USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 93
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 93
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ALBERT LIVINGSTONE, farmer, P. O. Fillmore, was born in Amsterdam. Montgom- ery Co., N. Y., April 16, 1821; assisted his father in the tanning and coloring business in his boyhood days; was educated in the common schools of the country; commenced business for himself as a farmer, in this State, at twenty-two years of age; bought 100 acres of land, his first purchase, which was slightly improved, a log cabin being the only dwelling, and four or five acres of land broken. He has added to his first purchase until he now has 355 acres of good, tillable land, on which he has all necessary buildings.
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He gave his children 200 acres, north of the home tract, 160 of which is improved. He was married in Fayette County Febuary 26, 1846, to Ann Elizabeth Barringer, born June 17, 1824, in Cabarrus County, N. C., and died August 2, 1862, leaving nine children. She was the daughter of John M. and Crissey M. (Pitts) Barringer, he born in 1803, and died August 4, 1854; she born in 1805, and died in February, 1849. Jane Gatewood, his second wife, was born in Ohio, in the year 1832, and is the mother of four chil- dren. Her father, a native of Ohio, died in January, 1879. Her mother, a native of Virginia, is still living. Timothy Living- stone, the father of subject, was born in Mas- sachusetts October 19, 1777, and died in 1861. His wife, Mary (Guran) Livingstone, born April 29, 1786, in Massachusetts, and died April 5, 1821, leaving nine children, of whom subject is the youngest. He has been Highway Commissioner for several years; also School Director for a number of years; has done all he could toward public improve- ments and agricultural interests; has always been identified with the Republican party. His children are Mary, born December 14, 1846; Joseph P., born June 9, 1848; Ade- line, born February 25, 1850; Timothy A., born May 21. 1851; Catharine E., born Febru- ary 4, 1853; Charles E., born April 2, 1855; George Albert, born September 3, 1857, and Alfred W., born February 22, 1861.
J. BOWERS LANE, farmer and merchant, Fillmore, born in Cheshire County, N. H., September 10, 1826. His father, Timothy L. Lane, was born in Marlboro, N. H., ! September 1, 1800; was educated at Groton, Mass .; afterward attended Medical College at Hanover, N. H., where he graduated in 1824: commenced the practice of his profes- sion at Sullivan, N. H .; moved to Lunenburg. Vt., in 1832, and remained there two years,
at the expiration of which time he located at Gilsum, N. H., where he remained until 1838; thence to Daysville, Ill., practicing his profession there until 1840; then removed to Fillmore Township, and continued his practice until his death, which occurred Sep- tember 1, 1849. Roxana (Harvey) Lane, the mother of subject, was born in Marlboro, N. H., August 2, 1802, and died January 1, 1849; was the mother of four children, two of whom are living. The subject, the eldest of the family, was raised in town; was edu- cated in the common schools of the country; entered on his business career as a farmer, his first purchase being ninety acres of land, to which he has added from time to time, until he has now a handsome estate of 650 acres of fine farming land. He has given his children 200 acres from that tract, and now has 450 acres on his home place, on which he has all necessary buildings con- ducive to the health and comfort of man and beast. He has also had a store on his farm since 1861, and is doing a good business; has been Postmaster for a number of years. His place was mostly raw prairie, and he has made all the improvements; was elected As- sociate Judge in 1869, and served four years, acquitting himself with honor. He is a stanch Republican. He married, February 3, 1852, Rachel G. Bost, born in North Car- olina March 22, 1830, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Cress) Bost, he born in Pennsyl- vania April 4, 1794; she born in North Car- olina February 26, 1797, and died in May, 1853. From this union eight children have been born to them-Timothy L., Margaret R., Torrance H., Augusta F., Ora E., Carrie M., Elsie V. and Ella L.
