History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 59

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 59
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 59

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).

in a town not exceeding five hundred inhabit- ants. In 1868, he associated with his brother, J. T. Gordon, under the firm name of J. H. Gordon & Brother, which copartnership lasted until 1870. He then purchased his brother's interest, and continued alone until 1873, at which time he took in as partner his brother W. P., and continued together until 1878, when he subsequently associated with Dr. A. R. Clinton, January, 1878, which partner- ship was dissolved in the summer of 1879. Since this time he has been running it alone and has an excellent practice. December 15, 1861, he married Emily Torrence, born in North Carolina, but raised in Arkansas. She is"a daughter of John T. Torrence and Jane Linch. The Doctor has eleven children born to him, five of whom are living-William E., Charles C., Lewis L., Kate and George D. The others died in infancy, except Nancy J., who died December 3, 1877, aged ten years. The Doctor has been a member of the M. E. Church since he was fifteen years of age. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., of this place. He makes a specialty of female complaints, in the treatment of which he is successful.

JOHN W. HARNED, farmer, P. O. Po- cahontas, was born in Red River County, Tex., January 26, 1819; son of William and Hannah (Boyer) Harned, he born in 1792, a Methodist preacher, left the Yuba River, Cal., October 8. 1850, and was never afterward heard of. His wife was born in Pennsyl- vania, in 1792, and died in November, 1850. They were the parents of eleven children, seven boys and four girls. The only educa- tion our subject ever had was received in a log cabin, in the Red River bottoms, where he attended school for a short time. He first worked on the farm of Williamson Plant, Bond County, and has been in the farming business ever since. In Bond County Febru-

POCAHONTAS PRECINCT.

ary 2, 1842, he married Mary M. Nelson, born in Bond County August 16, 1820, daughter of William and Mary (McLean) Nel- son. He has nine children-William C., Henry C., Joseph, Nelson. Melvina, John B., Eda R .. Louis, James M. and Jennie. Mr. Harned is a member of the Methodist Church, and his wife has been connected with the old " Gilead" Cumberland Presbyterian Church for forty-five years. He spent the first ten years of his life in what is now Texas, but which was then part of Mexico, and owing to his constant association with neighboring In dian tribes, he could speak the Choctaw lan- gnage much better than English. His father was bitterly opposed to slavery; and, during his residence in the South, suffered many per. scentions on account of his abolitionist prin- ciples. He stood by the side of Lovejoy when he was shot. He built a hotel in Alton, III., in 1833, where our subject met Lincoln, Douglas, and many others of the noted men in the early history of our country. Mr. Harned was well acquainted with the famous Black Hawk, chief of the Fox Indians.

JAMES S. JOHNSTON, farmer, P. O. Pocahontas. The above gentleman first be- held the light of day July 20, 1827, in Cin- cinnati. Ohio: second son of Campbell John- son, a native of Londonderry, Ireland, where he was born about the year 1793, and came to America in 1808, in company with his brother James. with whom he worked several years as carpenters. Prior to the war of 1812, they engaged in the manufacture of nails at Pittsburgh, and shipped their prod- ucts down the river on flat-boats, and were en route for the Lower Mississippi at the time of the battle of New Orleans. About the year 1818. he went to Cincinnati and engaged in a general mercantile business, remaining here until the year 1832. when he moved to Clermont County, Ohio, and purchased a

