History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 77

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 77
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 77

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).

WILLIAM G. WARDEN, carpenter, Litchfield, was born in Allen County, Ky., on May 2, 1832. He lived on a farm in his native State until October, 1850, when he came to Illinois. His father died when he was small, and he came to this State unac- companied, arriving on a foggy Sunday. be- ing obliged to climb the sign-posts to see the directions. He first stopped with his sister. Mrs. Young, with whom he lived, south of Hillsboro, and worked until the summer of 1851. Then he returned to Kentucky, but in the fall of the same year came back to this State with a brother, with whom he lived two years, helping on the farm. He again returned to Kentucky, and in the fall of 1853 brought his mother to this State. She set- tled here permanently in 1854, the memor-

her four years. Previous to this time he had learned carpentering with his brother, and in 1855-56, he worked with Robert Frame on contracts in the northern part of Montgomery County. In 1857, Mr. Warden began taking contracts alone, working in the southern part of this county until 1865, when he moved to Litchfield, where he has been engaged in carpentering ever since. During 1866-67, he also ran a wagon shop. For a period of one year he worked on the bridge work of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad. When the Wabash Railroad was built, he was one of the first to begin work, and after working on the bridges, he superintended a company of men in the construction of the depot and freight building, etc., from Warder to De- catur. Since then he has engaged in carpen- tering and building. Mr. Warden is a Dem- ocrat, and has taken an active interest in politics. He was Justice of the Peace for five years, beginning at the time the town- ship system was adopted. After that he was Town Clerk four years. In the spring of 1882, he was elected Assessor of South Litch - field Township. He acted one term as Alder- man of the First Ward of Litchfield City in 1877. In 1860, he married Miss Anna E., daughter of A. C. Atwood, of Allen County, Ky. Their children are as follows: Alonzo W., born August 1, 1861, and died October 27, 1866; William J., born June 30, 1864; Ivy, born July 24, 1880; and all born in Montgomery County.

IRVING WELLS, farmer, P. O. Litchfield, was born in Rowan, now Davie County, N. C., November 13, 1825, and with his parents came to Illinois by team, in the fall of 1830, the journey lasting eight weeks. They stopped in Madison County until the spring of 1831, when they went to Greene County, where his parents resided until their death.

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LITCHFIELD.

His father, John Wells, Sr., was born on April 27, 1795, in North Carolina, and died April 17, 1873. He was the father of seven children, and when he came to Greene County his means were limited to 31} cents. He was a member of the United Baptist Church. Our subject began teaching in 1847, in Greene County, and continued until 1858, in the meantime working on a farm. He came to Walshville Township, Montgomery County, in 1858, having purchased a land warrant, eight years previous, for eighty acres. On coming here he engaged in farming, and taught school five winters, living upon his original purchase until 1867. when he re- moved to his present place of 160 acres, where he since has engaged in raising grain and stock. February 6, 1860, he married Miss Lucetta, daughter of Edwin Brown, a Methodist preacher of Walshville. Twelve children were born to them, but seven of whom are living-Julia, deceased; Oscar A. deceased; Washington I., deceased; John F .; David E .; Matta, deceased; Clara J., Albert S., Cora O., Ollie M., Myrtle, and Effa, de- ceased. Mr. Wells started in life without capital, and worked at first for $8 a month. Politically, he is a Democrat. His mother's maiden name was Matilda Irwin; she was from North Carolina. Although the father of our subject met many discouragements, he persevered in earnest, faithful labor, and made for himself an estate worth about $12,- 000. He was twice married, and was the father of thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, and ten of whom still live, nine being of his last marriage.

LEWIS WHITAKER, Litchfield, was born in Deerfield Township, Cumberland County, N. J., September 2, 1835, and ob- tained his education in his native State. At the age of seventeen years, in 1852, he came to Carlinville, Ill., where he began learning

the carpenter's trade, continuing one year. when he removed to Alton, III., there com- pleting his trade. He spent the winter of 1854-55 in Mississippi and Louisana. He came to Litchfield, Ill., on October 8, 1855, and, after spending six weeks at his trade here, he went to his old home in New Jersey, where he spent the winter of 1855-56. In July, 1856, he returned to Litchfield, and worked as contractor and builder two years, when he went into the furniture and under- taking business, at which he continued about fifteen years, meeting with and meriting ex- cellent success. His first furniture store was located where Boepple's bakery now is, and he afterward did business on the lot now oc- cupied by Mr. Enniger. He next built the block where the Regulator is at present. In January. 1874, he retired from the furniture business, and in April of the same year he was elected City Marshal, which office he held one year. He then became a member of the firm of Whitaker & Rogers, in the milling business, continuing about two years. He next leased the Boxberger Mill, and took in as a partner Mr. Roth, for two years continu- ing in the milling and grain business, with very excellent success. Mr. Whitaker is a member of the McWilliams Oil and Mining Company, which began operations in this county in January, 1882. He has been a member of the City Council. On December 25. 1861, he married Mary E. Shore, sister of Tilman Shore. Mr. Whitaker is at pres- ent a member of the Litchfield Board of Ed- ucation. In politics, he is a Republican.

