USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 63
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 63
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85
ZION PRECINCT.
E. P. POINDEXTER, physician, Woburn, positions, enduring much hardship and expos- ure. Returning to his former residence after the war, the feeling being so strong against him on account of his advocacy of the Southern takes rank among the first physicians in the county. He is a representative of an Old Virgin- ian family. He was born August 10, 1838, in Patrick County, in the Old Dominion, a son of ; cause that he came away, and cast his fortunes Joseph S. Poindexter, a native of Campbell in the Sucker State, where he has since lived. In 1867, he began the study of medicine at Charlestown, in Coles County, under Drs. Sil- verthorn & Trower, continuing his studies, graduating in the spring of 1874 in St. Louis Medical College. His course was a slow, yet a thorough one ; he borrowed the money to ena- ble him to prosecute his studies to completion. April 16, 1870, he came to Woburn, Bond County, and has since been in the practice of his profession, and he has been very successful, having the entire confidence of the people. In his practice has given the poor the benefit of his skill without fee or reward, and did it cheerfully. September 17, 1873, he married Tabitha J. Goodrich, born in Salem, Marion County, daughter of Chauney and Ruth (Col- burn) Goodrich, of Masssachusetts. The Doc- tor has three children-Don Victor, Annie and Della Mande. In religious matters, he is a free- thinker. County and of French descent, born Oct. 5, 1802, son of John Poindexter. His mother's maiden name was Martha Frasier, who was born and raised in Rockingham County, in North Caro- lina, near the Yadkin River, daughter of Thomas, an Englishman, a man noted for his large size and physical development, being six feet and seven inches in height, and weighed 240 pounds, and a giant in strength ; he moved to Jackson County, Ohio, in 1837, and died in 1845. John Poindexter, the paternal grandsire of our subject, was a large slave-owner, owned nearly 300 slaves in Virginia. He married Elizabeth Chilton, and by her had seven chil- dren. Joseph S., the father of our subject was the eldest, who emigrated with his family West to Saline County, Mo., where he died July 3. 1863, leaving four children, three sons and one daughter. The subject of these lines, by the force of circumstances, was thrown upon his own resources when a young JOHN W. PRATER, farmer, P. O. Green- ville. The Prater family were about the first settlers in this part of the county. The pio- neer was Halliday, born January 23, 1777 ; he married Anni Adair, who was born May 1, 1776. The family emigrated from the Caro- linas to Kentucky in the early part of the cen- tury. but remained here but a few years ; finally came to this locality before it was a State, mak- ing his settlement on Section 31, Town 7, Range 2; here he remained until his death in 1846, November 28 ; his wife the same year, Angust, 30. The father of John W. was Samuel Prater, born March 31, 1800, in South Carolina ; he married Nancy Walker, daughter of James Walker, of Virginia. Five children were the issue of this marriage, who were in order of birth as follows : Tabitha, John W., Mich- man ; he received the advantages afforded by the common schools, and in 1858 he entered Mc- Kee College, but the war broke out, preventing a further prosecution of his studies at that titne. Dr. H. B. Redmon was his first precept- or. In the spring of 1861, he joined Capt. Brown's company (Capt. Brown was a son of Sam Brown, who fought Cassius M. Clay), after, in Col. Brown's regiment, in Parson's division, in Price's army. The Doctor served through the entire war. He at one time raised a company and served as Lieutenant under Capt. Gullet ; he was wounded but once. In the battle of Pea Ridge he was gunner in one of the batter- ies, and did effective work. He followed the fortunes of Price's army all through the war, serving in various localities and in different
F
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BIOGRAPHICAL:
ael H., Martha Ann and Mary. Tabitha mar- ried William Beard and settled in Madison County. Michael never married, but remained with his -mother ; Martha A., married James M. Brown ; Mary, Willis Sands, all of whom re- side in this locality ; father died February 26, 1852. John W. was married March 12, 1846, to Sarah Hunt, born in 1827, in Warren County, Ky., daughter of John Hunt and Elizabeth Wright, who raised a large family of children, a dozen or more. Mrs. Prater's parents never came here ; she came with her uncle, Joseph Wright, who settled here in Illinois. In the spring of 1848, our subject located on the farm he now owns ; first lived in a cabin, but a few rods from his present residence, which he built in 1871. His farm consists of 266 acres ; has had seven children - James, William, John Thomas, Caroline, Samuel, Sissie and Jessie K. Mr. Prater was born on his farm Decem- per 5, 1824; since been a constant resident of the township. He drinks neither tea, coffee, whisky nor uses tobacco.