ASA PRATER, farmer, P. O. Fillmore, was born in Bond County December 10, 1829. Alexander Prater, his father, was born in Tennessee October 17, 1807. He was
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brought to this State by his father in 1818. Halloway Prater, the grandfather of subject, was born in North Carolina in 1777, of Scotch «lescent; was a farmer and wheelwright by occupation, and died in November, 1846. His grandmother, Anna Adair, was born in North Carolina about 1779. She was the mother of eight children; the father of sub- ject was the fifth child, and married Mary Sears, the mother of subject. She was born in Kentucky about 1809, and was the mother of four children, one deceased, our subject being the second child; was educated in the common schools of the country, but has, by observation and application, a good practical education. He entered 120 acres of Govern- ment land which was slightly improved, pay- ing $100 for the improved part, and has added to his first purchase 120 acres more, making 240 acres of good, tillable land, on which he has erected a fine house and barn, with all necessary improvements, and also owns about forty-three acres of timber. He married in this county Artemisia Brown Pra- ter, who was born in this county November 10, 1830. She died June 9, 1857. As his second wife he married, in 1861, Sarah H. Brown, born December 1, 1836, and she is the mother of four children, all Jiving; the names as follows: Horatio L., born February 13, 1862; Flora B., born August 13, 1864; Lillie May, born May 7, 1868; John H., born April 21, 1871. He was Town Clerk one year, in 1873. Members of Primitive Baptist Church; he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity; is identified with the Democratic party, and extremely liberal in his views. His grandfather was in the war of 1812; his father was in the Black Hawk war; has always been an advocate of public improvements, taking great interest in agri- culture.
GIDEON RICHMOND, farmer, P. O.
Fillmore, born in Licking County, Ohio, September 14, 1820; raised on a farm, and assisted his father until twenty years of age; was educated in the common schools of the country, and began his business career as a farmer, his first purchase of land being fifty acres, partially improved, on which he re- mained only two years; sold out and moved to Montgomery County, Ill., and bought 100 acres of land; has increased his property to 500 acres of good farming land. He has given his son eighty acres recently; has erected a fine dwelling and barn, with all necessary outbuildings, and his farm is in a high state of cultivation. He was married first in Ohio, to Miss Lois Ames, who died, and he then married Miss Cynthia Dota, also of Ohio, who died, leaving one child; her par- ents were natives of New Jersey. His third wife, Harriet A. Knowles, whom he married March 14, 1847, was born in New Hampshire August 11, 1830; her father, Joseph Knowles, was born in New Hampshire April 1, 1784; was a farmer by occupation, and died Feb- ruary 16, 1860. Her mother, Hannah (Haines) Knowles, was also born in New Hampshire June 29, 1788, and died October 31, 1845. Mrs. Richmond is the mother of four children. The father of subject, Henry W. Richmond, was born in Adams County, Mass., December 5, 1798; was a farmer by occupation, and died May 4, 1874. His wife, Eliza Cubberly, was born near Trenton, N. J., April 11, 1800, and is still living. She is the mother of three children, the subject being the eldest child. Mr. Richmond has by energy and economy accumulated a hand- some property, and he and wife seem to be enjoying the fruits of their labor in their old age; is a good citizen and useful to the community in which he resides. His chil- dren are Henry F., Hiram F., George A., Dora I. and Ernest H.
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G. A. RICHMOND, Fillmore, was born in Fillmore, Montgomery County, October 8, 1851; worked on the farm with his father until of age, and was educated in the com- mon schools of the country. He commenced life as a farmer, and settled on the old home place of his father's, beginning on eighty acres of land that his father had given him, to which he has added forty acres of good land, and has erected a good dwelling and barn, and all necessary outbuildings. He was married, September 18, 1877, at Irving, Ill., to Miss Addie Bost, born in Fillmore August 8, 1859, daughter of John J. and Rebecca M. (Sanders) Bost, he a farmer by occupa- tion, born in Cabarrus County, N. C., Janu- ary 4, 1836, and is still living; she, also liv- ing, born in Montgomery County, Ill., Jan- uary 16, 1839. Gideon Richmond, subject's father, was born in Ohio in 1820, a farmer by occupation. His wife, Harriet Knowles, was born in New Hampshire in August, 1830, and is the mother of four children, the subject being the oldest of the family, and he has but one child, Nellie V., two and one- half years of age. Is a Democrat.
