USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 23
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The above named converts having ex- pressed a desire to organize a church, Robert Taylor having presented a certificate of mem- bership in Mount Pleasant congregation, de- sired to unite with them, and was unanimously accepted and became a member.
In the organization of the church, N. H. Downing was installed as the regular pastor,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
and Robert Taylor, Thomas Wilson and George Briar, were elected by the Congrega- tion to the office of ruling Elders, and were ordained by Rev. N. H. Downing, and Thomas Wilson was elected Session Clerk.
After the above mentioned elections and business transactions, they decided to con- tinue regular weekly meetings at the Hickory school house, where they met regularly every Sabbath till 1849, when they built their pres- ent church at a cost of $1,000, besides the la- bor that was voluntarily given.
The lot of the church was purchased from HI. Horrom, and deeded to the trustees of the church. The building committee was made up of the following members, viz .: John Horrom and Archibald Taylor. The following mem- bers were elected trustees of the church: Rob- ert Taylor, Jolin Horrom, Archibald Taylor, Wm. Briar, and Ralph Morgan; of these, Robert and Archibald Taylor are the only two living members, and virtually the only trustees of the church. Rev. N. H. Downing was the first pastor of the new church; and the most prominent ministers from that time to the present were: Abram Goodpasture, Wm. Bell, David Jolley, R. S. Schull, Amos Cox, J. E. Roach, and David Jolley, the latter being present pastor; also was pastor some fifteen years previous. The church has never been without a regular salaried minister since it was built. Peace and prosperity have attended the growth and progress of the society; God has blessed it, and great good has been ac- complished, and its influence has reached far and wide.
Many years since the Baptists and Presby- terians united in organizing a Sabbath school. It has been very prosperous and progressive, some fifty scholars are in attendance. No nobler work could enlist the united efforts of the churches. Several years ago an organ was purchased, and more life and interest added to the school. Maggie Taylor, Alice
Kendall, Emma Fielden, and Miss M. Taylor, have officiated as orginists. D. J. Cole, David Carr, and Robert Fielden have been Sabbath school superintendents most of the time, the latter being the present superin- tendent.
The Missionary Baptist Church at Hickory, was first organized in a small log cabin on the premises of Wm. Cole, built by him especial- ly for school and religious purposes. Mr. Cole was the prime mover and the most active member in the little society. A man whose purse as well as heart was open to the Chris- tian cause.
Rev. John Daniels, originally from the State of Virginia, was the first minister that preach- ed to the little band of devoted followers of Christ. Services at the little cabin were continued for two years or more, with a growing interest. A Baptist church society was then organized, September 29, 1838, with the following members, viz .: William Cole, John Hicks, Amos Smith, Thomas J. Mosley, Mrs. Ellen Cole, Lucy Smith and Mrs. J. Logan.
After the society had completed a prelim- inary organization, T. J. Mosley was ap- pointed to attend the Springfield Baptist Association, to request admittance into their union, which was unanimously granted. Mr. Amos Smith was appointed to write the church letters, with the approval of the pastor.
In 1839, a revival of more than usual in- terest was held at their regular place of meet- ing by Rev. John Daniels, and the following persons were converted and baptized: Mary E. Cole, Nancy Cooper, James M. Kemper, Allen Ingram, Robert Cole, Wm. W. Cole, B. J. Smith, Lydia Smith, Eliza Cooper, James Ingram, and M. Ingram ; and Luther A. Jones, Druzilla Jones and Nancy May were received by letter.
In 1841, or thereabouts, the Hickory school
David Carr
THE NE' YORK & ARY
Actor Len > and THicon Foundations. 1909
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
house was built near the site of the present school building, and the Baptist Society find- ing their place of meeting too small to accom- modate their increasing numbers, adjourned to the school house, where they continued meeting till their present church was built. They held their services in the school build- ing in winter, and in the little grove near the school building (since cut away) in summer.
It was quite customary in that early day for a large proportion of the settlers to shoulder their rifles and spend the holy Sab- bath in pursuing the game of the country, as there was little of a religious character to in- terest a roving, hunting disposition, and at these meetings held in the grove, the hunters would gather from the hills and the bottoms, stack their guns and listen to the sermons of Rev. Daniels, who being a man of eloquence as well as piety, soon converted many of these Sabbath breaking wanderers, and the crack of the rifle on the sacred Sabbath was much less frequently heard. The present church was built in 1852, and Mr. Wm. Cole, Sr., contributed about half the fund; it is a neat convenient frame building, costing some $1,500 to complete it.