R. S. D. ROBERTS, farmer, P. O. Woburn, was born in Kentucky, Henry County, Septem- ber 15, 1822, and came to Bond County with his parents when three months old, remaining here about two years, when he went with the family to Montgomery County, where he came to manhood's years. He was married in July, 1843, to Mary R. White, a native of Loudoun County, Va., daughter of James and Mary (Vernando) White, who came to this State abont the year 1839. Shortly after his marriage, he came to this county, locating in Town 6, Range
2, purchased land, and has since been identified with this township and been engaged in farm- ing pursuits. He has been successful in his business, having 272 acres of land. Had eight children-four sons and four daughters -- six living. Mary is the wife of Hardin Elmore ; James H. resides in Fayette County ; Julia is the wife of Frederick Deen ; Elizabeth mar- ried Fred. Kimbro, now deceased ; George, de- ceased ; Harriet, wife of J. F. Elam; and Richard at home ; Stephen. Mr. Roberts has been a member of the United Baptist Church many years, having joined the church at Lib- erty soon after its organization. Mr. Roberts served in the Mexican war under Col. Foreman ; was a member of Company E, Third Regiment, and has been a Jackson Democrat of the first order, and has always since he cast his first vote been a warm supporter of Jeffersonian principles. The father of our subject was a son of Capt. Benjamin Roberts ; he died in Ken- tucky. Roberts died 1847 ; he was one among the first school teachers in Montgomery County. He married the mother of R. S. D .; her maiden name was Sarah Simmons, daughter of Samuel Simmons, a Revolutionary soldier of seven years' service ; he lived to be one hundred and fifteen years old. His wife died at the age of one hundred and seven of cancer. Our subject had one brother, Henry, who served in the Black Hawk war, and was out with the Rangers, and also in the Florida war. and one brother, Marcus S., who was in the Mexican war ; he is now in Colorado.
COTTONWOOD GROVE PRECINCT.
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COTTONWOOD GROVE PRECINCT.
JOIN D. ALEXANDER, retired farmer, Cottonwood Precinct, is one of the old pioneers of Bond County, having been here since May, 1820, a constant resident. He was born Octo- ber 24, 1793, in Mecklenburg County, N. C., son of Jedediah and Betsey Alexander-Jede- (liah was born 1757, son of Francis, who was horn 1730. The Alexander family are of Scotch- Irish descent. John D. lived in North Caro- lina until twenty-three years of age. Septem- ber, 1816, moved to Maury County, Tenn., where he lived until May 1, 1820, when he came to Bond County, and located three miles south- west of Bethel Church, on the William Cruthis farm ; where he lived until 1832, when he located on Section 12, in this precinct, where he has since lived. He joined the Sugar Creek society of the Presbyterian order, at the age of seventeen, when in North Carolina, and has since been a member of that organization, and was one of the first members at the time of the organiza- tion of the Bethel Church, September 15, 1825. and of sixty-two members he is one of three now living. llis wife was Mary Scott McCord, whom he married on December 10, 1819. She died January 8. 1837. having borne the follow- ing children : William F., James II., Robert W., Demas W., John L .. Amelia and Melanthon Hill. None lived to be married except Amelia .J., wife of J. V. McFarland, Melanthon and Demas M. Robert went to California in 1850, and was killed by the Indians. Demas M. served through the late war, and one year after in the regular army. He was first commissioned as Captain and came out as Brevet Major ; he went ont from Kansas, where he had gone in 1856. He was prominent and well known in that lo- cality. He served as Justice of the Peace and
was twice elected Representative from Douglas County. Ile died in 1871, highly esteemed by all who knew him. Melanthon II. was born June 12, 1828, on the Cruthis farm, and moved with his father to the place he now owns, where he has since lived. January 1, 1860, he married Caroline V. Foster, born 1841, near the Hudson River, in Dutchess County, daughter of Rev. Aaron Foster, whose wife was a Seaman. He is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now located in Vermillion County, where he came from New York in 1843. Mrs. Alexan- der has one brother, John L., now of Vermillion County. Mr. Alexander has four children liv- ing-Leroy E., Mary, Percy and Clarence. Walter died, aged ten years, in 1875. Mr. A. is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and has 310 acres.
