History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 84

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 84
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 84

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).

JOHN J. CLARKSON, farmer, P. O. At- water, was born in Walker County, Ga., June 30, 1845, to J. P. and Lavina (Massa) Clark- son; father was born in Georgia October 9, 1822, and died December 24, 1844, in Geor- gia; his life was spent in Georgia, engaged in agricultural pursuits; mother was born in Lawrence County, S. C., February 25, 1826, and now lives with her only child, our sub- ject. Mr. Clarkson came to Montgomery County in 1850 with his mother, and, in the

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fall of 1851, removed to Macoupin County, where he received his education in the Union School; in 1867, began farming on his own account. and continued the same in Macoupin County until the spring of 1881, when he re- moved to his present residence, where he has a farm of ninety-two acres; wheat, oats and corn; some stock. In 1867, in Macoupin County, he married Mrs. Mary E. Bevers, a native of Tennessee, daughter of T. W. and Elizabeth Whitfield, by whom he has had two children- Charley and an infant girl; in pol- ities, unites with the Democratic party. The father of Mr. Clarkson died when John J. was an infant.

JAMES DEULEN, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Greene County, Ill., October 30, 1849, to Kelen and Sarah (Dawson) Deulen; father was born in Greene County; was a farmer, and died in January, 1875, aged about fifty-five years; mother was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, and now lives in Iowa: she had nine children, subject being the second child; received his education from the com- mon schools of Greene County, and. at the age of sixteen, with his parents, removed to Wayne County. Iowa, where he also attended school. In 1869, he returned to Greene County and began business for himself as a farm hand; in 1870, returned to Iowa, and in 1871, re- turned again to Greene, where he rented a farm for one year, and again hired out as a farm hand for four years. In 1874, he mar- ried and removed to Montgomery County, and rented a farm, and in 1873 bought the farm upon which he now resides, having ninety acres of land, and is also renting about sixty acres. In 1874, he was married, in Montgomery County, to Lucy Rummons, a native of Warren County, Mo., and the daughter of John and Juliett Rummons; they have two children-Charley and Edna. In politics, he votes with the Republican party.

WILLIAM FOOKS, deceased, was born in London, England, in 1815; he was educated in London; married and came to Bunker Hill, Macoupin Co .. Ill., in about 1845; his wife died soon after he settled in Illinois. In 1860. at Bunker Hill, he married Jane Taggart, his second wife. In 1864, he, with his family, removed to her present residence, and, during his life, accumulated in Mont- gomery County about two hundred and twenty- five acres; was a very successful farmer, and also very industrious; he was a member of the Presbyterian Church; he was a Republican; a man who believed in doing right in every respect; he died in 1875; his children by his first wife were three, all now dead: his chil- dren by his last marriage were four, three living-George, Fanny and Jane-all at home. George being the one who carries on the farm; family are members of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Fooks took great inter- est in making his home comfortable and car- ing for the happiness of his family.

W. C. GALBRAITH, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Wayne County, Tenn., June 14, 1834, to Alexander and Margaret (Snodgrass) Galbraith; father was born in Shelby County, Tenn., in ISO8; was a farmer; he died in December, 1871, in Johnson County, Ill .. where he had resided for ten years previous to his death. In an early day, he took great interest in politics; was Justice of the Peace of Wayne County, Tenn., for a term of twelve years: was an Old-Time Whig: he was son of Thomas Galbraith, a native of North Caro- lina, son of John Galbraith, a native of Scot- land. Subject's mother was born in North Carolina in 1800, and died in 1854, in Ma- coupin County, Ill. Parents had one girl and four boys, subject being third child. Subject lived in Wayne County, Tenn., until he was fourteen years of age, and there at- tended school; in 1848, with his parents, re-

