History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 78

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 78
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 78

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).

FREDERICK HAMMOND, farmer and stook-raiser, P. O. Martinsville. One of the

leading and most successful farmers in this township is Frederick Hammond, who was born June 29, 1831, in Rutland County, Vt., and is the second son of Alanson Hammond and Sallie Tarbell. In 1836, in the fall of that year, Frederick came to this county with his parents, and settled on Section 12. Here his parents died; his father in 1846, and his mother in 1842. They raised a family of five ehildren, viz .: Polly A., Clark, Frederick, Lydia and Wesley. Polly is the wife of Josiah A. Connelly, and Lydia of William Connelly, brother of J. A .- all of this town- ship. Frederick was about fifteen years of age, being left an orphan, and was left with- out patrimony, $67.25 being the only money or effects left him from the estate, and he worked out by the month and the week, re- eeiving as low as $1 per week and $5.50 per month. He continued on in this way working by the month until 1850, when he went to Cali- fornia and staid nearly two years, and returned in the summer of 1852, purchased the north- east quarter of Seetion 15 in this township, costing $5 per acre, and engaged in farming. He was married in March, 1855, to Margaret Bean, born in North Carolina, and daughter of Isaac Bean. His wife died in 1856; no issue now living. September 20, 1858, he married Patsey Connelly, born in this township, and daughter of Josiah Connelly and Sallie Dix- on. Last marriage, seven children-Sallie, Ida, Emily, Francisco, Alanson P., Serena A. and Patsey E. Emily is the wife of Perry Blaek, of Casey Township. In 1869, he lo- cated on this farm, Seetion 14, and since re- mained. He has been suecessful, and has now about 1,600 aeres of land. Mr. Hammond cast his first vote for James Buchanan, and has sinee followed up in this line. He is a member of A., F. & A. M.

WILLIAM JEFFERS, farmer, P. O. Mar- tinsville. This gentleman is a Kentuckian by

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birth, and is one of the pioneers of the town- ship. He was born June 12. 1817, near Crab Orchard, Mercer Co., Ky. His father's name was William Jeffers, a Virginian by birth, and removed, when a young man. to Mercer County, Ky., where he married Annie Jett, and by her twelve children were born, whose names, according to their age, were Presley, Enoch, Sallie, Matilda. Hannah, Lucy, Ma- ria. Susan, William, James, Elijah and Fe- licia. Mr. Jeffers, when a child, removed with his parents, and with them settled in Washington County, samne State. In 1823, his father died, and in December, 1829, he came to this State and landed in Ed- gar County, where he lived until the winter of 1842, when he came to this township and located temporarily on Section 23, where he remained until he built a cabin on the north- east quarter of Section 22. His cabin was raised March 6. 1844, where he has since re- sided. He entered the land in his mother's name, as he had no means of his own at the time. There were no improvements on the place whatever. Mr. Jeffers has now 200 acres of land. August 9, 1840, he married Miss Francis Hurst, born in Virginia about 1824. She was a daughter of Nathaniel Hurst. Mr. Jeffers has nine children, viz. : John, Elijah, Mary M., Nathaniel, William, Lucretia, Madison, Colman and Catherine. Mr. Jeffers was raised under the Baptist in- fluence, but later in life he has been an advo- cate of the United Brethren, as a church. In politics, he has been a Democrat, and has al- ways been a quiet and worthy citizen. and is now enjoying the fruits of his labors, though infirm in body and in poor health.