J. V. MCFARLAND, farmer, P. O. Cotton- wood Grove, born May 15, 1833. in Cape Girar- deau Co., Mo., son of Robert S. and Agnes (Flem- ing) McFarland. Robert S. was born in North Carolina, in 1799, son of Jacob McFarland a native of Scotland. In the spring of 1818, the father of our subject came to what is now Bond County, and made a crop on the site of ground where Greenville now stands. Ile remained here however, but a short time after, when he moved South to Tennessee, afterward removed to Mis- souri, when he returned to this county with his family in 1837, and located in Cottonwood Pre- cinct and remained here until his death, March 15. 1863 ; his wife survived him until May 12, 1865. They were both members of the Presby- terian Church. Of seven children born to them but two are living-H. Columbus and John V. who remained under the parental roof until his marriage. He was married April 26. 1866, to
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BIOGRAPHICAL :
Amelia J. Alexander, born in this county, daughter of John D. Alexander, and Mary S. McCord, both old and highly respected families in the county. Since his marriage he has been a resident of the farm he now owns, having 174 acres and good improvements, which were of his own establishment. He has no children. He has served as County Commissioner one term, and as Overseer of the Poor. Is not a member of any church yet not an opposer of religion but a friend to the same and mainte- nanee of good morals.
WILLIAM F. PAISLEY, farmer, P. O. Elm Point, born November 24, 1836, on the home- stead of the old Pioneer, William Paisley, situ- ated in Town 6, Range 2, in Cottonwood Grove Precinet. Ile is the youngest son of his father, and remained with him until his death. Novem- ber 24, 1880, he married Alice Hendrick, a native of Alabama, daughter of Robert and Julia (Philips) Hendrick. She moved to Bond Coun- ty with her parents in 1873. Mr. Paisley has been a resident of the homestead since his mar- riage, having 235 acres of land. He is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, having his membership at Donnellson. Has one child-Lucretia, born September 21, 1881.
JAMES REDFEARN, farmer, P. O. Green- ville. The Redfearn and Carroll family are cotemporaneous with the early settlement of Bond County. James Redfearn was born in North Carolina, September 8, 1813, son of Isaac who moved with his family to Bond County about the year 1825, and settled at Round Prairie, this county. Isaac had the following- named children, of whom James was the eldest, the others in order of birth were John, Jane, Isaac, Milberry, Jemina, Martha, Ruth, Lydia and Ira. James Redfearn, whose name heads this sketeh, was brought up to hard labor, raised on a farm and had little or no sehool advan- tages. In March 1. 1842, he married Naney Carroll, who was born May 15, 1822, in Vir- ginia, daughter of Mae Carroll and Elizabeth
Barom, who were Virginians. The family first removed from Virginia to Tennessee, and from there they came to Bond County, about the year 1827, and settled with the Redfearn family on Round Prairie. Eleven children were born to them, viz .: Ambrose, Jackson, Nancy, Caro- line, Rhoda, Tillman, Robert, Mary, Elizabeth, Berdine and Susan, all of whom lived to be grown and raise families except Elizabeth. Af- ter the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Redfearn they settled near Bethel, where they remained un- til they came to this farm in 1851. Of ten ehil- dren born to them, nine are living-John T., James P., Lydia M., Mary F., Naney E., Jemi- ma E., McClellan, Millie J. and G. M .; Isaac, deceased. Lydia married E. B. Dagget, Mary F. married John Sibert; Naney, Wilson File ; Jemina. Charles B. File ; all residents of this county. Of Mrs. Redfearn's brothers and sis- ters, living, are : Tillman, Robert and Berdine, they reside in Linneus, Linn Co., Mo .; Rhoda. of Sioux City, Iowa, wife of Henry Jandt, a prominent business man ; Susan resides in Round Prairie, wife of James Saner ; Mary married John Hochderffer, and lives in this county. Mr. Redfearn has 960 acres of land. Mrs. R. is a member of the United Baptist Church, and a thoroughgoing business woman.