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moved to Henderson County, Ill .; in 1850, re- moved to Macoupin County, where he received the most of his education from the neighbor- hood schools. In 1855, he hired out as farm hand; in 1856, rented a piece of land until 1859, when he bought land in Montgomery County and removed to this county and set- tled in what is now known as Pitman Town- ship, where he remained until the spring of 1864, when he sold out and bought land in Zanesville Township, and in six months, sold out and bought another farm adjoining the land he now owns; in 1867, bought his pres- ent residence and farm, and has made all the improvements on it, there was not even a house there; he built a comfortable farm res- idence, and upon his place has a pair of stock scales, and everything for a first-class farmer, and now is the owner of 120 acres, making wheat a specialty, and trades some in stock. In 1857, in Macoupin County, he married Miss Lydia Ann Gray, a native of Macoupin County, born in 1837, a daughter of John Gray, a native of Tennessee; four children- Alzirah, Antoinette, William J. and Anna J., at home; Alzirah is now the wife of A. C. McPherson, and now lives in Kansas. Mem- ber of order of A., F. & A. M., No. 692, at Raymond; self and wife are members of the Methodist Church for about twenty-five years; politically, a Republican; was nominated and elected Justice of the Peace in 1878; held office for three years, filling vacancy; in 1881, was re-elected for same office for a term of four years. Mr. Galbraith commenced life a poor man; when he left his parental home, he had only 25 cents in his possession, and, by his honesty, industry and economy, has succeeded in gaining a good property, and a name and reputation which is beyond re- proach.

FRANCIS McGOWN, farmer, P. O. Ray- mond, was born in Johnson County, Ill., July

10, 1830, to Samuel and Nancy (Westbrook) McGown; father was born in Warren County, Ky .; he was a farmer; came to Johnson County, Ill., being among the early settlers; and, in the fall of 1830, removed to Greene County, and in the spring of 1851 removed to Montgomery County, where he died in 1861, aged seventy-seven years. Mother was born in Kentucky, and died in Montgomery County in 1852, aged sixty-three. They had six children, subject being the youngest. He was taken to Greene County when an infant, by his parents, where he received his educa .. tion from the common schools; he remained with his father to the time of his death, as- sisting him in farming, and, for years pre- vious to his death, took the management of the farm. In the fall of 1850, he removed to Montgomery County; settled on same farm he now occupies; bought ninety-five acres, and is now the owner of 120 acres, and con- tinued to till the soil of the same until 1875, when he was compelled to give up work on account of rheumatic affliction; at the pres- ent time, is unable to do any work; the farm is now carried on by his son and son-in-law. In 1854, in Greene County, he married Miss Elizabeth Banning, a native of Greene County, born in 1835; they have had thirteen children, and now have three living-Edward A., Nancy E., Julia; self and wife are members of the United Baptist Church; Democrat.

GEORGE A. NORVELL, farmer, P. O. Raymond, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., November 28, 1813, to William and Mary (Payne) Norvell; father was born in Frede- rick County, Va., August 4, 1771; he was a farmer; was in the war of 1812; removed from Virginia to Tennessee in 1800; in 1828, removed to Macoupin County, III., where he died January 24, 1833; mother, born in Bo- tetourt County, Va., March 10, 1775, and died May 10, 1872, in her ninety-eighth year;

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they were married in 1800; they had twelve children -- six boys and six girls-George A. being the seventh child. Subject received some of his education in Tennessee and some in Macoupin County, Ill. He came to Ma- coupin County with his parents in 1828. He began life by farming upon his father's farm, and continued until 1853, when he removed to his present residence, where he has since remained, engaged in farming and is now the owner of a large tract of land. In 1852, in Macoupin County, he married Miss Mary Ann King, a native of Jefferson County, Ky., born October 10, 1834; they have eleven ehil- dren living -- William J., James F., John S., Charles H., Mary A., Edward E., Jennie B., Nathaniel F., Erastus W., Effie S. and Helen E .; and two dead-George A. and Ruth S. Mr. Norvell has held the position of Justice of the Peace in Macoupin County, and was formerly an Old-Line Whig, but is now a Greenbacker; his wife is a member of the Methodist Church, and he is a member of the A., F. &. A, M., at Girard, Ill. Mr. Norvell is one of the first settlers of Macoupin County, and was there before it was organized as a county.

