History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 63

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Illinois > Clark County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 63
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 63

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).

BIOGRAPHICAL:

or intricate problems, and by stripping them of all extraneous matter, present them in such clear and simple forms that the dullest pupil can readily comprehend and understand them. It is this rare faculty that has given him such prominence as a teacher. He is a zealous, active and consistent member of the Christian denomination, and to his efforts, in a great measure, does the church in Marshall owe its present prosperity and membership. He is a radical and uncompromising Prohibition- ist; his convictions and opinions on the liquor traffic are rugged and severe, and give forth no uncertain sound. His name was promi- nently mentioned in connection with the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, at the Prohibition convention in 1882. He is of a nervous and sanguine temperament, swift of foot and hand. Though not large, he is compactly built and muscular, and is the personification of industry. He is never idle, always busy, and when not in the school room, is following the plow or in the harvest field. Mr. Kilborn possesses a well trained and scholarly mind, and a clear head for lit- erary or editorial labors. Is a ready thinker, and a rapid writer. His style of writing is epigrammatic, and though sometimes lacking smoothness of diction, is always concise and pointed. In politics, he is earnestly and ardently Republican. And in connection with his son, Orrie L., purchased the Herald, and assumed the chief editorship in Febru- ary last. Under their management, the pa- per is already on the high road to prosperity, and is fully recognized as the official Repub- lican organ of the county. O. L., the asso- ciate editor of the Herald and editor of the Martinsville Express, was born June 4, 1864. He spent six years clerking for merchants of Marshall. For one of his age, he displays remarkable talent, and we predict that not far in the future he will rank among the leading journalists.

DANIEL KNOWLES (deceased). The subject of this sketch, Daniel Knowles, was a native of Knox County, Ohio. He was born in Mt. Vernon on the 27th day of May, 1821. He grew to manhood in his native town, and in 1842 was married to Miss Lydia Anderson. They came to Illinois and settled in Wabash Township of Clark County, about the year 1847. Here Mr. Knowles learned the trade of Cooper, at which he worked the principal part of his time until 1864. Soon after coming to the State he purchased a small tract of timbered land, of Samuel Plaster, situated on Crooked Creek, one-half mile south of National road. Here he remained engaged in clearing and improving his farm and working at his trade until the fall of 1861, when he moved his family to Vigo County, Ind., and engaged in farming until the spring of 1864, when he again moved, this time to Shelby County, Ill., where he spent the remainder of his life. They had a family of five children, of whom three sur- vive: James Knowles was born in Knox County, Ohio, on the 25th of December, 1843. He died in Hospital at Mound City, Ill., in March, 1862. Ile was a member of Company F, Thirtieth Illinois Regiment. Mary J. Knowles was born in Wabash Township, Clark County, Ill., on the 18th day of May, 1848. She was married in Shelbyville, Ill., October 9, 1866, to Mr. John A. McGrath. David T. Knowles, was born in Clark County, Ill., April 7, 1850. Married to Miss Annie Neff, and living in Cowden, Ill. Annie Knowles, born in Clark County, Ill., May 11, 1860, and died in Shelby County, Ill., on the 5th of October, 1867. William G. Knowles, the youngest member of the family, was born in Vigo County, Ind., on the 4th of March, 1862. Mrs. Lydia Knowles died in Shelby County, Ill., on the 9th of January, 1869, of apoplexy of the heart. Daniel Knowles was afterward

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

married to Mrs. Amelia Neff, widow of Jacob Neff, of Fayette County, Ill., who is still liv- ing. Daniel Knowles died on the 31st of Angust, 1871. He, as well as both his com- panions, was a zealous member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church for many years, and left a reputation for Christian character which is irreproachable.