The building committee were R. S. Cole, D. J. Cole, L. M. Jones and T. Smith. The church at this time had some thirty members to contribute to its support.
The first board of trustees was made up of the following members: D. J. Cole, Luther M. Jones and James Fielding, the latter be- ing the only trustee of the church remaining in the settlement. Rev. Mr. Hays, in 1854,
held an interesting series of protracted meet- ings at the church, and many were converted and added to the church. Rev. John Daniels was the first and also the last pastor of the church. He was pastor a greater portion of the time from the founding of the church till his death. A subscription is now being taken up to erect a monument to his memory ; money could not be contributed to a worthier cause or nobler purpose. Rev. John Daniels was one of the first ministers of Hickory pre- cinct; long, tireless and faithful were his labors in the service of the Master. He has gone to his long home.
Since the death of Rev. Daniels, no regular Sabbath services have been held, and no reg- ular salaried minister employed. Many of the old members have moved to other parts, others have died, and are sleeping beneath the changing shadows of the hills, and so weakened the membership of the church, that the few scattered families remaining find it very difficult to revive its former interest, or build up its decaying strength.
In conclusion, we shall only say that far- mers of the precinct as a general thing, are well to do, or wealthy and prosperous. They have seen the Sangamon Bottom changed from a wilderness of tangled grass, dense brush, and scrubby trees, overflowed and steaming with poison and miasma, shaking the inhabitants with ague and burning them with malignant fever, to a garden spot of Illinois, surpassing in loveliness and fertility anything we have ever seen.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
VIRGINIA -- CITY AND PRECINCT.
THE BLACK FAMILY. - WILLIAM BLACK. The grandfather of our subject was William Black, a militia captain, during the approach of the Revolutionary War. He was one of the first officers of the country who re- fused allegiance to the British crown. He died about the time the war commenced. His wife's maiden name was Beard. Thomas G. Black, one of his sons was born in January, 1772, in Mecklenburg County, N. C. He married Miss Polly, daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Shepherd) Callahan, Feb. 26, 1795. She was born April 7, 1773. Her fa- ther was of Irish, and her mother of Ger- man, descent. Thomas G. departed this life Nov. 20, 1823, and his wife, Polly, died March 20, 1853. William, who still lives in Virginia, in Cass County, is one of the off- spring of this union, and was born in Geor- gia, Jan. 3, 1796. He married in Tennessee, Dec. 4, 1823, Miss Mary S., daughter of Dixon and Susan Vaughn. She was born Nov. 1, 1803, and as a result of this union, they have born to them ten children. Six of their oldest were born in Tennessee, and the remaining four in Morgan, now Scott, County, Ill. Thomas G., the eldest of these, was born June 15, 1828. He served as a colonel of the Third Missouri Cavalry, in the late war, about three years, and is now practicing medicine at Clayton, Adams County, this State.
AMANDA C., was born May 25, 1826 .. She died July 23, 1837.
JOSEPH F., was born Feb. 23, 1828. Was six years of age when the family moved to Illinois, and consequently received his ru- dimental schooling in Scott County. His father came to Cass County in 1846, and Joseph commenced business for himself as a farmer, and followed it for several years. Being of a mechanical turn of mind, he be- came engrossed in the invention of a self-rak- ing reaper. With years of experimenting, and the expenditure of some money, he de- veloped a successfully working machine, upon which he secured a patent in 1856, and the binding attachment he sold to the Wood Reaper Manufacturing Company, and the same is now in use on their machines. Mr. Black is an architect of several years' success- ful experience. Has erected on contract many of the best buildings of Virginia, Jack- sonville, and also built the Christian Church at Springfield, Ill., in 1880-81. Since 1876, he has been a resident of Virginia. He has been twice married; first to Miss Mary F. Wilmott, daughter of Charles R. Wilmott, a resident of Morgan County. She died Ian. 26, 1879, leaving five children, Charles W., Mary B., now Mrs. Armsted Mus, a farmer of Cass County, Eva L., or Mrs. Win. G. Payne, of Virginia. Robert W. and Joseph F., jr., reside at home. May 2, 1882,
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Mr. Black again married, Mrs. Mary J. Skiles, of Virginia, widow of Ignatius Skiles (de- ceased). Mr. Black is a member of the Chris- tian Church, and of the I. O. O. F., and K. of H.
