USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 53
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COL JOHN REDMAN,
CYCLONE,
P D. Q.
BELLE OF EDINBURG,
STORM .
"OLD BLUE POINT PLACE" RESIDENCE OF D. DE CAMP, EDINBURG, CHRISTIAN CO. ILL.
BANK. ERECTED 1880 RESO P HARRINGMA.
BANK
BANK
BANK AND RESIDENCE OF GEO. P. HARRINGTON, EDINBURG, ILL.
The Library of the University of Illinois
The Library of the University of Ittimaks.
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RESIDENCE, STOCK & GRAIN FARM OF NOYES LADD, SEC. 33, T. 14, R. 2, ( BUCKHART TP.,) CHRISTIAN CO., ILL.
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
199
HILSNYDER.
Nages
OF the many prominent farmers who are mentioned in this work, none deserves a more conspicuous place than he whose name heads this sketch. He is a lineal descendant of that noble and hardy band of pilgrims, who left their native land on account of religious per- secution, and embarked in the May Flower and came across the briny deep to America, and sought an asylum on the bleak and rocky shores of the New England coast. It was this little band of pure men and noble women, who planted deeply and permanently the seeds of religious and political liberty, and first made patent the fact that man had the right to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience. The germ of liberty planted by them, on that cold and dreary coast, under such inauspicious circumstances and heroic faith, has grown to considerable proportions; and as the morning sun of religious freedom dawned and shed its effulgent radiance on this little band, has kept its onward march, until from this fountain-head, the spirit of liberty has permeated all peoples and every quarter of the globe. They were the nucleus around which clustered and grew that spirit which a little over a hundred years after culminated, aud gave to the world the immortal Declaration of Independence; the Magna Charta of Universal Liberty. Happy indeed is he who can trace his ancestral line back to this noble blood. Blood made noble; not by the acts of the putrid and crumbling monarchies of the old world, but bearing the stamp of the royal insig- nia of the most powerful republic on earth. Noyes Ladd was born in New London county, Conn., March 31st, 1822, and is the son of Noyes and Harriet Ladd. Noyes Ladd, Sr., was also a native of the land of "steady habits," and it was in that state that he grew to mau- hood and married Miss Harriet Z. Williams, who was the daughter of Capt. Elias Williams, a sea captain, and he was descended from
William Williams, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. The mother of Mrs. Ladd was the only daughter of Captain William Stanton, who did good service in bravely fighting and defending the firesides of the pioneers during the French and Indian war-and later, when the revolutionary conflict came on, he was the first to join that patriotic army in defence of freedom. The history and results of that ever memorable conflict are known to all; the tedious marches and perilous hardship endured while poorly clad and fed, by that little army of sturdy yeomen, fur- nish a theme for the highest reverence and commendation. He received his first commission as Lieutenant in the British army from George the III., aud fought for his king against the French and Indians, in the Canada campaign. And after the Declaration of Independence was promulgated, he joined the patriotic army, as above stated. His ancestors were also among those who came over in the May Flower. Noyes Ladd, Sr., followed the life of a farmer in Connecticut. He raised a family of eight children, seven boys and one daughter. His death occurred about 1840. His widow, eight years thereafter, with her family, started for the West; her son, Noyes Ladd, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest. He had previously made a trip to this state, which was in the fall of 1848, and his choice of location finally settled upon Christian county, where he purchased laud, and then returned to Connceticut to bring out his mother and the family. Previous to this time, Mr. Ladd had married Miss Phebe Williams, also a native of New London county, Conn. Mr. Ladd, wife and three children, his mother, four brothers and one sister, and wife's sister, Miss Elizabeth Williams, started for Illinois in the spring of 1849, to make for themselves in this state a permanent home. They had been lured from the land
200
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of their nativity by the pleasing stories that were told them of the prolific soil and genial climate, green-verdured and flower-decked prairies, whose broad expansive plains were only circumscribed by the lines of the horizon. This vision of beauty formed a picture of surpassing loveliness, when in contrast with the sterile and rugged hills that they were leaving behind. Cheerfully did they say the last good-bye to the friends and companions of their youth, as they started on their march with their eyes basking in the radiance of the setting sun, little thinking that in a few short days, they would be overtaken by an accident, sad and dreadful in its consequences.