JAMES W. ROBINSON, farmer, P. O. Cot- tonwood Grove, was born in North Carolina, March 14. 1800, son of Alexander and Betsey (White) Robinson, both natives of North Caro- lina, who came to Montgomery about 1812, he, a harness-maker by trade, and dying October 10, 1853. the wife having died many years pre- vious. Seven children were born to them. our subject being the eldest, who was raised to a life of farming. afterward carrying on milling, both grain and saw milling. In 1831, he mar- ried Catharine Iless, who died July 11, 1833, leaving one son, Alexander S. February 12, 1835, he married Mary Ann Armstrong, daugh- ter of John and Polly (Dudley) Armstrong, he of Georgia, and she of North Carolina. Alex-
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COTTONWOOD GROVE PRECINCT.
ander S., the eldest son of our subject, entered the Union service, enlisting in Company B, Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, Twenty-second Regi- ment, and was captured at Chickamauga, dying in Libby Prison, Richmond, January 20, 1864. Mr. Robinson has had born to him four dauglı- ters and two sons. Two of the daughters are living-Mary E., Mrs. J. N. Roseborough, and Alvira R., Mr.s H. M. Ferguson. Sarah was Mrs. Rev. F. G. Strange, who died leaving two sons. Lemuel F. Robinson died July 20, 1854.
JOHN M. ROSS, farmer, P. O. Cottonwood Grove, was born in Maury County, Teun., June 7, 1823, son of Thomas Ross, a farmer born in Georgia, in 1786, and died in Montgomery County, in 1835, whither he had moved in the spring of 1829, locating in Town 7, Range 4. Our subject's mother was Sally (Armstrong) Ross, a native of Tennessee. John Ross came to Bond County when a mere child of five years, and received his first schooling in the pioneer schoolhouse, just over the north line of this county. At Cottonwood Grove he learned the blacksmith's trade with Reuben Morrell, and followed this trade about fifteen years. July 13, 1847, at Pleasant Prairie, this county, he was married to Ruth N. Jones, a native of the same county as her husband, daughter of Pleasant and Sallie (Osborn) Jones, the former from Virginia, the latter from North Carolina. The father of Thomas Ross was one Andrew Ross, a native of Scotland, and, like his grand- son, learned the trade of blacksmith, and was known to have made swords and bayonets for use in the Revolutionary war. He was buried in North Carolina. Thomas was his only son. Our subject has five children living -- Albert D., S. Jeanette, J. Warren, Sprague D., L. Shoc- man : one, Louis J. is dead. Thomas Ross' family consisted of six children, four sons and two daughters, three of whom are now living ; two residents of Bond and one of Montgomery County ; all farmers. Our subject bought his first twenty acres about 1845, and has since
added until he has now 276, 84 of which he entered June 22, 1853.