GEORGE L. ZINK, was born in Steuben- ville, Ohio, September 19, 1841. He received an academic education in Jefferson County, Ohio, and devoted his own personal efforts in the study of the languages after leaving school. He began the study of law at seven- teen years of age, with J. H. S. Trainer, of

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

Steubenville, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar at Pomeroy, Ohio, in 1864. In 1862, he enlisted in the Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battle of Perryville, Ky., and went as far South as Bowl- ing Green, Ky., where he lay sick nntil De- cember, 1862, and afterward in the hospital. at Louisville; went out on duty again at post headquarters until July, 1863, when he was discharged. He then returned home, taught school for a time, and completed his law studies. In May, 1864, he enlisted for 100 days, and was stationed at Fort Delaware until the expiration of his time of service. He came to Illinois in 1865, and for eight

months taught school at Gillespie, and in May, 1866, located in Litchfield, where he has ever since practiced his profession suc- cessfully, being admitted to the bar in this State in 1866, and in 1867 was admitted to practice in the Federal Courts. Mr. Zink was a Republican until 1872, when he joined the liberal movement, and was Presidential Elector for the old Sixteenth District on the Greeley ticket. In 1878, he was nominated and elected by the Democrats as Representa- tive to the Illinois Legislature, from the Thirty-fourth District, composed of Mont- gomery and Christian Counties.

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WALSHVILLE TOWNSHIP.

DR. A. BARCROFT, physician, Walshville, , His wife was born in Armstrong County, was born in New Jersey in 1829; son of Am- Penn., in 1835. Our subject, the second of a family of six children, began his education at Lincoln, Logan Co., Ill., and, having cho- sen his father's profession, entered the Mis- souri Medical College at St. Louis, from which he graduated in 1879. He is now practicing medicine with his father in Walsh- ville. He formerly taught school in Bond and Montgomery Counties. brose and Ann (Wolverton) Barcroft. Am- brose Barcroft was born in 1793. He was for many years Captain of an ocean vessel, but finally quit the seafaring life and became a farmer. He died in York County, Penn., in 1881. His wife was born in New Jersey in 1795, and is now a resident of Washington, D. C. Our subject, the fourth child of a family of six, attended school at Pennington, N. J., from 1844 to 1847; at Baltimore Col- lege from 1854 to 1856, and, having chosen the medical profession, entered the National College, at Washington, D. C,, from which he graduated in 1862. He first began life as a clerk in a drug store. After graduating at Washington, he practiced in the Armory Hospital, in that city from 1863 to 1864. He is now practicing his profession in Walsh- ville. In Armstrong County, Penn., in 1853, he married Charlotte D. Woodward, a native of that county, born in 1835, daughter of John S. and Caroline (Barkley) Woodward. From this union there have been born to them six children, two of whom died in infancy. The four living are Ellis W., Victor B., Anna C. and Ambrose. Dr. Barcroft is a Republican, and a member of the A., F. & A. M.

V. B. BARCROFT, physician, Walshville, was born in Armstrong County, Penn., in 1855; son of Dr. A. and Charlotte (Wood- ward) Barcroft. The Doctor, whose sketch also appears in this work, was born in New Jersey in 1829, and has successfully followed the practice of his profession for many years.

JESSE BOYD, farmer, P. O. Walshville, was born in Franklin County, Va., August 22, 1810; son of Henry and Ellender (Woods) Boyd. Henry Boyd was born in Franklin County, Va., in 1789, and died in Montgom- ery County, Ill., March 25, 1877. His wife, a native of Virginia, was born in 1789, and died in Montgomery County in 1872. Our subject, the second of a family of nine chil- dren, received his education in Warren Coun- ty, Ky. He also attended school at Staun- ton, Macoupin Co., Ill. He has followed the occupation of a farmer in Macoupin and Montgomery Counties for the last fifty years. In Macoupin County, Ill., in 1832, he mar- ried Matilda Voyles, born in Pendleton County, N. C., in 1811, daughter of Robert and Hester (Morris) Voyles. From this union they have had twelve children, six of whom died in infancy. Those living are Hester R., William J., Ellender M., Martha A., Robert H. and Jessie S. Mr. Boyd is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the A., F. & A. M. He is a Republican in politics.