been a resident of the county; he was born in Belmont County, Ohio, the second son now living that was born to his parents, . John Kimlin and Florence Sloan. and re- moved with them to Fayette County, Penn .. when four years of age, remaining here un- til the fall of 1833, when the family re- moved to Muskingum County, Ohio, where they abode until October, 1838, when he re- moved with them to this county, and located with them in the northeast part of Casey Township. In June 6, 1846, he was united by marriage to Julia Ann, who was born September 16, 1821, in Bourbon County, Ky., being the eldest daughter of Charles Mc- Nary. a native of that State. Her paternal grandfather was Charles McNary, a native of Ireland; his wife was Mary Hahn, of German descent. Her mother was Rachael Wills, whose parents were James Wills and Cathe- rine Owens. After Mr. Kimlin's marriage, he located in Casey Township near his father's place. He had nothing to commence with but a team and a few articles of a primitive character. His hands, and with the aid of his faithful wife, was his endowment, and they began in right good earnest. They had but little or no furniture; such as he had he man- ufactured himself; for a time used pumpkins for seats to sit on until he made some rude seats out of slabs, with pegs for legs. Their " company" table they bought for three bushels of wheat-a cheap pine affair-which they vet have in their possession as a souve- nir of the "by-gone days." Their living was plain, yet working hard they relished it and labored on. In IS56, he removed to his present place of living, situated on the north- west quarter of Section 34, where they have since lived. They have now over 600 acres in this and Westfield Townships; of twelve children born them, but two are living-John

JAMES KIMLIN, farmer, P. O. Martins- ville, is one of the old pioneers and self-made men of the township. He came to this coun- ty with his parents, and located in Casey Township in the fall of 1838, and has since . and Perry. The latter resides with his par-

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ents on the homestead; September 22, 1880, he married Rebecca, a native of Barren Coun- ty, Ky., daughter of George W. Piersall. Perry has one child-Mary A. Mr. Kimlin is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; he cast his first vote for Van Buren, and is since Democratic.

JOHN LINN, Westfield. The subject of these lines was born October 10, 1844, in Congress Township, Morrow Co., Ohio, sec- ond son of Levi Linn and Melinda Truex. He was born in Maryland in October, 1809, son of Caleb Linn, of Irish descent; Melinda · was born in Pennsylvania, Hancock County, 1814, daughter of John Truex. John came to this county with his parents in the fall of 1864, and located with them in this township. His father located on the southeast qual- ter of Section 14, in this township, and yet resides here. John remained at home until twenty-two years of age, when he was married in December 31, 1866, to Nancy J., born in Hendricks County, Ind., August, 1849, daughter of Milton Shawver, one of the prominent farmers of this township. Mr. Linn began teaching at twenty, and has taught about eight years, and is one of the successful teachers of the county. He lo- cated on the place in 1872, where he now resides-Section 20, sonth half of southeast quarter, and has eighty acres of land. Has six children-Cora B., Walter B., Melinda M., Mary J., Ada O., John M .; member of A., F. & A. M., No. 163. Democratic.

DANIEL PERISHO, farmer, P. O. Mar- tinsville, is one of the pioneers of this town- ship. He was born October 14, 1816, in Monroe County. Ind. He is a son of Joseph Perisho, a native of North Carolina, and married Barbara Zinck, and settled in Mon- roe County, Ill. Daniel was eight years of age when he came with his parents, to this State, arriving in the fall of 1824 at Grand-

view, Elgar County. Staid there one winter and then moved three miles east, where his father entered eighty acres of land, and lived on the same until his death in April, 1838, aged fifty-two years. His wife lived to the age of eighty years. Daniel staid at home until after the death of his father. He was married, January 9, 1838, to Sarah Morris. She was born in Owen County, Ind., June 11, 1819, and was the youngest daughter of Richard Morris and Catherine Teal, daughter of Henry Teal. After Mr. Perisho's marriage, they settled on a portion of the homestead, but remained on it but a short time, and in 1842 he came to this township and entered the land he now owns, 160 acres, and the coming year, in February, 1841, located on the same and has since re- mained. He has now the same amount of land. He had seven children born him, viz. : George W., William A., Elvina, Emline, Richard H., John M. and La Fayette. Will- iam died May 26, 1863, at Murfeesboro, Tenn. He was a member of the One Hun- dred and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. All the children married except Lafayette. Mr. Perisho served in the late war. He volunteered in 1861, and was mus- tered in June 28, at Springfield, and served three years, and came home unscathed. He served in the Pioneer Corps over one year. He contracted disease while in the service, and is now suffering from its effects. He had three sons also in the army, viz. : George W., William A. and Richard H. George served in Company H. Twenty-first Regiment, under Capt. E. Harlan. William was under Capt. Lovelace, One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment. Richard H. was in the Seven- teenth Indiana Light Infantry. Mr. Perisho is a stanch Republican, and is a Methodist in religious matters. John M., Richard H. and Lafayette are teachers.