JAMES M. VOLLENTINE, farmer, P. O. New Douglas. Prominent among the early settlers and representative men of Bond Coun- ty was William Bigford Vollentine, a native of North Carolina, son of Hardy Vollentine. Will- iam B. emigrated from North Carolina to Tennessee, where he married Fannie Plant. While here he served in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of New Orleans. He emigrated to what is now Bond County when it was a Territory. When he first came here, he remained for a time where Pocahontas Township now is, and finally located in Town 6, Range 4, on Section 18. where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1869. He was thrice married. His first wife bore him the following children-George W., now of Christian County, Hardy of Wisconsin, Mrs. Elizabeth Condiff of Montgomery County, Mrs. Nancy Brown, now of Minnesota. Ilis second wife was Sophia Suggs, a native of Tennessee, daughter of Josiah Suggs. This union was crowned with eleven children, those living are : James M., Jolin J., Rebecca, Letta and Christopher C. J. M. and C. C. reside in this township, Letta, wife of James Ridgeway, of Pocahontas Precinet. His third marriage was to Elsie Preekett, a native of Kentucky ; she bore him five children- Jennette, Lois, Charles J., Margaret Jennette and Douglass. William B. Vollentine was one of the prominent men of the county, he became a large landholder, and owned at one time 2,000 acres. He was a stanch Democrat, and took a lively interest in the affairs of his coun- ty, he served some time as Justice of the Peace, was County Commissioner and Associate Judge, and for many years was a leader in the Method- ist Episcopal Church, during the early part of his life. He was generally known all over the country, being a thorough business man-trad- ing largely in stock, and farmed quite extensive- ly-was a man of great energy and persever-
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BIOGRAPHICAL:
ance, and a successful financier, and the father of twenty-three children ; of this number J. M. was of the second set. He was born February 4, 1828, on the homestead, where he remained until his majority, after which he attended school two years. In the spring of 1852 he went to California, where he spent seven years in Nevada County, where he was engaged in trading and freighting, and had a varied ex- perience. He returned here to this township in 1859, and since remained. He, for a time run a store in New Douglas, and in 1866 he located on the farm he now owns, which place was settled by William Carson. In August 7, 1860, he married Louisa J. Jernigan, born in Christian County, daughter of Lewis II. and Sallie (Curry) Jernigan. Lewis Il. was born in Tennessee, son of Jesse. Lewis H. was a Very early settler in Christian County, Gabriel Jernigan, son of Jesse, was Sheriff of his coun- ty two terms, and represented his county in the Legislature. Mr. Vollentine has one broth- er, Napoleon B., he is a liveryman in New Douglas. Lizzie, a sister who resides in Mar- ion County, Kan., wife of Ben Nesbitt, and Emma, Mrs. William Connor, of same county. Mr. Vollentine has a good farm of several hun-
dred acres, and is a thorough and progressive farmer, and one of the best in the township. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and has been a class leader and Steward for several years, and a great Sunday school worker, at Corrington Chapel. Had three children born to him, two are living-James F. and William Lewis. His only daughter, Sallie Sophia, was removed by death, August 16, 1876, aged nine years.
E. J. VOLLENTINE, farmer, P. O. New Douglas, is a descendant of one of the early settlers. He was born February 3, 1837, on the homestead farm, which is now owned by W. B. Vollentine. He is the second son and third child of Jackson O. Vollentine, whose wife was an Armstrong. Jackson died about the year 1852, March 30. He served in the Black Hawk war, and for years was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He had four children born to him, viz .: William D., E. J., Alonzo and Thomas. E. J. was married in 1860 to Mary Smith. She died 1870, leav- ing two children-Ulis T. and Jackson O. He has 260 acres and is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church.
91
OKAW PRECINCT.
OKAW PRECINCT.