FRANK LAKE, marble cutter, Marshall. The name of Frank Lake is associated with one of the oldest famlies in Clark County. He is a son of Milton and Nancy C. Lake. Milton Lake was born in 1800, and came from Ohio to Clark County, Ill., in 1818, coming the entire distance on foot. He en- tered land in York Township, upon which he lived until 1852, when he moved to Mar- shall. His first wife was Miss Rue Shaw, who died, leaving seven children. In 1849. he was married to Mrs. Nancy C. Donaldson, widow of John Donaldson. In Marshall, he was variously engaged in business, princi- pally the marble business. He died Janu- ary 4, 1872. Mrs. Nancy C. Lake died Sep- tember 3 of the same year, leaving four children-Sarah E. (Martin). Frank, Charles and Edgar Lake. Mrs. Lake died in York Township, Clark County, within half a mile of where she was born, October 7, 1823. Frank Lake was married. April 25, 1880. to Miss Mollie E. Huston, daughter of David Huston, but raised by George Huston, of Marshall. She was born April 20, 1857, in Clark County. They have one daughter, Nellie E. Lake, born July 26, 1881. Mr. Frank Lake is engaged in the marble trade, associated with William B. Killie. George Huston, foster-father of Mrs. Mollie Lake, is an old and respected citizen of Marshall, who looks back with some degree of pride to the years of his life which he spent in the great struggle to maintain the Union of States, and though home and health. with all

the happiness which they bring, were sacri- ficed, he has never regretted having borne his part in the contest. He was born in Stark County, Ohio, March 1, 1814. In October, 1835, he was married to Miss Emeline Mus- ser, who was born in Canton, Ohio, October 19, 1817. Mr. H. is a carpenter and painter by trade, and for several years was engaged in the chair manufacture in Marshall. They have raised three children.

DARIUS LEGORE, retired, Marshall, is a son of Daniel and Sarah Le Gore. His father was a native of Maryland, and was born in 1803; was married to Miss Sarah Orr, of Ohio. She is still living with a son in Marshall, the father having died in Mar shall. They had a family of seven children, of whom five are still living, and of whom Darius is the fourth. He was born in Belle- fontaine, Ohio, April 9, 1834; came to Mar- shall in 1839, where he grew to manhood, and was married in Marshall on the 1st of March, 1855, to Miss Rebecca Payne, dangh- ter of Ebenezer Payne. She was born in Clark County in IS33, and died January 7, 1876, leaving a family of four children, of whom one is dead. Their names are Carrie Le Gore, who is married to J. Coughlan, Frank Le Gore and Benjamin Le Gore. Mr. Le Gore is a Democrat, and has served the county as School Superintendent and Master in Chancery for seven years. He also served the city five years as magistrate.

HENRY LESEURE, merchant, Marshall. was born in the town of Nancy, in France, on the 14th day of December, 1839. His parents' names were Francis E. and Marie L. Leseure. They came from France to the United States in 1849. They settled in Ed- gar County, Ill., where subject grew to man- hood. He was educated principally in Terre Haute, Ind., and Cincinnati, Ohio. He mar- ried in Vigo County, Ind., October 1, 1861,

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Miss Elizabeth Alvey. She is a daughter of Hilary and Jane Alvey, and was born in Indiana December 22, 1840. Her parents are natives of Kentucky, and both are dead. Mr. Leseure began life as a merchant at Clarksville, III. He came to Marshall, Ill., in March, 1880, where he has since engaged in the grocery trade, located on Main street, one door west from St. James Hotel. The entire family are members of the Catholic Church at Marshall. They have a family of eight children. of whom two are dead. The record is as follows: Paul, born August 30, 1862; Lawrence, born June 5, 1864; Frank, born February 16, 1866; Ernestine, born March 9, 1868; Lewis, born September 1, 1871; Charles, born August 11, 1875; Lillie, born January 8, 1878; Grace, born September 11, 1880.

