at Greenville, Bond Co., Ill. He was the son of James White, who was the third child of Thomas White, and the only child now living, and Mary (Denny) White, daughter of James Denny, a pioneer of Bond County, III. Sub- jeet was one of a family of seven, four of whom are still living. He was educated in Bond County, having attended the academy at Greenville. In 1877, he married Virginia A. Corrie, daughter of Joseph Corrie, a farmer an old settler of Bond County. Subject liad one son -- Roy Sprague White. Our subject began teaching school when but a youth. He taught about twenty years in Jersey County, Ill. ; then, in 1875, he taught in Texas, and has since been a resident of Greenville, where, in the fall of 1881, he was elected Justice of the Peace. Mr. Sprague White is regarded as one of the best informed men on general topics, having devoted his entire life to read- ing and studying of a general character. He is an Old-School Presbyterian and a Whig- Republiean. His grandfather was the son of John White, who was of English and Irish deseent, and emigrated to this country about 1740.

DAVID WILKINS, physician and sur- geon, Greenville, was born March 28, 1829, in Merom, Sullivan Co., Ind. ; son of David W. and Frances (Balthas) Wilkins. David W. was born in Virginia in 1778; removed to Indiana about the year 1820, and died in 1848. His wife, also a native of Virginia, was born in 1782, and died in 1847. Our subject, the youngest of a family of five sons and five daughters, attended school in Sulli- van County, Ind., and, having chosen the medieal profession, took his course in the Medical Department of Michigan University, graduating in 1853. He began the practice of his profession in Mulberry Grove, Bond Co., Ill., and removed to Greenville in the

BIOGRAPHICAL:

autumn of 1859. At Medarysville, Ind., May 29, 1853, he married Maria M. Gwinn, born in Michigan City, Ind., May 27, 1836, daughter of Andrew and Mary Ann (Fultz) Gwinn. Andrew Gwinn was a native of Lon- donderry, Ireland; was born in 1788, and died in 1848. His wife was born in Balti- more, Md., in 1804, and died in 1863. Mrs. Wilkins bore her husband four children-

David R., Lillian G .. Corwin and Harry E. Our subject entered the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry as Sur- geon in 1862, and was discharged in 1865. He is a skillful physician, and has a large practice. In politics, he is a Republican, and formerly belonged to the old Whig party. Mrs. Wilkins is a member of the Baptist Church.

RIPLEY PRECINCT.

ANNA MARY ARNOLD, hotel-keeper, Old Ripley, was born in Franco-Germany De- cember 31, 1834, the daughter of Peter and Catharine (Molter) Kloster. They were born in Germany, he in 1807, and died in 1849: she was born at the same place November 23, 1811, and is still living. They had six children, four daughters and two sons. Sub- ject went to school in Germany, and was mar- ried to George Arnold in 1849, at St Louis, who was born in Alsace, Germany, April 24, 1812. He was the son of John and Annie (Assolt) Arnold. Subject had eleven children -Edward. Jacob, Annie, Clotilda, Emil. Rosa. Birdie. Julia. Lizzie, George and Charlie. Subject kept Strasburg Hotel, St. Louis, and since then has kept a hotel here. Mrs. Arnold is a Catholic.

JOHN W. COX (deceased) was born in Bath County. Va., December 15, 1845. He was the son of John and Charity Ann Cox. John was a dentist, and died at Carrollton, Ill. ; his wife died in 1868. They had a family of eleven. Subject received most of his schooling in Marine, Ill. At Mexico, Mo .. October 5. 1871. he married Mary J. West., who was born there on February 3, 1851. Her parents were J. J. and Zelophia West, he of Tennessee, and she of Kentucky. By this union subject had a family of five- George W. (deceased), Berthold, Corwin. Josie (deceased) and Nellie. Mr. Cox was a miller at Troy, Ill .: afterward built a mill at Chillicothe, Mo. He died February 11. 1882, and was buried in the old Brown Cem- etery at New Berlin. He was a Methodist, a Democrat, and a member of K. P. order.

Mr. Cox was an excellent business man, pub- lic-spirited, of strong character. and loved and esteemed by all who knew him.

J. W. CLANTON, hotel-keeper, Old Rip- ley, was born in Bond County, III., June 16, 1850; the son of Wesley and Nancy (Brewer) Clanton. Wesley was born in North Caro- lina, 1811; was a farmer, and died in 1872. Mrs. Clanton is still living. They had a family of four boys and four girls. Subject's opportunities for receiving a good education were limited, having only attended school a few years in Bond County, Ill., where, Janu- ary 19, 1873, he married Mary E. Long, who was born in Bond County October 17, 1853. She is the daughter of I. V. and Nancy Long. By this union they had three children-John W., Lula A. (deceased) and Wayne L. Mr. Clanton is a Baptist and a Democrat. He is at present engaged in the hotel business at New Berlin, III.