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JOHN ROBINSON, farmer, P. O. Mar- tinsville, is a representative of one of the old- est families in the township. His father, Levin Dixon Robinson. was born in Dixon County, Tenn., January 28, 1819, and was the second son of Richard, and a grandson of Michael Robinson. The Robinson family came originally from Tennessee. Here Rich- ard was born, and left his native State in 1821, and settled in Edgar County, this State, and was one of the pioneers of that locality. In 1836, he removed with his family to this county, and entered 720 acres of land in Parker Township, and remained here until his death, which was in 1843. His wife's maiden name was Sallie Dixon, a daughter of Levin Dixon. who survived her husband sev- eral years. The children born to them were Abigail, Levin D., James C., Isaac, Nancy R. C., Sereney and Emily. But two sons are now living-Levin D. and Hon. James C .. of Springfield. Levin D. resides in this township, and is one of the largest Iand-hold- ers in the township, and ranks among the wealthiest men in the county, as well as one of the most successful farmers. He was thrice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Con- nely, daughter of Josiah. She died leaving six children. His second marriage was to Melinda Johnson, a daughter of Thomas Johnson. She died leaving one child-Me- linda J. His last wife was Abarillia Jones, who was born May 9, 1821, in Dixon County, Tenn. She was a daughter of John Jones and Jane James, both Tennesseans Four children by the last marriage, viz .: John, Emily, Priscilla and Levin D. John, whose name heads this page, is the eldest of this set of children. He was born July 13, 1849, in this township, and was married December 26, 1872, to Caroline Fish, who was born June 6, 1852, in Morrow County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Robert Fish and Mary Lumm.

Robert Fish was born March 29, 1804, in Loudoun County, Va. Mary, his wife, was born in 1812. They came from Virginia to Morrow County, Ohio, and in 1865 moved to this township. Mrs. Fish died in February. 1880, having raised six children-Joshua. Nancy, Mary, Martha, Caroline and Ella. Mr. Robinson, since his marriage, has been a resident of the township of which he has served as Supervisor and Collector, and in Democracy is one of the leading lights. He is a member of the Masonic order, Martins- ville, No. 603. He has two children-Jeffer- son, born May 11, 1879; Mary, September 7,' 1882.

MILTON SHAWVER, farmer, P. O. Mar- tinsville. Among the stanch and able farm- ers of this township is the above gentleman, who was born in Fayette County December 14, 1826. He is the eldest son of William Shawver, son of George Shawver, both Vir- ginians. Mother's name was Charlotte, dangh- ter of George Shawver. Mr. Shawver removed West with his uncle, Alexander Shawver, to Hendricks County, Ind., about the year 1842, remaining there until the fall of 1854, when he came to this State, and has since been a resident of the county. He began for him- self at the age of eighteen, having nothing except his hands and a good resolution. He hired out by the month at $8, working for one man four years. October 18, 1847. he married Mary E. McDaniel, born in North Carolina, and a daughter of John and Betsy McDaniel, who removed with her parents to Morgan County, Ind., when she was young. When he came here he purchased forty acres of land on the northeast quarter of Section 16, and twenty acres in timber, costing $5 per acre. He remained here about one year, when he sold out and purchased 140 acres in Parker Township, remaining here about ten years, when he sold out and located where

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he now resides. He first purchased 290 acres, at the close of the war, costing $25 per acre. He has since added to the same until he now has 453 acres, 170 in Casey Township, and the remainder in this township. He is one of the most successful farmers in the town- ship. He has had ten children born to him, four sons and six daughters, seven of whom are now living, viz .: Nancy J., Samantha, John W., George W., Charles V., Eli A. and Mary A. Nancy J. is the wife of John Linn, of this township. Samantha is the wife of Ben- jamin F. Kimlin. John, George and Charles are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Shawver is a Republican.