DANIEL P. ROGERS, farmer, P. O. Litchfield. That there is no "royal road to success " is well illustrated in the history of Mr. Rogers. In 1861, he entered 160 acres of land near where Butler now stands; this land was entered with the proceeds of an in- terest in a wheat crop raised on his father's farm. April 12, 1854, he married Miss La- vina C., daughter of James and Rebecca (Parks) Sinclair. In 1855, he sold out his land near Butler and bought 120 aeres of fine land in Zanesville Township, where he now resides; the same season, he " broke out " forty acres; when this land was broken, the prairie grass, then several feet in height, ap- peared as a wall surrounding it on every side;

the next season, a small frame house was erected, into which he moved. He has con- tinned to improve and add to his farm until it now amounts to about three hundred and eighty acres of good land-320 in cultivation; this land is very rich and well drained. The Rogers family descended from German ances- try, who came to the United States when they were dependent colonies. Capt. Henry Rog- ers, Mr. Rogers' grandfather, won his epau- lets as a Revolutionary soldier; he distin- guished himself at the battle of Trenton, and the sword which he took from a Hessian offi- cer is now in the possession of the grandson, the subject of this sketch. Henry Rogers, after the close of the war, settled in New Jer- sey, where William H., Mr. Rogers, father, was born. William raised the following fam- ily by his wife, formerly Miss Catharine Per- rine: Henry, of Monmouth County, N. J .; Robert, who died in California; Daniel P. and Charles A , of Montgomery County; Mrs. Elizabeth Wood, deceased; Mrs. Catherine (Cornelius) Dey, of Macoupin County; Mrs. Sarah (Edward) Atkinson, of St. Louis, Mo .; Mrs. Margaret (Capt. Charles) Borden, de- ceased, of Fall River, Mass .; and Mrs. Jane (William) Pitman, of Jerseyville, Ill. Mr. Rogers is not only represented in the war giving birth and being to our liberties, through his immediate paternal ancestry, but also can boast of another grandfather, Robert Perrine, his mother's father, who served in the Revolutionary war as a Captain; his sword is also handed down, and is now in the pos- session of Mr. Charles Rogers, of Zanesville Township. Mrs. Rogers also had two grand- fathers who were Revolutionary soldiers -- Grandfather Sinclair, on her father's side, and John Parks, of her mother's lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have the following chil- dren: William Pitman, Robert P., and Misses Lizzie A. and Jennie A .; one son,

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Tolbert A., died September 12, 1858. Mr. Rogers' chances of an education were rather poor, never getting the opportunity to attend school during his school days more than two months in a year; he has nevertheless secured a fair business education; he certainly has a strong intellect and keen discrimination. He forms a part of the County Court as Supervisor for his township, and well does he fill the posi- tion; and many of his friends expect him to fill still higher positions in the gift of the people. Mrs. Rogers is one of those whole- souled, excellent Christian women whom we think it would be hard to praise too much. Mr. Rogers and wife are members of the Bap- tist Church, and enjoy the friendship, confi- dence and esteem of all good people where they are known. With the greatest of pleas- ure we introduce them to the good people of Montgomery County, and shall ever regard the privilege as one of the most agreeable duties connected with a long, and, we hope, a lasting friendship.

OSCAR RUMMONS, farmer, P. O. Atwa- ter, was born in Warren County, Mo., July 6. 1849, to John and Juliett (Pringle) Rum- mons: father born in Madison. Ky., in 1810: during his life, was a farmer, and died in Montgomery County, Ill., in 1874, where he had resided, engaged in farming, since 1868; mother born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1811, and died in 1865; parents had three children who grew to maturity-one daughter and two boys: subject youngest child. Subject re- ceived his education in Warren County, Mo., and came to Montgomery County with par- ents in 1868, and remained with parents to the time of their death. He now has a farm of 140 acres of well-improved land, making wheat and corn a specialty, also stock. In 1876. he was married, in Montgomery County, to Julia B. Mitchell, a native of Cooper County, Mo., born in 1857, daughter

of Thomas C. Mitchell; two children-Hattie May, Maggie Laura; member of order of A., F. & A. M .. No. 692. at Raymond ; politi- cally, Democrat.

