History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 83

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 83
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 83

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).

NIXON EVANS, farmer, P. O. West York. One of the principal farmers of Melrose Township is the subject of this sketch, Nixon Evans. He is a native of Paoli, Ind., born December 27, 1814, and is the thir- teenth of a family of sixteen children of Benjamin and Rebecca (Willard) Evans. The parents were both born in North Caro- lina, and came from Indiana to Illinois in 1816. They then settled in Crawford Coun- ty, where they remained two years, coming from there to Clark County, in 1818. The mother died in 1823 and the father afterward married Mrs. Hannah Moore, by whom he had a family of eight children. He died in 1851. The circumstances under which he received his early education were identical with all other pioneer boys, viz .: Sitting on a split-log bench in a round log house with a puncheon floor, greased paper windows and eight-foot fire place, fuel for which was ob- tained by the larger boys from the adjacent forest. Subject says he can yet distinctly remember of his old teacher, Joseph Clay- pool, addressing them in this way. "Dis- missed and git wood." Mr. Evans was mar- ried, December 15, 1837, to Miss Minerva Bartlett, daughter of James and Hannah Bartlett, and was born July 6, 1818, and died September 17, 1853, having six children, viz .: Iredell, Warren. Sr., James, Sr .; the two latter dying in youth, their names were |

transferred to the next two sons; Warrer, Jr., and James, Jr., one died unnamed. Subject was married to his present wife, Clarissa Hungerford, on November 27, 1853, by whom there are six children, Charles H. Evans. Emily M. Evans, Julia M. Evans, Ulysses G. Evans, Sarah E. Evans. and Clarence N. Evans; Ulysses G. is deceased. Mrs. Clarissa Evans was born October 2, 1834. Mr. Evans is engaged in farming and milling, having a mill which he has run since 1849, commencing with horse power. He owns a farm of 273 acres of land in Melrose Township, about 170 in cultiva- tion. James B., Sr., born December 19, 1842; James B., Jr., born October 9, 1846; Warren B., Sr., born May 13, 1850; War- ren B., Jr., born April 22, 1853; Charles, born September 1, 1854: Emily M., born February 14, 1861: Ulysses G., born February 25, 1866; Lula M., born September 9. 1869; Sarah E., born May 23, 1871; Clarence, born February 16, 1876. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Evans has been a minister in that connection since 1836. Politics, Republican.

IREDELL EVANS, farmer, P. O. Mel- rose. is a son of Nixon and Minerva (Bart- lett) Evans. He is a native of Clark Coun- ty, Ill., born May 18, 1841, and was raised in the county, and educated in the common schools, and in August, 1862. he became a member of Company I, Seventy-ninth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, from which he was discharged in spring of 1865, at Nashville, Tenn. Participated in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga, where he was taken prisoner, and held at Danville and Richmond for eight months as a prisoner of war, dur- ing which time, in the Danville Prison, he had small-pox. He was a non-commissioned officer. After returning home, he became a student in the Westfield College, where he re-

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mained one year, thus qualifying himself for the profession of teacher, which he followed for some years. Married, in Melrose Town- ship, October 1, 1867, to Miss Alice Drake, daughter of Peter and Christina Drake. She was born in Livingston County, N. Y., on the 29th of September, 1849. Her parents were also uatives of New York; the father was born November, 1817, and the mother was born in 1820. She died in the State of New York, in 1853, and the father afterward removed to this county in 1866, where he died April 27, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have a family of four children, of whom one is dead, Bartlett J. Evans, born June 27, 1868, and died July 24, 1870; Bruce D. Evans, born April 9, 1870; Jennie G. Evans, born February 9, 1873; Earnest E., born April 26, 1877. He owns a farm of 173 acres in Sections 27 and 34 of Melrose Township. Engaged in stock-raising. He is Republican and has represented the town- ship in the capacity of Supervisor, Assessor and Justice of the Peace.

