History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 58

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 58
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 58

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).

E. V. GASKINS, farmer and stock-raiser,

P. O. Mulberry Grove. "Son," as he is best known, was born in Greenville November 29, 1841. He is the only son and sole heir of Judge Enrico Gaskins, a native of Norfolk, Va., born June 14. 1812, and son of Spencer Gaskins. Enrico, the father of "Son," was a hatter by trade, and came West to Green- ville in 1835, where he set up in business, continuing the same for several years, and afterward became prominently identified with its business interests. He was Clerk of the Court about twenty years, and eight years County Judge. He was a thorough and cor- rect business man. In 1859, he entered land in Town 6, Range 2, and purchased other lands adjoining the same, which land is now owned and occupied by E. V. Mr. Gaskin was a prominent member of the Masonic fra- ternity; also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he was a stanch Repub- lican, and in every sense of the word a repre- sentative man and valued member of the com- monwealth. His marriage with Mrs. Sarah Coun, relict of Dr. Conn. was crowned with the birth of three children; but one of the number is now living, E. V. He located on the farm in 1872. His death occurred Feb- ruary 18, 1879. Mrs. Gaskin's maiden name was Hall, daughter of Joshua and Charlotte (Strider) Hall. She was born June 18. 1814, in Jefferson County, Va., and came West with her parents to this county in 1833. E. V. has been located on the farm since his father's location here in 1872. In 1863, he married Charlotte, born in this county, daughter of John S. Hall. He has one daughter, Lena, aged sixteen. For four years Mr. E. V. Gaskin was a resident of Mulberry Grove. being engaged while here in mer- chandising. Since his location here on the farm, he has been engaged in farming, and is giving his attention to the breeding of fine cattle and horses, of which he has the best

BIOGRAPHICAL:

stock. He has 600 acres of land, located on Section 23, with a new house and comfortable surroundings.

J. J. HARPER, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove. The Harper family rank among the pioneer families in Town 5, Range 2. They were natives of Tennessee, and located where J. M. Harper now resides. The subject of these lines is a descendant of this family. He was born May 28, 1838, on the farm he now owns, on Section 22. He is the second son of Thomas Harper, who was born in Maury County, Tenn., and emigrated to this county in the year 1829. The mother of our subject was Priscilla Segraves, daughter of Bennett Segraves, likewise one of the earliest settlers in this township. But two children were born to Thomas Harper and wife, whose names were Robert and Jefferson J. The lat- ter was young when his father died. His mother died in 1867. J. J. succeeded his father on the homestead, where he has since lived. February 10, 1859, he married Milley E. Brown, born in Fayette County, daughter of James and Dorcas Brown, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. Harper has a farm of 170 acres. He has two children --- James T. and Alice.

J. P. LILLIGH, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove. Clarion County, Penn., sent some good farmers and citizens to Bond County, among whom is the above, who was born in February, 1841, being the eldest son of Jacob Lilligh and Catharine Mahle. Jacob Lilligh was born in Lancaster County, Penn .; son of Jacob, a native of Germany. The family emigrated West to this locality in the spring of 1865. J. P. married in Pennsylvania Han- nah Cornish in 1854. She was a daughter of Henry Cornish. She died in 1872, leaving two children-Addison and Kate. His last marriage was to Miss Nancy Buchannon, a native of this county. She was a daughter

of John Buchannon, who was one of the early settlers of the county. When Mr. Lilligh first came here he purchased eighty acres of land, and has since added to the same until he has now 500 acres. For twenty years he has been a member of the German Baptist Church, with which his parents have long been identi- fied. He has by his last marriage two chil- dren living-Minnie and Grace. He has improved the farm greatly since his location here, having built all the substantial improve- ments on the same.

HENRY LILLIGH, farmer, P. O. Woburn, is the second son of Jacob Lilligh. Henry was born May 1, 1849, and emigrated to this county with the family in 1865. In 1872, he married Harriet Morey, daughter of Hiram Morey, one of the old-time settlers in this county. After his marriage, he located in Mulberry Grove, where he engaged in the mercantile business, where he continued until 1875, when he located on the farm he now owns. He is an excellent farmer, and has been successful. He has 280 acres of land, forty of which is timber. His farm is well improved, and is very productive. He is a member of the German Baptist Church, and has recently been promoted to the rank of minister in his church. He has four children -Ida Marian, Mary Louisa, Emmet Wilburn and Edward Earl.

