History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 65

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 65
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 65

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).

two brothers and three sisters moved to Illi - nois, all of whom married, and whose families now live in this county, with the exception of the oldest sister, who lives in Neosho County, Kan. Subject's wife's parents were married in Kentucky, and emigrated to Mont- gomery County, III., in October, 1827.

WILLIAM O. BONE, Deputy Sheriff Hillsboro, was born in Ohio September IS, 1852, and came to Nokomis, this county, with his parents in 1862; son of James S. and Mary (Miller) Boue, he a farmer and hotel proprie- tor, born in Ohio in 1915, and is now living at Nokomis, where he owns 320 acres of land; she born in Ohio, and died there in 1854. Subject is the youngest son of a family of two sons and two daughters. He received his education principally in Illinois, and com- menced life as a farmer. He clerked in a mercantile house for some time, railroading several years, and was Constable of Nokomis for four years; from that he was appointed Depnty Sheriff, an office he has filled two years, and is now a candidate for Sheriff. Mr. Bone is a Democrat.

REV. THOMAS I. COULTAS, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Hillsboro, is a son of George and Eliza (Wilson) Coul- tas, natives of Yorkshire, England. George, with three of his brothers, sailed for America and landed at New York April 14, 1830. They went from there to Rochester, N. Y., where they remained for a few months. From there they went by boat to Cleveland, Ohio, and from there to Jacksonville, Ill., by the way of Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, Ky .. and St. Louis, Mo., living for a brief time in each of these places. Near Jacksonville, III., he formed the acquaintance of Eliza Wilson, also a native of Yorkshire, England, and who preceded him a few years to this country. Their acquaintance ripened into a greater in-

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ried. Shortly after this, Mr. Coultas pur- chased from the Government a tract of land near Winchester, then in Morgan, now the county seat of Seott County, Ill. Here he lived, following agricultural pursuits to the time of his death, June 10, 1859. Mrs. Coultas, Sr., died October 26, 1875. Thomas I. is the youngest of a family of five sons and two daughters, and was born May 5, 1853. He lived on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, spending most of the time in school, first in the country schoolhouse, afterward in the high school in Winchester. In September. 1869, when he was but a few months past sixteen years of age, he was reg- ularly licensed as a minister, and received in- to the traveling connection in the Illinois Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, perhaps the youngest man ever thus received and put into the regular work. After serving churches in Sangamon and Champaign Counties respectively for two years, he left the regular pastorate to further proseeute his studies. In September, 1871, he entered the Illinois Wesleyan University, of Blooming- ton. Ill .. and was graduated from that insti- tution in June, 1875. While a student, Mr. Coultas distinguished himself and brought honor to his alma mater by representing this institution in an inter-college contest in ora- tory, where eight of the leading colleges of the State contested in original oration, the judges declaring him to be the champion. By virtue of his success, he represented the State of Illinois in an inter-State contest in oratory, held at Indanapolis., Ind., in May, 1875, where the champions of six States, which had held similar contests, met, and here also Mr. Coultas won the gold medal over all his competitors. After his gradua- tion, he entered immediately upon the work of the ministry. After serving the church at Barry, Pike County, for four months as a

supply, he was re-admitted into the Confer- ence, and returned to this church for two years in succession. After this pastorate, he very acceptably served the church iu Pitts- field, the county seat of Pike County. From this church he was sent by his Conference to the Trinity Church, Quincy, Ill. Here he was largely instrumental in removing from this church a heavy debt. which for years hung as a shadow over it. The church in other respeets greatly prospered under his pastorate. In September, 1881, he was made pastor of the church in Hillsboro, and. al- though he has been here but a short time. he is held in high esteem by his congregation and the community. Mr. Coultas was mar- ried, November 23, 1875, to Miss Angie Mor- rison, the daughter of Henry B. and Caroline (Sears) Morrison, then of Bloomington. now of Monticello, Ill., and the neice of Wash- ington Sears, of Scott County, and Rev. Hi- ram Sears, of East St. Louis, one prominent as a legislator, and the other as a minister and educator. Mrs. Coultas was also edu- cated at the Illinois Wesleyan University. There have been born unto them Aldo Bliss Conltas, March 10, 1877, and Edna Berniee Coultas, March 16, 1879. Mr. Coultas is a Republiean in polities. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is also a member of Union Chapter. No. 10, A., F. & A. M.