JACOB BARTII, farmer and stoek-raiser, P. O. Heilsburg. Among the prominent farmers and self-made men of this portion of the county is Jacob Barth, who was born October 9, 1826, in Hesse-Darmstadt, son of George and Barvell (Mann) Barth. Jacob, when a lad, learned the glazier's trade in the old country, and at the age of nineteen bid good-bye to the land of his nativity, and east his fortunes with America's free soil. He left home with nothing, his fa- ther's only endowment was a whipping, which he gave Jacob before leaving. Jacob eame first to St. Louis, and sought employment at his trade, which was at the time unprofitable here ; he then learned the wagon-maker's trade and worked journey work for several years, and traveled over several States. In the fall of 1850, he eame to Bond County and made a purchase, in the locality where he now resides, and engaged in farming, and has since lived here, and became one of the leading farmers in his township. He has nearly 600 acres of land, which he farms very successfully. In 1850, he married Elizabeth Gertuer, a native Wurtemberg, who has borne him six children- Edward, Theresa E., Matilda E., Henry G., Jacob and George. The daughters are mar- ried to two brothers, James and John Gunn, and reside in this township.
ALEXANDER MYATT, deceased. Prom- inent among the early settlers of this pre- cinet is the Myatt family, of whom the above was the head and father. Ile was born Febru- ary 9, 1802, in Tennessee, son of Wiley Myatt, and came to Bond County in the year 1831, locating first in Beaver Creek Township, and removed to this township, locating on the west half of Section 33, in the year 1836, and re-
mained here until his death, September 4, 1865. For many years he was a member of the Meth- odist Church, his house being used in early time as a place for holding meetings, and the pioneer minister ever found under his roof a hospitable welcome. He was a man of quiet and unpretentious habits ; yet, withal he was a man of substantial worth and merit. He was twice married ; first to Mary Chiseuhall, of Tennessee, who bore him six children, viz., Emily, Martha, Perneeia, Wiley, Wesley and Mary. Ilis second and last wife was Mrs. Murphy Wilmerth, whose maiden name was Sugg, by whom he had six children as follows : William C., Josiah. Alexander B., Naney E., Sarah S. and Murphy L., all of whom were born in this county. Of this number William C. and Alexander B. reside on farms adjoining. Alexander Barnes' sons reside upon and own the homestead farm here ; he was born April 17, 1837, and was married June 30, 1858, to Car- oline Powell, who was born February 18, 1836, in Montgomery County, Tenn., daughter, of Benjamin and Nellie (Cossie) Powell ; he was a son of Eaton Powell ; she was born in Ken- tucky, daughter of Robert Cossie. Mrs. Myatt was the second of a family of six children, but two of the number living, herself and Catha- rine, who reside in California, wife of Alfred Louis. The Powell family came to Illinois in 1844, and were Methodists. To Mr. and Mrs. Myatt have been born four children, but two living, Fannie E. and Roxeillana. The entire family being members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Myatt has 265 aeres. and ' with the exception of about four years spent in Greenville educating his daughters, he has remained a constant resident of the farm.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
HILLSBORO CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
LIEUT. JESSE K. ALLEN, deceased, was born in Kingston, Tenn., September 5. A. D. 1828, and, at an early day, came with his parents to Hillsboro, Ill., which was about the time of the location of the county seat of Montgomery County at that point, and when there were but very few houses in the town. William Allen, the father of the subject, was born in Roane County, Tenn., January 15, 1799, and was married to Mary K. Killings- worth, the mother of Jesse K. Allen, to whom were born eleven children-first, the subject of this sketch; second, William A. Allen, for many years a prominent physician in Green- ville. Ill .; third, Margaret Allen, now inter- married with Theodore Smith, of Greenville, Ill. ; fourth, Aaron Allen, now deceased; fifth, Rufus S. Allen, now a physician, em- ployed the General Government in doctoring the Indians; sixth, John H. Allen, now in Kansas; seventh, Emily E., now wife of Charles L. Bartlett. a merchant of Hillsboro, Ill .; eighth, Mollie, now married to Dr. Per- kins, of Fredonia. Kan .; ninth, Frank F. Allen, also a physician, Neodesha, Kan .; and tenth, Laura Allen, now deceased; and Charles F. Allen, now at Mattoon, Ill. Will- iam Allen, the ancestor, was a man in very moderate circumstances, and consequently, his son, Jesse K., was denied many of the advantages enjoyed by his youthful compan- ions. In his youth, he attended such schools as opportunity afforded, in the town of Hills-
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