J. MATTINLY, physician, Mulberry Grove, specialist of the eye and ear, also of the treatment and cure of cancers, who first saw the light of day July 7, 1813, in Lincoln County, Tenn .; son of Rollin, born March 10, 1788, in North Carolina, who was a son of Richard Mattinly, whose children were David. James, John, Rollin and Waring. The mother, Nancy Luttrell, was born March 31, 1793, and died May 13, 1881; she was the daughter of Michael Luttrell, a Revolutionary soldier, and who lived to be almost a centena-

MULBERRY GROVE PRECINCT.

rian, the family being remarkable for their longevity. Our subject removed with his father to Alabama, in Jackson County, when he was a lad of tender years, where they resided until the year 1830, when they came to Marion County, this State, where his father died September 6, 1866. Very much credit is due the subject of our sketch, as he was thrown upon his own resources at an early age, leaving home without shoes or suf- ficient clothing to shield him from the in- clement weather, and unable to read the sim- plest sentence in a newspaper. He hired out at $6 per month, and assisted in maintaining the family in the meantime. For five years he drove stage, and during that time he made use of his spare time in improving his mind, being resolved, that as his temporal affairs were being advanced, that his mind should receive its share also. He came to this town- ship in 1839, and was married the same year to Mary A. Hubbard, who died in 1840, leav- ing one son, David Rollin. His second and last wife was Sarah Tate, born in Stokes County, N. C., September 9, 1809, daughter of Samuel Tate, born in Stokes County, N. C., in 1776, and died April 23, 1842, and Sarah (Faulkner) Tate, born in Wake County, N. C., in 1775, and died in 1853. She bore him three children, two of whom are living -Lizzie, wife of John T. Buchannon, Annie and Sarah E. Soon after he came to this place, he entered a piece of land and began farming, which he continued until 1860. In the meantime he was reading scientific works, medicine being his favorite. February, 1861, he began practice in Greenville. Since April 10, 1862, he has been located here in Mul- berry Grove, giving especial attention to the treatment of the eye and ear, as well as can- cer. treating them with success. He has 200 acres of land, and considerable town property. The Doctor has done much to impress upon

the minds of the people the necessity of the knowledge of phrenology and sexual science among the people.

E. W. OLIVER, physician, Mulberry Grove, is a North Carolinian by birth, born in Rockingham County February 10, 1844; son of Elijah Oliver, born in Rockingham County, N. C., about 1805, and died January 5, 1881, whose father was Peter, who was a resident of North Carolina at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill. The mother of the Doctor was Annie, daughter of Enoch Axton, born in Rockingham County, N. C., about 1805, and died in 1863. In 1861, he left North Carolina for Indiana, where he re- mained a short time; then came to Charles- town, Coles Co., this State, where he remained some length of time. He was, early in life, left to his own resources, with a limited edu- cation, in North Carolina. The nearest school from his father's house was three miles and a half; hence his advantages for schooling were not encouraging. After his coming to Illinois, he, by close application to his studies, succeeded in acquiring such qualifications that enabled him to teach the district school of the neighborhood, which he did for several terms. During this time he took up the study of medicine. In 1870, he gave the subject his earnest attention. He continued the same until his graduation, receiving his diploma at Keokuk, Iowa, February 17, 1874, in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at which time he came to Woburn, Town 6, Range 2, and engaged in the practice of his profession, where he remained until September, 1881, when he came to Mulberry Grove, where he has since been identified, and is having a lib- eral patronage of the people. He was edu- cated to the old-school system, but he ignores to some extent some of the medicine common- ly used in that system, calomel, for instance, and in its stead makes use of other remedies

BIOGRAPHICAL:

equally as effective. In 1871, he married Virginia A. Jett, born in Montgomery County, Ill., July 8, 1850, daughter of Washington A. Jett, who died about 1856, and Sarah Wright. By her he had five children-the first still born, Albert W., William E. (dead), Essie W. and Harry J. He is a member of the Christian Church and of the Masonic order. He has but two sisters living-Sarah and Rachel, the former of Virginia, the latter in Rockingham County, N. C.