J. C. SINCLAIR, farmer, P O, Litch- field, was born in Greene County, Ill .. in 1837, to James and Rebecca (Parks) Sinclair; father was born in Tennessee; was a farmer. and died in 1850; mother was born in Ten- nessee, and died in 1850; parents had nine children, subject being the fifth child; at the age of thirteen, left Greene County with his parents, and settled in Macoupin County. where he principally received his education; at the age of twenty, left Macoupin County and removed to Montgomery County. and settled upon the place where he now resides, and where he has ever since been engaged in tilling the soil of his beautiful farm of 1,300 acres; he rents the largest portion of the farm, having retired from active labor in ISS1. In September. 1863, he married Eliz. abeth Jones, a native of Macoupin County, Ill., and the daughter of Lodowick Jones. from which union there have been born four children- James C., C. A., Eva M. and Vesta: in politics, unites with the Democratic party; subject's father was in the war of 1812.

EZRA STARKEY, farmer, was born in Madison County, Ill., March 21, 1833, to David and Mary (Jones) Starkey; father was born in Virginia in IS02; was taken to Madison County by his parents when quite a child; he remained in Madison County to the time of his death, which occurred in 1869; he was a farmer; he was the son of Russell Starkey, a native of Virginia; mother was born in Madison County in 1809, and died in June, 1877; she was the daughter of William Jones, a native of Tennessee, who was a Baptist preacher; parents had eleven children, our subject being the third child. He remained with his parents, receiv-

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ing an education, and assisted in tilling the soil of his father's farm until 1861, when he bought the farm upon which he now re- sides. In 1861, in Madison County, he mar- ried Mary S. Deck, a native of Madison Coun- ty, born January 7, 1836, daughter of Nich- olas and Elizabeth (Dugger) Deck, first a na- tive of Virginia, and the latter of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Starkey have had eight chil- dren, five of whom are living-Eliza J., Vir- ginia, Charles, Forest and Tilden. He is a Democrat. Mrs. Starkey's grandfather, Mi- chael Deck, was in the Revolutionary war.

JOSEPH VIGNOS, farmer, P. O. Ray- mond, was born in the eastern part of France, December 1, 1817, to Claud and Mar- garet (Barquin) Vignos: his father was born in France, where he followed the occu- pation of farming during his life; he died in 1858, aged sixty-two years. His mother was also a native of France; she died in 1862, aged seventy-two years. They were the par- ents of nine children. Joseph Vignos being the oldest child. His early life was spent in receiving such an education as the common schools of France afforded, and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm, and, for two years previous to his departure from home, taught school. In December, 1835, he bade his parents and native place farewell, and emigrated to America, where he followed the dyeing business in New York City for nearly two years, and then traveled through Pennsylvania, Cincinnati, Louisville, New Orleans and St. Louis, and, when he first came to Montgomery County, was a peddler of notions. While staying overnight at Zanesville, the citizens persuaded him to em- bark in the mercantile business at that place, at which he was successful until 1857, when he bought the same farm that he is now re- siding on and commenced giving his attention to agricultural pursuits; he is now one of the

representative farmers of Zanesville Town- ship, and is the owner of a large tract of land. In 1846, he married Miss Sarah J. Allen, a daughter of Robert Allen; she died in May, 1852. In 1853, on January 6, he married a second time, Miss Harriet E. Bay- dy. By his first marriage he has two chil- dren-Agnes, who is married and living in Kansas; and Francis A., who is now in Texas. By his second marriage he has six children, viz .: Joseph, Claud M., Jerome, Josephine, Mary and Susan. He and family are mem- bers of the Christian Church. As a business man, no man stands higher than Mr. Vignos; his word is regarded in everything equal to his bond; hence he has the esteem and con- fidence of all well-disposed citizens.