DAVID FERREL, farmer, P. O. Melrose. Mr. David Ferrel is a native of Licking County, Ohio, and was born on November 23, 1841 He is the youngest of a family of nine children of John and Nancy Ferrel. The father was born near Wheeling, W. Va., December 9, 1802, and the mother, Nancy Wallace, was born April 28, 1825, in same State. They were married January 18, 1822. The father died in Licking County June 17, 1849, and the mother February 25, 1872, in Clark County, Ill. Subject grew to man- hood in his native county, and came to Craw- ford County with his mother in 1865, where they lived three years, during which time he was married. He was married on the 10th day of February, 1867, to Miss Evaline Blank- enbeker, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Hull) Blankenbeker. She was born in In-

diana December 16, 1844. In 1868, Mr. Ferrel removed to Orange Township, Clark County, where he lived two years. In Feb- ruary, 1870, he bought 240 acres in Sections 29, 30 and 31, of Melrose Township. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. They have a family consisting of six children, of whom three are deceased, viz .: Infant daughter, died January 9, 1868, aged twenty- two days; Ella, born July 14, 1870; Emma, born October 6, 1872, died October 30, 1878; Edward, born October 26, 1874, died August 5. 1875; Samuel, born July 27, 1876; Alice, born September 5, 1879. They are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Wesley Chapel. Mr. Ferrel is a Democrat, and has served his township in official capac- ities.

J. W. FISK, farmer, P. O. Melrose. Among the more enterprising of the farmers of Melrose Township should be mentioned the name of J. W. Fisk. He was born in Putnam County, Ind., July 10, 1834. His father, James Fisk, was born in Virginia, January 5, 1805, and was raised principally in Kentucky, He was there married in 1822, to Miss Cassander Frakes, daughter of Jo- seph Frakes, who was a native of England, and died at the advanced age of one hun- dred and six years. He served through the Revolution, and was never sick an hour in his long life, and dropped as an autumn leaf falls from the bough. Cas- sander was born in Kentucky about 1807, and died when William was three years old. Subject's grandfather on his mother's side was named John, and was born in England. He also served through the war of the Revo- lution. The family is somewhat noted for its military record. The father of our sub- ject held the commission of Colonel in the Mexican war, and William Fisk took part in the late war, as did also his three brothers,

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Robert W., Richard S. and Francis M. Fisk. William was enlisted in Company A, of the Thirty-eighth Indiana, but most of his time was on detailed duty in the Fifteenth Army Corps, Ordnance Brigade. Discharged July 14, 1865. Took part in all the service of his corps incident to Sherman's march to the sea. Received a sunstroke from over fa- tigue on his return, near the scenes of Bull Run battle-field. Mr. Fisk was married in Clark County. Ill., January 25, 1858, to Miss Sarah A. Dodd, daughter of Emanuel and Mary J. (Wells) Dodd. Her father was a native of Licking County, Ohio, born on the 10th of September 1816, and the mother was born in what is now Melrose Township, May 7, 1824. They had a family of three children, of whom Mrs. Fisk is the first. she was born in Melrose Village April 2, 1843. She has a brother, Frank Dodd, resident in Melrose. One sister, Susanna C. Dodd, born October 10, 1845, and died in infancy. Sub- ject has a family consisting of four children, of whom two are deceased, viz .: Robert W. Fisk, born November 7, 1858; Albert S. Fisk, born September 10, 1861, died October 4, 1880; James E. Fisk, born September 21, 1880; Una R. Fisk, born April 21, 1866, died in infancy. Mr. Fisk came to this county from Indiana in 1856. They settled where they now live in 1861, having bought a tract of timber land, which has been cleared and de- veloped into a beautiful and desirable home. They now own a tract of 200 acres in Section 19 of Melrose and 80 in Section 24 of Orange Township; value of land, $30 per acre. The entire family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mary J. Dodd died December 30, 1879, at Melrose, and Eman- uel Dodd is still living, and a resident of Martinsville Township. He is married to Lizzie Connel.