JAMES C. PINNEO, farmer and stoek- raiser, P. O. Smithboro, is a native of Newark, N. J., and was born July 17, 1839. He is the youngest of the family. His father is James B. Pinneo, one of the prominent and well- known business men of that locality (New Jersey). He was born in Milford, in the State of Connecticut; son of Bezaleel Pinneo, a Presbyterian minister. Our subject is a near relative of the grammarian, whose works are so well known in the Eastern States. Eliza, the mother of James C., was a daughter of Samuel Lyman, of Goshen, Conn., of Pur- itanical stock. The family of Bezaleel, con- sisted of seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom James B. was the eldest. The subject of these lines received good school advantages, and of a good business education. He first came West in October, 1861, and for some time was in Government employ, being connected with the Quartermaster's Depart- ment, and afterward engaged in trading and in commercial pursuits in St. Louis and else- where. In 1869, he made the purchase of the farm he now owns, situated on Seetion 9, and moved on his property the following year. His residence is built upon a gentle eminence, which he has improved by planting shrubbery and evergreens, and on either side of the drive are beautiful maples, which give the place a refined appearance. Mr. Pinneo has put all the improvements on the farm that

now appear, in the way of building, and very much of the feneing, and has spent much la- bor and money executing his designs, and has an excellent farm, which is adjacent to Smithboro Post Office and Henderson Station, and four miles from the county seat. June 9, 1870, he married Miss Minnie Gray, born in Stamford, Conn., daughter of William E. Gray and Sarah Adams, the latter a sister of Stonewall Adams. The parents of Mrs. Gray emigrated West in 1858. Her father was a prominent builder and contractor in the West and North. Mr. Pinneo has one child -- Saida L. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN RILEY, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove, was born December 4, 1828, in Town 5. Range 3, in Bond County, and in 1835 re- moved with his parents to Town 6, where he lived until about the year 1868, when he re- moved to this township, where he has since lived. The father of our subject was named Barnabas Riley, who was born in Georgia. and emigrated North to this State in this county in 1818. He stayed one year, when he went South to Kentucky, but returned to this county the following year, where he re- mained until his death, which occurred in 1849. His wife survived him until 1876. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was for many years a member of the M. E. Church for many a long term of years, and leading light in the same, being Class-Leader and Steward for many years. John, our subject, was raised to agricultural pursuits, his father being a farmer. He worked as carpenter and builder, but gave his attention to farming principally. He raised a family of nine ehil- dren, whose names were James. William, John, Elizabeth, Minerva, Samuel M., Bar- nabas, Sarah and Mary. March, 1850, he married Jane C. Steele, a native of this State, and daughter of Andrew Steele. She died

MULBERRY GROVE PRECINCT.

in 1866, leaving one child, which died young. His present wife was Mrs. Elizabeth J. Kings- bury, daughter of Richard Withers, of Col- linsville, this State. Mr. Wither's wife was Edna Johnson, her father being Mr. John- son, one of the first settlers in Madison County. By his last wife Mr. Riley has three children --- Evaline S., Anna E. and John E. Mr. Riley is a Republican, and filled the office of County Conmissioner one term, and since 1846 has been a member of the M. E. Church. He has 155 acres of land. His brother Will- iam served in the late war, and was a mem- ber of the Twenty-second Illinois, and was badly wounded, and is now on the pension list.

J. H SPRADLING, farmer and merchant, P. O. Mulberry Grove, was born August 1, 1828, in Maury County, Tenn .; son of James Spradling, who was born in Tennessee April 9, 1796. and died April 11, 1867, who served in the war of 1812, and married Frances T. Oliver, who was born in Virginia March 25, 1789, and died December 7, 1869, and by her raised a family of three children. The eldest was Amarantha P .; J. H. and Frances J. were the other two. Amarantha is now the wife of James Riley, aud Frances J. mar- ried John Segrest, both of this townhip. Our subject emigrated to this locality with his parents when he was quite young, his father making a purchase on Section 25, Town 6, Range 2 west. He entered the land from the Government, and engaged in farming, and spent the remainder of his days on the farm. He was a stanch Democrat, and highly es- teemed by his fellow-citizens, and was affili- ated with the Methodist Church, and lived a life in harmony with his profession. His death occurred in April, 1866, having attained one year over his " threescore and ten." J. H. having attained the years of manhood, suc- ceeded his father as a husbandman. Decem-