farm, upon which he died in 1842. He was a Presbyterian, and a stanch Jackson Demo- crat. His wife's maiden name was Jerusha Sandford, who died in 1852, having borne five children who came to maturity -- John, James S., Naney C., Hannah H. and Robert A. John served in the Mexican war, and is now a lawyer in Cincinnati. Nancy C. resides in the same place, and is the wife of Thomas Sherlock. Hannah H. never married. Robert A. also resides in Cincinnati, and is now serv- ing his second term as Common Pleas Judge. James remained at home until his marriage, when he attained twenty-two years of age. His wife was Melvina Simpkins, of Clermont County, daughter of David Simpkins, also an Ohioan. After the marriage of our subject, he engaged in merchandising at Belfast, Ohio, where he continued until the spring of 1857. when he came to Bond County, locating where he now resides, on Section 33, in Rip- ley Township, Town 4, Range 5, where he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has about four hundred acres of land, and has given considerable attention to sheep rais- ing, and particularly to fruit culture, having one of the largest and finest orchards in the county, embracing nearly sixty acres. He has a good knowledge of law, and does con- siderable local practice. He is a Democrat, and in the affairs of his county and township he bears his proportionate part. He has six children -- Mary, Naney C., Cora, Campbell D., Lucinda and Hattie.

HENRY H. METCALF, Greenville, is a descendant of one of the early settlers, whose name was Baalam Metcalf, who was born in April, 1806, in Jackson County, Ga. He em- igrated to Bond County in the spring of 1829, making his first location on the north- east quarter of Section 14, in Beaver Creek Township. Town 4, Range 3. He afterward removed to Greenville, where he remained

BIOGRAPHICAL:

some time, then came to this township, and remained from 1854 until his death December 15, 1871. He was a stanch old Whig, and after the formation of the Republican party he became affiliated with it, and was true to its principles as long as he exercised his right of suffrage. He took a deal of interest in the affairs of his county, and for several years was Justice of the Peace. and meted out jus- tice to the settlers to their satisfaction. His wife's maiden name was Emeline Brown, daughter of Thomas, whose wife was a Hill: both families came from the Carolinas. Hen- ry H. was the only son, and has always been a resident of Bond County, except the time spent in the army, which he entered at the age of seventeen, enlisting in the spring of 1861 in Company E, Twenty-second Illinois Infantry. and served until July, 1864, and took part in many of the prominent engage- ments in which his regiment was in, some of which were Charleston, Mo., Stone River, Resaca. Corinth. Mission Ridge and Chicka- inauga. September. 1866, he married Ellen Hilliard. daughter of J. C. Hilliard and Jane Dewey. For several years, Mr. Metcalf was engaged in teaching. He located on his farmi in 1869, and has 150 acres. He has five chil- dren-Jane E., Ralph E., Jennie E., Hugh and Allen. He is a member of the M. E. Church. He was elected Justice of the Peace in the fall of 1881.

JOHN NEATHAMMER, farmer, P. O. Po- cahontas, was born in Bond County, Febru- ary 20, 1847; son of John and Mary (Hech- night) Neathammer. he born in Wurtemberg. Germany, in 1SOS. He followed the occupa- tion of a farmer, and died in 1859. His wife was born in Tennessee, and died in 1851. They were the parents of five children. four boys and one girl. Our subject received an ordinary education and began the business of life as a farmer in Bond County. In Bond

County, in 1870, he married Ollie Seafeldt, born in St. Louis in 1850, daughter of Julius and Mina Seafeldt, of Pocahontas. Mr. Neathammer is in politics a Republican, and is a member of the A. O. U. W. During the war, he served two years in Company E, Third Illinois Cavalry (Capt. McLane), and took part in the engagements at Memphis and Nashville. He has three children -- Mary. Mina and Julius.

LEARNER BLACKMAN PLANT, Poca- hontas. Cotemporaneous with the earliest settlement of Bond County was the coming of the Plant family to Pocahontas Township, whose advent to this locality was shortly after the war of 1812. The subject of these lines was born in this township April 12, 1819; is the eldest son of Robert Plant and Nancy Patterson, to whom three children were raised to maturity, L. B being the eldest. Elizabeth, who married George Pat- terson, and America, wife of Henry Eppstine. Robert Plant died in 1852, highly esteemed by his friends and neighbors. Learner B. remained with his father until he married, which was in December 5, 1839, to Rebecca Duncan, a native of Madison County, daughter of Joseph. After his marriage, he removed where Stubblefield Station now is, and en- gaged in farming. In 1858, he located on the farm lie now owns, in the northwest part of the township. Before dividing among his children, he had over four hundred acres of land, reserving the larger portion, upon which he lives. He has five children -- Joseph, L. D., Sarah E., Henry C. and Mary A.