ALLEN T. GARD, farmer, P. O. Walnut Prairie, is a native of Licking County, Ohio, born on 19th of August, 1830. His father, Jeremiah Gard, born in Licking County, Ohio, March, 1806, and spent his entire life in his native State. He married, about 1828, Miss Rosanna Brown, of same county. They had a family of nine children, of whom Allen T. is the oldest. The father died at the old homestead, in Licking County, where his wife still survives him; he died in 1866. Allen T. Gard was raised and educated in the pioneer schools of Licking County, during which time he qualified himself for the position of teacher, which profession he has followed since 1857, without missing a winter, which cannot be said of any other teacher in the county. He was married in Ohio, August 30, 1853, to Miss Martha A. Garner, daughter of Edmund aud Susan Garner. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, on July 1, 1833. Her father and mother were born in Vir- ginia. The father was born in 1776 and died December 19, 1850. The mother was born in 1795, and died in 1864. Mrs. Gard is the youngest of a family of eleven children of whom four are now living. Mr. Gard came to Illinois and Clark County in 1861, and settled where he now lives on a farm purchased of Joseph Brown, consisting of 120 acres in Section 11 of Melrose Township. His family comprises five children, viz .: Rowena C. Gard, born in Ohio, June 22, 1854, married to Giles Bartlett, of this coun- ty; Alexander J., born in Ohio July 25, 1858, present Township Collector (1882), also in 1881: Horatio V. Gard, born in Illinois December 30, 1862: Jeremiah Gard, born November 2, 1866; Edmund Gard, born August 4, 1871. They are members of Protestant Methodist Church. Politics, Democrat. and has served his township as

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Treasurer since 1863, and now serving the third term as Justice of the Peace besides serving as a County Coroner for two years, and represented his township on the County Board one year.

WILLIAM A. HANDY, farmer, P O. West Union, is a native of Clark County, Ill., born May 19, 1837. He is a son of Stephen D and Margaret (Dixon) Handy. The father was born in York State, about 1792, where he was reared. He was married at Fort Har- rison, in Indiana, to Miss Margaret Dixon, who was a native of Virginia, and was born in 1803. They settled soon after marriage on Union Prairie, of this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father died in 1852 and the mother in Janu- ary. 1862. They had a family of ten chil- dren, viz .: Eliza, Sarah A., Chester, Joseph. Nancy, John, Mary, Illinois, William A. and Stephen Handy. Six of these are now living and residents of this county. Mr. Handy, in 1862 (Angust), became a member of Com- pany I, Seventy-ninth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, in which he served until discharged at Nashville, June, 1865. He participated in the battle of Buzzard's Roost, in Georgia; owing, however, to loss of health he did not take part in the principal service of the regi- ment. He was married, December 31, 1858, to Miss Sarah J. Hull, daughter of Daniel and Mary Hull, of whom mention is made in these pages. Mrs. Handy was born in Lick- ing County, Ohio, July 9, 1838, and came with her father's family, in 1850, to this coun- ty. They have a family of five children, viz. : Mary E. Handy, born March 10, 1860; Will- iam W. Handy, born July 25, 1862; Solomon Handy, born July 20, 1867; Mattie F. Han- dy, born November 8, 1868; Everett Handy, born October 2, 1873. Mary E. Handy has been for some years and is now a practical teacher in the county. Mr. Handy has also

taught, and was educated in the county. Mr. Handy erected a small cabin house where he now lives in 1861 on land that his father had owned; the land was then covered with a dense growth of timber, which they have taken off till they now have a farm of 115 acres, of which 65 are in cultivation, Erected a frame house in which they now live in 1873. They are members of the Protestant Methodist Church, Politics, Greenback-Re- publican, and ho represented the township as Supervisor, and for several years Collector of Taxes.