ber 30, 1849, he wedded Cynthia A., his wife, who was born in Hancock County, Ind., Feb- ruary 20, 1832, daughter of William, born in North Carolina September 1, 1807, and Eliza (Snodgrass) Jackson, he being a native of North Carolina, and she of Indiana, daughter of James Snodgrass. John Jackson, the pa- ternal grandfather of Mrs. Spradling, was for many years a resident of Carolina, and removed with his family to Indiana. His son, William Jackson, removed to this county, locating in Town 5, Range 2, near Fairview, when the county was partially settled, Mrs. Spradling being about ten years of age when she came with her father. The family con- sisted of her father, three brothers and her- self. The mother died in Indiana. Since Mr. Spradling's marriage, he has been a resi- dent of the township. Since 1870, he has been a resident of the Grove, and been en gaged in merchandising, his stock consisting of hardware, grass seed and agricultural im- plements. He has about three hundred and twenty-six acres, eighty-six being in the county adjoining, and all of which he yet carries on. He has seven children -- John F .; Eliza P .. Mrs. Joseph Call; William H. who resides in Pocahontas; Albert M., George L., Laura B. and Harry W. Mr. Spradling is a good Republican, and a member of the Christian Church.

L. J. SEGRAVES, farmer, P. O. Pleas- ant Mound, is the oldest living settler in the township, having been a constant resident here since the spring of 1828. He was born March 11, 1816, in Maury County, Tenn., and emigrated to this locality, as stated above. His father was Bennett Segraves, a native of Georgia, born July 21, 1791, and when a young man moved to Tennessee, where he married Margaret Lockhart, who was born De- cember 25, 1797, in Davidson County, Tenn., and died September 22, 1844, daughter of D

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Thomas and Martha Lockhart. He (Bennett) died July 29, 1868. The paternal grand- father of our subject was Jacob Segraves, of Scotch descent, a Revolutionary soldier. He remained and raised a large family, among whom were Vincent, Bennett, Daniel, Isaac and Sarah, who were his offspring by his first wife. By his second wife he had Jacob, William, Henry Jackson, John, Jane, Pol- ly and Malinda, none of whom are living. Bennett Segraves was in the war of 1812, and a Democrat all his life, and a substantial member of the community, and passed to his rest July 7, 1868, having raised to maturity the following children -- Priscilla, who mar- ried Thomas L. Hooper; Lockhart J., Sarah J. E., wife of James Widger; Nancy D., wife of John George; Martha. Mrs. William Hen- ninger; Love married Mr. Steele; Mary H., wife of Wilson T. Hays; Rebecca never mar- ried; Nelson B .; Margaret C., Mrs. Booker; Lucinda P., Mrs. John Whitley. Of those living are Sarah, Margaret, Lucinda, Mary, Lockhart J., who was married January 6, 1843, to Diana, born in Tioga County, Penn., March 10, 1826, daughter of Gilbert, born October 12, 1793. and Lucinda (Ives) Van- gorden, born October 22. 1797, and died April 5. 1867. He was a native of New York, and she of Pennsylvania. They came West to Michigan in 1836, and to this county in 1840. Mr. Segraves has but one child, John Bird, who married Letta Johnson. He re- sides on a portion of the homestead farm. He has three daughters-Lillie E., Lucinda G. and Della. Mr. Segraves has 2073 acres of land, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs Segraves is a member of the Baptist Church. The children born them deceased are-Maria Lucinda, who died July 7, 1871, aged twenty-three years, eleven months and nine days; Mary Eveline died in 1852, aged fourteen months.

JOHN WATTS. farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove, takes first rank among the substantial farmers and stanch men of Bond County, and began in the world poor, having served his father until twenty-four years of age, giving him the entire benefit of his labor and earn- ings in the meanwhile. He was born Feb- ruary 17, 1808, in York State: eldest son of William Watts, a native of Massachusetts. His wife was Susanna Hodge, who bore him ten children, eight of whom grew up. When a lad of eight years, our subject removed with his parents to Franklin County, Ohio, re- maining there until after attaining his man- hood, when he removed to Madison County, where he lived until the fall of 1858, when he came to Illinois and located in this town- ship, and purchased 205 acres, fifty of which were somewhat improved. Since that time he has been a constant resident of the township. and been identified with its temporal and re- ligious interests, having joined the M. E. Church soon after his location here, and been a consistent member of the same. In tem- poral matters, he has been successful, having acquired and owned at one time about six hundred acres of land, a large portion of which he has since sold and divided out among his children, reserving 268 acres for himself. After leaving his father at twenty- four years of age, he was married to Wealthy Babcock, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of Nathaniel Babcock and Rachel Rogers. Of a family of seven children born him, six grew np -- Susanna, Catharine, Lina, Jasper Lucy J. and Rosilla. Susanna is the wife of William Goff, of this township; Lina resides in Town 5, Range 2. and is the wife of Cyrus Walker; Catharine married John Sellers, and moved to Kansas City: Jasper resides in this county; Rosilla and Lucy J. both mar- ried and raised families, but have since de- ceased.