WILLIAM L., was born June 8, 1829. He commenced life as a farmer in Cass County. and continued in that business until the fall of 1878, and in 1879 entered mercantile busi- ness with his brother, John, under firm name of Black Brothers, in Virginia. March 24th, 1857, he married Miss Adromcha, daughter of Alexander and Martha (Clark) Naylor, natives of Kentucky. She died Jan. 31, 1879, leaving three daughters: Alice, Carrie and Fannie. Mrs. Black was a member of the Christian Church, as is also Mr. Black. He is a life-long Republican, and a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., Virginia Lodge.
RICHARD V., was born October 27, 1831; moved to Nebraska about 1860, and located near Nebraska City, where he is engaged in farming. He served three years in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He entered as a Sergeant, and was soon advanced to a Captain.
JOHN JEFFERSON, was born Oct. 24, 1833, and died August 22, 1839.
GREEN V., was born on the 3d day of Au- gust, 1836. He is a resident of Jackson- ville, and a successful dentist. He served a short time as a volunteer soldier in the late war, but was discharged on account of disability.
JAMES B., is the seventh son of his father, and was born Oct. 9, 1839, in Scott County; he attended the common schools of Cass County, and later, the Cumberland Presbyterian Academy, in Virginia. At the age of 19, he commenced teaching school in Cass County, and in the fall of 1861, he en- listed in Company C, Third Ill. Vol. Cavalry, in which he served about two years. While in service, he was engaged in several battles, among which was Pea Ridge; was with Sherman at Vicksburg. He entered as a pri-
vate and was promoted to First Lieutenant of his company. He was compelled to resign his commission in 1863, on account of ill health; returned home, and resumed teaching. He served as instructor in the State Institu- tion for the Blind, at Jacksonville, in 1864, '65 and '66, and afterward became principal in the public schools of Jacksonville. After farming four years, he was in 1873 elected clerk of Cass County, which office he has con- tinuously held. Since July, 1878, he has also been the cashier of the Centennial National Bank, of Virginia. July 1, 1867, he married Miss Eliza J. Ewing, daughter of William Ewing (deceased), of Jacksonville. They have one daughter, May.
MARY J., was born Dec. 13, 1840. She was married in 1857, to George A. Beard, a prominent farmer of Cass County. She died Feb. 26, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Black are members of the Christian Church, and he of the A. O. U. W. and K. of H. John, the youngest of the family, was born Dee. 21, 1844, in Scott. He entered the mercantile business in Virginia in 1876. He married Maggie Blair, March 15, 1866, and they have five daughters: Emma I., Cora E., Ida F., Jes- sie G., and Maggie E. Mr. and Mrs. Black are both members of the Christian Church. He is a Republican, and a member of the K. of H. of Virginia.
CHARLES W., was born in Princeton Pre- cinet, Sept. 19, 1850; is the oldest son of Joseph F. Black, of whom an extended men- tion is made in the foregoing sketch of the Black family. He received his education at the Washington School House, near Phila- delphia, this county, except a six months commercial course in the Business College in Jacksonville, this State. Nov. 24, 1870, he married Miss Elsie E. Buckley, daugh- ter of Mark and Cornelia Joh Buckley, in Philadelphia Precinct. Mark Buckley is a native of England, and his wife was born at
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VIRGINIA-CITY AND PRECINCT.
Sylvan Grove, this county, Dec. 30, 1823, and is daughter of Archibald and Jane (Brierly) Job, of whom see Historical Sketch elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Black engaged in farm- ing for three years, and in 1873 was appointed Deputy Clerk of Cass County, and has since that time filled the position with such efficien- cy, that he has received the nomination on the Republican ticket to succeed his uncle, James B. Black, Clerk elect. Mr. and Mrs. Black have three children: Mabel Ora, Roy Lestie, and Mary Lora. Since 1867 they have been members of the Christian Church of Virginia, and Mr. Black is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W.
HENRY BEVIS, Virginia City, one of the respected and thrifty citizens of Cass County, is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born near the city of Cincinnati, Oct. 23, 1836. He is the oldest son of David and Achsah (Stout) Bevis. David Bevis was also a native of Ohio, his father Jesse having come to Hamilton County about the year 1800; Jesse, his father, was the third son of a family of six sons and six daughters, and was for about forty years U. S. Postmaster at Bevis Post- office, which took its name from the family. Our subject received his education at the Farmers' College, about six miles north of Cincinnati. After leaving school he taught one winter. April 20, 1854, he married Miss Sarah J. Stout, daughter of Philemon Stout, a native of New Jersey, and came with his par- ents to Hamilton County, O .; when a small boy, and in 1831 to Cass County. Mr. Bevis came to Illinois in October, 1857; he has since that time followed his trade as a carpenter and builder, except about five years, spent in the mercantile business at Philadelphia. He serv- ed as surveyor of Cass County one term of four years from 1867. Mr. Bevis is a Demo- crat. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and they have four chil- dren: Flora, Albon, Philemon, and Grace.