SUSANNA HOLLENBECK, Melrose, is a daughter of Isaiah and Hannah Janney, and is the fourth of a family of eleven children, of whom six are now living. She was born in Melrose Township, July 23, 1843. She was married March 28, 1864, to William Brown, son of Adam and Mary Brown. He was born in Licking County, Ohio, March 16, 1841, aud came to this county in 1860, from where he entered the First Missouri Cavalry, in 1861, and served as a soldier for four years, during which time he contracted the disease from which he died, November 9, 1868, leaving two children, viz .: Jennie A. Brown, November 1, 1866; William R. Brown, January 12, 1869, and died Septem- ber 13, 1879. Mrs. H. was afterward mar- ried, February 11, 1872, to Mr.John Winsett, son of John and Mary Winsett. He was a native of Ohio aud was born July 6, 1818, and died November 3, 1876. She married John Hollenbeck, April 28, 1878, and one son, Homer Hollenbeck, was born December 18, 1879. Mrs. Hollenbeck has a farm of 200 acres of land, mostly improved land, in Section 8 of Melrose Township, containing a substan- tial farm residence erected in 1882. She is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church.

DANIEL HULL, farmer, P. O. West Un- ion. One of the most venerable of the citi-

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zens of Melrose Township, is Daniel Hull, born in Harrison County, Va., March 30, 1803, and when he was six years old his parents, William and Sarah Hull, removed to Ohio and settled in Licking County. There Daniel grew up, receiving a limited education in the common schools of Licking County, and was married, August 30, 1825, to Miss Mary Brown, daughter of Adam and Mary Brown. She was born in Pennsyl- vania, September 3, 1807, and came to Ohio with her parents as early as 1808. Mr. Hull made his home in Licking County until com- ing to this county, in 1850, having previously had born to them eight children, of whom but three are now living. Their family re- cord is as follows: William Hull, born Oc- tober 15, 1826, deceased; Adam Hull, born May 25, 1830, married to Mary Handy; Mary Hull, born December 13, 1832, married to Peter Cumrine and died April 8, 1856, leav- ing three children; John W. Hull, born December 12, 1835, deceased; Sarah J. Hull, born July 9, 1838, and married to William Handy; Solomon Hull, born February 28, 1841, died in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., December, 1862; Elizabeth Hull, born August 10, 1843, married George Richardson, and died in February, 1878, leaving four children; Martha A. Hull, born February 1, 1847, and married to Washington Kreager. Uncle Daniel Hull and wife settled in Mel- rose Township, where they now live, in 1850, and, though not pioneers of the county, have lived in it long enough to endear themselves to a large circle of friends, who esteem them for their many virtues, Uncle Daniel cast his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jack- son, and is now a stanch Republican.

WASHINGTON KREAGER, farmer, P. O. West Union, is a native of Licking County, Ohio, born February 24, 1841. His father, George Kreager, was a Virginian by

birth, born in 1785 and raised in his native State. He came from there to Ohio with his father, Jacob Kreager, who was a native of Germany. In 1811, he was married to Miss Cynthia Bartholomew, of Pennsylvania, born December 3, 1795, and is still living. George Kreager was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in Ohio, 1867. They had a family of sixteen children, of whom seven are now living, and of whom Washington is the youngest. Subject grew to manhood in Ohio, and married, June 19, 1870, to Miss Mattie A. Hull, daughter of Daniel and Mary Hull. She was born in Ohio, on February 1, 1847, and came to this county with parents when four years old (1851). Mr. Kreager settled in this county where he now lives, in 1870, buying his land from Jacob Scott. The farm consists of 310 acres, of which about 220 acres are improved. Their family con- sists of three children, viz .: Albert C. Krea- ger, born April 30, 1873; Maud, born March 29, 1876; Freddie Kreager, born April 9, 1879. He is a Democrat, and has represented Melrose Township as Supervisor for three terms.