JAMES S. RIDGWAY, Pocahontas, was born in Scioto County, Ohio, August 27, 1831; eldest son of William Ridgway, born on the east shore of Maryland and emigrated westward to Scioto County, where he married Nancy Bethards. Both families, Ridgways and Bethards. are of English stock. Our sub-

POCAHONTAS PRECINCT.

ject came to this county with his father in the fall of 1841, and settled in Ripley Town- ship. He remained here about five years, and then settled on Section 29; remained there until his death, December 11, 1868. In early days a Democrat, and in 1856 a Republican. He raised to maturity a family of four chil- Iren-James S., William, Mary and George W. Of this number James S. is the only one living in this county. William died in early manhood. Mary became the wife of W. S. Wait. Geo. W. resides in Kansas. James S. remained with his father until his marriage. He has been twice married, and by his last wife he has four children-Nancy, Ben- jamin, William and Ralph. He began im- proving the farm in 1855, locating on it after his marriage in 1860, and has since remained. He has about four hundred acres of land in Section 27, and is quite extensively en- gaged in general farming. He is Demo- cratic in politics. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

THEODORE L. SCHNEIDER, farmer, P. O. Pocahontas, was born in Darmstadt, Germany, August 23, 1829; son of Lewis and Mary (Hoche) Schneider, he a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade. He died in Ger- many, as did also his wife. They were the parents of five children, three boys and two girls. Our subject attended school in Darm- stadt until he arrived at his sixteenth year. when he chose the trade of his father, and learned it with him. In Bond County, in August, 1853, he married Anna Brown, born in Ohio December 25, 1829, daughter of John and Nancy Brown. Mr. Schneider has fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer, and has also worked at his trade in Bond County. He has filled the office of School Director for fifteen years. and is at present County Com- missioner. He is a member of the German Reformed Church, and connected with the

Masonic fraternity. In politics, he is a Re- publican. His farm of 460 acres is one of the best in Pocahontas Precinct. He has seven children-John L., Nancy Ann, Henry M., William C., Benjamin F .. Simon I. and Martha S.

JOHN LEWIS SEHNERT, hotel, saloon and general business, Pierron. Among the principal business men of Oakdale is John L. Sehnert. He was born June 23, 1850, in Hesse Darmstadt, and is the third child of a family of five. His father, Peter Sehnert, was married to the mother of John in the Fatherland. Her maiden name, prior to her marriage, was Anna E. Weischant. Peter Sehnert was born in Hesse-Darmstadt Sep- tember 20, 1820, and died in 1881. His wife yet survives him. John Lewis was but a babe when his parents emigrated to America. Their first place of living, soon after their arrival, was in Bloomington, McLean County, where the family remained two or three years, and in 1857 came to Greenville, where he lived about ten years, when he located in Madison County, where he spent the remain- der of his days. He raised a family of four children. The eldest was Mary, who married Ulrich Gaffner, and lives in Town 5, Range 2. Lizzie, the second daughter, married Michael Maugers. John L. and John Peter are the sons. John Lewis was raised a farm. er, and has learned the machinist's trade and has had much practical experience in running machinery. November 10, 1874, ha married Miss Franciska Spengel, a native of Madison County, daughter of Sebastian Spen- gel. Mr. Sehnert removed to Pierron in Feb- ruary, 1881, and engaged in business. He is proprietor of the Oakdale House, and pro- vides amply for the entertainment of botlı man and beast. He farms some, and has a steam thresher (road engine) which he oper- ates during the fall and winter season. He

BIOGRAPHICAL:

has three children born him-George, Sebas- tian and Margaret. George and Sebastian are still living.