WILLIAM T. SINCLAIR, farmer, P. O. Martinsville, was born February 27, 1843, in Shelby County, Ind., and is the eldest son living born to Amos Sinclair and Miriam Boone, both natives of Bath County, Ky. He was born July 6, 1807, of Scotch-Irish de- scent. Miss Boone was born September 28, 1816, and was married February 6, 1834, in Indiana, where they settled and lived until 1855, when they removed to this county, and lived five years, and, returning to Indiana, staid three years, and then came back to this county, and lived here until their death. Amos Sinclair died March 12, 1SS1, and his wife died January 29, of the same year. They raised six children, viz. : Susan F., Cas- sandria, William T .. Lafayette, Benjamin H. and Nancy E., all living in this county ex- cept Cassandria, MIrs. Alexander and Lafay- ette, who reside in Jasper County. William T. began on his own account at the age of twenty-two, when he commenced for himself; began by the month, and was married March 26. 1865, to Mary Ferguson, born in Decatur County, Ind., January 27, 1850, and a daugh- ter of Sanford Ferguson and Jane Ireland. He was born in Indiana, and was a son of Benjamin Ferguson. Jane was born in Ken-

tucky, and was a daughter of Richard Ire- land. Mrs. Sinclair came to Jasper County, this State, with her parents, in 1558. Her father died October 14, 1865, aged thirty-six years. Her mother is still living. They raised seven children-Mary, Sarah, Rich- ard. Benjamin. John, Indiana and Johanna, all in Jasper County. After Mr. Sinclair's marriage, he located in Casey Township. where he lived three years, then located where he now lives, and has since been a resident. He has 120 acres of land, all of which he has made himself. having nothing to begin with at the start. He has five children, viz. : Ben- jamin, Melvin MI., Frederick H., Nellie V. and Daisey E. Mr. Sinclair is a Liberal in politics.

JAMES S. TURNER, farmer, P. O. Mar- tinsville, was born November 11, 1838. in Hocking County, Ohio. He is the second son now living that was born to William A. Tur- ner and Ann Sloan. William Turner was an Ohioan by birth. His father was an early set- tler in that State. William Turner, subject's father, removed with his family to this coun- ty in 1839, locating land in this township in the fall of that year, and remained here until his death, which occurred May 18, 1882. His wife yet survives him. They raised a family of six children, viz. : William B., James S., Ellen, Jane. George F. and Sarah Ann. Sa- rah and Jane both died in the summer of 1881. Ellen is the wife of William Willis, of this township. Jane was the wife of John A. Ryan. The others reside in this town- ship except George F., who is in Colorado. James S. remained about the homestead until the spring of 1862, when he went to the West and spent nearly six years. returning in Oc- tober, 1867. While there, he was engaged in furnishing wood for the quartz mills, and was successful there, and upon his return he pur- chased land where he now resides. He has

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now 433 acres, and is one of the successful farmers of the township. February 19, 1868, he was married to Miss Mary Dunn, born October 20, 1846, in Hancock County, Ind. She was the third daughter of John Dunn and Mary J. Percell, and came here with her parents, when fourteen years of age. Has five children -- James E., Alice A., Nevada E., Amanda R. and William C. Two deceased -- John E. and Percy ; John E. died Septem- ber 30, 1882, aged four years. Percy died when a young babe. In politics, Mr. Turner is a Democrat.