WILLIAM BURKE, farmer, P. O, Walsh ville, was born in Kentucky February 6

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

1817; son of John and Catharine (Barlow) Burke, he born in Virginia in 1785, and died in Montgomery County, Ill., in 1846; she, born in Virginia, and died in this county in 1836. Our subject is the seventh child of a family of eleven, and received his educa- tion in the common schools of this county In 1840. he married Temperance Holiday, born in this county in IS20, and died here in 1860, and daughter of Elliott Holiday. His second wife was Mrs. Sarah Brown, born in Kentucky, and died in this county in 1870, and his third wife, Mrs. Sarah M. Dukes, was born in Livingston County, Ky., October 18, 1823. He has had twelve children, ten of whom are living-John B., Martha J., Joe A., Mary E., William R., Sina L., Alice E., Adda B., Edna C. and Katie A. Mr. Burke has always been a farmer: having farmed in this county for fifty years, and is known as one of the leading farmers in the district. He is a Presbyterian, a Democrat, an A., F. & A. M., and an I. O. O. F.

ANTONY BUERGER, farmer, P. O. Mt. Olive, Macoupin County, whose parents, John and Mary C. (Fastlabend) Buerger, were na- tives of Germany, was born in that country September 2, 1822. John Buerger, who was a farmer, died in Madison County, III., Oc- tober 18, 1846. His wife died in the same county in 1872. Antony, who was the eldest of a family of ten, received his education in Germany, and engaged in farming, which oc- cupation he has always followed. He mar- ried in St. Louis, Mo., May 13, 1853, Louisa Bartman, born in Germany in 1830, daughter of John Bartman. From this union seven children have been born to them- Joseph, John F., Mary, Matilda, Henry, Louisa and Leonora. Mr. Buerger is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and in politics a Democrat.

MRS. SARAH D. CURRY, farmer, P. O.

Walshville, was born in Morgan County, III., in 1834, daughter of William and Tabitha (Bell) Elledge, he born in Kentucky, and died in Morgan County, Ill., in 1836; she, born in Kentucky, and died in Pike County, Ill., in 1874. Subject was the sixth child of a family of seven, and was educated in Morgan and Pike Counties, Ill. She was married in Pike County, Ill., in 1845, to Ri- ley J. Curry, a farmer born in Kentucky, and died in this county August 13 1876, son of Nicholas Curry, a native of Ireland, who came to this country in an early day, and died in Morgan County, III., about the year 1850. Our subject is the inother of ten chil- dren, namely: James A., Tabitha E., George F., William R., Charles B., John F., Wine- fred L., Elbert G., Edwin H., Esther B. Mrs. Curry is a member of the Christian Church.

DR. MARTIN S. DAVENPORT, son of Jack S. and Lucy S. (Lewis) Davenport, was born in the State of Virginia, Charlotte County, November 1, 1818. His father was born in Charlotte County, Va., in 1780. His mother was also a native of Charlotte County Va., was born in 1784, and died in October, 1860. The family moved from the Old Do- minion to Kentucky, where his father died in May, 1834. Left in orphanage, Mr. Dav- enport, in connection with a younger brother, undertook the support of the widowed mother and family, and nobly did they work to this end. Naturally of an. inquiring and literary cast of mind, and deprived to a great extent of school facilities, he commenced when quite young the work of his own education by the light afforded from burning fagots and pine knots. In this manner he acquired a fair English education. In Christian County, Ky., in April, 1841, he married Miss Lucy S. Lewis, born in Charlotte County, Va., in December, 1813, daughter of Edgecome and

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WALSHVILLE TOWNSHIP.

Anna ( Davenport) Lewis, both natives of Char- lotte County, Va., the former born in 1780 and died in March, 1843: the latter born 1793, and died in July. 1847. Immediately after his marriage, he commenced the study of medicine, to which profession he had man- ifested a proclivity from the seventeenth year of his age. He received a medical diploma from Dr. Curtis in 1848, and graduated at the Physio-Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1870. Mr. Davenport moved into Mont- gomery in 1848, and located in the town of Walshville in 1864. He has had a constant practice in his community for over twenty-six years, and is now regarded as one of the most successful practitioners in the county. Though now in his fifty-fifth year, he is hale, hearty and energetic, and in physique does not appear more than forty years old. This may be accounted for in part from his strictly temperate habits. never having during his life been under the influence of intoxicating liquor in the least degree. The Davenports are English in descent, and were among the first settlers in this country. Richard Daven. port, the Doctor's grandfather, held the office of Captain in the Revolutionary war, and was present and participated in the battle of Yorktown. At the close of the war, he settled in the State of Virginia, Charlotte County. He raised quite a family-Glover (deceased), of Norfolk, Va .; Martin W., a wholesale merchant of Lynchburg, Va .; Ballard (de- ceased), one of the pioneers of Kentucky; Mary (deceased), wife of John Franklin, of Virginia, and grandson of Benjamin Frank- lin, illustrious patriot, statesman and philos- opher; Martha, wife of Barnet Edwards, of Kentucky; Mrs. Sarah (John) Mathews; and Mrs. Catharine (Putnam) North, both of Vir- ginia, are some of the names handed down. Jack S., Dr. Davenport's father, was a Lieu- tenant in the war of 1812. He served under