EMANUEL LESEURE, merchaut, Mar- shall, the subject of these lines is a son of F. E. and M. L. Leseure. He was born in St. Marys, Vigo County, Ind., on the 25th day of December, 1853, and is the youngest of a family of six children, of whom one, Prosper P. Leseure, is dead. When he was quite small, his parents settled in Edgar County, Ill., where they remained until 1861, when they removed to Terre Haute, Ind., where they continued until the spring of 1864, when they again moved, this time set- tling in Douglas Township, Clark County. Emanuel began life as a merchant in 1873. He came to Marshall in March, 1880, where he embarked in the dry goods trade, which he still pursues and is doing an extensive business in his line. He is located on south side of Main street. He was married in Auburn Township, Clark County, on the 17th of April, 1873. to Miss Harriet Hurst, daugh- ter of John and Martha Hurst. She is a native of Clark County, Ill., and was born November 22, 1856. Their family consists

of four children-Frances E., born April 3, 1875; John R., March 8, 1877; Mary Lillie, July 22, 1879; Martha E., June 22, 1882. The family are members of the Catholic Church of Marshall.

OLIVER P. LISTON, railroad agent, Mar- shall, is a native of Coles County, Ill., born October 4, 1854. He is a son of Andrew J. and Lucy A. (Black) Liston. His grand. father, Joseph Liston, is said to have been the first white settler, and plowed the first furrow in Vigo County, Ind. Oliver's father was born in Knox County, Ind., on the 2d of March, 1815, and his mother, Lucy A. Black, was born in Clark County, Ill., February 16, 1819. She is a daughter of John Black, who, with his brothers, settled on farms in Clark County, in 1819, which are still owned by them and their heirs. She was married to Andrew Liston on the Sth of March, 1838, and they lived in Clark County until 1850. when they moved to Cules County, III., where Oliver was born, and where they still live. Oliver P. Liston is the eighth of their family of nine children, and w .. s raised and educated in Coles County, Ill. At the age of sixteen, he entered a railroad office, and has been in rail- road employ continuously ever since. The past eight years, or since 1874, he has had charge of the office of the Wabash Railroad at Marshall. April 4, 1877, he was married to Miss Lizzie J. Killie, daughter of Henry B. and Mary A. Killie. She was born in Marshall January 20, 1860. Her father was born in Ohio April 2, 1832, and married Mary A. Mark, November 15, 1855. He was a member of Company F, Seventy-ninth Illi- nois Regiment. He received a wound in the head, from which he died January 23, 1863. Her mother was born in Marshall January 17, 1834, and is now the wife of George P. Hippard. Mr. and Liston have two children, one of whom is dead-Floza,

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

born March 16, 1878, and Cora Bell, born February 22, 1881, and died July 12 of the same year. He is a member of the Knights of Honor.

JOHN LITTLEFIELD, editor of The Mesenger, Marshall. The subject of this sketch first saw the light in Warren County, Penn., in the year 1818. While an infant, his parents removed to Steubenville, Ohio, on a raft, where they remained two years. From thence, on a raft, they floated down the Ohio to Vevay, Ind., at which place wero spent ten years of happy boyhood. The family then moved northward, about twelve miles, and settled on a farm, near a village called Allensville, remaining there for a period of ten years. At the early age of nineteen, he was nnited in marriage to Miss Kate Burns, an Irish lady of sixteen, who emigrated to America in her tenth year. After marriage, he removed to Bowling Green, Ind., where he lived a short time, thence going to Greensburg, in same State. He then moved back to his old home, near Allensville, where he dwelt for some time. He purchased the land, laid out, and was the original proprietor of the present town of East Enterprise, Ind. In September, 1852, his beloved wife and helpmeet departed this life, and in the following October he removed to Marshall, this county, where he has sinco resided. Nearly a quarter of a century of this period has by him been spent in the arduous labors incident to journalism. For two years, he was joint proprietor with Messrs. Whitehead & Peyten, of the Eastern Illi- noisan. In politics, he always has been a Democrat, but bitterly opposed to slavery, and a firm and unflinching adherent to the Government. After the outbreak of the rebellion, he commenced the publication of the Flag of Our Union, and continued the same throughout the long and bloody four