TIMOTHY R. YOUNG, Casey. Among the old settlers of Clark County is Timothy Roberts Young, who was born in the town of Dover, Strafford Co., N. H., November 19, 1813, and wasthe youngest son of a family of six children, of whom Timothy is one of three now living. His parents were Jeremiab Young, a son of Ezra, and Anna Kimball. Jeremiah Young was a native of New Hamp- shire. His ancestry is traced to Wales. Jer- emiah was a man of general business; ran a manufacturing business; also farmed and car- ried on a store, and at one time did quite an

extensive shipping business. Our subject had a liberal education, and in 1835 graduated at Bowdoin College. After graduating he com- menced reading law at Dover, and read under John P. Hale. He read with him two years and a half. He came to Marshall, this coun-, ty, in the spring of 1838, and began the practice of his profession in May, of the same year, continuing here until 1849, when he was elected to Congress and served until 1851, and then entered the land where he now lives, and has since given but little attention to legal matters. He has 865 acres of land, and has since carried on the same. He was married in January, 1852, to Margaret Jones, born in Vandalia, and a daughter of B. L. W. Jones and Fannie Whitlock, of Mattoon. He re- moved to Mattoon with his family in 1867,and has since resided there, but spends much of his time on his farm here. He has three children, viz .: Kimball, Nellie and Fannie. Kimball is a lawyer in Chicago. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1860. Mr. Young is not a member of any church or lodge, and has always been a Dem- ocrat.

WESTFIELD TOWNSHIP.

HENRY BRISCOE, stock-dealer, Westfield, is one of the leading stock-dealers in this town- ship, and was born November 12, 1835. the eldest son of Joseph Briscoe and Lucinda Frederick. Henry was born on Section 27, and was raised on the homestead and remained here until 1856, when he began for himself in stock deal- ing, and for several years drove cattle to Chi- cago, and in 1857 went to Minnesota. He has since been engaged in stock dealing. From 1869 to 1871, he was quite extensively engaged in farming. He was married in October, 1862,

to Sophia M., born in this county, daughter of Clark Nicholas and Phebe Morrison. Has four children living, viz., Alice, Charles B., Joseph D. and William T. Democratic in politics. First wife died May 4, 1876. Present wife was Mrs. Abigail Hays, born in this county, daughter of Michael York. No children by last wife. Is still carrying on farming in con- nection with his stock dealing.

ISAAC BROWN, farmer, P. O. Westfield, has been a resident of this township for thirty- three years. Ile was born August 4, 1824, in

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Floyd County, Ind., and removed to Jasper County with his parents when twelve years of age. His father's name was George Brown, a Pennsylvanian by birth and a son of Michael Brown. His mother's maiden name was Mar- garet Hoch, born in Cumberland County, Penn., clanghter of Henry Hoch. Our subject's father was a shoe-maker by trade, and was engaged in the ministry in a local way, and labored in the United Brethren Church up to the time of his death, which occnrred in 1849 in Jasper County. His wife survived him several years, dying in Westfield Township. They raised a family of eight children. Isaac was the fourth child born to his parents until his marriage, which occurred in March, 1848, to Catharine Evinger, born in Ohio, daughter of Thomas Evinger. She died in 1849, leaving no issue. The year following, Mr. Brown came to this State locating on Section 19 in Westfield Town- ship, purchasing eighty acres, paying $5 per acre. He has since been a resident and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has now 310 acres. He was married to his present wife April 10, 1851, Mary Ann, born in Kentneky, eldest daughter of Garrett White, one of the early settlers of this township. Mr. Brown had by last wife seven children-Will- iam H., James G., George I., John W., David T., Willis E. and Mattie J. All married and cloing for themselves except the three youngest. Mr. Brown is a member of the United Brethren Church, having been connected with that body for forty years, and held responsible positions in the same. Republican in polities, but not partisan.