LEVI CONOVER, deceased. Among the sturdy pioneers who converted the wild prairie into productive farms, and built up the little commonwealth of Cass County, was the lamented Levi Conover. His grand- father, Dominicus Conover, emigrated from Holland about 1820, and settled in New Jersey. He had five sons : William, John, Garrett, Levi, and Peter. The least of the five brothers when of middle age, weighed 250 pounds, and the largest 295. The fourth of the sons of Dominicus (Levi) was the father of the subject of this sketch, and was born in 1760. He entered the Federal Cavalry service in 1776, being in his seven- teenth year. He served five years, as did his brother Garrett. In the year 1785, being twenty-five years of age, he married Catha- rine Dye, and in 1790 he and his brother Gar- rett, with their families, removed to the State of Kentucky, and settled near Lexington. In 1795 both brothers removed to Adair Coun- ty, Ky., and purchased farms near Columbia. Their brother Peter followed them from New Jersey in 1800, and settled near Lexington, their two older brothers, William and John, remaining in New Jersey. In 1801 Levi's wife died, leaving him seven children. In 1802 he married Mrs. Jane Gelbirth Turnbow; she had by her former husband two sons, John and Hugh, who were brought up by their uncle, Hugh Gelbirth. They were with General Jackson in 1812, at the battle of New Orleans. Five children, two daughters and three sons, were the fruits of this second marriage: Peter, James, Matilda, Levi, and Jackson. Levi was born Jan. 14, 1808; his brother Peter, in the year 1825, caine to Illi- nois, and entered the Gilmore farm, two miles south of Princeton, then in Sangamon, now in Morgan County. In 1827 he sold his first purchase, and entered 240 acres just east of the Jeff Crum farm, in this county, where he remained until 1860. He then moved to
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Mason County, this State, where he still lives, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. In the year 1832, the subject of this sketch, and his sister Matilda, with her husband, Asa B. Lane, came to Illinois. He was then twenty-two years of age. His outfit upon leaving Kentucky consisted of a good horse, a fine mare and colt, and a small amount of money. After having traveled three days, he awoke one morning to find that his mare and colt had been stolen, and a week was spent by the entire party in a fruitless search for the missing property. On reaching Illinois with one horse, his money was all spent, and he was in debt to his brother Peter and Mr. Lane. Thus, one of Cass County's most suc- cessful pioneers commenced his career with- out means, except that most valuable capital, health, honesty, industry, and economy. He purchased another horse of his brother Peter, for $35, paying for the same by splitting rails at fifty cents per hundred. After paving this debt he continued rail splitting until he had accumulated $105 in silver. This he loaned to a man who moved to Iowa, and he never collected a cent of the debt. In the spring of 1834, he went to Galena and work- ed in the lead mines at Mineral Point, until fall, when he returned and emigrated to Iowa. There he bought a claim for $75, and divided it with a friend. They returned to Illinois, purchased oxen and wagons, and then returned to Iowa, and spent the next summer in breaking and improving their farms. During the spring of 1835, he, Mr. Conover, built for himself a substantial hewed log house, 16x18, a smoke-house, and a stable. Unable to obtain plank, a quilt was hung up at the opening left for a door, to keep the wolves out. Finally the door and floor were made of puncheon. In November, 1836, he married Miss Elizabeth Petefish, of Cass County, sister of S. H. and Jacob Pete- fish, and they soon after proceeded to their
Iowa home. They returned to Illinois in August, 1837, on a visit. Mr. Conover re- turned to Iowa after a two weeks stay, leav- ing his wife to complete her visit. She was soon taken sick and died the latter part of that same month. So imperfect were the mail facilities at that time, that he did not learn of her death until two weeks after her burial. This sore bereavement unsettled his plans, and he sold his claim of 560 acres for $3,000 in silver, with which he returned to Cass County, and loaned it to his friends, Jacob Epler, Capt. Charles Beggs, and J. Bradley Thompson. In January, 1841, he purchased the old homestead of the family, from his cousin John, son of Peter Conover, which was settled in 1822. His experience on first settling in this county was not unlike that of many of the energetic and resolute class of men who were the pioneers of the West, and to whom the public are indebted for the orderly and intelligent character of the society we now enjoy. His second mar- riage was to Miss Phebe A. Rosenberger, who with three children, George, Charles W., and Ellen, now survives him. Mrs. Conover's father, John Rosenberger, and her mother, were both of German parentage, and came to Illinois and settled at Princeton, in 1836. They raised a large family, of which Phebe A., was the oldest; George, the oldest living son of the Conover family, was born Sept. 11, 1846, at the Conover homestead near Prince- ton. He is the fourth of the family, two older sisters having died, and one, Mrs. Will- iam Epler, still survives. He received his rudimental schooling at Zion school-house, and afterwards attended the Wesleyan Univer- sity at Bloomington, Ill., and took a commer- cial course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Chicago. At twenty-one years of age he commenced farming, in which busi- ness he remained from 1870 to 1876, when he became connected as a partner in the bank-
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VIRGINIA-CITY AND PRECINCT.