On arriving in New York, the party took passage ou the steam- boat Empire for Albany, N. Y. And when off Newburg, and about eleven o'clock at night, the boat came in collision with a lumber schooner ; she was badly damaged, and sank in deep water, and in less time than it takes to tell the story, the four brothers of Mr. Ladd were drowned. Their names and ages are as follows : Cyrus F. Ladd, aged sixteen years ; Darius Ladd, fourteen years ; Nathan S. Ladd, twelve years ; and Elias W. Ladd, aged ten years. Mrs. Ladd, the mother, received severe injuries, from which she never fully recovered. It was with much difficulty that she was rescued, being taken through a hole made in the roof of the cabin. They lost all their household effects, and wearing apparel and money. Mr. Ladd found it necessary to purchase clothing in order to pro- ceed on their journey. Mr. Ladd arrived in Christian county in June, 1849, and settled near where he now resides, in Buckhart township. His mother made her home with him until her death, June 7th, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Ladd had four children born to them after they came to this county. They raised a family of seven children, of whom four are living, as follows : Harriet W., now the wife of A. S. Hedder, residents of this county. Curtis K. John P. W. and Jessie Y. Ladd. The three latter residing at home. On the 22d of May, 1866, occurred the death of Mrs. Ladd. He was married to his preseut wife, Miss Eliza J. Kennard, on the 30th of January, 1868. By this uniou has been born to them a family of three children, namely, Eliza J., Emily A., aud Lille. Mr. Ladd spent his early boyhood days on a farm, and has continued to make farming the business of his life. He improved the place he is living on, which is among the good farms in the township; a view of which can be seen on another page of this work. Mr. L. assisted in organizing the first school in Buckhart. He and Barnard Davis and H. Nation, were the first trustees; they built the first school-house, and employed the first teacher, Charles Burdick; the district comprised the whole of Township 14, Range 2; the house was located on the present site of the school building near the resi- dence of G. R. Sharp. The only surviving member of his father's family besides himself is his sister, Mrs. Ann E. Ralston, now a resident of Hillsboro, Illinois. Mr. Ladd is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a man whose moral worth makes him highly esteemed in the community in which he resides. In polities he is a republican, and is one of the zealous and stanch supporters of the principles of his party, and a man whose counsel is felt in the ranks of the party of this county. During the late Re- bellion, the Union cause had in him a consistent and firm supporter. In reviewing briefly his career, we find a man who began the battle of life with but little of this world's goods to assist him, but being endowed with energy and habits of economy, he has been enabled to acquire for himself and family a comfortable competence. He is, in the fullest sense of the word, a self-made man, and as such, we take pleasure in presenting him to our numerous readers.
IVERSON STOKES,
WHO has lived within the limits of what is now Christian county more than half a century, deserves something more than a passing notice in this work. He was born in Todd county, Kentucky, June 12th, 1825. He was the son of David and Sarah Stokes. David Stokes was a native of North Carolina, as was also his wife. His father, John Stokes, was a native Englishman, who emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary war, and was a soldier in that struggle. Mr. Stokes is also of English descent on the maternal side, and his ancestors on that side also participated in the Revolution. John Stokes, the grandfather of the subject of our sketch, settled in North Carolina. He raised a family of ten children, nine boys and one daughter, and died in that state. David Stokes grew to manhood there, and after his marriage emigrated to Kentucky, where he followed farming. He raised a family of twelve children, seven boys and five girls, Mr. Stokes being the tenth in number. In 1829 David Stokes, with a desire to better liis situation in life, emigrated with his family to Illinois, and settled in the extreme western part of what is uow Christiau county, where he entered land from the government and improved a farm. He lived on the place he improved until his death, November 14th, 1844, his wife surviving him some twelve years. The subject of our sketch was between four and five years of age when his father settled within the boundaries of Christian county. He remained at home, assist- ing to improve the farm, until he was twenty years of age, and then began working for himself. At the age of twenty-one he was mar- ried to Miss Louisa Ashley, daughter of John Ashley, a resident of Sangamon county. They have a family of children as follows : Jane A., now the wife of J. F. George, and living in Christian county ; John A., now in Kansas, railroading; Loucinda A., who married G. D. Hooker, and lives in Kansas ; Aima, now the wife of J. W. Miller, in Kansas; and Julia J., now the wife of Oscar Thrawls, and lives in Buckhart township. After Mr. Stokes' mar- riage he began the improvement of a farm, and has continued farming to the present time; he has also worked at the carpen- ter trade for nearly thirty-five years. He has always lived near where his father settled in 1829, and has endured all the hardships and privations incident to a pioneer life. His education thereby was sadly neglected when a boy, having such advantages only as were afforded during the " log school-house period." By a diligent use of the means afforded he acquired the rudiments of an educa- tion, and in after life, by his energy and industry, he qualified himself very creditably. Mr. Stokes' history reaches back to the days of the carly settlements of Central Illinois, and during his residence, since he arrived at the age of maturity, he has been identified with the interests of his county. He has always enjoyed the respect and confidence of the community in which he has lived. When his father first settled in this county they were accustomed to go to St. Louis, ninety-five miles distant, for sugar, salt, and other necessaries. The people, however, in those early days were sociable and friendly, and would turn out to a man to help raise a neighbor's cabin. Mr. Stokes in politics is a stanch democrat, and takes quite an interest in the success of the party. Though not a politician, in the ordinary acceptance of that term, he has always taken an intelligent interest in public affairs, supporting the prin- ciples of his party from the belief that they are the best calculated to serve the interests of the masses under a republican form of government. He has filled the office of school treasurer in his township for fifteen years.