Gen. Jackson. Glover was a Colonel in the same war. The Doctor has the following children: George W., John J. and Peter W. druggists, all of Walshville. George and Peter served as soldiers in the late rebellion. We believe they were both veterans in the Union service. Dr. Davenport has good canse to feel proud in the contemplation of his family record. Not one of the numerous and long family line was ever arraigned be- fore the courts under a criminal charge, and they have always espoused the cause of pat- riotism, from the Revolution against English tyranny to the suppression of treason during the late war of the Southern States. They are a family noted for public spirit, literature and Christian morality.

PETER EGELHOFF, farmer, P. O. Walsh- ville, was born in Germany October 12, 1830; son of William and Mary (Schroth) Egelhoff. William, who was a native of Germany, was born in 1806, and died in Jerseyville, Jersey Co., Ill., September 19, 1879, where his wife, born in Germany, in 1810, also died, March 23. 1866. Peter, the eldest of a family of seven children, received his education in Ger- many, and worked at the blacksmith's trade for some time. About twenty years ago, he moved to his present place, which, at that time was rough and unimproved; but, by in- cessant labor and economy, he has made it . one of the finest farms in Montgomery County. He has a fine, large barn, granary. stock scales, etc. In Montgomery County, in 1856, he married Mary A. Ostermeyer, born in Ger- many September 22. 1830, daughter of Fred- erick Ostermeyer, a native of that country. and there have been born to them nine chil- dren-William F., John C., Louisa, George, Otto, Mary, Peter J. and two others who died unnamed. Mr. Egelhoff, who is a Democrat, is one of the substantial men of Walshville Township.

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

DICK ENGELMANN, farmer, P. O. Mt. Olive. Macoupin County, was born in Ger- many November 5, 1840. His parents, Henry and Tina (Gosmann) Engelmann, are natives of Germany, and are now living in Ostfries- land, Kingdom of Hanover. Henry was born November 13, 1820. Richard is the eldest of a family of four children, and received his education in Germany. He has always been : is in politics a Democrat.

engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has been Highway Commissioner in Walsh- ville Township for some time. Mr. Engel- mann has been twice married. First, in Mad- ison County, Ill .. November 8, 1878, he mar- ried Lizzie E. Engelmann, born in Germany in 1844, and died in Montgomery County March 5. 1879. She was the daughter of Minke Engelmann. His second wife, whom he married at Hillsboro, Montgomery County, in January, 1880, is Gretchen Arkebauer, born in Germany in 1845. Mr. Engelmann has four children-Henry, George, Michael and Tine. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

I. P. FOGELMAN, farmer, P. O. Walsh- ville, son of John and Elizabeth (Kirkland) Fogelman, was born in Montgomery County August 29, 1844. His parents were both born in Montgomery County, and still reside there. His father was born April 8, 1819; his mother was born in 1819 or 1820. Our subject, who is the fourth of a family of ten children, received his education in the schools of Montgomery County, and engaged in farm- ing, which occupation he has always followed. He is Assessor of Walshville Township, which office he has held for six years. Dur- ing the war, he served in Company A, Ninety- first Illinois Infantry: was captured at Eliza- bethtown in 1862, by John Morgan, and re- leased on parole. Returning to service in July, 1863, he took part in the engagements at Vicksburg, New Orleans and Spanish Fort,

on Mobile Bay, receiving his discharge at the latter place in 1865. In Montgomery County, in 1865, he married M. M. McPhail. born in Montgomery County October 12, 1841, . daughter of Macon and Elizabeth (Beedels) McPhail. There have been born to them two children-Willis M. and J. W. M., the lat- ter dying October 18, 1871. Mr. Fogleman.