POCAHONTAS PRECINCT.

JACOB CRICHFIELD, deceased. The grandfather of the above was an Englishman by birth. His given name was Robert, and he served on board of a British man-of-war. When near the Massachusetts coast, he with several others, premeditated their departure, got permission to go out rowing in the jolly boat, and while out made good their escape. Soon after landing. they met a Quaker. who, judging them to be deserters, said to them, " Thee must change thy clothes and thy names, or thee will be caught." Acting upon this piece of useful information, Robert (it is not known what his surname was) changed his to Crichfield. He had three sons born him, whose names were Benjamin, Absalom and William, all of whom served in the war of the Revolution, after which Benjamin settled in Romney, Va., William in Somerset County, Penn. Absalom never married. He was a musician: the others were farmers. The de- scendants who came here to Illinois were chil- dren of William, who settled in Pennsyl- vania. He had a family of twelve children, all of whom came to maturity. Among this number were Joseph and Jacob, who came to this county. Joseph emigrated to this region of country at the time of the war of 1812. His wife was among the number who sought refuge in the old fort which stood in this township, of which history gives an account. Jacob, his brother, came West to Bond County, arriving here April 4, 1839, fixing his loca- tion on Section 25, in Town 4. Range 4, in Millersburg Precinct, where he remained un- til his death June 8. 1846. His wife's maid- en name prior to her marriage was Johanna

Jellison, daughter of Robert Jellison, an En- glishman. She died in 1850. Mr. Crichfiekl was a member of the M. E. Church, and his house was the home for the ministers. Four children were born him-Edith E., Hannah S., William M. and Freeborn. Of this num- ber Edith died unmarried. Hannah married J. H. Gilmore, and settled in Greenville. She died in 1873. William M. and Freeborn both served in the war as true and valiant soldiers. William M. enlisted in June, 1861, in Company E, Twenty-second Regiment, and served three years, and participated in all the battles in which his company took part. F. G. enlisted in August. 1862, in Company E. One Hun- dred and Thirtieth Regiment Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry. He also served three years. April 11, 1865, William M. married Emma Wilds, who was born in Hamilton, Ohio, daughter of Ralph Wilds and Lucinda Jack- son. He has three children- Lilian, Dale S. and Grace E.

TOBIAS FILE, farmer, P. O. Baden Baden, came to Bond County with his parents in 1818, and located with them in Old Ripley Precinct. He was born March 20, 1810, in Cabarras County, on Rock River. N. C. His father was Henry File, and his mother's maid- en name was Reep. To Henry File was born the following family: George, Daniel, Moses. Tobias and Sallie. Sallie resides in Litchfield, and is the wife of Isaac Bilyew. She and Tobias are the only ones living of the family. All of the above settled in Bond County and have descendants. Tobias ro- mained with his father until he was grown His boyhood was spent on the farm, and he

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assisted his father in clearing up the land. His school advantages were of the most lim- ited character, and he has had to plod his way through life without having any substan- tial school benefits. In January, 1830, he married Sarah Gillespie, a native of Tennes- see, daughter of John Gillespie and Nancy McFerron. Mr. File located in Millersburg Precinct, where he now resides, in 1837, and has since remained. His wife died in 1850, having borne him seven children, six of whom are living-Samuel, William, Nancy J., To- bias, Jacob and George. He married Fannie Cook for his second wife, who died leaving no issue. His third and last wife was Mrs. Hannah Baker. Mr. File has 400 acres of land, and since 1832 has been a member of the M. E. Church, and has always been one of the substantial citizens of the common- wealth.

JOHN H. GORDON, physician, Pocahon- tas. is among the worthy and successful practi- tioners of medicine in Bond County. He was born October 29, 1842, in Huntsville, Ala. ; is of a family of seven sons, all of whom were doctors, sons of Dr. James and Mary (Sander- son) Gordon. When a babe, he removed with his parents to Spring Hill, Miss., and left there prior to 1850. He was educated : t the best schools at Russellville, Ark., and began the study of his profession before seventeen, and began practice ere he attained his majority. In 1864, he received the benefits of the St. Louis Medical College. His practice was attended with the most favorable encourage- ment, which kept him busy, and his gradna- tion at the Missouri Medical College was not completed until 1874. He began practice in Millersburg, this township, in 1864, and two years later he came to Pocahontas, where he has since lived, and been engaged in his profession. At the time he came here there were eight physicians, including himself,

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 58

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