years of that portentious period. Though firm and decided in his principles, he was never aggressive or abusive. He strongly in- dorsed the war, conscientiously believing that the dogma of secession was inimical to liberty and dangerous to the perpetuity of free institutions. After the war, he purchased the Illinoisan office, changed the name to Mar- shall Messenger, and has published the same as its editor and proprietor, with the exception of one year, until the present time. His

second marriage was to Miss Amelia Martin, of Marshall, daughter of the late James Martin. He is singularly abstemious and temperate in all his habits. Never drank a drop of alcoholic stimulants, or used tobacco in any form, and what is more remarkable for many years has drank no water. For forty-five years, he has been a zealous and ardent worker in the temperance cause, both on the rostrum and in private walks, and the temperance organization in Clark County is due more to his, than to the efforts of any man. He never bet on any game of chance, or made a wager of any kind, and is utterly ignorant of cards. He never suffered two weeks illness in his life, and is remarkably well preserved and vigorous both in mind and body, and is yet a pedestrian of great speed and endurance. In religion, he is a Methodist, but exceedingly liberal and charita- ble in his religious views. In profession. an editor, and therefore what is rare to find in these days, a Methodist-Democratic editor. A retrospection of his long, busy and useful career of labors well performed and duties faithfully discharged, must cheer with sincere joy the evening of a well-spent life.

JACOB S. LYCAN, miller, P. O. Marshall, a native of Clark County, was born on the 17th of November, 1836. He is a son of William W. and Rebecca Lycan. His father

BIOGRAPHICAL:

was born in Kentucky in 1807, and came to Illinois in 1818, when he settled in Edgar County. Rebecca Heddy, mother of our subject, is also a native of Kentucky, where she was born in the year 1811. She came to Illinois with her parents when she was but a mere child, and still survives. Jacob S. was educated and grew to manhood in Douglas Township in Clark County, where he resided until 1872, at which time he came with his family to Marshall. Here, in connection with Messrs. Ewalt and Quick, he erected the flouring mill known as the " Little Giant," of which he is at present sole owner. He is a member of the Masonic Order and Knights of Honor. Jacob S. Lycan and Cynthia A. Fitz- simmons were married November 24, 1859. Mrs. Lycan is a daughter of John Fitzsim- mons, and was born in Douglas Township on the 29th day of October, 1841. They have a family of eight children, whose names and ages are as follows: Andrew D., born Septem- ber 4, 1860; Clark S., born September 4, 1862; Alice, born April 16, 1866; Alonzo, born August 25, 1869; Orlando, born March 23, 1871; Lyman, born January 11, 1874; Ella, born November 1, 1876, died December 3, 1876; Edith May, born June 10, 1880.

L. L. MARK, Marshall, is a native of Putnamville, Ind. He was the fourth of a family of five children of Jesse and Eliza- beth Mark, and was born December 24, 1837. When less than two years old, he came with his parents to Marshall (1839). His father, being by trade an undertaker, erected a build- ing, and opened the first shop of this kind ever opened in the place. The building still stands on Hamilton street, and is now used for the marble works. L. L. Mark took the in- itial steps to his trade by holding the candle for his father to do night work, and began coffin making as soon as large enough to han- dle tools, and has worked at the trade contin-

uously ever since. In 1861, he, in connec- tion with his brother Frank, purchased their father's interest in the business. They com- bined the furniture trade with the coffin manufacture, and for some time had three business houses, for which they manufact- ured the principal part of the stock. The father and mother of L. L. Mark were natives of Pennsylvania. Jesse Mark was born in 1804, and died in Marshall Decem- ber 22, 1871. He was married in 1825 to Miss Elizabeth Trostle. She was born in 1797, and died July 26, 1880. L. L. Mark tas married in Casey, Ill., May 9, 1867, to Miss Lizzie B. Lang; she was born in Clark County, Ill., December 24, 1843. She is a daughter of John and Mary Lang, who were formerly of Scotland, but for many years res- idents of Casey Township, Clark County. Subject has one . daughter, Blanche Mark, born in Marshall August 25, 1871.