W. S. WAIT, farmer, P. O. Pocahontas, was born in 1828, in Cambridge, Mass., the eldest son of William S. and Sarah (New- hall) Wait. He came with his parents to this county when a lad of few years, being about the year 1834 or 1835, and since that time has been a constant resident of the county. In 1854, he began running a saw-mill near Greenville, which he moved to this place in 1857, to which he added a grist-mill, being

the first permanent mill of the kind ever run in the place. He engaged in the stock bus- iness, buying and selling, which he carries on in conjunction with his farming. He has been twice married. First, in 1859, to Mary Ridgway, who died soon after, leaving no living issue. In May, 1877. he married Adele Ravold, a native of France, who has borne him three children. Mr. Wait has been successful in business. He has about seven hundred acres of land. He is not a mem- ber of any church organization, but is affil- iated with the I. O. O. F. of this place.

nelle

BEAVER CREEK PRECINCT.

HENRY BASS. In a list of some of the most prominent agriculturists and self-made men of Bond County, the name of Henry Bass, of Greenville City, occupies a prominent place. He was born in Fayette County, Ill., April 22, 1833, and was the sixth child of the family of twelve children of Guilford and Mary Ann (Proetor) Bass. Guilford Bass was a native of North Carolina, and removed from there to Kentucky for a time, thenee to Tennessee, thence to Fayette County in 1832, locating northeast of Vandalia about twelve miles. There he remained until his death, in 1845. His wife survived until 1872, when she also de- parted this life, leaving ten sous and two daughters to mourn her departure. But two of these, William and our subject, are now resi- dents of Bond County. Henry left home at the age of fourteen. He came to Bond County, songht and found employment on a farm, re- ceiving only $7 for a hard month's work, and saved sufficient means to make a part payment on his first purchase of 100 acres of Bond County land. in Beaver Creek Precinct. In Angust, 1856, he made a second purchase of 100 acres, which he still owns, and to which he has since added, owning at one time 1,500 acres. Mr. Bass married Nancy Goodson, daughter of Spencer Goodson, a native of Ken- tucky, a farmer and blacksmith, and came to Illinois when a young man. With the exception of a four years' stay in Missouri, he has been a resident of Illinois, and now of Christian County. They have six sons and two daughters-William H., Abbie, George, Edward, Walter, Louis, Leoni and Leonard. Abbie is now Mrs. C. C. Squires, of Beaver Creek Township. Mr. and Mrs. Bass are members of the Baptist Church of Smith

Grove. Their home is in Beaver Creek Pre- cinct. Town 4, Section 20. Guilford and Charles S. are deceased. Guilford dicd November 14, 1856, and Charles S. August 31, 1866, at one year and eighteen days old.

REV. J. J. BLIZZARD, farmer, P. O. Dudley- ville, is a descendant and grandson of James Blizzard, one of the earliest settlers in the township. James Blizzard was born in Scot- land, and emigrated to Kentucky at an early day, where he remained until the winter of 1817 and 1818, when he came to what is now Bond County, locating in this township, on Section 3. one-fourth of a mile west of Dudleyville, and remained there as long as he lived. He was an upright, Christian man, and his house was used for church pur- purposes as early as 1820. Here the pioneer preachers were entertained, and the hardy set- tlers worshiped under his roof until a more suitable place could be obtained. His son James succeeded him ; he was born in 1801, August 4, and was but a lad of sixteen when his father came here. He remained with him until October 9, 1823, when he married Fannie McCord, daughter of Robert McCord, one of the pioneers of Bond County. Shortly after his marriage, he located on Section 4, where he settled and raised a family of six children- William M., Mary J., Anna D., J. J., Robert B. and Harriet A. Of this number, but three are living-William M., J. J., and Har- riet A., who resides in Saline County, Mo., wife of James W. Gower. William M. and J. J. reside in this township. James Bliz- zard died October 2, 1861. They were for many years members of the M. E. Church, and were highly esteemed by all who knew them