FRANK H. DALHAUS. farmer, P. O. Old Ripley, was born in Prussia, Germany, February 22, 1830; son of Aberhardt and Margaret Dalhaus, both born in Germany. He died in Germany in 1854, and she one year later. They had seven children, five girls and two boys. Subject attended school in Germany, for seven years, and after this worked at brick making there. He was mar- ried in St. Louis, April 11. 1874, to Christina Urich, born there June 22, 1852. She is the daughter of Henry and Neberga Urich, natives of Germany. Subject has one child-Henry G. During the war, Mr. Dalhaus served in Company D. Third Illinois Regiment. under Captains Davis and MeLain. He kept saloon

BIOGRAPHICAL:

in New Berlin, Ill., twelve years, and since then has farmed. He is a Catholic and a Republican.

JOHN N. FILE, farmer, P. O. Pocahontas, was born July 21, 1828, in Ripley Precinet. His parents were Moses File, born in North Carolina, in 1804; was a farmer, and died August 27, 1865, and Elizabeth (Lyttaker) File, born in Tennessee July 1, 1811. They had thirteen children, of whom our subject is the oldest. He received but little educa- tion, and that in this precinct. Mr. J. N. File was twice married; first, on December 24, 1851, at Pocahontas, to Mary A. Stallard, and second, on January 6, 1856, at Pleasant Prairie, to Julia A. Cruthis, who was born there April 9, 1831. Her parents were John and Millberry (Redfearn) Cruthis, both born in North Carolina. Subject had a family of nine-Elizabeth Millberry, John J., Thomas A., Mary E., Martha A., Ida M., William M., Henry W. and Edward R. Mr. File has al- ways been a farmer, and worked hard to clear the wilderness, and now owns 6073 acres of as good land as can be found in Bond County. He is a Methodist, and his political views are with the Republican party.

THOMAS B. FILE, farmer, P. O. Poea- hontas, was born in Ripley Precinct March 14, 1830; is the son of Moses and Mary E. (Lyttaker) File. Moses File, a farmer, was born in North Carolina in 1803, and died August 26, 1865. His wife was born in Ten- nessee in 1811, and died in 1869. Subject was one of a family of thirteen. His educa- tion, which was but seant, was received in Ripley Precinet. At Greenville, Bond County, October 23, 1856, he married Mary E. Gilles- pie, born in Clinton County, Ill., February 6, 1839, daughter of John and Mary Gilles- pie, the former a native of Tennessee, the latter born in Madison County February 5, 1814. By this union they had six children

-Frederiek S., John W., Benjamin M., Thomas Elmer, Augusta, Martha A. (de- ceased). Mr. File has always farmed in this precinct, and owns 6383 acres of the best land in Bond County. He made the first road across the Bond County prairies. Mr. File was School Trustee for twelve years, Road Supervisor four terms, and is at present Over- seer of the Poor. He is a Methodist and a Republican; also belongs to the Masonic and A. O. U. W. orders.

JOHN F. FILE, farmer, P. O. Greenville, was born in Ripley Precinct July 13, 1832. His parents were George File, born in North Carolina; a farmer, and died in February, 1857, and Mary (Lyttaker) File born in Ten- nessee, and died in March, 1878. They had thirteen children. The subject received his education in Ripley Precinct, where he was married March 17, 1853, to Miss Willie, who was born in Pocahontas in 1837. Her parents, Wilson and Fannie Willie, were natives of Tennessee By this union they had nine chil- dren-Columbus (deceased), Mary F., George W., Carrie F., Emma J .. Lemuel, John F .. Henry and Lulie. During the war, Mr. File served eighteen months under Capt. McLain and Col. Carnahan, in Company E, Third Illinois Cavalry. He began business as black- smith with his grandfather, Peter Lyttaker; has also been a Constable and Deputy Sheriff of Bond County. In polities, he is with the Republican party. He now owns eighty acres of land on the Alton road, and is at present a farmer.

JOHN C. FLECK, farmer, P. O. Old Ripley, was born in Baden, Germany, February 20, 1845; son of Jacob and Jacobina (Aalzgeber) Fleck, both natives of Baden, Germany, he, born December 14, 1818, she in 1825. They are both still living, and had a family of nine, with but one daughter. Subject went to school in Baden for eight years: after this

RIPLEY PRECINCT.

he learned the blacksmith's trade with his father, who was a blacksmith at Baden, Ger- many. In St. Louis, May 7, 1872, he married Mary Neifahrt, born in New Berlin, Ill., January 6. 1858, the daughter of Jacob and Sybilla Neifahrt. Subject has three children -John L., Ida E. and Charles F. Mr. Fleck was a blacksmith in St. Louis, Mo., in Pleas- ant Hill, Mo., Pekin, Ill., again in St. Louis, in Pocahontas, and lastly in this place. For the last three years he has farmed here, is a Justice of the Peace for Ripley Precinct, a Republican, and a member in good standing of the A., F. & A. M., and I. O. O. F.

FREDERICK W. FRITZ, carpenter. Old Ripley, was born at St. Louis, Mo., April 21, 1862, a son of Jacob L. and Catharine (With- mer) Fritz, natives of Bavaria, South Ger- many; he, born March 15, 1832, a painter, and she, born February 15, 1840; both are still living. Our subject is one of a family of three: attended school in Ripley, and was successful in his studies. He taught school at the Union Schoolhouse, in Ripley, for awhile. but has since followed the carpenter's trade, which he learned during his apprenticeship with William Boldt. Mr. Fritz is a Repub- lican.

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 56

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