WILLIAM T. MARTIN. merchant, Mar- shall, is a native of what is now Ashland County, Ohio. He was born March 11, 1830. He is a son of James and Barbara Ann Mar- tin. His father was a native of Bedford County, Penn., born April 4, 1793. His mother was born in the same county April 11, 1796. The family came from Ohio to Marshall, Ill., in 1840, where the father died on the 1Sth of August, 1875. The mother, Barbara A. (Sigapos) Martin, is now a resi- dent of Marshall, and in her eighty-seventh year. William T. Martin was educated princi- pally in Marshall, of which place he was ap- pointed Postmaster under the administration of President Fillmore. Previous to this ap- pointment, he and his brother, J. F. Martin, embarked in the clothing trade, which busi- ness they conducted until the beginning of 1855. From 1855 until 1865, he was en- gaged in the milling business in the town of Marshall, running the first steam grist-mill of

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

the place. In 1867, having disposed of his milling interests, he embarked in the hard- ware trade, which he has continued until the present time. His location is on Main street, north of the public square. The family resi- dence is on Main and Handy streets: Mr. Martin is a member of the Masonic fraterni- ty, and I. O. O. F. He was married in the town of Marshall, December 6, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Payne, a native of this county, and daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah Payne. She was born February 16, 1831. They have a family of seven children, all of whom were born in Marshall. Their names are as fol- lows : Eva Martin, married to E. Y. Mc. Mullen, of Canada; Mary Martin, Elizabeth Martin, John A. Martin, Emma Martin, Frank Martin, William P. Martin.

BENSON MARTIN, Master in Chancery, Marshall, is the twelfth of a family of thir- teen children of James and Barbara A. Mar- tin. He was born in Loudonville, Ohio, on the 28th day of January, 1838. He was two years old when his parents removed to Illi- nois and settled in Marshall, where he grew to manhood. He received a common school education in the Marshall schools. In 1857 (November 19), he was married to Miss Sarah G. Donalson, of Marshall. She was daugh- ter of John and Nancy C. Donalson. Her father, John Donalson, died at Vincennes, Ind., in 1842. Her mother subsequently married Milton Lake (1849), who died Janu- ary 4, 1872. On September 3 of the same year, the mother died, only one-half milo from place of birth. She was born in Knox County, Ind., May 19, 1841. Mr. B. Martin was engaged in farming until July, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Vol. unteer Infantry, under Capt. J. W. Wilkin. He served in this company until the close of the war. He participated in the siege of

Vicksburg, and other severe contests. He was taken prisoner at Sabine Crossroads in Louisiana, on the 8th of April, 1864, and held at Camp Ford, Texas, until June, 1865. From this prison he was then liberated, in consequence of the war being virtually end- ed, and he made his way on foot to Shreves- port, a distance of 110 miles, thence by wa- ter to the mouth of the Red River, where he met the Union forces. He was discharged at Springfield, Ill., in July, 1865. In 1875, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, which office he continues to hold. He was appointed Master in Chancery in 1880. Mr. Martin is a member of the I. O. O. F., Knights of Honor, and the Grand Army of the Republic. His family consists of seven children, of whom two are dead. Lillie Mar- tin, born September 26, 1858, married to Dick English; William T. Martin, born June 29, 1862-he is the present Deputy County Clerk; Foster Martin, born July 22, 1866; Charles Martin, born March 13, 1868; Nan- nie Martin, born October 25, 1872; Jacob W. Martin, died in infancy; Harrie Martin, died in infancy. The family residence is on Mich- igan and North streets.