HIRAM S. SHORT, physician, Fillmore, was born in Randolph County, N. C., May 4, 1840. The main part of his early childhood was spent in attending the common schools, where he received the foundation of his sub- sequent learning. In January, 1854, he was removed by his parents to Fayette County, Ill., where they remained three years, and then removed to Shelby County. Lemuel Short, the father of our subject, a native of Guilford County, N. C., was born February 24, 1814, and from the time he reached ma- turity followed teaching until the time of his death, which occurred May 6, 1858. His wife, Mary Haskett, was also a native of North Carolina, born November 21, 1816, and is still living, the wife of John H. Buck-
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master, residing five miles north of Vandalia. By her first husband she gave birth to eleven children, nine of whom are still living, and of whom Hiram S. was the second child. After reaching Illinois with his parents. he continued to attend the common schools for a short time, and then entered the Quaker High School of Westfield, Ind., where he re- mained one year and then returned home and taught school a large portion of the fol- lowing four years, and a portion of which time, in connection with his other duties each year, he read medicine with Dr. J. C. Jones, of Ramsey, with whom he continued from 1865 to 1869, at the end of which time he entered upon the practice of his profession, and, after attending the Cincinnati Medical College two terms, he successfully passed the rigid examination necessary to become an MI. D .; received his diploma May 19, 1873, and continued in his practice at Fillmore, where he first located. He removed to Ramsey in September, 1875, and remained until Octo- ber, 1878, when he returned to Fillmore. His farm consists of eighty acres of choice farm land, which he now rents out and devotes his time to his calling. By his prompt at- tention to and thorough knowledge of his profession, he succeeded in building np a large and steadily increasing practice, the duties of which would fall heavy upon the shoulders of a man many years his senior, and is the result of a good education, energy and business ability, and qualifications nec- essary, to gain the esteem of all. July 3, 1861, he entered the service in Company C, Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with Capt. James Williams, regiment commanded by Col. G. A. Smith. He received his dis- charge September 27, 1864. While in the service, he took part in several notable en- gagements, among which are Pea Ridge, Ark., Perryville, Ky., Stone River, Tenn .:
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was also upon duty at the evacuation of Corinth, Miss .; also at the battle of Chicka- manga, and in Sherman's campaign in Georgia. He was married, October 31, 1871. at Ramsey, Fayette Co., Ill., to Miss Sarah M. Stokes, who was born October 25, 1851. She is the mother of five children, viz., William T., born July 27, 1872; Mary L., born March 12, 1874; Emma E., born October 31, 1876; Ulysses S., born February 25, 1878; Walter C., born March 30, 1880. Mrs. Short is a daughter of Bird and Margaret J. (Casey) Stokes, he a native of Tennessee, born De- cember 25, 1817, and died November 16, 1877; she of Fayette County, Ill., born July 16, 1832, and still living. Although a man not very much interested in politics, his sym- pathies are with the Republican party. He is an active member of the order of A., F. & A. M., of Fillmore Lodge; has been a mem- ber of the Montgomery County Eclectic So- ciety since its organization in May, 1870; has also been a member of the State Society since June, 1880.
S. P. TROUTMAN, Fillmore, was born in Cabarrus County, N. C., October 3, 1822, and has a good, practical education. He commenced business for himself as a farmer; coming to Montgomery County at eighteen years of age, stayed there two and a half years, working on the farm, and then re- turned to North Carolina, where he remained until 1847. He served about eighteen months in the Mexican war, having enlisted under Gen. Zachary Taylor; went back to North Carolina; remained there until August, 1849, when he returned to Montgomery County, Ill., and worked on the farm one month, and at different other occupations un- til 1852, when he entered 120 acres of raw prairie land on which there were no improve- ments of any kind. He has since added eighty acres, making 200 acres of good, till-
able land, on which he has erected a good and substantial dwelling, with all necessary outbuildings. He also owns ninety two acres of land one and a half miles west of his home place, Section 30. He was married in Mont- gomery County in the year 1852, to Miss Sarah Hill, a native of that county, who died in 1853. She was the mother of one child. dead. His second wife, Mary A. Sheppard, a native of Illinois; died in 1865. She was the mother of eight children, only five of whom are living. Christina L. Cruse, his third wife, was born in Union County, Ill., in 1822. Henry Cruse, her father, was born in North Carolina, and was a farmer by oc- cupation. Her mother was also a native of North Carolina. Jacob Troutman, subject's father, was born in North Carolina; served in the war of 1812; was a farmer by occupa- tion, and died about 1829. Christina Walk- er, subject's mother, was born in North Car- olina, and died in 1850; was the mother of eight children, the subject being the third child. He has an elder brother living in North Carolina. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is independent in re- gard to the political issues of the day: has always done his utmost in aid of public im- provements, and the advancement of agricult- ural interests.