CLARENCE E. COLE, insurance agent, Hillsboro, was born in Sussex County. N. J .. April 30, 1848; son of John S. and Eliz- abeth (Paddock) Cole, he a farmer, born in Sussex County, N. J., October 6, 1806. and came to this State with his family in 1849, and died August 30, 1880; she born in Sus- sex County, N. J., about 1813, and died in this county November 13, 1877. They had one son and three daughters. Subjeet was educated at Hillsboro Academy, began life as a farmer, continued as such for fifteen years,

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commenced the insurance business in 1875, and now enjoys a very fair business. He married at Nokomis, October 10, 1871, Fannie E. Ellis, daughter of D. B. Ellis, a Virginian, born at Princeton, III., February 24. 1850. and died August 13, 1878. The result of this union was Gracie E., born August 25, 1872; John E., born January 16, 1874, and Floy A .. born September 15. 1876. Mr. Cole's second marriage took place at St. Louis April 21. 1880, when he married Miss Eunice E. Garrettson, born at Marion, Linn Co .. Iowa, February 24, 1860, and daughter of G. W. Garrettson, of Marion, Iowa. Mr. Cole is a Republican, and enlisted in the Federal army in April, 1864. as drummer of Com- pany H, One Hundred and Forty-third Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and served six months under Col. Dudley C. Smith, of Shel- byville, Ill.

GEORGE R. COOPER, attorney and teacher, Hillsboro, was born July 25. 1855, at Greencastle, Ind .; came to this county with his parents in 1858; son of Jacob R. and Eliza (Robinson) Cooper, he a carpenter, born in Fleming County, Ky., on November 16, 1816, and went to Indiana in 1841, where he remained until 1858, and died in Novem- ber, 1877; she born in Kentucky in 1820, and is now living in East Fork Township, Mont- gomery County. Subject is the second son of a family of three sons and three daughters; received his education at Hillsboro Academy ; worked on the farm until he was seventeen years of age, and at the age of eighteen be- gan teaching school, which he has followed for seven years, and on April 1, 1880, he be- gan reading law with Rice & Miller; then went to the office of Judge E. Lane, with whom he still reads, and will make applica- tion for admission to the bar this fall. This young man deserves great credit, as he has by his own efforts educated himself; his par-

ents being of limited circumstances, could not give him such an education as he desired. He taught school for six years in Fillmore, Fillmore Township: is a Republican, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.

EDMUND DOUGLAS, physician and druggist, Hillsboro, was born near Chillicothe, Livingston Co:,' Mo .. February 14. 1846, to William and Parmelia (Strawn) Douglas, he born in New Gallaway, Scotland. March 9, 1817, and still living in Pike County. III. He was a son of John and Jannette (Murry) Douglas, natives of Scotland. He came to America in 1836, was a carpenter and one of the contractors on the State University at Columbia, Mo., where he was married, and in after life engaged in farming. His wife is a native of Guilford County, N. C., where she was born August 25, 1823, and came to the West in 1830 with her parents, Edmund and Dorcas (Morton) Strawn, natives of North Carolina. Our subject is the third of twelve children, seven of whom are living-Andrew, a farmer; Mary, Edmund. John, a farmer; Churchwell, a farmer; William W., a physi- cian, and James, a farmer. All are in Pike County but our subject, who received a dis- triet and high school education, and graduated at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, at St. Louis. In 1867. he engaged in a gen- eral business at Milton. Ill., and in 1872, at the same place, entered into the drug busi- ness, where he continued until in 1873, when he came to Hillsboro, where he has since con- tinued. He studied medicine in connection with his business pursuits, and attended lect- ures at the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons, from whence he graduated February 28, 1881, and practices in connec- tion with his business. He was married Oc- tober 15, 1875, to Illinois Phillips, daughter of Burrill Phillips, and neice of Gen. J. J. Phillips. By her he has two living children

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-Noi Elizabeth and Mary Jannette. Heis a member of the Masonic Lodge and Chapter, and, in his political belief, Democratic.