JAMES GRISHAM, farmer, P. O. Walsh- ville, was born in Dixon County, Tenn, Jan- mary 14, 1811, son of Austin and Fanny (Powers) Grisham. he born in Guilford County, N. C., March 10, 1771, and died in Montgomery County March 9, 1853; she born in Virginia October 10, 1775, and died in Montgomery County May 10, 1851. James, the fourth child of a family of five, finished his education in Montgomery County in 1829, and began life as a farmer, which occupation he has ever since followed. He is one of the first settlers of Montgomery County, having entered the land he now lives on in 1820. He took part in the Black Hawk war, in 1832. In Montgomery County, January 8, 1830, he married Martha R. Garrison, born December 22, 1813, and died September 29, 1843. She was a daughter of John Garrison, who died in Tennessee. In Montgomery County, No- vember 30, 1845, he married his second wife, Pamelia Cannon, born in Illinois in April, 1828, daughter of William and Catharine (Lovings) Cannon, he born in Kentucky, and died in 1880; she, also a native of Kentucky, is still living. Mr. Grisham has a family of seventeen children John A., William S., Amanda C., Fanny M., Thomas K., Polly P., Melissa R., Martha R., Mary F., Margaret M., Alfred F., Elias E., Charles S., Henry R., Baby, Ulysses C. and Allen A. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and a supporter of the Republican party.

MRS. E. R. HODGES, Walshville, was

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WALSHVILLE TOWNSHIP.

born in Montgomery County, III., in 1834, the daughter of James and Mary (Barlow) Bostic, he a farmer, who died in this county in 1842; she, born in Tennessee, and also died in this county in 1838. Subject is the third child of a family of four. She was educated in this county, and married in 1860 to Mr. Hodges, born in Tennessee in 1814, a son of Henry Hodges, a Virginian by birth, who moved to Tennessee and died there. Mrs. Hodges has had six children -- Alice G., Mary E., Lucy F., Julia, Jessie C., and one dead. The late Mr. Hodges was engaged in farming in his early life, but for many years before his death was a prominent merchant of Walsh- ville, where he died May 13, 1876.

JOHN B. JOHNSON, farmer, P. O. Mt. Olive, Macoupin County, was born in Ger many January 1, 1830; son of Bornn Johnson, who was a native of Germany, and a farmer by occupation, died in Madison County, Ill., in 1856. His wife, also a native of Germany, who is now a resident of this county, was born in 1799. Of a family of six children, our subject was the third. He received his edu- cation in Germany. and emigrated to this country in 1851. He first settled in Madison County, Ill., for a short time; then removed to Macoupin County, Ill., where he remained eight years, after which he removed to Mont- gomery County and permanently settled on his present place. Mr. Johnson has followed the occupation of a farmer all his days, and now owns a fine farm near Mt. Olive. In Macoupin County, III., in March, 1857, he married Miss Rosmuller, born in Germany in 1838, daughter of Fried Rosmuller. From this union they have had the following chil- dren: John, Mary, Margaret, Friede, Ida and Frude. Mr. Johnson is a Republican, and a member of the Lutheran Church.

H. KEISER, farmer, P. O. Mt. Olive, Ma- coupin County, was born in Germany Octo-

ber 8, 1839; son of John and Gerke (Heien) Keiser. John Keiser, who was a farmer, was born in Germany in 1816, and died in Ma- coupin County, Ill., September 6, 1855. His wife also a native of Germany, and who now resides in Montgomery County, was born in 1810. Our subject, the eldest of six chil- dren, received his education in Germany, and, having emigrated to America in 1854, settled down to farming with his father in Macoupin County, Ill. He has been a farm- er all his days. From Maconpin County he removed to his present place in Montgom. ery County. In 1874, he was elected Secre- tary of the Mt. Olive Coal Company, which office he held until 1881, when he was elected to his present position of Superintendent of the company. He has also held the office of Supervisor of Walshville Township. In Ma- conpin County, Ill., July 11, 1863, he mar- ried Mary (Kerren) Keiser, born in Germany October 18, 1845, daughter of John and Fol kea (Vesser) Kerren. From this union there have been born to them nine children -- Annie G., John, Henry W., Hermann J., Katie H., Sophia W., Hannah M., Lydia E., Edward A. Mr. Keiser is widely and favorably known as a worthy citizen. In politics, he is a Re- publican. He is a member of the German Methodist Church.

ANDREW KEISER, miller, Mt. Olive, Macoupin County, was born in Hanover, Ger- many, September 28, 1845; son of John H. and Gerke (Heien) Keiser, both natives of Germany. John H., who was a farmer, was born in 1816, and died in Maconpin County, Ill., September 6, 1855; his wife, who is now a resident of Montgomery County, was born in 1810. Our subject, who is the third of a family of six children, received his education in Germany, and has followed farming and milling sinee he came to this country with his parents. He has been twice married.

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 77

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