BIOGRAPHICAL:

for their many virtues. John J., whose name heads this sketch, was born November 8, 1829, on the northeast quarter of Seetion 4, where he was reared to manhood. and received a com- mon school education. May 29, 1851, he mar- ried Catharine MeAdams. born in this county. daughter of Jesse McAdams and Elizabeth Williamson, which couple came to this loeality from Logan County, Ky., in 1828. In the fall of 1852, Mr. Blizzard located where he now resides, and has been engaged in farming pur- snits, having 260 acres of land. He has served as Justice of the Peace for several years ; was elected in 1859, and is now meting out justice to the people in this part of the township. At fifteen years of age. he was converted, and since has been an effective worker in the M. E. Church, both as a layman and minister, in which capacity he has officiated for over a score of years. He has eight children-James C .. Lucy E , II. W., Sarah E., John J., Jr., Jesse W., Mary C .. Edward S., Fannie A. and Lois S.

ROLLIN C. DEWEY, deceased, The Dew- ey family came to Bond County about the vear 1837. Nelson. the father of the above. married Lois Scribner, and emigrated from Vermont with his family to Bond County. locating on the northwest part of Beaver Creek Township, and remained here the remain- der of his days. His death occurred January. 1850. his wife August. 1847. Rollin. the eldest child. was born in Vermont April 8, 1827. Ilis brothers and sisters were Clay. Jonathan. Jud- son, Peter. Thomas. Theron, Mary E., Ann, Judith, Jane and Artie, all of whom lived to be grown exeept Thomas. January 8. 1852. Rollin married Elmira C. Shelton, a native of Virginia, daughter of Absalom and Mary (Beleher. daughter of Godfrey Belcher) Shelton, who came West to this State, to Clinton, in 1×32. and raised five sons and one daughter. Soon after the marriage of Rollin Dewey and wife, they located on the farm where the family have since remainedl. ITis death occurred July

5, 1870. Eight children were born them- Frederick M., Mary E, Henry A., Virginia Rose, Lois A. and Katie A. The other died young. Of the above, Mary E. is the wife of W. E. Taylor. The estate consists of 440 acres, upon which the family live, the farm being conducted by the elder brother, Fred- erick M.

HENRY GERKE. farmer. P. O. Beaver Creek. Among the German representatives of Bond County, none are more deserving of credit than Mr. Gerke. He came to this town- ship in 1856. His earthly possessions were wrapped up in a handkerchief which he carried under his arm as he walked across the prairie from St. Louis, where he landed upon his com- ing from his native home in Hanover, now Prussia, where he was born November 23, 1836, being the eldest son of his parents. Henry and Maria C. (Dorree) Gerke, whom he left in the old country at the age of twenty, and embarked for the land of the free and the home of the workingman. When MI. Gerke came to this locality he had nothing to eom- mence with but his hands. At first he worked ont by the month for two years, and saved enough money to buy him a team and such things necessary to go to farming, and for four years he rented land and saved money enough to purchase forty acres where he now resides, and he has since added to the same until he now has 200 aeres. lle was among the num- ber who assisted in building the German Methodist Church in this township, and was one of the first Trustees. February 5, 1867. he married Catharine, born November 4, 1838, in St. Gallen, Switzerland, daughter of Mat- thias Hoffman and Anna Stricker, who moved with their family to Clinton County in 1845, and raised the following children : John, Jacob, Henry. Mrs. Gerke, Matthias and John Wesley. Henry lives in Cedar County, Mo., John W. in California. The others are deceased. Mr. Gerke has but one sister-Anna. now the

BEAVER CREEK PRECINCT.

wife of F. Utlaut. Mr. Gerke has three chil- dren-Edward Lincoln. born November 10, Henry Ward, born November 22, 1872. Annie, June 20, 1875.