D. O. MARTIN, merchant, Marshall. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of a family of thirteen children of James and Barbara Ann Martin, who came with their family to Marshall in June, 1840. D. O. Martin was born in Ohio, October 27, 1839. He was educated in the public school of Mar- shall, and when about fourteen years old en- tered the store of Bullion & Janney as a salesman. He was subsequently employed in the store of Booth & Co. for a term of eight years. On the 18th of July, 1862, he was mustered into the service as Second Lieuten- ant of Company G, of the Seventieth Illinois Infantry (Capt. Harlan). October 14, 1864, he was commissioned as Sutler of the One

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Regiment, and in May, 1881, he received a commission as First Lieutenant of Company A, Seventeenth Infantry Illinois National Guards. He was married in Marshall September 1, 1863, to Miss Malinda Frances, daughter of Stephen and Jane E.[(Talent) Frances. Her father was a native of Virginia, born in 1801, and died in Clark County, 1853. Her motlier, a native of Virginia, died in Ohio at the age of thirty-two. Mrs. Malinda Martin was born on 24th of September. 1843. The rec- ord of the children is as follows: Clinton Martin, born June 11, 1864, and died Sep- tember 28, 1865; Frederick Martin, born July 13, 1866; Mabel Martin, born March 30, 1875; Oliver P. Martin, born February 25, 1877. Mr. Martin embarked in the boot and shoe trade on Main street, of Marshall, in 1871, a business in which he has been fairly successful, and which he still continues. He is a member of the Masonic order and Knights of Honor, and both he and wife are members of the Congregational Church of Marshall.

JOHN MARVIN, miller, Marshal. Among the active men of business may be mentioned the name of John Marvin. He was born on Walnut Prairie, Clark County, November 20, 1837, and is the youngest member of a fam- ily of seven children of Barnabas and Rachel Marvin. His father was a native of the State of New York. He, with his parents, came from that State to Ft. Vincennes, in which the winter of 1816-17 was passed; coming to what is known as the Shaker Prairie, Indi- ana, in 1817. John Marvin received a com- mon school education, and has spent most of his time on the farm, in connection with which he has dealt considerable in stock. In 1866, he embarked in the mercantile busi- ness at Darwin, which he continued four years. From 1870 lo 1874, he was in mill-

ing business at Darwin, and the two years following in the same business at Vermil- ion, Edgar County, with William T. Bessar. Since 1876, he has been a partner in the Quaker City Mills at Marshall. He was married at Darwin, March 20, 1862, to Miss Rosetta M. Hall, daughter of William T. and Rosetta Hall. William T. Hall was a native of New York. Mrs Marvin's mother was Rosetta Babcock, and died when the for- mer was a small child. They have a family of three children-Lillie L. Marvin, born Feb- ruary 22, 1865; Jennie J., born June 17, 1867; Emma E., born November 11. 1875. Mr. Marvin owns three separate farms in the southeastern part of Clark County; the fam - ily residence is on Lot 3 of Block 41, in Mar- shall. He is a member of the Masonic order.

JOHN H. MILLER, of the firm of Gray & Miller, undertakers, Marshall, Ill. In an early day, the Millers came from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania. About 1767, Martin was born in Pennsylvania. He mar- ried, twice, each time marrying a daughter of Samuel Hess. He moved to Ohio in 1807, and to Pike County, Ill., in 1824, where he died at an old age. His son, Martin, by his first marriage, was born in Pennsylvania April 28, 1791. Moved to Ohio, near Cin- cinnati, in 1807, where he married Catharine Mitchell in 1812. She was born in Pennsyl- vania January 6, 1791. Her father, John Mitchell, of German ancestry, was born in 1758. At the age of seventeen, he entered the Revolutionary war and served seven years, a good portion of the time a prisoner of war, confined in England. At the close of the war, he landed in Boston, married a young widow near Pittsburgh, Penn .; moved to Ohio, then to Indiana, near Indianapolis, where she died in 1838, aged eighty-four years, and he died in 1847, aged eighty-nine years. Martin and Catherine moved to Clark County, Ind., in

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 63

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 826