JOSEPH T. ECCLES, retired merchant. Hillsboro, was born in Mercer County. Ky., January 7, 1807: son of Henry and Polly (Gaunt) Eccles. Henry, a native of Berkeley County, Va., was born May 4, 1781, and when about eighteen years old he moved to Ken- tucky and settled in Mercer County, where he married August 15, 1805. In the autumn of 1830, he removed to Vandalia, INI .. and shortly afterward located on a farm about four miles from that town, where he remained until 1837, when he removed to Coles County, Ill., where he died September 21, 1851. aged seventy years four months and seventeen days. His wife, Polly Gaunt, was born at Wilson's Station, Mercer Co., Ky., March 15. 1783. and died at Vandalia, III., September 21, 1835. Our subject, who began the busi- ness of life as a teacher, received his educa- tion chiefly in Harrodsburg, Ky. He taught school at Vandalia. Ill., for about two seasons, after which he clerked in a store about a year. and then engaged in the mercantile business in Vandalia on his own account for five or six years: then. abandoning the business of a merchant, he located on a farm about five miles from Vandalia. He followed farming about nine years. but gave it up and removed to Hillsboro. Montgomery County, where he again engaged in mercantile business, and. being successful, retired a short time ago. He owns some fine property in Hillsboro, con- sisting of his residence, a brick store, town lots, etc. In Todd County, Ky., August 12. 1829, he married Jane L. Anderson, born in Green County Ky., May 23, 1809, daughter of Pouney and Nancy (Lynch) Anderson. Pouney Anderson, a native of Virginia, died in Todd County, Ky., June 6, 1537: his wife was also a native of Virginia. Mr. Eccles

has filled the office of Justice of the Peace at Vandalia, Ill., and also in Hillsboro for sev- eral years. He was a delegate to the Consti- tutional Convention, held at Springfield, Ill., in 1847. He has also been Assistant Assessor and Deputy United States Revenue Collector. During the war, he was a recruiting officer at Hillsboro, and while acting in that capac- ity, sent in thirty new recruits. He also capt- ured and returned to the army twenty-seven deserters. He served in the Black Hawk war in 1832. He nominated Richard Yates for Governor at Decatur, Ill., in 1860. He and his wife are Old-School Presbyterians. He is a member of the Sons of Temperance. In polities, he was originally an old Clay Whig, but now supports the Republican party.

JOHN W. EDWARDS, lumber merchant, Hillsboro, was born in Tennessee in 1821; son of John and Elizabeth (Justice) Edwards. John, who was a farmer, was born in North Carolina in 1777; removed to Tennessee about the year 1800, and left there in 1838, afterward residing in Pike County, Jefferson County and Upper Alton. He died in the latter place about the year 1852; his wife was born in North Carolina in 1782, and died in Hillsboro about the year 1868. Our subject, the fifth son of a family of eight sons and three daughters. received a limited · education in Tennessee. He removed from that State with his parents in 1838, and set- tled in Pike County. where he remained two years: then removed to Jefferson County. Up to this time he had worked on his father's farm. After remaining in Jefferson County two years, he moved to Upper Alton, where he stayed until 1855, engaged in mercantile business. From Upper Alton he removed to Hillsboro, where he engaged in the mercan- tile and grain business five years, then dealt in lumber nine years, then in the drug busi- ness nine years. In 1878, he gave up the

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drug business, and returned to his old occu- pation of dealing in lumber, which business he is now engaged in. He is the owner of a comfortable frame residence in Hillsboro, with about three acres attached. In Hills- boro, in 1848, he married Joanna Meade, born in Ohio in 1825. From this union there have been born to them eight children, six of whom are living-David A .; William A., physician at Winchester, Ill .; John M., now residing in Kansas; Albert N., a harness- maker in Hillsboro; Frederick W. and Sarah Isabel King. Mr. Edwards and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, of which he has been Steward, and is now Trustee. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F., in which orders he has held all the offices from the lowest to the highest. In politics, he supports the Republican party.

LEONARD G. FATH, Sheriff, Hillsboro, born in Perryville, Mo., November 20, 1847 ; son of Leonard and Miss (Barkman) Fath. both natives of Germany ; he, a farmer by occupation, came to the United States about the year 1840, and now resides in Montgom- ery County : she came to America with her parents, married in Perryville, Mo., where she died in 1848. Subject, the second son of a family of two sons and one daughter, received his education in the common schools in Missouri, and at the age of fourteen years was taken from school and placed in a black- smith-shop to learn the trade. In 1864, he came to Montgomery County with his parents. and engaged in the agricultural implement and grocery business in Hillsboro, for two years ; then giving up mercantile business, he worked at his trade for two years ; then removed to Nokomis in 1873, and followed his trade there till the fall of 1876, when he 4 was elected Sheriff, an office which he held for two years, but was, at the end of that time, defeated by a small majority in the

convention. He then traveled through the country for nearly a year, selling agricult- ural implements. At the convention held May 24, 1879, he was again elected Sheriff, an office which he now holds. During the summer of 1879, he spent much of his time in devising a patent plow sulky attachment, which he patented November 30, 1880. His invention is meeting with success among the farmers, and promises to prove remunerative to the inventor. In Montgomery County, February 23, 1871, he married Laura A. Marshall, born in Ohio in 1853, daughter of John L. and Harriet (Lattimore) Marshall ; from this union two children have been born -one son, Leo G., living, and one daughter deceased. Mr. Fath owns a house and lot in Hillsboro ; he is a Democrat.