CAPT. U. B. HARRIS, retired farmer. P. O. Beaver Creek. Among the representative men of Bond County is Capt. U. B. Harris. who was born on Section 27, in this township. He first beheld the light of day February 10, 1833. the youngest of a family of seven children. Ilis father's name was John Harris, a native of Logan County, Ky., son of Rev. William Har- ris, one of the pioneer ministers of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church of that locality. The Harris family are of Irish extraction. John Harris. the father of our subject, came to Bond County in the fall of 1824. with the Goodson family. He first settled on Govern- ment land, and afterward purchased of the same and remained a citizen of the county until his death, July 4, 1832, about seven months prior to the birth of his last child, Ur- ban B. The mother of our subject was Nancy Goodman, born in Kentucky, daughter of Will- iam and Sarah (Maxey) Goodman. The names of the brothers and sisters of our subject were William C .. Rice E .. both ministers of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church ; Amanda J .. wife of William Murray ; Nancy E., wife of llar- mon L. Field ; Sarah A. and John H. The two latter died at an early age. All of the above are now deccased except Rev. Rice E., who went out as Chaplain in the Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. fle has not been heard from sinee 1876. Urban B. remained with his mother until twelve years of age. when he left home to do for himself. He had none to rely upon but himself. He obtained a good common- school education, and for several years was engaged in teaching. In 1862, he raised a company of men and was commissioned Captain of Company E. One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry. and served thirty-three months.

when. on aceonnt of impaired health he was mustered out. February, 1864. at New Orleans, and returned home. During his term of serv- ice he participated in all the principal battles in which his command was engaged. The principal engagements were Magnolia and Champion IFills. Black River Bridge. Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson (Miss.) and after- ward was with Bank's division on Red River. Upon his return home he located at Millers- burg, where he purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits, where he remained until March, 1867, when he came to Beaver Creek and embarked in the mercantile business under the firm name of Goodson & Harris. After a partnership of two years he purchased his partner's interest, and continued the business himself until 1880, when he gave up the busi- ness to his son, who is now conducting the same. February 1, 1853. he married Elizabeth A. Gregory, daughter of John and Sarah Greg- ory. This marriage has been crowned with the birth of seven children, four of whom are liv ing : Margaret, wife of Thomas J. Hull ; Luther J., Jonn F. and Shaw L. The others died in infancy. He has been Township Treasurer for sixteen years. In 1867, he was elected County Commissioner and served four years. In 1876. he was again elected, and re-elected in 1879. and has since filled that position with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his friends. He is a member of the I. O. O. F .. and of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Elder of the same, of which body his parents were also members. His father was a Whig. U. B. having, since the party came into existence. been affiliated with the Republican party. and is a stanch supporter of the same.

S. J. HUNTER, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Dudleyville. Samuel Jefferson Hunter was born in Bond County. He first beheld the light of nature March 13, 1827, in Greenville Precinct. He was the third son of David Hunter, who was born January 1. 1801,

BIOGRAPHIICAL :

in Davidson County, Tenn., son of John Hunter, an Irishman by birth, who immigrated from his native country to Tennessee and raised a family and emigrated to Bond County about the year 1824, and settled near Shoal Creek, and remained here until his death. He raised a family of seven sons, all of whom came to man's estate, viz. : William, Thomas, John, Joseph, James, Samuel and David, all of whom settled in Bond County. David Hunter, the father of S. J., was married in Tennessee to Elizabeth Copeland, and removed to this eoun- ty about two years prior to his father's coming. He remained in the county until his death. which occurred in the winter of 1875, his wife in 1855. Seven children were born to them, who were John B., Samuel J., Thomas N., Re- becea I., Susan A., George W. and Joseph J., all living at the present date, save George W. and Susan A. The father of the above was a Democrat all his life ; a soldier in the Black Hawk war, and was for years a member of the Methodist Church. Samuel J., the only one of the name in this township, was brought up on the farm, where he lived until his marriage, which occurred January 30, 1850, to Sarah Young, a native of Bond County, daughter of William Young. After Mr. Hunter's marriage, he located near Greenville and engaged in farming, and has since been a resident of the county. He located on the farm he now owns, consisting of 510 acres, in 1857. He has children, viz. : Laura F., Hattie A .. William R .. Harry A., Benjamin A., Hugh E., Archie A. and Pearl. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since about 1862.

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 59

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