SUMNER MARING, farmer, P. O. Mel- rose, is a native of this county, where he was born August 5, 1859, son of William and Caroline Maring, the father of Ohio and the mother of Virginia. They were married in Illinois, and raised three children, viz .: Anna Banks, Chester Maring and the subject of this sketch The father died from the effect of gun-shot wound received in the late war. The mother is still living, and resides in Kansas. Subject grew to manhood and ed- ucated in the common schools of this county. He was married, January 1, 1880, to Miss Elma Janney, daughter of Isiah B. and Hannah S. Janney. Mrs. Elma Maring was born in Clark County, Ill., July 9, 1848. The father was a native of Loudoun County,

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Va., born Angust 31, 1812, where he grew to maturity, and married to Miss Han- nah Hurst, also a native of Virginia, and born October 24, 1812. They were married September 15, 1836, and came immediately to Illinois and settled in what is now Melrose Township. Here they raised a family of eleven children, of whom six are living and residents of this county. Susanna, married to Milton Hollenbeck; Elizabeth, married to William Miller; Sarah B., married to Perry Bartlett; Isaiah B. Janney, married to Margaret Pyle; Amanda P., married to L. Gray; 3d Elma, married to subject of these lines. Mr. Janney died at his homestead, September 7, 1878, lamented by a large cir- cle of friends, whose confidence he enjoyed to the fullest extent; his wife survives him, and makes her home with her daughter. Elma Maring. Subject has a farm of 120 acres in Melrose Township. Substantial frame resi- dence erected in 1881. They are members of the United Brethren Church. Politics, Re- publican.

ROBERT E. McKAIN, farmer, P. O. West Union, was born July 14, 1823, in Ohio County, Ind., and resided on the farm where he was born and raised until he was married, in 1849, to Martha J., daughter of Samuel and Nancy Gould, of Fayette County. Ind. In 1852, Mr. McKain purchased a farm on what is known as Clay Prairie, Clay County, and with his wife and two children moved there in the fall of the same year. After remaining on the farm two years, he went to California in 1856 and remained until 1859, when he returned and again with his family moved to Clark County, where he resided until his death, Decem- ber 17, 1879. Mr. McKain had a family of four children. Perry A., the oldest, was born January 7, 1850, in Ohio Coun- ty. Ind., and was quite a small boy when

his parents moved to this State. His boy- hood days were spent on the farm, where he worked in summer and attended district school in winter. He taught his first school the winter of 1866, in Crawford County, at the age of sixteen. He was educated at Westfield College, and followed the profes- sion of teacher with sucess for some time. In 1872, he began the study of law in the office of Messrs. Scholfield & Wilkin. In 1873, he was elected by the Republicau party to the office of Superintendent of Schools; was ad- mitted to the bar, in 1874, and died May 1, 1875. Eugene McKain was born March 4, 1851. He received his education in the dis- trict school and Westfield College; taught several terms of school with success, and be- gan the study of medicine in Dr. Prewett's office, in the year of 1873. Was married, December 14, 1875, to Lizzie E. Rains. To them one child, a daughter, named Frankie, was born, November 21, 1877. The two other children, Robert E., born February 22, 1857, and Mamie, born January 26, 1861; are both single and reside with the widowed mother.

CHARLES M. MEEKER, farmer, P. O. Melrose. Charles M. Meeker, is a native of Delaware County, Ohio, born March 16, 1829. He is the fourth of a family of six children of Enoch and Joannah (Morehouse) Meeker. They were each born in New Jersey, where they grew to maturity and married soon after coming to Ohio, and settled in Delaware County. There they made a residence of about twenty years, and then removed to this county in 1840. They settled in Melrose Township, where they died; the mother about 1848, and the father in 1875. Subject grew to manhood in this county, and in 1851 (June 13) married to Miss Sarah A. Ed- wards, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Ed- wards. She was born in Daviess County, Ind.,