WILLIAM WHITE, farmer, was born in Italy, near Venice, April 24, 1816, to John and Ellen (Murry) White, who were also natives of Italy; was educated as a seaman, and was on the ocean from the time he was five years old, and made his last trip in 1837, when he followed steamboating on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. In 1846, he came to Jefferson County, Ill .; farmed in summer, and was on the river in winter; in 1851, he removed to Morgan County, where he followed only farming-being compelled to give up navigation on account of an accident in dislocating his shoulder-where he re- mained until tho spring of 1865, when he came to his present residence, where he has since remained, engaged in farming; when he came here, he bought 100 acres of land; there were but few improvements, and only a small house; he now has a large house, which shows that he is as well adapted to farming as he was to navigation. He was married, in 1835, in Arkansas, to Delia Thompson, a na- tive of Cincinnati, Ohio, born in 1828; she died in 1881; she bore him four daughters and three sons; his son, John H. White, was

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in the Federal army, under Gen, Sherman, as a member of a regiment from this State; he was wounded, and died sixteen months af- ter he returned home Mr. White has been selected for office at different times, but has uniformly declined all such honors; self and family are members of the Methodist Church, he having held connection with that church since 1850; is an Odd Fellow, and helped to get a charter for the lodge located at Mt. Vernon; is a Republican.

FREDERICK WIEGREFFE. farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in the Kingdom of Han- over, Germany, April 26, 1835, to Frederick and Henrietta (Pereel) Wiegreffe; father was born in Germany in 1797; was a miller; em- igrated to America and settled in Jersey County. Ill., in 1853, and in 1855 removed to Montgomery County, where he died in the same year-fall of 1855; mother was German. born in 1799, and now resides in Litchfield. Ill .. with her son William; parents had six children; subject fourth child. He was edu- chted from the common schools of Germany, and, in 1852, emigrated to America and set- tled in Jersey County, and commenced farm- ing with his brothers; in 1855, removed to Montgomery County with his parents, where he has since remained, engaged in farming, having accumulated a large tract of land of 240 aere; makes wheat and corn a specialty. In 1869, in Montgomery County, he married Mary Kuhne, a native of Germany, born in 1848; they have had four children -- George, Anna; Flora and Bessie; self and family are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is a Republican; commenced life a poor man, and made all his property by hard work.

E. F. WOODMAN farmer, P. O. Ray- mond, was born near Carrollton. Ill., Jan- uary 8, 1841, son of Nelson and Zerelda (Boiles) Woodman, he born in Vermont July 12, 1815, she born near Lexington. Ky., in

1825. Nelson Woodman came to Greene County in 1821, being one of the earliest set- tlers of that seetion, and where he now lives; he had twelve children-eight boys and four girls, E. F. being the second. Our subject eame to Montgomery County in the fall of 1843 with his parents, and remained with them till seventeen years of age, when he commenced as teamster and breaking prairie, going to school between times, receiving the education that he has after leaving home. In 1859, he rented a farm of forty aeres, and in 1860, bought forty acres, and is now the own- er of 700 acres. principally located in Mont- gomery and Macoupin Counties, this State, and in Nebraska. December 28, 1871, in Litchfield, Ill., he married Miss Annie Shaw, born in Lyons, N. Y., February 15. 1854, daughter of Joseph and Betty M. (Woodruff) Shaw, both of New York State; two children, both boys, have blessed the household of Mr. Woodman -- Loy Legrand Woodman and Commodore Beacher Woodman. In 1964, Mr. Woodman went across the plains and re- mained in Colorado about four years, aecu- mulating considerable property, merehandis- ing, contracting, etc. He is a Blue Lodge Mason, a Royal Areh and a Knight Templar, always "governing himself accordingly:" also a Democrat.