JARET WRIGHT, farmer, P. O. Fill- more, was born in Montgomery County in the year 1819, and was raised on the farm and assisted his father in his boyhood days; was educated in the common schools of the country, and entered on his business career as a farmer; went into the Mexican war in 1846, under Capt. McAdams, Company C. Infantry; was at the battle of Cerro Gordo, at the taking of Vera Cruz; was in the service a year, at the expiration of which he came back to Montgomery County, and settled on the land he received for his services in the war,
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which was 160 acres of slightly improved land, and remained on it for several years, and sold that and moved to the place on which he now resides, consisting of 530 acres, the most of which is good, tillable land, and has it well improved with a good, comfortable house and barn, with all neces- sary outbuildings, and was married in this county November 8, 1849, to Miss Mary Whitten. She was born in this county in 1821. Easton Whitten, her father, was born in South Carolina; was a farmer by occupa- tion, and died in this State in 1855. Her mother was born in South Carolina, and died in this county in 1851, and was the mother of eight children, wife of subject being next youngest. Joseph Wright, the father of subject, was born in South Carolina, and his mother, Sarah Revis, was born also in the same State; she died in 1855, and was the mother of ten children, the subject being the fifth child, and he has a family of five chil- dren living. The names are as follows: Ara- minda, born July 17, 1851; Emora, born May 8, 1853; Ezra, born July 17, 1855; Esta, born November 17, 1858; Elbert, born Octo- ber 8, 1861. John Ambler Johnson, the grandfather of subject's wife, was in the Rev- olutionary war; Democrat all his life. He being one of the old settlers, has done as much as any man, according to means, to ward the advancement of agricultural and public improvements.
ELIJAH WRIGHT, farmer, P. O. Hurri- cane, was born in Fillmore Precinct, Mont- gomery County, November 24, 1824. Joseph Wright, his father, was born in Kentucky, April 20, 1780. He emigrated to this State in 1814, and entered a large tract of land be- sides what he purchased; was one among the prominent men of the day; was a farmer and blacksmith by occupation, and died October 1, 1844, after having raised a large and use-
ful family of children, who are among the best citizens of the county at the present day. He married in Kentucky about 1802, Miss Sarah Revis, who was the mother of eleven children, four of whom are living, our subject being the eighth child; was educated in the common schools of the country, and commenced business for himself as a farmer. his first purchase being a tract of eighty acres, and he has added to it until he has reached the handsome estate of 500 acres, 300 of which he has given to his children, and has erected on his home place a fine dwelling and barn, with all necessary outbuildings, and has his farm in a high state of cultivation. He was married in Montgomery Co., Nov. 13, 1851, to Miss Drucilla Lynn, born in Ken- tucky December 1, 1833. Her father, Jef- ferson Lynn, was born in Kentucky; Eliza- beth Casey, her mother, was also a native of Kentucky; her father was a farmer; they both died in this county. Her mother had seven children, all living except one. She is the oldest of the family, and is the mother of seven children, two deceased. Camallia, born in 1853; Celestina, born in 1855; Joseph Jefferson, born in 1858; Sarah E., born in 1861; Emmerson, born December 14, 1870. Mary Rosetta, born in 1860, and died in 1864, and two infants died without name. He is identified with the Democratic party. and has always been instrumental in helping on the agricultural interests and public improve - ments-a man who stands high where he is known.
EASTON WHITTEN, farmer, P. O. Bost Hill, was born in Warren County, Ky .. May 22, 1827. and when four years of age was brought to Montgomery County, Ill., by his parents, where his early childhood was em- ployed upon the homestead farm assisting his father in his agricultural pursuits. When he reached the age of twenty-two, he
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left the paternal roof, purchased eighty acres of wild prairie land which he improved and eventually sold, with the intention of trying his fortune in the gold region of California, where he remained about two years, and suc- ceeded in laying up enough money to enable him to make a start in the world with a good footing. Upon his return home, he again took upon himself the duties of a farm life, at which he has since remained engaged, and has, by his energy, industry and economy, ac- cumulated 580 acres of land near the line be- tween Fillmore and East Fork, the greater portion of which he has under a state of cul- tivation which shows Mr. Whitten to be a practical farmer. He grows all the usual farm crops, and is also a breeder of stock having now in his stable as fine a stallion as can be found in the county, and which is of Black Hawk Morgan and Arabian stock. Mr. Whitten was married February 6, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth Sanders, who was born in Montgomery County March 7, 1831. They have two living children, Thomas T. and Henry H. Mrs. Whitten is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Powell) Sanders, natives of Kentucky, he born in the year 1799, and died February 12, 1864; she living, born No- vember 19, 1802. Austin Whitten, the father of our subject, was born in South Car- olina, November 29, 1802, a farmer by occu- pation; located in East Fork Township, Montgomery County, in 1831, where his death occurred May 12, 1869. His wife, Keziah Casey, also a native of South Caro- lina, born March 15, 1800, and died October 1, 1856. She was the mother of twelve chil- dren. all of whom grew to manhood and woman- hood, and of whom Easton was the fourth child. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Church. Politically, Mr. Whitten was identified with the Democratic party. but of late years has been a stanch Repub-
lican. Being a progressive man himself, he is always in favor of any enterprise that will in any way tend to the advantage of the county. and especially for the advancement of relig- ions and educational privileges.