ing firm of Petefish, Skiles & Co., and since that time has acted as assistant cashier and book-keeper. Feb. 23, 1871, he married Vir- ginia Bone, a daughter of William Bone, of Sangamon County, later of Lincoln, Ill. Mr. Conover was the fourth of a family of five children, and was born Sept. 11, 1846. They have two children, William B. and Earnest B. Mr. Conover is Secretary of and a stock- holder in the Importers and Breeders' Asso- ciation of Cass County, and also a member of the Building Association of Virginia. Charles W., is the fifth youngest of the family, and was born April 1, 1849, on the homestead; he was educated and brought up a farmer, and has steadily adhered to his calling. He owns and lives on the Conover homestead, which he has successfully managed since it came into his possession. He married Miss Louise Dever, April 1, 1875; she is a daughter of John Dever (deceased), a farmer and na- tive of Ohio. They have three children: Millie, Dasie L., and an infant not named. Mr. Conover is a thrifty farmer, a Democrat, and much respected in the community.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL, one of the most enterprising, energetic and prosperous pio- neers of Cass County, was born in Ireland, April 15, 1818. His father, Archibald, had four daughters and three sons. Our subject emigrated to America and to Cass County in the spring of 1840. His sister Mary preceded him, and another sister, Catharine, came after- ward. He located upon his present home- stead, and commenced laying the foundation of a success, seldom enjoyed by any who com- menced in so humble a manner. Mr. Camp- bell brought with him only a small amount of moncy, all of which was expended in starting him on his first piece of land. He is now owner of about nineteen hundred acres of Cass County soil; also holds a considerable amount of Virginia City property, and is a member of the well known banking firm of
Petefish, Skiles & Company. October 10, 1845, he married Miss Mary Studbrank, a native of Germany. Her father, Fredric Studbrank, emigrated from Germany when she was small, and located in Cass County. Mrs. Campbell died May 23, 1872, in the forty- seventh year of her age, leaving three sous and one daughter, Henry J., Alfred, Edwin, and Emma J. Ann L., William E., Charles, and an infant, are deccased. Mr. Campbell has held the office of County Commissioner several years, and is a member of the Presby- terian Church. Henry J. was born Nov. 25, 1850. He received his schooling in Vir- ginia, and entered farming in 1875. March 1, 1877, he married Miss Maggie Taylor, daughter of Robert and Jenette (Cunningham) Taylor, of the Sangamon Bottom, Cass County, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Campbell is the third of a family of seven daughters and five sons, and was born Dec. 2, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have one son, William V. Nr. Campbell owns a farm of 200 acres; being a practical farmer, seldom fails of a profitable year's business.
J. B. CRAFT, proprietor Virginia House, is a native of Fayette County, Pa., and was born at Brownsville, July 30, 1838. His fa- ther, William B. Craft, was a manufacturer of grain-cleaning machines, and was also a native of the Key-stone State. He married Evaline White, a native of Ohio. They raised a family of seven children, and our subject was their second child. J. B. received his schooling in Brownsville, and there learned the carriage maker's trade, which he followed about eight years. He came to Cass County in 1864. In 1871 he took charge of his present ho- tel, and from that time until the present, except one year (1874) spent in the grocery trade, has been its proprietor. William B., his father, died in the year 1855, and his mother is still living, a resident of Fulton County. Our sub-
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