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January 29, 1830, and came to this county with parents when about two years old. Mr. Meeker has a family of six children, of whom three are deceased, viz .: Joseph, born Sep- tember 24, 1853, died in infancy ; George H., December 24, 1854, and died November 2, 1859; Jasper, September 3, 1859; Arthur, April 3, 1863; Oliver, May 11, 1865. In August, 1861, Mr. Meeker became a member of Company K, First Missouri Cavalry, from which he was discharged in June, 1862, on account of disability. He is a Republican in politics. Both Mr. and Mrs. Meeker are members of the United Brethren Church. Subject owns a farm of 180 acres, 120 in Melrose Township and 60 in Orange Town- ship.

WILLIAM MILLER, farmer. P. O. West Union. Among the oldest settlers now living in Melrose Township is the subject of this sketch, William Miller. He was born near York, in Clark County. Ill., September 24. 1818. His parents, Hugh and Polly (Gor- don) Miller, came from the State of New York and settled in what is now York Town- ship. this county, in 1815; this was perhaps about the first settler in the county, and when William was growing up the Indians were very common in the country, and for many years the country was so infested with wolves that great care was necessary to in- sure the stock of the settlers from their rav- ages. The parents of William Miller were born in New York, the father July 4, 1791, and the mother in December of same year. They had a family of seven children, of whom William was the second, and of whom one died in infancy. Mr. William Miller's early education consisted of what could be obtained by attending from one to three months in the year, often going a distance of three miles. Having this pio- neer experience, he was better prepared

to grapple with the stern realities of life, and has lived to see the country of his boyhood develop into comfortable and at- tractive homes. He was married to Matilda Bartlett, daughter of James and Hannah Bartlett, of whom mention has been made. They were married in November. 1841. Matilda Bartlett was born July 6, 1818, and died March 27. 1844. leaving two children, viz .: Hannah and Wesley Miller; the former died. She was married to George Riley and left six children, the younger. Bruce Riley, being now a member of the family of Will- iam Miller. Mrs. Riley was born September 9, 1842. and died April 14, 1876. Wesley Miller is married to Elizabeth Janney. Sub- ject was married to Margaret Aucker about 1845. She was born April 23, 1811, and died February 6, 1870. By this union there are three children-Martha J. Miller, born October 1, 1846, and died February 28, 1551; Charles J. Miller. born February 26, 1848. died March 12, 1851; Mary E. Miller, born January 21, 1853, and died March 29, 1854. Married to his present wife, Elizabeth Handy, October 4, 1870. She was born in this county February 25, 1826, and is a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Handy. Two nieces are members of this (Miller) family. viz .: Doratha E. Miller, born July 8, 1858; Alzada Miller, born June 3. 1870.

WILLIAM W. MILLER, farmer, P. O. Melrose, is a son of William and Matilda (Bartlett) Miller, whose sketch appears else- where. He was born in Clark County March 4, 1844. and has always resided in Melrose Township. He received the elements of an English education in the common schools, and in August, 1862, became a member of Com- pany I, Seventy-ninth Illinois Regiment, in which he served about three years and was mustered out June 25, 1865. He was twice wounded, once in the right shoulder and once

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in the left arm; participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Liberty Gap and a number of other active engagements, including all the service of his regiment. He was married, January 23, 1868, to Miss Han - nah E. Janney, daughter of Isaiah and Han- nah Janney. She was born February 4, 1846. in Melrose Township. Their family consists of four children, viz .: Minnesota Miller, born December 24, 1869; Edmond Miller, born September 15, 1871; Ella T. Miller, born September 22, 1875; Rosa Miller, born April 15, 1878. Mr. Miller has a farm of 120 acres of improved land in Section 8 of Melrose Township. Mrs. Miller is a mem- ber of the United Brethren Church, and Mr. Miller is a member of the I. O. O. F. Pol- ities. Republican. Engaged in stock-rais- ing and general farming.

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 83

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