DEXTER WADSWORTH, farmer, P. O. Litehfield, was born in Westboro County, Mass., December 27, 1822, to John and Percis (Kimbrough) Wadsworth. He was born in Grafton, Mass. ; during his life, followed the occupation of a farmer, and died in his na- tive State. She was born in Massachusetts, and died in Scott County, III. They were the parents of nine children, Dexter Wadsworth, our subject, being the eighth child. He was educated in the common schools of his native State. and, at an early age, apprenticed him- self at the shoemaker's trade, at which he

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continued to work until 1857, when he re- moved to Scott County, Ill., where he en- gaged in farming, and continued the same until 1859, when he removed to Montgomery County, where he has since remained, en- gaged in farming. He served in the Federal army for about one year, in the Twentieth Illinois Regiment, Company A. In 1881, he

erected, by his own design, a handsome res- idence upon his farm. In Massachusetts, in 1843, he married Miss Mary J. Miller, a na- tive of Massachusetts, born in 1825, and died in 1858. Mr. Wadsworth has three children, viz .: Ellen, Mary E. (wife of F. C. Web- ster) and Warren W. In politics, he is identified with the Republican party.

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HARVEL TOWNSHIP.

W. W. ADAMS, retired farmer, P. O. Harvel, was born in Macoupin County, Ill., September 28, 1836, to Giles M. and Eliza- beth (Taylor) Adams. His early life was spent in receiving such an education as the common schools of his native county afforded, and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. He embarked on his career in life as a farmer in his native county, where he re- mained until the spring of 1861, when he re- moved to Montgomery County, where he bought 240 acres of wild prairie, which he improved; also 160 acres more which he bought soon afterward. By business ability and energy he succeeded in accumulating a good property, and the social esteem of all well-disposed citizens. He has been a prom- inent farmer and stock-raiser. In 1880, he rented his farms, it being his desire to retire from active labor. Father was born in Hali- fax County, Va., in the year 1801; removed to Tennessee, and subsequently settled in Illinois, where he became one of the success- ful farmers of the State. He died in 1870, in Montgomery County. His wife, and mother of our subject, was born in Greenville, S. C., in 1809, and is now residing with her Sun, our subject, and enjoying good health. She is the mother of five children, three of whom are living-our subject, F. M Adams and Nancy A. Dilliard, residents of Macoupin County. Of the five children born to his par- ents, W. W. Adams was the fourth child. He has held the office of Supervisor of the township. In politics, he is identified with the Democratic party.

CLAYTON H. ADAMS, lumber, coal and

agricultural implement dealer, Harvel, was born April 19, 1839, in Summit County, Ohio, to John and Sarah (Kelsey) Adamns. He was brought to near Brighton, Macoupin County, in 1845, by his parents, when but six years of age, and from there removed to Gillespie, of the same county, in 1849, where they located permanently. He received his education from McKendree College, Lebanon, Ill., and high school at Hillsboro, and re- mained with his parents to the age of twenty- one, and then made a trip West to the Rocky Mountains, where he engaged in mining for two years, and at the expiration of that time returned home to Macoupin County, Ill., where he engaged in farming, and continued the same until 1866, when he engaged in grain and agricultural implement business at Gillespie, and in 1868 a milling business in connection with his other business. He continned the same until the spring of 1870, when he removed to Oregon, and there again resumed the occupation of a farmer, and on January 1, 1875, removed to Harvel, where he engaged in the lumber, coal and ag- ricultural business, and by his energy and attentive business qualities, soon procured a good trade, and has since been steadily in- creasing until it extends far into Christian and Montgomery Counties. He has also a branch business at Morrisonville, under the management of S. S. Whitner, being under the firm name of Adams & Nelson. His part- ner is Mr. R. S. Nelson. On January 22, 1878, in Litchfield, he married Miss Mary E. Willis, a native of Carmi. Ill., but raised in Missouri, born November 20, 1846, daughter

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 84

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