OTIS M. WILLIAMSON, farmer. P. O. Bost Hill, was born in Montgomery County. Ill., November 19, 1840, 'to John and Nancy G. (Card) Williamson (see history). and passed his early childhood in the manner common with the children of that day, in at- tending the common schools, and in assisting his father in his agricultural pursuits. Ow- ing to the limited school privileges, his edu- cation was necessarily limited to such as could be obtained in the common schools at that early day. He has, however, continued to add to the foundation laid in the log school- house, and now considers his education to be one, if not above the average, a practical ed- ucation, and realizing from his own meager opportunities the value education gives one at the present time, he has spared no means to provide such a one for his children, and in return they have taken advantage of the privileges allowed them, and bear a reputa- tion as scholars of which they, as well as their parents, may well feel justly proud. At the age of twenty-one years, Mr. William- son left his paternal roof with nothing but his hands with which to enter upon the bat- tle of life, but possessed with all the en- ergy and enterpriso of a man who considers that the world owes him a living and sets out fully determined to make his own way. Upon leaving home, he engaged in the car- penter and joiner's business, at which occu- pation he remained engaged about three or four years, at the end of which time he took upon himself the duties of a farm life. In 1866, he purchased his first real estate, upon which he has since resided engaged in farm- ing and handling stock, more or less exten-
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sively. During the years of 1862-63, he was in Colorado engaged in mining, and, in connection with the duties of his farm, he has traveled in several of the States where his stock dealing may have called him. He was married in Montgomery County, Ill., February 28, 1864, to Melvina Jane Cress, who was born September 12, 1843. She is the mother of four children, viz., Peter P., born May 12, 1868; Hattie A., born January 27, 1871; Walter A., born February 5, 1875; Torney, born December 16, 1865, and died March 27, 1867. Mrs. Williamson is a daughter of Peter and Katy (Nusman) Cress; he living, she deceased. Mr. Williamson is an active member of the order of A., F. & A. M., Fillmore Lodge, No. 670. He served as Assessor during the first term after town- ship organization, and is the present Super- visor. He is a man that takes a deep in- terest in all the political issues of the day, and also in all progressive movements favoring the growth and prosperity of the county, and especially in the advancement of religious and educational privileges.
GEORGE O. WOLCOTT, farmer, P. O.
Fillmore, was born in Worcester County, Mass., October 26, 1831. William Wolcott, subject's father, was born in Massachusetts in the year 1801; is a farmer by occupation, and a resident of Montgomery County. His wife, Lucy Fairbank, was born in New Hamp- shire about 1813; she is also a resident of Montgomery County. She is the mother of six children, the subject being the second child. He was educated in the common schools of the country, and entered on his business career as a farmer. He married in Montgomery County May 11, 1857, Miss Jane Mack, born in New Hampshire in 1835. He is the father of seven children, viz., Will- iam O., Alice J., George E., Charles W., Illi- nois, James F. and Frederick. Mr. Wolcott has 240 acres of good farming land, with all necessary improvements, in Fillmore Town- ship, where he now resides, and also twenty acres in Fayette County. He commenced with eighty acres of land, and has by his economy and energy amassed a large and handsome property. He has always been identified with the Democratic party.
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WITT TOWNSHIP.
P. C. ABELL, farmer, P. O. Nokomis, born in Sangamon County, Ill., May 15, 1834, son of James H. and Adeline (Durley) Abell; the former, a farmer by occupation, was born in Adair County, Ky., February 12, 18OI. and died in Bond County, Ill., April 25, 1863; the latter, born in Tennessee, died in Bond County, Ill., in 1880. The subject of this sketch is the second of a family of four- teen children, and received his education in Bond County, Ill .; he removed from Bond County to Montgomery County in 1867, where he now owns a fine farm of 360 acres; he has filled the offices of Justice of the Peace and Supervisor; has been Sehool Trustee for thir- teen years, and is at present candidate for County Treasurer, subject to the aetion of the Democratic party; during the war, he served in Company D, Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry. In Montgomery County, June 14, 1855, he married Penny M. Lynn, born in Fayette County, Ill., May 31, 1839, daughter of Jefferson and Elizabeth (Casey) Lynn, and there have been born to them three children -Albert J., Zedic McClelland and Mary R. B. Politically, Mr. Abell is a Demoerat; he is a member of the Christian Union Church, and of the A., F. & A. M.
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