C. B. DAWSON, farmer, P. O. Westfield, is one of the pioneers of this township, having been a resident of the township since October, 1833. He was born October 8, 1808, in Staf- ford County, Va., the youngest son of Bailey Dawson and Catherine Shelton, both natives of Virginia. His paternal grandfather was John Dawson, of Irish deseent. His maternal grand-

sire was Wilson Shelton. When ten years of age, he removed with his parents to Jefferson County, Ky., where he lived until the fall of 1833, and then came to this township, and that fall he entered eighty acres where he now re- sides and has since been a resident of the town- ship, having now 320 acres. He was married in Kentucky, May 24, 1831, to Christina, born April 25, 1811, in Spencer County, Ky. She was the oldest child of Benjamin Drake and Mary Riley. He was a native of New Jersey, she of Virginia. Mr. Dawson has five children, viz., Benjamin, James. John, Catherine, Phamy J. Catherine, wife of W. R. Comstock, Phamy, wife of William S. Stanley, of Coles County. Mr. Dawson has been a member of the Regular Baptist Church since 1831, and of this organi- zation here since 1834, and is the present pastor of the church, and been acting in an official capacity in the same for many years. Politically, he has been Democratie ; for five years was Supervisor, and School Trustee for twenty years of the township.

JOHN ENDSLY, merchant and stock- dealer of Westfield, was born in IIutton Township, Coles County, this State, October 20, 1842, the second son of Andrew Endsly and Elizabeth Bell. He was born in Harri- son County, Ohio, son of Andrew Endsly, a Pennsylvanian, and removed to Ohio and set- tled in Harrison at an early day. In 1838, Andrew Endsly, the father of our subject, came to Coles County, and there settled and yet re- sides, now in his sixty-fifth year of age. They raised a family of four children. He was raised on the farm, where he remained until twenty-two years of age, when he began in business for himself and engaged in farming, where he remained until the winter of 1867. when he removed to Westfield Township and sinee remained and here engaged in farming and stock-trading. He began merchandising in the spring of 1880, and since been engaged in mercantile business. He has in the two

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counties land to the amount of 600 acres. 100 acres of which is in Coles County. He was married January 10, 1867, to Melinda E. York, born in this county, a daughter of Michal York and Rachel Boyd, who were early settlers in Crawford County. Mr. Endsly has two chil- dren-Robert and Daisy. Member of the A., F. & A. M., and of the Royal Arch. Politically, Democrat.

JACOB EVINGER, farmer, P. O. Westfield, is one of the natives of the township. . He was born on Section 19 August 3, 1833 ; he is the fourth son of Jacob Evinger and Sarah Snider. Jacob Evinger was born in Kentucky, son of John George Evinger. a German by birth, and settled in Kentucky where he died. He raised a large family, among whom were Adam, John, George, Henry, Thomas, Frederick, David, Ja- cob, Mary, Catherine, Elizabeth and Rebecca, some of whom settled in Kentucky and there died. Those who came to Illinois were, Hen- ry, George, David, Fred. Thomas, and Ja- cob ; the girls that came were Catherine and Mary ; Thomas settled in Edgar County ; Henry in Coles County. and the remaining ones in Clark County. Jacob, the father of our sub- jeet, came here in the spring of 1833, and made his settlement on Section 19, and remained here until his death, which occurred about the year 1840 ; his wife yet survives him, now sev- enty-seven years of age. They raised six chil- dren-William, Alfred, Sarah, David, Jacob and Mary. William and Alfred in California ; Sarah in Westfield, relict of John Atkins ; David resides in Charleston, Coles County ; Mary deceased, was wife of Charles Wood. Jacob is the only one residing in the county, and was raised on the homestead where he lived until twenty-three, when he left home ; was then married, in January 22, 1856, to Sarah Ann Cornwell. who was born on June 3, 1835, in Jefferson County, Ky., daughter of Hiram Cornwell and Lucy Tolar, both natives of Ken- tucky, and emigrated to Coles County about

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 78

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