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RES. OF E. F. HURLBUTT
RES. OF C.A. HURLBUTT.
STOCK FARM & RESIDENCE OF E.S. HURLBUTT SEC . 13. T. 14. R.2. (BUCKHART TP, ) CHRISTIAN CO., ILL
The Library of the University of Illinois
The Library of the University of Illinois.
TENANT HOUSE.
SCENE IN PASTURE
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FARM RES. OF B. E. RUCKER , SEC. 35, T. 14, R. 2, (BUCKHART TP,) CHRISTIAN CO. ILL.
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
201
HM.SNYDER
WAS one of the prominent agriculturalists in Buckhart township ; he was born in Leyden, Mass., March 15, 1811, and was the son of Salmon Sheldon. He was brought up on a farm, and educated to that avocation. At the age of twenty seven he was united in mar- riage to Miss Evelina Maxwell, a native of Vermont. Immediately after his marriage he emigrated west, and settled in what is now Buckhart township, Christian county, Illinois ; this was in the year 1838. He was unlike many others coming to a new country in this particular ; he had quite an amount of ready cash mostly accumu- lated by himself after he arrived at the age of maturity. He entered in the above-named township, one thousand acres of land from the government, and began farming and stock raising on rather a large scale for those days ; in order to carry on the business in a way he wished he was compelled to borrow more or less money ; he invested his entire capital in land and improvements, and when the crash of 1849 came on him he could not realize upon his stock, and the con- sequences were he lost his entire possessions, the land went into the hands of his creditors, and his father, being one of them, received two hundred and forty-five acres. Mr. Sheldon was a man of energy and industry, and while this misfortune would have unnerved some men, it seemed to renew his vigor. He rented this two hundred and forty-five acres of land from his father; after three years he went back to Mass., making most of the trip in a one horse wagon in company with his wife. On his return he purchased this tract of 26
land from his father, and began life anew, and was more successful. By degrees, he added acre after acre, until his farm consisted of five hundred acres, well improved with good buildings. Mr. Sheldon was a man of integrity and industry, and proved to be a very use- ful citizen. He worked energetically to subdue the soil, and soon found himself the possessor of an excellent farm. He raised a family of five children, viz: Mary E., now deceased, who was the wife of C. P. C. Miner ; Emma I., late wife of L. Bradley ; Leonora, now living at the old homestead ; Abby Jenette, now deceased, and Salmon M., who is now living at the old homestead. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary I. Wood, a native of Dixon, Illinois, February 4, 1874. They have a family of three children, Jennie I., Victor L. and Maud L. Mr. Sheldon was past sixty-eight years of age at the time of his death November 20, 1879. He lived a quiet life, and was a member of the M. E. Church nearly forty years; he took an active part in church interests until the close of his life ; the church was always near his heart, and next to his family he remem- bered the altar where he worshipped. He gave liberally, and his was a simple faith, apostolic in character, evangelic in results. Though an active, busy life was his, managing quite an estate for many years, yet his mind was unusually well informed, and he was fully abreast with the thought of the age. His political affiliations were always on the side of freedom, and the Union cause of the late war had in him a strong supporter.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
John Sharp H.M.SNYDER
H.M.SNYDER.