I. W. FINK, physician. Hillsboro, was born at Jonesboro, Ill., August 24, 1824, to John and Sophia (Lingle) Fink, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. he born November 12, 1797, and came to Illi- nois in 1817, his parents dying in his child- hood ; he settled in Union County, where he carried on tanning and farming until his death, which occurred November 6, 1858: his wife was born August 1. 1800, and died Jan- uary 11, 1866 ; she came to the State early in life from Hamilton County, Ohio, whither she had gone, with her parents, from her native State. Their children were I. W., Henry J., born March 2, 1828 ; Mary A .. March 21, 1832, wife of John Miller ; John M., deceased, without issue ; George W., born October 19, 1838; Levi A., Jan. 30, 1845. All are farming in Union County, Ill., except the subject of this sketch, who re- ceived a common school education, with the addition of two years at the Hillsboro Acad- emy. In 1850, he began the study of med- icine with Dr. A. S. Haskill, of Hillsboro, where he remained, including his attendance

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upon lectures, three years, and graduated from the St. Louis Medical College in 1854, when he began the practice at Hillsboro, where he has since been located (except one year at Shelbyville), and has built up a large and remunerative practice. He is a member of the National, State. District and County Medical Societies, the latter of which he or- ganized and held the office of President. He was married, April 24, 1855, to Miss Emeline M. Burnap, born in Montgomery County May 26. 1835, and died January 8, 1857; she was a daughter of George and Maria (Seward) Burnap, the latter related to the noted Secretary Seward : by her he had one child-Mary M. D .: he was again married Oct. 2, 1858, to Sarah C. Sawyer, born in Boston, Mass., November 7. 1834 ; by her he has three children-Juliet K .. John W. and Hugh K. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Democratic party, and with his family belongs to the Congregational Church.

ENOCH JAMES FILE, Hillsboro, born in Bond County, Ill .. October 19. 1832 ; son of Daniel and Elizabeth (James) File. Dan- iel, who was a farmer, was born in North Carolina in 1801, and in company with his father, Jacob File, who died in 1842, came to Illinois in 1816. when it was a Terri- tory ; died in 1851; his wife, born in Middle Tennessee, in 1811, died in 1845. Our subject, the second son of a fam- ily of six sons and six daughters, re- ceived very little education, his school life being limited to four months that lie at- tended in Bond County. He began life on the farm, then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed eight years, then served as clerk, then in the hardware business on his own account for seven years. At the end of that time, he sold out his business to the firm of Challacombe & Ramsey, for whom he now clerks. In 1861, he enlisted as private

in the Federal army, Company D, Twenty- Second Illinois Infantry, and during his time of service was promoted from time to time, until he received command of a com- pany. He participated in the engagements at Belmont, Mo .. Stone River and Chicka- mauga, Tenn., Atlanta, etc. ; was wounded three times-in skull, side and hand. In 1853, in Hillsboro Township, he married Mary Ann Brown, born in North Carolina in 1829, died in 1856. Her parents were William and Elizabeth (Craig) Brown ; the former born in North Carolina September 5, 1794. came to Illinois in 1835, where he died in 1867 ; the latter, born February 12, 1807, died August 4, 1843. Mr. File was again married November 25, 1870, to Virginia C. Brown, sister of his first wife, born Septem- ber 26, 1842, and from this union there has been born to him two daughters Leva and Anna ; his first wife bore him one daughter -May. He is a supporter of the Republi- can party, and a member of the Masonic fra- ternity.