Emeline Sharp
WAS born in Claiborne county, Tennessee, November 23d, 1822. He was the son of William and Barbara Sharp. His ancestry on the paternal side were Scotch-Irish, and on the maternal side, Ger- man. William Sharp was a native of Tennessee, born in 1799. The Sharp family settled in America long prior to the Revolution- ary war. They first settled in North Carolina, afterward moved into Virginia, and subsequently moved into the state of Tennessee in an early day. William Sharp married Barbara Hunter in Ten- nessee. They had nine children born to them in that state. In 1836 they emigrated to Macoupin county, Illinois, and settled in the north-west part of the county. They had one child born to them after coming to Illinois. In 1838 Mrs. Sharp died. Mr. Sharp afterwards married Miss Elizabeth Wilson, by whom he had five children, of which two are now living. Mr. Sharp followed the life of a farmer and blacksmith. He died at the residence of his son, John Sharp, the subject of our sketch, June 20, 1875. John Sharp was fourteen years of age when his father moved to Illinois. He assisted on his father's farm, in Macoupin county, until he was of age, and attended the common schools of that county during the winter months. At the age of twenty-three he enlisted in the Mexican war. He was in Company G., under Cap- tain .l. Wyatt, 1st Illinois Vols., Col John J. Hardin having com- mand of the regiment. He was in the battle of Buena Vista, where Col. Hardin was killed, and within a short distance of the Colonel when he fell. Mr. Sharp enlisted in this war in June, 1846, and returned home July, 1847, after his discharge. His brother, Henry H., accompanied him through this war. The following fall after their discharge they went to lowa to lay their land warrants. After traveling abont over the state for some time, they made a choice near where Oskaloosa is now located. After laying their claims they
remained in the state for a few months, returning the following year. From that time until 1849 Mr. Sharp farmed, broke prairie and taught school. September 9th, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Emeline Redfern, a native of Macoupin county. By this union they have had a family of eight children, of whom seven are living, three boys and four girls, viz. : Henry E., Joseph M., Sarah A., Ida E., Ira G., Emma C. and Lulu May. Henry E. is married and lives in Taylorville township. Sarah A. is now the wife of Dr. F. A. McNeill, living in Sharpsburg. In 1853 Mr. Sharp moved into Christian county, and settled in Buekhart township, where he now resides. He sold his land, one hundred and sixty acres, in Iowa, for $2.50 per aere, and bought where he now lives for $5.00 per acre. His first purchase was eighty aeres. He has made farm- ing and stock-raising his life occupation. When the Springfield, Illinois and South-Eastern railroad was being constructed through the county, Mr. Sharp and his brothers, George R. and Henry H., were instrumental in getting a depot located near them, in order to facilitate their shipments. The railroad company gave the name of the place Sharpsburg. In politics Mr. Sharp is a democrat. He east his first vote for James K. Polk, and he has continued to vote for every democratic nominee to the present time. When the county went into township organization he was elected as the first Supervisor from Buckhart township. He is now Notary Public, a position he has held for five years. For a number of years he has been a member of the Masonic order. Mr. Sharp started out in life with nothing, but his mind was made up from the start to fight his way upward in the world if anything could be accomplished by hard work and perseverance. He now has a comfortable home, with everything about him to make his declining years full of ease and serenity.
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
203
G. R. Sharp. N.M.SNYDER
Susan Sharp
WAS born in Claiborne county, Tenn., January 3, 1830. He was the son of William and Barbara Sharp. They raised a family of ten children, nine born in Tennessee, aud one in Macoupin county, after their removal to Illinois. Their names are as fol- lows: Elizabeth, now the wife of Joseph Montgomery, lives in Macoupin county ; John, now living in Christian county ; Henry H., also living in Christian county ; Winnifred, late wife of Ga- briel Hurt, of Macoupin county ; Lawson, now living in Missouri ; George R., the subject of our sketch ; Louisa, now the wife of Jolin Fair, living in Nebraska; William N., now living in Barton county, Missouri ; Barbara, late wife of Thomas J. Fair, and Mary, wife of Wesley Henderson, living in Kansas. In the fall of 1836 William Sharp, with his family, emigrated from Tennessee and settled in Macoupin county, Illinois. Two years subsequently he lost his wife ; he afterwards married Miss Elizabeth Wilson. They had five children, two of whom are living, viz .: Susan, now the wife of William Coons, living in Missouri, and Agnes, who mar- ried Robert Middleton, and lives in Nebraska. In 1869 Mr. Sharp removed to Barton county, Missouri, where he remained three years ; he then came to Christian county and made his home with his son, John Sharp, uutil his death, June 20, 1875. Too much cannot be said in praiseworthy terms of the character of William Sharp, who always taught by example what he held by precept. For forty years he was held as a model for the old and the young, being a professor of religion and a member of the Bap- tist church, in which he held the position of deacon for a number of years. His second wife died about four years prior to his death. George R. Sharp grew to manliood on a farm, and at the age of twenty-six, he was united in marriage to Miss Susan Hanon, Sep-
tember 28, 1856. She was a daughter of Martin and Sarah Hanon, and born within the limits of Christian county, but before the county was organized ; her birth dates February 19, 1838. Her father, Martin Hanon, was a native of Tennessee ; his parents moved to Kentucky when he was quite small, where they lived until he was about twelve years of age. They then removed to what is now Gallatin county, Illinois, this being in the year 1812. At the age of fifteen his father died; his mother subsequently moved further north in the state, and in 1818 Mrs. Hanon with her family settled within the present limits of Christian county. Mrs. Sharp's father was about nineteen years of age when his mother settled here. At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Sarah Miller ; by this union they had eleven children, of whom Mrs. Sharp was the eighth. Mr. Hanon lived in this county until his death, January 25, 1879, at the advanced age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp have raised a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters, viz : William Virgil, the oldest, now deceased, who died at the age of eighteen years and six months, January 27, 1876 ; Xemenia Pruella, now the wife of N. D. Waller, living in Sharps- burg ; Mary A., George E., Emma A., Mabel Jane, and Nina Pearl. After Mr. Sharp's marriage he began the improvement of the place he is now living on; he has always followed farming. In politics he is a democrat. He has represented his township in the Board of Supervisors for nine successive years. His actions while iu this position have met with the general support of the best classes of the community, hc having determined to adopt a liberal and at the same time economic policy, and to do what he considered best for the sound interests of the county. He is now a candidate for the Legislature on the democratic ticket.
204
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
GEORGE C. WILKINSON,
ONE among the prominent business men of Edinburg, is a native of Christian county, and was born January 13, 1853. He was the son of Reuben and Esther Wilkinson. Reuben Wilkinson was a native of Kentucky, and emigrated to Illinois at an early date with his parents, where he grew to manhood. He married Miss Es- ther Bratt, a native of England. They raised a family of two children, viz .: Emma J., now the wife of George P. Herrington, living in Edinburg, and the subject of our sketch. Reuben Wil- kinson for many years has been a prominent citizen of Christian county, and is well known to most all the old settlers. He has been a prominent farmer in the county for many years ; also been en- gaged in the milling business quite extensively for several years ; is one of the principal shippers of grain on the O. & M. railroad,
and is known as one of Christian county's industrious and success- ful citizens. George C. Wilkinson was united in marriage January 22, 1874, to Miss Lizzie Vandeveer, also a native of Christian county. They have one child-Harry. Mr. Wilkinson began his business career in Edinburg in 1873. He is engaged in the livery business, and has one of the finest livery buildings in Central Illinois, as well stocked with good horses and rigs of every deserip- tion as can be found in any first-class stable. He is also engaged in farming and general trading. A view of his farm and livery build- ings can be seen in another part of this work. Thus far his life has been well spent ; with his social and industrious qualities, he is destined to make life a success. May prosperity attend him in all the varied walks of life.
RICKS TOWNSHIP.
AS so named in honor of the " Rieks " family, who were pioneers, and settled on the head waters of Bear Creek, at an early date.
This township, formerly a part of Bear Creek pre- cinet, was formed in 1866, upon the adoption of township organiza- tion. It embraces the congressional township, known as T. 11 N., R. 3 W. The surface is a beautiful undulating prairie, with but little or no timber. The soil is a deep, rich, black loam, very fer- tile and productive, every aere of which is susceptible of a high state of cultivation. The head waters of Bear Creek traverse its center, meandering in a northerly direction, and pass out of the township at the north-east corner of section 5. This creek and its affluents, Prairie Fork, Lick, and two or three minor tributaries, drain the lands, and furnish a good supply of water for stock purposes.
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