JAMES ROBINSON GLENN, miller, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Hillsboro, born in Ireland, August 16. 1834; came with his parents, one brother, John F., and one sister, Catharine J., to the United States in 1837, and lived in Louisville, Ky., about five years. His mother's name was Catharine Jane Robinson. Her father was born in Fintona, Ireland ; built a Methodist Church in that town with his own money. In 1839, he chartered a ship, and, with his second wife and one son and seven daughters, went to Australia, settled in Melbourne, where he purchased property. and lived there the balance of his life. He purchased a cattle ranch in Australia, 6x15 miles, and died there at the age of ninety years. Grand- father Robinson's grandfather went from England with William, Prince of Orange,

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was in the battle of the Boyne and the siege of Londonderry. Subject's father. Thomas S. Glenn, born in Ireland about 1807, is still living in this county ; his grandparents were born in Ireland ; his great-grandfather was born in Scotland and was a mechanic. Mr. Glenn began life by buying grain in Litchfield; came to Hillsboro in 1858, and started the first grocery : was married in Macou- pin County in 1860 to Miss Sarah V. Love, born in Cabell County, W. Va., in 1840, daughter of Louis L. and Emily (Eastham) Love. The re- sult of this union is three daughters-Nora, Laura and Wilmina. Mr. Glenn is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, a Republican, a Freemason and a member of the Council. After going out of the grocery business in Hillsboro, he built a mill, in 1866, which he has operated continually since its erection. Himself and brothers were the prime movers in starting the bank at Hillsboro in 1870, known as the Montgomery County Loan and Trust Company, subject having been elected President on its organization, and holds the office at the present time. The Glenn Bros. also own a farm near Hillsboro, containing 1,020 acres, and about 15,000 acres in Texas.

REV. C. A. GELWICKS, Lutheran minis- ter, Hillsboro, a native of Pennsylvania, and was born January 7, 1835, and son of John Gelwicks, a farmer, and also a native of Penn- sylvania. and was born March 16, 1811, and is still living. His wife, Magdalena Wolf, was also a native of the same State, and was born in December, 1812. She is also living in her native State. The parents had six children born to them, but only three raised to maturity, two sons (C. A. being the eldest) and one daughter. Our subject was educated at Gettysburg, Penn., at the Penn- sylvania College, where he took a classical course, but was called away just three months before he would have graduated, and then

went to the Theological Seminary at Spring- field, Ohio, where he graduated in 1858, and took charge of a church at Strasburg, Penn., immediately after leaving the Seminary. He has devoted his entire life, up to the present, in the profession of his choice. Our subject was a volunteer in the sanitary de- partment of the federal army during the war, and was at Mechanicsburg at the time that town was surrendered to the Rebel forces in 1864, which occurred a few days prior to the battle of Gettysburg. Subject is now and has always been a Republican in politics, and has been a member of the Good Templars for a number of years. He was married at Springfield, Ohio, on the 24th of June, 1858, the same day that he graduated and took charge of his first church. His wife was Mary Isabell Wilson, a daughter of Elon Wilson, of Springfield, and she was born De. cember 26, 1836. Her father was born March 31, 1801, and died in October, 1864. Her mother, Mary Wilson, was born in March, 1810, and is now living at Ida Grove, Iowa. Subject has had six children born to him, but four living, one son, Wilson Gelwicks, and three daughters, viz. : Jennie, Belle and

Lena. Himself, wife and eldest daughter are members of the Lutheran Church. Our subject has been a successful minister. as is proven by the few moves he has made. In twenty-four years' service he now has his fifth charge. He certainly has reason to feel proud of his ministerial career.

DAVID S. GILMORE, millwright, Hills- boro, was born in Hardin County, Ky .. April 13, 1832; son of Alexander Gilmore, born in Virginia about 1805. When quite young he came to Kentucky with his parents and set- tled in Hardin County, where he died about 1850. He was also a millwright by trade. His wife was Millie Mudd, who was also a native of Virginia. They raised three chil-

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uren, two sons (David S. being the eldest), and one daughter. Our subject came to this State in 1859, and first located in Macoupin County, where he remained probably some three years, thence to this county, where he has since lived, in different parts of the county, but for the past sixteen years has re- sided in Hillsboro. He received a common school education in Kentucky. He began business for himself when only eighteen years of age, as millwright, which he has followed through life, in connection with his other business, such as wagon-making, stocking plows, and other such work as is done by any first-class mechanic, such as our subject is justly entitled to be called. He is Demo- cratic in politics; also a member of the Ma- sonic order. He was married in Grayson County, Ky., on August 12, 1847, to Rachael Watkins, daughter of Isaiah Watkins and Catharine (Thomas) Watkins. Subject has three sons, viz. : James D., Robert Lee, Jesse, and four daughters, Nancy A., wife of Duncan Gode; Lurena, Libbie May, Sarah E. Our subjeet owns a comfortable little resi- dence in East Hillsboro. He has worked at his trade through different parts of this State, Missouri and Kentucky.

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 65

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